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Global shipments of XR headwear will decline by 12% to 6.2 ...

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Global shipments of XR headwear will decline by 12% to 6.2 million units in 2026, according to the <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fomdia.tech.informa.com%2Fadvance-your-business%2Fgaming&amp;esheet=54554941&amp;newsitemid=20260616011033&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=latest+forecast+from+Omdia&amp;index=1&amp;md5=07b8dd2d6d2a287e821078e10eebb086" shape="rect">latest forecast from Omdia</a>. However, the market is expected to return to growth in 2027, reaching 6.5 million units, an increase of 4.8%. This recovery will be driven by the rapid expansion of XR glasses, offsetting declines in headset shipments, as both consumers and manufacturers increasingly favor lighter form factors over bulkier devices.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="news-body-cta">This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616011033/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616011033/en/</a></p><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="bwbodyimg" style="width: 480px; float:left; padding-left:0px; padding-right:20px; padding-top:0px; padding-bottom:0px;"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" src="https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20260616011033/en/2832624/4/XR_headwear_example_devices_by_category.jpg" alt="XR headwear – example devices by category"></img><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" style="font-size:85%;">XR headwear – example devices by category</p></div><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The tethered XR glasses segment, led by Chinese vendors like RayNeo and Xreal, is projected to reach 900,000 units in 2026 – a 19% increase – and maintain double-digit growth to reach 3.8 million units by 2030. Meanwhile, standalone XR glasses remain a relatively small segment, largely confined to enterprise and developer use, with shipments forecast to reach just 93,000 units in 2026. However, the category is expected to grow rapidly over the next five years as hardware matures and spatial computing capabilities improve.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
XR headwear is part of the wider intelligent headwear market as defined by Omdia, which also includes AI glasses. "Following three years of rapid growth, AI glasses have begun normalizing face-worn computing for daily use," said <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fomdia.tech.informa.com%2Fauthors%2Fgeorge-jijiashvili&amp;esheet=54554941&amp;newsitemid=20260616011033&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=George+Jijiashvili%2C+Senior+Principal+Analyst+at+Omdia&amp;index=2&amp;md5=c3663a034097cff3cba2ed8cf80a6ceb" shape="rect">George Jijiashvili, Senior Principal Analyst at Omdia</a>. "This growing consumer familiarity is directly fueling the XR glasses segment, laying groundwork for an industry-wide evolution toward slimmer glasses form factors."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The standalone XR headset category, which includes the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, is projected to decline 15% in 2026 to 4.7 million shipments, with contractions continuing into 2027, marking a fifth consecutive year of decline for the category since its pandemic-induced peak in 2021/22. A return to growth is predicted in 2028, with shipments forecast to rise to 5 million units.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
This recovery relies on Apple introducing a more accessible Vision Pro around 2028, acting as the catalyst for players like Samsung and Vivo to make a more competitive push. Without these developments, growth prospects for the segment remain uncertain. Meanwhile, tethered headsets continue their steep decline, dropping 34% in 2026 to 500,000 units as standalone alternatives displace them.

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"Despite maturing technology, bulky XR headsets struggle to demonstrate everyday utility for mainstream consumers," noted <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fomdia.tech.informa.com%2Fauthors%2Fqiran-ju&amp;esheet=54554941&amp;newsitemid=20260616011033&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Qiran+Ju%2C+Senior+Analyst+at+Omdia&amp;index=3&amp;md5=5735f74a277dd39cd66680a911983d43" shape="rect">Qiran Ju, Senior Analyst at Omdia</a>. "Meta has prioritized AI glasses, while Google signaled a similar direction through emphasis on XR glasses at I/O 2026. Lighter form factors are better positioned to gain widespread consumer acceptance and steer the future of XR development."

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<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Notes to editors</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Omdia classifies XR headwear into four categories:

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">XR Headsets</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Tethered XR Headsets</b>

</p><ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Fully immersive, bulkier headsets that must be physically wired to an external PC or console. They sacrifice mobility to deliver the highest possible graphics quality and processing power.

</li>
</ul><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Standalone XR Headsets</b>

</p><ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
All-in-one, fully immersive headsets containing all processing, tracking, and displays within the device itself, allowing complete freedom of movement without wires.

</li>
</ul><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">XR Glasses</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Tethered XR Glasses</b>

</p><ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Lightweight, eyewear-style devices that plug directly into a smartphone, PC, or console. They function primarily as a discreet, wearable personal screen for media consumption, with some models offering basic AR features.

