Snap is officially making its foray into public-facing augmented reality eyewear with the launch of "Specs." Described by the company as “a wearable computer built into see-through augmented reality glasses,” these innovative glasses are priced at $2,195. Pre-orders are available starting today at specs.com, requiring a $200 refundable deposit. Snap anticipates shipping the Specs “this fall” to customers in the US, UK, and France.
This launch marks a pivotal moment for Snap, building on its initial venture into smart glasses with the original Spectacles in 2016. The company has dedicated considerable effort over recent years to developing non-public AR versions of Spectacles. CEO Evan Spiegel had previously indicated a 2026 timeline for consumer AR glasses and even established the smart glasses division as a separate business entity, underscoring the strategic importance of this product line.
Snap emphasizes the Specs' "fully standalone" nature, boasting “no puck and no tether,” a design choice that implicitly contrasts with tethered devices like Apple’s Vision Pro. The glasses will be available in two sizes: a 47mm model weighing 132g and a 52mm model at 136g. They are designed with removable inserts to accommodate “a wide range of prescriptions,” enhancing accessibility for users.
The aesthetic of Specs is distinct, featuring wide, bold frames that clearly aim to differentiate them from competitors like Meta’s smart glasses. Equipped with both visible light and infrared cameras, the Specs include a subtle LED bar that illuminates in the center of the glasses when recording is active, ensuring privacy awareness.
The display system within both lenses utilizes Snap's “proprietary liquid crystal on silicon technology,” delivering a 51-degree field of view and capable of rendering 16 million colors. A dynamic feature allows the lenses to transition from clear to tinted within just 10 seconds, adapting to various lighting conditions.
Internally, Specs are powered by two Snapdragon processors. While Snap has not specified the exact models, the company notes that one processor is dedicated to “computer vision,” while the other is optimized for running AR Lenses. Snap states that "together, they enable fast hand tracking, low latency, and responsive interactions that help digital content feel anchored in the real world," promising a fluid and immersive augmented reality experience.
Users can expect up to four hours of battery life per charge, which Snap indicates covers activities such as “audio and video playback, AI assistance, Bluetooth notifications, and more.” The Specs come with a charging case that provides an additional four charges, extending the total battery life to 20 hours. CEO Evan Spiegel, during his keynote at the AWE 2026 conference, highlighted a magnetic charging cable that attaches to the side of the glasses. This versatile cable also enables content streaming from external devices like phones, computers, or gaming consoles directly to the Specs' display.
While the Specs present an intriguing proposition, a definitive assessment of their daily usability and market performance remains pending, as hands-on reviews are not yet available. Their positioning within the smart glasses landscape, particularly between successful products like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses and the less favorably received Vision Pro, is yet to be determined.
The smart glasses market has become significantly more crowded since Snap first introduced Spectacles. The new Specs arrive a year after Meta’s single-display smart glasses, though Meta has not publicly launched AR glasses despite showcasing a model in 2024 that was not made available for purchase. Amidst ongoing discussions about the practical utility of most smart glasses and escalating privacy concerns, Snap is forging ahead with the Specs launch, and their reception will be closely watched.
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