Interested in getting a drone? There are all sorts of little things to bear in mind when shopping for new ones and used ones, so check out these tips.
Whether you use one for work or just want something cool to fly around on the weekends, there are a lot of benefits to owning a drone. United States military drones may break records, but there are plenty of options available to civilians that go above and beyond what you might need without costing a fortune. But whether you’re buying new or used, you want to be sure you’re not getting something that can’t meet your needs, or getting scammed.
Every drone out there may seem like a sophisticated piece of technology, but each product comes with its own pros and cons. For instance, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro may review exceptionally well, but it also costs over $2,000 brand new, so it’s important to know what features will do you the most good. Keep the following points in mind as you’re perusing so that you don’t spend too much or too little on a drone that may not even be that useful to you. Battery life
It helps to know a thing or two about different drone batteries, whether you’re buying a full drone or planning to design your own rig. Different options are available to keep the drone in the air while you operate it remotely, and each one has its unique strengths. For example, lithium batteries tend to be common in drones, but a LiFePO4 battery tends to be safer, as it has a highly reduced risk of combusting when exposed to extreme temperatures.
It’s crucial to understand just how long your flight time will be with any given battery. You don’t want to be out in the middle of nowhere and have your drone die on you without any way to reasonably recharge it. The DJI Matrice 300 RTK has a battery life of 55 minutes per charge, but a lot of cheaper options will only last a fraction of that.
And like with any electronic, a drone’s battery will degrade over time, meaning it won’t stay in the sky as long as was initially advertised. This is mainly an issue if you’re purchasing a drone used, so it can help to fly it around for a bit to get a sense of where the battery’s at. Plus, when you get a drone of your own, you should brush up on tips and tricks for maximizing your drone’s battery life, like by regularly updating the firmware. Warranty
If you buy a drone used, you won’t get a warranty. That means you’re liable for any replacements if the drone breaks, even if you did nothing wrong. Purchasing a drone from a reputable retailer means you have a little more protection, so you may want to consider buying a new drone for that reason alone.
Every drone brand comes with its own warranties, such as Skydio providing a one-year limited warranty on all of its products. This coverage only accounts for defects within frame and hardware. You won’t get a new drone if it becomes damaged due to your actions, so it definitely pays to be mindful as you’re maneuvering your drone at first.
If you want to be safe from those accidental collisions, it pays to look into extended warranty options. For instance, there’s the Skydio Care plan, which provides additional coverage outside of the automatic limited warranty. That way, if you damage your drone within the specified timeframe, you can receive a replacement at a reduced or no cost. Similar extended warranties should be available for other brands, so it’s handy to have in case you’re not extremely confident in your drone-flying abilities. Local weather
While the DJI M30 can withstand virtually any harsh weather, from rain to snow, it also costs thousands of dollars, which may be out of range for some buyers. Unless it specifies it can handle the rain, it’s unadvisable to fly your drone in such conditions since the moisture could damage any of the electronic components.
As such, it’s a good idea to think about what type of weather you generally see in your city. You may be able to stay inside when it rains, but you may be exposed to high winds pretty frequently and don’t want to wait until a rare calm day to use your item. If you fall into that category, consider getting a heavier drone that won’t get whipped around by the wind as much.
It’s also ill-advised to fly your drone if it’s below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). You could catastrophically damage your drone if it’s that cold out with a minimal dew point deviation. Your drone could develop ice on the propellers, meaning the motor has to work extra hard to make them work, eventually breaking it.
