Six months ago, Snap, the brand behind the popular social media platform Snapchat, unveiled its fifth-generation Spectacles AR glasses. Now, they’re rolling out a suite of new features designed to enhance geo-located augmented reality experiences.
Since their debut in September 2024, these Spectacles have remained a tool primarily for developers. They might only offer 45 minutes of battery life when used solo, but Snap is among the rare few that are actively engaging developers to create the type of durable content we’re likely to see when all-day consumer AR glasses become a reality.
While we aren’t living in that future just yet, Snap recently revealed that developers now have the ability to build Lenses—essentially apps—that utilize data from GPS, the Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS), compass direction, and specific locations. This leap essentially hands developers the power to harness geo-location data, paving the way for richer outdoor AR experiences.
As a showcase of how this integration works, Snap introduced a few sample Lenses. One of them is NavigatAR by Utopia Labs, which helps users navigate using Snap Map Tiles. There’s also Path Pioneer, which allows users to design AR walking courses.
Additionally, leveraging geo-location data enabled Niantic to add a multiplayer component to its AR pet simulator, Peridot Beyond, which is exclusive to Spectacles. The latest update connects the Spectacles with the mobile version of Peridot, meaning progress in the glasses’ AR environment seamlessly carries over to your phone.
In a similar vein, Snap collaborated with Wabisabi to incorporate its SnapML machine learning model into Doggo Quest, an AR app that turns walking your dog into a game. This app now layers digital effects on your furry friend and tracks metrics like routes and steps.
The latest update includes several platform upgrades, such as the introduction of leaderboards, an AR keyboard for hand-tracked text input, and improved functionality for opening Lens links straight from messaging threads. It’s also added three new hand-tracking features: a phone detector that recognizes when a user is holding a phone, a grabbing gesture, and enhancements to targeting intent, reducing mistaken inputs while you’re typing.
Come April 1st, Snap is launching a ‘Spectacles Community Challenges.’ This initiative gives teams a shot at winning cash rewards by submitting either fresh or updated Lenses. These will be judged on aspects like how engaging they are, their technical prowess, and overall quality. Snap plans to award upwards of $20,000 monthly, distributed among winners in categories for top fresh, updated, and open-source Lenses.
This push follows Snap’s recent efforts to make Spectacles more accessible beyond just developers. Just this past January, Snap revealed plans to make this fifth-generation device more affordable for students and teachers, introducing a price of $594 for a year of subscription-free access, with an option to continue at $49.50 per month.
Though Spectacles still primarily target developers, these latest updates point towards Snap’s broader vision of mainstream AR adoption. They’ll be going head-to-head with giants like Meta, Apple, and Google. Enhancing geo-located AR experiences will be crucial in transforming AR glasses from a novelty into an everyday necessity.
