Snap’s Specs Still Ridiculously Pricey at $2,200, Now 132 Grams
Snap's Specs AR glasses now weigh 132 grams, nearly half the CES prototype, and come in two sizes. A hands-on session found them more comfortable and cooler, but the $2,200 headset still lacks a clear daily purpose.
Snap's Specs augmented-reality glasses are still ridiculously expensive at about $2,200, but the latest version weighs 132 grams, nearly half the weight of the prototype shown at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year. A hands-on session in late October found them far more comfortable than before.
The CES prototype weighed around 8 ounces. It fit awkwardly, ran hot and left the wearer's face tingling, a common side effect when heavy computing happens inside smart glasses.
What changed in the hardware
The production Specs come in at roughly 4.6 ounces. During about an hour of demos, the device did not heat up the way the earlier version had.
Snap now offers two sizes, 47mm and 52mm, meant to fit different head sizes. Spring hinges add flexibility and comfort.
Snap showed Specs publicly at an event led by CEO Evan Spiegel. Pre-orders for the long-awaited headset were already open by the time of the demo. A pop-up in Los Angeles also lets people try the $2,195 glasses.
A purpose still missing
The reviewer's verdict on the software side was less warm. The glasses can be fun, but they still seem to lack a dedicated reason to exist.
When asked whether Specs were for games or for productivity, Snap staff gave a vague answer. The reviewer said the device tries to be many things at once and ends up feeling "a little rudderless."
Snap calls the glasses a "new kind of computer." For the price, the reviewer found it hard to picture how they would prove useful day to day.
Where they might fit
The reviewer listed three plausible uses. The first is watching TV or movies on a train or other public transport, helped by integrations with HBO Max and YouTube. It is a more immersive option than a phone screen.
The second is reading while traveling. The headset made it feel like being locked into the text, which "weirdly helped" the reviewer focus. A newspaper or Kindle integration could make that stronger.
The third is quick photos and videos. Like Meta's smart glasses, Specs can capture both, and the reviewer could see casual users filming GoPro-style clips and texting them to friends.
Doubts about work use
Snap is also pitching Specs as a way to work. The company says the headset can "transform almost any location into an immersive, flexible workspace."
The reviewer was not convinced. Strapping on glasses is less convenient than sitting at a computer, and a phone and laptop already do the job. Wearing large, unusual glasses and gesturing to control them also carries a social stigma.
