The virtual reality (VR) headset market continues to grow at a rapid pace, according to recent data shared by IDC.
It is so far largely dominated by the Meta Group (formerly known as Facebook). Next year, however, could mark a real turning point for the market, as prices start to fall and new options hit the market.
In the first quarter of 2022, Meta controlled 90% of the VR headset market, according to IDC. Its Oculus Quest 2 is immensely popular, the research firm notes, while the US giant’s serious investments in the metaverse allow it to offer exclusive content and hardware at subsidized costs.
Pico just behind Meta
Meta’s closest competitor in this area is Pico, from ByteDance. But it won only 4.5% of the market in the first quarter. Pico primarily operates in China, although it has recently expanded to several European countries. It has a growing library of content aimed at the general public, says IDC.
DPVR, HTC and iQIYI rounded out the top 5 headset vendors in Q1, with less than 4% combined market share.
Global shipments of VR headsets jumped 241.6% in the first quarter, compared to the same period a year earlier, as growth was fueled by buoyant demand and falling supply. For the full year, IDC predicts that 13.9 million VR headsets will be shipped, up 26.6% from the previous year.
Record sales expected for 2023
In 2023, according to the research firm, sales should exceed 20 million units, and the average selling price should reach its peak. Next year, consumers should benefit from next-generation headsets from Meta, but also from Pico and Sony. Apple could also launch its highly anticipated mixed reality headset, which analysts predict will be a “game changer”.
However, it is uncertain whether Apple and other headset manufacturers can quickly undermine Meta’s dominance in the market.
“All eyes will be on Apple when it launches its first headphones next year, and while it’s tempting to imagine the company shipping large volumes, keep in mind that it’s is its first headset, which will primarily appeal to a small audience of first-time adopters and Apple fans,” said Ramon Llamas, research director at IDC, in a statement. “Later iterations will likely show an evolution that will grow by leaps and bounds. In the meantime, companies like Meta and Sony already have a strong installed base and pent-up demand they can tap into. »
Source: ZDNet.com