IDC Report: Global Handheld Smart Camera Market Surges 33% YoY to 4.14 Million Units in Q1 2026, DJI and Insta360 Dominate
IDC's latest tracker report shows global handheld smart camera shipments reached 4.14 million units in Q1 2026, up 33% year-on-year, with revenues surpassing RMB 10.5 billion. DJI led the overall market with a 65% share, while Insta360 ranked second at 22% and posted the fastest growth at 66% YoY. GoPro continued to lose ground. IDC forecasts the market will exceed 40 million units by 2030, implying a five-year CAGR of nearly 18%.
Highlights
- Global handheld smart camera shipments reached 4.14 million units in Q1 2026, up 33% year-on-year, with revenues exceeding RMB 10.5 billion.
- DJI held a 65% overall market share in Q1 2026, growing 38% YoY, and also led the action camera segment with over 53% share.
- Insta360 was the fastest-growing brand in the market at 66% YoY growth, capturing 22% overall share and over 68% of the 360° camera segment.
- Detachable (modular) action cameras were the breakout sub-category, with shipments surging more than 350% year-on-year in Q1 2026.
- IDC forecasts the global handheld smart camera market will surpass 40 million units by 2030, implying a five-year CAGR of nearly 18%.
IDC Report: Global Handheld Smart Camera Market Grows 33% YoY in Q1 2026, DJI and Insta360 Take Top Two Spots
According to IDC's newly released Global Handheld Smart Camera Market Tracker, Q1 2026, worldwide shipments of handheld smart cameras reached 4.14 million units in the first quarter of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 33%. Total revenue for the same period surpassed RMB 10.5 billion, up 20% year-on-year.
IDC projects that the global handheld smart camera market will exceed 40 million units by 2030, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) approaching 18%.
Action Cameras: DJI Captures More Than Half the Market, GoPro Continues to Bleed Share
Global action camera shipments came close to 2.01 million units in Q1 2026, up 39% year-on-year, with an average selling price of RMB 2,149, down 11% year-on-year.
The primary drivers of this strong growth were blockbuster product launches from DJI and Insta360, as well as aggressive promotional pricing on previous-generation models — both of which contributed to impressive results for their respective brands.
- DJI: Held more than 53% of action camera shipment share, ranking first
- Insta360: Captured more than 24% share, ranking second
- Combined, the two brands grew their joint market share by 13 percentage points year-on-year
- Veteran brand GoPro continued to see its market space squeezed
Within the action camera segment, detachable action cameras (commonly known as "thumb cameras" or modular cameras) recorded an extraordinary shipment surge of more than 350% year-on-year, while non-detachable action cameras grew 16% over the same period.
Handheld Gimbal Cameras: DJI Holds the Lead as New Rivals Eye the Market
Global handheld gimbal camera shipments grew more than 18% year-on-year in Q1 2026, with an average selling price of RMB 2,840, down 12.5% year-on-year. DJI maintained its number-one position in this segment.
IDC noted that demand remains robust on both the supply chain and end-consumer sides of the handheld gimbal camera market. The firm expects 2026 to bring breakthrough product upgrades, along with new entrants joining the competitive landscape.
360° Cameras: Insta360 Commands Over 70% of the Market
Global 360° camera shipments exceeded 500,000 units in Q1 2026, growing more than 55% year-on-year. Insta360 maintained its leading position in this category, holding a shipment share of more than 68%.
Overall Market Rankings: DJI at 65%, Insta360 at 22%, GoPro Continues to Shrink
Across the entire global handheld smart camera market in Q1 2026:
- DJI: Ranked first with a 65% shipment share, up 38% year-on-year
- Insta360: Ranked second with a 22% shipment share, up 66% year-on-year — the fastest growth rate in the market
- GoPro: Continued to record year-on-year shipment declines, squeezed by intense global competition from both DJI and Insta360
IDC's Definition of Handheld Smart Cameras
IDC defines handheld smart cameras as consumer-grade portable imaging devices that feature onboard computational processing, electronic or optical stabilization technology, a resolution of 2K or above, and are designed for handheld use. The category encompasses three sub-segments: action cameras (both detachable and non-detachable form factors), 360° cameras, and handheld gimbal cameras.
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