Today, along with significant updates to the Snapchat app, Snap unveiled its newest AR Spectacles and launched the Snap OS software platform. These product announcements aimed to excite the development community. However, joining Snap’s developer program comes at a cost: $99 per month, with a one-year commitment required. And here’s the thing – that’s the only way to get your hands on the new Spectacles!
Did we mention that it’s not a cheap proposition? The new Snap Spectacles are the fifth-generation model, but you can’t simply order them as a regular consumer. They are only available to members of the Spectacles Developer Program. To be part of this program, you have to fork out $99 per month and make a one-year commitment. That means you’ll be shelling out $1,188 just to have the privilege of developing for the new Snap OS platform and getting to try out the latest Spectacles. It’s not exactly a mouthwatering offer.
We say “trying” because with your developer program membership, you’re only entitled to a leased pair of Spectacles. For that hefty $1,188 investment, you’ll receive a pair to test out while you’re still paying your monthly dues. In the end, Snap still owns the hardware. There’s currently no way for anyone, whether a developer or not, to outright purchase a pair of the fifth-generation Spectacles. And it’s likely that this will change at some point, but perhaps it’s contingent on Snap building up momentum with developers.
The new Spectacles do look quite nice. And Snap is positioning them very much as the antithesis of a VR product. A commercial (available here) takes a good-natured jab at the idea of wearing a VR headset because it isolates you from the world. Vision Pro attempts to address this issue with its front-facing screen, but with mixed results.
Despite Snap presenting Spectacles as a device you’ll use frequently in the real world, their rather limited “up to 45 minutes” of battery life makes that less likely. Given all this, asking for such a significant financial commitment to develop for an unproven platform seems… risky. We’ll have to see how much fortune the company manages to strike.
Are you interested in the new Spectacles or considering joining Snap’s developer program? Let us know in the comments.
