Both are called hologram displays, but they solve different problems. The Holoconnects Holobox shows a solid, life-size person in a transparent-LCD enclosure; Looking Glass makes 3D content — objects, models, scenes — viewable in depth by a group without glasses. Here’s where each fits.
The short answer
Choose the Holobox when a life-size human needs to be present and interactive — a receptionist, a remote doctor, a presenter — with a touchscreen and a live two-way connection. Choose Looking Glass when the subject is a 3D object or scene a group should explore without headsets — product design, medical imaging, retail 3D views. Different core jobs, overlapping vocabulary.
This page is non-disparaging: Looking Glass is a leading light-field display maker (a 2026 SID Display-of-the-Year for its Hololuminescent tech). The goal is to match the technology to your use case. For the underlying optics, see what a hologram is.
What it shows
Holobox. A solid, life-size person or product with real presence — someone who greets, consults, or presents.
Looking Glass. Interactive 3D models and scenes (objects, designs, medical/scientific data) viewable in 3D by a group.
Best fit: Depends. Human presence → Holobox. A 3D object/scene to explore → Looking Glass.
Display technology
Holobox. Transparent LCD in front of a custom light box; a self-contained enclosure showing a life-size figure.
Looking Glass. Light-field and Hololuminescent (HLD) displays — group-viewable depth without glasses, headsets or eye-tracking (source: lookingglassfactory.com).
Best fit: Depends. Two different display classes with different visual outcomes.
Interactivity & telepresence
Holobox. Touchscreen, interactive AI Hologram, and a live 4K two-way connection for real-time remote presence.
Looking Glass. Interactive 3D content and up to ~100 views / 53° viewing cone at presentation scale; not a person-telepresence unit.
Best fit: Holobox. For a live person appearing remotely, the Holobox matches directly.
Sizes / range
Holobox. Holobox Mini (22"), The 43, The 75, life-size 86" Holobox (2.06 m), Hologrid wall.
Looking Glass. Looking Glass Go (6"), 16", 27" desktop/retail, and 86" large format.
Best fit: Depends. Both scale from tabletop to large format; the difference is presence vs 3D content.
Typical use cases
Holobox. Hospitality reception, telehealth consults, keynote presence, retail spokespersons, education.
Looking Glass. 3D product visualization, design review, medical/scientific imaging, developer/enterprise 3D, retail 3D product views.
Best fit: Depends. A person doing a job → Holobox. Showing 3D data/objects to a group → Looking Glass.
Pricing
Holobox. Transparent from-prices: €4,500 (Mini) to €25,000 (86"); Hologrid from €45,000. Buy, lease or rent.
Looking Glass. Priced per model on lookingglassfactory.com; the Go is a low-cost portable, larger units scale up.
Best fit: Depends. Get a quote for the exact use case; the Holobox publishes its from-prices.
How to decide
- Need a life-size person present and interactive? Reception, telehealth, keynote → Holobox.
- Need a 3D object/scene explored by a group, no glasses? Design review, imaging, 3D product views → Looking Glass.
- Need remote two-way telepresence? A live presenter at a destination unit → Holobox.
Where the Holobox has direct deployment fit
- Hospitality — holographic reception (CIC Hospitality, rollout planned for 30 hotels).
- Telehealth — life-size remote consultations.
- Events — presenters and keynotes on any stage.
Want a scoped comparison?
Tell us the use case and we’ll say honestly whether the Holobox fits — or whether a light-field display like Looking Glass suits it better.
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