
Temu, the Chinese language e-commerce platform recognized for its shockingly low costs, rocketed into American consciousness with its splashy Tremendous Bowl 2024 advert blitz. However can drone pilots belief this newcomer for getting drones? We at The Drone Woman donned our skepticism goggles and dug deep to see if Temu takes flight or crashes and burns.
Temu’s attract: rock-bottom costs and countless selection
Temu is a web based market that sells a variety of merchandise, from toys and garments to, sure, drones. Operated by Chinese language e-commerce firm PDD Holdings, it sells closely discounted items that are principally shipped to shoppers instantly from China. Temu lists dozens of drones at a fraction of the worth you’d discover at established retailers. You’ll be able to conduct a practically-infinite scroll of Temu to discover a lengthy listing of drones. Many drones price beneath $50. Many, many extra price beneath $100.
Temu itself isn’t a producer. As a substitute, China-based distributors publish their items on the positioning, which they promote and ship on to prospects. The direct-to-consumer transport is one cause why the products are so low cost. And let’s face it, many drone pilots budget-conscious fans. With that, Temu’s siren tune is plain. However it additionally implies that high quality can range.
Temu drones: how is the standard and security?

Temu drones come from many, many various drone makers — none of that are large names. As of this writing, you gained’t discover a DJI drone or Autel drone on its web site. In truth, not a single drone in my information to the greatest digicam drones may be bought on Temu. For these particular manufacturers, you’ll should go to extra established and respected on-line sellers like Amazon or B&H Picture, or credible drone interest retailers like GetFPV.
Temu drones come from firms that we’ve largely by no means heard of. With so many various makers, high quality is definitely fairly troublesome to manage, and it may be painfully inconsistent. Drone Woman has by no means independently reviewed drones from Temu. We are likely to keep away from recommending merchandise from obscure manufacturers for causes together with that spare elements and assist is perhaps nonexistent.
So far as the Temu web site as an entire? Temu lacks accreditation from the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) which isn’t essentially a foul factor by itself. That stated, a excessive BBB score is an efficient signal, so to not have one generally is a purple flag.
However it doesn’t cease there, as buyer critiques throughout a variety of merchandise paint a blended image. Complaints vary from shoddy high quality to gadgets by no means arriving, elevating questions on product security and reliability.
A 2022 Time Journal article cited undelivered packages, mysterious prices, incorrect orders, and unresponsive customer support. Equally, a 2023 TechCrunch article famous scammy listings, broken and delayed deliveries, incorrect orders and lack of customer support.
Are Temu drones secure?
For what it’s value, just about something you’ll discover on Temu is a toy drone. Generally, toy drones — that are light-weight and restricted in vary — pose minimal security dangers.
Many drones bought on Temu even weight lower than 250 grams. Drones beneath 250 grams are an enormous deal for quite a few causes that largely chalk as much as a vital security threshold. Within the early 2010s, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested a committee of aviation and drone specialists to find out the minimal weight of a drone that leisure drone pilots ought to be required to register their drones, centered across the idea that higher-risk drones would should be registered whereas decrease threat ‘toy’ drones wouldn’t should be. The committee employed advanced formulation involving kinetic vitality and terminal velocity to find out that 250 grams was a transparent threshold for what constituted a secure vs unsafe flight.
After all, any drone with spinning propellers is a few type of threat, and even ‘toy’ drones ought to solely be given responsibly to kids (e.g. used beneath grownup supervision). However, it’s unlikely a toy drone may trigger severe injury.
In the event you do purchase a toy drone from Temu, prioritize these with security options like propeller guards, like these seen on the Tomzon Mini Drone. Even higher, search for drones with full propeller cages as seen on merchandise just like the HoverAir X1.
We do like low cost, toy drones

For what it’s value, the Drone Woman staff typically does respect the proliferation of low cost, toy drones. I all the time suggest novice pilots be taught on an inexpensive follow drone. For starters, you’d slightly crash your $20 Temu drone right into a pool than your $2,200 DJI Mavic 3. And that’s not the one cause to begin on an inexpensive toy drone.
Low cost follow drones are sometimes tougher to discover ways to fly than costly, higher-end drones which have automated management software program that permits the drones to takeoff and touchdown. That’s factor. Simply as you wouldn’t get within the driver’s seat of a self-driving Tesla with out first studying the best way to drive in your mother’s outdated Honda Civic, proper, the identical goes for drones. Even when a drone can fly itself, be ready in case you could take management. One of the simplest ways to try this is to be taught to fly the laborious method on an inexpensive follow drone.
Temu: skip or embrace?
For now, we’re nonetheless saying skip. Whereas I like the thought of newbies getting their arms on an inexpensive, follow drone, there are additionally loads of drones on the market on different websites like Amazon.
Whereas Amazon has its personal points (and loads of its toy drones aren’t precisely high-quality both), the corporate as an entire has a a lot stronger status. Different nice causes to purchase drones on Amazon?
- Returns are simple: In the event you don’t like what to procure, Amazon sends you transport labels to cowl the transport price, or you may merely print again the returned gadgets to the Buyer Service desk at Entire Meals which may be even simpler.
- Refunds are quick: Count on the cash again to your account inside 3-5 days of the return being processed.
- Delivery is even quicker: Most orders arrive in 2 days. Some may even are available two hours.
- Offers are even higher for loyal prospects: Loyal prospects usually can profit from changing into an Amazon Prime member. Although Amazon Prime membership prices $139 yearly, it comes with further advantages like quicker transport (or coupons in the event you opt-out of quick transport), free picture and video storage, entry to offers on Amazon Prime Day, Prime Gaming and extra.
- Potential to avoid wasting with an Amazon bank card: As a Prime member, you’re eligible to use for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. The largest advantage of that card is 5% again on purchases at Amazon and Entire Meals. Even higher, the cardboard has a $0 annual charge.
Certain, Temu has ridiculously low cost costs. They typically supply free transport, too. However in the event you choose to purchase a drone (or the rest on Temu), use warning. The danger averse have loads of different locations to purchase drones from.
Have you ever shopped on Temu earlier than? Depart a remark about your expertise!
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