Whether you’re a videographer, vlogger, or just want to have some fun, the best drones let you fly around with ease, shoot breathtaking photos and videos, and not worry about crashing into things.
The best quadcopter drones now all cost less than $2,000, with many excellent models at $1,000 or less. But there are a lot of things to consider, including flight time, what you want to do with the drone, and more. That’s where our guide to the best drones comes in.
What is the best drone?
After flying dozens of drones around the sky for countless hours, we think the best drone for most people is the DJI Mini 2. It’s the company’s least expensive and most compact drone, making it easy to carry around and fly virtually anywhere. It packs up with its controller into a carrying case no bigger than a lunchbox, with room left over for spare parts and extra batteries. The Mini 2 ($449) has been upgraded to shoot 4K video, has a 6-mile range, and can stay aloft for up to 31 minutes. If you want something less expensive, the Mini SE ($299) has many of the same capabilities, but with a lower-resolution 2.7K camera.
The best camera drone is the DJI Mavic 3, which has not one, but two cameras: a 4/3 CMOS with a 20MP resolution and a 28x hybrid zoom lens. In addition, the Mavic 3 has a flight time of up to 41 minutes. It’s not cheap, though: its starting price is $2,199.
We’re in the process of testing the V-Coptr Falcon ($899, Amazon (opens in new tab)), a drone that uniquely has just two rotors instead of the typical four. It also has a large 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor that can take 4K Video, and has an estimated 50-minute flight time.
Looking for a drone under $100? Here is a list of the best cheap drones, many of which are great for kids and those learning how to fly. And, if you want to stay in the air longer, check out our guide on how to extend the flight time of your drone.
The best drones you can buy today
For most people, the DJI Mini 2 will be the best drone for their needs. It’s tiny—able to fit in the palm of your hand—easy to fly, and can last up to 31 minutes in the air. And, at $449, it’s also the least expensive of DJI’s drones, making it more accessible to the masses.
The Mini 2’s camera resolution has been improved over the previous generation, so it can now shoot at 4K/30 fps. And, because it’s gimbal-stabilized, it’s just as smooth as ever. Because of its light weight—249 grams—you don’t need to register the Mini 2with the FAA, but it also means that the drone is more susceptible to high winds. Still, it’s amazing what DJI packed into the miniscule Mini 2.
Read our full DJI Mini 2 review.
The DJI Mavic 3 is the best drone for prosumers and videographers who want the best camera drone without having to purchase a camera and drone separately. Outfitted with a micro 4/3 Hasselblad sensor and a 1/2 inch CMOS camera, the Mavic 3 can record video at resolutions of up to 5.1K/50 fps, and it has a 28x digital zoom that’s also pretty impressive.
We also love that the Mavic 3 can fly for up to 41 minutes — a near-eternity for drones. It also has excellent object-tracking and 360-degree obstacle avoidance, so you can really record what you want without worrying about crashing into things. All of this comes at a cost: The Mavic 3 starts at $2,199, which is significantly more than the Mavic 2 Pro, which it replaces.
Read our full DJI Mavic 3 review.
A step up from the DJI Mini 2 is the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which is the same size and weight, but has a more advanced camera. Cleverly, the DJI Mini 3 Pro’s camera can rotate 90 degrees, to make it easier to shoot vertical video and photos — great if you want to capture the entirety of a skyscraper, or want something easier to share on social media. It’s also excellent at tracking moving subjects, and, thanks to added object detection sensors, can avoid trees and other things as it follows you around.
We also love the fact that with the extended battery, the Mini 3 Pro can fly for up to 47 minutes. While the actual number was around 44 minutes — it’s a light drone, and can get pushed around easily by a strong wind — that’s still an incredibly long flight time. DJI offers the Mini 3 Pro in a variety of configurations, and you have your pick of two controllers, or none at all if you’re upgrading from an earlier model.
Read our full DJI Mini 3 Pro review.
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For those who want a real taste of drone racing, the DJI Avata is a good place to start. Like the larger and older DJI FPV, the Avata comes with a pair of FPV goggles, so that you get a first-person view of where your drone is flying, delivered straight to your eyeballs. It also comes with a clever handheld controller that makes flying the Avata more like piloting an aircraft.
The Avata was a lot of fun to fly, and easy to pick up. Its fixed propeller guards also make it better able to withstand the errant crash into the ground, a tree, or whatever else is in its flight path. We didn’t feel as queasy using the new goggles that came with the Avata as we did with DJI’s older FPV goggles, but these were slightly less comfortable. Still, you won’t be wearing them for too long a time, as the Avata’s battery life of 18 minutes is much shorter than photography-focused drones.
Read our full DJI Avata review.
