Snapchat's Spectacles 'Model 002' Appears in FCC Filing With Improved Wi-Fi and Hint at Redesign

Late last night the Federal Communications Commission published a new filing for a "wearable video camera" that was registered by Snap Inc and designated as "model 002." The filing is believed to be for the rumored second iteration of Snapchat's Spectacles device, with multiple snippets from the redacted documents specifically referencing the "Spectacles" brand.

According to the filing, which was spotted by Variety, one of the changes coming to the second version of Spectacles revolves around support for the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. This will help the glasses "support faster file transfers in the 5GHz band," improving upon the first generation's transfer speed issues. The second model will also support Bluetooth 4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy).

The packaging label also appears in the filing, mentioning the wearable device will carry a Made For iPhone certification and come with the Spectacles, a carrying case, and a charging cable -- similar to the original pair.

Also notable: Snap’s original Spectacles featured a FCC ID label on the inside of the temples. The new version will instead come with an electronic ID label, accessible within the Snapchat app, which could suggest a redesigned frame.

A previous rumor from last month suggested that the 2018 update to the Spectacles will be water resistant, fix bugs, improve performance, and add new color options, but otherwise refrain from implementing any "dramatic changes." That same report also stated that a third-generation pair of Spectacles is expected for 2019 with an all-new design, built-in GPS, two camera lenses, and better camera technology for "3D-like depth effects" in videos.

Although Snapchat has now filed with the FCC, it's still unclear when the new Spectacles will actually launch to the public. Both rumored upcoming versions of the Spectacles are said to incorporate AR abilities of some kind, which could potentially compete with Apple's long-rumored "Apple Glasses," if and when those come to market. Right now, Apple is searching for the "most compelling application" for AR glasses by working on "several different kinds" of prototypes.