Snap’s next-generation AR Spectacles have officially expanded beyond the U.S., now available to developers in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, and The Netherlands. Priced at €110/month in Europe, the Spectacles are offered through a subscription model with a minimum 12-month term, after which developers must return the glasses if they choose to end their subscription. This subscription, similar to the $99/month rate in the U.S., gives developers access to Snap’s latest AR technology without requiring a significant upfront investment.
Advanced AR Features in a Standalone Device
These AR Spectacles are standalone, wireless, and feature a field of view (FOV) of 46 degrees—comparable to devices like Xreal glasses and just below Hololens 2. With a resolution of 36 pixels per degree (PPD), similar to Apple Vision Pro, these glasses bring an impressive AR experience to a compact form. While the onboard battery life is just 45 minutes, a USB-C port enables continuous power, allowing developers to test and demonstrate AR applications extensively.
A New AR Operating System and Intuitive Controls
Spectacles run on Snap OS, a custom operating system built specifically for AR. With hand tracking as a core feature, the main menu can be anchored to one hand and navigated with the other, while on-device speech recognition enables text input. Developers create “Lenses” (Snap’s term for apps) using Lens Studio 5.0, with Spectacles Interaction Kit facilitating basic Lens development and more advanced options available through TypeScript and JavaScript.
To further enhance interactivity, Snap’s Spectacles support the use of smartphones as 6DoF controllers. In addition, Spectator Mode lets nearby users see the AR environment on their own screens, opening up new ways for developers to share immersive experiences.
Empowering Developers with SnapML and Expanded Tools
Through SnapML, developers can incorporate machine learning into their Lenses to track, identify, and augment real-world objects. This flexibility allows developers to experiment with custom models and create highly interactive AR content.
Though still an early-stage development kit, Snap’s AR Spectacles offer developers in Europe an exciting opportunity to experiment with and shape the future of AR experiences. By expanding internationally, Snap continues to strengthen its commitment to advancing augmented reality and supporting developer innovation worldwide.
