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Snap unveiled its new “Specs” augmented-reality glasses on Tuesday, positioning the device as a potential replacement for smartphones. The glasses carry a $2,195 price tag, with CEO Evan Spiegel describing them as a new category of wearable technology.
Snap’s Specs feature a thick-framed black design and are rated for about four hours of battery life. The company says the glasses will run apps through an overlay that blends with the user’s surroundings.
Specs are available for pre-order and are expected to ship to customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France this fall. Snap says the $2,195 price includes a $200 refundable deposit. The company also states the glasses will be offered in two sizes.
In a description on its product website, Snap highlighted use cases such as seeing directions in context, measuring spaces without a tape measure, and getting AI help while working—without needing to stop to search for answers.
Snap introduced the glasses through a celebrity marketing campaign featuring model Kaia Gerber, NBA star Jimmy Butler, and rapper Jack Harlow.
Snap shares fell by more than 4% in Tuesday trading, suggesting investor skepticism about the announcement.
Snap is entering a crowded market for AI wearables, where consumer adoption has been slow. Apple’s Vision Pro augmented-reality headset, priced at over $3,000, has not yet become a major sales driver for Apple, according to the article.
Meta, Snap’s main social media rival, sells smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban but has not launched augmented-reality glasses. The article also notes that OpenAI is developing an AI-powered wearable device, though its form is unclear.
Snap’s earlier smart glasses product, the $130 Spectacles, was released in 2016 and did not become a major hit with customers.
Snap argues that Specs offer more functionality than competing devices, citing a proprietary operating system and more than 7,000 patents. In a press release, the company said:
“Today’s devices force a tradeoff between capability and wearability. AI glasses are wearable, but limited in what they can do. Headsets are powerful, but can be uncomfortable to wear and shut people out of the world. Specs represent a new category: more capable than AI glasses, more wearable than headsets, and fully standalone, with no puck or tether.”
Snap’s launch comes as the company faces financial and market pressure. The article says Snap’s stock has fallen more than 30% since the start of the year and is trading at under $6 per share.
Spiegel has also been pushing Specs as an alternative to smartphones. In April, Snap cut about 1,000 jobs—16% of its workforce—and closed another 300 open roles. Spiegel said the cost-cutting effort was part of Snap’s push to rely more heavily on AI tools to improve efficiency.
