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The HoloLens 2: Pioneering XR Hardware or Too Good to Be True?
For our latest deep dive into extended reality (XR), we’re turning the spotlight onto Microsoft's mixed reality headset—the Microsoft HoloLens 2.
Launched in 2019 as the successor to the original HoloLens, the HoloLens 2 continues to push boundaries in mixed realiy,, bridging the gap between the physical and digital world. It remains one of the most advanced and versatile augmented reality (AR) headsets on the market and is renowned for its potential in industries ranging from manufacturing to education.
A Revolutionary Reality Headset
The Microsoft HoloLens 2 builds on the innovation of its predecessor, delivering a more immersive and intuitive mixed reality experience. Its holographic lenses offer users the ability to interact with digital overlays similar to a hologram that you may have seen in a sci-fi film.
Key Features and Capabilities:
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Advanced Eye Tracking
The HoloLens 2 incorporates sophisticated eye-tracking technology, enabling precise gaze control, faster navigation, and more natural interactions with 3D viewer apps and digital overlays. -
Remote Assist via Microsoft Teams
Integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, the headset empowers teams to connect and collaborate remotely in real time. With Remote Assist, users can share their view through the headset’s high-resolution camera, receive step-by-step guidance, and resolve complex issues efficiently. -
Holographic Operating System
Running on Windows Holographic, the HoloLens 2 software offers access to a rich ecosystem of apps and tools, including industrial-grade applications tailored for specific sectors. -
Enhanced Comfort and Design
With its ergonomic design, lightweight build, and adjustable fit, the headset is comfortable for extended use, making it ideal for tasks requiring prolonged focus. -
Industrial Edition for Demanding Environments
For industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, and aerospace, the HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition provides durability and certification for cleanroom compatibility.
Why Choose the HoloLens 2?
When you invest in the Microsoft HoloLens, you’re not just buying a device; you’re gaining access to a transformative tool which will boost your business performance and productivity. Available via our store, the HoloLens 2 offers enterprise-ready solutions for industries looking to leverage cutting-edge mixed reality experiences.
Whether you’re interested in its eye tracking, range of apps, or seamless integration with Windows software, the HoloLens 2 is a great step forward in the evolution of reality headsets.
What is the HoloLens 2?
This versatile device leverages advanced compute platforms to easily blend virtual elements with the real-world environment. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which immerses users in entirely virtual 3D worlds, augmented reality (AR) enhances reality by overlaying digital objects onto physical spaces. For example, the HoloLens 2 can project "holographic" representations of remote meeting participants or generate a realistic 3D model of a coffee cup that appears to rest on a physical table.
This ability to augment rather than replace reality allows users to stay aware of their surroundings while interacting with virtual content, making it ideal for businesses.
Why the HoloLens 2 Stands Out
The HoloLens 2 distinguishes itself from competitors through a host of innovative features designed to improve active use and usability. Among these are:
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Sophisticated Spatial Mapping
The headset’s advanced sensors create precise 3D maps of physical spaces, enabling immersive and context-aware applications. -
Hand-Tracking Capabilities
The device supports intuitive gestures for interacting with virtual objects, offering natural control without the need for external controllers. -
Cloud Integration
Seamless connectivity to the cloud ensures powerful processing, data storage, and real-time collaboration for enterprise-grade tasks. -
Long Battery Life
Designed for extended active use, the HoloLens 2 provides reliable performance for professionals across industries.
How the HoloLens 2 works
OK, this is going to get a little technical.
The HoloLens 2 headset works its magic using a device called a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display. (Phew… that's quite a mouthful.)
The MEMS display is made up of two parts: lasers and mirrors. The lasers create a precise light source, while the mirrors reflect the light and "draw" an image onto the glass in front of you. To achieve this, the mirrors oscillate at up to 54,000 cycles per second. Wow.
Of course, to the wearer, this all happens invisibly. As far as they're concerned, these laser images look like realistic 3D objects that exist in the space around them.
The illusion is further amplified with clever spatial sensors, which track your head movements and make a 3D map of your environment. This means the projected "holograms" appear to stay in place, relative to your position in the room, and even cling to real-world objects like desks.
Add hand tracking into the mix – which lets you "pick up" and move holographic images – and you have a recipe for a very immersive AR experience.
What can the HoloLens 2 be used for?
Alright, we've covered the techy stuff. Now let's get to the really exciting bit – exploring what the HoloLens 2 can do for your business.
Companies like Airbus and Lockheed Martin are already using the technology to deliver immersive training experiences and develop products more quickly and collaboratively.
Let's look at training, for a start.
Consider the fact that many specialist jobs are carried out in challenging or hard-to-reach environments. Paramedics, for example, have to administer life-saving care with critical time constraints. And oil rig engineers need to understand complex machinery that's located miles out to sea.
With the HoloLens 2, you can conjure up realistic training scenarios that cover any possible eventuality. Medical trainees can experience emergency situations that wouldn't be possible to deliver reliably in real life. And those oil workers? They can learn the "ins and outs" of essential equipment without needing to fly out – at considerable cost – to the rig.
Crucially, these simulations feel real but allow trainees to maintain total awareness of the world around them. This is no video game – they can see and interact with their colleagues, just like they could in the real world. After all, save for a few lifelike 3D models, it is the real world.
This brings us to another stand-out feature of the HoloLens 2 – collaboration.
Microsoft has been very clever by building collaborative features directly into the device. With multiple headsets, you can communicate with remote colleagues and solve problems together in immersive mixed reality.
This presents almost unlimited possibilities for all sorts of sectors. For instance, product developers can discuss and interact with 3D renders of their designs in real time. And remote experts can dial into a call and talk through repairs, aided by a "see-what-I-see" video stream and real-time 3D annotations.
It's a cliché, but it's true – the only limit is your imagination.
Learn about more use cases for the HoloLens 2 and other AR glasses.
Comparison: the HoloLens 2 vs HoloLens 1
The HoloLens 2 specs are, by all accounts, a huge improvement over its already-impressive predecessor.
One of the most-cited enhancements is the wider field of view (FoV). Some felt that the original Microsoft glasses delivered too small a viewing area. The HoloLens 2 increases the original 30° FoV to a panoramic 52°, which provides a much more immersive experience.
Microsoft has also added eye-tracking capabilities to the new unit. This means mixed reality interactions feel more natural, with objects following your eyes as you look around the room. Previously, their positions would only change when you moved your head.
The new version also boasts an improved holographic processing unit (HPU), better gesture support, and a more comfortable design. This is in addition to smaller (and perhaps expected) improvements such as a USB-C charging port and a more recent Bluetooth version.
Interested in the Microsoft HoloLens 2 smart glasses?
It's a truly impressive piece of tech, isn't it? We're proud to be one of the few UK retailers for Microsoft's augmented reality glasses. You can purchase yours here .
Or why not browse our full range of products and discover more XR devices?
Look out for more "deep dives" into XR hardware in future, including best-in-class devices from the likes of RealWear and Vuzix.
