Snapchat Will Begin Shipping AR Spectacles to EU Developers

Snapchat has announced the next stage of its AR Spectacles project, with developers in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain set to get their hands on the new device for early testing.

Snapchat unveiled its AR Spectacles last month at its Partner Summit, where it also announced that approved U.S. developers would be able to start experimenting with the device.

And now, EU developers will also get their chance, with approved partners to pay a monthly fee to access the current model of the device.

As explained by Snap:

“Since launching [AR] Spectacles, developers have already built amazing Lenses and we have received extensive interest from the global AR developer community. Now, even more developers can apply to build and share Lenses for Spectacles. For €110 per month with a 12-month commitment required, a subscription will provide access to Spectacles and the Spectacles team, helping developers bring their projects to life.”

Snap’s initial access fee for the device will help to cover its own development and support costs, while also helping to maintain a level of exclusivity with developers, as the device is not ready for public consumption as yet.

Snap’s AR glasses will be competing with Meta’s AR device, with both on a similar timeline for public release. The challenge for Snap is that Meta’s current device (in testing) is already superior to Snap’s in almost every way, so even before they both hit the shelves, Meta seems to be in the lead.

Snapchat has had a longer lead time, with non-AR Spectacles first going on sale back in 2016, while Snap has also long been the leader in innovative, engaging AR development. But it does seem like Snap is going to struggle to get attention for its device, if Meta’s Orion glasses come out at a similar time.

Though that may also come down to pricing, and which company has the more affordable glasses. Apple’s VisionPro is effectively already out of contention on this front, with its $3,599 price tag, while Meta has said that it expects its glasses to cost around the same as a modern mobile device.  

Maybe, that could give Snap a way in. But then again, the costs of development have been, and will continue to be significant, and Snap will need to recoup those expenses somewhere.

In any event, the next stage for Snap’s AR Spectacles is broader access among developers, and now, more creators will be able to start experimenting with the device, as well as the new “Snap OS” operating system, which enables wearers to interact with Snap’s new AR experiences by using both their hands and voice.

Snap says that its Spectacles prototypes will begin shipping to EU developers in the coming weeks, with those in additional markets set to get access in 2025.