Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
AR headsets and glasses - statistics & facts
Augmented reality (AR) headsets and glasses, a categorization that can also include smart glasses, are devices that enable user participation in AR – the combination of the real world and computer-generated content, live and in real-time. On a consumer level, the AR headset and glasses market was valued at 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, although is projected to rise to over nine billion U.S. dollars by 2027. In line with this, the number of reachable users of AR glasses is also expected to grow in the coming years.
AR hardware markets vary in size across the world
Some of the leading AR headset and glasses markets can be found in the United States, across Asia, and Europe. The U.S. AR glasses market was valued at just under 400 million U.S. dollars in 2022, with growth of over 125 percent expected in 2023. The AR glasses market in Asia generated revenues of 300 million U.S. dollars in 2022, with forecasts again suggesting growth of over 125 percent in 2023. Major markets include China and Japan, with the former accounting for close to two-thirds of the Asian market. The AR glasses market in Europe was the smallest of the selected regions and was led by the German market.Microsoft, Magic Leap, and now Apple are just some of the brands available
AR glasses vendors such as Microsoft, Magic Leap, and Nreal continue to innovate, developing devices that are helping to support the increased adoption of AR across a range of sectors. Another example of this is Vuzix, an American optical technology firm developing AR solutions for healthcare, manufacturing, and warehouse environments. It is expected that AR glasses vendors will face even greater competition in the coming years as other technology firms release AR devices onto the market. One example is Apple, introducing to the world its first mixed-reality headset, a device that offers AR capabilities as well as a completely immersive experience in virtual reality. While the 3,499 U.S. dollar price tag may be a deterrent to some, analysts have argued that such is the technological prowess of Apple’s device that other firms will be forced to incorporate more advanced tech into any AR headsets they release in the future.
