Lily Robotics' throw-and-shoot camera drone, designed to follow and film its owner automatically, took about $34 million in pre-orders after its 2015 announcement. It never shipped a single unit: the company shut down in January 2017 and filed for Chapter 11 in March. Thousands of customers had already been refunded, and the August 2017 reorganisation plan provided for 100% recovery, up to a statutory cap, for customers who filed claims on time.
This entry is written from the 5 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 16% would buy it again, which means roughly 84% would not. Some buyers waited around two years with no drone, refund or reply.
Months after the January 2017 shutdown, tens of thousands of customers were still waiting on refunds that had been folded into Lily's Chapter 11 case. A plan reported that August promised full recovery to those who filed timely claims, but no buyer ever received a drone.
Some buyers waited around two years with no drone, refund or reply. Refunds were tied up in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Worth it for: No one — the drone never shipped; Pre-order cautionary-tale readers. Think twice if: Anyone wanting a working camera drone; Buyers who dislike long pre-order waits; Anyone needing their money back quickly.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 6.0 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 4.5 / 10 |
| One month | 2.5 / 10 |
| Six months | 1.5 / 10 |
| One year | 1.5 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 2.0 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Reports Lily folding without shipping a single drone after repeated delays from mid-2016, failing to secure production funding, and offering refunds.
Article and thread on the cancellation: about $34m from roughly 60,000 pre-orders, $499 early price vs $999 planned; a pre-order holder voices disappointment and commenters question where the money went.
The DA alleged the pitch video was shot with a DJI Inspire, froze Lily's assets, and noted refunds had not been issued broadly despite long delays.
April 2017: Chapter 11 filing with 31,800 customers awaiting refunds; one buyer who paid $600 had waited about two years with no refund or response, while thousands of others had been refunded.
August 2017: reorganisation plan provides 100% recovery for customers who filed timely claims; late claimants told to go through their payment provider.