Snap Spectacles 5
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| Snap Spectacles 5 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone AR |
| Platform | Snap OS |
| Developer | Snap Inc. |
| Manufacturer | Snap Inc. |
| Announcement Date | September 17, 2024 (Snap Partner Summit 2024) |
| Release Date | September 17, 2024 (Spectacles Developer Program, United States); October 29, 2024 (applications open in six European countries) |
| Price | US$99 per month plus tax with a 12-month commitment (United States, launch price); €110 per month including VAT (EU); CA$139 per month plus tax (Canada); educational pricing US$49.50, €55 or CA$69.50 per month |
| Website | https://developers.snap.com/spectacles/home |
| Versions | Single version |
| Requires | Spectacles app on an iPhone with iOS 16 or later or an Android phone with Android 12 or later (for phone features) |
| Predecessor | Snap Spectacles 4 |
| Successor | Snap Specs |
| System | |
| Operating System | Snap OS |
| Chipset | Two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (model not disclosed) |
| Display | |
| Display | See-through stereo display with optical waveguides and liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) miniature projectors |
| Resolution | 37 pixels per degree |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz late-stage reprojection (60 Hz rendering) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 46° diagonal |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Optical waveguides with LCoS projectors; automatically tinting lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 57-71 mm (software adjustment) |
| Adjustable Diopter | Optional prescription insert |
| Passthrough | Optical see-through |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Stereo speakers for spatial audio |
| Microphone | 6-microphone array |
| Camera | 2 full-color high-resolution cameras, 2 infrared computer vision cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS |
| Ports | USB-C (rear of one temple) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Power | Internal batteries; USB-C power bank for longer sessions |
| Battery Life | Up to 45 minutes continuous standalone use |
| Device | |
| Weight | 226 g |
| Material | Plastic frame |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 6-axis IMUs, 2 RGB cameras, 2 infrared cameras |
| Input | Hand tracking, voice recognition, smartphone as 6DoF controller |
Snap Spectacles 5 are the fifth generation of Snap Inc.'s Spectacles glasses: standalone, see-through augmented reality glasses that Snap unveiled on September 17, 2024 at its Snap Partner Summit and offered only to developers through a paid subscription.[1] Snap's own materials call the device "the fifth generation of Spectacles", its 2024 product page called it "Spectacles '24", and its developer documentation now lists it as "Spectacles (2024)".[1][2][3]
The glasses were the first to run Snap OS, an operating system controlled with the hands and voice, and the second Spectacles model with displays after the 2021 Snap Spectacles 4.[1][4] Snap states a 46-degree diagonal field of view at 37 pixels per degree, a 13 millisecond motion-to-photon latency, a weight of 226 grams and up to 45 minutes of continuous standalone runtime.[1] Developers rented them for US$99 per month with a one-year commitment in the United States, later with European, Canadian and educational pricing.[1][5]
Spectacles 5 were the development hardware for Snap's consumer glasses. In June 2025 Snap described them as "designed for developers to prepare for the public launch of Specs", and on June 16, 2026 it opened pre-orders for the consumer Snap Specs at US$2,195.[6][7]
Announcement and release
The first three generations of Spectacles, sold to consumers from 2016 to 2019, were camera glasses without displays or speakers. The fourth generation, unveiled in 2021, added waveguide displays for AR but went only to selected developers in very limited quantities.[8]
The Verge's Alex Heath reported in August 2024 that Snap would unveil fifth-generation Spectacles on September 17, that each pair cost "thousands of dollars to build", and that Snap planned to build only around 10,000 units for selected developers; UploadVR relayed the report.[9]
CEO Evan Spiegel presented the glasses at the Snap Partner Summit on September 17, 2024. Snap described them as "the result of a decade of research and development" and made them available the same day through the Spectacles Developer Program.[1] The subscription cost US$99 per month with a one-year commitment, included the use of one pair and support from Snap, and was at first open only to developers in the United States.[1][8] Applicants applied through a developer program in Lens Studio and, once approved, received access to support from the Snap Lab team.[10] UploadVR reported that developers who stopped subscribing after the minimum term had to return the glasses to Snap; Lowpass noted that they could otherwise keep paying monthly.[8][4]
