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Smartphone Controlled Drone Market Analysis

ID: MRFR//4807-HCR | 100 Pages | Author: Swapnil Palwe| September 2024

The Smartphone Controlled Drone Market is characterized by the intersection of two rapidly evolving technologies – smartphones and drones. This market's dynamics are shaped by consumer demand for user-friendly drone experiences, technological advancements in both smartphone and drone technologies, and the growing popularity of aerial photography and recreational drone use. One of the primary drivers influencing the market is the widespread availability and functionality of smartphones. The integration of smartphones with drone control apps has democratized drone usage, making it accessible to a broader audience. Consumers can now easily operate and control drones using their smartphones, eliminating the need for complex remote controllers and enhancing the overall user experience.

Technological innovation in both smartphones and drones contributes significantly to the market dynamics. As smartphones become more powerful, equipped with advanced processors and sensors, they provide a seamless interface for controlling drones. Simultaneously, drone manufacturers continually enhance their products with features like GPS navigation, obstacle avoidance, and automated flight modes, all of which can be easily accessed and controlled through smartphone apps. This mutual evolution fosters a symbiotic relationship between smartphones and drones, driving the market forward.

Consumer preferences for aerial photography, videography, and recreational drone use influence the market dynamics of smartphone-controlled drones. The demand for drones that offer high-quality cameras and intuitive controls through smartphone apps has surged. Manufacturers cater to these preferences by developing drones with advanced imaging capabilities, gesture controls, and easy-to-use mobile applications. The emphasis on user-friendly features aligns with the growing interest in capturing stunning aerial visuals for personal and professional use.

The competitive landscape among drone manufacturers shapes the market dynamics of smartphone-controlled drones. Companies vie to offer drones with cutting-edge features, longer flight times, and superior camera capabilities, all seamlessly integrated with smartphone control applications. This competition fosters innovation and encourages manufacturers to push the boundaries of drone technology to stay ahead in the market.

Regulatory considerations also impact the Smartphone Controlled Drone Market dynamics. As governments worldwide establish rules and regulations for drone operations, manufacturers must ensure that their smartphone-controlled drones comply with these standards. This includes incorporating safety features, geo-fencing capabilities, and adherence to flight altitude restrictions. Changes in regulations may influence the design and functionalities of smartphone apps that control drones, requiring manufacturers to update their software accordingly.

The affordability and accessibility of smartphone-controlled drones contribute to their widespread adoption. Compared to professional-grade drones with dedicated controllers, these consumer-oriented drones are often more budget-friendly. This affordability factor, coupled with the convenience of using smartphones as controllers, makes smartphone-controlled drones an attractive option for a broad range of consumers, from hobbyists to photography enthusiasts.

The role of smartphones as not just controllers but also as a display for live streaming and monitoring enhances the overall user experience, influencing the market dynamics. The ability to view real-time footage from the drone's camera on the smartphone screen adds an immersive element to the flying experience. Manufacturers leverage this feature to attract consumers who value live streaming capabilities for aerial photography, videography, or even immersive first-person-view (FPV) flying.

Smartphone Controlled Drone Market Overview 


Smartphone-Controlled Drone Market is estimated to register the highest CAGR of around 18% during the forecast period, by 2032.


Smartphone-Controlled Drone Market has been growing significantly in the last few years. With the continuous evolution of drone technology, manufacturers are bringing in more advanced drones to the market every few months. Earlier drones were primarily used for military purposes, whereas they are now mostly are used for commercial and personal purposes. Currently, the use of drones operated by smartphones has increased drastically due to the drones are easy to control by using a smartphone. To fly drones using a smartphone, the user must download a mobile phone app and sync it with the drone. These apps are easily available for both Android phones and iOS users, which make such drones popular.


The advantage of smartphone-controlled drones over other drones is that these are extremely easy to use. They feature an HD camera that streams video to the user’s phone and is less expensive as compared to other drones. The restraints to this market are short per-battery flight time and difficulty in operating during poor weather conditions.


Segmentation of the Global Smartphone Controlled Drone Market  


The global smartphone-controlled drone market has been segmented into component, application, range, and region. Based on component, the global market has been segmented into airframe, controller & navigation system, propulsion system, and others. The controller & navigation system segment is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing development of the controller & navigation system of the smartphone-controlled drone by major manufacturers globally.


Based on application, the global market has been divided into commercial and personal. The personal segment is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing use of drones for personal use.


Based on range, the global market has been bifurcated into less than 150 meters and more than 150 meters. The less than 150 meters segment is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing demand for short-range smartphone-controlled drones in the last few years.


Based on region, the global market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The North American market comprises the US and Canada. North America dominated the smartphone-controlled drone market in 2017, due to the increased applications of drones. The region leads the global market in terms of technological advancements, purchasing power, and has a large number of applications of drones, such as recreational photography & videography and drone racing & sports. Europe accounted for the second-largest market share in 2018. The key drivers for the market in this region are the increasing joint ventures and partnerships and rapid technological advancements. Asia-Pacific was a prominent market for smartphone-controlled drones in 2018. A key factor driving the growth of the market is the availability of low-cost drones in the region. In China, there are several smartphone-controlled drone manufacturers who are focusing on reducing the drone weight by using lightweight fiber materials, focusing on the aesthetic features and ergonomics of drones, and designing user-friendly drones.


Key Players


The key players in the global smartphone-controlled drone market are 3DR (US), CONTIXO (US), DBPOWER (China), DJI (China), Draganfly Innovations Inc. (Canada), GoPro, Inc. (US), Guangdong Cheerson Hobby Technology Company Limited (China), Kidcia (China), and Parrot Drones SAS (France).


Research Methodology


The market values and forecast are derived using the Market Research Future (MRFR) research methodology, which includes secondary research, primary interviews, data triangulation, and validation from an in-house data repository and statistical modeling tools.



  • Secondary Research


In this process, data is collected from various secondary sources, including annual reports, SEC filings, journals, government associations, aerospace & defense magazines, white papers, corporate presentations, company websites, and paid databases.



  • Primary Research


In this process, both the demand- and supply-side parties are interviewed to extract facts and insights into the market forecast, production, trends, and projected market growth. Industry stakeholders such as CEOs, VPs, directors, and marketing executives across the value chain are approached to obtain key information.


Key Insights




  • Market sizing, forecast, and analysis: detailed coverage of the market segment and sub-segments




  • Regional/country trends and forecast: detailed analysis of the market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America, along with key countries in each region




  • Market dynamics intelligence: market drivers, opportunities, trends, restraints, Porter’s five forces, supply chain, and value chain analysis




  • Technology trends, regulatory landscape, and patent analysis outlook




  • Competitive intelligence: market share analysis, financial analysis, product benchmarking, and strategic developments including joint ventures, product launches, and mergers & acquisitions




  • Regional attractiveness and related growth opportunities




Report Customization


MRFR offers report customization to valued customers. Below are the options available for customization:



  • Company Profiles


In-depth profiling of additional market players (3 to 4 companies)



  • Country-Level Analysis


Detailed analysis of a country-level market and related segments as per the report scope (subject to data availability)


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