Digital actuality hasn’t caught on with American teenagers, in line with a brand new survey from Piper Sandler launched on Tuesday.

Whereas 29% p.c of teenagers polled owned a VR gadget — versus 87% who personal iPhones — solely 4% of headset house owners used it each day, the funding agency discovered, and 14% used them weekly.

As well as, youngsters did not appear that occupied with shopping for forthcoming VR headsets. Solely 7% stated they deliberate to buy a headset, versus 52% of teenagers polled who had been not sure or uninterested.

The survey outcomes counsel that digital actuality {hardware} and software program has but to catch on with the general public regardless of billions of {dollars} in funding within the know-how from Huge Tech corporations and quite a few low-cost headsets in the marketplace. Youngsters are sometimes seen as early adopters of recent know-how and their preferences can present a preview of the place the trade goes.

“To us, the lukewarm utilization demonstrates that VR stays ‘early days’ and that these units are much less necessary than smartphones,” Piper Sandler analysts wrote.

The survey additionally exhibits that VR is struggling to realize traction as Apple reportedly prepares to announce its personal headset as quickly as this yr. The survey means that it might have an uphill climb to persuade potential clients.

Fb mum or dad Meta can be anticipated to launch new digital actuality headsets later this yr. Its Quest 2 headset, which was launched in 2020, is by far the chief out there phrases of gross sales, however shipments declined final yr, in line with analysts.

Piper Sandler’s teen research surveyed greater than 5,600 teenagers within the U.S. in February.