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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020

July 2020

Report Authors
Clifton Dawson Alexis Macklin
CEO & Founder Research Manager
Devices & Technology Devices & Technology

Natalie Yue
Senior Analyst
Devices & Technology

Version: 1.0
Release Date: July 21, 2020

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Photo credit: Peter Graham


Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 2
 

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in this report is prepared from sources and data which we  opinions and analysis of Greenlight Insights, 
believe to be reliable, but we make no representation as  and is the independent collaborative work of 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 3
 

Table of Contents 
 
 
Table of Contents  3 
List of Tables and Figures  4 
Executive Summary  5 
Introduction  6 
Definition of 360 Cameras  6 
Basic Differentiation of 360 Cameras  6 
Market Segments  11 
Situation Overview  13 
Vendor Profiles  14 
Insta360  14 
GoPro  14 
Ricoh  15 
Samsung  15 
KanDao  15 
Others  16 
Future Outlook  17 
Methodology  17 
Forecasts and Key Assumptions  18 
Market Share  24 
Market Analysis  25 
Consumer Profile of 360 Camera Users  25 
The Potential Enterprise Applications of 360 Cameras  27 
Conclusions  29 
Appendix  30 
Research Methodology  30 
About Greenlight Insights  31 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 4
 

List of Tables and Figures 


 
 
Figure 1: 360 Cameras Primary Market Segments  12 

Table 1: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue and Unit Shipments,  19 


2019 – 2024 

Figure 2: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue and Unit Shipments,  19 


2019 – 2024 

Table 2: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Product Category  19 


2019 – 2024 

Table 3: Worldwide Standalone 360 Cameras Revenue by Product Type,  20 


2019 – 2024 ($M) 

Table 4: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Segment, 2019 – 2024 ($M)  20 

Table 5: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Region, 2019 – 2024 ($M)  20 

Figure 3: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue Share by Region,  21 


2020 and 2024 

Table 6: Top Assumptions for the Worldwide 360 Cameras Market,  21 
2020 – 2024 

Table 7: Key Forecast Assumptions for the Worldwide 360 Cameras  22 
Market, 2020 – 2024 

Table 8: Historical and Projected Market Share of Major Vendors  24 

Table 9: Gender of 360 Cameras Users  25 

Table 10: Age Breakdown of 360 Cameras Users  25 

Table 11: Electronics Spending of 360 Cameras Users  26 

Table 12: Sources of Information for 360 Cameras Users  26 

Table 13: Maturity of Enterprise Applications for 360 Cameras  27 

 
 

   
 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 5
 

Executive Summary 
 
 
360 cameras for consumers and the enterprise are quickly becoming critical 
tools to capture, create and share engaging personal content, as well as for 
achieving optimal employee performance in today's day-to-day business 
operations. Digital transformation trends have heightened the corporate 
interest in virtual reality (VR) and 360 video, and the technologies 
underpinning them. Vendors are leveraging artificial intelligence for filming and 
post-production enhancements as well as partnering with more companies in 
the video and social media distribution space. This worldwide 360 camera 
market analysis provides a 2019 market sizing and a five-year market forecast 
(2020–2024). The key findings in this 
research include: 
 
In 2019, the 360 camera market grew 34.5% to $538 million, up from 
$400 million in 2018. 

Greenlight Insights estimates that in 2020, the worldwide market size 


for 360 cameras will reach $593 million in revenue. 

Overall, Greenlight Insights expects a compound annual growth rate 


(CAGR) of 14.2% for total worldwide 360 cameras revenue for the 
period from 2020 to 2024. This will result in revenue of just over $1 
billion by the end of the forecast period. 

Overall growth of the global 360 cameras market is driven by the 


increasing interest among consumers and firms in the entertainment 
hospitality, real estate, healthcare, education, and telecommunications 
sectors. 

Software-based filming and post-production enhancements leveraging 


artificial intelligence offered by new 360 cameras are providing added 
stimulus to the rapid growth of the market. 

 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 6
 

Introduction 
 
This study examines the worldwide 360 cameras market for the period from 
2020 to 2024, with revenue and shipment trends and market growth forecasts. 
Worldwide market sizing is provided for 2019. A five-year growth forecast for 
this market is also shown for 2020–2024. This study also includes profiles of 
leading vendors and identifies the characteristics that vendors will need to be 
successful in the future. 
 
The 360 cameras market is currently undergoing rapid change due to the global 
pandemic, economic fallout, and multi-year trend of corporate consolidations. 
However, despite this market flux, there are opportunities for growth in both 
consumer and professional use.  
 

General Definition of 360 Cameras 


 
A 360 camera is created using multiple cameras or lenses to capture the 
surrounding environment. This industry includes companies that manufacture 
cameras, peripheral equipment, and software for making spherical 360° or 
180° videos. 

 
Basic Differentiation of 360 Cameras 
 
The following sections describe the five major categories of spherical cameras. 
 
 
Paired with Smartphones  

 
Often considered phone accessories, cameras that are paired with 
smartphones attach via the USB port, so the camera is controlled through the 
phone. These cameras consist of two wide angle lenses to form the 360-degree 
sphere. These cameras are basic in nature and do not offer stereoscopic video. 
The cameras are controlled via a mobile application and many can publish and 
live stream to social platforms like YouTube and Facebook from the apps.  
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 7
 

 
(Left) Insta360 Nano S. (Right)Giroptic iO Pop. Source: Insta360 and Giroptic 
 
 
Monoscopic Standalone 

 
Monoscopic standalone cameras include one or more camera sensors and do 
not provide stereoscopic capability. These cameras range widely in price, with 
consumer and professional versions.  
 
Professionals use lower-end monoscopic cameras to direct and test a shot 
before recording, since the stitching is usually automatic and the finished video 
can be seen almost instantly after recording. These cameras often are bundled 
with a mobile application to view, edit, and publish videos without a computer.  
 

 
(Left) GoPro Fusion. (Right) Ricoh Theta V. Source: GoPro and Ricoh 

Stereoscopic Standalone 

 
Stereoscopic standalone cameras include at least one pair of camera sensors 
that capture a 3D image or video. Stereo-optic images add to the clarity and 
immersion when viewed with a headset, but this feature also faces challenges. 
The video is shot at a fixed distance and cannot be changed. This may not match 
the viewer’s IPD (Interpupillary Distance), resulting in lower perceived image 
quality.  
 
180-Degree Cameras. Stereoscopic 180-degree cameras have two 
camera sensors on the front of the camera. Lucidcam is currently the 
best-known company in this sector, but Kodak, Lenovo, LG, and Yi 
Technologies have also released stereoscopic 180-degree cameras. 
 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 8
 

NextVR is known for shooting stereoscopic 180-degree video. This is 


accomplished with two RED Dragons in a rig, not a single camera. 
 
360-Degree Cameras. Stereoscopic 360-degree cameras have at least 
two pairs of camera sensors and offer useful features for both 
consumers and professionals. However, the most distinct difference 
between both cameras is the quality of resolution. Consumer-grade 
cameras offer up to 4k resolution while professional-grade cameras 
provide an 8k resolution.  
 

 
(Left) YI Technologies VR180. (Right) Insta360 Pro. Source: YI Technologies and Insta360 
 
 
Hybrid Standalone 
 

Hybrid standalone cameras are capable of shooting in both monoscopic 


360-degree and stereoscopic 180-degree video known as VR180. This is done 
with a pair of adjustable lenses. These cameras are positioned for consumers as 
the camera provides a variety of shooting options. 

 
HumanEyes’ Vuze XR 5.7k Camera in the monoscopic 360-degree recording mode (left) and in the  
VR180 stereoscopic recording mode (right). 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 9
 

Spherical Multi-Camera Arrays 


 
 
Spherical Multi-Camera Arrays are generally comprised of two or more 
standard, digital cameras with significant wide angle or fisheye lenses, rigged so 
that they capture different portions of the spherical 180- or 360-degree scene. 
Companies like 360Rize provide a range of holders designed for GoPro’s 
popular series of rugged cameras. Generally, these rigs are aimed at the 
professional market, provide no onboard processing or video stitching 
capabilities, and require the operator to transfer and collate all captured 
footage and stitch it to create the spherical 360-degree scene. Resolution and 
quality of the footage are dependent entirely on the array’ cameras. 
 
 

(Left) GoPro Omni. (Right) 360Designs Mini EYE. Source: GoPro and 360Designs 
 
Professional filmmakers are also using arrays to obtain higher resolution by 
using high-quality cinematic cameras. Companies like 360Designs specialize in 
creating custom rigs for professionals. These custom rigs are just as, or more, 
expensive than professional 360-degree camera solutions.  
Standard. Standard arrays are sold by multiple camera manufacturers, 
such as GoPro and Yi Technologies, and are priced to include the cameras. 

