More and more Germans are using so-called augmented reality applications. According to a survey published by the IT industry association Bitkom on Monday, more than a quarter of Germans (28 percent) use at least one AR application, a five percentage point increase from the previous year (19 percent) in 2023.
The technology is particularly popular among the younger generation: 43 percent of 16- to 29-year-olds currently use AR, and 41 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds. According to the Germans’ assessment, the importance of AR will continue to increase in the future: Half of the German population (49 percent) is convinced that AR will no longer be a thing of the past in ten years.
So far, camera filters and games are still the most common applications of AR: 15 percent of Germans use camera filters from social networks, for example, to add virtual content such as funny ears or glasses to photos or videos.
However, the further potential of AR is still largely untapped. Four percent of Germans use AR for online shopping, for example, to see products in real-life surroundings, or have used AR in museums, exhibitions, or at trade fairs. Four percent also use AR for navigation.
Bitkom Research surveyed 1,149 people in Germany aged 16 and over by phone from the 13th to the 18th week of the calendar in 2024.