Augmented Reality Hardware Market at an Innovation Inflection Point, ABI Research Says

As Augmented Reality (AR) continues to create a beachhead in enterprise and shows promise for consumer AR in the coming years, attention is being paid not only to the potential applications for AR -- but also to what impact hardware components will have in the market, according to ABI Research.

As a result, the augmented reality hardware market is ripe for innovation and transformation especially in the diverging capability demands for displays coming from divergent consumer and enterprise requirements.

“The past few years have allowed augmented reality to take root in the enterprise with compelling and unique use cases, including remote expertise and hands-free instruction,” says Eric Abbruzzese, Principal Analyst for ABI Research. “As the market matures, there will be a need for greater capability in these AR devices, with displays powering much of the change. Given the growing consumer market interest, the similarities and differences between display types in AR will be increasingly important.”

According to ABI Research, there will be 32.7 million total smart glasses shipments in 2022, growing from a mere 225,000 in 2017. During this timeframe, binocular (two display) devices will overtake monocular (single display) devices in market share. While monocular devices are predominant today thanks to their availability, cost, and acceptable performance, binocular devices will eventually win out as ASPs decline and device capability is fully realized. The consumer market will play a significant role in this shift as well.

“As the AR demand grows in enterprise and begins in the consumer market, the requirements for smart glasses shift,” Abbruzzese said. “Generally, an increased desire for higher-performing devices will push the market toward better displays in every category, with some use cases targeting specific needs.”

For example, consumer fitness devices will require small form factors and high brightness suitable for outdoor usage, AR-media and entertainment growth with necessitate binocular, 3D capable devices with high resolution. Devices used in environments with high safety requirements will favor safety certified devices with highly transparent displays. “Across the board, as knowledge and comfort with the potential of AR grow, so does the expectation for the devices, Abbruzzese said. “With that expectation, the requirements for devices grow too.”

Companies like Kopin and Lumus are working to maintain a balance between these factors. Other players are looking to jump the transformative curve with new technologies, such as Avegant and Magic Leap with their light field product prototypes. Microdisplays combined with a transparent waveguide are most common today, with projection-based displays also in use.

(For more information visit www.abiresearch.com.)