I wore Snap’s new Specs AR glasses, and they have the ‘wow’ factor

I tried on Snap's new Specs AR glasses, which boast a "wow" factor, during the last day of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit in Maui, Hawaii. The $2,195 (around Rs 2,10,394) glasses have some substantial features, but their price tag and bulky design raise questions about their potential to become part of my daily life or replace my smartphone.

Snap claims Specs isn't just another gadget, but a potential smartphone replacement, which is a bold statement in the tech industry. Specs is a standalone AR glasses aimed at consumers, not developers, and are already available for pre-order, making them a real product rather than a prototype device. During my 30-odd minutes with Specs, I felt these glasses were the closest to real spatial computing I had seen, but they still have room for improvement.

Comfortable to wear, but chunky

I typically wear prescription glasses, switching between Meta Ray-Bans and regular glasses, and I'm accustomed to thick frames due to my prescription. Specs looked normal to me, but if you're used to sleek glasses or aviators, they can feel a bit chunky. Nonetheless, Specs feature chunky frames that house the processor, cameras, sensors, speakers, and display technology.

Compared to Meta Ray-Bans, Specs can feel huge due to its thick temples. However, once you wear them, they don't appear as chunky as they initially seem. The glasses are heavier but have a balanced weight distribution, making them comfortable to wear for extended periods. The glasses come in two sizes: narrow at 47mm and wide at 52mm, weighing just 136 grams in total.

Could Specs be less chunky and lighter? Absolutely. While it's not a perfect fit for everyone, if you prefer oversized, chunky designer glasses like Louis Vuitton or Gucci, Specs comes pretty close. Nevertheless, there's a lot packed inside these glasses, such as the processor, battery, communication hardware, speakers, and waveguide display technology, which may be a reason for their bulk.

Blending digital content and the physical world

Specs is a fully standalone spatial computer with zero cables and no pocket puck, which is impressive from a design perspective. However, the bulk may deter some users. The glasses blend digital content with the physical world, creating a large virtual screen without isolating users from their surroundings. This implementation of augmented reality is the best I've experienced, closely resembling real life.

The 51-degree field of view is tall, like portrait videos, but not wide, providing a virtual screen right in front of you. While it may not match the Vision Pro's more immersive 100-degree FOV, Specs' field of view is impressive for its size. Keep in mind that the field of view is wider than what can be displayed through the glasses, which may disappoint users with high expectations.