Snap Confirms 2026 Public Launch for Immersive Specs

• Snap’s all-new Specs will be lightweight glasses with see-through Lenses, enabling immersive digital experiences through AI and machine learning.
• The company also unveiled developer tools, including Snap OS updates and APIs for 3D content, speech recognition, and location-based AR.

Snap Inc. announced it will publicly launch its new Specs in 2026, introducing a lightweight wearable computer with transparent Lenses that blend physical and digital experiences. The announcement came at Augmented World Expo 2025, where Snap positioned Specs as a powerful tool for AI-driven spatial computing and shared AR interactions.

“We believe the time is right for a revolution in computing that naturally integrates our digital experiences with the physical world, and we can’t wait to publicly launch our new Specs next year,” said Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc, in a news release. “We couldn’t be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences. We believe Specs are the most advanced personal computer in the world, and we can’t wait for you to see for yourself.”

Snap OS now supports deep integrations with OpenAI and Gemini on Google Cloud, allowing developers to build multimodal Lenses for Specs. They also introduced a range of new Snap OS tools for developers, including a Depth Module API for anchoring AR in 3D space, a Snap3D API for live object generation, and an Automated Speech Recognition API with multilingual support. Developers can also use Guided Mode and Fleet Management to optimize Specs for events and public venues.

Experiences like Super Travel by Gowaaa and Wisp World by Liquid City highlight what creators are already building. Snap says upcoming features include support for Niantic’s Visual Positioning System and WebXR, expanding spatial mapping, and browser-based AR development on Specs.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Snap has come a long way with Spectacles, now Specs, since its initial vending machine debut in 2016. Its 2026 milestone represents a significant achievement for its AR glasses, built on years of advancements Snap has made in its wearable product. A focus on location, AI, and the browser is a smart strategy to expand use cases and grow the content catalog for this device.

Disclosure: Tom Emrich has previously worked with or holds interests in companies mentioned. His commentary is based solely on public information and reflects his personal views.

Source: Snap Newsroom