Mixed reality revolution: the convergence of AR and VR in 2025

According to IDC’s AR/VR tracker, Meta captured 74.6% market share in the reporting period, while serious heat arrives from Apple’s Vision Pro and the looming Samsung Galaxy XR. This three-way competition is accelerating innovation while expanding market access across different price points and use cases.

The perfect storm

While your laptop operates comfortably with 16GB of RAM, AI memory components require closer to 200 gigabytes. This same computational power now drives mixed reality headsets, enabling experiences that seamlessly blend physical and digital worlds. The VR landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation, with headsets now capable of delivering experiences so immersive they temporarily erase the awareness of wearing technology on your face.

Three titans of spatial computing

Samsung and Apple are stepping into the ring with their most ambitious mixed-reality headsets yet, each taking radically different approaches to the future of spatial computing. Understanding these three platforms reveals the breadth of mixed reality’s potential.

Technical comparison

While all three platforms deliver mixed reality experiences, their technical approaches differ significantly. These differences determine which device suits specific use cases and user preferences.

Real-world applications transforming industries

Mixed reality is moving beyond entertainment into practical applications that transform how we work, learn, and create. The convergence of AR and VR enables use cases impossible with either technology alone.

Enterprise and productivity: 75% of Fortune 500 companies have integrated XR technologies for training and education, moving past pilots. The payoff is clear, with VR training demonstrating 52% cost reductions compared to traditional methods at scale. The Vision Pro’s spatial computing enables professionals to work with multiple virtual displays, while Galaxy XR’s PC Connect feature seamlessly integrates Windows desktops into spatial environments.

Content creation and design: Spatial computing transforms creative workflows. The Vision Pro’s integration with Adobe Creative Cloud enables designers to manipulate 3D models in space. Meta’s Quest 3 emerged as the definitive choice for VR enthusiasts, earning recognition as the top VR headset from multiple industry experts. Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive created “What If…? – An Immersive Story” specifically for Vision Pro, demonstrating how narrative entertainment evolves in spatial computing.

AI-powered spatial experiences: Samsung’s Galaxy XR launches as the first headset running Android XR, Google’s new mixed-reality OS. It brings deep Gemini AI integration at the system level, so you can hold a conversation with your headset about what it sees in front of you. Imagine walking through a museum and asking for the story behind a painting, or getting real-time translation of signs while traveling abroad.

Timeline: how we got here

The mixed reality revolution didn’t happen overnight. Key milestones mark the journey from separate AR and VR technologies to today’s converged platforms.

Market explosion and growth trajectory

The mixed reality market is experiencing explosive growth after years of anticipation. Global shipments surged 44.2% in 2024 to 9.7 million units, recovering dramatically from the 23.5% decline in 2023. This momentum continues accelerating into 2025 and beyond.

Projections show VR headsets reaching 24.7 million units by 2028 with a five-year CAGR of 29.2%. AR headsets will grow even faster, hitting 10.9 million units in 2028 with an 87.1% CAGR. Enterprise applications drive 60% of total VR revenue by decade’s end, with global XR market growth projected at 33.16% compound annual growth through 2030.

Meta’s dominance remains unchallenged for now, capturing 74.6% market share. However, Apple’s premium positioning and Samsung’s AI-first approach are creating distinct market segments rather than direct competition. This diversity accelerates innovation as each company pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in spatial computing.

The AI advantage: Samsung’s differentiation

What sets Samsung Galaxy XR apart isn’t just hardware—it’s the deep integration of artificial intelligence through Google’s Gemini. Users can ask questions about their surroundings, search for information with Circle to Search, and receive contextual assistance. Google Maps in immersive 3D enables virtual travel, while spatial photo conversion transforms 2D memories into three-dimensional experiences.

The Android XR platform brings familiar Android smartphone interactions to spatial computing. Developers can easily port existing apps while adding spatial features. This lowers the barrier to entry for content creators and could rapidly expand the XR software ecosystem beyond Meta’s current dominance.

Vision Pro’s ecosystem advantage

Apple’s approach leverages its existing ecosystem of over 1 million apps. Most iPad and iPhone applications work immediately on Vision Pro through compatibility mode. The seamless integration with macOS enables professionals to extend their workspace into virtual space, using the headset as an unlimited monitor setup.

The Vision Pro’s micro-OLED displays deliver text clarity that rivals physical monitors, making it genuinely viable for productivity work. Combined with eye tracking so precise you can select interface elements just by looking at them, the experience feels like science fiction made real. However, the $3,499 price point positions it as a luxury product accessible only to early adopters and professionals.

Meta’s accessibility strategy

Meta’s Quest 3 at $500 represents the opposite strategy: make mixed reality affordable enough for mass adoption. While it lacks the premium displays of Vision Pro or the AI sophistication of Galaxy XR, it compensates with the most extensive content library. Over 500 native applications span entertainment, fitness, productivity, and social experiences.

The Quest 3’s success demonstrates that price matters more than cutting-edge specs for mainstream adoption. Its 74.6% market share proves Meta’s strategy is working. The company’s investment in content and developer tools created a virtuous cycle: more apps attract more users, which attracts more developers.

The road ahead: lightweight glasses

All three companies acknowledge that current headsets represent a transitional form factor. The ultimate goal is lightweight AR glasses indistinguishable from regular eyewear. Google’s partnerships with fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker signal this next evolution.

These upcoming glasses won’t deliver the immersive VR experiences of current headsets. Instead, they’ll focus on AI-powered augmented reality: navigation assistance, real-time translation, visual search, and contextual information overlays. Samsung is reportedly developing its own smart glasses to complement the Galaxy XR headset.

The convergence continues: AR glasses for all-day wear, mixed reality headsets for immersive experiences. Users will move fluidly between devices based on context and need, just as they currently switch between smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

Looking ahead

The convergence of AR and VR in 2025 marks a turning point for spatial computing. No longer confined to entertainment or niche applications, mixed reality becomes infrastructure for how we interact with digital content. The three-way competition between Apple, Meta, and Samsung accelerates innovation while expanding market access.

What makes this moment unique is diversity of approach. Apple prioritizes premium experiences and ecosystem integration. Meta focuses on accessibility and content breadth. Samsung emphasizes AI-powered intelligence. This variety ensures spatial computing evolves rapidly, with each platform pushing others forward.

As lightweight AR glasses emerge and display technology improves, the line between physical and digital will continue blurring. The future isn’t about choosing between augmented or virtual reality—it’s about seamlessly moving between them based on context and need. That future has arrived in 2025.

Stay informed: the spatial computing revolution is just beginning. Follow WGO Pro for the latest updates on mixed reality developments, device reviews, and market analysis to understand how XR technologies will reshape computing.