Snap Rolls Out $2,195 AR Glasses, Gets Roasted by the Public
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has just unleashed its new “Specs” AR glasses on the world, and they’re not cheap – we’re talking a whopping $2,195 price tag. That’s a significant chunk of change for a device that CEO Evan Spiegel claims could replace your smartphone.
The Specs glasses promise an immersive AR experience, complete with a see-through display and a range of features that integrate seamlessly with your Snapchat account. Sounds cool, right? But the tech world has already started to poke fun at the price point, with many questioning whether these glasses are truly worth the hefty cost.
What’s in the Specs?
The new glasses come with a range of features that aim to make them a must-have for AR enthusiasts. These include a 432 x 280 display, support for voice commands, and the ability to interact with various AR experiences using a combination of hand gestures and a special controller. The Specs also come with 8GB of storage, a rechargeable battery, and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices.
A Price that’s Hard to Justify
While Evan Spiegel may see these glasses as a potential successor to traditional smartphones, many are having a hard time justifying the $2,195 price point. For comparison, the latest iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999, and that’s still a pretty hefty chunk of change. The fact that Snap is targeting a niche audience with these glasses – likely those who are already deeply invested in the Snapchat ecosystem – doesn’t help either.
Of course, there’s always a chance that the Specs will gain traction with a specific subset of users, perhaps early adopters or hardcore AR enthusiasts. But for now, it’s hard to see these glasses as anything other than a luxury item for the ultra-rich.
What this means
The launch of the Specs AR glasses highlights the ongoing struggle to make AR a mainstream technology. While Snap has clearly poured resources into developing these glasses, the high price point may limit their appeal to a wider audience. As the tech world continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more affordable AR options emerge, but for now, the Specs are a niche product with a price that’s hard to justify.
