Snap is officially going all-in on augmented reality. The company behind Snapchat is set to launch its first consumer-ready AR smart glasses in 2026. This would be no basic camera-equipped spectacles but almost a full full-fledged wearable computer. The device called Specs and Snap is ready to give competition to Meta and Google with these new wearables. 

Snapchat is spending over $3 billion on development. Snap believes the Specs are finally ready to step into the real world. These are built with see-through lenses, AI smarts, and spatial computing, these glasses are meant to do more than just snap videos. The company claims they’ll be lightweight but ultra-powerful, capable of handling everything from real-time translation. The best part is that it will also have support for 3D content, multiplayer games and even web browsing.

Not Just for Developers Anymore

Snap has been slowly building toward this. The fifth-gen Spectacles, launched in 2024, were meant for developers only. But this time, Snap is bringing the tech to everyone. Unlike the previous Spectacles models, this will be smaller, lighter, and built for the consumer market. 

Snap says creators have already made practical AR apps, like a travel companion that translates signs, a kitchen assistant that suggests recipes based on what’s in front of you, and even a music tutor that overlays instructions on a real drum kit.

While the company hasn’t shared an exact price or release date, it’s clear they’re aiming to take AR glasses mainstream with a more refined form factor. To recall, the last-gen Spectacles, launched in 2024, were priced at $99(Rs 8,459)/month on a 12-month lease and offered basic AR features. 

Snap OS Is Getting a Major Upgrade

To support all of this, Snap is rolling out a massive upgrade to its Snap OS platform. This new update will bring in new tools for spatial mapping, real-time language processing, and 3D content creation. The goal is to make it easier for developers to create immersive AR experiences that work everywhere.

Specs Launch Timeline 

With Specs, Snap appears ready to take things to the next level. While the teaser gives us plenty of futuristic promise, we still don’t know what Specs will look like or when they will launch. But, Snap might mostly launch this in 2026, which puts it in direct competition with big tech giants like Meta and Google.