Snap Unveils $2,195 AR Glasses After Years of Development
Snap has finally revealed the AR glasses it has been developing for close to a decade. The new device, called Specs, is set to arrive this fall with a starting price of $2,195, placing it far above the impulse-buy territory and firmly in the premium hardware category.
CEO Evan Spiegel introduced Specs during a keynote at the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, framing the device as the opening chapter of computing beyond the smartphone. Snap describes the glasses as a wearable computer rather than another pair of camera glasses or AI earbuds with lenses stuck on. Unlike earlier developer kits, Specs do not require a separate puck or connected phone to function.
Specs are available in two frame sizes and are built from Swiss TR90 polymer. At 132 and 136 grams, they are noticeably lighter than the bulky developer edition introduced in 2024, though they remain heavier than traditional eyeglasses and Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. Inside, two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors split the workload. One chip focuses on computer vision while the second powers Snap's augmented reality experiences, known as Lenses. According to the company, the system delivers a motion-to-photon latency of seven milliseconds, nearly twice as fast as the previous generation.
The display technology has also received an upgrade. Snap says the waveguide lenses can show up to 16 million colors, while the field of view has increased to 51 degrees from 46 degrees in the earlier prototype. The lenses themselves are electrochromic, allowing users to darken them electronically in roughly 10 seconds. Snap says this system works even behind UV-blocking glass, such as car windows, giving it an advantage over photochromic lenses that depend on ultraviolet light to activate.
Artificial intelligence is another major part of Snap's pitch. Specs include built-in AI features supported through partnerships with OpenAI and Google. During the presentation, Spiegel highlighted use cases such as overlaying navigation directions onto streets, measuring rooms without tools, and receiving information during hands-on tasks without reaching for a phone. Snap has also spent years building an ecosystem of augmented reality applications created by developers, ranging from multiplayer games to practical utility tools.
Preorders are open now through a refundable $200 deposit, with shipping expected this fall in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Snap is also offering a 14-day return window after delivery, softening the risk of committing more than two thousand dollars to a brand-new product category.
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