Snap’s discontinued Pixy drone turns out to be a fire hazard.
The alarming news came via a notice issued by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which recalled all 71,000 flying machines.
Snape’s drone coating only had a duration of four months, and the company ceased sales of the $230 device in August 2022. And now, 18 months later, the CPSC is urging Pixy pilots to stop flying their drones or risk catching fire in mid-air due to a potentially faulty rechargeable lithium-ion battery. To date, Snap has received four reports of battery overheating and bulging, resulting in one minor battery fire and one minor injury.
Complete instructions on how to address the recall are available on the Snap website. The process varies based on whether the purchase was made directly from Pixy or through Amazon.
Owners are required to return their drone for a full refund and should take care to dispose of the lithium-ion battery safely (instructions for proper disposal are accessible online).
Customers who only have a Pixy battery or charger but no Pixy unit may also be eligible for a refund. If this is you, please contact support@pixy.com.
The Pixy weighed just 0.22 pounds (100 grams) and took off and landed in the palm of your hand, with protective covers protecting your fingers. During its sale, the camera-equipped helicopter was “a pocket-sized, free-flying helper suitable for adventures big and small.”
While Snapchat’s social media app Snap has seen remarkable success, the drone has faded into the abyss after a short time, with Thursday’s recall providing the latest chapter in its turbulent existence. Snap’s other hardware efforts — smart glasses equipped with a camera — fared a bit better in that it still sells the device but hasn’t been updated since 2019.