Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Unveils Specs AR Glasses at AWE 2026
Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel introduced the company's new Specs AR Glasses at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California. The device, priced at $2,195, features a proprietary liquid-crystal-on-silicon display and aims to redefine smart glasses without external computing units. Shipping is anticipated to begin this fall, with an initial focus on the developer community before expanding to early adopters.
Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel unveiled the company's new Specs AR Glasses at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California. The unveiling was followed by an interview where Spiegel discussed the new augmented reality (AR) glasses, user privacy, and their $2,195 price tag.
The Specs AR Glasses represent a new direction for Snap's smart glasses, moving beyond its five generations of Spectacles released since 2016. Unlike many AR products, Specs do not require a separate computing puck or USB-C tether. They incorporate a proprietary liquid-crystal-on-silicon display, and a kit for developers was also introduced to encourage the creation of new products, apps, and experiences for the device. The new smart glasses are scheduled to ship this fall.
Spiegel outlined the initial target customers, starting with the developer community, which includes 450,000 existing users of Snap’s AR tools. Following this, the company plans to target early adopters who identify specific use cases, such as improving a golf swing or utilizing a large display for work on the go.
He envisions the glasses fitting into daily life across three main categories: utility, private display, and shared computing experiences. Utility applications could include heads-up directions, language translation, a virtual tape measure, and retail projects. The private display feature would allow users to work or stream content on a large virtual screen while traveling. Shared computing experiences aim to transform activities like gaming or collaborative work on 3D models into interactive, multi-user experiences.
Spiegel acknowledged that other major tech companies, including Google, Samsung, Apple, and Meta, are also developing smart glasses. He highlighted Snap's advantage as an early mover in creating wearable AR glasses with powerful, immersive capabilities. He attributed this competitive edge to Snap's 12 years of investment in the full technological stack, encompassing developer tools, the operating system, and the optics themselves.
According to Mashable Tech, the interview with Evan Spiegel took place at AWE 2026.
