Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
XR in the United States - statistics & facts
The world of extended reality (XR) has evolved at pace, with firms from the United States leading the charge in an XR market that remains set for strong growth. As an umbrella term encompassing all immersive technologies, the United States boasts leading capabilities across the XR space spanning the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) realms. Consumer XR in the United States is strong, driven by the popularity of headsets and applications for gaming and entertainment. Nonetheless, new opportunities for developers and businesses are likely to determine the path of the XR industry in the country.
XR market in the United States set for further growth
In its entirety, the consumer XR market in the United States was valued at just under 11 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with forecasts suggesting that the market will grow a further 15 percent in 2025. Looking at the evolution of the AR and VR markets in the United States, the consumer AR market in the country was valued at 7.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, while the consumer VR market was valued at 3.5 billion U.S. dollars. AR makes use of the existing environment by overlaying new information on top of it, whereas VR creates an artificial environment. In both AR and VR, the information or imagery can be made available to the user using a headset, the market for which was expected to generate a combined revenue of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.The United States boasts a number of XR leaders
Some of the leading XR headset vendors originate in the United States, including companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Magic Leap, and Vuzix. While Meta Quest devices have had a VR focus, the latter companies have sought to offer a range of devices targeted at the AR market. In 2024, all of these firms continued to unveil new, more powerful headsets and glasses, and were joined in doing so by the likes of Apple with the release of Vision Pro. Beyond the XR hardware specialists, other companies in the United States contributing to the industry’s development include chipmakers like Qualcomm, which is helping to drive performance and efficiency improvements in XR devices.Acceptance across industry in the United States
Advancements in hardware, software, and content across the XR market in the United States will help to propel the industry forward. The combination of traditional AR and VR specialists with other leading technology firms will shape the future of XR, with companies in the United States set to have a profound influence on the industry's trajectory on the global stage. As the technology matures and becomes more capable, a wider range of applications will become possible, from immersive gaming and entertainment to transformative experiences in industries like healthcare, education, and beyond.
