Bring Back Snapchat Spectacles
Snapchat Spectacles, the original smart glasses, are now being replaced by a cooler, older cousin.
Recording video through glasses provided a new type of POV content that was popularized by the Snapchat Spectacles. On social media platforms, we, again, are seeing this type of POV content from a different device: The Meta AI Glasses. The glasses provided a new look to the same concept, and they exploded in popularity. Now, a new competitor enters the arena.
Rumors have spread like wildfire across the internet, that a new smart glasses device is about to be launched by one of the biggest tech companies in the world. You guessed it! Apple is rumored to be coming out with their own smart glasses.
The development from the Snapchat Spectacles to the Meta AI Glasses provided lots of new tools for users to interact with. For example, the Meta AI Glasses not only record video, but also integrate speech recognition, allowing you to take calls and send texts. Similar to Siri, these glasses let you look anything up by saying “Hey Meta,” providing access to information at your fingertips through the embedded microphones and speakers. With the rumored release of Apple’s smart glasses, the question remains: what developments will we see? How will Apple one-up the Meta Glasses?
Source: Apple Insider
These Apple glasses are rumored to be very different from the Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s VR glasses, in that their primary focus will be high-quality recording. It is speculated that the glasses will focus mainly on gesture controls. Siri would most likely be integrated into the glasses as well. Even rumors about the design provide a heavy comparison to the Meta Glasses. Despite all of this information, there is not yet a release date or estimated price.
Companies are eager to dive into the market of smart glasses. As the market grows, the desperation to produce a rival product becomes deeper. However, it is still uncertain how different this product will actually be. It has been almost a year since the original Meta Glasses were released, providing time for rival companies to explore this product. It is only logical to assume improvements will be made with the release of the Apple smart glasses. But how much better will these glasses be?
If the current information is any indication, they might not be.
According to their Snapchat Spectacles website, they are releasing a new version of the Spectacles powered by Snap OS 2.0 to debut in 2026. The Snap Inc. Newsroom shares some of these developments, which include:
Updated browser with WebXR support
Video spotlights reimagined
Snapping & sharing upgrades
New gaming lenses available.
Snapchat is working to catch up to the rising popularity of these other AI glasses. However, they haven’t strayed from their original purpose: to provide a new way to interact with the Snapchat app. Because of this, the Spectacles have features that the other glasses lack. Not only can you record video, but you can also post, watch, and play. The design is more immersive because of these features and, arguably, more fun. Snapchat has incorporated a kind of playfulness we don’t see in others, making the Spectacles similar to a portable VR headset. In this new design, Snap Inc. is focused on making the glasses more suitable for travel. Adding stabilizing features for seamless use when traveling, the content will now stay anchored in rocky situations.
Amongst the popularity of the Meta AI Glasses and the rumored Apple smart glasses, let’s not forget the roots of these unique devices: Snapchat Spectacles. They provide the tools of smart glasses, while carrying that nostalgia of a simpler time, when all you had to worry about was your Snapchat streak. The Spectacles allow you to carry that youthful whimsy with you wherever you travel, capturing photos, watching videos, and playing games all from a pair of glasses. So next time you see a video from the Meta Glasses or a rumor about the Apple glasses, just remember: Snapchat did it first.
What do you think of the rumored Apple smart glasses? Leave a comment below!