</li>
</ul><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Standalone XR Glasses</b>

</p><ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Eyewear that enables untethered spatial computing without relying on a smartphone or PC. These devices either integrate all processing directly into the frames or to maintain a slim profile, offload it to a dedicated, pocket-sized compute unit.

</li>
</ul><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
ABOUT OMDIA

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</p>

TTGT

Omdia: XR Headwear Market Set for Growth From 2027, as Industry Attention Shifts From Headsets to Glasses

Omdia XR forecast: 2026 dip, 2027 rebound, catalyst from lighter glasses

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>&lt;p xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml&quot;&gt;
Global shipments of XR headwear will decline by 12% to 6.2 ...</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Omdia projects a 2026 dip in XR headwear shipments to 6.2M (12% decline) with a 2027 rebound to 6.5M as lighter XR glasses gain traction. Tethered glasses lead growth, while standalone XR remains small but set to grow over five years. A 2028–catalyst from Apple Vision Pro and lighter form factors could accelerate adoption, signaling stronger demand for XR analytics, which benefits TTGT&#039;s research franchise.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>XR headwear shipments forecast: 6.2M in 2026, down 12%, rising to 6.5M in 2027.</li><li>Tethered XR glasses: 900k in 2026 and 3.8M by 2030.</li><li>Standalone glasses only 93k in 2026; rapid five-year growth expected.</li><li>Standalone headsets decline 15% to 4.7M in 2026; rebound by 2028 to 5.0M.</li><li>Apple Vision Pro and lighter form factors may catalyze XR adoption.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Apple Inc. (AAPL)</strong>: Catalyst for XR adoption via Vision Pro; potential impact on future XR form factors.</li><li><strong>Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)</strong>: Major XR player; trajectory influenced by demand for lighter, consumer-friendly devices.</li><li><strong>TechTarget / Informa TechTarget (TTGT)</strong>: Parent company of Omdia; article highlights TTGT&#039;s exposure to tech-market analytics demand.</li><li><strong>RayNeo (N/A)</strong>: Leader in tethered XR glasses; informs near-term hardware supply/demand dynamics.</li><li><strong>Xreal (N/A)</strong>: Chinese tethered XR glasses vendor; contributing to 2026 growth in tethered segment.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Industry News</h3>
    <p>Industry News; reflects an external market forecast from a research firm and its implications for XR hardware cycles and analytics demand.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Omdia forecast implies a 2026 XR shipment dip and a 2027 rebound, signaling cyclical demand shifts.</li><li>Tethered XR glasses growth leads the sector (900k in 2026; 3.8M by 2030).</li><li>Standalone XR headsets remain a drag through 2027 before potential 2028 recovery.</li><li>Apple Vision Pro and lighter form factors are key catalysts for XR adoption.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Global XR shipments: 6.2M in 2026; 6.5M in 2027.</li><li>Tethered XR glasses: 900k in 2026; 3.8M by 2030.</li><li>Standalone XR glasses: 93k in 2026.</li><li>Standalone XR headsets: 4.7M in 2026; down 15%.</li><li>Recovery catalyst expected from Apple Vision Pro around 2028.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>TTGT should see modest upside over 12–24 months from rising XR analytics demand.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<article>
  <section id="overview">
    <p>Informa TechTarget’s research arm Omdia projects a short-term contraction in global XR headwear shipments, followed by a return to growth in 2027 as XR glasses gain momentum. The latest forecast shows shipments declining 12% in 2026 to 6.2 million units, with a recovery to 6.5 million units in 2027, an increase of 4.8%. This shift is led by rapid expansion of XR glasses, offsetting declines in headset shipments as consumers and manufacturers favor lighter form factors over bulkier devices.</p>
    <figure>
      <img src="https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20260616011033/en/2832624/4/XR_headwear_example_devices_by_category.jpg" alt="XR headwear – example devices by category">
      <figcaption>XR headwear – example devices by category</figcaption>
    </figure>
  </section>

  <section id="multimedia-note">
    <p>This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616011033/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616011033/en/</a></p>
  </section>

  <section id="market-breakdown">
    <h2>Key Market Forecasts by XR Headwear Category</h2>
    <ul>
      <li><strong>Global XR headwear shipments</strong> in 2026: <strong>6.2 million units</strong>, down <strong>12%</strong>.</li>
      <li><strong>2027 forecast</strong>: shipments up to <strong>6.5 million units</strong>, an <strong>increase of 4.8%</strong>.</li>
      <li><strong>Driver for 2027 recovery</strong>: rapid expansion of XR <strong>glasses</strong>, offsetting declines in headset shipments as demand shifts toward lighter form factors.</li>
    </ul>
  </section>

