Amazon expands drone delivery in the US with iPhones, Galaxy and more

Amazon has taken a significant step forward in expanding its drone delivery service in the United States. Now, over 60,000 products are eligible for this ultra-fast delivery option — including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, AirTags, AirPods, video doorbells, and even kitchen thermometers.

The key selling point of this service is speed: eligible products can be delivered in as little as 60 minutes after an order is placed. However, this benefit is currently limited to specific regions where drone delivery is available. For customers in these areas, the drone delivery option appears automatically at checkout, with an additional fee of $4.99.

There are a few important limitations:

• The total weight of the package must be under 5 pounds (2.3 kg). In other words, even if your items are eligible, exceeding the weight limit will disqualify the order from drone delivery.
• Customers must also confirm a designated drop-off location on their property — such as a backyard, driveway, or garage — which is stored in Amazon’s system for future deliveries.

According to Amazon, the logistics and mapping infrastructure behind this system took two years of development. It involved building a detailed digital map integrated with the drone systems, enabling precise flight calculations and delivery time windows accurate to within five minutes.

Deliveries are only completed once the drone verifies:

• It has reached the correct location
• It carries the correct package
• The landing zone is clear of pets, vehicles, or people

It's worth noting that adverse weather conditions can disable drone delivery. While light drizzle may be acceptable, heavier rain, strong winds, or storms will automatically remove the drone delivery option at checkout.

With this expansion, Amazon reinforces its investment in automated logistics and ultra-fast fulfillment, showcasing a future where online shopping takes to the skies — quite literally.