1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best single camera drone
4. Best professional drone
5. Best non-DJI alternative
6. Best professional mini drone
7. Best portable camera drone
8. Best for beginners
9. Best FPV
10. Best mid-priced drone
11. Best premium FPV drone
12. Best for children
13. Buying advice
14. How we test
The best drones are part of a booming market, with new and exciting features being released all the time, so it can be tricky to know where to start when it comes to investing in this fast-moving technology. Luckily for you, our expert reviewers have scoured the market and put a range of different drones to the test to help you choose the best one for you. This list will bring you the absolute highlights across various categories like camera drones, FPV drones and children's drones.
It's worth considering what you want to get from the world of drones. Some of the drones on our list offer incredible camera functionality, allowing you to take your photography and videography to new heights, whilst others feature sophisticated flight assistance and are ideal for beginners learning how to fly drones for the first time. FPV (First Person View) drones usually come with goggles to help you see from the perspective of the drone, which can create an exciting and highly immersive experience.
We're expecting to see some great deals coming up on drones ahead of Black Friday, so be sure to check out our Black Friday deals hub or take a look at our guide to buying a drone on Black Friday to see how you could save yourself some money on your chosen drone. If you already know what you're looking for, we also have guides on specific categories, such as our lists of the best camera drones, best beginner drones and best FPV drones. But if you just want to get an idea of what's out there or you're not sure where to start, then this list should give you some inspiration to get you going.
The Quick list
Best drone overall
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is the world’s first consumer drone to offer three cameras, and offers the best image quality available in a consumer model, alongside professional features.
Best single camera drone
If you’re simply looking for the best drone with a single camera, look no further than the DJI Mavic 3 Classic with its impressive Four Thirds Hasselblad camera.
Best drone for professional drone pilots
With two cameras covering wide-angle and telephoto, the DJI Mavic 3 is a versatile model offering excellent image quality with the main Four Thirds Hasselblad camera.
Best non-DJI alternative
The Autel EVO Lite+ is a powerful drone with a 1-inch sensor and professional features that’s much less expensive than the DJI Mavic 3 series drones.
Best professional mini drone
Sub-250g weight, professional features and great image quality, the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro is a fantastic option for beginners and professional pilots alike.
Best portable camera drone
The DJI Mavic Air 2S is a medium size consumer drone offering a 1-inch sensor and excellent image quality alongside a wide range of useful features.
Load the next 5 products ↴
Best drone for beginners
The DJI Mavic Mini 3 is a small and lightweight beginner drone offering excellent image quality alongside ease of use and DJI reliability at an affordable price.
Best FPV Drone
The DJI Avata is the easiest FPV drone to fly and offers excellent 4K video capture. Whether you’re an FPV beginner or an experienced pilot, the DJI Avata won’t let you down.
Best mid-priced drone
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is a cost-effective model providing a range of advanced features that make it a great mid-range option for drone beginners and enthusiasts.
Best premium FPV drone
The DJI FPV may be a few years old now, but it remains an excellent choice for speed and 4K video capture alongside the ease of use you expect from DJI drones.
Best drone for children
Inexpensive, lightweight and easy to use, the DJI Ryze Tello is an option worth considering for beginners, children and safe indoor flights.
Best drones we recommend in 2023
Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.
Best drone overall
✅ You're looking for versatility: The three cameras on offer on this drone give you the ability to shoot different perspectives and different focal lengths at the same time, which can help produce more creative content.
✅ You want to shoot high-quality slow-mo: With this drone, you don't have to choose between quality and frame rates. You can shoot 5.1K up to 75fps, 4K up to 120fps and FHD up to 200fps.
❌ You're on a budget: With all the features on offer, this is quite an expensive drone and may be overkill for casual hobbyists.
🔎 DJI Mavic 3 Pro One of the best foldable drones on the market, this allows you to get stunning videos and offers great flexibility with three cameras that can film at the same time. The only real downside is the price, but we think beginners and pros would be pleased with this purchase. ★★★★★
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is truly one of the best consumer drones on the market, with stunning image quality that will satisfy both amateurs and professionals. It is the world's first consumer drone to come with three cameras, unleashing a whole new world of creative potential.