Custom-Built. Custom-built arrays are available in a large variety of 


configurations and specifications. These arrays can consist of action 
cameras, DSLRs, RED Dragons, and various professional-grade cameras 
and may have as many as 24 cameras. These rigs are often designed by 
film production studios themselves for the purpose of filming specific 
challenging shoots or a need for high resolution.  
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 10
 

Volumetric 
 

Volumetric video solutions bring 6 DoF to 360-degree video, creating a 3D 


video with the ability to move through the captured environment. Lightfield 
and LiDAR/volumetric sensors are two ways to accomplish this. Lightfield 
systems capture information regarding the light rays in the environment. 
Volumetric cameras capture the surrounding environment through LiDAR, a 
technique used to measure space using lasers.  
 
Lightfield and volumetric cameras capture content with various perspectives 
within the scene. The viewer can move their head to look around objects in a 
scene and see different viewpoints. Spherical videos captured by these 
techniques are more immersive and decrease motion sickness, as users are able 
to fully explore the space. The biggest challenge with these methods is the 
amount of data and compression needed to produce a video.  
 
Volumetric cameras of all types are still in early development. Lytro, a lightfield 
camera manufacturer, was the closest to a commercial product but shuttered in 
March 2018. Facebook is developing prototypes of lightfield and volumetric 
cameras, but has yet to release a product. Currently, the biggest steps made 
toward developing volumetric video is from the software side. Google, Visby, 
NVIDIA, and OTOY are all working on solutions to create 6 DoF videos from 
monoscopic or stereoscopic spherical videos. 
 
 

 
HyperVR’s LiDAR VR volumetric rig. Source: HypeVR 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 11
 

Market Segments 
 
 
The 360 cameras market taxonomy includes five individual technology markets 
grouped within two primary segments.  
 

The two segments include:  

Consumer 360 cameras 

Professional 360 cameras 


 

Consumer 360 cameras feature cameras that are manufactured and 


distributed on a large scale. Secondary markets include:  

360 cameras paired with a smartphone target consumers who want easy 
ways to self-capture engaging content for live-streaming, video chat, 
and social media applications. 

Standalone 360 cameras, consisting of both monoscopic and 


stereoscopic varieties, offer some professional-grade features within 
the camera product offerings at attractive consumer price points. 

Hybrid standalone 360 cameras.  


 
 

Professional 360 cameras, which includes cameras that are designed and sold 
to satisfy specific, often niche, market requirements. Secondary markets 
include: 

Spherical Multi-Camera Arrays includes standard and custom-built 


arrays.   

Lightfield and volumetric cameras are currently designed and 


implemented for experimental applications. 
 

 
Note: The 360 cameras market taxonomy does not include any independent markets such as software, 
applications, and peripheral hardware.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 12
 

Figure 1: 360 Cameras Primary Market Segments 

 
Source: Greenlight Insights 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 13
 

Situation Overview 
 
In 2019, the 360 camera market grew 34.5% to $538.0 million, up from $400.0 
million in 2018. Key trends that Greenlight Insights recognizes in this market in 
2019 and 2020 include the following: 
 
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive vendor development 
activities. AI-based deployments are opening opportunities for mass 
consumer and SMB adoption. 

New 360 cameras vendor development activities center around easier 


shooting and post-production using AI (e.g., stabilization and automatic 
framing). 

Stabilization is available for multiple 360 cameras and is a major feature 


that differentiates 360 cameras from traditional action cameras. 

360 and spherical video is becoming a more prevalent requirement 


especially in complex pre-purchase decision-making and specialized 
knowledge transfer applications. 

Where many companies started with VR headsets support, mobile 


phone and desktop have now become a necessity for 360 camera 
vendors. 

Partnerships between 360 camera vendors and those that offer video 
distribution have increased the attractiveness of 360 and spherical 
video as a format for entertainment and advertising on mobile devices 
and desktop. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 14
 

Vendor Profiles 
 
Insta360 
 
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, Insta360 is a leading 
manufacturer of 360, VR, and action cameras, with global offices located in 
Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, and the United States. Insta360 is well known for 
its easy to use cameras, and its consumer and professional camera products are 
available in more than 170 countries around the world. Insta360 is the first 360 
camera brand to enter Apple stores globally. With the greatest share of the 
global 360 camera market, Insta360 has raised $34.8 million over four rounds 
and has announced plans to become a public company in 2020. 
 
For 360 and VR cameras, Insta360 offers the Nano, Air, Pro, and Titan. 
Insta360 also has a line of action cameras named the ONE series. Released in 
late 2019, the Insta360 One R is an adaptive action cam co-developed with 
Leica, a leading photographic and optics equipment company. 

