Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
Augmented reality (AR) - statistics & facts
Augmented reality (AR) is rapidly reshaping the way people interact with the world. By overlaying digital information onto the physical environment, AR enhances the perception of reality, opening a world of possibilities. While consumer interest in AR remains high, opportunities are becoming more readily available across multiple sectors for increased productivity, efficiency, and cost savings through the adoption AR.
Developing immersive experiences
Sophisticated AR software platforms are allowing developers to create innovative applications for various industries. These platforms, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, provide developers with tools to create AR experiences for various devices. Meanwhile, software development kits, or SDKs, offer specific tools and libraries for integrating AR into apps and experiences. As a result, AR is revolutionizing the app landscape by offering immersive and engaging content that can capture the attention of users.Mobile AR as a powerful platform
The rise of AR will be supported by the mobile AR market, taking advantage of the vast number of commercially available smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. In 2024, the mobile AR market was valued at 11.9 billion U.S. dollars, with forecasts suggesting this is set to rise to 13.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. While one of the most well-known examples of mobile AR is Pokémon Go, the location-based AR mobile game, mobile AR applications for virtual try-ons and product visualization in retail, or even AR-assisted navigation, are now becoming more prevalent.Growing competition in the AR glasses market
Building on this further, the development of advanced AR glasses and headsets is enabling more immersive and seamless AR experiences. The consumer and enterprise AR glasses market was worth up to 6.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with this having the potential to rise by over 50 percent in 2025. The leading companies designing AR glasses, such as Xreal and Viture, continued to release new devices onto the market through 2024, with additional advancements expected moving forward. Furthermore, the introduction of mixed reality devices from Meta and Apple that begin to cross into the AR sphere have further highlighted the technology’s potential.A new reality for industry
As AR technology continues to evolve, more innovative applications will emerge that transform the way people work, learn, and play. Whether it be for medical training and surgical procedures within healthcare, or for real-time instruction and maintenance in manufacturing, the rollout of AR applications beyond gaming, entertainment, and retail will have a transformative impact across many sectors.
