Black Friday drone deals 2022: what we expect to see
source link: https://www.techradar.com/black-friday/black-friday-drone-deals
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
Black Friday drone deals 2022: what we expect to see
(Image credit: Future)
If you're looking for the best Black Friday drone deals, then you've come to the right place. We don't expect to see the bulk of the best drone deals until November when you will find discounts on a huge range of drones from DJI, Autel, Parrot, and more in the Black Friday drone deals. Whichever side of the brand debate you are on, price cuts on all types of drones were highly available in last year's sales, and this year will be no exception, any drone lover could also bag a bargain, such as last year's best drone deal, the DJI FPV - We're going to prepare you for the Black Friday drone deals we expect to see in 2022 by answering any questions you may have before this year's holiday shopping event.
The big headline from last year, which deal is still going strong is a 20% price cut on the DJI FPV Combo, which you can now get for $999 (was $1,299) (opens in new tab). The same deal is also available at Amazon UK (opens in new tab) for UK fans who want to plug into the slickest first-person view drone experience around, and film 4K videos in the process. We also saw a great deal on the DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo last year, which we are bound to see again in this year's sale.
Black Friday drone deals 2022
There won't be any official Black Friday camera deals until we get closer to November, but that doesn’t mean retailers and manufacturers will hold back from offering discounts in the meantime. There are always plenty of drone deals on offer, so if you need a deal on one of the best drones, or are looking for the best drone for beginners right now, here are the best places to browse.
Top US retailers:
Amazon: Regular discounts on various drone brands and gear (opens in new tab)
Adorama: Big Black Friday discounts on cameras and accessories (opens in new tab)
Best Buy: price cuts on DJI and Parrot drones (opens in new tab)
B&H Photo Video: Discounts on DJI bundles and rivals from FIMI (opens in new tab)
DJI: Buy direct and save on the latest and greatest drones (opens in new tab)
Walmart: Good place for deals on affordable, toy drones (opens in new tab)
Top UK retailers:
Amazon: Regualy has cheap prices on drones and gear (opens in new tab)
Currys: Good discounts on drones and accessories (opens in new tab)
DJI: Buy direct and save on the latest and greatest drones (opens in new tab)
Drones Direct: Best place for discounts on DJI and Autel drones (opens in new tab)
John Lewis: The latest deals on electrical equipment (opens in new tab)
Park Cameras: Amazing savings on cameras & lenses (opens in new tab)
Very: Predominantly DJI stock but cheap toy drones are also available (opens in new tab)
Wex Photo Video: Great deals on the latest drones (opens in new tab)
Black Friday FAQs
When will the Black Friday drone deals start?
This year, the official Black Friday date is Friday, November 25, so drone deals will be available on this day. However, we do expect Black Friday deals to start a bit before this in 2022.
The usual Amazon tradition of a one-day sales extravaganza has now become a longer event in recent years, taking away the panic of bagging the very best deals on the day itself. Last year we saw deals appearing as early as October, with more bargains becoming available in the weeks leading up to Black Friday itself. So for the best Black Friday drone deals, keep an eye out on this page over the next month or two and especially in the week build-up before Black Friday.
If you do miss out on Black Friday itself, don’t worry, we’ve got Cyber Monday Drone Deals coming just after, and then the Christmas deals will be out at the end of the year too.
Is Black Friday the best time to buy a drone?
As a general rule, Black Friday is a great time to buy a new camera, but not every deal is as good as it may seem – which is where we come in.
In some cases, retailers do mark up the prices of cameras in the run-up to Black Friday, in order to offer a seemingly bigger discount during the run of the actual sales event. This doesn't necessarily make them a bad buy though – on many occasions, their prices still drop to record-lows. But in the grand scheme, the percentage saving may not be quite as large as advertised.
In these situations, we'll only highlight the actual saving of any Black Friday deal based on the camera's recent price history, and we will make sure it's a genuinely good buy by looking further back. This isn't necessarily the norm, though, and many cameras do simply drop to their lowest-ever price for a brief period over Black Friday, particularly in Amazon's Lightning deals. These are often the best camera deals of the year.
Where are the best places to find Black Friday Drone deals?
The best Black Friday drone deals can be found right here:
Top US retailers:
Amazon (opens in new tab)
Adorama (opens in new tab)
Best Buy (opens in new tab)
B&H Photo Video (opens in new tab)
DJI (opens in new tab)
Walmart (opens in new tab)
Top UK retailers:
Amazon (opens in new tab)
Currys (opens in new tab)
DJI (opens in new tab)
Drones Direct (opens in new tab)
John Lewis (opens in new tab)
Park Cameras (opens in new tab)
Very (opens in new tab)Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab)
Tips for buying a drone
If you're new to flying cameras, it can be tricky to decide which one to target in the Black Friday drone deals. For drones with built-in cameras, rather than cinewhoop stunt drones for FPVs , the best starting point is deciding where you're planning to publish the video and photos.
