Snap is accepting pre-orders for the latest version of its augmented reality (AR) smart glasses.
Spectacles 3 boasts dual HD cameras on either side of a lightweight steel frame that are designed to capture the world in 3D and power new AR tools to enhance a wearer’s Snaps.
The Snapchat company said a suite of new 3D effects will be available to enhance captured moments “with a swipe”.
The included 3D viewer will also enable a wearer to immerse themselves in one of their own moments or enjoy someone else’s perspective.
Spectacles 3 will ship later this year. The smart glasses are available to pre-order now.
‘Driven by influencer-friendly exclusivity’
The smart glasses are priced at $380 and represent Snap’s third attempt to crack a consumer market that is yet to take off.
Snap is reportedly planning to raise more than $1 billion to fund further investments in AR, content and possible acquisitions.
Commenting on the announcement of Spectacles 3, JC Kuang, an analyst at Greenlight Insights, said: “While Snap Spectacles 3 represents a compelling refinement of a practical AR device, Snapchat’s core audience dictates that market strategy behind the device is necessarily driven by influencer-friendly exclusivity.”
“This distinguishes the company significantly from other entrants in the consumer AR hardware space, like Nreal Light and Facebook Portal, who emphasise accessibility and the rapid creation of a large user base. By contrast, Snapchat harnesses the size of its existing active user base on mobile devices to more effectively enhance the value proposition of its Spectacles platform.”
Watch a promo video for Spectacles 3 below:
Image credit: Snap
