Synopsis
Snap has positioned the glasses as a standalone AR device that overlays 3D digital content onto the real world, aiming to bridge the gap between lightweight smart glasses such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, and bulkier mixed-reality headsets such as Apple Vision Pro.What are Specs?
Snap has positioned the glasses as a standalone AR device that overlays 3D digital content onto the real world, aiming to bridge the gap between lightweight smart glasses such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, and bulkier mixed-reality headsets such as Apple Vision Pro.
Specs features dual Snapdragon processors by American chipmaker Qualcomm, a 51-degree field of view, up to four hours of battery life and support AI-powered experiences that can understand and interact with a user's surroundings.
The company claims the glasses can be used for navigation, productivity, entertainment and real-time AI assistance while keeping users engaged with the physical world.
What is the price? Is Specs available in India?
Priced at $2,195, Specs was unveiled at the Augmented World Expo in California and will ship in the US, UK and France starting in September. The company has not clarified when the product will be available in India.
How does Specs fare against rivals?
The product enters a nascent but increasingly competitive market led by Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, with Google and Samsung also expanding their AR and mixed-reality efforts.
While Snap’s Specs have been designed as full AR glasses that project 3D digital objects into the real world, Meta's and Google's devices primarily focus on AI assistance, notifications and displaying information in the wearer's field of view, making them closer to smartphone companions than standalone AR computers. Samsung, meanwhile, is pursuing mixed-reality headsets that offer more immersive experiences but that are bulkier and less practical for everyday use.
Yet, Snap’s AR glasses are extremely expensive compared with Meta's smart glasses, which start at $299 and its display-equipped models, launched last September, at $799. Snap is betting users and developers will pay a premium for a more immersive AR experience.
How has Specs been received?
Per reports by Reuters and AFP, activist investor Irenic Capital Management urged Snap to shut down or spin off its hardware business, particularly revolving around Specs, as it consumed more than $3.5 billion in investment. Snap separated the business into a standalone subsidiary in January, a move that may enable outside funding. Yet, CEO Evan Spiegel has argued that Specs is central to the company’s long-term strategy. Snap, which listed in 2017, continues to remain unprofitable.
Snap shares closed nearly 10% lower on Tuesday following the announcement.
