UPDATED 07:42 EST / APRIL 11 2017

EMERGING TECH

US drone sales are going through the roof, doubling from last year

U.S. drone sales more than doubled from February 2016 to February 2017, according to a report from the NPD group released on Tuesday.

In spite of drones being considered a rather expensive gadget, the report revealed that high-end drones were in demand. “Drones with a price tag over $300 drove 84 percent of dollar sales and nearly 40 percent of unit sales,” said the report, adding that, “drones sold for $1,000+ saw the highest rate of sales.”

Mid-range drones accounted for the second highest rate of sales, with consumers paying attention to certain features. The report found that drones in this price range sold five times more quickly if they came with an autopilot function. Even more in demand is the “follow” function — the ability to program the drone to follow its user — with those drones selling 19 times more quickly than those without that function.

“While 2017 will see mid-tier and entry level drones (priced under $300) continue to drive unit demand, new form factors and innovations in sensing and imaging technology will help meet the needs of premium drone buyers,” said Ben Arnold, executive director and industry analyst for The NPD Group Inc.

The report also stated that low-cost drones were in demand over the holiday season from November to December, with entry level drones being a popular holiday gift. Nonetheless, less complex drones at this price don’t generally get onto any “best of” lists. PCMag’s best drones of 2017 only included one drone under $500, and that was DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard with a price tag of $494.

It may not be too long until an unmanned aerial vehicle becomes a regular household feature in the U.S. It’s predicted that by 2020 there will be around 7 million drones in the U.S., with the projected value of the drone industry being $90 billion in 2025.

Image: Andrew Turner via Flickr

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