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ZDNet | Security

Snap’s next smart glasses get a major OS overhaul to rival Meta Ray-Bans

TH Author
Snap Spectacles

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • Snap has made AR smartglasses with in-lens displays for years.
  • Next year, the company will release a lightweight version.
  • Snap has launched Snap OS 2.0, which brings new, helpful features.

Do you remember when, not too long ago, everyone was convinced the metaverse was the next big thing? We are at a similar inflection point with smartglasses, with every company gearing up to release its own AI-smart wearable. Snap is in a unique position, as it has been releasing wearables for years, and it is now gearing up to compete with the Metas of the world.

Also: Meta wears Prada? Why its next-gen AR glasses might out-style the Ray-Bans

On Wednesday, Snap unveiled Snap OS 2.0, the operating system underlying its Spectacles, its AR glasses only available to developers. The new operating system unlocks helpful experiences that make activities like browsing the internet, consuming, and sharing content easier. The best part? The public will be able to experience Snap OS 2.0, its new lightweight smartglasses, soon.

Snap OS 2.0

The operating system underlying smartglasses is nearly as important as the hardware, as it ensures users can get the most out of their smartglasses experience. With Snap OS 2.0, the company is improving how users experience the AR layer, starting with a revamped browsing experience.

The Spectacles Browser was overhauled with a new minimalist design, faster loading speed, and optimized power usage for a more intuitive and simple browsing experience. It also features a new home screen with widgets and bookmarks, an updated toolbar that lets users type or speak a website URL, and a new option that lets users resize their window to a preferred aspect ratio, like on a laptop. It also includes WebXR support so users can access AR experiences from any WebXR-enabled website.

Also: 5 Meta Ray-Ban upgrades that have me truly hyped for September 17

The new Spotlight Lens allows users to overlay all of their favorite content onto their glasses, including vertical video and comments. Users can anchor the content via Spotlight in one place or have it follow them around, depending on what is more convenient for the activity they are partaking in.

Lastly, if you are interested in sharing content, Snap unveiled a new Gallery Lens that makes it easier to replay your Spectacles’ content captures. Users can play them in a new interactive layout in which they can scroll through a curving carousel, zoom in for more detail, and upload them straight to their Snapchat Story. A new Travel Mode allows users to take the experiences everywhere they are, even on the move.

Also: I tried smart glasses with a built-in display, and they beat my Meta Ray-Bans in key ways

Of course, the new Lenses above are only some of the ones offered on the Spectacles, as hundreds of developers have been creating their own Lenses for Spectacles. Snap also has other fun ones to try, such as Finger Paint, Chess, and Imagine Together.

Why should you care?

While the fifth generation of Spectacles, released in 2024, was only available to developers, Snap will publicly launch Specs in 2026. Specs are meant to be a lighter take on their Spectacles, powered by Snapdragon.

I had the opportunity to try the fifth-generation version myself, and I was very impressed with the realistic AR experience, vivid colors in the displays, and how well they were anchored in the three-dimensional world around me. My biggest issue was how heavy the glasses were. The new form factor will allow them to better compete with the growing number of AI-smartglasses on the market, including the Meta Ray-Bans, which have seen lots of interest from consumers. To best compete, the glasses will also have to offer competitive experiences, which is why the Snap OS 2.0 upgrades matter.

Also: These ultra-thin AI glasses make the Meta Ray-Bans look outdated (with 3X the battery)

Meta is slated to release new glasses itself at Meta Connect next week. The rumors include a new collaboration with Prada, and even smartglasses with in-lens displays — a take on AI smartglasses the company has yet to explore.

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