Next Generation Virtual Reality Headsets will Usher in a More Immersive Experience
September 12, 2017 | ABI ResearchEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The worldwide virtual reality (VR) market has been experiencing significant growth with increasing numbers of content launches, consumer and enterprise deployments in entertainment, retail, marketing, and other segments. As the VR adoption rate increases, so does the expectation and requirements of VR head-mounted displays (HMDs). As VR makers continue to improve the level of immersion, ABI Research forecasts that VR HMDs with 6 DOF will represent over 40% of combined mobile and standalone VR market in 2022.
To meet user expectations, VR HMDs have a long way to go in many features including display quality, degree of freedom (DOF), and connectivity. The majority of VR HMDs currently available in the market support only 1080/2K resolution displays -- which need to be greatly improved to solve the screen door effect caused by low resolution displays. New tethered devices with 4K display such as Aukey Cortex and Pimax and the arrival of mobile headsets with 4K display are likely to drive the penetration of high resolution VR devices.
Accuracy in tracking movements is another important feature for an immersive VR experience. Most of the current VR devices support only 3 DOF tracking, with the exception of tethered devices, which are usually targeted for high-end market support 6 DOF. “A 6 DOF is the ideal goal and mobile and standalone VR devices are moving towards 6 DOF tracking to provide a total immersive experience. Mindmaze and uSens have announced 6 DOF position tracking solution for mobile VR devices, and Google announced Worldsense, a standalone VR device with 6 DOF,” notes Khin Sandi Lynn, industry analyst at ABI Research.
In terms of connectivity, 802.11 n/ac Wi-Fi is supported by mobile and standalone devices. While tethered devices are still connected to a PC or console with a cable, however, a wireless connection is likely to replace the cable connection. For tethered VR and high-resolution VR content, 60 GHz (WiGig) will play important role to support high bandwidth in the years to come. ABI Research expects that WiGig will be mainly deployed in the tethered VR devices which need multi-gigabit connectivity with low latency. Nearly 40% of VR HMDs are expected to support WiGig connectivity in 2022.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Infineon Further Extends Global Leadership in the Automotive Semiconductor Market
04/13/2026 | InfineonInfineon Technologies AG has once again proven to be the world’s leading automotive semiconductor supplier.
The Marketing Minute: Your Metrics Aren’t Telling the Full Story
04/08/2026 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteIn digital marketing, we tend to rely on the same set of metrics: Average read time. Bounce rate. Session data. For years, these metrics have been the default for gauging marketing success, so it makes sense to rely on them. But in today’s privacy-first B2B environment, they’re becoming less reliable and often misleading. You’re missing part of the picture.
Take the Mic: Photo Chemical Systems: 50 Years Strong
04/03/2026 | Real Time with... APEX EXPOPhoto Chemical Systems is celebrating 50 years in the bare board PCB market. David Graves and Jason Averette discuss how they've expanded into assembly, leveraging strong relationships and a customer-centric approach to navigate supply chain challenges. With innovative solutions and future growth strategies, including AI integration and new market ventures, Photo Chemical Systems continues enduring success.
It’s Only Common Sense: Quoting Is Marketing, So Treat It That Way
04/06/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseMost companies think marketing is what happens before the quote. They rely on their website, trade show booth, LinkedIn posts, clever taglines, and email campaigns. But when the RFQ shows up, the marketing suddenly disappears, and math takes over.
AI Server Demand to Drive Memory Contract Price Increases in 2Q26 as CSPs Secure Supply via Long-Term Agreements
03/31/2026 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest memory pricing survey reveals that DRAM suppliers are reallocating capacity toward HBM and server applications in 2Q26, while implementing catch-up pricing to narrow price gaps across product segments.