A $2,195 face computer…Snap’s bet to save itself technology

aljazeera.net
5 Min Read


The American company “Snap” revealed its latest product, which is augmented reality glasses at a price exceeding $2,100 under the name “Specs” glasses, with sales scheduled to begin this fall, at a time when the company is facing financial difficulties, according to a report by the American “Bloomberg” news agency.

Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap, described these glasses as the future of computing and the use of computers, as the glasses can run both applications developed by Snap and applications from external companies.

The glasses come in an elegant design that resembles regular glasses, but with a larger and thicker frame than the smart glasses offered by its competitors, whether “Mita” or other companies. The glasses are available in two sizes with the ability to replace the lenses with prescription lenses, as well as automatically converting them into sunglasses based on different lighting conditions.

The TechSpot technical report states that Snap views these glasses as wearable computers, as they weigh up to 136 grams in the largest version, and they rely on several leading Qualcomm processors.

Snap’s statement includes a number of different uses for the new smart glasses, starting with obtaining directions while walking, virtual workspaces, and shared games, in addition to several educational tools, and of course the advantages of artificial intelligence, as the glasses’ artificial intelligence can see what surrounds it and interact with the user through the glasses.

A new type of smart glasses

Spiegel confirmed in an old interview that “Spex” glasses offer a very different experience from traditional smart glasses from Apple or Meta, as the smart glasses sector is divided into two categories, either full-sized virtual reality helmets that cannot be walked in the streets, or glasses that can be used on a daily basis, but are weaker in computing capabilities.

But “Spex” glasses combine these two concepts in a different way, as they offer glasses that can be worn and used on a daily basis, and have artificial intelligence and computing capabilities that are equivalent to traditional virtual reality glasses.

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Evan Spiegel, Co-Founder and CEO, Snap Inc. is interviewed about SPECS at AWE 2026 at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center on June 16, 2026 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Snap)
Evan Spiegel: “We have been investing in augmented reality and developer tools for a long time, having filed more than 7,000 patents” (Getty)

The control of “Spex” glasses depends on tracking hand movements, which is a trend similar to what competing companies in the smart glasses sector do, as “Meta” glasses rely on a bracelet that captures the movement of the hand, and Apple’s “Vision Pro” glasses depend on tracking the movement of the head, eyes, and hands together.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Spiegel explained that Speaks glasses have the advantage of being a pioneer in providing these features, adding: “We have invested in augmented reality and developer tools for a long time, as we have filed more than 7,000 patents.”

Speaking against the price of the glasses, which amounts to about $2,195, Spiegel mentioned that their price is not far from the price of competitors, as Apple offers its helmet at a price of $3,500, adding that “Spex” deserves this price more than its competitors because it offers performance close to that of expensive virtual reality helmets, but with ease of wearing closer to models that do not have a display screen.

Title: CA-SNAP Image ID: 9560776303893525 Article: SPECS Augmented Reality Glasses
The new glasses come with a thicker frame compared to competitors (Associated Press)

The Bloomberg report states that the real question is not about justifying the price of the glasses, but about users’ ability to purchase such products, noting that “Vision Pro” glasses are facing difficulties in spreading despite the great support provided by Apple and its expanded marketing efforts.

Saving what can be saved

The unveiling of the new glasses comes against the backdrop of laying off 16% of Snap’s total employees in an attempt by the company to reduce the company’s costs, according to a Bloomberg report, in addition to the decline in the company’s shares this year by about 30% compared to previous years.

Snap hopes not to repeat the tragedy of 2017, when the company overestimated the volume of demand for its first generation Spectacles and maintained an unsold stock of glasses worth about $40 million, according to a TechSpot report.



Source link

TAGGED:
Share This Article
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *