Confirmed - Skydio IS getting out of the consumer market

[kenmavic2zoom]

Well, I'm glad I purchased three of these things, (2) S2's and (1) S2+. They have performed well for me and I'm while I'm disappointed, they are leaving the consumer market I feel lucky to have them at all.

For those who feel ripped off I foresee a strong market to sell your S2.

One S2+ and 4 batteries, I'm feeling pretty ok with what I have as well. Not a lot of risk but I don't feel so comfortable with just one controller and especially with just one beacon. *Thinking* about a backup beacon since let's be honest, these drones are nothing special without the beacon and the superior OA.

 

[kenmavic2zoom]

Wow! US$3,700+

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[Ridefreak]

It’s unfortunate that they announced the abandoning of the consumer line AFTER they sold all inventory, which would have given us early adapters an informed opportunity to upgrade with their remaining inventory. Had I known that the 2+ was the last consumer version offered, I and many other Skydio 2 owners would have upgraded to the + instead of waiting for the much-anticipated Skydio 3 that we were all expecting. By doing this, they took away our options. A harsh and careless way to treat their initial customer base that enabled their new enterprise strategy.

I now take back every outstanding review I have given (many on DJI forums) of Skydio’s outstanding customer support.

Shame on them for leading us into this situation.

I never felt the need or desire to upgrade to the 2+, I don't push the limits on it's range, I can't see the one I have now when it's far out considering it's a blue drone flying in a blue sky. I do wish I'd bought a spare one though. My experience is they've always had outstanding customer support, answered my responses quickly and even replaced my drone with a brand new one 1 year out of warranty after an incident despite the drone still flying fine. I'm disappointed they stopped selling to the public but they've not given me any reasons to be mad at them for a corporate decision that was related to their liquidity.

 

[kenmavic2zoom]

How's it going? Is everyone seeing the Skydio resale values on eBay currently north of US$3,000 for used drone kits? Are we still resisting or holding out for higher? Everyone has their price, how high will it go before you sell yours?

For a drone I only fly about a half dozen times a year and have no idea what the future will be, I wonder what to do? What if DJI comes out with a drone with AI and OA that equals or rivals the Skydio 2 then where are we?

 

[paularity]

How's it going? Is everyone seeing the Skydio resale values on eBay currently north of US$3,000 for used drone kits? Are we still resisting or holding out for higher? Everyone has their price, how high will it go before you sell yours?

For a drone I only fly about a half dozen times a year and have no idea what the future will be, I wonder what to do? What if DJI comes out with a drone with AI and OA that equals or rivals the Skydio 2 then where are we?

I haven't seen any going for that high

I'd flip it if I was in your position, in very few other cases has a dated bit of consumer tech appreciated in value

I still use my personal S2+ all the time and just had to fork out for a replacement which cost ~$2300AUD (inc 10% duty) just for the airframe!

It will be a sad day when this one bites it

 

[BlueHeeler]

I still use mine

 

[Ridefreak]

When I heard they were ditching the consumer market I bought a spare from a nice person on here (thanks!). There's no other drone that can do this especiayly for how @paularity and I use it; almost a 100% reliance on the drone's intelligence to get the shots and not crash. There's no other options.

Every other drone requires a controller in your hand and the ones that try to mimic the same capability as the SD are sorely lacking up to this point.

 

[Bstinson]

When I heard they were ditching the consumer market I bought a spare from a nice person on here (thanks!). There's no other drone that can do this especiayly for how @paularity and I use it; almost a 100% reliance on the drone's intelligence to get the shots and not crash. There's no other options.

Every other drone requires a controller in your hand and the ones that try to mimic the same capability as the SD are sorely lacking up to this point.

I went to a Skydio showing of the X10 a month back. They had a couple of engineers from Skydio on hand. They told me that they put the consumer market on hold to focus all their resources on the X10. However, they do have plans to return to the consumer market.

Another interesting tidbit I learned…. The difference between the 2+ and the 2+ Enterprise drone is the controller and software. If you are lucky enough to find a used enterprise controller, just hook you Skydio 2+ to it and it will download the enterprise software to the drone. He acted like I could just find one used on Facebook……. But that has not been the case.

I asked what they do with drones that are turned in from other government agencies? I was told that they are usually relabeled another brand and sold outside the US. I assume this is so they do not have to compete against the used drone market. He did not share the rebranding info.

I will say that the X10 is a phenomenal drone but very pricey. I have the DJI M30T and is only about a third of the cost of the X10. Really hard to drop that much cash for the X10. Especially when I can get parts for the M30T but nothing for the X10.

Just my two cents.

 

[Ridefreak]

Thanks for the info, it's promising that they may return to the consumer market.

 

[BlueHeeler]

Interesting information ( to me anyways ) .

Thank You , Bstinson

 

[gsrider]

I went to a Skydio showing of the X10 a month back. They had a couple of engineers from Skydio on hand. They told me that they put the consumer market on hold to focus all their resources on the X10. However, they do have plans to return to the consumer market.

Another interesting tidbit I learned…. The difference between the 2+ and the 2+ Enterprise drone is the controller and software. If you are lucky enough to find a used enterprise controller, just hook you Skydio 2+ to it and it will download the enterprise software to the drone. He acted like I could just find one used on Facebook……. But that has not been the case.

I asked what they do with drones that are turned in from other government agencies? I was told that they are usually relabeled another brand and sold outside the US. I assume this is so they do not have to compete against the used drone market. He did not share the rebranding info.

