Snap Inc. Introduces ‘Specs’ AR Glasses, Anticipating a Post-Smartphone Future
Snap Inc. has officially unveiled Specs, its first-ever augmented reality glasses for the everyday consumer. These high-tech glasses are priced at $2,195, requiring a $200 refundable deposit. The announcement was made by co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel at the AWE (Augmented World Expo) conference in Long Beach, California on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Preorders are now open, with shipping set for this fall in the US, UK, and France.
Spiegel portrayed Specs as “a new type of computer — a see-through computer,” marking it as a significant advancement beyond the smartphone. The thick-rimmed eyeglasses feature lenses that can automatically transition between clear and tinted states. This allows virtual objects and digital interfaces to be directly integrated into the wearer’s field of vision. At $2,195, Specs are more than 15 times the price of Snap’s original $130 camera-only Spectacles from 2016, making them pricier than virtually any other smart glasses currently on the market.
Spiegel told CNBC, “Almost 20 years since the launch of the iPhone, people are ready to think about computing differently.” The launch of Specs puts Snap ahead of rivals like Meta, Apple, and Google in the consumer AR glasses race. The product is the result of nearly a decade of development and billions of dollars invested in augmented reality research. It runs on Snap’s own proprietary operating system.
Source: CNBC — Snap unveils $2,195 AR glasses as CEO Evan Spiegel bets on post-smartphone future