3% of people in the UK are predicted to have any kind of VR headset by the end of 2016.

That means roughly just under two million people are expected to adopt the tech, just months after major releases such as the Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Google Daydream View.

This prediction comes from research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics. It suggests that 92% of VR headsets will be for mobile devices, such as the Google Cardboard and Gear VR.

The newly-launched PlayStation VR will account for 7% of sales in the country. Only 1% of sales made will be for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift combined.

Slow burn

"Despite the rush of companies eager to jump in, the reality is that VR take-up among the British public will be a slow burn and dominated by low-cost headsets," said Strategy Analytics' David MacQueen.

"The VR headset market will be much like the car market – most owning the likes of Vauxhalls and Fords, a handful owning Porsches and the odd few splashing out on a Ferrari."

Looking ahead, Strategy Analytics predicts that the number of VR users in the UK will rise to 10% by the end of 2017. This number will continue to grow to around 45% in 2022.

"To put its popularity in context, it will take at least five years for VR headsets to reach the level of household penetration that say Sky TV has now," added MacQueen.

For more VR, AR and MR news, check out our new website The Virtual Report.