You’re about to purchase a new DJI drone and are unsure whether it will be beneficial to add the DJI Care Refresh option. You’re in the right spot!

Is DJI care refresh worth it? For the more expensive DJI drone models, such as the Mavic 2, Phantom 4 Pro, or Inspire 2, in my opinion, DJI Care Refresh is unquestionably worthwhile. I’m more likely to pass on entry-level models, like the Mini 2 or Mavic Air 2.

We’ll go into some specifics about costs so you can decide whether DJI Care Refresh is worthwhile for you. But first, a little background knowledge.

What is DJI Care Refresh?

For a limited number of DJI products, DJI Care Refresh essentially functions as an insurance policy against physical damage, providing up to two replacement units during the plan’s 12-month period of coverage. The performance and dependability of replacement units are guaranteed to be new or new-like. You have the choice to add DJI Care Refresh when you buy a DJI drone from an authorized seller, either right away or within 48 hours of the purchase.

How Much Does DJI Care Refresh Cost?

What you’re buying will determine how much DJI Care Refresh will cost you. Like with most insurance, the cost of coverage is directly proportional to the item’s value. DJI Care Refresh’s initial cost is therefore lower for lower-end products and higher for more expensive items of equipment.

However, it goes further than that. In the event that you should need to replace a damaged drone after purchasing DJI Care Refresh, you will still be required to pay a replacement fee. If you’d like, you could compare it to a copay. Depending on the model, the price for your first replacement will typically be a little lower than the price you paid to buy the plan. Should you have the misfortune to require a second replacement, the price difference between the two is marginal.

How Does DJI Care Refresh Work?

A drone and Care Refresh can both be purchased as insurance packages. Two replacement units in new or comparable condition are available to customers. They will work as well as the original purchase and be equally dependable.

You are covered by the plan for a maximum of a year following your initial purchase. It also includes a number of accidents that we will talk about later. You will only need to pay a small fee for your first replacement when using DJI Refresh, and a higher fee for your second replacement.

A drone accident can be quickly repaired online. You can send your drone (shipping is free) and pay the minimal replacement fee to receive a replacement drone in the mail.

Read More: What Does Sport Mode Do On DJI Drones?

What Situations Would DJI Care Refresh Come in Handy?

You never know when you might need DJI Care Refresh as a drone pilot. However, there are some general situations in which this service would come in handy:

Any level of experience can benefit from DJI Care Refresh. Knowing that your drone is protected to some extent in case something unfortunate happens gives you peace of mind. It is particularly useful for amateurs and experts who fly in challenging or unpredictable conditions.

For Beginner Pilots

A drone’s initial flight can be difficult. If you’re not careful, a few mishaps in the air could quickly reduce your prized possession to an expensive paperweight. Therefore, DJI Care Refresh would be the best option for you if you are just starting to fly drones.

If You Fly Often & Live in a Not-So Safe Area

There is no assurance that accidents won’t occur, even if you have experience flying drones. If you fly frequently and live in a dangerous area, DJI Care Refresh is the best option. There’s a good chance you’ll crash one of these days if your home is close to any trees or power lines.

What’s Covered and What’s Not?

Reading the small print is crucial, as it is with most things. Knowing what is covered and what is not covered is a crucial component of that.

Covered Damage

• Signal loss or interference that resulted in a crash
• Collisions
• Accidents
• Dropping your drone
• Water damage
• Operator error resulting in damage
• Flyaways*

It’s important to note that while flyaway situations are covered by DJI Care Refresh, it only applies to the Mini 2 and the Mavic Air 2, and even then, there are conditions that must be met. The remote controller and the aircraft must both have been bound to the DJI service plan in the beginning. This is done in order for the controller to be able to produce a flyaway report demonstrating that the aircraft did, in fact, fly away and wasn’t stolen or lost.

Second, in addition to the standard product replacement fee in the event of damage, there is a flyaway replacement fee. The Flyaway replacement cost for the Mini 2 is $225. The Mavic Air 2 replacement cost with Flyaway is $399.

What’s Not Covered

• Flyaways (with the exception of the Mini 2 and the Mavic Air 2)
• Lost drones (including water loss)
• Stolen, forgotten or abandoned drones
• Deliberate loss or damage
• DIY repair attempts
• Remote controller
• Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect function or reliability

I’m still not sure if DJI Care Refresh is really worth the price because of a few topics that aren’t covered here. I can appreciate the challenge they face because, in the case of Flyaways, DJI may not be able to determine the root of the issue without a physical drone to send to the repair facility. But shouldn’t that be covered for all models if a drone had a flyaway event (without the operator’s fault) and it vanished? Additionally, the models that do offer flyaway replacement come with a fairly high replacement cost. It appears that DJI wants to fix and refurbish the majority of the damaged models that are sent in, either to sell or send back as replacements.

Another thing that bothers me is drones that have been lost to water. Once more, the issue is that there is no drone to take to the repair facility. Water damage is covered (but not if the drone was flown in unsafe conditions), but if the drone falls out of the sky over water and sinks to the bottom, you’re out of luck.

FAQs

Conclusion: Is DJI Care Refresh Worth It?

I find it harder to justify spending the money on DJI Care Refresh because the coverage is only valid for a single year.

As much as you would like to be able to fly your drone without worrying, accidents do happen. You never know when a wind gust or an unfortunate collision might send your cherished drone hurtling toward the ground below.

No matter how experienced a pilot you are, accidents still occur, so DJI care refresh is still important in 2022. DJI care refresh is more important than ever as weather patterns change and drone use increases. Although the initial cost may seem high, it will ultimately be worthwhile.

Therefore, DJI care Refresh is the way to go if you want additional protection for your drone—whether you’re just getting started or have been flying for years. The assurance that you won’t have to pay out of pocket for maintenance or replacement gives you peace of mind.

Read More:

• How Far Can DJI Mini 2 Fly?
• Is DJI Mini 2 Waterproof?