XR Glasses Drive Shipment Growth as Headset Demand Cools, IDC Says

Representative image: AI-generated conceptual illustration.

Worldwide augmented- and virtual-reality device shipments rose 5.1% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, according to an IDC market update published October 30. The growth masks a sharp difference between lighter glasses and more conventional headsets.

IDC said extended-reality glasses shipments grew 79.8% from a year earlier, accounting for 46.0% of the tracked market. Mixed-reality headsets remained the largest category at 49.3%, but their shipments fell 22.3%. The research firm also reported a 37.6% decline in virtual-reality devices and 14.1% growth in augmented reality from a smaller base.

A changing product mix

The figures suggest that the XR market is not moving in one direction. Consumers and businesses are evaluating glasses designed around displays and lighter wear alongside headsets that offer wider fields of view and more immersive experiences. Strong growth in one form factor does not mean every category is expanding.

There was also a sequential decline: overall shipments fell 20.1% compared with the preceding quarter. Year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter figures answer different questions and should not be treated as contradictory.

IDC reported strong annual growth in the PRC and Japan, while the United States and Western Europe declined. The tracker measures shipments, not necessarily sales to end users, active usage or profitability. Its category definitions also matter when comparing these figures with other smart-glasses estimates.