AR display glasses (with cameras)
Snap Spectacles (5th generation) and Specs
Snap's see-through AR glasses. The 5th-generation Spectacles shipped to developers in 2024; the consumer model, Specs, was announced in 2026. Both are camera-equipped, display-first devices.
What the manufacturer says
Each row is labelled. Known fact means we read it on the linked page; inference means we concluded it from sourced facts; unknown means we could not source it.
| Property | Value | Basis | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Known fact | Snap states the 5th-generation Spectacles are equipped with four cameras that power hand tracking and spatial features. Source |
| Microphone | Yes | Known fact | Snap's developer documentation describes microphone input with echo cancellation and rejection of speech that does not come from the wearer. Snap's Specs page lists six microphones for the consumer model. Source |
| Capture light | Unknown | Unknown | Snap states that Specs (2026) have an LED indicator that lights up when recording is taking place. We have not confirmed the equivalent behaviour for the 5th-generation developer Spectacles on a Snap page, so we list it as unknown for that model rather than assume it. Source |
| Bluetooth | Unknown | Unknown | Snap's Specs announcement mentions Bluetooth notifications, which implies a Bluetooth radio, but we have not found a Snap page that states what the glasses advertise or whether Bluetooth Low Energy advertising is used while worn. Snap has Bluetooth SIG identifiers registered (below). Source |
Registered Bluetooth identifiers we are researching
These identifiers are registered with the Bluetooth SIG by the companies named. Registration establishes ownership of the identifier, not which products broadcast it or when. We list them because they are the starting point for testing, not because they prove anything about detectability.
| Identifier | Kind | Registered to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
0x03C2 | Company identifier | Snapchat Inc (SIG) | Company-level identifier; product usage unverified. |
0xFE45 | 16-bit service UUID | Snapchat Inc (SIG) | 16-bit member service UUID; product usage unverified. |
Test record
- Testing status
- Not yet independently tested
- Hardware tested
- None yet
- iOS versions tested
- None yet
- Evidence on file
- None yet — nothing has been observed by us
When testing is complete, this section will list every export file, the scenario it covers (in case, pairing mode, paired to another phone, recording, and so on), the iOS version and the phone model. The protocol is described on the testing results page.
Limitations
- No hardware available to us yet; nothing has been observed.
- The 5th-generation Spectacles were sold to developers through a subscription programme, so they are rare in everyday settings.
- Registered identifiers are company-level and may be used by other Snap hardware or apps.
Recognising it by eye
Visual cues are general observations to help people who are not relying on any app. They are not detection features.
- Noticeably thick frames and temples compared with ordinary eyewear.
- Visible waveguide displays inside the lenses and camera modules on the frame front.
What a detection means — and does not mean
A detection means
- Your iPhone received a Bluetooth Low Energy advertisement whose contents matched one or more entries in our signature catalogue.
- Each piece of evidence (a company identifier, a service UUID, a name pattern) is shown with its source, so you can judge it yourself.
- The confidence level reflects how many independent kinds of evidence agreed, not how sure we are that a camera is in use.
A detection does not mean
- That anyone is recording. Bluetooth advertisements carry no information about camera or microphone activity.
- That the matched device is definitely smart glasses. Manufacturers reuse identifiers across products; see false positives.
- That the device is a particular distance away. Signal strength is a coarse proximity hint; see RSSI and distance.
Related
- How Bluetooth detection works and where signatures come from
- Guide for teachers: recognising camera glasses and what a scanner can determine
- Other devices: Even Realities G1, Oakley Meta (HSTN and Vanguard), Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1 and Gen 2), Vuzix Z100
Sources
- SPS 2024: Introducing new Spectacles and Snap OS — Snap Inc., accessed 17 September 2026
- Introducing Specs augmented reality glasses — Snap Inc., accessed 17 September 2026
- Audio in Spectacles (developer documentation) — Snap Inc., accessed 17 September 2026
- Specs product site — Snap Inc., accessed 17 September 2026
- Assigned Numbers — Bluetooth SIG, accessed 16 September 2026
In development
Smart Glasses Scanner for iPhone — Coming Soon
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