Snap takes AR glasses SPECS to the next level: a standalone portable computer for $2195
Snap Inc. has officially announced SPECS — a standalone portable computer in the form factor of augmented reality glasses. The device is already available for pre-order at a price of $2,195. Shipments to the US, UK, and France will begin this fall.
The key difference between SPECS and many predecessors on the market is full autonomy. The glasses do not require connection to a smartphone or external computing modules. The device weighs between 132 and 136 grams, and the frame is made of durable TR90 polymer.
SPECS Technical Specifications
The field of view is 51 degrees, which is an impressive figure for wearable AR devices. The glasses are equipped with two Snapdragon processors, and signal latency is just 7 milliseconds. Battery life reaches 4 hours on a single charge, and up to 20 hours with the charging case.
The lenses feature an electrochromic coating that allows the glass to change tint levels within 10 seconds depending on lighting conditions. The device runs on its own operating system, Snap OS, which supports gesture and voice control.
Functionality and Ecosystem
Users have access to navigation, work tools, and educational applications. Developers have received an updated Lens Studio toolkit for creating AR effects. AI assistants capable of analyzing the surrounding environment in real time are integrated into the system.
Snap has paid special attention to data protection. The glasses are equipped with an LED indicator that lights up during video recording. Most data is processed directly on the device without being sent to the cloud. Users can independently manage sync history and delete recordings.
My analysis: Snap has taken a risky but strategically sound step by offering a fully autonomous device at the price of a flagship smartphone. The success of SPECS will depend not so much on the hardware as on how quickly developers create killer applications for this platform. In the current competitive battle with Meta and Apple, Snap is betting on privacy and independence from ecosystems — this could become their trump card.