Snapchat is broadening its device compatibility with two notable updates: the launch of a dedicated Apple Watch app and the expansion of its augmented reality creation tool, Lens Studio, to iOS and the web.
Highlights
- Snapchat Launches Apple Watch App: Users can now preview and reply to messages directly from their wrist using Scribble, voice, or emoji—ideal for quick responses while on the move.
- Active Engagement on Wearables: Unlike basic notification mirroring, Snapchat’s Watch app supports real-time interactions, requiring watchOS 9.0 or later.
- Breaking the Trend: While other platforms retreat from smartwatch apps, Snapchat is doubling down on wearables, bucking the industry trend.
- Lens Studio Goes Mobile and Web: AR creation is now possible on iPhones and browsers—no need for desktop software, making AR more accessible for casual creators.
- New AR Features: Mobile Lens Studio includes AI-powered effects, Bitmoji integration, and drag-and-drop templates for fast lens creation.
- Experimental, Yet Expansive: While the mobile/web tools are labeled experimental, they reflect Snapchat’s vision of portable and intuitive AR design.
- Cross-Device AR Development: The desktop app still supports professional creators, while the new tools target a broader, more mainstream audience.
- Unified Platform Strategy: With presence on smartwatches, smartphones, tablets, and browsers, Snapchat is building a cohesive, flexible ecosystem for both communication and creativity.
These developments reflect the company’s strategy to increase accessibility and creative engagement across multiple platforms.
Snapchat Debuts Apple Watch App
The new Snapchat Apple Watch app introduces a streamlined messaging interface designed for quick, on-the-go communication.
Users can preview incoming messages and respond using Scribble, voice dictation, or emoji replies. Although the ability to send new Snaps or initiate chats remains limited to smartphones and tablets, the app enhances interactivity directly from the wrist.
Requiring watchOS 9.0 or later, the app moves beyond basic notification mirroring to enable active user engagement—ideal for brief interactions while commuting or exercising.
Continued Investment in Wearables
Snapchat’s move into the smartwatch space contrasts with the broader trend of major platforms scaling back their wearable support.
Apps from Instagram, Slack, Uber, Amazon, and others have been discontinued on the Apple Watch in recent years. Snapchat’s launch marks a strategic decision to remain present in the wearable market while many competitors exit.
Lens Studio Now Available on iOS and Web
Snapchat is also bringing its AR creation tool, Lens Studio, to iPhones and web browsers. Previously available only as a desktop application, the mobile and web-based versions offer users the ability to build and publish AR experiences directly from their devices.
The update includes features,
- AI-powered effects using text-based prompts
- Bitmoji character integration
- Easy Lens templates for simplified creation workflows
This expansion is designed to lower the barrier for entry, giving casual users and hobbyists more accessible tools for creating and sharing AR content.
Portable AR Creation for a Wider Audience
Although labeled experimental, the new iOS and web versions of Lens Studio represent a step toward making AR development more portable and intuitive. Users can design and deploy interactive lenses on mobile without the need for desktop software.
The full-featured desktop version remains available for professional developers, while the mobile and browser-based versions are aimed at expanding the AR creator community.
The iOS version can be downloaded from the App Store, and the web-based platform is accessible at lensstudio.snapchat.com.
A Unified Strategy Across Devices
Together, the Apple Watch app and the expanded Lens Studio platform highlight Snapchat’s ongoing effort to increase engagement and creativity across devices.
By supporting smartwatches, smartphones, tablets, and web browsers, the platform is adapting to the evolving ways users interact with digital content.
These updates underline Snapchat’s commitment to a cross-device future, where users can communicate and create content with greater flexibility—whether from a wrist, a phone, or a web browser.
