Snap CEO Evan Spiegel unveiled Specs, the company's first augmented reality glasses for the broader public, priced at $2,195 with a $200 refundable deposit, during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. Spiegel stated the device represents his bet that consumers are ready to move beyond smartphone screens after nearly 20 years since the iPhone launch. The AR glasses are expected to ship later this year in the U.S., U.K. and France, entering a nascent market where Meta has found success with Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Google is developing AI-powered glasses with Samsung and eyewear makers.
Snap Prices Specs at $2,195 with Later This Year U.S. Launch
The new Specs are priced at $2,195 with a $200 refundable deposit, representing more than 15 times the price of Snap's $130 camera-only Spectacles that debuted in 2016. The device is expected to ship later this year in the U.S., U.K. and France, according to Spiegel's announcement on Tuesday.
In January, Snap created a subsidiary dubbed Specs Inc. to house the development of its AR glasses. Spiegel told CNBC that the company has been clear with investors since founding that it would manage the business for the long term.
Spiegel Positions Specs as Shared Computing Alternative to Screens
"Almost 20 years since the launch of the iPhone, people are ready to think about computing differently," Spiegel said in the CNBC interview. He characterized Specs as "a way to use computing together in shared experiences in the real world, looking up through see-through lenses rather than at an opaque screen."
Spiegel cited factors including "neck pain they got from staring down into a small phone screen" and the feeling that people are missing out on everyday moments as reasons more people are "actually questioning their relationships with screens."
The Snap CEO dismissed audio-only smart glasses as "very lightweight glasses that really don't do much," calling them "kind of like a phone accessory or an open-ear headphone."
Meta and Google Compete in Smart Glasses Market
Meta's Reality Labs has found some success with its Ray-Ban Meta glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, after the company struggled to find a mass audience for its Quest-branded VR headsets. In May, Google showed off its upcoming AI-powered glasses being developed with Samsung and eyewear makers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, with an emphasis on audio.
Apple's Vision Pro, which starts at $3,500, has not become the iPhone maker's next killer product despite hefty investment and a big marketing push, according to the article. Meta has downsized its VR ambitions this year, converting its Horizon Worlds VR platform into a Roblox-like mobile app.
Spiegel called Specs "the most capable, most aware and most accessible spatial computer that's available today" compared to what's on the market. He noted "there's certainly a lot of developers who are coming from the VR space or looking for more opportunity in augmented reality."
Specs Offers Nearly Four Hours Battery Life and AI Integration
The new Specs AR glasses are lighter and contain a larger display than the previous developer-focused version of Spectacles. They offer nearly four hours of battery life and Bluetooth connectivity.
Developers will be able to create AI agent-like experiences for the device using a preview feature that integrates with Anthropic's Claude Code, OpenAI's Codex, and Cursor's coding tools, according to Snap's announcement.
Snap Plans Parenting Tools for Teenage Users
Regarding child-safety concerns with Specs, Spiegel said the company plans to release later this year parenting "tools to make it easier to share the Specs with your teenager with a more limited set of Lenses," which are AR effects, as well as certain features "on the operating system side."
Spiegel, a father of four boys, said he's been testing Specs at home with his family. "Rather than having kids staring down at a single player on a little screen, you can run around and play laser tag, you can learn about dinosaurs, you can build Legos," Spiegel said. "It's really, really fun to be able to play with see-through computing, because it's something that you can share."
FAQ
What did Snap announce on Tuesday?
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel announced Specs, the company's first AR glasses for the broader public, priced at $2,195 with a $200 refundable deposit. The device is expected to ship later this year in the U.S., U.K. and France.
How does Snap Specs compare to competitor products?
Specs is priced at $2,195, lower than Apple's Vision Pro which starts at $3,500. Meta offers Ray-Ban Meta glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, and Google is developing AI-powered glasses with Samsung and eyewear makers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Spiegel called Specs "the most capable, most aware and most accessible spatial computer that's available today."
What features does Snap Specs include?
Specs offers nearly four hours of battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, and a larger display than the previous developer-focused Spectacles. Developers can create AI experiences using integration with Anthropic's Claude Code, OpenAI's Codex, and Cursor's coding tools. Snap plans to release parenting tools later this year for teenage users.
