Snap Spectacles 2024
| Snap Spectacles (5th Generation) | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | AR Glasses |
| Subtype | Developer AR |
| Platform | Snap OS, Lens Studio |
| Creator | Snap Inc. |
| Developer | Snap Inc. |
| Manufacturer | Snap Inc. |
| Announcement Date | September 17, 2024 (Snap Partner Summit) |
| Release Date | September 2024 (developer program) |
| Price | $99/month (1-year commitment, $1,200 total) |
| Website | https://www.spectacles.com/ |
| Versions | Spectacles 5th Generation (developer kit) |
| Requires | Snap developer account, subscription |
| Predecessor | Snap Spectacles 3 |
| Successor | Spectacles 6th Generation (consumer, planned 2026) |
| System | |
| Operating System | Snap OS |
| Chipset | Dual Qualcomm Snapdragon processors |
| CPU | Dual Snapdragon (split architecture) |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Storage | |
| Storage | Not specified |
| Memory | Not specified |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual LCoS micro-projectors with waveguide |
| Subpixel Layout | N/A (waveguide projection) |
| Peak Brightness | Auto-adjusting (sunlight readable) |
| Resolution | ~37 PPD (pixel density) |
| Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Refresh Rate | Not specified |
| Persistence | Not specified |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 46° diagonal |
| Horizontal FoV | ~40° (estimated) |
| Vertical FoV | ~30° (estimated) |
| Average Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Peak Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | LCoS with waveguide, auto-tinting |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Fixed |
| Adjustable Diopter | Prescription lens inserts available |
| Passthrough | Native see-through (AR glasses) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SLAM) |
| Tracking Frequency | Not specified |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | Not specified |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Mobile AR |
| Latency | Not specified |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Stereo spatial speakers |
| Microphone | Yes (6 microphones) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | No |
| Camera | 4× tracking cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports | Proprietary charging |
| Wired Video | No |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Power | Internal battery |
| Battery Capacity | Not specified |
| Battery Life | 45 minutes continuous |
| Charge Time | Not specified |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Glasses form factor |
| Weight | 226g |
| Material | Plastic, metal |
| Headstrap | None (glasses temples) |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 4× tracking cameras, IMU, ambient light sensor |
| Input | Hand tracking, voice, touch |
| Compliance | FCC, CE |
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The Snap Spectacles (5th Generation), unveiled at Snap Partner Summit on September 17, 2024, represents Snap Inc.'s most advanced AR glasses to date and their first truly standalone AR device with see-through waveguide displays and 6DoF tracking. Unlike previous Spectacles generations focused on video recording, the 5th generation is a developer-focused AR platform featuring a 46° diagonal field of view waveguide display at 37 pixels per degree (comparable to Apple Vision Pro's PPD), built-in hand tracking, four environment cameras for SLAM-based tracking, and on-device processing via dual Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Available exclusively to developers for $99/month on a one-year subscription ($1,200 total), these Spectacles run the new Snap OS and are designed for creating and testing AR Lenses before Snap's planned consumer launch of the 6th generation in 2026.
History and Development
Spectacles Evolution
Product line history:
- Spectacles 1 (2016): Camera sunglasses
- Spectacles 2 (2018): Improved cameras
- Spectacles 3 (2019): Dual cameras, 3D capture
- Spectacles 4 (2021): First AR display (limited)
- Spectacles 5 (2024): Full standalone AR
Previous AR Attempts
Spectacles 4 (2021):
- First with AR display
- Very limited distribution
- Short battery life
- Proof of concept
5th Generation Development
Major advancement:
- Standalone processing
- Waveguide displays
- Hand tracking
- Full 6DoF
- Developer platform
Snap Partner Summit 2024
September 17 announcement:
- CEO Evan Spiegel presentation
- Developer program launch
- Snap OS introduced
- 2026 consumer version planned
Design Philosophy
Developer Platform
Not consumer product:
- Developer-only access
- Subscription model
- Testing and creation
- Ecosystem building
Standalone AR
No phone tether:
- All processing on-device
- Dual Snapdragon chips
- No cable connection required
- True mobile AR
Lens Creation Focus
AR content development:
- Lens Studio integration
- AR experience testing
