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Smart glasses, AR and VR: what is the difference?
Smart glasses describes a form factor and connected features. AR describes digital content combined with the physical world. VR describes a virtual environment. The words overlap, but they are not interchangeable.
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Are all smart glasses augmented reality?
No. Audio or camera glasses can perform useful electronic tasks without adding imagery to your view. Even among display glasses, a simple information…
Read the answer ↗What is optical see-through AR?
In optical see-through AR, you look directly through the optics at the real world while display light is added to your view. Microsoft describes this…
Read the answer ↗What is video passthrough in AR and VR?
Video passthrough shows the wearer a camera view of the surroundings on displays. Optical see-through instead lets the wearer see the surroundings…
Read the answer ↗What does 3DoF mean for smart glasses?
Three degrees of freedom, or 3DoF, describes rotation: turning left and right, looking up and down, and tilting your head. It does not by itself…
Read the answer ↗What does 6DoF add to smart glasses?
Six degrees of freedom combines rotation with position changes along three axes. The system can respond when you lean, step sideways or move closer,…
Read the answer ↗What is a head-locked display in smart glasses?
A head-locked display keeps content in a position relative to the wearer rather than at a location in the room. Turn your head and the content…
Read the answer ↗Is a virtual monitor the same as spatial computing?
A virtual monitor can be one spatial-computing application, but displaying a rectangular screen does not establish a general spatial platform.…
Read the answer ↗Which smart-glasses category suits everyday prompts?
Short visible prompts usually need a readable display and simple controls. Spoken prompts need audio. Neither task inherently requires an application…
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Answers last updated September 13, 2026. Source review dates are listed with each answer.