For example, if your aerial shots are mainly for social media or B-roll, you might be better off spending less on a compact drone with a smaller sensor. Those who are looking to shoot for bigger TV screens, or in more challenging lighting conditions, will benefit from a camera drone with a larger 1-inch (or larger) sensor, like the DJI Air 2S.
In general, the size of a drone, along with its wind resistance and price tag goes up with the size of that camera sensor. Those who are looking to dabble with drones, or need a gift to give to a budding pilot, will be fine with a toy model like the very affordable Ryze Tello, which is made by DJI, which is considered the leader in the drone market. It has a small sensor and limited 100m range but is a very affordable way to learn the ropes before committing some serious cash to more professional models.
(Image credit: Future)
If you need 4K video quality, you'll need to spend at least $400 / £400 / AU$750. The original DJI Mavic Mini is a good affordable drone to look out for this Black Friday and is below that figure, but it's only capable of shooting 2.7K video. For 4K resolution, you'll need to look at the next drone up, which includes the DJI Mini 2, FIMI X8 Mini, or DJI Mavic Air 2. These drones also come with very handy automated flight modes that are ideal for beginners.
Above those drones are the prosumer models like the DJI Air 2S, Autel Evo II Pro, Skydio 2 (US-only), and of course the newly announced DJI Mavic 3. Once you reach this level, the size starts to become a consideration – and it's worth considering whether the extra shooting power and features are worth that extra bulk.
In our book, the relatively compact DJI Air 2S, and its DJI Mavic Air 2 predecessor, sit in the sweet spot of size to performance – but you may want to go down to the tiny DJI Mini 2 SE, or up to the 1kg weight of an Autel Evo II Pro, depending on how important video and photo quality is to you.
3 best drones to watch out for on Black Friday
(Image credit: Future)
1. DJI Air 2S
The best all-round drone package – particularly if it gets discounted
Weight: 595g | Controller: Yes | Camera resolution: 20MP | Flight time: 31 minutes | Range: 8km-12km
The DJI Air 2S is currently our number one drone – at least until the rumored DJI Mavic 3 lands next month. Still, even if that does happen before Black Friday, the Air 2S will likely retain its place as the best all-rounder for most people, due its combination of a compact design, 1-inch sensor and attractive price tag. If that price gets lowered at all during Black Friday, expect the Air 2S to fly off the shelves.
Will the Air 2S get discounted? It arrived in April this year, so is still a pretty new drone. This means we shouldn't expect big price cuts – those looking for a real bargain should keep an eye on its predecessor, the DJI Mavic Air 2, instead. But it's certainly possible that DJI Air 2S bundles, like the Fly More Combo, will see discounts at some retailers, which could make it a fine to buy this excellent 4K-shooting drone.
Read our in-depth DJI Air 2S review
(Image credit: Future)
2. Ryze Tello
Still the perfect flying gift for learners
Weight: 80g | Controller: Optional | Camera resolution: 5MP | Flight time: 13 minutes | Range: 100m
Looking for a fun, affordable drone that would make a good gift for a beginner? The Ryze Tello is still the best around – and despite its low price, it regularly gets discounted during Black Friday. Don't expect a drone that you can fly long distances in high winds – the Tello has a maximum range of 100m, with 30-40m being more realistic. But its app is refreshingly simply to use and it's a lot of fun to fly.
The 5MP camera is limited to relatively choppy 720p HD video, but it's a fine way to learn your piloting and compositional chops before stepping up to a pricier drone. You also get a reasonable 13 minutes of flight time, while downward-facing light sensors allow the Tello to hover in place and perform a handful of automated tricks. The Tello is now available in various forms too, with an Iron Man version to satisfy Marvel fans – and a pricier Tello EDU version for budding coders.
Read our in-depth Ryze Tello review
(Image credit: Future)
3. DJI Mini 2
The best budget drone for beginners
Weight: 249g | Controller: Yes | Camera resolution: 12MP | Battery size: 2,250 mAh | Range: 5.8 GHz: 10km (FCC); 6km (SRRC)
One of our few complaints in our review of the DJI Mavic Mini was that it couldn't shoot 4K video – this excellent successor fixes that while giving us a few extra treats in the process. The Mini 2 has the same ultra-compact design as before, making it the joint-smallest drone in DJI's line-up, but comes with a new controller that boosts it range (thanks to Ocusync 2.0 connectivity) and delivers a more polished flying experience.
Like the Mavic Mini, it's packed with a generous selection of beginner-friendly QuickShot modes, which see the drone perform pre-programmed moves. But the Mini 2 offers more for pro snappers, too, thanks to the inclusion of raw photo shooting, while 4K video means the arrival of a boosted 100mbps bit-rate. While it remains a fine drone, it's worth bearing in mind that rumors about a possible DJI Mini 3 continue to swirl.
