Snap Specs hands-on: lighter and cooler, but still $2,200

A device without a clear purpose

The hardware has improved more than the concept. Snap calls Specs a "new kind of computer," yet when asked whether it is meant for fun and games or for productivity, company staff gave a vague answer. The glasses try to do many things at once and end up feeling rudderless.

Some uses look promising: watching video through the HBO Max and YouTube integrations while commuting, reading in an immersive view that helped with focus, and shooting photos and short videos to share with friends, much like Meta's smart glasses.

Others are harder to believe. Snap pitches Specs as a way to turn almost any location into a workspace, but strapping on glasses is less convenient than using a laptop, and the stigma of large glasses and hand gestures may deter workers. As a gaming device, the price is a barrier: most Xboxes cost less than half as much.

What comes next

The standout technology is spatial syncing, which lets two users see the same thing at the same time. With further development it could support more interesting applications.

Snap can keep iterating, and the product may grow into many things over time. For now, what Specs offers may not be enough to persuade buyers to pay the asking price.