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For just under $100, the Ryze Tech Tello—designed by DJI—makes for a good, inexpensive drone for first-time fliers. However, what elevates it above other inexpensive drones for kids is the fact that it can be programmed using Scratch, turning this toy into an educational device.
In addition, the Tello has a 720 camera that records pretty good video, and is easy to fly around. The biggest issue we had with the drone was its short 5-minute flight time, so you’ll want to stock up on a few batteries if you decide to pick it up.
Read our full Ryze Tech Tello review.
While it seems like DJI makes all the best drones, Autel has a number of models, including the Evo Nano+, that offer a really compelling alternative. We found the Evo Nano+ just as maneuverable and easy to fly as any DJI drone, and the Nano+’s small size and light weight means you can take it almost anywhere. We especially like that the drone comes in more than one color, unlike DJI’s drab gray.
Video and photos taken with the Evo Nano+ were sharp, crisp, and colorful, and the camera’s 3-axis gimbal kept everything steady and smooth. However, the Nano+ has a slightly shorter flight time, and is a bit more expensive than DJI drones with similar capabilities, such as the Mini 3 Pro. But, if you’re looking for something different, check out Autel.
Read our full Autel Evo Nano+ review.
Sitting between the DJI Air 2 and the DJI Mavic 2 Pro is the DJI Air 2S, which combines some features of both in a drone that costs about a grand. The DJI Air 2S has a 1-inch image sensor — twice that of the DJI Air 2 — which means you’ll get some stunning photos. It also has a new feature called MasterShots, in which the drone will analyze what it’s looking at, and then automatically generate a flight pattern and create a movie, complete with a soundtrack.
Like all other DJI drones, the Air 2S was a pleasure to fly. It’s incredibly easy to pilot and hovers like a statue. It has the same transmission technology as the DJI FPV, so it can fly further than most other DJI drones. Its 31-minute flight time is a few minutes less than the DJI Air 2, but we suspect some will gladly make the tradeoff for better videos.
Read our full DJI Air 2S review
While DJI dominates the foldable-drone market, the Parrot Anafi is one of the best alternatives, and has a feature DJI’s drones can’t match: The Anafi’s gimbal-mounted camera can rotate up, so you can take photos and videos of objects above the drone — say, if you want to fly it under a bridge.
The Anafi has a good selection of flight modes to take interesting shots, and the video it captures is pretty good, delivering clean, smooth video with plenty of detail. However, it does lack collision detection, a feature found on DJI’s comparably priced drones. But all in all, it’s a great alternative.
Read our full Parrot Anafi review.
For those who want to get a taste of drone racing — or simply want to see the world as a bird would — the DJI FPV will get you there. This drone comes with a pair of FPV goggles that give you an incredibly immersive view of what the drone is seeing, with no noticeable lag or delay.
The DJI FPV has three mode settings, so novices can increase its capabilities as their abilities grow. In full manual mode, the FPV can reach speeds of up to 87 miles per hour — just watch out for trees! It’s incredibly maneuverable, zipping up, down, left and right like a hummingbird. Get an extra battery, though, because the FPV’s only lasts 20 minutes, and you’ll want to spend a lot more time in the air.
Read our full DJI FPV review
The Powervision Poweregg X can go where most other drones can’t: In the water. That’s because the Poweregg X has a removable waterproof shell and pontoons that allow you to land and take off from ponds, lakes—even the ocean, if it’s calm enough. And, the drone’s body can even be used as a camcorder, making it useful even when it’s not in the air.
We found that the Poweregg X flew well, if a bit slowly (the pontoons do weigh it down), can fly up to 25 minutes or so on a charge, and has pretty good object tracking. However, video and photo quality, while above average, did not measure up to DJI’s drones. Then again, try landing one of DJI’s drones in the water and see what happens.
Read our full Powervision Poweregg X review.
The PowerUp 4.0 takes the traditional paper airplane and brings it to the next level. This little kit attaches to an ordinary airplane, and thanks to a pair of propellers, lets you pilot the plane from your smartphone. The kit comes with four pieces of paper with an airplane pattern, but you can also download patterns for free from the company’s website.
As we found, there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to keeping the PowerUp 4.0 in the air. You’ll need a lot of space to fly the plane; we recommend a football field. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised at how far it will go.
Read our full PowerUp 4.0 review.
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Looking for an inexpensive drone to learn the basics? The Tomzon A31 is the best drone for the job, offering a great selection of features for the flier who wants more without spending more than $50. The no-frills A31 lacks a camera, but it’s fast and maneuverable. And, it has some LED lights at the base of each propeller, making it fun to fly day or night.
