Snap introduces next generation AR-capable Spectacles


During their Snap Partner Summit 2021, Snapchat unveiled their next generation Spectacles, which is their first pair of AR-capable glasses. They are designed for augmented reality creators, powered by a new Snap Spatial Engine and the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 Platform.

The new Snapchat Spectacles are lightweight, at 134 grams, and they feature 2 RGB cameras, 4 built-in microphones, 2 stereo speakers and a touchpad. The Lenses have Dual 3D waveguide displays that can output an AR overlay with a 26.3 degree field of view. The Lenses are also very responsive, with 15 millisecond motion to photon latency and maximum brightness of 2000 Nits.

They are fully integrated with Snapchat’s Lens Studio, which is a desktop application for creators who want to build and publish Lenses across the Snap AR Platform.

The touchpad on the Spectacles are a shortcut to the Lens Carousel, the right button activates Scan, the left button captures 10-second Snaps of Lenses overlaid on the world, and creators can also launch Lenses with a voice command.

Spectacles will not be available for sale, instead Snap will offer them to a select group of creators around the world. At the moment, they are in the hand of the following people:

  • Don Allen Stevenson III – XR Developer at Vibe Quest AR
  • Lauren Cason –  Creative Technologist at Taos, Caldera, and Anita
  • Kat V. Harris – Technical Designer at Dance Helper
  • Zach Lieberman – Artist at Poem World (with Shantell Martin)
  • Matthew Hallberg – AR Developer at SketchFlow
  • Clay Weishaar – AR Creator at Metascapes
  • Leighton McDonald – VR/AR Creator at BlackSoul Gallery