Snap aims for 2026 launch of standalone AR glasses

• Snap aims to launch standalone AR glasses in 2026.
• Will run independently of phone or extra hardware.

Snap is planning to release fully standalone AR glasses by 2026. The device, called Specs, is being built as a lightweight pair of transparent glasses with all computing packed inside – no phone, wires, nor extra hardware needed.

CEO Evan Spiegel spoke about the device at Augmented World Expo 2025, calling it a “wearable computer” and confirming that Snap has spent $3 billion on development so far. The company hasn’t yet shared a product image or any specific specs.

Between 2016 and 2019, Snap sold three versions of camera glasses under the Spectacles name. These weren’t AR devices, but they paved the way for what came next: two AR development kits also called Spectacles, released in recent years.

The first version, released in 2021 to selected developers, had a narrow 26-degree field of view, lasted about 30 minutes on a charge, and weighed 134 grams. The second version, launched in 2023 as a $100-per-month rental, improved the field of view to 46 degrees and bumped battery life to 45 minutes. But they also got heavier – 226 grams – and more bulky, pushing the limits of what most people would describe as glasses.

Both kits ran on Snap OS, a custom operating system made for AR, and used hand tracking hardware. Apps were called Lenses and built using Snap’s Lens Studio tools for Windows and macOS.

The upcoming Specs will continue to use Lenses but in a smaller and lighter frame. Spiegel claims it will have “a ton more capability” while being “a fraction of the weight.” No other technical details are available, and Snap hasn’t provided a timeline beyond saying it aims for a release in 2026.

If Snap hits its target, it may beat others to market with standalone AR glasses. Meta’s first AR glasses are expected in 2027, and Apple’s version may not arrive until at least 2028, according to reports. Meta’s current Ray-Ban glasses support voice and camera features, but rely on cloud processing and offer only limited battery life.

For hardware under the hood, Qualcomm has announced a new chip for smart glasses called AR1 Gen 1 Plus. The silicon is meant for devices like Meta’s Ray-Bans and could bring better power use, improved cameras, and offline AI.

AR1 Gen 1 Plus is about 20% smaller than previous iterations and uses 5% less power. That might not sound like much, but it gives designers more room for battery and thinner frames. Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm’s head of XR, told CNET that the smaller size helps make smart glasses feel more like regular glasses.

“If I’ve got to make it fit on the side of the glass,” Asghar said, “I need to get that dimension really small.”

One key feature of the new chip is on-device AI. Instead of sending data to the cloud for AI inference, devices could run small language models locally. That could mean more voice features work offline – useful for things like fitness tracking and media playback.

Meta’s Ray-Bans can already take photos or respond to basic voice commands, even when not connected. But future models may do more without needing a phone or cloud connectivity. Asghar said the ability to work offline “will open up quite a lot of scenarios.”

Snap’s push to build a fully standalone device stands out. Meta’s upcoming AR glasses are still expected to use a wireless compute puck, and Apple may use the iPhone to handle processing for its glasses.

Trying to pack everything needed for true AR into a regular-looking pair of glasses is a tall order. Current hardware development kits weigh more than many would find comfortable for daily use, and battery life remains limited. Snap says Specs will be smaller and lighter, but it hasn’t shown any evidence to support its claims.

Snap’s 2026 goal is ambitious. It will need to solve several hardware problems at once: weight, power use, heat, and how to fit cameras, displays, sensors, and processors into a tiny frame. It’s also unclear how long the final device might last on a single charge – or how much it will cost.

For now, Snap is betting that it can pull ahead of rivals by being the first to ‘cut the cord’ by going fully standalone. Whether its approach pays off will depend on how well the final product works – and how many people want to wear them.