Snap unveils its first AR glasses, with four built-in microphones, two stereo speakers, and a touchpad, and says it will test them with some AR effects creators

The Verge 2021-05-22 Alex Heath

Context & Ripple Effects

Snap’s creator testing follows reports that the new Spectacles were aimed at AR developers and creators, making the device a tool for building and validating effects before wider availability. A later hands-on found the hardware delivered impressive AR but was limited by overheating and roughly 30 minutes of battery life, underscoring why it was not initially sold broadly.

The effort became a longer product path: Snap later added GPS, improved hand tracking, and an AR keyboard to Spectacles, before announcing standalone Specs with a 51-degree field of view for commercial release.

First-order effects

AR effects creators gain access to a wearable test device with audio input/output and touch controls, letting Snap collect feedback on effects in the form factor where they will run.
Snap limits initial deployment to creators rather than consumers, keeping the first Spectacles iteration focused on software experimentation and hardware validation.

Second-order effects

The short battery life and overheating reported in the early Spectacles hands-on constrain the kinds of creator experiences Snap can test, prioritizing brief, lightweight AR sessions over continuous use.
Lens creators become an early dependency in Snap’s hardware strategy: the usefulness of the glasses is tied to whether effects are adapted to the device’s microphones, speakers, and touchpad.

Third-order effects

Snap’s subsequent additions of location, hand input, and text input point to AR glasses evolving from an effects viewer into a more self-contained computing interface, with power and thermal limits setting the pace.
If creator-first testing produces reusable Lens software, AR platforms may compete less on a single device launch and more on the developer tools and interaction features they can iterate into later hardware.

The trend: AR glasses are moving through a creator-first development cycle in which software tools and input capabilities mature before broader standalone hardware launches.

