The nearby Snap representative is thrilled. “You’re the first person who’s tried that one,” he says. I’m also pleasantly surprised. These glasses seem huge, but they stayed on my face just fine.
Snap announced its Specs in June. They cost $2,195 and will start to ship in the coming weeks. It took a few months for Snap to share what actual features would be available on the glasses
WIRED’s Julian Chokkattu and I both tried out Snap’s Specs last week. He got a dedicated demo with the company. I was offered one, too, but instead I happened to stumble upon the Specs First Look demo at the Westfield Century City shopping center in Los Angeles. The space has been here for just a couple of weeks.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon, and a steady stream of people came through the mall’s demo zone. Snap reps handed out Specs to anyone curious enough to register and hang out. Kids were running around, and the glasses looked especially large on their faces. When people left the demo, they got a free cup of ice cream with a small, Specs-shaped chocolate cookie.
The Specs had a dozen or so Lenses available for testing. Aside from the push-ups, the Specs let you finger paint in midair, see navigation directions overlaid on the real world, or engage with the physical environment by drawing on a notepad or analyzing text in a print book. They also have some sporty features, like one that allegedly helps with golf and another through a partnership with the NBA that guides you through shooting hoops.
You may have noticed that the glasses look pretty chunky. That’s true, but I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight they felt and how well they stayed put. (The glasses come in two sizes, so if the small is too tight, try the larger model.) Another surprise was how well the virtual digital elements held up in bright light. I made a point of walking into direct sunlight to test out the screen. With the brightness turned all the way up, the onscreen elements were still visible. The glasses had automatically switched into “sunglasses mode” and dimmed to block the sun. The Snap rep said the lenses protect the eyes from UV rays at all times.