Snap's director of AR platform, Sophia Dominguez, told Engadget: "This isn't a prototype." She said the company was "ready to scale when the market is there" and that developers were the people "most ready" for the device.[11] Spiegel announced that the platform launched with "no developer tax", meaning Snap would take no share of developers' revenue; a spokesperson told Lowpass this was a long-term commitment.[1][4]
The day after the summit, at Lens Fest, a group of Lens developers and creators received Spectacles and a program subscription. On October 29, 2024 Snap opened applications in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain at €110 per month with a 12-month commitment, with shipping to developers in those countries "in the coming weeks".[12]
Pricing
On January 23, 2025 Snap introduced educational pricing for students and teachers at accredited educational institutions in every country where Spectacles were available: US$49.50 per month or US$594 for the first year, and €55 per month or €660 for the first year in Europe, each with a 12-month minimum term.[13][14] By February 2026 Snap's application page also listed Canadian pricing.[5]
| Market | Standard subscription | Educational pricing | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | US$99 per month plus tax, 12-month commitment | US$49.50 per month (or US$594 for the first year) | September 2024; January 2025[1][13] |
| European Union (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain) | €110 per month including VAT, 12-month commitment | €55 per month (or €660 for the first year) | October 2024; January 2025[12][13] |
| Canada | CA$139 per month plus tax, 12-month commitment | CA$69.50 per month | Application page, February 2026[5] |
Design and hardware
Form factor
The glasses weigh 226 grams, which Snap described as less than half the weight of a typical VR headset.[1] That is heavier than the 134-gram fourth generation, and UploadVR wrote that the new frames pushed "the limits of what can be described as a true glasses form factor".[8] The frames are made of thick black plastic, have a flexible folding temple design, and are the first Spectacles with clear lenses.[11][2] Lowpass estimated them at about four times the weight of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.[4]
Display and optics
The display system, which Snap calls the Optical Engine, was designed in-house. Liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) micro-projectors feed waveguides; Snap says each waveguide has billions of nanostructures that move light into the wearer's view, and that the design needs no lengthy calibration or custom fitting.[1] The stereo display covers a 46-degree diagonal field of view at 37 pixels per degree, which Snap compares to "a 100 inch display just 10 feet away".[1] UploadVR noted that the field of view grew from the fourth generation's 26 degrees, matched Xreal glasses and was slightly below HoloLens 2, and that the angular resolution was similar to Apple Vision Pro; it added that LCoS makes the glasses thicker than future microLED designs might be.[8] Snap's own Snap OS 2.0 announcement describes the field of view as portrait-oriented.[15]
The lenses tint automatically based on ambient light, so content stays visible outdoors and in direct sunlight.[1] Snap's spec sheet lists dynamic display brightness, 6DoF rendering with 13 ms motion-to-photon latency, and a 120 Hz late-stage reprojection frequency.[2] UploadVR compared the 13 ms figure with the 12 ms passthrough latency Apple claims for Vision Pro.[8] A TU Wien listing for a December 2024 demonstration by Snap staff describes 60 Hz rendering with 120 Hz late-stage reprojection, an optional prescription insert and the flexible temples.[16] Road to VR's spec table lists interpupillary distance as a software adjustment with a 57 mm to 71 mm range.[17]
Compute and thermals
Spectacles 5 use a dual system-on-a-chip design with two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors that split the compute workload. Snap says this reduces power consumption and, together with titanium vapor chambers, improves heat dissipation.[1] One processor sits in each temple.[10][11] Snap declined to name the chipset; UploadVR said this suggested it might be an unannounced Qualcomm part.[8] Lowpass reported that a Snap employee's LinkedIn profile mentioned a "Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 running AOSP", but Snap has not confirmed the chip.[4] In Engadget's demo of almost an hour, neither of two pairs got hot, though both were slightly warm to the touch.[11]
Sensors, audio and connectivity
The glasses have two full-color high-resolution cameras, two infrared computer vision cameras and 6-axis IMUs for inertial sensing. The four cameras power the Snap Spatial Engine, six-degrees-of-freedom inside-out tracking and hand tracking.[2][1] Lowpass described the infrared cameras as being for hand tracking and the color cameras for capture and computer vision.[4] Audio comes from stereo speakers for spatial audio and a six-microphone array with background suppression and echo cancellation.[2] Connectivity is Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth and GPS/GNSS.[2] There is no eye tracking.[17]
Battery and accessories
The integrated batteries give up to 45 minutes of continuous standalone use, up from 30 minutes on the fourth generation.[1][8] A USB-C port at the back of one temple lets a power bank extend sessions.[8] Snap lists a protective glasses cover, a carrying pouch and a USB-C to USB-C charging cable as accessories, plus an optional prescription insert. The companion app requires iOS 16 or later or Android 12 or later.[2]
Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | See-through stereo display with optical waveguides; LCoS miniature projectors[2] |
| Field of view | 46° diagonal[2] |
| Angular resolution | 37 pixels per degree[2] |
| Rendering | 13 ms motion-to-photon latency; 120 Hz late-stage reprojection[2] |
| Lenses | Automatically tinting; dynamic display brightness[2] |
| Processors | 2 x Qualcomm Snapdragon with distributed computing[2] |
| Cameras | 2 x full-color high-resolution, 2 x infrared computer vision[2] |
| Sensors | 6-axis IMUs[2] |
| Audio | Stereo speakers; 6-microphone array[2] |
| Input | Hand tracking, voice recognition, mobile app controller[2] |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS[2] |
| Battery life | Up to 45 minutes continuous[2] |
| Weight | 226 g[2] |
| Phone compatibility | iOS 16 or later; Android 12 or later[2] |
Comparison with other Spectacles AR generations
| Feature | Snap Spectacles 4 (2021) | Snap Spectacles 5 (2024) | Snap Specs (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field of view | 26.3° diagonal[17] | 46° diagonal[17] | 51°[18] |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR1[17] | 2 x Snapdragon (unspecified)[17] | Two Snapdragon processors[18] |
| Cameras | 2 x RGB[17] | 2 x RGB, 2 x infrared[17] | |
| Microphones | 4[17] | 6[17] | |
| Battery life | 30 minutes[17] | 45 minutes[17] | Up to 4 hours mixed use[18] |
| Weight | 134 g[17] | 226 g[17] | 132 g or 136 g[18] |
| Availability | Selected developers in very limited quantities[8] | Developer subscription | Consumer pre-order (US$2,195)[7] |
Software and features
Snap OS
Spectacles 5 introduced Snap OS. The interface is navigated with the hands and voice, and the main menu sits in the palm of one hand so it can be operated with the other.[1][8] Text input uses on-device speech recognition.[8] The Snap Spatial Engine maps the surroundings so that Lenses appear in three dimensions, and Lenses can be shared so several wearers use the same experience together.[1] Road to VR reported that the glasses can recognize other nearby pairs and join their session for co-located AR.[17] At launch the system had a built-in web browser that supported YouTube; it could not capture first-person photos or videos outside Lenses and had no audio streaming from a phone.[8]
Snap declined to tell Lowpass whether Snap OS was based on Android.[4] TechCrunch described it as built on the Android kernel, and UploadVR later called it Android-based while noting that it does not allow Android packages to be installed.[10][19] Apps for the glasses are Lenses, sandboxed programs written in JavaScript or TypeScript in Lens Studio, while the operating system handles rendering and core interactions.[19]
Spectacles app
The Spectacles phone app can turn a phone into a 6DoF controller or game controller for Lenses, mirror phone apps into the glasses, and run Spectator Mode, which lets people without Spectacles follow along from their own perspective.[1][2] Road to VR noted that, unlike the spectator views of Meta Quest and Vision Pro, the phone viewer sees the AR content from its own position; a simple first-person view is also supported. Mirrored phone apps appear as floating windows that cannot be operated from the glasses.[17]
Developer tools
Snap launched the glasses with a rebuilt Lens Studio 5.0 that pushes projects directly to Spectacles instead of using a complicated compiling process, supports TypeScript and JavaScript, and adds version control tools for team development. The Spectacles Interaction Kit provides ready-made interaction components, and SnapML lets developers use custom machine learning models to identify, track and augment objects. Snap also announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring cloud-hosted multimodal AI models to the platform.[1] UploadVR reported that the partnership would give developers access to the GPT-4o API.[8] Engadget tried Snap's My AI assistant on the glasses during its preview.[11]
Updates
By June 2026 Snap said it had shipped 10 Snap OS updates with more than 40 new features and APIs over the previous year and a half.[7]
