IDC: AR/VR headset shipments are expected to grow 44.2% in 2024

According to the latest data from IDC, although global shipments of augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets fell by 23.5% in 2023, 2024 will be a year of recovery, with shipments expected to soar by 44.2% to 9.7 million units. As global macroeconomic conditions improve, new headsets such as Apple Vision Pro and other products launched before the end of the year will help drive growth.

"Apple's launch of the Vision Pro grabbed a lot of headlines and raised awareness of AR and VR, and while its price is beyond the reach of most people, it has helped raise the bar for competitors," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobile and Consumer Device Trackers. "Like Apple, many companies like Meta have already begun their journey, transitioning from VR to mixed reality; ultimately laying the foundation for true AR experiences."

Virtual reality headsets are expected to reach 24.7 million units by the end of 2028, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.2%, as the consumer base slowly grows beyond core gaming use cases and enterprises increasingly adopt headsets for training, design, etc. Meanwhile, the base of augmented reality headsets will grow from less than 1 million units in 2024 to 10.9 million units in 2028, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 87.1% over the same period.