Snap is finally about to ship AR glasses - and they cost a fortune

Key Points:

• Snap is launching its augmented reality glasses called Specs, priced at $2,195, with preorders open now and shipments expected this fall in the US, UK, and France.
• Specs are standalone AR glasses with no external tether or puck, featuring two size options, removable prescription inserts, visible light and infrared cameras, and a distinctive bold frame design.
• The glasses use proprietary liquid crystal on silicon technology for displays in both lenses, offering a 51-degree field of view and 16 million colors, with lenses that can transition from clear to tinted in 10 seconds.
• Powered by two Snapdragon processors focused on computer vision and AR Lenses, Specs support fast hand tracking, low latency, and responsive AR interactions, with up to four hours of battery life plus additional charges via a magnetic charging case.
• While Specs mark a significant step for Snap in the AR market, their practical use and market impact remain uncertain amid competition from Meta and Apple, as well as ongoing privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses.