I tried out Snap Specs, the social platform's chunky AR smart glasses — and they delivered in more ways than I expected

Snap Inc. has unveiled its latest iteration of AR glasses, dubbed Snap Specs, marking a significant leap from the original Spectacles released in 2016. These new glasses, part of the sixth generation, are designed for consumers rather than enterprises, promising a blend of comfort and functionality. Sporting chunky black frames made of Swiss TR90 polymer, the glasses weigh between 132 and 136 grams for the 47mm and 52mm models respectively, which is notably heavier than Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Despite their weight, the glasses are surprisingly comfortable due to the strategic weight distribution. The 51-degree field of view (FoV) provides a spacious viewing area, equivalent to a 24-inch desktop monitor. The glasses project a digital screen with liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) lenses, offering high-resolution, vibrant images.

The user interface is clean and intuitive, with a new onboard AI assistant, Specs Intelligence, capable of providing contextually relevant information through voice commands. The specifications were tried out at Snap Inc.'s headquarters in Santa Monica, California. The glasses support various third-party apps like Spotify and Google Docs, and a translation tool that translates languages in real-time.

Priced at $2,195 (around £1,640 / AU$3,090) with a $200 deposit, Snap Specs are set to launch in the fall, with a pop-up event in Los Angeles starting October 1 for early access.