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You’ve heard about it, you’ve seen others doing it, and now it’s time to get a drone of your own. A quick glance at options makes you realize that you have some decisions to make, first of which is comprising a budget. Some models are hundreds while others thousands of dollars. How much should you shell out for your first drone?
RTF, ARF, Etc
The drone industry is filled with acronyms, so you’ll need to invest a bit of time in learning some of the lingo. For example, RTF or ready to fly drones are just about the closest thing you can find to something you can use out of the box. ARF stands for almost ready to fly and requires assembly and a bit of know-how. You may have to pay more for a drone that requires no assembly.
ARF, on the other hand, means “almost ready to fly.” This may require some assembly and usually don’t come with transmitter or receiver.
Ease of Flying
Get to know more about a drone’s flight controller. While you’re concerned about how much a drone costs, you should also be familiarized with how it flies. Your skill level and preference will play into how much you’re willing to spend now versus what you want to put into an upgrade in the future. You want to have fun with your drone rather than be frustrated about how to fly it.
Under $200
If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to think about the punishment for having little flying experience. If you invest in an expensive drone and you damage or destroy it, you’ll only have yourself and your lack of flying experience to blame. Therefore, cheaper models are usually reserved for beginners who adopt either of two directions. You can invest in a small model that allows for some control and maneuvering, or you can invest in a larger model that is limited in features. Either direction asks for a minimal investment while providing beginners with experience. Shop for the best drones under $200.
Under $700
At this price point, you can find models that host some advanced features. However, like a beginner, those with a bit of experience should not be bewitched by what looks cool or the latest developments in drone technology. Rather, someone looking to invest this amount should be thinking about how this drone can prepare them for later investments.
Under $1200
A person looking to spend over $1000 should have considerable flying experience, enough that there is minimal risk of them making a mistake that could damage their model. Moreover, those who are looking to make such an investment may want to consider ways to make money from owning a drone, such as working for a marketing company or a hotel.
Over $1200
There’s no need to spend so much money unless you’re a total drone junkie, you have more than a couple years of experience, and you are aware of ways to make a side or full-time income from your drone. There’s plenty of opportunities to pour money into drones in order to make them have longer ranges, fly faster, turn harder, etc.