A Beginner’s Guide On How To Buy Drones 2021

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Whether you’re a casual drone enthusiast, a serious pilot, a filmmaker, or a photographer looking to expand their kit, there is surely a drone for you out there. But with so many different models and types to choose from, how do you know which one is the right one for you? Well, this beginner’s guide on how to buy drones is here to help you out.

With drones becoming more and more popular throughout the years, competitions arise between manufacturers and brands. Thus overwhelming us with an endless supply of different types of drones.

That’s actually a good thing for us consumers as this gives us plenty of choices. This also means it’s also almost impossible for us to run out of options in the market.

So if you have particular requirements like higher camera resolutions, better flight performance, or you’re looking for a budget-friendly drone, then you’ll surely find one that will fit your criteria. But before you take off, come take a look at our guide so you can make a more informed purchasing decision on your very first drone.

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For Whom Are Drones For?

To answer it simply, drones can be for anyone. Regardless if you’re an adult or a child, you can definitely fly one of these devices and even have fun with them. In fact, there are even toy drones that are made specifically for kids if you’re worried about safety concerns and whatnot.

Moreover, because of technology’s innovations and advancements, drones are also used by professional photographers and filmmakers all over the world to give their viewers those breathtaking aerial shots and video footage.

If you’re an aspiring professional in the same field, I highly suggest starting investing in drones now to give your portfolio an edge.

But if you’re a person who’s simply interested in getting a drone but is not yet fully convinced, then I suggest investing in a cheaper model first and see if it’s something you’ll enjoy in the long term. Moreover, if you have kids, flying a drone can be a fun way to bond and spend time with them.

How To Pick The Right Drone For You

There are actually a few things to consider when it comes to choosing the right drone, especially if you’re a beginner. Such qualities like the type of drone and its built-in features and specifications are just some of the things you need to look out for. Read on below to find out more.

Types Of Drones

Before you get excited and make any purchases, it’s important to learn first the types of drones you might encounter in the market. Below are some examples.

Professional Use Drones

This type of drone is usually used by professionals or experienced pilots. Most of these drones are also typically more high-end models that offer a lot of premium features such as 4k camera resolutions, GPS, WiFi Transmission, precise flight adjustments, and etc.

You will also oftentimes see these drones being used for filmmaking, professional photography, events, site assessors, and so much more.

Basic Drones

Basic Drones are your typical run-on-the-mill drones. They are usually the mid-range or entry-level drones you see in the market. They are good enough for most users who are not that prickly about getting the most advanced features and just want a device they can have fun with.

Looking For A Mid-Range Drone That’s Worth The Money? Check Out Our Review Of The DJI Mini 2 Here!

Racing Drones

Racing drones are great if you want to compete with your friends on a race or join actual competitions. This type of drone is built for speed and is usually lightweight and small so they can reach crazy amounts of miles per hour along with having amazing agility.

Toy Drones

Toy drones are the best drones for beginners. They’re cheap and it won’t hurt your pocket too much if ever they break from an accidental crash. Most entry-level drones nowadays offer decent features which can be enough for most newbies.

It’s also a good starting point if you’re unsure whether a drone is for you or not before investing in a more expensive model.

Commercial vs. Consumer Drones

Sometimes, it can also be easier to divide the drone you see in the market into two categories: commercial use drones and consumer drones. As the names suggest, commercial drones are, well, for commercial purposes. This type of drone is mainly used for more professional work.

Meanwhile, consumer drones are better suited for most casual users and beginners who are still learning the ropes of flying a drone.

Features To Consider

Like all products, drones are not built equally. Some are equipped with more advanced features than others while some just provide the basic necessities. But here are some features you might want to consider when investing in a drone:

GPS. This helps you plot precise courses for your drones as well as record your flight trajectories.
Safety Modes. Features like “Return To Home”, anti-collision sensors, LED lights, and etc. are safety modes.
Camera Resolution. A drone’s camera resolution can vary from 720-p, 1080-p, up to a 4k resolution.
Flight Time. Most drones don’t have great flight times as it drains it battery fast. Usually, drones can last anywhere between 10-20 minutes in the air. Occasionally, some models offer more than 30 minutes of flight time but it might cost you. So if you’re looking to spend more time with your drone, it’s best to bring an extra set of batteries with you.

Feel Like You’re Finally Ready To Buy A Drone? Check Out Our Top Picks For The Best Drones For Beginners In 2021 Here.

Some Friendly Flying Tips Before You Take Off

Now that you’re almost ready to buy your first drone, here are some friendly flying tips you might want to take note of so you can get the best flying experience possible.

Check If The Entry-Level Drones Meets Your Needs

If you’re a beginner and you’re unsure if an entry-level model of a drone is for you, it’s best to do more research about the model’s specifications and built-in features. While practicing on toy drones or cheaper models is much more recommended, I have to admit that sometimes they can perform pretty underwhelmingly.

So if you have the money to spare, try investing in a mid-ranged drone instead. Especially the ones that are packed with safety features like anti-collision sensors so your drone is less prone to crashing against obstacles.

Want A Mid-Range Drone That’s Affordable, Safe, And Easy To Use? Check Out Our Review Of The Potensic D58 Here And See If This Is The Drone For You.

Know If Your Drone Needs To Be Registered To The FAA

One important thing to always keep in mind when buying a drone is checking if it needs to be registered in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first before being able to fly it. As a rule of thumb, if you’re in the US, a drone that exceeds a weight of 0.55 pounds will be required to register.

If you don’t want to go through the effort and process, then it’s best to look for drones that are lightweight and don’t cross the 250-gram threshold.

Find The Appropriate Locations To Fly Your Drones

Another reminder for you to take note of is that not every public place allows drones to fly around in their surrounding areas. So it’s best to know which locations where you are not allowed to fly your drones to avoid getting in trouble. Some places are just generally unsafe and some are just simply no-fly zones.

Not to mention, you also wouldn’t want to be suspected of spying on your neighbors while you use your drones in a populated area. If you’re unsure whether an area is drone-friendly, then you can click this link for more information.

Conclusion

As drones gain more popularity, become more innovative, and advanced, it’s pretty easy for anyone to get into the hype. How could you not, right? Drones are a very fun piece of technology that provides entertainment for the casual user as well as an added arsenal to a professional filmmaker or photographer’s kit.

Not only can drones bring joy as a toy, but it also provides you with stunning aerial shots and images, lets you survey your surroundings, and sometimes, delivers your groceries for you. In an era of an ongoing pandemic, the latter has never been more significant today in my opinion.

But whatever you’re planning with your drone, I hope this guide was able to help you out in choosing the right one for you.

Already own a drone or are you still thinking about it? Come share your insights, suggestions, or experiences if you have any in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts!