When comparing Microsoft HoloLens vs Carl Zeiss Smart Glass, the Slant community recommends Microsoft HoloLens for most people. In the question“What are the best smart glasses?” Microsoft HoloLens is ranked 3rd while Carl Zeiss Smart Glass is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Microsoft HoloLens is:
The HoloLens is a completely stand-alone device. You can use it without a PC or phone, and there are no external wires meaning you have completely unrestricted movement.
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Pros
Pro Stand-alone device
The HoloLens is a completely stand-alone device. You can use it without a PC or phone, and there are no external wires meaning you have completely unrestricted movement.
Pro Active development
This is a current product, and is in active development. Developer devices are shipping now (as of June 2016 they are shipping wave 4). This isn't a past project - it's here and now.
Pro Recognizes speech, gestures and eye movement
Pro Comfortable to wear
Instead of putting all the weight around one ear, the HoloLens balances the weight out around your entire head with its full band. The tightness can be adjusted to make sure the best fit is attained, and the front visor tilts up and down so it can be used in even more ways.
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.
Cons
Con Limited use-case scenarios
While not specifically marketed for industry, it looks like HoloLens will be most useful to businesses as opposed to consumers. This is a full fledged headset, not a small screen in the corner of your vision.
Con Weighs more than many other headsets
Although comfortable on the head, the HoloLens weighs 1.5 lbs as compared to Google Glass, Vuzix, Epson Moverio, etc. which weigh in between 1.5 and 3 oz. Even if the HoloLens battery lasted longer than 2-3 hours, it would be difficult to imagine wearing the HoloLens for an entire day of work.
Con Developers only right now
To order the HoloLens, you need to be a developer in USA or Canada, and also a Windows Insider. Regular people can't order this yet - even if they had the $3000 required.
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.