Read our in-depth DJI Mini 2 review
Last year's best Black Friday drone deals
To give you a taste of the kind of Black Friday drone deals we can expect to see, we've rounded the best ones we saw last year. The hottest deals in 2021 were on established drones like the DJI FPV Combo, and DJI Mavic Mini. But it's possible we'll see better ones across the board this year due to both growing competition for DJI from the likes of Autel and FIMI, plus the relative maturity of some great drones like the DJI Mavic Air 2, DJI Mavic Mini, and DJI Mini 2.
US: Best Black Friday drone deals last year
DJI Mavic Air Fly More Combo $1,149 $729 at Amazon
This deal offered 37% off the Fly More Combo for the DJI Mavic Air. It's now been succeeded by the Mavic Air 2, but this remains a very capable 4K drone – it has a 100Mbps bit-rate, HDR stills, and near-perfect obstacle avoidance. This bundle included three batteries and a shoulder bag among many other accessories.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom $1,439 $1,349 at Amazon
The Mavic 2 Zoom remains one of our favorite drones for one main reason – it's 24-48mm optical zoom, which lets you shoot videos of more distant subjects while maintaining a safe distance. Like the Mavic 2 Pro, it also has a lightweight, foldable design and QuickShot intelligent flight modes. This deal saved you $90 on its usual price.
Autel Evo II Plus On The Go Bundle $1,813 $1,595 at Autel
Autel has quickly built a reputation as a genuine DJI rival and the Evo II is an aerial powerhouse, with a 48MP sensor, 120Mbps bit-rate, and 40-minute battery life. This special Black Friday offer included two batteries, a shoulder bag, and five pairs of props, on top of the standard controller and drone itself, saving you $218 on the bundle's usual price.
Ryze Tello $99$89 at DJIThe perfect learner drone for anyone who wants to learn the basics of flying a quadcopter, the Ryze Tello also packs a camera that can shoot 720p video and 5MP stills. It came down to just $89 with this 10% off deal.
DJI Mavic Mini $399 $359 at DJI
DJI's little beginner-friendly drone got a $40 discount for Black Friday, which made it $90 cheaper than the Mini 2. While the latter brings 4K video, it's not a huge upgrade on 2019's Mavic Mini, which shoots superb gimbal-stabilized video and packs DJI's automated QuickShot modes, too.
DJI Mavic Air 2 $909 $799 at B&H Photo Video
Our number one drone didn't get too many discounts last year, but this bundle was one of the best. You got a free SanDisk 128GB Extreme UHS-1 microSDXC card, landing pad and an optics cleaning kit, along with our favorite drone around for beginners and hobbyists. The Mavic Air 2 shoots 4K/60p video and a much-improved battery life.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 $1,599 $1,519 at Amazon
If you tend to fly a lot in windy conditions and need pro-level image quality, the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is a great option. DJI's Phantom series has been overshadowed by its smaller Mavic cousins in recent years, but this drone's power, speed and highly responsive controls make it a fine alternative for pro photographers and videographers.
UK: Best Black Friday drone deals last year
DJI Mavic Mini Combo £459 £409 at Amazon
If you can afford it, we usually recommend getting the Fly More Combo bundles for DJI drones – and this Mavic Mini one was, like the standard bundle, also discounted by a decent 11% during Black Friday last year. It comes with three batteries, a carry bag, a two-way charging hub, and 360-degree prop guards, among other accessories.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro £1,349 £1,179 at Maplin
This was the lowest price available anywhere in the UK for the Mavic 2 Pro, which remains our top pick for those who need a travel-friendly drone with pro-level image quality. It has a large, one-inch sensor and a handy adjustable aperture, plus all of DJI's usual automated flying modes.
Ryze Tello £99 £89 at DJI
Looking for a learner drone to teach you all the flying basics while capturing 720p video? The Ryze Tello is the best around and it came down to only £89 in this 10% off deal last year. Its app comes with automatic take-off and landing controls, along with some nifty tricks like 'throw and go'.
DJI Mavic Mini £369.99 £329 at Amazon
This tiny drone is a superb choice for beginners and hit its lowest ever price during Black Friday last year. The Mavic Mini has now been succeeded by the DJI Mini 2, but we reckon it's better value if you don't need the latter's 4K video shooting. Its 12MP, the gimbal-stabilized camera shoots excellent video, and you get DJI's superb QuickShot modes for automated flying maneuvers.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom £1,099 £949 at Currys
This DJI drone has one killer feature – it's 24-48mm optical zoom, which lets you shoot video of people while maintaining a safe distance. The Mavic 2 Zoom isn't a one-trick pony either, with its lightweight, foldable design and intelligent flight modes making it one of favorite fliers. This excellent deal saves you £150.
Recommend
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK