Snap's latest AR glasses got a makeover with a fresh design, a bigger field of view, and new software that supports full hand-tracking abilities. They now automatically adjust their tint based on the lighting around you, making sure your visuals stay crisp whether you’re indoors or out in the blazing sun. The real showstopper is the upgrade to the field of view. Snap says they’ve nearly tripled it compared to the last generation, giving you a 46-degree window with a 37-pixels per degree resolution. To put it in perspective, Snap claims it’s like having a 100-inch display right in front of you!
The lenses are packed with Snap’s waveguide tech, paired with “Liquid Crystal on Silicon micro-projectors” to power the AR abilities. Each pair gets cameras, microphones, and speakers, while tucked inside the arms is a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. According to Snap, the dual processor setup makes these glasses run smoother and keeps them from overheating. As for battery life, you’ll get around 45 minutes of usage with the fifth-gen Spectacles, as per the brand.
However, there’s a plot twist, Snap is following the same strategy as they did with the 2021 Spectacles, offering the fifth-gen Spectacles exclusively to developers who are willing to commit to a $99/month (around ₹8,000) subscription for a full year. So, if you're looking to get your hands on these, you’ll need to be all in!
Another major upgrade with the latest Spectacles is full hand-tracking functionality. Snap overhauled the software, now called Snap OS, to make the entire user interface controllable through hand gestures and voice commands. This means you can bring up the main menu right in the palm of your hand, just tap the icons to do things like close an app or navigate back to the Lens Explorer carousel. Very close to what Apple Vision Pro does.
The hardware and software are clearly more powerful this time around. The AR display already supports over two dozen experiences, including some heavy hitters like Lego and Niantic. Plus, Snap revealed that Star Wars developer Industrial Light & Magic is working on a lens, so there’s some exciting content on the horizon!