Failed 2022

    Snap Spectacles

    Camera-equipped sunglasses sounded fun but $500M+ in R&D later, consumers still prefer using their phones.

    Founded → Closed

    2016 → 2022

    Funding Raised

    $0 (Snap division)

    Industry

    Consumer Electronics/AR

    Country

    USA

    IdeaProof AI Failure Score

    52/100
    Market Fit RiskBurn Rate RiskFounder Risk
    Market Fit Risk
    25
    Burn Rate Risk
    70
    Founder Risk
    20

    Full Analysis

    Snap invested over $500M developing Spectacles — sunglasses with cameras and later AR displays. The first version generated buzz with pop-up vending machines, but sales were minimal. Each subsequent version was more technically impressive and more commercially irrelevant. Snap eventually pivoted Spectacles to an AR developer tool, effectively admitting the consumer product failed. Hundreds of millions in R&D produced minimal revenue.

    Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?

    IdeaProof's AI validates market demand, competitive positioning, and business model viability in minutes — catching the exact issues that sank Snap Spectacles.