 
GoPro 
 
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Mateo, CA, GoPro is a leading 
manufacturer of action cameras and developer of mobile apps and 
video-editing software. GoPro is well known for its flagship product series, 
HERO, the versatile 360 and 4K action cameras. GoPro operates as one 
operating segment focusing on consumers and has offices located in the United 
States, Australia, China, and France. 
 
For 360 cameras, GoPro offers GoPro MAX, GoPro MAX Exporter, and GoPro 
Plus. GoPro Max is the company’s newest 360-degree waterproof camera with 
three cameras in one. GoPro MAX Exporter is software for exporting standard 
spherical .mp4 files into editing programs and can be shared on social media. In 
April 2015, GoPro announced its acquisition of Kolor to strengthen its 
offerings to combine multiple photographs or videos to produce high-res 
panoramic or spherical content. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 15
 

Ricoh 
 
Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ricoh is global developer, 
manufacturer, and marketer of activities centering on the business segments of 
Office Printing, Office Services, Commercial Printing, Industrial Printing, 
Thermal Media and Other. 
 
For 360 cameras, Ricoh offers Ricoh Theta and Ricoh Tours. Ricoh Theta is the 
company’s line of lightweight 360 Degree spherical cameras. Ricoh Tours 
provides virtual tours of properties services using Ricoh THETA 360° cameras. 
In July 2011, Ricoh announced its acquisition of Pentax to strengthen its 
position in the digital imaging market. 
 
 

Samsung 
 
Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung is a global 
electronics firm of 240 subsidiaries across the world. 
 
Samsung is one of the first manufacturers of 360 cameras. The Samsung Gear 
serves as a platform for Samsung's virtual reality offering. In April 2016, 
Samsung launched the Samsung Gear 360 camera, which is a lightweight 
spherical camera targeting consumers and amatuer filmmakers. Samsung has 
gradually retired other products in the Gear portfolio, and is believed to have 
exited this market. 
 

 
KanDao 

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, KanDao Technology 


Co. Ltd provides patented end-to-end solutions for virtual reality video 
capturing and live streaming. The company has raised $12.9 million over four 
rounds. 
 
The KanDao line of 360 and VR cameras includes the QooCam and Obsidian. 
The QooCam is an easy-to-use camera that captures in 8K and also offers 4K 
slo-mo. The QooCam is targeted at vloggers and creative filmmakers who want 
to capture everything and make editing choices later. The Obsidian is a 
professional 8K video camera that can shoot 8K 360 virtual reality 
photography. 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 16
 

Others 
 
Many other players are in the 360 camera world, including 360Fly, Rylo, and 
Vuze, as well as a number of other players that have been in this space for some 
time and may have a specific industry focus. The "other" category continues to 
be significant as many smaller players enter the market. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 17
 

Future Outlook 
 
Greenlight Insights expects the 360 camera market will reach $592.9 million in 
revenues by the end of 2020. The market will exhibit modest growth with a 
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% from 2019 to 2024, resulting in 
revenues of $1.04 billion by the end of 2024. 
 

Methodology 
 
 
The quantitative and qualitative information contained in this study results 
from Greenlight Insights' ongoing virtual reality and 360 cameras technology 
research. Both primary and secondary sources of information were used in the 
development of this study. Primary sources include interviews completed with 
360 camera vendors, distributors, and resellers. Secondary sources include 
vendors' publicly registered financial statements, news releases, and 
vendor-provided marketing material. 
 
All revenue figures are Greenlight Insights estimates that refer only to 360 
camera products. These figures were modeled based on primary and secondary 
research. Sources include but are not limited to vendor statements, vendor 
financials, briefings, press releases, interviews, conferences, and internal 
forecast models. Shipment information may have been provided by the vendor, 
when available. 
 
Note: All numbers in this document may not be exact due to rounding. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 18
 

Forecast and Assumptions 


 
Table 1 and Figure 2 shows worldwide 360 cameras revenue and unit 
shipments for the 2019–2024 period, as forecast by Greenlight Insights. 
 
Table 2 shows the worldwide 360 cameras breakdown by product category for 
the 2019–2024 period, as forecast by Greenlight Insights. The product 
category breakdown is by arrays, attached to smartphone, and standalone 360 
cameras. 
 
Table 3 shows the worldwide standalone 360 cameras breakdown by product 
type for the 2019–2024 period, as forecast by Greenlight Insights. The product 
type breakdown is by hybrid, monoscopic, and stereoscopic 360 cameras. 
 
Table 4 shows the worldwide 360 cameras breakdown by segment for the 
2019–2024 period, as forecast by Greenlight Insights. The segment breakdown 
is by consumer and professional 360 cameras. 
 
Table 5 shows worldwide 360 cameras revenue by the seven major geographic 
regions for the 2019–2024 period. 
 
