Snap Spectacles 5
| 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 |
| Release Date | September 2024 (Developer Program) |
| Price | $99/month (12-month commitment) |
| Website | https://www.spectacles.com/ |
| Versions | Single version |
| Requires | Spectacles mobile app, Lens Studio 5.0 |
| Predecessor | Snap Spectacles 4 |
| Successor | Snap Spectacles 6 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Snap OS |
| Chipset | Dual Snapdragon processors |
| CPU | 2x Snapdragon processors (unspecified model) |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Storage | |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | See-through stereo waveguide display |
| Peak Brightness | Automatic tinting, works in direct sunlight |
| Resolution | 37 pixels per degree |
| Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz late stage reprojection |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 46° diagonal |
| Visible FoV | 46° diagonal |
| Average Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Optical waveguides with LCoS projectors |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Adjustable Diopter | Prescription insert available |
| Passthrough | Yes (via cameras) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6 DoF with hand tracking |
| Base Stations | No (inside-out tracking) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (seamless) |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Latency | 13 millisecond motion-to-photon |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Stereo speakers with spatial audio |
| Microphone | 6 microphone array |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | No |
| Camera | 2 full color cameras, 2 infrared cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports | USB-C (rear of stem) |
| Wired Video | No |
| Wireless Video | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Power | Internal battery + USB-C support |
| Battery Life | 45 minutes standalone |
| Device | |
| Weight | 226 grams |
| Material | Titanium vapor chambers |
| Headstrap | Temple arms (glasses style) |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 6-axis IMUs, 4 cameras total |
| Input | Hand gestures, voice commands, phone controller |
Introduction
The Snap Spectacles 5 (also known as fifth generation Spectacles) are standalone augmented reality glasses developed by Snap Inc., unveiled by CEO Evan Spiegel at the Snap Partner Summit on September 17, 2024. These glasses represent a major evolution from previous generations, introducing Snap OS, significantly improved display technology, and enhanced AR capabilities while maintaining a focus on social and collaborative experiences.[1]
Unlike consumer products, Spectacles 5 are available exclusively through the Spectacles Developer Program at $99 per month with a one-year commitment, totaling approximately $1,200. This hardware-as-a-service model reflects Snap's continued focus on building a developer ecosystem before eventual consumer release.[2]
Snap OS
The fifth generation introduced Snap OS, a groundbreaking operating system built specifically for AR glasses. Key features include:
Natural Interaction
- Hand-Based UI: Main menu appears in the palm of your hand
- Voice Commands: Natural language processing for hands-free control
- Gesture Recognition: Intuitive hand gestures for navigation
- Spatial Understanding: The Snap Spatial Engine comprehends the environment for realistic 3D Lens placement[1]
Multi-User Capabilities
- Shared Experiences: Multiple users can interact with the same Lens simultaneously
- Collaborative AR: Designed for social interaction and shared AR content
- Connected Lenses: Support for multiplayer games and collaborative tools[3]
Hardware Specifications
Display Technology
- Display Type: See-through stereo display with optical waveguides
- Projectors: Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) miniature projectors
- Resolution: 37 pixels per degree (similar to Apple Vision Pro)
- Field of View: 46 degrees diagonal (expanded from 26.3° in Gen 4)
- Comparison: "Similar to a 100-inch display just 10 feet away"
- Adaptive Tinting: Automatic adjustment based on lighting conditions
- Waveguides: Billions of nanostructures per waveguide to direct light[1][4]
Processing Architecture
- Dual Processor System: Two Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm
- Architecture Benefits:
- Split compute workload across stems
- Increased performance
- Reduced power consumption
- Better thermal management
- Cooling: Titanium vapor chambers for heat dissipation[1][4]
Tracking and Sensors
- Cameras:
- 2 full-color, high-resolution cameras
- 2 infrared computer vision cameras
- Tracking Capabilities:
- 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF)
- Seamless hand tracking
- Multi-modal AI support
- Contextual understanding
- Sensors: 6-axis IMUs for inertial sensing[5]
Audio System
- Speakers: Stereo speakers for spatial audio
