Global Scans · Augmented reality · Weekly Summary

• [New] IDC projects AR/VR headset shipments will grow 39.2% in 2025; affordability is a driver. Glass Almanac
• [New] By 2032, virtual and augmented reality commerce could account for 15-20% of retail revenue in certain categories. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] As 2025 progresses, integration of AI with emerging tech like AR could further personalize experiences. WebProNews
• [New] Amazon is building consumer AR glasses to guide deliveries and scan products, turning retail into an AR-native use case that could beat social-first rollouts. Glass Almanac
• [New] The broader adoption of AR/VR devices powered by MicroLEDs for defence training and real-time battlefield visualization presents a massive growth area, with projected spending in AR solutions for dismounted soldiers reaching $12 billion by 2030. The Chronicle-Journal
• The two-year Resilience programme, set up with £4.5 million ($6 million) in government funding last year, uses new tools such as virtual reality and mixed reality to train medicine makers in skills which would be impractical, disruptive, and expensive to gain in the real world. Pharmaphorum
• More than 71% of medical organizations used AR/VR in 2021, with the healthcare XR industry expected to reach more than $14 billion by 2028. Advanced Manufacturing
• Apple expects to ship more than 10 million AR/VR products in 2027, including a Ray-Ban Meta-style smart glasses product projected for 3 million to 5 million shipments. Next Reality
• By 2025-26, we can expect to see AR-enabled packaging that allows consumers to interact with products in a virtual space, providing detailed information, product demonstrations, and immersive experiences. LPack.co.uk
• Global 5G connections are forecast to surpass 1 billion in 2025, driving a rapid increase in streaming, cloud gaming, and AR/VR adoption on mobile. demandsage
• Global shipments of AR devices are forecast to rise 9.1% year over year in 2025 to 600,000 units. TrendForce
• From gaming to retail shopping experiences, AR/VR will be a new standard feature in the next wave of iOS app development trends from 2025 to 2030. Seven Square Technologies
• User Base By 2025, the number of active mobile AR users worldwide is projected to exceed 2 billion, having reached 1.7 billion by 2024. Emerline
• As AR tech becomes cheaper and more accessible, indie developers and local designers could start crafting experiences that blend storytelling, tech, and Texas-style creativity. Fort Worth Weekly
• The AR headset could position Meta as the most formidable competitor to Apple's Vision Pro and other AR-first devices. AI CERTs News
• QR codes, invented in 1994 for automotive tracking, have become essential for contactless interactions, with usage projected to grow 20% annually by 2025, driven by AI integration, dynamic functionalities, and emerging tech like AR and blockchain. WebProNews
• Apple will launch its first pair of AR glasses in 2027, although they could be revealed as soon as 2026. TechRadar
• In the retail industry, brands like IKEA use AR to help customers visualize how furniture will look in their homes before purchasing. Journal
• Virtual reality technology continues to evolve, and fall 2025 will introduce next-generation headsets designed to deliver immersive gaming experiences. Medium
• In the year 2025, both VR and AR will be able to gain more traction. Yogonet
• The convergence of VR, AR, and AI will lead to seamless, personalized digital interactions, with lightweight wearable devices potentially replacing smartphones as primary interfaces by the end of the decade. The Chronicle-Journal
• By 2025, classrooms will be equipped with AR and VR tools that allow students to explore topics in ways that are impossible with traditional textbooks. Euphoria XR

Last updated: 16 November 2025