Snap has officially unveiled its new augmented reality glasses, branded as Specs, which will retail for $2,195 when they begin shipping to customers in the United States, UK, and France.

Key Points

• The new AR glasses feature "EyeConnect" technology, allowing users to initiate shared digital experiences through eye contact.
• Each pair of Specs weighs 132 grams, significantly heavier than the 70-gram Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses.
• Preorders for the device open on June 16, requiring a $200 refundable deposit from interested consumers.
• Snap faces stiff competition in the wearable market from Meta’s established Ray-Ban partnership and upcoming AI-powered eyewear from Google.
• The company recently underwent layoffs and spun off a dedicated entity to manage the development and commercialization of the Specs hardware.

Why it Matters

This launch represents a high-stakes attempt by Snap to transition computing from smartphones to wearable eyewear despite significant skepticism regarding the product's high price point. The company's ability to succeed here is critical as it navigates a volatile advertising market and seeks to prove that augmented reality can become a sustainable, profitable business model.