Early Black Friday Drone Deals: DJI and Rivals

Black Friday drone deals have barely started, but we’re already seeing some great early offers on not just prosumer-friendly drones and drone bundles, but also entry-level flyers and a lot of seriously creator-friendly kits from DJI, Holy Stone, Autel Robotics and Zero Zero Robotics.

Price trackers like Keepa and Camelcamelcamel indicate fresh or near-record lows on popular bundles, and retailers are quietly tossing in extra batteries, prop guards and cases to sweeten the pot. If you’ve been hoping to upgrade your aerial camera arsenal, or make that first purchase for a pro drone, look no further than the Autel Robotics EVO Drone.

Two forces are behind the markdowns: brutal competition in the sub-250g category and a mad dash to clear inventory before next-wave models hit. The sub-250g segment is important because for recreational fliers in the U.S. you generally do not need to register these drones with the FAA and most of them are now Remote ID compatible out of the box. That dynamic sustains the pressure for toys, and discounts that matter, each holiday season.

The Best DJI Deals and What They Mean for Buyers

DJI’s doorbuster action is focused on the Mini series and its FPV bundles. One of the fly-aways of all-flyer drones, gaze upon and gasp at that 399g Mini 4K, which has seen Olympic-grade bundles this year (sometimes on two batteries with a case) dropping like Sonic’s rings. Midrange producers should look out for Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 Fly More kits, which have recently trended downward by $100–$200, depending on controller options, based on Camelcamelcamel’s historical pricing. The FPV crowd, on the other hand, can find themselves hooking up three-battery Avata 2 bundles with goggles cut down by triple-digit savings.

Features to focus on when you’re hunting: a 1/1.3-inch sensor for benefiting low light, 10-bit color profiles (like D-Log M) if you grade footage, and tri- or omnidirectional obstacle avoidance if you fly in tight spaces.

Care Refresh protection plans from DJI can also be worth it for new pilots; look up the activation windows and terms that cover accidental damage before checkout.

One last thing for U.S. customers: discussions about Chinese-made drones remain active in Washington, D.C., with measures such as the Countering CCP Drones Act getting attention. Consumer sales are still legal, but uncertainty can spike demand around holiday sales. If DJI is your goal, early carts beat late crowds.

Holy Stone Deals for New Pilots and First-Time Buyers

Holy Stone’s early Black Friday pricing is a direct offer to outflank first-time DJI purchasers. The HS720G and HS700E bundles regularly dip far below their list price, and nearly always come with a second battery. You will receive electronic image stabilization, GPS-positioned “return to home,” and foldable designs suitable for travel. The trade-off, however, is that most Holy Stone models use EIS instead of a traditional 3-axis mechanical gimbal — footage can end up looking more action-cam than cinema-cam in choppy wind.

If you’re shopping for a young flyer, or just practicing indoors, Holy Stone’s mini quadcopters are the cheapest safe bet. Look for prop guards and low-battery auto landing. A $5 to $20 savings add up at this price bracket, and you can never have too many props or a carrying case.

ICYMI: Watch These Autel and HoverAir Deals This Week

Autel Robotics is often the shadow play to DJI in price cuts, but it competes very hard on specs. Don’t sleep on the EVO Nano+ during this sales window, with its 1/1.28-inch sensor and very strong low-light chops in a sub-250g form factor. Shoppers looking for more dynamic range and neutral density filters will want to keep an eye out for EVO Lite+ deals; its battery-and-case bundles frequently see the biggest cuts.

For those who miss the opportunity to enjoy truly pocketable filming, Zero Zero Robotics’ HoverAir X1 has dipped during early Black Friday pricing. It’s a palm-launch, follow-me “personal cameraman” with preprogrammed shots and social-friendly sensibilities. It’s not going to replace a gimbal drone for landscape work, but for solo creators who want super-speedy clips without the need to master video game joystick skills, a $20–$50 dip might make this an easy add-to-cart.

How to Pick the Right Drone Sale for Your Needs

Tailor the deal to your flying. When considering a travel-specific umbrella, weight — under 250g — wind resistance (Level 5 strength or stronger), and a compact charging option for the battery should be your primary focus. Budding filmmakers will want a 1/1.3-inch sensor or larger, a true 3-axis gimbal, 10-bit color and at least 40 minutes’ rated flight time. Beginner-friendly FPV newbies should look for goggles included and even simulator support, to reduce crashing while learning.

Check compliance and airspace. The FAA mandates the free TRUST safety test for recreational flying and will require Remote ID of most drones; a lot of DJI and Autel models out now already broadcast Remote ID. Consult the FAA’s B4UFLY app or a reputable airspace map before takeoff. Make sure you can fly where you travel; check class markings (C0–C1) are a go in the EU.

Sensible Tips From a Smart Shopper for the Ideal Buy

Bundle math matters. A spare battery, ND filters and a shoulder bag can all add 10–20% on top of the headline price. Verify warranty status and region codes to avoid gray-market unpleasantness, and purchase and/or activate all protection plans within the necessary period of time. Open-box from decent retailers may also be stellar finds, presuming they come with the manufacturer warranty and can demonstrate a low cycle count for any batteries.

Finally, check discounts against the 90-day price history with independent trackers — not just strike-through tags. Consumer Reports and Drone Industry Insights say that the steepest drone markdowns generally converge in this time frame, but the very best bundles are also those most likely to sell out early. If it fits your use and the price dips to a previous low, waiting can cost you more than the discount it will bring.

Quick Picks by Use Case for Different Drone Shoppers

• Traveling and vlogging: DJI Mini 4 Pro or Autel EVO Nano+ for stable 4K, good subject tracking, and sub-250g convenience.
• Budget starters: Holy Stone HS720G bundle for GPS stability, EIS video, and two batteries at a starter price.
• FPV curiosity: DJI Avata 2 kits that come with goggles and extra batteries, for no downtime learning in simulators and practice.
• Hands-free social clips: HoverAir X1 combo if you’d like quick follow shots and orbit videos without having to learn to fly manually.

Bottom line: early Black Friday is bringing some honest-to-goodness drone value across brands. Secure the bundle that suits your application, verify warranty and compliance information, and get into the air while we still have some of this fantastic inventory on hand.