To get ahead of its competitors, SnapChat is looking to launch fully AR enabled version of its Spectacles glasses which would be available to its customer from early next year. It has been labeled as Specs as SnapChat is looking to make a push for getting its experimental AR device into retail production ahead of Meta AR glasses which would be available only in 2027.
Specs would be a further enhanced and stylized version of its current AR Spectacles on which Snapchat has been working on since the last ten years where developers have been working extensively for refining the device over the past year.
Right now the current version of Snap AR Glasses would be slimmed down for the new Specs but Snap has still not released the new Specs. As of now, Snap has neither released the product images or technical details or pricing as of now.
Specs would be having full pass through vision which would enable digital overlays on real world experience digital overlays real world experience with range of functional elements which have been already built into the device and includes AI. You would neither require any phone or tethering with it.
Specs has been positioned for understanding the world through advanced machine learning which brings AI assistance into 3D space which enables shared games and experiences providing flexible and powerful workstation for streaming and browsing.
It is being considered as a bold push by Snap where even though it is a leader in the field of AR development, it still stands out to lose out on longer term AR Wearable race as it would be competing against the likes of well stacked Apple and Meta.
Snap had released the first version of its camera equipped spectacles in 2016 and then also it was looking to integrate AR experiences in their devices. Back then, it had reframed itself as a camera company and registered different patents for its unique AR device.
The decreasing interest in Spectacles, cost blowouts and production challenges seem to be dampening the momentum and at the same time its ad business is also not growing fast as it was hoping. Now it seems that their business is back on track, move ahead and surpass Meta with its fully enabled glasses which would be give it a first mover advantage.
Now the time is ripe for revolutionizing in computing which naturally integrates digital experience with the physical world. As per the company, Specs is one of the most advanced personal computer in the world which users would be using. It still needs to be seem if Snap would be able to compete with Apple or Meta in the long run.
On the other hand, Meta is taking a longer path for retail launch of its AR glasses for improving the wear ability and functionality of the device. The success of its Ray Ban Meta glasses has made the company confident which would lead to launch of a solid AR device and at this moment looks technically more advanced than Snapchat’s model.
The early launch of Snap is expected to give it more attention without competition and with Snap users already engaging with AR experiences over 8 billion per day in the app, it definitely has the ideal audience for driving AR glasses adoption.
Specs will be launching in 2026 and let’s see how well the public responds to it.
We have already seen what ChatGPT gained with its first mover advantage and considering this trend, Snap is expected to get the same level of success with its AR glasses.
Stay tuned for more updates!