Figure 3 provides a graphical comparison of the worldwide 360 cameras 
revenue share by region for the years 2020 and 2024. 
 
Tables 6 and 7 provide Greenlight Insights's top assumptions and key forecast 
assumptions, respectively, for the worldwide 360 cameras market for the 
2020–2024 forecast period. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 19
 

Table 1: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue and Unit Shipments, 2019 – 2024

2019-2024 
  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024 
CAGR (%) 
Revenue ($M)  538.0  592.9  686.3  794.6  914.5  1,043.3  14.2% 
Growth (%)    10.2%  15.8%  15.8%  15.1%  14.1%   

Unit shipments (M)  1.55  1.74  2.05  2.40  2.78  3.09  14.8% 

Growth (%)    12.3%  17.5%  17.5%  15.7%  11.0%   

Notes: 
Revenues exclude software, peripheral hardware, and services. 
See Table 6 for top assumptions and Table for key forecast assumptions. 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

Figure 2: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue and Unit Shipments, 2019 – 2024 
 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

Table 2: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Product Category 2019 – 2024

2019-2024 
  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024 
CAGR (%) 

Arrays ($M)  8.0  8.2  9.1  10.4  12.0  13.7  11.3% 


Growth (%)    2.3%  11.1%  14.1%  15.7%  14.1%   

Attached to smartphone ($M)  94.7  88.7  81.5  75.0  68.7  52.2  -11.2% 

Growth (%)    -6.3%  -8.0%  -8.0%  -8.6%  -24.0%   

Standalone ($M)  435.3  496.0  595.7  709.2  833.8  977.4  17.6% 

Growth (%)    13.9%  20.1%  19.0%  17.6%  17.2%   

Note: See Table 6 for top assumptions and Table for key forecast assumptions. 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 20
 

Table 3: Worldwide Standalone 360 Cameras Revenue by Product Type, 


2019 – 2024 ($M)

  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024 

Hybrid  4.1  4.8  6.0  7.9  10.5  12.0 

Monoscopic  369.0  429.3  514.7  617.1  713.1  839.6 

Stereoscopic  62.2  61.9  75.0  84.2  110.2  125.8 

Total  435.3  496.0  595.7  709.2  833.8  977.4 

Note: See Table 6 for top assumptions and Table for key forecast assumptions. 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 
 
 

Table 4: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Segment, 2019 – 2024 ($M)

  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024 

Consumer 360 Cameras  485.0  533.2  615.2  708.1  808.0  910.9 


Professional 360 Cameras  53.0  59.7  71.1  86.5  106.5  132.4 

Total  538.0  592.9  686.3  794.6  914.5  1,043.3 

Notes: 
Revenues exclude software, peripheral hardware, and services. 
See Table 6 for top assumptions and Table for key forecast assumptions. 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 
 

Table 5: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue by Region, 2019 – 2024 ($M)

  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024 

North America  191.7  209.0  241.1  279.3  321.5  365.2 


Western Europe  91.0  99.2  115.5  133.7  154.2  175.5 

APAC Developed  84.2  90.0  101.8  116.0  131.9  147.0 

Latin America  14.9  15.7  17.9  20.7  23.9  26.8 

Central & Eastern Europe  17.4  18.3  21.0  24.1  27.7  31.0 

APAC Emerging  132.9  154.4  182.1  212.6  245.0  286.0 

Middle East & Africa  5.9  6.3  6.9  8.2  10.3  11.8 

Total  538.0  592.9  686.3  794.6  914.5  1043.3 

Notes: 
Revenues exclude software, peripheral hardware, and services. 
See Table 6 for top assumptions and Table for key forecast assumptions. 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 21
 

Figure 3: Worldwide 360 Cameras Revenue Share by Region, 2020 and 2024 

 
Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 
 
 

Table 6: Top Assumptions for the Worldwide 360 Cameras Market, 2020 – 2024

Market Force  Assumption  Changes to This Assumption 


That Could Affect Current 
Forecast 

VR headset  Greenlight Insights projects the growth  Downside only: Prolonged 


adoption  in VR viewing technologies worldwide  pandemic conditions may 
to reach a 37.4% CAGR for the  dampen consumer and corporate 
2020-2024 period. Although computer  investments in VR headsets. 
graphics-based VR have been the lion’s 
share, the adoption of video-based 
content will continue to drive the 
growth predicted for the global market.  

Camera  Cameras prices have fallen slightly  Upside only: Lower prices could 
pricing  since 2018. Greenlight Insights  positively support increasing 
projects unit pricing to stabilize  demand for VR cameras among 
beginning in 2022.   consumer and enterprise buyers. 

