Snap has officially introduced SPECS, a new generation of augmented reality glasses that aim to blend wearable comfort with standalone spatial computing. Announced by Snap Inc. at an event in Los Angeles, the glasses are available for pre-order starting today for $2,195, requiring a refundable $200 deposit. Shipments are expected to begin this fall in the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
The launch marks Snap’s most ambitious hardware effort yet, building on more than a decade of investment in augmented reality technology, software tools, optics, computer vision, and operating systems.
“Our goal has always been to make computing more human,” said Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel during the announcement. “SPECS put computing into the world, where life actually happens.”
A New Category Between AI Glasses and Headsets
Snap positions SPECS as a middle ground between lightweight AI glasses and larger mixed-reality headsets. The company argues that existing smart glasses often lack advanced capabilities, while headsets can feel bulky and isolate users from their surroundings.
Unlike many competing devices, SPECS are fully standalone and do not require an external puck, tether, or companion hardware.
Built from Swiss TR90 polymer, the glasses come in two sizes. The smaller 47mm version weighs 132 grams, while the larger 52mm model weighs 136 grams. Users who require vision correction can install removable prescription inserts.
Large Virtual Displays in a Compact Form Factor
At the core of SPECS is Snap’s proprietary liquid crystal on silicon display technology. The glasses offer a 51-degree field of view and support up to 16 million colors.
According to Snap, the visual experience is comparable to viewing a 24-inch desktop monitor for productivity tasks or a virtual 115-inch home theater display positioned roughly 10 feet away. The company has redesigned its waveguide system to reduce distortion and improve transparency, using nanostructures that are invisible to the naked eye.
SPECS feature electrochromic lenses that can transition from clear to tinted in approximately 10 seconds, a technology inspired by the adjustable windows found on Boeing 787 aircraft.
Powered by Dual Snapdragon Processors
Performance is handled by two Snapdragon processors. One chip manages computer vision tasks, while the second is dedicated to running augmented reality experiences known as Lenses.
Snap says the hardware enables responsive hand tracking and low-latency interactions, with a reported motion-to-photon latency of seven milliseconds. The goal is to help digital objects remain stable and anchored within the user’s environment.
Practical applications include navigation overlays, spatial measurement tools, contextual AI assistance, media streaming, screen casting, virtual workspaces, and immersive educational experiences. Hundreds of developer-created Lenses are already available for the platform.
Battery life is rated at up to four hours of mixed use. The included charging case provides four additional charges, extending total usage to as much as 20 hours.
Expanded Tools for Developers
Alongside the hardware announcement, Snap revealed several additions to its developer ecosystem.
The company introduced new agentic development tools within Lens Studio that can assist with prototyping, testing, debugging, publishing, and optimizing SPECS experiences. Support is rolling out through Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor.
Snap also announced the SPECS Spatial Benchmark, a new framework for evaluating AI performance in real-world spatial tasks, along with a Migration Agent for porting existing projects and a Native Development Kit that allows developers to integrate their own code and libraries into Lens Studio.
Privacy Remains a Focus
Snap emphasized privacy protections as part of the SPECS experience. The glasses provide clear permission prompts before accessing sensitive information, include a visible LED recording indicator, prioritize on-device processing where possible, and offer controls for managing stored and shared data.
The company believes trust will play a major role in the adoption of wearable computing devices that interact closely with users’ daily lives.
To support the launch, Snap unveiled a global marketing campaign photographed by Steven Meisel and featuring a group of creators and public figures including Jimmy Butler, Imogen Heap, Hoyeon, Jack Harlow, and Kaia Gerber. New experiences developed with these collaborators are expected to debut when SPECS begin shipping later this year.
More information and pre-order details are available at SPECS.com.
