Depth sensors

2024: Global depth sensor sales hit $5.58 billion for the year

In 2024, the volume of the global market for depth sensors in monetary terms amounted to $5.58 billion. More than a third of this amount was in the Asia-Pacific region. The corresponding data are provided in the Fortune Business Insights study, the results of which were published on October 10, 2025.

Analysts take into account sales of ToF (Time of Flight) sensors. Such products allow determining the distance to the object by measuring the time it takes for light to travel back and forth. ToF sensors are used in a wide variety of fields, including robotics (navigation, obstacle detection), automotive industry (driver assistance systems), consumer electronics (face recognition, biometrics), industrial automation, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) systems, etc. Sensors of this type are used to create 3D maps, position, measure distances and detect objects in real time.

One of the key drivers of the analytics industry is the growth in sales of consumer electronics. ToF sensors are increasingly used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, AR/VR headsets, as well as in game consoles to implement features such as facial recognition and gesture control. Automakers use ToF sensors to monitor driver fatigue and track their movements. In addition, ToF cameras are used in collision prevention and adaptive cruise control systems to determine distances to other vehicles and obstacles.

Technological advances, including reducing the size of sensors and improving their accuracy, have a positive impact on the market. ToF sensors provide instant feedback and the ability to measure the distance to fast moving objects, which is critical in robotics and automotive systems. Moreover, the operation of ToF sensors does not depend on external lighting, since they use their own light source (often infrared). The technology is used in the automation of production to control the position of objects, as well as in smart city systems.

Depending on the functions performed, the market is segmented into gesture recognition, 3D visualization and mapping, distance determination, object detection, etc. The largest share in the total revenue is provided by the first of the listed areas - 28.9%. In terms of application, consumer electronics, automotive, industrial automation, healthcare, aerospace and defense industries, etc., stand out. In 2024, the first of these segments accounted for approximately 37.4% of sales in monetary terms. However, the highest growth rates are recorded in the automotive industry, as ToF sensors are increasingly used in driving assistance systems (ADAS). Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region is leading with 36.2%, or $2.02 billion. Globally, significant industry players are named:

• STMicroelectronics;
• Texas Instruments;
• Infineon Technologies;
• Sony Semiconductor Solutions;
• Samsung Electronics;
• ON Semiconductor;
• Broadcom;
• Panasonic;
• Lumentum Operations;
• ams-OSRAM.

In 2025, the global ToF sensor market is expected to reach $6.52 billion. Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR will be 17.2%. Thus, by 2032, costs may increase to $19.82 billion.^[1]

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