Snap is launching augmented reality glasses called Specs. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel introduced it on Tuesday at the Augmented World Expo 2026. Specs should work without an external computing unit and be aimed directly at end customers. The company promises powerful augmented reality (AR) in a glasses format suitable for everyday use.
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Two Snapdragon chips and a 51 degree field of view
The specs work independently, without cables or additional modules. In addition, for certain purposes such as video streaming, they can be connected to playback devices such as laptops or smartphones using a USB-C cable. Two unspecified integrated Snapdragon processors handle environmental analysis and content display. This should reduce the delay between movement and image formation in hand tracking to around seven milliseconds.
The glasses use waveguides and project content via an LCoS system with a 51-degree field of view and up to 16 million colors. For comparison: Full-fledged mixed reality headsets such as the Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest 3 have fields of view of up to 110 degrees, display glasses from Xreal or Viture reach up to 57 degrees. Snap compares the display when working with a 24-inch monitor and when consuming media with a virtual screen of around 115 inches (approx. 3 m) at a distance of three meters.
The electrochromatic lenses should automatically adapt to the lighting conditions and change from fully tinted to transparent within ten seconds. Snap has also announced prescription lenses. These should be manufactured to order by contractual partners and should be easy to change. There are currently no details about the prices or the ordering process.
New AI tools for developers
The software ecosystem continues to rely on interactive AR applications, which Snap calls “Lenses”. Developers have already created hundreds of lenses with Spectacles 5, for example for navigation, guided playing of instruments or education. New AI tools are intended to accelerate development in the future, including through automated support for testing and optimization. Existing projects from Unity should also be easier to transfer in the future.
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Snap Keynote at AWE USA 2026: Making Computing More Human with Evan Spiegel, Snap Co-Founder and CEO
When it comes to data protection, Snap promises that a lot of data will be processed directly on the device. An LED signals recordings and users should be able to control which information is saved or shared. Whether that’s enough to inspire trust remains to be seen – after all, Snap makes most of its money from advertising. In addition, smart glasses are currently coming under increasing criticism because it is far too easy to film without being noticed.
Compact, but not inconspicuous
Compared to many current smart glasses, the specs are still clearly recognizable as tech glasses. This is mainly ensured by the wide temples. However, the hardware has become visibly more compact than the Spectacles 5 developer glasses, which weigh an impressive 226 grams and reliably press ears down within a very short time. The new specs come in two frame sizes (47mm and 52mm) and weigh around 132 to 136 grams, depending on the size.
The battery life is said to have increased significantly. Snap gives it up to four hours for mixed use. The included charging case can fully charge the glasses up to four times and should bring the running time on the go to a total of 20 hours.
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Unrivaledly expensive
The specs can be pre-ordered now and are scheduled to be released in the US, UK and France this fall. The price: a whopping $2,195. This means that the specs will have a hard time appealing to a broad group of buyers. After all, Snap is unrivaled so far. Only Meta has a similar product in development, the Orion, but its release is still up in the air.
Snap is under economic pressure. The company recently cut around 1,000 jobs to cut costs and spun off the hardware division specifically for the specs. CEO Evan Spiegel described the upcoming AR glasses as a test for the future of the group. Snap has been investing in AR hardware for over ten years. According to Spiegel, three billion US dollars have already been invested in the development.
(joe)
