Snap Stops Development Of Its Flying Selfie Drone Pixy

According to a new report, Snapchat creators Snap Inc. are giving up on their Pixy Selfie mini drone, less than four months after it was launched. Pixy, which costs $230, will continue to be sold in its current iteration, according to the report.

The news comes nearly four months after the Santa Monica, California-based company launched the pocket-sized camera, which can fly a few feet above its user to take photos and videos. Snap declined to comment on the report.

Snap Pixy Drone

Pixy drone was unveiled at the end of April during Snap’s fourth annual Partner Summit with a starting price of $229.99. Unlike traditional drones, Pixy is a  pocket-sized drone that allows users to capture photos and videos from unique angles.

The drone comes with four tiny propellers and weighs just 101 grams, which makes it profoundly portable. It comes with a single 12MP sensor on the drone along with an integrated 16GB storage that can store a maximum of 100 videos or 1,000 photos.

Pixy is capable of launching from a user’s hand and can fly in four preset flight paths, including one that follows the user. It can float, orbit, and follow wherever the user leads, without a controller or any set-up. Further, the drone offers five to eight flights once it is fully charged. Videos and photos captured by Pixy are automatically uploaded to Snap Memories where users can edit them with Smart Edits and crop them to fit smartphone screens.

The report by publication WSJ cites insiders familiar with the matter, who said that CEO Evan Spiegel told staff in a question and answer session, that the company would halt further development on the project. This is reportedly part of a broader effort to streamline company resources. The Pixy is a mini drone that can take off and land in the user’s hand without any assistance. Snap has yet to officially comment on the report. Last month, the company announced its plans to significantly slow down hiring and the rate of operating expense growth.