Snap is sticking with Qualcomm for its next AR glasses

Snap’s upcoming consumer AR glasses are still set to launch sometime this year, and they’ll be powered by a Snapdragon XR chip from Qualcomm, according to an announcement of a “multi-year strategic agreement” between the companies.

Snap has been working on smart glasses for a decade, with the first model of its camera-equipped Spectacles glasses launching in 2016. But the past couple generations, which have been AR glasses capable of layering digital experiences over the real world, haven’t been available to general consumers. The consumer Specs won’t be the first time Qualcomm and Snap have worked together, as Snapdragon chips have powered “multiple previous generations” of Spectacles, the announcement says.

“Through long-term strategic roadmap alignment and technical collaboration, both companies will work together to rapidly bring industry-leading capabilities to the Specs platform, including on-device AI, cutting-edge graphics, and advanced multiuser digital experiences,” the companies say in a joint statement.

Earlier this year, Snap turned its smart glasses team into its own company, and at that time, it reiterated the 2026 launch for consumer Specs. Meta is also working on AR glasses and could sell them to consumers in 2027. Google and Samsung are also teaming up on AR glasses, and Apple is reportedly developing AR glasses as well.