In a recent turn of events, Snap, in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has issued a recall for its discontinued Pixy drone. The reason? A significant fire risk. This decision was made following four reports of the drone’s battery overheating and bulging, which resulted in one minor battery fire and one minor injury.
The recall, which was first reported by The Verge, offers a refund of at least $185 and up to $250 for those who purchased the ‘flight pack’ bundle. Additional refunds are available for those who have the Pixy’s extra charger and battery combo, and for spare batteries. The recall applies to anyone who purchased the drone from Snap, Amazon, or received it as a gift.
The Pixy drone, a palm-sized drone camera, was revealed by Snap in April 2022. Despite being discontinued only four months later, the company managed to move tens of thousands of units. However, the Pixy was always limited in functionality, designed to be used without a controller or even a memory card.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of product safety, especially in the tech industry. For SMBs venturing into the tech space, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and quality assurance in product development. While innovation and speed-to-market are important, they should never come at the expense of consumer safety.
For more information about the recall, visit TechCrunch or support.pixy.com.
