If you are shopping for a holiday gift for someone special, you may be comparing a drone vs a hoverboard. The best hoverboards may be a heck of a lot of fun, but they can’t fly, whereas drones can. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of drones and hoverboards.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- When it comes to gift-giving, both drones and hoverboards are a great option for kids and adults alike.
- Drones will be the safer option, as they are remote-controlled and offer little to no risk of injury.
- Drones could, however, be easily lost or damaged if the batteries conk out during use, causing them to fall to the ground from a high altitude.
Differences Between Drones and Hoverboards
The obvious difference between the two is that a drone is meant for remote control whereas self-balancing scooters/hoverboards are vehicles used by a rider. In other words, they are completely different whereas you will find similarities when comparing, say, an electric skateboard vs. a hoverboard.
Here are some of the differences between drones and self-balancing scooters/hoverboards to consider when thinking about a holiday or birthday gift.
Safety
There is no way around it. Drones are safer than hoverboards. When piloting a remote-controlled drone, there are virtually zero risks of accidental injury to the pilot. They will be far away, after all, on their smartphone or the included remote control. There are plenty of risks associated with hoverboard use, as these are moving vehicles that can sometimes zip up to 12 miles per hour (or faster in some cases). Hoverboard accidents do happen, so we advise you to gear up with protective items, such as a helmet and knee pads.
Risk of Loss or Damage
Drones are easier to lose, especially if the batteries conk out mid-flight. The consumer drone could fall into a neighbor’s yard, a random field, or in the middle of a busy highway. On that note, many drones are built to survive freefalls, but even the heartiest models will become damaged eventually. Hoverboards, on the other hand, are considered to be exceptionally durable and are at little risk of loss or theft, as the rider will be on top of it during use. To further minimize these risks, always bring your hoverboard in with you after you are done riding it.
Tricks
Both drones and hoverboards can perform tricks, but hoverboard tricks may be more impressive as there is more skill involved. One may learn how to drift on a hoverboard, wowing family and friends, whereas performing barrel rolls with a drone is slightly less impressive, though still pretty cool.
Insider Tip
Always make sure that your drone’s batteries are fully charged, so as to minimize the risk of the batteries running out midflight.
F.A.Q.
What are drones used for?
Drones come in a variety of colors and have many uses, as the business of drones is varied. There is the giant drone, which can actually transport objects and tend to feature a custom carbon fiber structure, and there is the autonomous selfie drone. There are also extremely fast drones, though none will break the speed of sound.
Are hoverboards flying?
Hoverboards do not fly, yet, despite what the denizens of Times Square would have you believe. Some companies have claimed to have cracked the code and created a flying hoverboard, but the jury is still out.
How much does a hoverboard drone cost?
A company called Omni has created a hoverboard drone that can be used by a rider, like the Green Goblin, though it costs around $12,000 to $18,000.
STAT: Shopping searches for drones are up 80% over the past year, and they’re the highest in California. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://blog.google/products/shopping/from-hoverboards-to-adult-onesies-gifts/
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/drone-nerds-recalls-selfbalancing-scootershoverboards-due-to-fire-and-explosion-hazards
- https://omnihoverboards.com/r
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-balancing_scooter
- https://www.wikihow.com/Fly-a-Small-Drone
