Known for its Snapchat messaging app, Snap continues to bet on augmented reality. At its annual conference in Santa Monica (California) on Tuesday, the American group unveiled a new pair of glasses based on this technology capable of superimposing images and digital effects on the real environment surrounding the user. This 5th generation of Spectacles, that’s still their name, is distinguished by a new design that is less angular than the previous model, but its format remains just as massive.
Now equipped with its own operating system, called Snap OS, the Spectacles 5 are controlled with the user’s hands and voice. They have four cameras on the front, as well as four liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) micro-projectors to display elements on the real world. They offer a 46° field of vision, almost twice as wide as the old model, and are suitable for outdoor use.
For now, this model is intended to be a development kit. The Spectacles glasses are not marketed to the general public. They are offered to developers who create augmented reality features at a price of $99 per month, with a one-year commitment, for a total of $1,188.
The presentation comes as EssilorLuxottica, the world leader in optics and owner of the Ray-Ban brand, announced on Tuesday that it is continuing its collaboration with the American giant Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) through “a new long-term agreement.” This aims to develop “multiple generations of smart glasses.” Moreover, Meta, whose Ray-Ban Meta models are currently only capable of capturing photos or videos, is expected to unveil its first augmented reality glasses at its Connect conference dedicated to developers next week.
