The HoloLens 2 represents a significant advancement over the original HoloLens 1, primarily offering enhanced comfort, a much wider field of view, and more intuitive interaction methods, making it a powerful tool for enterprise mixed reality applications. While both devices provide an augmented reality experience, HoloLens 2 is engineered for extended use in professional settings with substantial improvements in user experience and capability.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here's a comparison of the major distinctions between the HoloLens 1 and HoloLens 2:
| Feature | HoloLens 1 | HoloLens 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Field of View | ~30° x 17.5° (equivalent to a 15-inch monitor 2 ft away) | ~52° x 33° (more than double the area, closer to a 2K display per eye) |
| Display | 720p per eye, 2.3K light engine | 2K 3:2 light engine per eye (~47 pixels per degree), dynamic contrast |
| Ergonomics | Front-heavy, less adjustable | Balanced weight, dial-in-fit, flip-up visor, comfortable for long-term wear |
| Interaction | Gaze, air tap, bloom gesture, voice commands | Fully articulated hand tracking (direct manipulation), eye tracking, voice commands |
| Processor | Intel Atom x5-Z8100, custom HPU 1.0 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Compute Platform, custom HPU 2.0 |
| Price (Launch) | ~$3,000 (Developer Edition) | ~$3,500 |
| Target Audience | Developers, early adopters | Enterprise (manufacturing, healthcare, education), frontline workers |
Enhanced Ergonomics and Comfort
One of the most immediate and impactful upgrades in the HoloLens 2 is its dramatically improved ergonomics. The device features a dial-in-fit system, allowing users to easily adjust the headset for a secure and comfortable fit, accommodating various head sizes. While the overall size remains similar to its predecessor, the weight distribution has been significantly optimized, leading to a noticeable decrease in perceived weight. This balance, coupled with a special knob that helps to better fit the tool, makes it much more convenient to wear the device on your head for extended periods without discomfort, a crucial factor for professionals using the device throughout their workday. Additionally, the HoloLens 2 features a flip-up visor, allowing users to quickly switch between the real world and mixed reality content without removing the headset.
Wider Field of View and Improved Display
The HoloLens 2 boasts a significantly wider field of view (FoV), effectively doubling the viewing area compared to the HoloLens 1. This expansion from approximately 30 degrees to 52 degrees horizontally provides a far more immersive experience, allowing digital content to appear larger and more integrated into the real environment. The display resolution has also seen an upgrade, providing a sharper and more vibrant visual experience with increased pixel density per degree, enhancing the clarity of holograms and text.
Advanced Interaction Capabilities
Interaction with mixed reality content is fundamentally more intuitive on the HoloLens 2. The original HoloLens primarily relied on basic air tap gestures, gaze, and voice commands. HoloLens 2, however, introduces fully articulated hand tracking, allowing users to directly manipulate holograms with the same natural hand movements they would use for physical objects. This includes pressing virtual buttons, grabbing and moving objects, and even typing on holographic keyboards with greater precision. Furthermore, integrated eye tracking in HoloLens 2 enables new interaction paradigms, such as automatic scrolling when reading text and more precise gaze input, contributing to a more seamless and efficient user experience.
Increased Performance and Processing Power
Under the hood, the HoloLens 2 features an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Compute Platform and a more advanced second-generation Holographic Processing Unit (HPU 2.0). This enhanced processing power allows for more complex mixed reality applications, richer holographic content, and smoother performance, handling demanding workloads with greater efficiency.
Target Audience and Applications
While HoloLens 1 served as a groundbreaking device for developers and early adopters exploring the potential of mixed reality, HoloLens 2 is specifically designed and priced for enterprise adoption. Its improvements in comfort, immersion, and interaction make it suitable for a wide range of professional applications, including:
- Manufacturing and Assembly: Providing step-by-step holographic instructions for complex tasks.
- Healthcare: Aiding surgeons with pre-operative planning and remote assistance, or providing medical students with interactive anatomical models.
- Education: Creating immersive learning experiences for technical training and remote collaboration.
- Field Service: Empowering frontline workers with remote expert guidance and access to digital schematics overlaid on real equipment.
These advancements solidify HoloLens 2 as a robust platform for driving productivity and innovation in various industrial and professional sectors.
