Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, has taken a bold step into the world of augmented reality with the launch of Spectacles ’24. These AR glasses are priced at $1,200 annually or $99 per month with a minimum 12-month commitment. They are not your average pair of shades. Specifically designed for creators and developers, they offer a powerful platform for building and interacting with AR experiences in real-time. With features like dual 3D waveguide displays, hand tracking, and voice commands, Spectacles ’24 promises to unlock a new era of creativity and innovation in the AR space.
Snap’s new AR Spectacles represent a significant step forward for the company as it aims to establish a stronger presence in the AR market. By focusing on developer engagement, forming key partnerships, and embracing innovative technological advancements, Snap is striving to create captivating AR experiences. The future of AR development within the company will depend on whether this new generation of Spectacles can gain traction beyond a niche audience.
Snap Steps into the Future with Spectacles ’24
Snap Inc. has unveiled its latest innovation in augmented reality (AR): Spectacles ’24. These cutting-edge AR glasses are aimed at creators and developers, enabling them to seamlessly blend the digital and physical worlds.
Key Features & Specs
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Dual 3D Waveguide Displays | Delivers immersive, high-resolution AR visuals with a 26.3-degree field of view. |
| Snap Spatial Engine | Powers real-time 6DoF tracking and hand tracking for precise interaction with AR elements. |
| 12MP Camera | Captures high-quality photos and videos of your AR creations. |
| Voice Commands | Control Spectacles ’24 hands-free using voice commands. |
| Lightweight Design | Weighing just 134 grams, Spectacles ’24 are comfortable to wear for extended periods. |
| 30-Minute Battery Life | Provides up to 30 minutes of continuous use on a single charge. |
| Lens Studio Integration | Seamlessly build and deploy AR experiences directly from Lens Studio. |
Pricing & Availability
Spectacles ’24 are available for purchase at a price of $1,200 USD. They are currently targeted towards creators and developers, with limited availability. Snap plans to expand availability in the future based on feedback and demand.
The Future of AR
With Spectacles ’24, Snap is pushing the boundaries of AR technology, empowering creators to build immersive and interactive experiences. These glasses represent a significant step towards a future where AR seamlessly integrates with our everyday lives.
Short Summary:
- The new Spectacles weigh only 226 grams, designed for extended use and enhanced performance.
- Developers can access the glasses for a $99 monthly fee, supporting immersive AR experiences.
- Key partnerships with Qualcomm and OpenAI are set to elevate the AR capabilities of the device.
On Tuesday, Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, unveiled its latest advancement in augmented reality: the fifth generation of its AR Spectacles. During the Snap Partners Summit in Santa Monica, California, CEO Evan Spiegel presented these cutting-edge glasses, emphasizing their potential to innovate the way users engage with the real world through augmented overlays.
The new Spectacles are the product of over ten years of development, featuring a lightweight design at just 226 grams—a significant advantage over many current AR competitors. However, these glasses come with a hefty price tag: developers interested in purchasing them must pay a subscription fee of $99 per month for a minimum of one year, totaling approximately $1,200.
According to Spiegel, the intention behind this developer-focused release is to cultivate a robust ecosystem of augmented reality experiences accessible via the Spectacles. He stated in a pre-summit interview with Bloomberg,
“There has to be really compelling experiences. By working really closely with developers and continuously improving our platform, we anticipate a surge in engaging lenses for the Spectacles.”
The significance of this AR initiative is underscored by Snap’s ongoing struggle in the digital advertising sector, where it has seen its stock plummet over recent months. Despite a 10.8% surge just prior to this announcement, Snap’s shares remain down 41.8% for the year. As a strategic response, the company is intensifying its commitment to AR as a next frontier for technology.
With ambitions to carve out a more substantial share of the AR market, Snap’s Spectacles feature enhancements powered by state-of-the-art hardware and collaboration with notable tech firms. A key aspect of their development is the integration of cloud-hosted multimodal AI models through a partnership with OpenAI aimed at enriching user experiences. As Snap articulated,
“Soon, this will help developers bring new models to their Spectacles experiences to provide more context about what you see, say, or hear.”
The technological specifications of the new Spectacles are impressive. They are equipped with two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, allowing for advanced processing while conserving battery life, targeted for around 45 minutes of standalone usage. The glasses also feature an innovative operating system known as Snap OS, designed to facilitate natural interaction through voice and hand motions, thereby enhancing user engagement.
In contrast to existing offerings from competitors such as Meta and Apple, Snap’s approach to AR is refreshing. Peer companies are also racing to innovate within the AR space; for instance, Meta will soon unveil its own AR glasses. Apple’s Vision Pro is another major player, albeit at a premium price point of $3,499. In contrast, Snap’s deliberate focus on developer accessibility aligns with its plans to nurture a thriving AR community.
Exploring the functionalities of the new Spectacles, users can experience digital images and filters superimposed seamlessly onto the physical world. The glasses are compatible with the Snapchat app, known for its 432 million daily active users, enhancing the overall usability and engagement potential of the devices. Developers can create shared applications utilizing these AR glasses, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable within augmented reality.
The Spectacles are designed with several advanced features that facilitate collaboration among users. For instance, multiple Spectacles can connect, allowing for real-time interactive experiences, such as collaborative painting sessions or shared gaming adventures. As noted by Spiegel,
“Hundreds of millions of people are using AR on the Snapchat application. To truly unlock the full potential of AR with glasses is something that is incredibly exciting to us.”
As Snap prepares to launch these devices to developers, they are establishing notable partnerships with various innovators. For instance, the LEGO Group is launching an interactive AR game named BRICKTACULAR that utilizes hand and voice controls, while ILM Immersive is working on integrating experiences based on the Star Wars universe. These collaborations are pivotal for creating immersive content that AR users can enjoy.
At its launch event, Snap highlighted its ambition to be at the forefront of AR technology development. The company’s previous iterations of the Spectacles had limited commercial success, but with targeted enhancements and robust partnerships, Snap is optimistic that this new iteration will engage developers and, by extension, everyday users. The company aims to ensure that, as developers innovate with the hardware, the resulting applications will attract a broader audience beyond just tech enthusiasts.
Snap’s CEO also underlined the necessity of offering compelling experiences, stating,
“Despite our extraordinary efforts to improve smartphones, we continue to face limitations. It is time we shifted these interactions to glasses that can connect us better with our environment.”
This paradigm shift aims to transform how technology can enhance daily life rather than detract from it.
Through its commitment and innovation in AR, Snap Inc. is not only investing in a future where wearable technology becomes indispensable but also positioning itself strategically within the burgeoning mixed-reality market. However, whether developers can leverage the potential of the new Spectacles remains to be seen. With competitors advancing quickly, Snap must ensure that these glasses provide unique value beyond what is already available.
The emergence of AI-supported features also signifies a new chapter for Snap’s AR ambitions. By leveraging OpenAI’s technology, Snap intends to build an augmented reality framework that is intelligent, context-aware, and responsive to user input. As this vision evolves, Snap aims to lead in a market that is becoming increasingly interconnected with artificial intelligence.