The main showstopper is the 24mm Four Thirds Hasselblad camera, which can capture 20MP photos and 5.1K video and has an adjustable aperture between f/2.8 and f/11. This is flanked by a very useful 70mm medium telephoto and a 166mm telephoto to complete the trio.
It features the hallmark Mavic folding design and, like the other models, we found you could get around 30 minutes of flight time from it. It also comes with two different smart controller options, both featuring 5.5-inch touchscreens, so there's no need to hook up your smartphone.
The Mavic 3 Pro is very intuitive and easy to fly for a drone of this class since it comes with a number of flight and safety features such as Advanced Return to Home, AirSense ADS-B to detect aircraft, GEO 2.0 geofencing, obstacle sensing and automated flight patterns for video.
Although this is undoubtedly a pricey drone, it's been released at a similar price to older models, making the additional camera fantastic value. If your budget can stretch to it, you will not be disappointed with the incredible features offered by the Mavic 3 Pro.
- Read our full DJi Mavic 3 Pro review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Three cameras and two smart controllers |
| Functionality | Easy to fly, with obstacle sensing technology |
| Performance | Excellent image quality and videos up to 5.1K |
Best single camera drone
✅ You want excellent image quality at a more affordable price: This drone contains the same impressive Hasselblad 20MP camera as the other DJI Mavic 3 models, but keeps the price down by doing away with the additional cameras.
✅ You want something easy to fly: With two different controller options and an Advanced Return to Home feature, you should be able to get the hang of this drone quite quickly.
❌ You're after an affordable beginner drone: While this is more affordable than the other DJI Mavic 3 drones, it's still quite pricey and there are several other cheaper options on the market for beginners.
🔎 DJI Mavic 3 Classic This is a great option for people who want the image quality of the DJI Mavic 3 drones without paying extra for additional cameras that they don't have need for. Although it's still not cheap, it's easy to fly and would make a good investment for keen beginners. ★★★★½
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic offers a more cost-effective alternative to the rest of the Mavic 3 series for those who don't require an additional telephoto camera on their drone. It is still equipped with the impressive 20MP 24mm Hasselblad camera found on the other drones in the series, so you won't have to sacrifice any image quality in the process. This camera can shoot in JPEG or Raw, has an adjustable aperture between f/2.8 and f/11, offers 3x digital zoom and can film 5.1K video up to 50fps.
There are two controller options with this drone, depending on your budget. You can opt for a controller with a retractable phone holder or pay a bit more to get a smart controller with a 5.5-inch touchscreen, which we found improved the overall user experience. This drone has the typical foldable design of the Mavic range and flight time was around 30 minutes during our testing.
Even beginners will be able to get the hang of flying this drone quickly thanks to all the on-board flight assistance. The Mavic 3 Classic features Advanced Return to Home, obstacle avoidance using multiple vision sensors and the highly effective ActiveTrack 5.0 for subject tracking. The High-Speed Quick Transfer feature also makes it super easy to share your results with clients or on social media since you can transfer files to your smartphone over WiFi at a rate of 80MB/s.
If you don't need a second camera, you can make a decent saving on this drone in comparison to the other Mavic 3 drones without losing many of their other great features and functionality.
- Read our full DJI Mavic 3 Classic review.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Single Hasselblad 20MP camera and controller options |
| Functionality | Easy to fly, with good safety features |
| Performance | Fantastic image quality with 12.8 stops of dynamic range |
Best for professional drone pilots
✅ You're a keen photographer: The main camera on this drone offers the same kind of shooting modes as a mirrorless or DSLR camera and lets you shoot in both Raw and JPEG, making it a great option for experienced photographers.
✅ You want to be able to adjust the aperture: You also get an adjustable aperture on the main camera, letting you choose apertures between f/2.8 and f/11, with auto and manual focus possible from 1m to infinity.
❌ You're a beginner: This isn't the most beginner-friendly drone and the price is probably enough to put off all but the most serious photographers.
🔎 DJI Mavic 3 This pricey but feature-packed drone is likely to appeal to serious photographers or content creators, with impressive functionality for still photographs that is equivalent to mirrorless or DSLR cameras and high-quality video capabilities to match. ★★★★
If you’re a professional photographer or videographer looking for the highest possible image quality in a portable and lightweight drone, then look no further than the DJI Mavic 3. This drone features a dual camera with a large Four Thirds 20MP sensor and adjustable aperture in the main camera offering excellent image quality for stills and video.
