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Top 5 Predictions for the Worldwide AR/VR Market in 2026

Ramon T. Llamas, Tom Mainelli, Bryan Bassett — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Market Perspective provides a discussion on some of the trends that will shape the worldwide AR/VR market in 2026. The worldwide AR/VR market in 2026 will see gradual but meaningful progress, driven by the convergence of AI, XR, and digital twins; the expansion of AR/VR applications; and the emergence of Android XR glasses. While adoption remains measured due to practical and economic constraints, advances in hardware, software, and content creation tools — alongside strategic mergers and acquisitions — will foster ecosystem growth, especially in high-impact enterprise and training scenarios.

"The past several years have shown multiple companies laying down the foundation of the AR/VR market. 2026 represents another year of progress, with multiple opportunities for companies to grow and gain," said Ramon T. Llamas, research director with IDC's XD and Interactive Software team. "Convergence of emerging technologies, emergence of new platforms and partners, and new and improving use cases are expected to take center stage this year and will make innovations launched just a few years ago look quaint. Companies with an eye to constant development of the AR/VR experience will be rewarded with end-user interest and ultimately, adoption."

U.S. Enterprise XR Survey, 2025: Spatial Modeling and Design

Ramon T. Llamas — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

During 1Q25, IDC fielded its annual U.S. Enterprise XR Survey covering multiple topics. This report focuses on the usage of XR technologies for spatial modeling and design, covering: user demographics and enterprise profiles, usage, top use cases, software, and satisfaction. We closed out the survey with IT- and AI-related considerations.

"XR technology has found its way to multiple use cases, and spatial modeling and design has caught on across numerous sectors and roles. At its core, XR allows users to interact with virtual renderings of products and workflows before moving on to actual ones, saving valuable time. To get there, our survey participants have invested in the hardware, software, and services — and have provided insight as to who they are, how they use it, and what they learned along the way." — Research Director Ramon T. Llamas, XR Hardware and 3D Interactive Software, IDC

Verizon 4Q2025 and FY2025 Earnings: Strong end to 2025 and positive outlook for 2026

Courtney Munroe — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Mobile Augmented Reality Survey: Smartphones and Tablets

Ramon T. Llamas — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

IDC polled 932 IT decision-makers in 1Q25 about the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). In addition to other topics, we asked about their use of mobile AR applications on smartphones and tablets. Specifically, we inquired about what they used these tools for, what they hoped to gain, and how satisfied they were with the results. We were able to gather demographics about the users, including age, gender, what size company they worked for, and what industry they worked in.

“Mobile AR applications have made it possible for employees to use the hardware they already own for augmented reality,” said Ramon T. Llamas, research director with IDC's XR and Interactive 3D Software team. “Our survey participants cited multiple use cases for mobile AR, ranging from increased productivity and work efficiency to improved knowledge retention and saving time and money. Most have turned to third parties to develop their applications, with systems integrators, ISVs, and VARs designing the most popular options. High satisfaction scores with mobile AR applications indicate that these apps delivered as promised, helping customers realize productivity and efficiency gains.”

Retail Case Study: How Yuka Is Driving Consumer Health Transparency Through AI, Crowdsourced Data, and High-Performance Mobile Scanning

Ornella Urso — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Perspective details an IDC Retail Insights case study on how Yuka, a rapidly expanding consumer health application with 78 million users globally, has embedded advanced scanning capabilities, machine learning, and large language models into its strategic road map to transform product transparency for consumers and influence industrywide reformulation. The document highlights the company's mission-driven innovation strategy, its long-standing technology partnership with Scandit, and the business value derived from a data architecture that blends AI, crowdsourcing, and human expertise.

"Retail data capture is no longer a simple transactional step but a strategic enabler of transparency, operational efficiency, and consumer trust," said Ornella Urso, research director at IDC Retail Insights. "Yuka's journey illustrates how the right combination of technology, governance, and user-centric design can reshape customer experience, driven by change management."

