Analysts: VR headset market shrinks rapidly for third year in a row
The analytical company Counterpoint conducted a study of the virtual reality headset market and came to disappointing conclusions for manufacturers of such gadgets: they are rapidly losing popularity, which was already low.
Here's What We Know
Counterpoint states that global shipments of virtual reality (VR) headsets in 2024 fell by 12% compared to the same period in 2023. Moreover, the steady decline is recorded for the third consecutive year.
Meta remains the leader in the VR device segment, with its market share rising to 84% in Q4 2024, not least due to the launch of its budget Quest 3S headset.
Over the same period, PlayStation VR2's share rose to 9 per cent, thanks to promotions during Black Friday and Christmas sales. Recall that Virtual reality becomes more affordable: Sony cuts the price of PlayStation VR 2 headsets from $550 to $400, perhaps this decision will help to increase the popularity of the device.
Apple's Vision Pro shipments dropped by 43%, despite the fact that the company introduced it in new markets (South Korea, UAE and Taiwan). Obviously, the $3500 price tag and lack of a clear scope of application don't give this headset a chance for popularity.
But augmented reality (AR) devices are gaining popularity, Counterpoint analysts believe that this market segment will grow by 30% in 2025. They explain this by the fact that the technologies required for these gadgets are developing rapidly, and large companies perceive AR glasses as ideal devices for the introduction of artificial intelligence.
In addition, Google is working on a special Android XR operating system, which is expected to give an additional boost to the popularisation of augmented reality glasses.
Source: Counterpoint
