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SuperData: 6.3 Million VR Headsets Shipped in 2016

SuperData: 6.3 Million VR Headsets Shipped in 2016 - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 06 February 2017 / 9,140 Views

6.3 million virtual reality headsets were shipped in 2016, according a report released by SuperData. 4.51 million units shipped were Samsung Gear VR headsets. 

The VR industry earned $1.8 billion in revenue in 2016. Games accounted for 44 percent of the market. The average play session is just seven minutes on mobile and 12 minutes on high-end headsets.

Here is the complete list of shipment figures:

  1. Samsung Gear VR - 4,510,000
  2. PlayStation VR - 750,000
  3. HTC Vive - 420,000
  4. Oculus Rift - 250,000

"The low barrier to entry for mobile gave Samsung an edge over its other high-end competitors before the Google Daydream View came out," the report reads. "After giving away hundreds of thousands of headsets with S7 pre-orders, they were able to get devices into the hands of consumers at a critical time. Google’s new headset has been slow out the gate, coming out late last year and compatible with only the Google Pixel. However, as more phones become compatible this year it will be stiff competition for Samsung, especially since the Daydream View is $20 cheaper than the Gear VR."


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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9 Comments
Darwinianevolution (on 06 February 2017)

I'm happy with the mobile VR being the lead in sales here. I'm more interested in the non-gaming possibilities of VR anyway. Things like walking on a museum in VR, or that Ikea VR app... They seem to have a better focus of what they want to achieve and what they can offer than most VR videogames.

  • +7
Jranation (on 06 February 2017)

Nice one for Samsung leading the pact! I wonder if Apple will join in?

  • +7
monocle_layton Jranation (on 07 February 2017)

Probably charge $300 for a "mobile headset like no other"

  • 0
binary solo (on 06 February 2017)

OK sales for PSVR. But certainly nothing like making VR the next big gaming thing. I Still think VR has better personal applications than gaming, and that gaming applications are really more in the purpose built arena situations, like Laser tag / paintball set ups, where you can have PvP mixed in with PvE.

The eventual winner of course will be the one that develops the best porn app.

  • +4
KLAMarine (on 06 February 2017)

Samsung killing it

  • +2
Lawlight (on 06 February 2017)

Great start for PSVR. People shoudn't read into Gear VR sales too much - that's. It used for gaming,

  • +1
Qwark (on 06 February 2017)

God news for PSVR IG might have an installbase worth developing for after all.

  • 0
nanarchy Qwark (on 06 February 2017)

I honestly don't see good news there for anyone except maybe Samsung. the numbers are too low to justify content development costs at this point combined with very short play time. They either need a big surge in sales and usage this year or they may go the way of 3D TV's

  • +6
aLkaLiNE Qwark (on 06 February 2017)

750k in two and a half months amidst supply shortages due to OLED screen production issues. But go ahead and keep downplaying

  • +1