Snap has surprised the tech industry by officially unveiling its new augmented reality glasses, simply called 'Specs'. Introduced by CEO Evan Spiegel at the AWE USA 2026 conference, these devices represent a true wearable computer built into a see-through frame. Priced at $2,195 with a refundable $200 deposit, Snap aims to win over both consumers and developers by offering a rich ecosystem through its Lens Studio platform.
The new Snap Specs are made from Swiss TR90 polymer, a material the company dubs 'plastic titanium' for its lightweight and durability. Two sizes are available: the 47mm frame weighs 132 grams, while the 52mm frame comes in at 136 grams. Both versions can easily accommodate prescription lenses, allowing sharing among friends and family. Snap emphasizes that the glasses are light enough to be worn for hours without fatigue.
On the technical side, Specs feature two high-resolution color cameras, two infrared computer vision cameras, and 6-axis inertial sensors. All data is processed by two Snapdragon chips: one dedicated to driving the lenses and the other handling computer vision. The field of view is 51 degrees, which Snap compares to a 115-inch screen viewed from 10 feet. The stereo waveguide display uses LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) micro projectors, with automatic tinting to adapt to different lighting conditions.
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Audio comes from stereo speakers for spatial sound and a microphone array for voice commands. Hand tracking enables gesture control, complemented by voice recognition and natural language commands. Battery life reaches up to four hours of mixed use, with a custom magnetic charging cable that works even while wearing the glasses. The charging case extends total autonomy to 20 hours, a major improvement over the previous developer-only Spectacles, which lasted only 45 minutes.
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Specs can be used for watching movies and videos, casting content, writing on a virtual whiteboard, and utilizing the myriad existing Snapchat lenses. The glasses connect via USB-C to a computer, phone, or gaming console to act as an external display. With Lens Studio, developers have already created experiences including virtual objects, mini games, and DIY assistance. Snap also announced agentic development for lenses, with integrations for Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor, and the ability to leverage OpenAI and Gemini APIs for AI-powered AR experiences.
With the launch of Specs, Snap beats many tech giants to market, including Apple. According to rumors, Apple's first AR glasses won't arrive until 2027 and initially will be limited to AI features without a built-in display. Snap positions itself as a pioneer in the consumer augmented reality space, offering a complete product. Pre-orders are open today, with shipping expected in the fall across the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
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This move by Snap comes at a time when data privacy is under intense scrutiny. As we discussed in a recent article about Anthropic's feud with the Trump administration, data handling has become a critical factor for user trust. Even in the smart home appliance sector, as highlighted in iRobot on Sale, consumers demand greater transparency. Snap must prove that its AR glasses adequately protect the data collected by cameras and sensors.
For those wanting to dive deeper into the technology behind augmented reality, check out the Wikipedia page on augmented reality.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/16/snap-specs-ar-glasses
