Snap’s AI glasses return after years-long hiatus
▼ Summary
– Snap’s AR glasses subsidiary, Specs, has formed a new multi-year partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm.
– The glasses will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR platforms, designed for augmented and virtual reality devices.
– The partnership aims to develop on-device AI, advanced graphics, and multiuser digital experiences for the product.
– Snap spun off Specs into a separate company this year and recently parted ways with its SVP over a reported disagreement.
– The consumer version of Spectacles was last released in 2019, and since 2024 it has been a developer-only product ahead of a planned launch.
After a prolonged absence from the consumer market, Snap is signaling a major push to bring its augmented reality glasses back to the public. The company has forged a new strategic partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm, a move designed to power the upcoming release of its wearable hardware, known as Spectacles, later this year. This collaboration aims to leverage Qualcomm’s specialized technology to create a more powerful and immersive user experience.
Snap’s journey with AR glasses has been a decade-long endeavor, marked by anticipation and internal shifts. The last consumer model launched in 2019, and since 2024, the hardware has been available solely to developers. This developer-focused period allowed Snap to cultivate a software ecosystem it believes will be crucial for mainstream adoption. Earlier this year, the company formalized its commitment by spinning off a dedicated subsidiary for the glasses, though the path hit a bump with the sudden departure of its Specs division lead in February.
The newly announced multi-year agreement with Qualcomm provides a concrete technical foundation for the project’s revival. The next generation of Spectacles will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR platforms, systems-on-a-chip engineered specifically for augmented and virtual reality devices. This partnership will focus on developing advanced capabilities including on-device AI, sophisticated graphics, and shared digital experiences that function without constant cloud connectivity.
In a statement, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel framed the alliance as a critical step forward. He emphasized that the work with Qualcomm establishes a robust platform for Specs, intending to deliver technology that pushes creative and experiential boundaries for both developers and end-users. For Snap, this partnership is more than a component supplier deal, it represents a strategic bet on making wearable AR a tangible, daily reality. The company is banking on the fusion of its software vision with Qualcomm’s processing power to finally translate years of development into a compelling consumer product.
(Source: TechCrunch)
