Snap Launches $2,195 Specs AR Glasses With Built-In AI and Self-Contained Compute

Summary

Snap released its first consumer augmented reality glasses, called Specs, at $2,195. The glasses run entirely on their own without a connected phone, using gesture and voice control through what Snap calls “instinctual computing.” A new Specs Intelligence AI platform pairs with the glasses and integrates with iPhones and Macs to act as an anticipatory assistant. Tom’s Guide, among the first outlets to try them, calls the actual computing experience a genuine breakthrough even as the design is described as wildly polarizing.

Why it matters

Snap has been building toward consumer AR for years, and Specs represent the most capable self-contained AR glasses to reach the market at a price point below Apple Vision Pro. At $2,195, they sit well above Ray-Ban smart glasses and target early adopters, but hands-on reception suggests the AI integration is more substantive than in most smart eyewear to date.

HTD Says

Snap’s consumer AR glasses are finally real, and early reports suggest the computing experience delivers, even if the design will split opinions. Remember Snap? They have been “dabbling” in glasses for some time now. This is a big leap for them, almost going after the Apple Vision Pro (especially at that price point).

And, of course, if you want to use the Specs AR Glasses away from your WiFi network, you’ll pay a monthly fee ($10/mo for Verizon customers and $20/mo for everyone else).

Onboard AI that doesn’t require a smartphone makes this offering somewhat interesting, despite the bulky design. This is another example of Gen 2 AI wearables. Meta pivoted away from cameras, but OpenAI bought a company to work with vision. Both of these AI-augmented “senses” are here whether we like it or not.

Source:

TechCrunch