We also liked its sturdy blade guards, which help keep it in one piece if it crashes into something. However, it has a short battery life of around 7-8 minutes, but it comes with a spare battery, so you can keep the fun going longer.
Read our full Tomzon A31 drone review.
How to choose the best drone for you
Drones aren’t just fun to fly. They can let you capture breathtaking footage, some in high-resolution 4K video. They’re also more affordable than ever, as quality beginner models now cost less than $60. Good camera drones start at a few hundred dollars, and they’re great for simple tasks like checking your gutters for leaves. More complex drones, starting at less than $1,000, offer customizable and programmable features, turning them into truly autonomous devices that can make their own decisions.
Drones aren’t that complicated, but there are a few key features you should consider when you are shopping. There are also some key rules you need to follow when you take to the air.
Legal Requirements
FAA has rules you have to follow. The most important two: Never fly around or above people, and always keep your drone in sight. The FAA has a full list of safety guidelines for model aircraft (opens in new tab) that you should check before you take off. There are also restrictions on where you can fly: For example, within 5 miles of an airport is off limits. Mapbox provides a great interactive map of no-fly areas, and local RC (Remote Control) aircraft clubs may list fields that they use.
Non-commercial drones that weigh between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds have to be registered (there’s a $5 fee), and have to carry your license with you while flying the drone.
MORE: How to Register Your Drone with the FAA
Remote Control
Most drones use a remote control with two joysticks — a bit like one of the best PC game controllers. One stick controls what’s called the attitude of the quadcopter, including roll (tilting left and right) and pitch (tilting up and down). The other stick controls throttle and the rotation of the quadcopter. A good remote control should fit well in the hand, with sticks resting comfortably under your thumbs and providing a smooth, responsive feel that allows you to guide the quadcopter by touch.
Some less expensive models skip the remote control, or offer it as an extra-cost feature, and instead use a smartphone connected via Wi-Fi and a flying app. These apps often provide a live video view from the quadcopter camera. However, apps don’t allow the precision of real controllers: It is easier for your thumbs to slip, possibly causing a crash.
Repairability
Despite what the ads tell you, drones crash all the time. A good drone will take an unplanned descent and ground interface (aka: a crash) in stride, without damaging the frame. It will also include shields to protect the rotors and electronics from harm.
Regardless, things still get broken sometimes, particularly racing drones. A good model will offer a ready supply of cheap parts like rotors and struts to replace the broken ones, and will make it easy to swap these parts out when required. The same is true of batteries.
Battery life
Most drones will last between 20 to 30 minutes on a charge, and are designed so that you can quickly swap out batteries. To ensure that you can keep filming, it’s a good idea to purchase extra batteries. Just make sure to charge them beforehand!
Camera quality
Want to show off your aerial exploits? A camera, either built-in or add-on, can capture those dramatic vistas for posterity. The best drones will have cameras that can record video at resolutions of 4K or higher, but even budget models are getting better, able to capture video at 1080p. However, they tend to use smaller image sensors, so the quality won’t be as good.
While not covered in this guide, there are professional drones which let you attach mirrorless or DSLR cameras, which provide even greater image quality that built-in cameras. However, these drones typically cost upwards of $2,000.
The best camera drones will also mount their cameras on a gimbal, so that your image stays steady as the drone is flying around. If video is your priority, look for a drone that has a three-axis gimbal; that will give you the most stable image.
Some drones also offer first-person view (FPV), sending a pilot’s-eye view from the drone itself to a phone or tablet. Some models offer video goggles for the ultimate pilot-seat flying experience.
Features
Drones are getting smarter; now, instead of just flying around based on manual inputs, you can program drones to fly pre-programmed routes, or even follow specific objects, such as people and vehicles. Depending on your needs, it’s worth examining what features a drone has before buying one.
How we test drones
When we take a new drone out for a spin, we evaluate it based on a number of factors:
- Design: How well is the drone built, and does it look good? If it comes with a controller, we take a look at its ergonomics.
- Durability/Repairability: Face it. You’re going to crash your drone at least once, but a good model should be able to survive a few mishaps without a problem. And, if something happens to break (it’s usually a rotor), how easy is it to repair?
- Flight Performance: How easy is the drone to fly? Is is stable when hovering, or does it require a lot of stick work? How does it respond to your commands?
- App: How intuitive is the app? What sort of features are available?
- Camera Quality: If the drone has a camera, then how good are the photos and videos it takes?
- Flight time: How long can the drone stay in the air before its battery runs out? This varies a lot based on the size of the drone, but the best drones have batteries that last up to 25-30 minutes.
- Price: Obviously, we don’t expect a $50 drone to perform as well as a $1,000 drone, so we take its cost into consideration when rendering a final verdict.
