The global market for head-mounted AR and VR standalone devices is experiencing the fastest growth. According to IDC, VR device shipments dropped by 67.8% in 2021 when compared to the head-mounted chain-type AR/VR devices. Despite this decline, the overall AR/VR headset market remains in its early stages of development but shows great potential.
In 2017, global shipments of head-mounted AR/VR devices reached 9.6 million units, and by 2021, that number had grown significantly to 59.2 million units. This indicates a strong upward trend despite short-term fluctuations in certain segments of the market.
While AR device shipments in 2021 were still lower than those of VR devices, their share of total shipments increased from 2.4% in 2017 (around 230,000 units) to 32.2% in 2021 (approximately 19.06 million units). Meanwhile, the proportion of VR device shipments decreased from 97.5% in 2017 to 67.8% in 2021. This shift highlights the growing importance of AR in the broader AR/VR landscape.
Ryan Reith, vice president of IDC's mobile device tracking division, believes that head-mounted AR devices will play a crucial role in transforming how operators work in the near future. These devices can help address training challenges when new technologies are introduced into the workforce, offering practical, hands-on learning experiences.
Although head-mounted VR devices have seen rapid growth in areas like education, design, and retail, these applications represent only a small portion of the full potential of such technology. As the market matures, more innovative uses are expected to emerge across various industries.
In 2017, devices like Samsung’s Gear VR and low-cost screenless VR viewers that pair with smartphones made up a large portion of the market—58.8% of total shipments. However, as tethered and standalone VR devices gain popularity, along with consumer interest in high-end, immersive headsets, the share of screenless VR devices dropped to just 14.8% by 2021.
This shift is a positive sign for the broader VR ecosystem. As dedicated devices become more prevalent, they are likely to attract more professionals and businesses. Tethered and standalone VR headsets, on the other hand, are expected to appeal to general consumers and drive adoption in commercial sectors.
By the end of 2021, global shipments of commercial head-mounted and standalone VR devices are projected to rise from 1 million units in 2017 to 12.6 million units. At the same time, shipments of head-mounted AR devices—particularly those used in commercial settings—are expected to reach 15.6 million units.
IDC forecasts that shipments of head-mounted tethered VR devices from companies like Sony and Meta will dominate the market in the coming years. However, standalone devices such as the Oculus Go and Microsoft HoloLens are expected to capture nearly half of the market. Among these, standalone VR devices accounted for 26.4%, while standalone AR devices made up 21.4%, totaling 47.8% of the market.
In the head-mounted AR/VR device category, AR devices accounted for 10.1% of shipments in 2021, while VR devices represented 26.6%, totaling 36.7%. These figures illustrate the evolving dynamics between AR and VR in the consumer and commercial markets.
It's worth noting that IDC's estimates do not include shipments of simple head-mounted devices that lack any built-in technology, such as Google Cardboard. These basic models, while popular in certain contexts, are not considered part of the core AR/VR market.
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