IDC Playbook for Tech Sales Leaders：2026年国内企業向けネットワーク機器市場ーAIとセキュリティを軸にした戦略的アプローチ

Kenichi Kusano — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

本調査レポートは、国内企業向けネットワーク機器市場の現状や将来のトレンドについて分析したものである。IDCの調査に基づいて、顧客、競合、市場の動向に関するインサイトを提供する。また、ITサプライヤーに、あるべき行動とその実施戦略を提言する。ITサプライヤーの営業部門のリーダーが、顧客の購買基準や市場動向の影響を明確にする際に活用できる情報が多く含まれる。

What Is Driving Mobile Private Network Adoption Among META Enterprises?

Hyder Aftab — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Survey Spotlight examines the adoption and deployment of private 4G, LTE, or 5G mobile networks by enterprises in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (META), with an emphasis on evolving priorities in terms of secure, reliable, and high-performance connectivity. The analysis draws on data from IDC's 2025 Enterprise 5G and IoT Survey (December 2025), specifically responses from organizations across the META region.

The survey revealed that enterprises are increasingly investing in private mobile networks to address operational technology (OT) risks, regulatory compliance, and the integration of IoT/OT systems. Security, reliability, and data sovereignty have emerged as top decision drivers, with a significant portion of organizations prioritizing these factors over cost savings. The findings highlight the strategic role of private 4G/5G in supporting digital transformation, especially in industries with stringent uptime and compliance requirements.

These insights reflect the momentum behind private mobile network deployments and the need for operators and vendors to deliver solutions that address enterprise-specific challenges, including advanced security, seamless IoT/OT integration, and regulatory alignment.

Five Trends to Watch in Endpoint Management in 2026

Phil Hochmuth — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Market Perspective outlines five key developments in endpoint device management that will shape the market in 2026, including the decoupling of OS-specific management planes, the rise of life-cycle intelligence, outcome-based management models, the need to manage invisible endpoints, and the emergence of management-optional devices.

"As endpoint estates grow in diversity and AI capabilities, technology suppliers must provide data-driven, integrated, and risk-aware endpoint device management platforms that meet evolving operational, security, and digital employee experience requirements," says Phil Hochmuth, program vice president, Endpoint Device Management and Enterprise Mobility at IDC.

What Is the Interest in a Foldable iPhone in the United States?

Ramon T. Llamas — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Survey Spotlight answers the following question: If Apple made a foldable iPhone, would you buy it?

In the spring of 2025, IDC polled 2,034 consumers in the United States about the likelihood of purchasing a foldable smartphone from Apple. Participants were given simple yes/no/maybe/I don't know options to gauge demand. This follows similar surveys from previous years where we asked the same question, allowing us to track patterns and changes over time.

"The appetite for foldable smartphones has been slowly growing in the United States despite Apple's noticeable absence from it. Meanwhile, rumors of such a device have been swirling for the past several years, and IDC believes that a launch will happen in 2026," said Ramon T. Llamas, research director with IDC's Mobile Phones team. "In the meantime, interest in such a device remains a mixed bag, at best. Without insight into price and feature set, most respondents have taken a wait-and-see approach. This is where Apple can lean into the capabilities that differentiate a foldable iPhone from its slab-style iPhones, highlighting productivity and creativity that have been the hallmark of other foldable smartphones."

Survey Insights: Satellite D2D Connectivity Demand Among Consumers and Enterprises

Jason Leigh, Pahul Singh — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This IDC Survey analyzes insights from two recent surveys for satellite D2D connectivity demand among consumers and enterprises. Mobile operators are rushing to tout their partnerships with low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers to provide connectivity to mobile devices — referred to as direct to device (D2D) or direct to cellular (D2C) — to fill coverage gaps and provide resiliency to business operations. While consumers and business IT decision-makers are largely aware of these initiatives, understanding of the current state of functionality varies significantly, as does the appetite for investing in D2D connectivity. IDC analyzed the results of two recent surveys (IDC's U.S. Consumer Communications and Mobile Services Survey, 2025, and IDC's North American Enterprise 5G, IoT, and Private 4G/5G Networks Survey, 2025) to gauge the appetite for satellite-based connectivity and to separate satellite hype from reality.