Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
Computer peripherals - statistics & facts
Simply put, computer peripherals are any device that can be either internally or externally connected to a computer and from then used in the transfer of data to or from that computer. Computer peripherals help to enhance the computer's functionality and because of their usefulness in daily life, make up a sizeable portion of IT device spending globally – a market that has faced difficulties as purchases have been stalled or avoided during the troubling economic conditions witnessed in 2023. While the computer peripheral market is comprised of a plethora of different devices, its main segments are PC monitors and projectors, virtual reality (VR) headsets, printers and copiers, storage devices, and computer keyboards.
Gaming experiences can be enhanced when using high-quality monitors
In 2023, PC monitors and projectors are expected to bring in 31 billion U.S. dollars' worth of revenue worldwide. The shift to working from home and the continued remote or hybrid work preference has bolstered the market, with many workers requiring multiple monitors in their daily work routine. Consumers have also turned to monitors to improve gaming experiences, benefiting from better responsiveness and less stuttering, as well as often being smaller than traditional TVs and so easier to accommodate in a gaming setup. The price of PC monitors and projectors is around 157 U.S. dollars per unit, making them one of the pricier computer peripherals on the market.A greater variety of VR headsets to support collaboration and entertainment applications
A peripheral segment that is beginning to garner greater attention is that of VR headsets. In 2023, VR headset revenues will surpass nine billion U.S. dollars, representing revenue growth of around 14 percent compared to the previous year. VR headsets consist of a head-mounted display (HMD) – a wraparound headset that does not allow light or images from the real world to interfere with the virtual one. Notable VR headset brands include Meta Quest (previously under the Oculus branding) and ByteDance’s Pico headset.Next-generation storage devices offer improvements to speed, reliability, and security
Storage peripherals are anything used to store and record data from the computer and include the likes of internal and external hard drives, CD-ROM/DVD drives, and flash memory drives. The global revenue from storage units is expected to reach over 40 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, making it one of the largest computer peripheral segments. Notable suppliers of storage devices include the likes of Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba.