- Microphones: 6-microphone array
- Features:
- Background suppression
- Echo cancellation
- Spatial audio rendering[5]
Physical Design
- Weight: 226 grams (less than half typical VR headset weight)
- Power:
- 45 minutes continuous standalone runtime
- USB-C port on stem for extended use with power bank
- Hot-swappable power support (internal battery maintains operation)
- Thermal Management: Titanium vapor chambers
- Form Factor: Traditional glasses design (though notably thick)[2][6]
Performance Metrics
- Latency: 13 millisecond motion-to-photon (comparable to Vision Pro's 12ms passthrough)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz late stage reprojection frequency
- Display Quality: Sharp, vivid images with minimal translucency[7][6]
Developer Tools and Integration
Lens Studio 5.0
The rebuilt Lens Studio 5.0 provides:
- Modern Foundation: Support for TypeScript and JavaScript
- Version Control: Improved tools for team-based development
- SnapML: Custom ML model integration for object identification and tracking
- Rapid Deployment: Direct wireless push to Spectacles
- No Developer Tax: Snap takes no revenue share from developers[3]
Spectacles Interaction Kit
- Pre-built interaction systems
- Simplified Lens creation without custom interaction development
- Standard UI components optimized for AR[3]
AI Integration
- OpenAI Partnership: Cloud-hosted multimodal AI models
- My AI: Snap's AI assistant integration
- Contextual Understanding: AI can process what users see, say, or hear
- 3D Asset Generation: AI-powered content creation[1][8]
Mobile App Integration
The Spectacles mobile app enables:
- 6DoF Controller: Use phone as a spatial controller
- Spectator Mode: Friends without Spectacles can view AR content
- Screen Mirroring: Display phone screen in AR
- Third-Person View: Spectator view for demos and instruction[1][6]
Developer Program
Pricing and Availability
- Cost: $99/month with 12-month commitment ($1,188 total)
- Region: Initially U.S. only
- Application: Through Lens Studio developer program
- Support: Includes Snap Lab team assistance[2]
Educational Discount
As of January 2025, Snap announced special pricing for students and teachers:
- $594 for 12 months subscription-free access
- $49.50/month thereafter[9]
Launch Partners and Applications
Several high-profile partners launched experiences for Spectacles 5:
- LEGO Group: BRICKTACULAR - hand and voice-controlled AR building game
- ILM Immersive: Star Wars-themed AR experiences
- Niantic: Peridot and Scaniverse AR applications
- Wabisabi Games: Multiplayer capture the flag
- Utopia Labs: NavigatAR with Snap Map Tiles integration[1][9]
Recent Updates
Geo-Location Features (March 2025)
Snap added location-based AR capabilities including:
- GPS and GNSS data access
- Compass heading integration
- Custom location support
- Snap Map Tiles for navigation
- Improved outdoor AR experiences[9]
Reception and Analysis
Early reviews and developer feedback highlighted:
Strengths
- Impressive AR display quality despite limited FOV
- Superior hologram clarity compared to HoloLens
- Effective hand tracking and natural interactions
- Strong developer tools and support
- Innovative spectator mode feature
Limitations
- Large physical size ("extremely large" per TechCrunch)
- 45-minute battery life limiting all-day use
- Still developer-focused, not consumer-ready
- Weight increased to 226g from 134g (Gen 4)
- High cost for developers[2][6]
Future Outlook
Industry observers view Spectacles 5 as positioning Snap to compete with Meta, Apple, and Google in the emerging AR glasses market. The focus on geo-located experiences and social AR suggests Snap's vision for mainstream AR adoption centers on daily utility and shared experiences rather than isolated use cases.[9]
Package Contents
- Spectacles 5 glasses
- Protective glasses cover
- Carrying pouch
- USB-C to C charging cable
- Optional prescription insert available[5]
Images
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://newsroom.snap.com/sps-2024-spectacles-snapos
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/17/snaps-extremely-large-spectacles-bring-impressive-ar-to-developers-at-99-a-month/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.developer-tech.com/news/snap-os-debuts-with-developer-friendly-spectacles-5-ar-glasses/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.uploadvr.com/snap-spectacles-5-ar/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://docs.snap.com/spectacles/guides/general/technical-specifications
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://localjoost.github.io/Snap-Spectacles-2024-my-take-after-a-month-of-spare-time-development/
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectacles_(product)
- ↑ https://www.auganix.org/ar-news-snap-spectacles/
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://www.roadtovr.com/snap-spectacles-update-geo-located-experiences/