Snap’s Specs are lighter and more comfortable, but still costly

At CES in Las Vegas earlier this year, the prototype weighed about 8 ounces, felt uncomfortable and became hot enough to leave the reviewer’s face tingling. By late October, when the reviewer met Snap’s team in downtown San Francisco, the glasses had been publicly introduced and pre-orders were underway. The newer version weighs 132 grams, or about 4.6 ounces, and did not heat up during the demo.

Specs now come in 47mm and 52mm sizes to fit different head sizes. Spring hinges also make the frames more flexible. The changes improve the physical experience, but the device’s purpose is still unsettled. Asked whether Specs was aimed at entertainment or productivity, Snap staff gave a vague answer, the reviewer said.

The reviewer saw more immediate appeal in watching shows or movies while travelling, reading on a train or plane, and taking videos to share with friends. Specs integrates with HBO Max and YouTube, and its camera can produce GoPro-like clips. The reviewer said the immersive display made reading feel more focused, though newspaper or Kindle integrations would be needed to support those uses.

Work and gaming seemed less convincing. Snap says Specs can turn almost any location into a flexible workspace, but the reviewer questioned why people would wear the glasses and gesture to control them instead of using a computer. At nearly $2,200, the headset also costs more than twice as much as most Xbox consoles, limiting its likely appeal as a gaming device. The reviewer praised its spatial syncing, which lets two users see the same thing, but said the current offering may not justify the price. Further development could give the device more useful applications.