Drone gift guide: drone gift ideas for any budget
Black Friday Drone Specials
DJI Black Friday deals (up to $420 off!)
DJI is running Black Friday and holiday specials November 24 through December 4, 2019. Those savings are listed below, or you can shop DJI Black Friday specials here (US; 11/24/19-12/4/19).
For DJI specials outside of the US, you can use these links:
- Find Canada’s DJI Black Friday specials here. (11/15/19-12/29/19)
- Find UK/Europe DJI holiday and winter specials here. (11/15/19-12/29/19)
- Find Australia and New Zealand DJI Christmas sales here. (11/15/19-12/31/19)
| DJI Item | Black Friday Price | Original Price | Savings | Black Friday link |
| Mavic 2 Pro | $1379 | $1729 | $350 | Click here for Mavic 2 Pro Black Friday prices |
| Mavic 2 Pro+ | $1779 | $2199 | $420 | Click here for Mavic 2 Pro+ Black Friday prices |
| Tello Iron Man Edition | $89 | $129 | $40 | Click here for Tello Iron Man Edition Black Friday prices |
| Goggles Racing Edition | $449 | $549 | $100 | Click here for Goggles Racing Edition Black Friday prices |
| Osmo Pocket | $309 | $399 | $90 | Click here for Osmo Pocket Black Friday prices |
| Osmo Action | $279 | $379 | $100 | Click here for Osmo Action Black Friday prices |
| DJI Item | Black Friday Price | Original Price | Savings |
| Mavic 2 Pro | $1379 | $1729 | $350 |
| Mavic 2 Pro+ | $1779 | $2199 | $420 |
| Tello Iron Man Edition | $89 | $129 | $40 |
| Goggles Racing Edition | $449 | $549 | $100 |
| Osmo Pocket | $309 | $399 | $90 |
| Osmo Action | $279 | $379 | $100 |
Drone gift ideas: a drone
The first thing any drone owner needs is a drone. There are hundreds of options on the market and the first question should always be what do they want to use it for? Photography? Racing? Keeping an eye on the dog? Here are some options and resources for choosing the right one. Please note prices listed are those at the time of publication and you know that holiday deals change.
DJI drone options – how to choose
DJI represents over 60% of the consumer drone market, and for good reason. They have quality products and run the spectrum for user needs. See the latest DJI sales and promotions here.
Which to choose? It probably boils down to three choices:
- DJI Mavic Mini: Ultra portable and light; doesn’t have 4k and more subject to wind
- DJI Mavic Pro: The Mavic Pro series brings more heft to the body and the camera; I’d go with a Mavic Pro 2
- DJI Phantom: The Phantoms are the largest consumer drones DJI makes and for people who aren’t traveling with them (or have room in the budget for baggage fees
DJI Mavic Mini
Standard Price: $399
The right choice for: Someone who wants high quality and ultra portability.
Important specs: Does not have 4k; 249 g Ultralight; 30-min Max. Flight Time; 4 km HD Video Transmission; Vision Sensor + GPS Precise Hover; 3-Axis Gimbal 2.7K Camera; Simplified Recording & Editing
DJI Mavic Air
Standard Price: $919
The right choice for: The Mavic Air is a good middle between the Mini and Pro. It’s smaller, but does have 4k
Important specs: 32 MP Sphere Panoramas; Foldable & Portable; 3-Axis Gimbal & 4K Camera; 3-Directional Environment Sensing; SmartCapture; 21-Minute Flight Time; Advanced Pilot Assistance System
DJI Mavic 2 (Pro and Zoom)
Standard Price: $1729 (Pro) / $1439 (Zoom)
The right choice for: The Mavic Pro series (I’d go with the Mavic 2 Zoom) is for those looking to travel and want something sturdier than the Spark, the Mavic is the way to go. It has a bit more body and handles weather (wind) better. The arms also fold down, making it great for travel.
Important specs:
Pro (2): Hasselblad Camera; 20 MP 1” CMOS Sensor; 8 km 1080p Video Transmission; 31min flight time; Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing; Hyperlapse
Zoom (2): 2× Optical Zoom Camera; 4× Lossless Zoom FHD Video; 8 km 1080p Video Transmission; 31min flight time; Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing; Hyperlapse
DJI Mavic Pro Platinum
Standard Price: $1149
The right choice for: Someone wanting a Mavic Pro and is willing to get an older version for a lower price.
