Go for one that weighs less than 250 grams and in some countries – including the US – you can fly it without doing any training or paying any registration fees. In the UK, you still have to register a drone if it has a camera, but you have more freedom about where you can fly these lightweight gadgets, as well as fly them closer to people and buildings than heavier ones. For more information, read about drone laws in the UK. The drones here are aimed at consumers and we’ve only picked ones that are at least on a par with a decent smartphone. Cheaper drones with cameras are available, but you’ll probably be disappointed with the quality they offer. All the models here except the Avata have a ‘gimbal’ which ensures video is smooth and stable, and the results can be truly stunning. Most modern drones fold up to a very portable size, meaning you can take them with you on your travels. Just remember to check the local laws on flying a drone before taking off. And don’t forget to find out where you’re allowed to fly. If in doubt, speak to the landowner or the local authority. It’s useful to get a drone that has sensors to help it avoid crashing into things, and you might want to choose one that can fly on autopilot while tracking a person (or an object) and avoiding obstacles at the same time. The features you’ll get – and the quality of the camera – will depend largely upon your budget. Here, we’ve hand-picked drones which aren’t toys: they’re serious gadgets and aren’t what you might call cheap. With drones you get what you pay for, so the higher the price, the better quality and more features a drone will have. You’ll find more buying advice below.
Drone Buying Guide
Some people just want to fly for fun, but most people want a drone to take aerial photos and videos. And if you want them to be any good, you will need to spend mid-range smartphone money. We’ve yet to see a cheaper drone achieve stabilised, great quality video.
Has obstacle sensors Great low-light video quality Can track subjects
Relatively expensive No side-facing sensors
It can also track subjects, which was one of the big drawbacks of the Mini 2, for example. DJI has also bumped up the camera quality noticeably, and the Mini 3 Pro delivers surprisingly good footage in low light – a traditional weakness of tiny drones with small camera sensors. It will also shoot 4K60 video, or up to 4K30 in HDR, and you can record in D-Cinelike, which allows you to do your colour correction later when editing the video. If you need to record in portrait, the camera can be rotated 90° as well. Even when bought without a controller, the Mini 3 Pro is much more expensive than the Mini 2 (and 2S), but if you want the extra features it offers, and want the best quality from a sub-250g drone, this is the one to buy.
1-inch sensor HDR & Log profiles for video
App limited to 1080p output More expensive than Air 2
Some features are decidedly not for consumers, though. Only pros will be able to get the most out of the Air 2S’s 10-bit capabilities and if you are only going to shoot in standard 8-bit video, you’re may not notice a huge difference in quality at 4K resolution between the Air 2S and Mavic Air 2. It delivers better quality (then the Air 2) in low light, but this isn’t when most people fly. Put simply: if you care about eking out those last drops in video quality and know what you’re doing, the Air 2S is the obvious choice. If you don’t have the first idea about how to work with Log video and would rather stick to QuickShots and the editor in DJI’s Fly app, you’re probably better off saving your money and going with the Mavic Air 2.
Portrait camera mode Good photo & video quality Long flight time
No front or rear obstacle sensors Can’t track subjects, except in QuickShots No Hyperlapse or slo-mo
In most respects it’s very similar to the Mini 2, but it can shoot HDR video and has a longer flight time. Its camera is also better in low light than the Mini 2. The inability to track subjects may or may not bother you, and it won’t avoid obstacles: these are two features that DJI seems to have reserved for its more expensive drones.
Great video quality No registration required in some countries
No obstacle avoidance No ActiveTrack
Add the upgraded motors which allow for better wind resistance, the significantly better controller, better range and it easily justifies its price. Like the Mini 3, the Mini 2 can’t track people or objects – except in QuickShots – and has no sensors for obstacle avoidance. But it’s a great buy for those on a budget.
Exhilarating FPV experience Intuitive DJI Motion controller Compact & durable
Expensive if you don’t have existing accessories Not all functions are available with Motion Controller No automated photo/video modes like other DJI drones
The Avata is DJI’s second-gen FPV drone and is a very user-friendly way to get into the hobby: traditionally you’d put all the various parts together yourself. But while the Avata itself seems reasonably affordable, it’s expensive if you don’t already own the goggles and controller, which you probably don’t. If you can afford it, it’s masses of fun to fly.
Affordable Under 250g
Basic video quality No obstacle avoidance
It’s sort of a cross between the original Mini and the Mini 2. It’s easiest to consider it a Mini 2 with cut-down specs that match the original Mini for things like maximum video resolution (2.7K), transmission distance (2km) and flight time (30 minutes). As it costs just $299 / £269, it is a real bargain if you don’t need to shoot 4K videos or RAW photos. Aimed at first-time fliers, it’s a competent drone which is easy to fly, but it doesn’t have obstacle avoidance like some of DJI’s more expensive drones. The good news is that it takes respectable video and photos, and it’s light enough to be flown without registering in many countries (not the UK, sadly).
Camera has mechanical shutter Shoots 4K60 video
Bulky, but doesn't fold Expensive
The v2.0 was originally launched in 2018, but still holds up in terms of specs. It records 4K video at up to 60fps, but the main attraction is the mechanical shutter. Admittedly, this is only really a benefit if you want to use a drone for mapping (photogrammetry), but none of DJI’s other consumer drones have a mechanical shutter. It has OcuSync 2.0 HD for image transmission to the remote controller, plus obstacle detection in five directions and avoidance in four. If you’re looking for the specific features on offer here and don’t need portability instead, the Phantom is still a good choice. You tend to get what you pay for with drones, so the higher price, the better the camera and the more features (such as obstacle avoidance) that are included.
Flight time and range
Flight time varies a lot, and it isn’t tied to price. The Mavic Mini is DJI’s cheapest drone, yet flies for up to 30 minutes on a charge. Don’t pay too much attention to range. It sounds great to be able to fly several kilometres away, but most local laws (including in the UK) say you must keep drone in sight at all times. What’s useful about long range claims is that these drones should cope much better with radio interference, unlike short-range models which can lose connection to the controller, or have a choppy video feed. Very small and light drones can be blown around in the wind, which is why having GPS on board is a must: it allows the drone to automatically hover in place. Look also for the wind speed which a drone can resist: the lower the speed, the calmer conditions you’ll need to wait for before you can fly.
Spares
Although it’s rare on most of the drones below, crashing is a distinct possibility. Almost all drones come with a full set of spare propellers, but as two rotate anti-clockwise and the other pair clockwise, you’ve got only two spares for each pair of spindles. Check first if spare parts are easy to obtain for a particular drone, and also their prices.
Cameras
Not all drones come with cameras. You don’t need a camera, since you should always have the drone in your line of sight while flying it. At the cheaper end of the price scale you should go for at least 1080p (1920×1080). Bear in mind that – as ever – you can’t trust specs alone. Read our reviews to find out how good each drone’s camera is. Bitrate is just as important for detail in video: the DJI Mini 2’s 4K video is impressive because it can record at up to 100Mbps. The older Mavic Mini was limited to 40Mbps. Also, you’ll only get smooth, stable footage if you buy a drone with a gimbal. This is a stabilised mount for the camera which keeps it steady when the drone tilts or moves around. Some drones record video directly to a microSD card but others record from the remote control, or even over the air to a smartphone. Direct recording is usually more reliable and better quality as the video doesn’t have to be transmitted before being recorded. Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
