7 Black Friday Drone Deals That You Need to See
Posted by GAVIN PHILLIPS
Black Friday is here, which means it’s time to find all the best deals on drones and quadcopters.
Drones of all shapes and sizes usually see some good discounts over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday week. There’s a strong chance you can snag yourself a great deal on everything from beginners’ drones to racing models. That’s if you know where to look, of course.
Here are seven drone deals to get you into the sky this Black Friday.
1. DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter
The DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter is a premium model from drone experts, Mavic. (Check out our DJI Mavic Air review.) The Mavic Air is one of their latest models, only hitting the market in January of this year. It features:
- 4K video at 30FPS with a 12.0MP camera, plus slow-motion capture
- 32.0MP spherical panorama shots
- Five vision sensors, as well as GPS and GLONASS tracking
- Around 20-21 minutes flying time
- Smart control: control your drone using hand gestures
Along with vision sensors and smart controls, the Mavic Air Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) allows “the aircraft to bypass obstacles in front of and behind it actively.” That’ll make it much easier to navigate at the maximum distance of nearly 4,000 meters (in FCC mode).
The big draw here is how new this drone is to market. Mavic doesn’t usually discount their latest premium models, so consider this a big draw.
2. Parrot Mambo Fly Package
Next up is the Parrot Mambo Fly. The Mambo Fly is an introductory drone aimed at parents and kids. You can earn your flying stripes on the more basic model without worrying too much about the cost of untimely destruction.
The Parrot Mambo Fly features:
- Integrated vertical camera
- Slots for accessories, such as a toy cannon or item grabber
- Up to 10 minutes flying time
The package on offer throws in a charger and two additional power batteries, so you have less downtime. The Parrot Mambo Fly is great for another reason, too. Kids (and adults!) can practice some basic block coding skills through apps such as Tynker and Blockly.
3. Altair 818 Hornet
The eye-catching Altair 818 Hornet is another drone kit with a focus on beginners. The drone itself is remarkably easy to fly (it was one of the first drone’s I had the pleasure of almost crashing). The Hornet features:
- 720p camera
- Flight systems, including altitude hold and headless mode
- Flight skill level switch—switch between controls for beginners, mid-level, and advanced users
- FPV video transmission up 60 meters
- Around 15 minutes flight time
One of the biggest draws for the Altair 818 Hornet is the flight time. Most other drones at this level offer just 9-10 minutes. The bundle also comes with a second battery and a neat overlay for the controller.
4. Parrot Bebop 2 FPV
Another entry for Parrot on the Black Friday drone deals list. It’s another great shout, too, as the Bebop 2 is well suited for aerial photography. While the aforementioned Parrot Mambo Fly caters specifically for beginners, the Bebop 2 FPV steps it up a notch, featuring:
- Support for 1080p video and 14.0MP photography
- 2,000-meter range with 25 minutes flight time
- GPS tracking
- Visual target tracking
- Three-axis stabilization
One of the coolest Bebop 2 FPV features is the first-person view Parrot Cockpitglasses. You pop your smartphone into the goggles, connect it to the drone, and off you fly!
The Bebop 2 FPV hit the market last year, so seeing it appear in 2018’s Black Friday assortment is great for anyone looking to jump a drone-model tier.
5. Holy Stone HS170
The Holy Stone HS170 is a nippy 6-axis quadcopter. It is smaller than most of the other drones on this Black Friday list and is well suited to basic flight practice. Better still, the headless drone mode makes it instantly accessible for absolute beginners. The Holy Stone HS170 features:
- 6-8 minutes flying time
- 6-axis gyro stabilization
- Wind resistance
- Headless flight mode
- 3 different speed modes
The 6-axis gyro stabilization is a handy feature for all users. The HS170 can recover quickly after performing a trick. Or just if you have twitchy drone piloting skills (everyone must start somewhere!).
6. DJI Spark Fly More Combo
The DJI Spark is a great mid-tier drone option. (Check out the MakeUseOf DJI Spark review). It packs an extensive range of features into a tiny body and, like the Parrot Bebop 2, would suit those looking to move up to the next level of drone. The DJI Spark features:
- Stable video shot at 1080p
- 12MP camera for photography; the camera also shoots at f/2.6 for wide-angle shots
- Around 16 minutes flight time
- Live video transmission over 2,000 meters
- Flight speeds of up to 31 mph
- Gesture control and active track
The DJI Spark Fly More Combo also comes with two additional batteries, a battery charging hub, remote control, additional propeller guards, and a few more bits and bobs.
7. Altair Tomahawk
Our final Black Friday drone deal is the Altair Tomahawk. The Tomahawk is a versatile drone that comes with a GoPro Hero 5 or 6 mount, as well as an integrated 720p camera. The Tomahawk features:
- 720p camera, plus a mount for a GoPro Hero 5 or 6
- 15 to 20-minute flight time
- 6-axis gyro stabilization and wind resistance
- Altitude hold mode
- Strong propeller guards
The Altair Tomahawk’s altitude hold mode is great for beginners or those new to the drone. The Tomahawk also features some assistance for flipping and rolling once you master the basic controls.
Which Black Friday Drone Will You Buy?
There’s a decent selection of Black Friday drone deals. Some exceptional drones to be had at very reasonable prices. The question comes down to what you need. Are you in the market for a bigger, faster, more powerful drone? Or is this your first time taking to the air? Whatever your needs, there’s a drone deal to be found on Black Friday.
Read the full article: 7 Black Friday Drone Deals That You Need to See
