It’s crazy to see that only 269,000 VR/MR headsets were sold in China, marking a decline of 34.4% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, AR sales have surged by 32.1%, reaching nearly 300,000 units. It seems the terms AR and VR/MR are often used interchangeably, but they actually represent different technologies. When they mention AR, they mean devices like video glasses from XREAL and smart glasses like INMO GO2, which show a camera feed without blocking the user’s view. What do you all think about this shift?
AR is definitely moving forward. It seems to have more potential for mainstream adoption sooner. Personally, I’m sensitive to motion sickness, and my AR devices don’t trigger that at all. They’re just so much more convenient to wear. I think we might be entering a new VR winter until we have VR that can actually adjust to our sense of motion and touch.
Mainstream adoption is still a long way off. The complexity of making mass-market viable AR is way beyond what VR can achieve in the short term. In China, there aren’t many VR companies making serious efforts; most are based in the West.
What about Pico though?
Pico isn’t doing much in the VR space either, especially since Bytedance backed off.
What makes you think that?
The West isn’t making much progress in VR either. The Meta Quest line is the most common, but the headsets and software are pretty uninspiring.
These VR sales numbers are brutal.
VR never really took off in the home market in China. Pico had a chance but then stepped back. It’s not surprising that AR is surpassing VR now.
Keep in mind that Meta products aren’t available in China. That context is important when looking at these numbers.
Exactly, they don’t have the option to buy Quest headsets.
I’m curious about what specific use cases AR glasses have. Most tasks they can perform right now can also be done with a VR headset.
I imagine these video glasses in China are mainly used for gaming and watching videos, likely connected to phones. They’re lighter and cheaper than VR headsets, which could appeal to those living in smaller spaces.
Exactly. They’re sleek and convenient, particularly in China where hands-free payment systems are huge. You can navigate and translate in real-time, which is really helpful.
Real-time translation is a game changer for travelers and expats. I also want to see AI-enhanced smart glasses that show music details without needing to pull out my phone.
Payment features are likely the primary use, with AI and camera functions being secondary.
Subtitles in AR glasses could be a fantastic feature for deaf people.
Exactly. AR lets you have spatial experiences without the bulk and weight of a VR headset. Most people won’t walk around with a VR headset on their face.
That’s a good point. I haven’t tried any AR glasses yet, but I’ve seen some appealing options recently.
VR might be the superior option for gaming due to its immersion, but there’s definitely a market for lightweight XR solutions that people can use for everyday tasks without looking out of place.