With video possible at up to 5.1K in standard and Raw formats, stills in Raw and JPEG format and other advanced features it’s a drone that’s aimed at professionals. The Mavic 3's second camera is much more limited, however, and can only shoot images in JPEG and standard video at 4K 30fps in auto mode, but it does offer a hybrid zoom of up to 24x.
The Mavic 3 features a folding design for easy transportation and the two models available weigh 895g and 899g. The standard model provides 8GB of internal storage, while the more expensive and slightly heavier Cine model includes an internal 1TB SDD with support for Apple ProRes 422 HG video recording. Both models also feature a microSD card slot to expand onboard storage.
This drone is DJI’s flagship ‘consumer’ model and provides up to 46 minutes of flight time with several incredibly useful safety features on offer. The Mavic 3 uses multi vision sensors to sense obstacles, as well as the Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 5.0, which uses six fish-eye sensors and two wide-angle sensors to sense obstacles in all directions. When enabled, the drone can be set to fly autonomously around obstacles when detected or to brake.
- Read our full DJI Mavic 3 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Large dual Hasselblad camera |
| Functionality | Advanced collision avoidance and ActiveTrack 5.0 |
| Performance | Impressive image quality and ISO |
Best non-DJI alternative
✅ You're looking for top-quality video: This drone shoots up to an impressive 5.4K, which easily gives the DJI drones a run for their money.
✅ You want photographic flexibility: The adjustable aperture on this drone is very handy for experienced photographers set on capturing the perfect shot.
❌ You don't like using an app: The controller doesn't come with a built-in screen and relies on the AutelSky app on your smartphone to work.
❌ You want something ultra-portable: Even when folded, this drone measures 210×123×95mm and weighs 835g, so it's not the easiest to carry around with you.
🔎 Autel Evo Lite+ This drone offers extremely good image and video quality at a very competitive price, making it a good alternative to the DJI drone range. Whilst it's not the smallest or lightest drone out there, it comes with a relatively long battery life and good wind resistance, helping you to make the most of your aerial adventures. ★★★★½
If you’re looking for the perfect balance of price, features and camera performance, the Autel EVO Lite+ could be the perfect drone for you. This versatile UAV features a 20MP 1-inch sensor in a camera with an equivalent focal length of 29mm and an adjustable f/2.8 – f/11 aperture, which is ideal for controlling exposure when shooting video.
Photos can be captured in JPEG and RAW, while video can be captured in Standard and Log Color in 5.4K up to 30fps, 4K up to 60fps, 2.7K up to 60fps and HD up to 120fps. Image quality for both photos and videos is excellent, with aperture settings between f/2.8 – f/5.6 providing the sharpest results before diffraction kicks in and reduces overall image sharpness.
Flight times are advertised at up to 40 minutes thanks to the high-capacity 6175 mAh flight batteries, and with speeds of up to 40mph possible and level 7 wind resistance (up to 38mph), the Lite+ performs well in a wide range of conditions. Plus, features including obstacle avoidance and GPS positioning make it incredibly easy and indeed safe to fly the drone.
The Lite+ features a folding design that makes it much more compact for transportation and storage. Folded, the drone is 210×123×95mm and 427×384×95mm unfolded, alongside a weight of 835g. It’s not the smallest or lightest drone available, but the trade-off here is improved image quality, more advanced camera functionality and more power.
Available in two kits, the Lite+ Standard Bundle includes the drone, one battery, a controller and other useful accessories which costs $1379 / £1249. While the Premium Bundle offers everything in the Standard Bundle but also includes two additional batteries, extra spare propellers, an ND filter set, a three-battery charging hub and a shoulder bag which costs $1679 / £1519.
- Read our full Autel Evo Lite+ review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | High-quality folding design with 20MP 1-inch sensor |
| Functionality | Level 7 wind resistance, subject tracking and collision avoidance |
| Performance | Excellent image quality with up to 5.4K video |
Best professional mini drone
✅ You want to avoid local regulations: At sub-250g, this drone isn't subject to the same regulations as the heavier drones on the list, making it easier to set up and go.
✅ You want flying assistance: Unlike the previous Mavic Mini models, this drone is equipped with obstacle avoidance, automated flight patterns and subject tracking, which makes it a breeze to operate.
