Snap goes 3D with Spectacles 3, coming this fall

Snap announced the third generation of its smart glasses, Spectacles 3. 

The new Spectacles, which are coming this fall and can be pre-ordered now at Spectacles.com, differ a lot from the second-gen version, which were mostly an incremental upgrade. 

The new Spectacles 3 are equipped with two HD cameras and can record 3D, 60 fps, first-person video. From there, you’ll be able to wirelessly sync those videos (and photos) to your phone, and adorn them with a suite of Snapchat’s 3D effects. 

The photos are taken in a 1,642×1,642 pixel resolution, while the videos are recorded at a 1,216×1,216 pixel resolution. This is significantly lower than the resolution of photos and videos you’d take with a modern phone; for comparison, the iPhone XS’ main camera takes 4,032×3,024 pixel photos.

Other features of note include 4 microphones that should pick up clear audio while recording, as well as a leather case with microfiber interior that doubles as a charger. The Spectacles 3 come with 4GB of storage, which should be enough for up to 100 videos of 1,200 photos, according to Snap. 

Possibly the most dubious feature is the AR viewer. The Spectacles would be pretty cool if you could actually see 3D effects through them in real time, but you can’t. However, Snap will include a cardboard 3D viewer for your phone, which is essentially Google Cardboard for Spectacles videos. Not exactly high-tech, but better than nothing.  

The new Spectacles are also significantly more costly, with a price tag of $380. 

Spectacles 3 are available in one design flavor which I’m quite sure not everyone will fancy, but it’s definitely distinctive. It should also be sturdier than the previous variants, as they’re crafted from a “single sheet of lightweight stainless steel,” according to Snap. You can get them in two colors: Carbon and Mineral. 

The old Spectacles 2 are still available for purchase, with price ranging from $150 to $200, depending on the design.