Important specs: 30-Minute Flight time; Quieter Flight; Foldable; 4K Camera; RAW Format Photos; 3-Axis Mechanical Gimbal; 7 km Video Transmission
DJI Phantom series
Standard Price: $1729 (Pro 4 V2)
The right choice for: With the bigger body and more advanced control, the Phantom series are better for those who can take on the pack size. There are two models – advanced and pro – and you can read about the differences here.
Important specs: 1” CMOS Sensor; [email protected]; Mechanical Shutter; 5 Directions of Obstacle Sensing; Dual Band 7 km video transmission; 30-Minute Flight Time
DJI deals
DJI runs deals throughout the year and is currently having a winter sale. You can always check this page to see their latest deals.
Non-DJI options for drones
If you don’t want to go the DJI route, Amazon is your best place to start. This is where you’ll find anything from $17 toys to $20,000 thermal survey drones. The main drone page even has a convenient guide to help you find the right device for the right person.
Some popular options are:
BE SURE TO CHECK IF THE DRONE COMES WITH A CAMERA (some are equipped to carry an action camera like a GoPro, but don’t actually come with the GoPro itself – so double check this before you buy).
Drone accessories and extras
You need more than just the drone to get in the air. And there are accessories for every type of drone out there. Some are specific to the model, and some are good things to have.
SD cards ($20+): You can never have enough SD cards; look for highest write speeds and the bigger the better (at least 32 GB). If in doubt about the specs, you can always find the recommended cards for the drone online.
Power adaptors ($20+): If the drone will travel, power adapters come in handy. This one is great ($20) because it also has two USB slots to charge the remote and a phone (or whatever else) at the same time.
Bags ($20+): Every drone needs a carrying bag. You can get drone-specific ones, like this one for the Mavic, or to be more practical, go with a bag that can adjust to any needs, like this over-the-shoulder ($40), or this backpack ($50). Just make sure it’s big enough to fit the drone, extra batteries and other accessories.
Filters ($10+): Filters can start really cheap (~$10) and go up. They will be model-specific and are a great way for photographers to hone their skills.
A tracker ($140): The scariest moment is when a drone pilot thinks they may have lost their drone – a tracker additional to the GPS built in gives extra reassurance. Check out this one from trackimo.
DJI accessories: DJI has a whole page dedicated to accessories from goggles to extra batteries – it’s a great place to shop for those who have DJI products. Recommended: if you’re shopping for a Mavic Pro owner, get them the new Platinum propellers ($9!!).
Decoration ($25+): DecalGirl makes awesome skins for drones. For about $25, you can a custom look for any drone. MightySkins is another good option. Dolly (pictured) is rocking one from DecalGirl.
Responsible drone gifts
Responsible flying is a hugely important topic for drones. And some people avoid parts of their responsibility for the cost alone. So here, gifts can be fun AND responsible!
Registration ($50+): Drone registration is country, city, and sometimes county, specific. It will also depend on the model, so we won’t get into details here. But if you have a new pilot, research the costs for registering in your area and give cash or a gift card in that amount (telling them what it’s for, obviously). So much more thoughtful than regular cash.
Training ($100+): Most drones are easy to get out of the box and in the air. But beyond just basic flying, training courses can prepare you for FAA certification, teach video and photo editing and so on. UAV Coach offers several courses from FAA prep to thermal mapping.
Drone Pilot Ground School
Drone Pilot Ground School offers an online course that will prepare anyone for an FAA certification, designed in partnership with a Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and former Chief Pilot of a Part 141 Flight School.
Use code CONTENT50 for $50 off.
Art of Aerial – a community for travelers with drones (free!)
There is no conclusive guide to traveling with a drone and with rules constantly changing, it’s better to be part of a community. The Facebook group Art of Aerial, a community for lovers of aerial photography and videography, aiming to have a space for inspiration and discussion, free from drone police. And check out the Art of Aerial Instagram page for inspiration and features.
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Note: This post contains affiliate links. My opinions and advice remain my own. For more information on affiliates and sponsors of How Dare She, click here.
Founder of How Dare She, Jessica is on a mission to visit every country in the world, and bring you along with through photos, video and stories. 6 continents and 104 countries in. She has a BA in journalism and Master's in innovation and change, but her real skill is plugging in a USB in 2 or less tries (most of the time). She believes daring isn't about being fearless, but choosing to opt in, in spite of fear. She dares to see, taste, experience and meet the world as she goes.
