When comparing Carl Zeiss Smart Glass vs Iristick Z1, the Slant community recommends Carl Zeiss Smart Glass for most people. In the question“What are the best smart glasses?” Carl Zeiss Smart Glass is ranked 5th while Iristick Z1 is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Carl Zeiss Smart Glass is:
Instead of shining light directly into your eyes, the light simply reflects off the glass, meaning its less obtrusive.
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Pros
Pro Reflective display
Instead of shining light directly into your eyes, the light simply reflects off the glass, meaning its less obtrusive.
Pro Adaptable technology
The technology used in the Carl Zeiss Smart Glasses project can be transferred to normal glasses, or wherever curved glass is present. This solves the fundamental issue with Google Glass, which required an out-of-place flat piece of glass to function.
Pro Low-profile
The glasses look very much like regular, non-smart glasses.
Pro Voice commands, touch pad and split screen
Handling the Iristick Z.1. is a real pleasure. You can select options via voice commands (even in very noisy environments), swipe through lists via the touchpad or take out the phone if you run an app that is only on smartphone available.
Pro very comfortable to wear
The fit like a glove, well actually like glasses should fit. They look like glasses, they feel like glasses. (and what is nice, they are intrinsically certified as safety glasses. Very lightweight.
Pro Very long battery and no heating
The use of an external smartphone is clever design. It avoids heating and radiation near the temple, a real problem with other smartglasses. The pocketunit contains an additional battery and gives you more than 6 hrs streaming potential.
Pro Works with both iOS and Android
Most smartglasses only work for Android or have their own Android environment built-in. The Iristick works with both iOS and Android phones by simply connecting an iPhone or Android device to it.
Pro Superb Zoom lens
This is the only smartglasses on the market that has a 5 times optical zoom. Really unique and allows you to zoom in on details that matter.
Pro Central camera = natural viewpoint
Most smartglasses have the camera on the side. Iristick Z.1. has a camera in between the eyes and this corresponds to the natural viewpoint of the wearer. The image you get from this camera corresponds to what the wearer is seeing.
Cons
Con Hardware only (for now)
Carl Zeiss is a company that makes optics, and doesn't work on software. This is only a hardware solution, with no software implementation yet. Currently Carl Zeiss is seeking a software partner, however this will take time for them to develop a complete product once they do find a suitable partner.
Con Not yet available
These glasses are currently in prototype stage. It's not clear when and even if they will go into production.
Con Cable connection
The clever design of the glasses and pocket unit do require a cable connection between them. It takes some getting used to in the beginning, but after a few minutes you forget about it.
Con 2 hr charging time
You can use the Iristick Z1 for more than 6 hrs, but then it takes about 2 hrs to recharge the pocket unit. Iristick Z1 has the largest autonomy on the market and that makes the 2 hr charging time acceptable.
