Augmented Reality Statistics: 10 Key Stats in 2023

Hi there! As your resident tech expert, I wanted to provide an in-depth look at some fascinating augmented reality statistics and trends happening in 2023. I know you‘re interested in AR and where this technology is headed, so I‘ll share the latest projections, adoption rates, consumer perspectives, and more to paint a full picture. Get ready to dive into the key data shaping the state of augmented reality right now!

Augmented Reality Usage Is Skyrocketing

First off, one of the biggest AR stats is the sheer growth in usage.Augmented reality overlays digital information and objects onto your real-world environment. You may have used AR for fun on social media filters or games, but the technology has tons of valuable applications across industries like retail, medicine, manufacturing, and more.

According to recent estimates, there will be around 1.4 billion AR users worldwide by the end of 2023. For perspective, that‘s nearly 20% of the global population actively engaging with AR this year in some form!

Back in 2016, there were less than 100 million AR users globally, so adoption has absolutely exploded over the last 7 years. What‘s driving the surge? A few key factors:

• More AR-Ready Smartphones: Over 50% of smartphones now sold are compatible with ARCore and ARKit, making advanced AR functionality accessible to more consumers. This removes a major barrier to mass adoption.

• AR Social Media Filters: Apps like Snapchat and Instagram made AR a mainstream digital experience. These fun filters got millions of people comfortable with AR, priming further usage.

• Retail AR Integration: Shopping apps are incorporating AR technology at a rapid pace. By letting customers visualize products digitally, it drives greater engagement.

• Growth of AR Gaming: Pokémon GO gave a taste of how AR can transform gaming by blending digital objects with real locations. AR gaming is still in its infancy but gaining steam fast.

With AR becoming integral to so many popular apps, get ready for that 1.4 billion figure to keep climbing!

Consumers Are Enthusiastic About AR‘s Potential

How do everyday people actually feel about augmented reality? The numbers paint an optimistic picture about AR‘s reception. According to surveys by Goldman Sachs, 70% of consumers believe AR will provide value to their lives, whether through shopping, gaming, or interacting with their surroundings in new ways. Just 10% felt AR would not provide any value.

Additionally, 61% of shoppers say they now prefer retailers that utilize AR technology compared to ones that don‘t. When you enable customers to visualize products in new dimensions before buying, they enjoy the experience more.

Overall, these stats suggest huge possibilities ahead as AR becomes integrated into more apps and use cases. Companies that don‘t prioritize AR risk disappointing customers who expect these immersive, cutting-edge experiences.

Retail Sector Poised To Drive Major AR Investment

As we just covered, consumers respond very favorably to AR shopping tools. Recognizing this, retailers are set to rapidly scale up investment in AR technology over the next few years.

Goldman Sachs forecasts retail sector spending on AR solutions will soar from around $4 billion in 2022 all the way to over $15 billion in 2025. Both brick-and-mortar and online retailers realize AR can provide highly engaging, differentiating shopping experiences.

Specifically, AR-enabled mobile apps allow retailers to let customers visualize products in their own home before buying. 65% of consumers say they‘re interested in AR apps that let them see how furniture, appliances, and other items would fit and look in their actual space.

Plus, 61% of shoppers say they now prefer retailers that provide AR try-on capabilities for apparel and accessories. By digitally "trying on" items at home, buyers enjoy greater confidence in fit and style before purchasing.

With such direct consumer feedback, retailers across verticals are racing to deploy AR experiences that help drive sales and satisfaction. AR is set to transform shopping in exciting ways!

Total AR Market Revenue Could Exceed $300 Billion by 2028

Zooming out beyond just retail, the overall AR market outlook is extremely promising. Recent projections from Goldman Sachs estimate the total AR market value will skyrocket from around $3.5 billion in 2022 to over $340 billion by 2028! That‘s nearly 100X growth in just six years.

Two core factors are responsible for this hockey stick growth trajectory:

1. Enterprise AR Adoption: Companies across industries like manufacturing, medicine, architecture, and more realize AR can help boost productivity and workflows. For example, AR assists technicians in complex repairs, helps designers visualize concepts digitally, and enables immersive training simulations. These practical business applications are driving up enterprise spending significantly.

2. Consumer AR Usage: As mentioned earlier, consumers are becoming enthusiastic AR users via their mobile devices. Their collective spending on AR apps, services, and content (gaming, social media, etc.) amounts to a massive market segment that will continue expanding.

Based on early growth indicators, AR market revenue is forecast to see compound annual expansion around 56% through 2028 as both businesses and consumers embrace augmented reality wholeheartedly. Exciting times ahead!

AR Smart Glasses Could Reach 50 Million Users By 2026

While AR mobile apps lead the charge today, AR smart glasses have the potential to truly catapult augmented reality into the mainstream. Tech giants like Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Google are pouring billions into developing stylish, functional AR glasses for mass appeal.

The appeal lies in overlaying digital objects onto your view while keeping users hands-free to engage with their surroundings. Everything from getting directions to participating in shared workouts can be enhanced.

