Snap extends Qualcomm partnership for next AR glasses

Snap Inc. has announced a continued partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm for its upcoming consumer augmented reality glasses, confirming that the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR platform.

The agreement, described as a “multi-year strategic collaboration,” will see both companies work together on developing next-generation AR features, including on-device artificial intelligence (AI), advanced graphics capabilities and multi-user digital experiences.

Snap has been developing smart glasses for nearly a decade, beginning with its first Spectacles camera glasses in 2016.

While earlier versions focused on capturing photos and video, recent iterations have incorporated augmented reality features that overlay digital content onto the real world.

However, most AR-capable models have so far been limited to developers rather than general consumers.

The companies noted that Snapdragon chips have already powered several previous generations of Spectacles, making the partnership a continuation of an established technical relationship.

Snap said the upcoming consumer version of its Specs platform is expected to launch later this year, though earlier statements have also pointed to a broader rollout timeline extending into 2026.

The move comes as competition intensifies in the AR wearables market. Companies including Meta, Google, Samsung and Apple are all developing or preparing their own smart glasses, signaling a rapidly growing race to define the future of augmented reality devices.