Snap Inc. has had limited success in the hardware market over the years, but the company continues to focus strongly on it as part of efforts to attract more users.

Snap today pulled back the curtains on Spectacles 3, the third iteration of its augmented reality glasses for Snapchat users. The device will go on sale in November at $380, more than double what the previous model cost. For this price, the social media company is offering heavily upgraded hardware set in a redesigned sunglasses-style frame.

The Spectacles 3 sports two high-definition cameras above the lenses that turn on when the wearer taps a button at the top of the frame. Users can record video at 60 frames per second with a 1,216-pixel-by-1,216-pixel resolution, or capture still photos with a higher 1,642-pixel-by-1,642-pixel resolution.

Snap developed the Spectacles 3 mainly with video in mind. The dual-camera setup enables the glasses to record footage with a certain measure of depth, which allows for more sophisticated AR effects than those Snapchat users can currently insert into the clips they share with contacts. Snap is readying a set of exclusive three-dimensional effects for Spectacles 3 and will also allow outside developers to create custom content.

Aside from the upgraded cameras, the Spectacles 3 packs a quad-microphone array and a case that doubles as a charger. Snap promises that the glasses can capture up to 70 10-second clips or 200 photos on a single charge.

When a user activates the cameras, the resulting media files are initially stored on a 4-gigabyte storage drive built into the device that has room for 100 videos or 1,2000 photos. Consumers can share their content on Snapchat by syncing the Spectacles 3 to their phone and manually downloading the media they wish to post. 

Snap will make the glasses available for order in November. The $380 price tag means the Spectacles 3 will likely appeal only to the most committed members of the company’s installed base, which started growing again this year after four quarters of declines. In the three months ended March 31, the number of active daily users on Snapchat rose 2% quarter-over-quarter, to 190 million. 

Image: Snap