Worldwide augmented actuality and digital actuality (AR/VR) headset shipments declined for the fourth quarter in a row as volumes fell 44.6% yr over yr through the second quarter of 2023 (2Q23), in line with new information from IDC.
Nevertheless, the analysis group expects gross sales to rebound in 2024, which must be excellent news for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. The US$3,499 “Spatial Pc” will, in line with Apple, be accessible in “early” 2024. Nevertheless, it’s going to, apparently, solely be accessible in restricted portions at first.
IDC says this yr’s lull within the AR/VR headset market doesn’t come as a shock given the financial downturn and the small pool of suppliers for each AR and VR headsets. Actually, 2023 volumes are shaping as much as be solely barely greater than 2017 with 8.5 million headsets anticipated to ship this yr.
Whereas 2023 shall be one other yr of decline for AR/VR headset shipments, IDC forecasts the market to rebound in 2024, rising 46.8% yr over yr due to new {hardware} from Meta and ByteDance, the introduction of Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional, and the rising presence of smaller firms. By 2027, the market is anticipated to achieve 30.3 million models globally.
Meta’s standing because the market chief has not modified as the corporate held 50.2% market share through the quarter. Nevertheless, the corporate does face a problem from Sony (27.1% market share) and ByteDance (9.6% share), every of which gained share in 2Q23. Rounding out the highest 5 have been Xreal (previously Nreal) and DPVR, every of which had barely greater than 2% share.
“The ARVR market is at a essential level in its quick historical past,” says Ramon T. Llamas, analysis director for Cellular Units and AR/VR at IDC. “Apple’s entry subsequent yr will convey a lot wanted consideration to a small market, however it’s going to additionally power different firms to compete in several methods. For some, it means assembly Apple head-to-head with comparable options and purposes. For others, it means guarding their particular market segments. In some instances, it is going to be each. Nonetheless, it will present customers with better selection and comparability, and finally the definition for best-of-breed will tackle new that means going ahead.”
