Google only launched Google Clips preorders yesterday after a nearly four-month wait since the device was announced, but it appears that the AI-powered camera is already sold out.
Customers who are still interested in purchasing the $249 Google Clips camera can sign up for a waitlist. However, the question is whether Google Clips is worth the wait and that price tag.
What Is Google Clips?
Google Clips, announced in October 2017 as part of Google's Pixel 2 event, is a small artificial intelligence-powered camera that takes pictures on its own. The 2-inch standalone camera can be set on a surface or clipped on by the user, and it will start taking images or recording short video loops of moments that the AI believes are picture-worthy.
The AI of the Google Clips camera was said to have been trained by photography experts in order to come up with the best possible shots. In addition, the device will get smarter over time, as it learns which kinds of pictures the user wants to see.
Google Clips Sold Out, Waitlist Activated
Google quietly opened Google Clips preorders on Jan. 27, for the previously mentioned price of $249 with free shipping within the United States. However, stocks of the camera apparently quickly sold out, resulting a waitlist that customers can sign up for on the online Google Store.
There is no information on when customers on the waitlist can get the chance to buy the Google Clips camera. However, before the waitlist was activated, the delivery dates of customers who were able to preorder the device reached early March. It would be safe to assume that waitlisted customers will not receive their Google Clips cameras earlier than that.
Should You Wait To Buy Google Clips?
One of the advantages (or disadvantages, if you're Google) of the waitlist is that customers who signed up for it now have extra time to think whether it is worth waiting for and buying Google Clips.
Ever since Google Clips was announced, there were already privacy concerns. To do what it is meant to do, the camera will always be "watching," which, for some users, is downright creepy. There is also the problem of the device using facial recognition to determine which subjects are important to the user. According to Google, nothing is sent to the cloud, but that is no longer enough to appease privacy-focused users.
Lastly, the $249 price tag may be considered a bit steep. Without sound recording and a short three-hour battery life, it is hard to justify purchasing the Google Clips camera when it is priced just like a midrange smartphone.
However, for customers willing to spend that much for a chance of capturing the fleeting moments that you just can't seem to catch with your smartphone, Google Clips may be worth the investment.