- Real-world validation
- Developer tools
Display Technology
LCoS Waveguide
Advanced display system:
- Liquid Crystal on Silicon projectors
- Waveguide light guide
- See-through AR
- Compact form factor
Field of View
Meaningful AR canvas:
- 46° diagonal
- Similar to Xreal Air, HoloLens 2
- Significant for glasses form
- Up from 26° (previous gen)
Pixel Density
High clarity:
- 37 PPD (pixels per degree)
- Comparable to Apple Vision Pro
- Sharp AR content
- Professional quality
Auto-Tinting
Environmental adaptation:
- Automatic darkness adjustment
- Indoor/outdoor visibility
- Sunlight readable
- Seamless transitions
Processing Architecture
Dual Snapdragon
Split compute design:
- Two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors
- Workload distribution
- Thermal management
- All compute on-device
Performance
AR capabilities:
- Real-time tracking
- Hand tracking processing
- Lens rendering
- System management
Thermal Management
Heat dissipation:
- Cooling chambers in temples
- Effective heat spreading
- Sustained performance
- Comfortable wear
Tracking System
6DoF SLAM
Spatial awareness:
- Four tracking cameras
- Simultaneous localization and mapping
- Room understanding
- Persistent AR
Camera Placement
Environmental coverage:
- Four world-facing cameras
- Wide tracking volume
- Hand tracking input
- Scene understanding
Tracking Quality
Advanced capabilities:
- Positional tracking
- Rotational tracking
- Environment mapping
- Object understanding
Hand Tracking
Gesture Input
Controller-free interaction:
- Natural hand movements
- Pinch gestures
- Point and select
- Intuitive interface
Hand Recognition
Visual tracking:
- Camera-based
- Real-time processing
- Multiple gesture types
- Developer-controllable
Audio System
Spatial Speakers
Integrated audio:
- Stereo speakers
- Spatial audio
- Environment aware
- Directional sound
Microphones
Voice and audio:
- Six microphones
- Voice input
- Noise cancellation
- Communication capable
Physical Design
Weight
Substantial but wearable:
- 226 grams
- Heavier than consumer glasses
- Developer kit acceptable
- Future optimization needed
Form Factor
Glasses style:
- Traditional temples
- Front-heavy (displays)
- Recognizable as tech glasses
- Functional design
Materials
Quality construction:
- Plastic and metal
- Durable
- Developer-appropriate
- Not fashion-focused (yet)
Software Platform
Snap OS
New operating system:
- Purpose-built for AR
- Replaced previous software stack
- Hand-tracking interface
- Lens Studio integration
Lens Studio
Development environment:
- AR lens creation
- Spectacles testing
- Cross-platform development
- Full toolchain
AR Lenses
Content format:
- Snap AR content
- Spectacles-optimized
- Scalable from phone
- Developer ecosystem
Battery Life
Limited Runtime
Current constraint:
- 45 minutes continuous use
- Developer kit limitation
- Intermittent use pattern
- Future improvement needed
Charging
Recharge approach:
- Proprietary connection
- Quick charges expected
- Charging case not announced
- Developer workflow
Developer Program
Subscription Model
Access structure:
- $99/month
- One-year commitment
- $1,200 total cost
- Not outright purchase
Education Discount
Student/faculty pricing:
- $49.50/month
- 50% discount
- Valid education email required
- US and select European countries
Who Can Access
Developer requirements:
- Snap developer account
- Subscription commitment
- AR development interest
- Currently US/EU only
Comparison with AR Glasses
| Feature | Snap Spectacles 5 | HoloLens 2 | Magic Leap 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,200/year | $3,500 | $3,299 |
| FOV | 46° | 52° | 70° |
| PPD | 37 | ~20 | ~20 |
| Hand Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standalone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Form Factor | Glasses | Headset | Glasses/headset |
| Target | Developers | Enterprise | Enterprise |
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Standalone AR glasses
- High pixel density (37 PPD)
- Hand tracking built-in
- Snap ecosystem
- Auto-tinting display
Limitations
- 45-minute battery
- Developer-only access
- 226g weight
- Subscription model
- Limited availability
Future Plans
Consumer Version (2026)
6th Generation planned:
- Consumer launch
- Improved battery
- Lighter weight
- Retail availability
- Mass market
Platform Development
Ongoing evolution:
- Snap OS improvements
- Developer tools
- Content ecosystem
- Hardware iteration
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | LCoS waveguide, 46° FOV |
| Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Tracking | 6DoF (4 cameras) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Processor | Dual Qualcomm Snapdragon |
| Audio | Stereo spatial, 6 microphones |
| Battery Life | 45 minutes continuous |
| Weight | 226g |
| Availability | Developer subscription |
| Price | $99/month ($1,200/year) |
| OS | Snap OS |
| Consumer Launch | Planned 2026 |