Snapchat maker Snap says it has launched pre-orders for augmented reality (AR) glasses called Specs, entering a field that is attracting some of the world's biggest technology companies.
The glasses are set to go on sale in the third quarter in the US, the United Kingdom and France, priced at $2,195 in the US and €2,295 in France, the company announced on Tuesday.
The somewhat bulky-looking glasses can display information such as route directions and a mini-map in the wearer's field of vision.
When looking at a car engine, for example, they can highlight on request where coolant should be added, Snap says. The data is displayed as holograms in part of the wearer's field of view and can be controlled using finger movements detected by the glasses' camera.
The battery is said to last up to four hours and can be recharged in the glasses case for a total of 20 hours of use. The device comes in two sizes, with the lighter model weighing 132 g.
Google has also unveiled prototypes of similar glasses, which are expected to come to market in the coming months.
Apple has long been working on AR devices, according to media reports. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been selling a glasses model with a small display in front of one eye since last year.