| Date | Update | Main additions |
|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 | Snap OS v5.58 | Fetch API access to cloud-hosted multimodal large language models under extended permissions; Image Spatialization API that converts 2D images to 3D; spatial anchors; basic GPS location; Layout Mode; Web View; Lens Unlock links; Piano Tutor and Ball Game Lenses built on SnapML[20] |
| March 17, 2025 | Geo-location update | GPS, GNSS, compass heading and custom locations for Lenses; leaderboards; an AR keyboard; phone detection, grab gesture and refined targeting for hand tracking[21] |
| June 10, 2025 | Specs announcement | OpenAI and Gemini on Google Cloud integrations for multimodal Lenses; guided navigation tools; Niantic Spatial VPS and WebXR support announced as coming[6] |
| September 15, 2025 | Snap OS 2.0 | Rebuilt browser with WebXR support and resizable windows; Spotlight and Gallery Lenses; Travel Mode for use in vehicles[15] |
Road to VR noted that real-time text translation, speech translation for 40 languages and an AI "Spatial Tips" function had arrived in the months before Snap OS 2.0.[22] At launch, Snap representatives had told Lowpass that WebXR was not supported.[4]
Lenses and partners
At launch the LEGO Group released BRICKTACULAR, a building game controlled by hands and voice. ILM Immersive was developing Star Wars experiences, Niantic brought Peridot and Scaniverse, and Wabisabi Games made a capture-the-flag game.[1] Engadget reported that the glasses already supported more than two dozen experiences; its preview included a mini golf game, a human anatomy demo and a version of Peridot.[11] Niantic's Spectacles-only pet game Peridot Beyond later gained multiplayer through geo-location data and progress shared with the mobile game. Utopia Labs' NavigatAR uses Snap Map Tiles for navigation, and Wabisabi's Doggo Quest uses SnapML.[21]
Snap's June 2025 announcement listed developer Lenses such as Super Travel from Gowaaa, which translates signs, menus and receipts, and said Enklu's SightCraft could be played on Spectacles at its Verse Immersive venue in Chicago.[6] In September 2025 Snap said hundreds of developers from 30 countries were building Lenses for Spectacles.[15] The rhythm game Synth Riders from Kluge Interactive arrived on Snap OS in October 2025, alongside Star Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender minigames.[19]
Reception
Early hands-on coverage praised the display and criticized the size. TechCrunch's Brian Heater called the glasses "extremely physically large" and wrote that the AR was "impressive, despite a very limited field of view".[10] Engadget's Karissa Bell found them "almost comically large", wider than her face, but called the projected content "crisp and bright"; she could not discern individual pixels and found the gesture interface "surprisingly intuitive", while still having to move her head to see large objects such as a life-sized anatomy model.[11] Ben Lang of Road to VR wrote that "Spectacles '24 inches closer to something that would be acceptable to consumers (in both specs and size), but isn't there yet", and that the glasses still looked more like goggles than glasses.[17]
Janko Roettgers of Lowpass called the optics impressive, bright and visible in the sun, but found the field of view "frustratingly limited" and noticed some jitter and a misjudged floor height during his demo.[4] In October 2025 UploadVR's David Heaney described them as "the bulkiest AR device in 'glasses' form factor we've seen yet", almost five times as heavy as Ray-Ban Meta glasses.[19] Road to VR called the 2024 glasses "admittedly bulky" but said they gave Snap "something of a first mover advantage" over Meta, Google, Apple and Samsung.[22]
Successor
On June 10, 2025 Snap announced a lightweight consumer device called Specs for 2026 and said developers were using the fifth-generation glasses to prepare for it.[6] Snap opened pre-orders for Snap Specs on June 16, 2026 at US$2,195 with a US$200 refundable deposit, with shipping expected in fall 2026 in the United States, the United Kingdom and France.[7] Road to VR reported that, according to Snap, the Specs' 51-degree field of view gives 30 percent more display area than the fifth generation and that the 132 g and 136 g Specs are about 40 percent lighter.[18] As of February 2026 Snap's application page still offered the Spectacles 5 developer subscription, with US, EU and Canadian pricing.[5]
Images
