Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET's key takeaways
Snap unveiled updates to Lens Studio.
Now it is easier to build engaging Lenses (AR experiences).
These Lenses will be available in the Specs coming in 2026.
Snap has been in the smartglasses space for over a decade and is gearing up to finally launch its first pair of consumer AR/AI glasses, Specs, in 2026. Today, the company launched updates that will enable unique experiences across Snapchat, Spectacles, and, eventually, its upcoming smartglasses.
Also: I wore smart glasses with xMEMS speakers and cooling fans - and wished my Ray-Bans had the same
On Thursday, Snap celebrated a decade of Lenses in what the company called Lens Fest 2025. The company made Lenses (the AR experiences found on Snapchat), Spectacles (Snap's developer AR glasses), and Camera Kit (Snap's cross-platform SDK for integrating AR experiences in iOS, Android, and web apps) easier to build, resulting in more engaging and realistic experiences.
You can now build new Lenses
In Lens Studio, which powers Snapchat, Camera Kit, and Specs, developers can now utilize Realistic StyleGen to create scenes with "true-to-life fit, texture, lighting, and perspective," according to the company. Similarly, the company noted that the next iteration of FaceML provides developers with better control over human qualities, including hair, facial geometry, and expression, when creating Lenses.
Other upgrades include classic selfie lenses with improved AR placement, a new editor that makes it easier to create face effects such as makeup and sparkles, and AI clips (coming soon), which enable users to create image-to-video Lenses.
Also: I tested Meta Ray-Ban Display alternatives, and these are better in several ways for less money
Lens Studio AI also makes it easier than ever to build Lenses, allowing users to simply describe what they would like the end product to be and leave the coding and debugging to the AI. Lens Studio AI can also suggest assets and provide step-by-step guides.
A new Blocks framework, available in Lens Studio AI, enables users to build directly on the platform layer using modular, AR-ready components. The Blocks users create can then be kept private or published. For on-the-go building, the Lens Studio updates are available on both mobile and web, as are Blocks and the chat-based creation tool.
The Camera Kit, despite still being free, no longer includes Snap branding by default, which gives developers more flexibility. Snap is also expanding its Lens Creator Rewards with Lens+ Payouts, which allows creators to earn money based on engagement with their Lenses, regardless of whether they are games, AI experiences, effects, or other content.
Specs and Spectacles
All of the Lenses built today will be available on Specs, which are set to launch next year. This suggests that Snap is committed to developing smartglasses that provide entertaining experiences rather than functioning as content creation tools, which is more Meta's approach to AI-powered smartglasses.
Also: These XR glasses gave me a 200-inch screen to work with - and effectively replaced my monitors
One month ago, Snap released Snap OS 2.0, the system currently underlying its Spectacles that will also run on Specs when they release. Some highlights include an overhauled Spectacles Browser with a new minimalist design, a new home screen with widgets and bookmarks, and AR experiences from any WebXR-enabled website.
Want more stories about AI? Sign up for AI Leaderboard, our weekly newsletter.
Building on the Snap OS 2.0 experience, Snap has now launched Travel Mode, which lets users experience AR on the go, and EyeConnect, which allows users to experience co-located Lenses simply by looking at the person next to them. Snap also announced partnerships with Star Wars: Holocron Histories, Synth Riders, and Paramount's Avatar: The Last Airbender on Spectacles.
Other announcements included Snap Cloud, which provides developers with the infrastructure to build Lenses, including instant APIs, secure storage, and more. Additionally, Snap expanded Lens Games in Snapchat through a new Games Chat Drawer and new components for streamlining workflows when creating these gamified experiences.