Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Published on 06-May-2023

Feature	Augmented Reality	Virtual Reality
Definition	Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital content onto the real world, enhancing the user's perception and interaction with their environment.	Virtual reality (VR) creates a completely immersive digital environment that simulates the user's physical presence in a virtual world.
Interaction	AR enhances the user's interaction with the real world, adding digital elements such as graphics, sound, and video to the user's sensory experience.	VR creates a new environment that the user can interact with in a more immersive and interactive way than they can in the real world.
Real-world vs. Digital	AR enhances the user's experience of the real world by adding digital elements to it.	VR creates a completely digital environment that is separate from the real world.
Equipment	AR can be experienced using a smartphone, tablet, or AR headset.	VR requires a specialized headset and often other equipment such as hand-held controllers or sensors.
Purpose	AR is often used in commercial applications such as advertising, gaming, and education. It can also be used in fields such as healthcare and manufacturing to enhance productivity and accuracy.	VR is often used in gaming, entertainment, and training applications such as flight simulators, medical training, and military simulations.
Real-world Interaction	AR allows users to interact with the real world while also experiencing digital elements. For example, an AR app might allow a user to scan a product in a store and see digital information such as reviews, prices, and other product details.	VR does not allow users to interact with the real world, but creates a fully immersive digital environment.
Immersion	AR is not as immersive as VR, since the user's view of the real world is still present.	VR is highly immersive, since the user's sensory experience is entirely focused on the virtual world.
Interactivity	AR allows users to interact with digital elements in the real world, and vice versa.	VR allows users to interact with the virtual environment, but not with the real world.
Applications	AR is often used in fields such as advertising, education, healthcare, and manufacturing.	VR is often used in gaming, entertainment, and training applications such as flight simulators, medical training, and military simulations.
Social Interaction	AR can enhance social interaction by allowing users to share digital information and experiences in the real world.	VR can also enhance social interaction by allowing users to share digital experiences in a virtual world, but is often criticized for isolating users from the real world.
Realism	AR can enhance the realism of the real world by adding digital elements to it, but does not create a completely realistic experience.	VR can create a highly realistic experience that simulates the user's physical presence in a virtual world.
Learning	AR can enhance learning by providing interactive, real-world experiences that engage students and help them understand complex concepts.	VR can also enhance learning by providing immersive, interactive experiences that simulate real-world scenarios.
Cost	AR is generally less expensive than VR, since it can be experienced using a smartphone or tablet.	VR requires specialized equipment such as a headset and controllers, which can be expensive.
Comfort	AR is generally more comfortable to experience than VR, since the user's view of the real world is still present.	VR can be uncomfortable for some users, due to the intensity of the immersion and the weight of the equipment.
Health and Safety	AR does not pose significant health or safety risks, since the user is still aware of their real-world surroundings.	VR can pose health and safety risks, such as motion sickness and disorientation, particularly if the user