Snapchat boss defends new ‘Specs’ AR glasses as stock drops

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Even though Snapchat’s stock price has fallen, CEO Evan Spiegel is still standing by the company’s augmented reality glasses, called ‘Specs’.

Smart glasses have been a long-time focus for tech companies, with many ambitious promises. Google Glass was an early effort, and Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses represent a more recent and successful attempt.

The Meta glasses aren’t suitable for all users and have raised privacy and security issues for both those who own them and those who don’t. There’s also been concern about misuse, with similar smart glasses being used by students to cheat on tests.

Snapchat has entered the augmented reality market with its ‘Specs’ glasses. While they offer similar features to the Meta Ray-Bans, they haven’t been very well-received.

Snapchat stock drops after Specs reveal

Snapchat’s stock price dropped 9% on June 16th, closing at $5.16. Over the past year, the stock has fallen by nearly 40%.

People on social media have been criticizing the glasses’ design, with many describing them as unattractive or silly.

One user playfully stated they’d purchase the item simply for the attention it would bring. Another commented that the design around the ears appeared comical and detracted from the product’s seriousness.

Snapchat is releasing new augmented reality glasses this fall, and they’ll cost $2,195. These glasses aren’t just for fun – they’re built to help you be more productive, enjoy streaming and gaming, and handle everyday tasks.

— Nathie @ AWE (@NathieVR) June 16, 2026

Snap Inc CEO defends Specs glasses

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel explained that the company’s Spectacles represented “the start of a new phase in how we use computers,” and highlighted their potential for the future.

We focused on creating a comfortable user experience with these glasses from the start, instead of simply adding cameras and microphones to pre-existing sunglass designs.

According to Spiegel, Secure Production Enclaves (SPECS) are effective only when users have faith in them, and privacy needs to be a core component from the start.

When the glasses start shipping this fall, they’ll be priced at $2,195 in the US and £1,995 in the UK. They will also be available in France.

To reserve a pair, you will have to put down a $200 refundable deposit, too. 

Snapchat isn’t new to this kind of product. They first tried something similar in 2016 with Spectacles – sunglasses that could record short, 10-second videos.

So, I heard Snapchat took a pretty big hit – they lost around $40 million on their first try with the Spectacles. Luckily, they learned from it and came back with updated versions in 2018 and 2019 that had way better cameras. It’s cool to see them improve!

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2026-06-17 16:20