Vertical  The demand for 360 cameras designed  Downside only: Lingering 
market  to serve specific vertical market  economic conditions could 
expansion  requirements continues to grow.   negatively impact spending in 
  certain markets, such as the K-12 
public education sector. 
 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 22
 

Table 7: Key Forecast Assumptions for the Worldwide 360 Cameras Market, 
2020 – 2024

Market Force  Assumption  Impact 

Economy  The worldwide GDP will shrink by an  High. A global 


estimated 4.9%, a significant reversal  recession would cause 
from the 3.5% growth experienced in  businesses to delay 360 camera 
2019. The U.S. economy remains  and VR upgrades and some new 
fragile. Weaker growth in China  projects; a rising economy does 
could have negative implications for  the opposite. 
other economies, particularly in Asia. 

Pandemic  The anti-pandemic measures  High. The global COVID-19 


imposed by many governments that  pandemic has created a persistent 
have forced people to stay at home  air of caution on the part of 
and reduce face-to-face interactions  buyers. If consumers and 
have increased the consumption of  businesses come to believe the 
360 video content.  risks are receding, they may 
loosen their purse strings. 
However, a return of "crisis mode" 
in China, Europe, or the United 
States could plunge the global 
economy again. 

Profits  While camera sales are declining  High. So long as profits continue 
owing to COVID-19, earnings are  to grow rather than decline, 
improving. 2021 will likely be  businesses will continue to invest 
another year of tepid profit growth,  in 360 video initiatives, but 
especially in the United States and  buying cycles may become 
Europe.   extended and spending patterns 
will be more volatile. 

Vertical  Momentum has slowed in several key  High. A downturn in major 


industries  industries. In particular, trends have  contributors to IT revenue (e.g., 
weakened in the media production,  the financial services sector) 
industrials, and government sectors  can have a major impact on IT 
(where austerity measures have  spending. Momentum in vertical 
often triggered direct cutbacks in VR  sectors (e.g., healthcare) can 
and digital transformation spending).  drive overall IT spending. 

Digital  To leverage data gained through  High. The new content 


transformation  digitalization, organizations use VR  creation and delivery models 
and 360 video to deliver spatialized  brought on by firms’ digital 
information.  transformation projects should 
require new capabilities of 360 
cameras. This should increase 
overall pricing and demand. 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 23
 

Artificial  The increasing digitization of society  High. The key advantages to 
intelligence  and the mass availability of data  artificial intelligence for 360 
mean that, in theory, we can continue  cameras are static image 
to drive the performance of these  recognition, classification, and 
algorithms and grow it at an  tagging. New AI-based features 
exponential rate.  could lead to new 
competitiveness with non-360 
cameras as well as create new 
opportunities for vendors in SMB 
and emerging markets. 

Content  First- and third-party content  High. Expansive new software 


management  management and editing  capabilities broaden vendors' 
and editing  applications are improving how they  portfolios with content 
solutions   aid multi-clip workflows, identify  management and editing 
meaningful moments in users  solutions to provide increased 
footage, and suggest story  value to customers and expand 
compilations of 360 videos.  the market. 

Convergence  VR and augmented reality are  High. Convergence will drive 


increasingly being used to unlock the  new competitive dynamics, as well 
value created by the convergence of  as offer new applications and 
the physical and digital worlds,  functions to customers. It 
driving demand for 360 cameras to  will also drive increased VR and 
create spatialized environments.  360 cameras spending. 

Venture  During the past 12 months,  High. There doesn't seem to be 
funding  venture capital investments in VR  a funding limitation to VR 
companies have declined  innovation that would alter 360 
precipitously despite increasing  cameras forecasts. 
technology adoption trends.   
Post-pandemic, funds will still have 
money and were successfully raising 
new rounds in 2019, buoyed by a 
returning trend of successful exits. 

Talent  Prior to the global pandemic, there  High. The scarcity of talent will 
had been a sustained surge in  increase the overhead costs of 
demand for technical skills.  finding, recruiting, and 
managing talent from global 
pools. 

