Snap releases SPECS: standalone AR glasses with powerful hardware and a new level of privacy
The wearable AR device market has gained a serious player. Snap Inc. has officially announced SPECS — an autonomous portable computer in the form of augmented reality glasses. The device is already available for pre-order at a price of $2,195, with first shipments to the US, UK, and France starting this fall.
The main difference between SPECS and many competitors is full autonomy. The glasses do not require a connection to a smartphone or an external computing module. All hardware and software operate directly onboard. The device weighs between 132 and 136 grams, and the frame is made of durable TR90 polymer.
Technical Specifications: What's Under the Hood
The specifications are impressive. The field of view is 51 degrees — a respectable figure for devices of this form factor. It is powered by two Snapdragon processors, ensuring a signal latency of just 7 milliseconds. The battery allows up to 4 hours of operation on a single charge, and with the charging case, this figure increases to 20 hours.
The glasses lenses are equipped with an electrochromic coating that automatically changes the tint level within 10 seconds depending on external lighting. This makes using the device comfortable both indoors and outdoors.
Software and Ecosystem
The device runs on its own operating system, Snap OS. The interface supports gesture and voice control. Users have access to navigation apps, work tools, and educational AR programs. Developers, in turn, have received an updated Lens Studio toolkit for creating custom AR effects.
Particular attention deserves the integration of AI assistants capable of analyzing the surrounding environment in real time. This opens up broad possibilities for contextual augmented reality.
Privacy as a Key Priority
Snap has emphasized data protection, which is especially important in light of recent scandals involving competitors. The glasses are equipped with an LED indicator that lights up during video recording. Most data is processed locally on the device without being sent to the cloud. Users can independently manage their sync history and delete recordings.
This approach contrasts with Meta's actions, which in June was forced to remove facial recognition system components from the latest version of the Meta AI app for smart glasses after an investigation was published.
My analysis: Snap SPECS is not just another pair of AR glasses, but a mature product with a well-thought-out architecture. The $2,195 price positions them as a premium device for developers and enthusiasts, but autonomy and local data processing could be decisive factors for corporate clients. If Snap manages to build a strong app ecosystem, SPECS could become a serious competitor to Meta Ray-Ban and Apple Vision Pro in the lightweight AR device segment.