Snap Launches Spectacles 2.0 for Snapchat Addicts

In 2016, Snap Inc. launched Spectacles. These Spectacles from Snap, formerly known as Snapchat, were sunglasses capable of shooting video. Snap hoped Spectacles would take off in a big way, but in the end the company only sold 150,000 pairs.

However, undeterred, Snap Inc. has launched Spectacles 2.0. This new and improved version of Spectacles has a better design, better specs (excuse the pun), and some new features to boot. Unfortunately, Snap has increased the asking price accordingly.

Snap Spectacles Version 2.0

Snap’s new Spectacles are smaller, slimmer, and slightly more aesthetically pleasing. However, they still look like cheap sunglasses, even in Ruby, Onyx, and Sapphire. Unfortunately, they’re not cheap, as Snap has upped the price from $129 to $150.

Addressing one of the biggest complaints about the originals, the new Spectacles feature improved transfer speeds for uploading your photos and videos. That’s right, Spectacles 2.0 can now take photos as well as shoot videos. And both are in high-definition.

Snap Inc. has also made the new and improved Spectacles water-resistant, meaning they can stand trips into swimming pools and the sea. Spectacles 2.0 also feature a second microphone to help pick up conversations between the wearer and those in the shot.

The new Spectacles are available exclusively from Spectacles.com. They’re currently available to customers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., with other parts of Europe having to wait until May 3rd to get their hands on them. So please form an orderly queue.

Are They Still Just a Novelty?

Snap’s Spectacles 2.0 are clearly an improvement over the original. However, they still look like a novelty you would only wear occasionally. They’re also more expensive, and don’t offer anything mind blowing over the original. So it’s difficult to see them selling well.

If this is the first you’re hearing about Snap’s hardware—which is entirely possible given the lack of sales—then be sure to check out our overview of the original Spectacles. And if you can pick some up cheap they may even be worth owning.