Supply chain  All vendors rely on third-party  High. A shortage of components 


suppliers, some of which are  can raise prices, limiting the ability 
sole-source suppliers, to provide  of vendors to maintain or lower 
components for their products.  prices and consequently having a 
Supply shortage, long lead times for  negative impact on demand. 
components, and supply changes,   
could disrupt supply chains and 
increase costs. 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 24
 

Channels  Many vendors sell directly to  High. Direct channel share is 
independent specialty retailers, big  expected to shrink at a CAGR of 
box retailers, and mid-market  1.7% over the next half decade 
retailers, and all vendors sell to  due to the strengthening of the 
customers through an e-commerce  indirect channel as new reseller 
channel. Direct channels currently  relationships and capabilities 
account for 65% of total sales.  required by specific market 
segments result in distributor 
sales. 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

Market Shares 
 
 
This section examines the worldwide 360 cameras market in 2019 including 
which vendors shaped the market and market shares. It also analyzes the main 
players' strategies and the new dynamics we are seeing today and will see in 
the future. 
 
In terms of revenue, the 360 cameras market reached $538.0 million in 2019, 
with a YoY growth rate of 34.5%. Insta360, Ricoh, and GoPro were the top 
three vendors. Together, they accounted for 85.0% of the overall market share. 
 
The market shares of 360 cameras vendors are presented in Figure 3. The two 
leading players — Insta360 and Ricoh —accounted for a combined 68.0% of the 
total 2019 market value, marking a high market concentration. 
 
 
Table 8: Historical and Projected Market Share of Major Vendors 

  2017  2018  2019  2020*  2021*  2022*  2023* 

Ricoh  25%  27%  28%  26%  25%  21%  20% 

Samsung  29%  14%  3%  2%  1%  1%  0% 

Insta360  8%  25%  33%  40%  46%  50%  50% 

GoPro  5%  19%  24%  22%  20%  20%  20% 

Others  33%  15%  12%  10%  8%  8%  10% 

Notes: 
2020-2023 market shares are estimates. 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 25
 

Market Analysis 
 

There are over 500,000 videos hosted on major platforms YouTube, VeeR, and 
Vimeo 360, and according to Greenlight Insights’ 1H’20 research, by 2021, 
over 16.4 million users worldwide will be watching spherical video inside VR 
headsets or over the Internet. 
We believe consumer demand for compelling content combined with improving 
capture technology and the continued popularity of various distribution 
platforms, including social media sites, create significant demand for 360 
cameras and spherical media.  

 
Consumer Profiles 
A survey was conducted in June 2020 with 1,000 reported 360 cameras online 
respondents aged 18 to 60 years old. The survey was designed to develop a 
basic demographic profile and assess the usage patterns of current 360 camera 
users. 
 

Table 9: Gender of 360 Cameras Users 

Gender  Ratio 

Male  90.0% 

Female  10.0% 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

Table 10: Age Breakdown of 360 Cameras Users 

Age Group  Ratio 

Under 20  5.00% 

20~30  15.00% 

31~35  20.00% 

36~40  15.00% 

41~45  16.00% 

46-50  19.00% 

Above 50  10.00% 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 26
 

Table 11: Electronics Spending of 360 Cameras Users 

Electronics Spend  Ratio 

Less than $300  3.50% 

$300-$700  9.00% 

$701-$1500  21.20% 

$1501-$2000  17.90% 

$2001-$3000  20.10% 

$3001-$5000  11.10% 

More than $5000  17.20% 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

Table 12: Sources of Information for 360 Cameras Users 

Touchpoint  Ratio 

Official Site  27.00% 

SNS Accounts  18.00% 

Videography tech Sites/Apps  17.00% 

Mainstream Media Sites/Apps  15.00% 

Friends Recommendation  11.00% 

Influencer  10.00% 

Others  2.00% 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 


  

 
 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 27
 

Current and Future Enterprise Applications of 360 Cameras 


 
360 camera use cases are growing in number and maturing in nature as the 
technology itself is growing and maturing. The technology itself is relatively 
new with use cases still in development.  
 
 
 
Table 13: Maturity of Enterprise Applications for 360 Cameras 
 
Application  Description  Domain  Maturity Level 

Filmmaking  Making 360 videos for  Entertainment  Established 


entertainment and advertising 
purposes. 

Broadcasting  Transmitting programs in 360  Entertainment  Emerging 


videos, often of sporting events 

Concerts and  Live stream concerts and  Entertainment  Established 


theatrical  theatrical performances in VR 
performances  instead of visiting a venue 

Pre-purchase  Remotely view rooms and  Hospitality  Established 


decision-making  facilities before booking without 
getting overloaded with 
unnecessary descriptions and 
information 

Real estate tours  Remotely view rooms and  Real estate  Established 
facilities before booking without 
getting overloaded with 
unnecessary descriptions and 
information 

Medical training   Medical training using 360 and  Healthcare  Emerging 


spherical video to demonstrate 
best practices and share 
specialized knowledge 

K-12 education  Instructional 360 videos and  Education  Established 


content for teachers and students 

Employee  Use 360 and spherical video to  Military/Corporate  Experimental 


recruitment  accurately illustrate the 
complexity of jobs while 
simultaneously awakening the 
interest of potential candidates 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 28
 

On-boarding and  Orientation where an employer  Corporate  Experimental 


induction  introduces the job and 
organization to the new employee 
and vice versa. 