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 "SPS 2024 - Introducing New Spectacles and Snap OS: The Next Frontier of AR Glasses". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2024-09-17. https://newsroom.snap.com/sps-2024-spectacles-snapos. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 "Get Closer with Friends (Spectacles '24)". Spectacles. Snap Inc.. 2024-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20241002203416/https://www.spectacles.com/spectacles-24. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Spectacles Features Overview". Snap for Developers. Snap Inc.. https://developers.snap.com/spectacles/about-spectacles-features/overview. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Janko Roettgers (2024-09-19). "The cheat sheet on Snap's new Spectacles". Lowpass. https://www.lowpass.cc/p/snap-ar-spectacles-fov-specs-os-details. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Join Now - Spectacles Developer Program". Spectacles. Snap Inc.. 2026-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20260214163721/https://www.spectacles.com/developer-application. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Snap to Launch New Lightweight, Immersive Specs in 2026". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2025-06-10. https://newsroom.snap.com/launch-specs-2026. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Introducing SPECS Augmented Reality Glasses". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2026-06-16. https://newsroom.snap.com/introducing-specs-augmented-reality-glasses. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 David Heaney (2024-09-17). "Snap Unveils Upgraded AR Spectacles For Developers, Priced $100/Month". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/snap-spectacles-5-ar/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ David Heaney (2024-08-22). "Snap Will Reportedly Unveil New AR Glasses Next Month - But Still Only For Developers". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/snapchat-spectacles-5-report/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Brian Heater (2024-09-17). "Snap's extremely large Spectacles bring impressive AR to developers at $99 a month". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/17/snaps-extremely-large-spectacles-bring-impressive-ar-to-developers-at-99-a-month/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Karissa Bell (2024-09-17). "Snap's fifth-generation Spectacles bring your hands into into augmented reality". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snaps-fifth-generation-spectacles-bring-your-hands-into-into-augmented-reality-180026541.html. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Snap's New Spectacles Launching in First European Countries". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2024-10-29. https://newsroom.snap.com/spectacles-launching-in-first-european-countries. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Introducing New Ways to Get Rewarded and Find Success For AR Creators and Developers". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2025-01-23. https://newsroom.snap.com/challenge-tags-educational-pricing. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2025-01-23). "Snap Makes Spectacles AR Glasses More Affordable for Students & Teachers". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/snap-spectacles-ar-student-discount/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Introducing Snap OS 2.0". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2025-09-15. https://newsroom.snap.com/introducing-snap-os-2.0. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Spectacles Demos". TU Wien Research Unit of Computer Graphics. 2024-12-13. https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/node/9953. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 Ben Lang (2024-09-17). "Snapchat Reveals Latest Spectacles AR Glasses with Attractive Pricing for Developers". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/snapchat-spectacles-24-ar-glasses-specs-price-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Scott Hayden (2026-06-16). "Snap Reveals Next-gen Specs AR Glasses, Priced at $2,200". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/snap-specs-2026-ar-glasses-release-date-price/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 David Heaney (2025-10-16). "Snap's AR Glasses Get Synth Riders, Star Wars & Avatar: The Last Airbender Minigames". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/snap-specs-synth-riders-star-wars-avatar-last-airbender-minigames/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Introducing New Lenses, Platform Features, and Capabilities for Spectacles". Snap Newsroom. Snap Inc.. 2024-11-15. https://newsroom.snap.com/snap-os-v558. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Scott Hayden (2025-03-17). "Snap Spectacles Offer a Peek into All-day AR with New Geo-location Platform Update". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/snap-spectacles-update-geo-located-experiences/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Scott Hayden (2025-09-15). "Snap Releases Spectacles OS 2.0 Ahead of 2026 Launch of Consumer AR Glasses". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/snap-spectacles-os-2-0-consumer-ar-glasses-2026/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.