Snap has unveiled its newest smart glasses, the Specs, priced at an eye-watering £1,995 in the UK. These augmented reality (AR) devices promise to overlay digital elements onto the real world but may struggle to gain mainstream appeal due to their steep price point.

The glasses are set to launch later this autumn and will be available in the US, UK and France. Despite being cheaper than Apple’s Vision Pro, they remain a significant investment for consumers. The battery life of four hours is also a drawback, requiring users to recharge every day after a few hours of use.

Ben Hatton from FDM CCS Insight suggests that such high prices could limit the glasses’ adoption: ‘The technology is unlikely to become a mainstream device any time soon.’ Younger consumers, Snapchat’s target demographic, might be hesitant to spend this much on a single gadget.

While Specs offer features like an AI assistant, video watching and AR gaming, their limited battery life and bulky design could make them less appealing than smartphones for everyday use. Privacy concerns also remain, with critics warning that such devices could be misused if not properly regulated.