Health, safety,  Preparedness training to provide  Corporate  Emerging 


and emergency  necessary skills to promote health 
skill training  and safety. 

Employee  Use 360 and spherical video to  Corporate  Emerging 


Training  train employees and work 
collaboratively in 
socially-distanced environments 
without having to visit an on-site 
location.  

Soft skills  Use 360 and spherical video to  Military/Corporate  Experimental 
training  accurately illustrate the 
complexity of jobs while 
simultaneously awakening the 
interest of potential candidates.  

Telepresence  Location-based multi-user  Telecommunications  Experimental 


immersive communication in real 
time and pre-recorded 360 videos 
allows anyone to meet together 
anywhere in the world – saving 
money and time without needing 
anyone to be physically present. 

Tours and  Tours of artifacts, art, monuments,  Informational  Emerging 


exhibitions  or other works on display that 
offer 360 video-enabled 
alternative views, informative 
text, video, or other media to add 
to the knowledge of the 
exhibition.  
 
Notes: 
Maturity Level Metric: 
Experimental - In very limited deployments (less than 100) or is in patent/research and 
development stages.   
Emerging - In a small number of deployments (less than 1,000) 
Established - In a significant number of deployments (more than 3,000) 

Source: Greenlight Insights, 2020 

 
 

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 29
 

Conclusion 
       

360 and spherical video, and the cameras that produce them, aren't 
pie-in-the-sky technology that's coming someday soon. It's here now, and it's 
driving real-world use cases that will have industry-shaking ramifications in the 
very near future. A large number of consumers and companies have already 
recognized this technology and are moving fast to embrace it. In a diverse set of 
areas — from social media to corporate training to entertainment and 
marketing to military recruiting — disruption brought on by 360 cameras has 
already started to take hold.  

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 30
 

Appendix 
 
Methodology 
 
Greenlight Insights draws on extensive primary and secondary research, which 
we aggregate, analyze, cross-check and present in an accessible format. 

Review of in-house databases – Created using 50,000+ industry interviews 


and consumer surveys, updated frequently, and supported by analysis from our 
in-house team, Greenlight Insights’ in-house databases provide the foundation 
for our industry profiles and findings. 

Comparatory research – We also maintain extensive databases of news, 


analyst commentary, company profiles and macroeconomic & demographic 
information, which enable our researchers to understand and account for a 
multitude of market influences. 

Definitions – Market definitions are standardized to enable international 


comparisons. Each definition is carefully reviewed to ensure it meets the 
requirements of the market and our clients. 

Companies interviewed - Insta360, HumanEyes, Radiant Images, Google, 


NextVR, and Light Sail VR. These interviews were 30-60 minutes in length and 
discussed the company's’ outlooks for the Spherical Camera market.  

Extensive secondary research activities ensure we are always fully up-to-date 


with the latest industry events and trends 

Greenlight Insights aggregates and analyzes a number of secondary 


information sources, including: 

National/Governmental Statistics  
Official International Data Sources 
Company Annual Reports 
Business Information Libraries and Databases 

Modeling & forecasting tools – Greenlight Insights has developed powerful 


tools that allow quantitative and qualitative data to be correlated with related 
macroeconomic and demographic drivers. This enables us to create market 
models and forecasts, that is informed by competitive and demand-related 
factors. 
 
Continuous quality control ensures that our processes and forecasts remain 
focused, accurate and up-to-date.  

 
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Worldwide 360 Camera Market Report, 2020 31
 

About Greenlight Insights 


 
 
Greenlight Insights provides proprietary market research, consulting, and 
events about the future of virtual and augmented reality. Greenlight Insights 
delivers critical strategic insights to the world's leading technology companies, 
publishers, service providers, institutional investors, and government entities. 
 
Based in San Francisco, with offices in Boston and Denver, Greenlight Insights 
comprises a diverse team of highly skilled industry professionals who offer 
deep expertise in virtual and augmented reality. 
 
 
For More Information  
 
To find out how Greenlight Insights can help you be successful every day, please 
contact hello@greenlightinsights.com or visit www.greenlightinsights.com.
 
 
Client Support  
 
For information on hard-copy or electronic reprints, please contact Client 
Support at hello@greenlightinsights.com.  

 
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