Snap is the next Apple, its selfie drone is the biggest clue

Snapchat doesn't really care if you buy its new selfie drone, it's more focused on becoming the next Apple

Social media giant Snap launched its second hardware product this week with the release of the Pixy drone. The $230 device comes with a camera for still photos and video, and can be set to hover in place or automatically follow the user around. 

Like Spectacles, the company’s camera-equipped smart glasses, the recorded footage (which doesn’t include audio) on the Pixy isn’t limited to the Snapchat app, and can be downloaded to a smartphone to be edited and shared anywhere. The design and marketing for the Pixy is just as slick as Spectacles, and seems primed for mainstream adoption. But similar to Spectacles, this may be a product without a readily apparent built-in market. 

Most drone photographers and videographers today are either dedicated hobbyists or professionals. The Pixy’s 2.7 k video resolution is below the 4 k resolution many in the drone community have become accustomed to when shooting broad cityscapes and aerial footage. For just about $200 more, DJI’s Mini 2 delivers 4 k video and far more control via remote control, while the Pixy only uses limited preset controls. 

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