Snap Launches 5th-Generation Augmented Reality Spectacles for Developers

Overview of Snap's 5th-Generation AR Spectacles

Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has launched its fifth-generation augmented reality (AR) Spectacles at the Partner Summit in Los Angeles. The new AR glasses are part of Snap's broader strategy to diversify its business model and establish a presence in the hardware sector. These glasses are designed to superimpose digital graphics onto the real world, a feature that Snap believes could potentially replace traditional smartphones and tablets in the future.

Key Features and Pricing

The latest Spectacle AR glasses are primarily aimed at developers, with a subscription cost of $99 per month for a year. This pricing strategy positions them as subscription-based developer smart glasses, not yet ready for general consumer use. The design of these new AR glasses is more robust than standard eyewear, featuring thick frames and lenses that utilize Snap's waveguide technology and Liquid Crystal on Silicon micro-projectors to enable their AR capabilities.

Technical Specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in each arm
• Expanded field of view, nearly three times larger than its predecessors
• External cameras for world tracking and hand tracking
• New operating system: Snap OS

These enhancements are akin to having a 100-inch display in the room. However, these glasses do not include the eye-tracking feature found in Apple's Vision Pro. The user interface has been revamped to be controlled via hand gestures and voice commands. Users can summon the main menu in their palm and tap on icons to execute actions like closing an app.

Snap's Journey into Hardware

Snap's venture into the hardware sector dates back to 2016 with the launch of its first smart glasses, priced at $130. Despite innovative designs, these initial Spectacles were not commercially successful. Snap has continued to evolve its product offerings with subsequent releases, but they have yet to achieve expected sales targets.