Samsung Galaxy S21 can now be delivered by drone — but there is a catch

Samsung Galaxy S21 can now be delivered by drone — but there is a catch

Samsung is currently delivering the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Buds Pro, and Galaxy Watch 3 by drone.

This pilot program, a world first for Samsung, is currently limited to the town of Oranmore, a suburb of Galway City. It would certainly be a shame if it were not for the town's 5,000 residents, but it may point to the future of Samsung's drone deliveries.

The service uses drones manufactured by Manna Aero of Ireland. According to Samsung, the drone can fly at an altitude of about 50 to 80 meters and can reach a speed of 37 miles per hour. According to Samsung, the drone arrives at home in about three minutes.

The service is currently available to people in the Oranmore area who purchase their devices on Samsung.com, and Samsung says it is eager to expand it throughout Ireland in the future.

The big advantage of drone delivery is that it will allow a no-contract delivery experience for people who are perhaps bored with their Samsung Galaxy S20, urgently need a new device, and are confined to their homes.

While this is great PR for Samsung, it is unlikely that mobile drone delivery will become the largest market for this type of aerial delivery. In fact, it is more likely that other products, such as groceries and medical supplies, will now be delivered by these quadcopters.

Indeed, Manna Aero had planned to pilot drone delivery by delivering to-go meals to students on the University of Dublin campus, but the coronavirus brought it all to a halt. The company then turned to using drones to send medical supplies and other critical supplies to isolated elderly people in Ireland.

According to Reuters, the pilot scheme in Moneygall, a small town of about 300 people, involved sending supplies from a convenience store and pharmacy at the Barracks Obama Plaza Motorway Service Station. The company spent several weeks testing the delivery to prove that the technology worked.

Whether Samsung will expand this service remains to be seen, but it feels like an exciting move toward a future where products are delivered quickly and inexpensively.

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