I will say that the X10 is a phenomenal drone but very pricey. I have the DJI M30T and is only about a third of the cost of the X10. Really hard to drop that much cash for the X10. Especially when I can get parts for the M30T but nothing for the X10.

Just my two cents.

If Skydio does return to the consumer market, they will have to really up their game. After Skydio dropped out, I went to an Air 3 that, by comparison, makes the S2+ look primitive, in almost every way.

 

[BlueHeeler]

If Skydio does return to the consumer market, they will have to really up their game. After Skydio dropped out, I went to an Air 3 that, by comparison, makes the S2+ look primitive, in almost every

They'll probably up their game in a big way to make up for leaving us to hang out to dry in the first place, they certainly upset a lot of folks in this Hobby including me, it would be interesting on what, when and how they plan on winning us back.

 

[gsrider]

They'll probably up their game in a big way to make up for leaving us to hang out to dry in the first place, they certainly upset a lot of folks in this Hobby including me, it would be interesting on what, when and how they plan on winning us back.

Unfortunately, it has been my experience (for right or wrong) that people and companies who hang you out to dry once won't hesitate to do it again if they think conditions warrant it. Trust is a hard thing to win back.

 

[Ridefreak]

If Skydio does return to the consumer market, they will have to really up their game. After Skydio dropped out, I went to an Air 3 that, by comparison, makes the S2+ look primitive, in almost every way.

How do you like it for filming your motorcycle rides?
I've come to really like my 2 DJIs, especially their long battery life, small package (mini 3 & 4) and their camera superiority is obvious. After quite a few flights with all of them I grab the DJIs when I'm planning scenic shots or places where I can operate it's controller, the sd2 can't compare for that kind of use. If I'm riding or moving in a vehicle where I can't operate a controller or need autonomous flight it's the SD2, DJIs active track works poorly in comparison.

I'd really like a one drone does it all solution and the small size of the mini is perfect for carrying on a moto, far better then the SD2 but DJIs is OA and tracking still can't compete with the SD2. I've tried to use the DJIs in that manner more than a few times and have always came away frustrated and with allot less usable footage then the SD2. For most users active track works well enough, in my case if I'm able to operate a controller (not riding or driving) I much prefer the DJI, if I'm moving it's the SD2.

 

[gsrider]

How do you like it for filming your motorcycle rides?
I've come to really like my 2 DJIs, especially their long battery life, small package (mini 3 & 4) and their camera superiority is obvious. After quite a few flights with all of them I grab the DJIs when I'm planning scenic shots or places where I can operate it's controller, the sd2 can't compare for that kind of use. If I'm riding or moving in a vehicle where I can't operate a controller or need autonomous flight it's the SD2, DJIs active track works poorly in comparison.

I'd really like a one drone does it all solution and the small size of the mini is perfect for carrying on a moto, far better then the SD2 but DJIs is OA and tracking still can't compete with the SD2. I've tried to use the DJIs in that manner more than a few times and have always came away frustrated and with allot less usable footage then the SD2. For most users active track works well enough, in my case if I'm able to operate a controller (not riding or driving) I much prefer the DJI, if I'm moving it's the SD2.

I don't film my motorcycle rides. Rather I use the drone to explore and take photos/videos of things I see while out riding. The great range, two cameras, controls customization across the 3 flight modes, computer connectivity, compactness and packaging, recharging pack, etc. make it the perfect "flying camera" when I come across interesting things. Unfortunately, the S2 isn't in the same league. for what I do.

 

[anthonydotcom]

I recently sold my S2+ and solely use DJI's now. I finally just got fed up with the finicky software and the one trick pony thing just wasn't enough for me to keep it. But man when that thing was tracking me off-road through the forest it was in a complete league of its own. If Skydio ever made a S3, improved the signal strength, with at least a camera that could compete with the Mini3 Pro, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. I just couldn't justify keeping it for that one thing. Skydio, please get back into the consumer business. I mean right now there's DJI and who else? Autel maybe?

 

[gsrider]

Judging from the enormous features and performance gap between, say, my S2+ and my Air 3, I don't think Skydio will be a serious player in the commercial market for some time to come. Add in manufacturing costs, the economic climate and other related factors and I just don't see it happening. I really should sell my S2+, batteries and controller as they're comparatively useless.

 

[Ridefreak]

Judging from the enormous features and performance gap between, say, my S2+ and my Air 3, I don't think Skydio will be a serious player in the commercial market for some time to come. Add in manufacturing costs, the economic climate and other related factors and I just don't see it happening. I really should sell my S2+, batteries and controller as they're comparatively useless.

What you're basically saying is you like your air 3 better then the sd2. If you needed a scenery drone you made a mistake buying a SD2 in the first place, almost any of the DJI drones, not just the Air3 will be better at scenic photography.

If it's in nice condition you should be able to get most if not all of what you paid for it. I was recently offered $1400 for one of my SD2s which is quite a bit more than it cost me.

 

[gsrider]

What you're basically saying is you like your air 3 better then the sd2. If you needed a scenery drone you made a mistake buying a SD2 in the first place, almost any of the DJI drones, not just the Air3 will be better at scenic photography.

If it's in nice condition you should be able to get most if not all of what you paid for it. I was recently offered $1400 for one of my SD2s which is quite a bit more than it cost me.

Oh, the Air 3 is much more than just a scenery drone. It is more of an all-around, long range photo and video drone that I use for just about everything except following me around. Because of its range and controlability, I use it for photo/video of moving trains, interesting construction/demolition, exploring abandoned structures, etc.

As for the value of the S2 and/or S2+, I thank you for the information.