Smart Augmented Reality: Current status and predictions for virtual worlds – Digital Reality

Meta wants to soon bring a new high-end VR headset called Quest Pro onto the market. As the name makes clear, the new hardware is aimed at professional users. Accordingly, at 1,800 euros, the headset is a rather expensive purchase that will do little for the population of virtual worlds. In any case, only a small part of humanity will use virtual or augmented reality hardware in the near future. According to this, around 74 million people worldwide currently have access to VR glasses, while the number of AR devices is less than ten million. And in the coming years there will be little change in exclusive access to digital realities. For 2027, analysts estimate the user base of VR and AR hardware to be less than 250 million people.

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In 2025, only 130 million people worldwide will have virtual or augmented reality glasses. This corresponds to just 1.6 percent of the world's population. The coming years will see little change in exclusive access to digital realities. Most VR and AR devices continue to be used in industrial and military areas. Where highly sensitive data is involved, control over the hardware is particularly important.

The devices are still far too expensive for the general population and the possible uses are still too limited. Affordable devices for the mass market are only expected in a few years. Until then, virtual reality will remain an exclusive technology that industry in particular is increasingly adopting.

Nevertheless, there are also positive developments that can ensure that more people have access to VR glasses and AR devices in the future. For example, Microsoft is currently working on a new version of its Hololens glasses, which will be even lighter and smaller than previous models. This should make the glasses easier to wear for children and older people.

What is also positive is that more and more companies are realizing the advantages that virtual and augmented reality can bring. More and more companies are relying on these technologies to better understand products, define goals and better train employees. This also increases the need for devices that companies can use to make their work more effective.

Forecast for sales of virtual reality glasses worldwide until 2026 – Image: Xpert.Digital

Forecast for sales of virtual reality and augmented reality glasses worldwide from 2020 to 2026 (in millions)

The statistics provide a forecast for global sales of augmented reality and virtual reality glasses up to 2026. According to the source, sales of VR/AR glasses are expected to total more than 50 million units in 2026.

• 2020 – 5.84 million
• 2021 – 11.23 million
• 2022* – 16.50 million
• 2023* – 23.40 million
• 2024* – 29.33 million
• 2025* – 39.07 million
• 2026* – 50.46 million

* Forecast

In 2025, just 171 million people worldwide will use AR/VR hardware, according to Digi-Capital's forecast. This corresponds to only 2.3 percent of the world's population. Things don't look any better when it comes to distribution: 16% of Germans currently own VR glasses. Although this number is expected to increase in the coming years, use remains limited to a relatively small number of people.

Conclusion: In the future, virtual and augmented reality hardware will only be used by a minority of the population.

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Survey on interest in virtual reality glasses in Germany until 2022 - Image: Xpert.Digital

Survey on interest in virtual reality glasses in Germany until 2022

The statistics show the results of a survey in Germany on interest in virtual reality glasses. Around 43 percent of those surveyed in 2022 can imagine using VR glasses in the future.

Survey: Can you imagine using VR glasses in the future?

• 2018 – 17 in %
• 2019 – 21 in %
• 2020 – 37 in %
• 2021 – 41 in %
• 2022 – 43 in %

Nevertheless, there are already many people today who live in other realities. They do this not through virtual reality glasses or augmented reality devices, but by creating their own reality. However, most of these people are unable to create their own world because they are dependent on digital media. Instead, they live in social media and online worlds like Reddit or 4chan. In these worlds, everyone can create their “I” and interact with other people without fear of their identity being discovered.

Nevertheless, it is not necessarily the case that the coming years will mean a division of humanity into “those who are able to immerse themselves in other realities” and “those who cannot”. Because so far other worlds – whether virtual or real – are still very sparsely populated. This means that every person who gets access to digital realities also has the chance to become part of these worlds. In this respect, there is no reason to worry that the coming years will mean a division among humanity.

Survey on popular usage scenarios for virtual reality – Image: Xpert.Digital

In a survey in Germany about the virtual reality content used, around 79 percent of the VR users surveyed said they had played computer and video games with VR glasses.

What content have you already used virtual reality for?

• Computer and video games – 79 in %
• Films – 67 in %
• Traveling to places – 63 in %
• Music concerts – 41 in %
• For sporting activities – 33 in %
• Sporting events – 20 in %
• Education and learning projects – 20 in %
• Museums, exhibitions, trade fairs – 15 in %
• Visualization of apartment and house planning – 11 in %
• Shopping – 8%
• Virtual meeting – 7 in %
• For relaxation – 4 in %