Snap has announced new updates for its SPECS augmented reality (AR) glasses, including new software experiences and services. The company has also introduced a new charging case with cellular connectivity for SPECS.
Snap introduced SPECS in June as its standalone AR glasses platform. The latest announcement builds on that launch with additional experiences, services, and connectivity options for the glasses.
SPECS Intelligence
Snap has introduced SPECS Intelligence, an anticipatory AI service available on iPhone, Mac, and SPECS. It builds an understanding of a user’s goals, priorities, relationships, and routines from the apps and tools they choose to connect. The service can use this context to help users focus on daily and longer-term goals while carrying personal context across devices.
SPECS Intelligence can surface relevant information and actions without requiring a prompt. Snap says it can, for example:
- Surface decisions, questions, and reminders during a meeting
- Combine flight, hotel, and dinner plans for a trip
- Flag a work deadline that falls during a trip
- Help users move between work, personal responsibilities, and other areas they care about
Users can organize areas of their lives through Corners, such as work or family, while Goals can be used to set and track objectives. SPECS is not required to use SPECS Intelligence. With SPECS, personal context can also extend to the physical world.
While travelling, users can say “Hey SPECS” to see flight details, hotel information, reservations, and reminders in their field of view. They can also ask SPECS about their day to receive a daily briefing, schedule overview, and meeting preparation where available.
Starting September 18 in the U.S., anyone aged 18 or older can download the SPECS iOS app and try the preview without an invitation. Users can join the waitlist for the fuller, invitation-only Mac experience, where selected users can sign in on Mac and connect their everyday apps.
The mobile preview can connect to a Google account for insights based on Gmail and Google Calendar. It does not include the broader anticipatory suggestions and actions available through the fuller experience.
Privacy
Snap says users control which accounts they connect and what information SPECS Intelligence can use. Snap personnel cannot view or access personal content used with the service.
The company also says connected-account content is not used to train or fine-tune its AI models or serve personalized ads. The service uses on-device processing and secure cloud infrastructure, with security protections wherever data is processed.
New AR experiences
Snap is adding AR experiences across sports, entertainment, and education. Sports and wellness experiences include:
- NBA and WNBA basketball experiences with visual guidance, drills, and progress cues using a real ball and hoop
- ALO Wellness Club experiences for movement, recovery, and mindfulness, coming next year
- Soccer Skills Lens with progressively harder dribbling drills
- Golf experiences developed with PGA Professionals to analyze movements and provide advice on swing mechanics or putting
Snap is also partnering with HBO Max on a Harry Potter Lens for the HBO Original Series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, premiering this Christmas. The experience includes the Hogwarts acceptance letter, wand selection, and iconic spells.
For education, SPECS can bring contextual information into view or teach users about their surroundings. Educational experiences include an interactive virtual recreation of Apollo 11 and Starmap, which overlays constellations.
SPECS also supports browser streaming for services such as YouTube and HBO Max. Snap says the virtual display can appear as a 115-inch screen positioned about 10 feet away, while Travel Mode keeps the screen stable on a moving train or flight.
Spotify can be controlled using voice commands for music and podcasts, while taking a picture can prompt Spotify to recommend a playlist based on the moment.
Connect and share
Connected Lenses allow multiple people wearing SPECS to share experiences in the same physical space. Examples include Jimmy Butler Dominoes Lens, Chess, and Table Tennis.
SPECS can pair with a phone over Bluetooth for calls, notifications, and music. Snap has also redesigned Snapchat for SPECS, allowing users to take a Snap with a finger gesture and make hands-free video calls.
Snap says SPECS does not use facial recognition or continuously record or save audio, video, or photos. The glasses use an external center LED that lights up or flashes when recording. Users also control which information and services SPECS can access, while Lenses request permission before accessing sensitive information.
Translate, navigate and shop
SPECS can provide closed captions when someone speaks another language, with translation support for 60 languages. It tracks the speaker and displays translated subtitles in the user’s chosen language.
For navigation, users can enter a destination or tell SPECS where they want to go. Directions appear overlaid in the field of view, with optional voice guidance and arrows that move with the user.
Through Tripadvisor, SPECS can provide information about nearby:
- Restaurants
- Landmarks
- Experiences
Users can also translate reviews and local phrases and convert currencies. Snap is also integrating Shopify Catalog, allowing users to browse products in 3D, place them at full scale in a room, and complete purchases through the retailer’s website.
Workspace and enterprise
SPECS can connect wirelessly to a computer and expand a workstation beyond the desktop. The Whiteboard experience supports brainstorming, organizing workflows, and creating diagrams, while Bluetooth peripherals such as keyboards can be used to edit documents on the go.
For enterprise applications, Snap is working with Salesforce, AWS, NVIDIA, Trifork, Hololight, and others. The company highlights applications across store floors, factories, and field environments.
SPECS Charging Case with Cellular
Snap has introduced a new SPECS Charging Case with Cellular, sold separately from the glasses. It provides four additional charges and adds cellular connectivity through wireless carriers.
In the U.S., Verizon is offering custom data plans, flexible financing, and digital setup for SPECS. Orange in France and EE in the UK are also participating, with pricing details for those markets to be announced.
The pricing is:
- SPECS Connected Case bundle: USD 2,395 (Rs. 2,29,387 approx.)
- Connected Wearable data plan for Verizon customers: USD 10 per month
- Connected Wearable data plan for non-Verizon customers: USD 20 per month
- Verizon financing: eligible customers can use financing options, including a 36-month plan
Pricing and availability
Snap will open the SPECS First Look experience at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles starting October 1, allowing visitors to try the glasses in person.
SPECS is expected to begin shipping later this fall in the U.S., UK, and France. Pre-orders are available with a refundable deposit.
- SPECS: USD 2,195 (Rs. 2,10,230 approx.)
- Refundable pre-order deposit: USD 200 (Rs. 19,155 approx.)