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Snapchat’s New Lightweight AR Glasses ‘Specs’ Coming in 2026 With Smarter Features

Highlights

Snapchat’s new AR glasses named Specs to debut in 2026.
Specs will integrate all computing power into the glasses unlike earlier Snap Spectacles that relied on external components.
Snap OS receives major upgrades including AI-powered 3D object creation, real-time speech transcription in 40+ languages and deeper integrations with OpenAI and Google Cloud.

Caption – Snapchat announces new lightweight AR Glasses Specs. (Image credit – Snapchat/9to5Mac)

Snapchat is finally getting ready to bring its next-generation AR Spectacles to the public. At Augmented World Expo 2025, the company announced that a new, more lightweight and immersive version of its AR glasses will launch in 2026.

The Snapchat AR glasses are now officially called Specs.

The new Snap Specs promise a much more refined experience. As Snap describes them, they’re “an ultra-powerful wearable computer integrated into a lightweight pair of glasses, featuring see-through Lenses that enhance the physical world with digital experiences.”

Unlike the older version, these don’t need a compute puck or external battery, everything is built into the glasses.

Sharing more about the Snap Specs, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the time is right for a revolution in computing that naturally integrates our digital experiences with the physical world, and we can’t wait to publicly launch our new Specs next year. We couldn’t be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences. We believe Specs are the most advanced personal computer in the world, and we can’t wait for you to see for yourself.”

Last year’s fifth-gen Snap Spectacles were only available to developers, and while they weren’t meant for public release, they gave early users a chance to build AR lenses. Those dev-only versions were a bit bulky and relied on external hardware, but they served as a stepping stone for what’s coming next.

On the software side, Snap OS, the operating system powering these AR Specs is also getting a bunch of important upgrades. These include –

Deeper integrations with OpenAI and Gemini on Google Cloud
A Depth Module API that helps anchor AR elements in 3D space using 2D data from large language models
Automated Speech Recognition API supporting real-time transcription in over 40 languages
A new Snap3D API that lets developers create 3D objects instantly within lenses

Caption – Depth Module API Snapchat AR Glasses Specs in action. (Image credit – Snapchat/9to5Mac)

Snap is also rolling out tools for developers including fleet management to control multiple Specs units, a Guided Mode for easier demos and Guided Navigation, which allows for creating AR-powered tours in real-world locations.

With these new Specs, Snap seems to be aiming for a much more polished and useful AR experience, something that’s lightweight, smarter and finally ready for everyday users.

FAQs

Q1. What makes Snap Specs different from previous Snap Spectacles?

Answer. Unlike older versions, Snap Specs have all computing power built directly into the glasses, no external battery or compute puck required, making them more lightweight and immersive.

Q2. What upgrades does Snap OS bring to the new Snap Specs?

Answer. Snap OS introduces deeper AI integrations with OpenAI and Google Cloud, real-time speech transcription in over 40 languages, and tools for seamless 3D object creation.