Microsoft Unveils Lighter, Cheaper HoloLens 2 for Commercial Use
Microsoft debuts the HoloLens 2, a lighter and cheaper mixed reality headset designed specifically for businesses rather than gamers. The release comes amid internal employee protests over a lucrative military contract.
Microsoft unveils the HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, offering a device that is both lighter and cheaper than its 2016 predecessor. The new model starts at $3,500, down from the original $5,000 price point, making it a more accessible entry into enterprise mixed reality. Despite the lower cost, the headset remains too expensive for the average consumer and focuses strictly on commercial applications.
Instead of targeting gamers, Microsoft highlights business use cases for the HoloLens 2, such as helping toy designers collaborate, assisting with construction projects, and aiding in surgeries. Industry analysts praise this commercial focus, noting that the mixed reality market is still in its early stages and does not yet need to provide a perfect, lightweight consumer experience. They compare the current state of the technology to the early days of personal computers, which originally served specific business purposes before evolving into sleeker mainstream devices.
The product launch occurs alongside growing internal controversy regarding Microsoft's technology. Just days before the announcement, a group of Microsoft employees sends an open letter to leadership demanding the cancellation of a $480 million military contract. These workers protest that the military's plan to use the headsets in combat turns warfare into a simulated video game and distances soldiers from the grim reality of bloodshed.