  <section id="segment-details">
    <h2>Segment Details and Growth Trajectories</h2>

    <section id="tethered-glasses">
      <h3>XR Glasses – Tethered Segment</h3>
      <p>The tethered XR glasses segment, led by Chinese vendors like RayNeo and Xreal, is projected to reach <strong>900,000 units</strong> in 2026 – a <strong>19%</strong> increase – and maintain double-digit growth to reach <strong>3.8 million units</strong> by <strong>2030</strong>.</p>
    </section>

    <section id="standalone-glasses">
      <h3>XR Glasses – Standalone Segment</h3>
      <p>Standalone XR glasses remain a relatively small segment, largely confined to enterprise and developer use, with shipments forecast to reach just <strong>93,000 units</strong> in 2026. However, the category is expected to grow rapidly over the next five years as hardware matures and spatial computing capabilities improve.</p>
    </section>

    <section id="standalone-headsets">
      <h3>XR Headsets – Standalone Segment</h3>
      <p>The standalone XR headset category, which includes the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, is projected to decline <strong>15%</strong> in 2026 to <strong>4.7 million shipments</strong>, with contractions continuing into 2027, marking a fifth consecutive year of decline for the category since its pandemic-induced peak in 2021/22. A return to growth is predicted in 2028, with shipments forecast to rise to <strong>5 million units</strong>.</p>

      <p>This recovery relies on Apple introducing a more accessible Vision Pro around 2028, acting as the catalyst for players like Samsung and Vivo to make a more competitive push. Without these developments, growth prospects for the segment remain uncertain. Meanwhile, tethered headsets continue their steep decline, dropping 34% in 2026 to <strong>500,000 units</strong> as standalone alternatives displace them.</p>
    </section>
  </section>

  <section id="industry-quotes">
    <h2>Industry Commentary</h2>
    <p> "XR headwear is part of the wider intelligent headwear market as defined by Omdia, which also includes AI glasses. Following three years of rapid growth, AI glasses have begun normalizing face-worn computing for daily use," said <strong>George Jijiashvili</strong>, Senior Principal Analyst at Omdia. "This growing consumer familiarity is directly fueling the XR glasses segment, laying groundwork for an industry-wide evolution toward slimmer glasses form factors." </p>

    <p> "Despite maturing technology, bulky XR headsets struggle to demonstrate everyday utility for mainstream consumers," noted <strong>Qiran Ju</strong>, Senior Analyst at Omdia. "Meta has prioritized AI glasses, while Google signaled a similar direction through emphasis on XR glasses at I/O 2026. Lighter form factors are better positioned to gain widespread consumer acceptance and steer the future of XR development." </p>
  </section>

  <section id="notes-to-editors">
    <h2>Notes to editors</h2>
    <p>Omdia classifies XR headwear into four categories:</p>

    <h4>XR Headsets</h4>
    <h4>Tethered XR Headsets</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>Fully immersive, bulkier headsets that must be physically wired to an external PC or console. They sacrifice mobility to deliver the highest possible graphics quality and processing power.</li>
    </ul>

    <h4>Standalone XR Headsets</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>All-in-one, fully immersive headsets containing all processing, tracking, and displays within the device itself, allowing complete freedom of movement without wires.</li>
    </ul>

    <h4>XR Glasses</h4>

    <h4>Tethered XR Glasses</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>Lightweight, eyewear-style devices that plug directly into a smartphone, PC, or console. They function primarily as a discreet, wearable personal screen for media consumption, with some models offering basic AR features.</li>
    </ul>

    <h4>Standalone XR Glasses</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>Eyewear that enables untethered spatial computing without relying on a smartphone or PC. These devices either integrate all processing directly into the frames or to maintain a slim profile, offload it to a dedicated, pocket-sized compute unit.</li>
    </ul>
  </section>

  <section id="about-omdia">
    <h2>About OMDIA</h2>
    <p>Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (NASDAQ: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, make our market intelligence our clients' strategic advantage. From R&amp;D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.</p>
  </section>
</article>

Omdia projects a 2026 dip in XR headwear shipments to 6.2M (12% decline) with a 2027 rebound to 6.5M as lighter XR glasses gain traction. Tethered glasses lead growth, while standalone XR remains small but set to grow over five years. A 2028–catalyst from Apple Vision Pro and lighter form factors could accelerate adoption, signaling stronger demand for XR analytics, which benefits TTGT's research franchise.

Omdia: XR Headwear Market Set for Growth From 2027, as Industry Attention Shifts From Headsets to Glasses

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Industry News

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