Snap launches consumer AR glasses Specs at $2,195

Snap Inc. has launched its first consumer augmented reality glasses, called Specs, positioning the high-priced wearable as a new category of standalone computer. The glasses were unveiled on Tuesday at the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, California, and are priced at $2,195. Pre-orders are now open with a $200 refundable deposit, with shipments expected to begin this fall in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Chief Executive Evan Spiegel described the launch as the beginning of a new era in computing, stating the device is designed to bring computing into the world around us. Unlike simpler smart glasses that act as heads-up displays, Specs are fully self-contained, featuring two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors to handle computer vision and AR applications without needing a connected phone or external compute puck.

The hardware represents a significant refinement over previous developer-focused models. The consumer Specs are lighter, weighing 132 grams and 136 grams for 47mm and 52mm lens sizes respectively, compared to a 226-gram developer version. They feature a liquid crystal on silicon display with a 51-degree field of view, electrochromic lenses that...