Snapchat Spectacles provide a glimpse into the future of AR glasses

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In 2014, the internet was at your fingertips—smartphones enabled seamless chatting on WhatsApp, watching YouTube videos, and receiving constant notifications. But what comes after thinner, faster, and longer-lasting smartphones? The answer: augmented reality (AR) glasses.

For years, companies have attempted to replace smartphones with smartwatches or at least reduce our reliance on screens. But some have set their sights on a far more ambitious goal—wearable AR devices that enhance daily experiences without requiring users to hold anything. Google Glass was an early attempt, and while it didn’t take off, other companies like Magic Leap, HoloLens, and Rokid continue to push forward.

Among them, Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has been developing AR glasses for a decade. At the second annual India AR Day in Mumbai earlier this month, the company showcased its fifth-generation Spectacles, marking a significant step forward in AR innovation. With over 200 million Snapchat users in India engaging with AR lenses 80 billion times a month, the country has become a crucial market for Snap’s AR ambitions.

Snap’s Head of AR Partnerships, Srivatsan Jayashankar, revealed that while India is the second-largest market for AR developers, globally, the company has a staggering 375,000 developers who have created over 4 million AR Lenses. But are the new Spectacles ready for mass adoption? Unlike previous iterations, which primarily functioned as stylish cameras, the latest Spectacles represent a bold leap into true AR. They overlay digital elements onto the real world through see-through lenses, powered by Snap’s proprietary operating system, Snap OS.