Monocular AR glasses (one eye display)

Advantages

• Lower cost & easier manufacturing: Fewer optical channels (one display/beam path) generally reduces BOM cost and complexity.
• Lighter and simpler ergonomics: Often less weight and bulk; may be more comfortable for long wear.
• Smaller power/compute budget (in some designs): With fewer display/processing paths, power consumption can be lower.
• Sufficient for many “assistive” use cases: For UI overlays (navigation text, notifications, simple annotations), true stereo depth isn’t always required.

Disadvantages

• No true stereoscopic depth cues: Depth perception is limited; it relies on monocular depth cues (size, perspective, occlusion) and/or external sensors.
• Harder for precise spatial tasks: Less suitable for fine-grained “place this object here” experiences (AR assembly, surgery planning, accurate alignment).
• Potential discomfort/visual strain: If virtual content doesn’t match real-world depth/vergence expectations well (or if users expect depth that isn’t present), some users may experience fatigue.
• Reduced immersion: Many people perceive binocular/stereo as more natural and “real,” especially for games, training, and advanced 3D visualization.

Binocular AR glasses (two-eye displays)

Advantages

• Better depth perception (stereoscopy): Two displays enable stereoscopic rendering and more convincing spatial cues, improving usability for 3D tasks.
• More natural and immersive experience: Most users perceive binocular AR as more “grounded” in the environment.
• Improved alignment/occlusion realism: With stereo, it’s easier to render convincing near/far relationships and reduce “floating” effects (assuming tracking is good).
• Broader application range: Better suited to spatial training, collaborative AR, object placement, and any workflow needing accurate depth.

Disadvantages

• Higher cost & complexity: More optics, calibration, and display processing; typically higher BOM and R&D cost.
• More weight and power draw: Often heavier; may increase battery/thermal constraints.
• Calibration sensitivity: Misalignment between left/right channels can cause discomfort, eye strain, or reduced image quality.
• More challenging manufacturing/QA: More ways for devices to drift out of calibration over time (temperature, shock, wear).
• Still limited by tracking: If eye/pose tracking is imperfect, stereo can amplify mismatch discomfort (even though stereo is “better,” bad calibration/misalignment is worse).

Quick Decision Guide

• Choose a monocular if your priorities are cost, comfort, and simple overlay experiences such as text/labels, lightweight navigation, and an 'assistant' UI.
• Choose binoculars if you require true spatial interaction and depth-critical workflows such as object placement, 3D visualization, or training/medical-grade precision.

If you tell me your target use case (e.g., field service instructions, navigation, training simulation, gaming, industrial design), I can suggest which option is the better fit and which technical features matter most, such as stereo rendering, eye tracking, depth sensors, and tracking latency.