Parks Points

Smartphone-based systems continue to dominate the overall VR market and account for the majority of systems. These low-end systems are reported as an underwhelming experience and may be a barrier to adoption of higher-quality systems, such as PlayStation VR or Oculus Rift.

Smartphone-based systems have achieved greater adoption due to their low cost, despite a lower quality experience compared to other VR alternatives. The reporting of underwhelming experiences with these systems risks losing early adopters as badly needed evangelizers of the category. Manufacturers must quickly find the right mix of content, experience, and price points to expand into the mass market or risk losing a path to long-term success. The development of standalone virtual reality headsets, that do not require mobile phones, gaming consoles, or PCs to function, could significantly change this marketplace.

For more information on this topic, see Parks Associates’ 360 Deep Dive: Ownership, Use, and Perception of Virtual Reality. The study provides an analysis of current-day awareness, adoption, attitudes, expectations, and use of VR devices and content sources.