Discussion

@spectacles @spectacles on x
Tapping the vast potential of @Snap's AR platform, the next generation of Spectacles allow you to overlay Lenses directly onto the world in front of you, for an immersive AR experience. #SnapPartnerSummit https://www.spectacles.com/ https://twitter.com/...
@peterrojas Peter Rojas on x
It's a big deal that Snap is introducing AR glasses, but I suspect the narrow field-of-view (26.3 degrees) is going to disappoint a lot of users. FOV on the HoloLens 2 is 52 degrees and even that doesn't feel like enough.
@nikkmitchell Nikk Mitchell on x
Can we get some respect for @Snap introducing their new product with a video that actually shows how it will look, current generation FOV and all. None of this Microsoft full space unlimited fov ads or even worse a gosh darn magic leap whale! (And looks awesome by the way) 🤩 http…
@brianpeiris Brian Peiris on x
Glad to see Snap fully enter the XR glasses arena. Healthy competition benefits everyone. But I hope we see more generalized devices. I want computers, not brand vehicles. Great vibes from their promo though, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. https://www.youtube.com/...
@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
Scoop: Snap largest acquisition ever is WaveOptics, the maker of the AR displays that power its new Spectacles glasses. At more than $500 million, the purchase underscores Snap's long term bet on AR glasses. https://www.theverge.com/...
@jamesliamcook James Cook on x
Snap is buying WaveOptics, the Oxford augmented reality company that supplies the displays for its new Spectacles, for $500 million https://www.theverge.com/...
@shonaghosh Shona Ghosh on x
Snap reportedly buying AR supplier WaveOptics for $500m. Fun side note for long-suffering followers: 2020 filings show Wave Optics' shareholders include two cofounders from Blippar, which tried and failed to sell to Snap in 2018. https://www.theverge.com/...
@richlightshed Rich Greenfield on x
$SNAP making a hardware acquisition? https://twitter.com/...
@jake_k Jake Kastrenakes on x
new from @alexeheath: enormous purchase by snap w/ ~125 employees making the tech behind its new AR glasses — the company is *serious* about making this tech happen https://www.theverge.com/...
@dalexfrost @dalexfrost on x
Imagine if Snap partnered with Ray-Bans or Warby Parker on this https://twitter.com/...
@scobleizer Scoble on x
It is a new kind of camera. I want one. https://twitter.com/...
@adamdraper AdamDraper.crypto on x
This product has come such a long way. I met the founder of Vergence Labs at a dinner and he pitched me on the future of computing platforms. Naturally I invested in something that got humanity closer to an Iron Man suit. Proud of what it's become post acquisition. https://twitte…
@bpowtweets Brandon Powers on x
.@Snap agrees that artists should be the center of the XR world & has done an incredible job of building the bridge to it with smart tools, clear vocabulary, and a deliberate roadmap. By focusing on “lenses,” not “apps,” they've built an accessible ecosystem that consumers GET. h…
@raywongy @raywongy on x
Um... the new Snapchat AR Spectacles have a ... 30 minute battery life https://twitter.com/...
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
Google Glass wasn't wrong, it was early? https://twitter.com/...
@caseynewton Casey Newton on x
The new Snap Spectacles have a real Cybertruck vibe https://twitter.com/...
@thisismichaeld Michael DiBenigno on x
The @Snapchat approach in building the mobile AR ecosystem of users and creators first and incrementally moving into headsets is exactly the right strategy. Can't wait to help bring data storytelling into the conversation! https://twitter.com/...
@sophiaedm Sophia Dominguez on x
create the world that you want to see. spectacles @snap 🤩😎 https://twitter.com/...
@tim Tim Bradshaw on x
“Nobody else is doing this right now, in the way that we are and in the form factor that we are,” @evanspiegel tells @FT as Snap launches AR @Spectacles. “I don't think people expect us to be this far along. Every other product out there is like a helmet.” https://www.ft.com/...
@anshelsag Anshel Sag on x
Since @Snap didn't deem it necessary to pre-brief me, @LaurenGoode's article has a lot of very good background and details, namely that the new Snap Spectacles are powered by @Qualcomm's XR1 chipset. https://twitter.com/...
@alexia Alexia Bonatsos on x
Snap built a fleshed-out AR experience before Apple did.
@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
quite a different vibe than Scoble in the shower https://t.co/uVWoSY40Mf
@digitaldeity Eric James on x
@martyswant You can seriously write that with Oculus/Facebook tearing it up with constant VR/AR advancements every month?
@martyswant Marty Swant on x
@digitaldeity Yep! I think Oculus has come a loooooong way and as a VR fan it's definitely exciting. However, it is still too removed from Facebook's social networks strategy so they are mostly different platforms versus Snap's integrated approach. (The point I was making was abo…
@msolis488 Mark Solis on x
@Dilmerv @Snapchat Overall I do agree that the Snap platform for general mobile AR is wayyyy better than what Facebook is doing. They just need to do better on their ad platform for small businesses to justify ad spending for AR ads. I
@msolis488 Mark Solis on x
@Dilmerv @Snapchat To me it feels like buying a Quest 2, but with the limitation that you can only use Facebook/Instagram/Messenger. No web browsing, no utility beyond games.
@larryrosenthal Larry Rosenthal on x
they are a great “product jump"| project from the insanity of the hololens or magic leap delusions of mass devices of that size or price. BUT like 3d printers, which now cost 200 bucks. the ROI is so far not there. and the ROE is specific to cyberpunk 20/20 vision 18-24 crowd.
@larryrosenthal Larry Rosenthal on x
as i wrote on a linkedin thread a day ago. for XR to become the mass medium the software must demand you need the hardware. OR the hardware must already be yours to add functions too. ( the phone) Glasses are very different tools. these will be toys for 6 months. fin https://twit…
@luoshengpeng Luosheng Peng on x
The latest Snap Spectacles look cool. Like to get one! Whose AR tech it uses? https://www.theverge.com/...
@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
Snap just announced its first real pair of AR glasses. They are technically ambitious but only accessible through an application program. Evan Spiegel told me the goal is to “help unlock a new way to use AR hands-free” for Snapchat's creators. More here: https://www.theverge.com/…
@andreelijah @andreelijah on x
Man, some secrets are tough to keep contained! Glad that the news is finally out! https://twitter.com/...
@cixliv Cix on x
More AR glasses coming. This time from @Snapchat. The war for Augmented Reality is going to heat up soon. https://twitter.com/...
@ajs Alyson Shontell on x
But they don't...really...look like that...do they? They look like the paper 3D glasses you used to put on at the movies at the smithsonian. https://twitter.com/...
@martyswant Marty Swant on x
In my own very humble opinion, I feel like Snap is the most creatively and technically ambitious social media company on the market right now. https://twitter.com/...
@petapixel @petapixel on x
Snap has officially announced its next-generation augmented reality (AR) Spectacles with new camera tech, a unique design, and numerous high-profile partnerships. They sound incredibly ambitous, but they won't ever be for sale. https://petapixel.com/...
@arainert @arainert on x
New Snap glasses have a bit of a Tesla-Cybertruck-for-your-face vibe and I'm not yet sure how I feel about it. https://twitter.com/...
@dburgar Dan Burgar VR on x
Snap has been very ambitious and aggressive with their AR/3D strategy and today they have announced their first real pair of AR glasses - @verge @alexeheath https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@tomemrich Tom Emrich on x
“Spiegel has said that AR glasses will take roughly a decade to reach mainstream adoption.” “I don't believe the phone is going away. I just think that the next generation of Spectacles can help unlock a new way to use AR hands-free.” https://www.theverge.com/...

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