Analysts predict there will be around 15.4 million active AR smart glass users globally by 2024. As hardware improves and costs come down, projected adoption soars to over 50 million users by 2026. Unleashing AR‘s capabilities without needing to hold up a phone will prove the tipping point in consumer adoption and daily usage.

I‘ll be first in line to try the latest AR glasses! The ability to access information and experiences without disrupting activities will be a game-changer.

Total AR/VR Spending Could Exceed $120 Billion By 2026

Augmented reality‘s cousin virtual reality (VR) is seeing similarly massive growth. VR provides fully immersive digital experiences using headsets that block out the physical world. AR overlays graphics but doesn‘t block reality.

Together, AR and VR are transformational technologies, and global spending reflects their huge potential. Per IDC forecasts, worldwide AR/VR spending will skyrocket from around $18 billion in 2022 to over $72 billion in 2024. Just two years!

By 2026, combined AR/VR spending could top $120 billion as enterprises and consumers alike embrace extended realities. Core use cases span training, design, gaming, retail, healthcare, product visualization, and much more.

The capabilities of AR and VR will fundamentally reshape how we learn, design, shop, collaborate, and are entertained. Their growth trajectory makes sense given the innovations we‘ll experience!

Over 40% of Companies Adopted AR Technology in 2022

How are enterprises actually responding to AR‘s immense possibilities? Very quickly, it turns out! Per PWC research, over 40% of companies adopted some form of AR tools in 2022. Areas like assembly assistance, design previews, and interactive training simulations are proving highly valuable.

Among organizations already using AR, over 70% said they planned expanded AR implementation within 1-2 years. Clearly, AR is transitioning rapidly from early adoption to becoming an integral workplace technology across sectors.

As more businesses experience real ROI from AR and best practices emerge, I expect over 75% of enterprises to be utilizing AR in some capacity by 2025. The technology provides too many benefits for companies to ignore!

Consumers Crave AR Visualization for Home Purchases

Earlier we covered how AR product visualization influences retail success—consumers want to preview items digitally. This demand is especially high for home goods, furniture, and appliances.

65% of shoppers say they‘re very interested in AR mobile apps that let them see how sofas, beds, TV units, refrigerators, and more would look in their actual residence prior to buying.

Being able to gauge colors, scale, and spacing provides vital spatial insights you simply can‘t get from traditional photos or descriptions. This revolutionizes the ability to purchase with confidence online.

Target and Amazon are among major retailers now offering practical AR placement tools in their mobile apps. But plenty of room for smaller niche players exists to win shoppers with the best realistic visualization capabilities.

The home goods category is ripe for AR disruption. Consumers clearly crave the power to preview big-ticket items digitally in their space before committing. Expect retailers to continue raising the AR visualization bar to new heights!

AR Try-On Capabilities Are In Demand

AR product visualization apps also enable shoppers to "try on" clothing, jewelry, accessories, and beauty products digitally. This bridges the gap of not being able to physically try items on when shopping online.

Per Goldman Sachs, 61% of consumers say they now prefer retailers that provide AR try-on compared to ones that don‘t. Seeing how an outfit or lipstick color looks on your body or face builds buying confidence and satisfaction.

AR try-on tools are especially popular for assessing proper apparel fit. A top pain point in e-commerce has been uncertain sizing and inaccurate return processes. AR helps address fit issues earlier for a smoother customer journey.

Brands like Dior, L‘Oreal, and Ray Ban are already innovating with virtual try-on for makeup, glasses, and clothes. There remains massive potential for retailers to get creative with realistic AR experiences that mimic real life better than ever.

Compelling New AR Use Cases Across Industries

Beyond retail, AR use cases in industries like manufacturing, medicine, architecture, and more are maturing rapidly. For example:

• Manufacturing: AR assists technicians in complex equipment assembly and repairs by overlaying step-by-step instructions digitally in their field of view. This improves productivity and accuracy.

• Medicine: Surgeons utilize AR during operations to visualize patient MRI scans and vital data as they operate, improving precision. AR is also being used for more immersive medical school training.

• Architecture: AR allows architects and their clients to physically walk through not-yet-built buildings to provide realistic previews of design concepts before construction. This enables faster iteration.

• Higher Education: Professors are incorporating AR into lectures and lab work to engage students with interactive 3D learning content instead of static slides.

The applications across sectors are exploding! AR unlocks efficiency and experiences not possible otherwise. Adoption will surge as more breakthrough use cases emerge.

Key Takeaways: AR‘s Momentum Is Undeniable

In summary, I hope exploring all these illuminating AR stats and trends gives you a window into the sheer momentum underway right now in the augmented reality sphere.

Already, AR usage is mainstreaming faster than expected, consumers are demonstrating enthusiasm, and companies are responding aggressively with investments to spearhead adoption.

As smartphone capabilities improve, early technical hurdles lower, and innovative use cases spread across industries, AR is primed to transform how we shop, learn, make, and interact with the world.

The numbers unequivocally signal soaring growth and mainstream integration ahead. Exciting times lie ahead as augmented reality realization accelerates! Let me know if you have any other AR topics you want me to explore.