Apple MR Headset Launching Soon, Will It Sell Well? "Only 1% of US Teens Interested in VR Headsets"

Piper Sandler Survey Results
52% of Respondents "No Purchase Confidence or Interest"

As big tech companies like Meta Platforms and Apple are fervently developing virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, a survey revealed that VR headsets are not particularly popular among American teenagers. With Apple expected to release an MR headset, considered CEO Tim Cook's first major product, in June, attention is focused on whether this will impact sales.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to a survey on VR headset usage among American teenagers released on the 4th (local time) by U.S. investment firm Piper Sandler, only 29% of respondents owned a VR headset, roughly one in four. Considering that 87% of teenagers own an iPhone, this suggests that interest in VR devices among teens is relatively low.

Only 4% of VR headset owners reported using the device daily. Based on all respondents, the percentage of teenagers who use VR headsets daily was about 1%. Those who used the device at least once a week accounted for 14% of owners.

Teenagers also showed little interest in purchasing VR headsets. Only 7% of respondents said they planned to buy a VR headset, while 52% said they were unsure or not particularly interested in buying one.

Teen consumers are generally considered "early adopters" who have no resistance to new technology and are sensitive to trends. For this reason, their preferences are often regarded as indicators of industry direction. This survey was conducted in February among 5,600 teenagers living in the U.S. Piper Sandler evaluated that the survey results indicate the VR headset market is still in its early stages and remains less important than smartphones.

This survey is notable because Apple is expected to unveil its MR headset as early as June 5 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

However, there are reportedly mixed feelings within Apple regarding the MR headset launch. Bloomberg reported at the end of last month that although CEO Cook is strongly committed to releasing the MR headset, skepticism exists due to its high price of $3,000 (approximately 3.9 million KRW) and inconvenient design, which may result in lower-than-expected sales. Apple expects to sell 1 million units in the first year, but the market predicts fewer than 500,000 units will be sold.

Not only Apple, but Meta, which released a VR headset earlier, is also planning to launch a new VR headset in the second half of this year, CNBC reported. Meta's Quest 2 headset, released in 2020, currently holds the top market position, but its shipments declined compared to the previous year.

CNBC explained that while Apple is preparing to unveil its own headset, this survey shows that attracting potential customers may not be easy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.