Snap, the developer of social media app Snapchat and digital avatar Bitmoji, on June 16 launched its first augmented reality glasses for consumers.
The glasses, called SPECS, are priced at $2,195 and were introduced at the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, California. SPECS’s augmented reality—technology that overlays digital content onto a real-world view—was presented as the most natural way to use a computer because it aligns with how people already experience the world visually, socially, and three-dimensionally.
“As computers became more capable, they also demanded more of our attention. Too often, we find ourselves looking down at a screen instead of looking at the people we’re with,” the Santa Monica-based technology company stated in a press release. “We believe the best technology fades into the background, helping when it’s needed and getting out of the way when it’s not. That’s why we built SPECS.”
The glasses are available for pre-order in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, with a $200 refundable deposit, and are expected to start shipping this fall. They only come in the color black and have a thick, chunky frame.
The company said the glasses are powered by two Snapdragon processors.
Snap said the product’s features allow you to map out directions while walking, measure spaces, get help from AI, and set up a workspace almost anywhere, all while maintaining awareness of your environment and people around you.
The glasses come in a 52-millimeter size that weighs 136 grams and a 47-millimeter size that weighs 132 grams. They have a 51-degree field of view, which the company said is comparable to a 24-inch desktop monitor when you’re working, or a 115-inch screen placed about 10 feet away.
The glasses have a battery life of up to four hours, and they come with a charging case that provides up to 20 hours of mixed-use battery on the go. They also have privacy features built in, including asking before accessing sensitive information and having an LED indicator light up while recording, the press release states.
Multiple technology companies have released their own augmented reality glasses in recent years, most notably Meta with its Ray-Ban smart glasses that start at only $379.
Meta’s most recent pair, the “Meta Ray-Ban Display,” launched last September for $799 and weighs considerably less than SPECS at 69 grams; however, they don’t have as many augmented reality features as SPECS.
Shareholders did not respond well to Snap’s new glasses, as its stock fell 9.6 percent on June 16 from $5.71 to $5.16. The company’s stock has fallen by over 36 percent since the start of the year.
Reuters contributed to this report.









