Augmented reality (AR) expands the real world with digital content that is superimposed in real time via camera, sensor or head-up displays. The physical environment remains visible at all times; the virtual elements lie over it like a transparent film. Today, typical AR experiences run on devices that almost everyone already owns: smartphones and tablets. Apps like Pokémon GO, Snapchat Lens or the IKEA Place Visualizer place 3D models, animations or information texts on the live camera image and adjust the size, perspective and - as far as possible - the lighting to the surroundings.
The technical core of an AR app is the Tracking. Sensors and AI-based processes recognize planes, edges or image marks and determine where digital objects can be placed. Because standard smartphones only have a single RGB camera, tracking is usually two-dimensional; depth information is created using mathematical assumptions. Although this makes AR objects look believable, they can only collide with real objects or disappear behind them to a very limited extent. Interactions are therefore usually limited to tapping or swiping gestures on the touch screen.
In short: AR is ideal if you want to reach your target group quickly and without special hardware, for example with a virtual furniture preview, a selfie filter or a playful marketing campaign.
Mixed reality (MR) combines real and virtual elements in such a way that both worlds interact with each other in a physically plausible way. Current MR headsets use two different display approaches:
Camera pass-through (closed display) - Opaque displays project the virtual image in a similar way to VR glasses. Outdoor cameras film the surroundings in real time and play them back as stereoscopic live video. Examples: Meta Quest 3, Pico 4 Enterprise, Apple Vision Pro. Advantages: large field of vision (up to 110°), rich colors, perfect occlusion. Disadvantages: slightly increased latency and no "real view through".
Transparent waveguide displays - Thin optical fibers place the hologram directly on the field of vision, while the real environment shines through unchanged. This is only offered by a few devices such as the Magic Leap 2 or slim AR glasses à la Xreal Light/Air. Advantages: natural view, low weight. Disadvantages: significantly narrower field of vision (35-50°) and lower luminance.
"Pass-Through" (pass-through) refers to the process in which the headset captures the outside world via a camera image and immediately forwards it to the displays. Virtual objects are rendered onto this video image so that they appear in the correct perspective in the room. An extremely low end-to-end latency (< 20 ms) is crucial so that no nausea occurs.
In short: Transparent glasses offer lightness and a direct view, but only provide a narrow field of vision. Pass-through headsets appear bulkier, but score points with their panoramic FOV and visually seamless fusion.
| Criterion | Augmented reality | Mixed reality |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Smartphone, tablet, lightweight AR glasses (e.g. Xreal Air) | Pass-through MR headsets (Quest 3, Pico 4 Ultra, Vision Pro) - Transparent MR glasses (Magic Leap 2) |
| Deep understanding | 2D image tracking / approximation | Real-time 3D mapping, occlusion & physics |
| Interaction | Touch gestures, partly voice | Hand tracking, gestures, voice, eye tracking |
| Entry hurdle | low (app download, browser) | Medium to high (hardware costs, training) |
| Duration of use | Mostly short mobile sessions | Work or training sessions of 30+ minutes |
| Typical targets | Mostly branding, product preview, gamification, but can also have industrial applications | Industrial training, remote assistance, complex data visualization |
The table shows: The more the real and virtual worlds need to interact with each other, the more likely it is that there is no way around MR. However, AR remains the most efficient solution for fast touch points with a wide reach.
An international mechanical engineering company uses an MR application for Remote assistanceService technicians wear a Magic Leap 2, while experts in the head office have their view transmitted live. Using 3D arrows and markers, they give step-by-step instructions without long journeys. Troubleshooting time reduced by 35 %, travel costs by 60 %.
Through interactive learning modules trainees can operate dangerous machines virtually in a safe MR scenario. The system recognizes incorrect actions in real time and displays help texts. A study by the Technical University of Munich shows that practical errors can be reduced by 40 %.
In surgery, Essen University Hospital uses a specially validated MR solution to display CT and MRI data as a 3D hologram directly over the patient before an operation.inside the body. Doctorinside see vascular and tumor structures exactly where they are located and can plan incisions with millimeter precision.
A leading cosmetics brand combines Web-AR and MR pop-up stations: customers test lipsticks in smartphone selfie mode and then experience an MR installation in the store that combines virtual make-up advice with a personal product presentation. The conversion rate increased by 27 %.
Design4Real connects at trade fairs gamified AR scavenger hunts with MR showcases: Visitors first hunt for virtual components via their smartphone, which later appear as a hologram on a real machine and explain how it works. This extends the contact time at the stand by an average of 4 minutes.
Augmented reality is the right choice if you:
want to reach many users quickly,
plan a more marketing-driven experience,
have to keep the budget lean and
interactions are limited to simple gestures or touch inputs.
Mixed reality is worthwhile if:
spatial precision and physical correctness are essential,
Hands-free interaction (gestures, voice) improves the workflow,
the return on investment outweighs the hardware price and
longer sessions with a high degree of immersion are planned.
Still unsure? Our Design4real XR team will be happy to analyze your use case scenario, create a Proof of concept and shows how you can integrate AR or MR into your existing infrastructure. Contact us now and start your next reality project!
Pass-Through films the real environment with cameras and shows the live image including holograms on a closed display - so you see a video. With a transparent waveguide display, you look directly through the glass and see holograms "in real space". Pass-through offers a larger field of view, transparent displays look more natural, but are limited to around 50° FOV.
For mobile AR, all you need is a current smartphone with ARCore (Android) or ARKit support (iOS). Web-AR even works directly in the browser. For professional MR, on the other hand, you need headsets such as Meta Quest 3, Pico 4 Enterprise or Magic Leap 2.
Transparent glasses are 35 to 50 °, pass-through headsets reach 90 to 110 °. For comparison: the natural human horizontal field of vision is around 200°
Unity (AR Foundation), Unreal Engine, WebXR and A-Frame are popular for AR. MR headsets usually support Unity or Unreal with specific SDKs (e.g. MRTK 3 for Magic Leap 2 / Quest 3).
Are you interested in developing a virtual reality or 360° application? You may still have questions about budget and implementation. Feel free to contact me.
I am looking forward to you
Clarence Dadson CEO Design4real
