New Study Projects Headworn AR Revenue to Reach $35.26 Billion by 2027

ARtillery Intelligence publishes its five-year outlook for AR glasses hardware and software revenues.

LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2023: ARtillery Intelligence has released a new report that projects headworn AR revenue to grow from $2.32 billion in 2022 to $35.26 billion in 2027, a 72.26 percent compound annual growth rate. Entitled Headworn AR Global Revenue Forecast, 2022-2027, the report examines glasses-based AR revenue totals and subsegments – including consumer and enterprise spending. This report follows ARtillery’s separate examination of smartphone-based AR spending.

Headworn AR Global Revenue Forecast: 2022-2027

Enterprise spending holds a commanding 93 percent revenue share today, driven by productivity gains in industrial settings, where AR’s line-of-sight guidance achieves operational efficiencies. Consumer AR meanwhile trails in revenue, where the technology isn’t yet stylistically viable. But spending shares will shift over time as consumer AR adoption gains ground in later years. This will be partly accelerated by Apple Vision Pro’s Impact, though that will be gradual.

“Apple is playing a long game with Vision Pro and with AR in general,” said ARtillery Intelligence Chief Analyst Mike Boland. “It wanted to demonstrate in version 1 what’s possible at any cost – hence a cost-prohibitive price tag for most consumers. But like other Apple products historically, this is the first step in a master plan that will stretch out for years as price comes down, utility improves, sales ratchet up, and Apple does its thing.”

Beyond Apple, current players continue to define shifts in the headworn AR market. Microsoft’s U.S. Army contract to supply battle-geared HoloLens units has faced considerable headwinds. Meanwhile, Magic Leap has accomplished a notable turnaround, including an enterprise focus and much-improved Magic Leap 2. We’re also seeing traction at the lower end, including 3DoF entertainment devices like Nreal Air.

“Devices like Nreal Air represent viable training wheels to bring more mainstream consumers into AR,” said Boland. “The price is right and the value proposition is tangible in that it addresses established demand signals around gaming and entertainment. As Apple has validated in its marketed use cases for Vision Pro, this value proposition is the most common touchpoint to mainstream consumers.”

What’s Apple’s Long-Term AR Vision?

Report Availability

Headworn AR Global Revenue Forecast, 2022-2027 is available to ARtillery PRO subscribers, and more can be previewed here. This report follows ARtillery Intelligence’s separate examination of mobile AR and VR spending.

About ARtillery Intelligence

ARtillery Intelligence chronicles the evolution of spatial computing, otherwise known as AR and VR. Through writings and multimedia, it provides deep and analytical views into the industry’s biggest players, opportunities, and strategies. Products include the AR Insider publication and the ARtillery PRO research subscription. Research includes monthly narrative reports, market-sizing forecasts, consumer survey data and multimedia, all housed in a robust intelligence vault. Learn more here.

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