Snap’s fifth-generation Spectacles are coming. Maintaining the oversized design, the new Spectacles make the augmented reality game more exciting, even though these are primarily designed for developers, who are best positioned to understand the capabilities and limitations of AR hardware.

The new version of Spectacles can display visual information and applications directly on their see-through lenses, making objects appear as if they are in the real world, thanks to an interface powered by the company’s new operating system, Snap OS. Spectacles is a different beast than VR headsets. Snap’s offering doesn’t obscure the vision; here images seem to float and exist in three dimensions in the world around you.

The hardware and software have become considerably more powerful than in the version presented in 2021. The AR displays are more immersive and support over two dozen AR experiences, including those from brands like Lego and Niantic.

Snap has deliberately made the glasses appear large, giving it a comical feel. The new frames hold clear lenses that are able to darken when you move outside. The glasses are powered by a pair of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors — one in each temple. Snap’s Spatial Engine is responsible for understanding where you are in space.

The dual-processor setup makes the glasses more efficient and tackles all issues around overheating. The fifth-generation Spectacles comes with a battery life of about 45 minutes, up from 30 minutes with the fourth-gen model.

At a resolution of 37 pixels per degree, the user wouldn’t be able to discern individual pixels. Plus, there is a wider field of view, increasing the window of visible content to 46 degrees or the equivalent of having a 100-inch display in the room with you.

The software has been crafted inside-out, making the user interface controllable with hand gestures and voice commands. You can pull up the main menu in the palm of one hand and there are pinch and tap gestures to launch and interact with lenses.

Lego has a game that allows you to pick up bricks with your hands and build objects while Niantic created an AR version of Peridot, which you can place among your surroundings.

Snap isn’t selling the glasses directly to consumers but requires you to sign up for at least one year of paying $99 per month for a Spectacles Developer Programme account. Snap also announced a partnership with OpenAI that takes advantage of its multimodal capabilities.