❌ Image quality is your absolute top priority: Whilst we think the image quality from the 12.1MP camera with its 1/1.3-inch sensor is fantastic for this size of drone, some serious photographers may prefer the more advanced features of the Mavic 3.
🔎 DJI Mini 3 Pro This is one of the best sub-250g drones money can buy, meaning that you can fly it in more locations than heavier drones and aren't tied down by local regulations. Whilst the camera can't quite compete with the likes of the Mavic 3, it is excellent for this size of drone and will be enough to satisfy most photographers and videographers. ★★★★½
The DJI Mavic Mini series has taken the drone world by storm thanks to being a member of the regulator-friendly sub 249g category. So not only are these drones incredibly small and lightweight, but they can also be flown in more places than larger drones. The DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro is the latest incarnation of this popular series and addresses several shortcomings of previous models to make it the best DJI Mini to date.
With the standard Mavic folding design, The Mini 3 Pro is a pleasure to carry around because it’s so small and lightweight. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that this palm-sized drone doesn’t pack a visual punch. The new 1/1.3-inch 12.1MP sensor, capable of shooting 48MP Raw files and JPEGs, produces fantastic image quality with excellent high ISO noise handling thanks to dual native ISO capturing technology. Combine this with the 24mm equivalent lens and fast f/1.7 aperture, and this drone has some serious low light credentials.
This new model is, as the name suggests, capable of satisfying the needs of professional and enthusiast drone pilots alike. Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing uses forward, backward and downward sensors. This, alongside Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems 4.0 (APAS 4.0), provides obstacle avoidance and automated flight patterns for capturing professional-looking video with ease. Plus, video can be captured in 4K up to 60fps, 2.7K up to 60fps and FHD up to 120fps with Normal and D-Cinelike colour profiles available. There’s also a digital zoom providing 2x at 4K, 3x at 2.7K and 4x at FHD.
- Read our full DJI Mini 3 Pro review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Under 250g with a 12.1MP camera |
| Functionality | Smart controller, obstacle avoidance and subject tracking |
| Performance | Shoots high-quality videos in both portrait and landscape |
Best portable camera drone
✅ You're looking for excellent optics in a small package: This is the smallest and lightest of the drones that come with a one-inch sensor, so it strikes an ideal balance between image quality and portability.
✅ You're a videographer in need of top-quality video: The video resolution on this drone reaches an impressive 5.4K and it can also film in 4K at 60fps, leaving plenty of room for cropping and editing in post-production.
❌ You need an adjustable aperture: The aperture on this drone's camera is fixed at f/2.8 so you'd need to use ND filters to control shutter speed when filming video.
🔎 DJI Air 2S The main selling point of this drone is that it offers portability whilst not compromising on excellent image quality with its one-inch sensor. That makes it ideal for keen photographers and videographers who like to carry a drone with them on days out, but the fixed aperture may be a deal-breaker for some. ★★★★½
The DJI Air 2S is the most compact and lightweight drone with a one-inch sensor. Folded up, it only measures 7.1 x 3 x 3.3 inches (180 x 97 x 77mm) and weighs just 21 oz (595g), making it an extremely portable drone while still offering fantastic image quality. The propeller arms fold in for transport and fold out for flight, and all parts of this drone feel sturdy and reliable.
The camera on this drone is excellent overall. It features a 20MP one-inch sensor with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 22mm and up to 8x digital zoom. Although you wouldn't want to zoom in too far and risk the drop in image quality, we found 2x zoom extremely helpful for getting a more detailed look at subjects without having to fly the drone in too close.
You can shoot up to an impressive 5.4K video and 4K video at 60fps, creating some stunning shots. The only downside is that it comes with a fixed f/2.8 aperture so you can't control the exposure while it's in flight and will need to use a set of ND filters for filming video.
Like many of the other DJI drones, the Air 2S is packed with features that make flying it safe and easy. It's equipped with front, rear, bottom and top obstacle sensors, AirSense ADS-B technology to detect aircraft and multiple automated flight patterns that mean even beginners can shoot complex-looking video footage. We think it offers great value for money if you're looking for a portable drone that can still maintain high image quality and functionality.
- Read our full DJI Air 2S review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Light and compact with a one-inch sensor |
| Functionality | Advanced Pilot Assistance System and AirSense technology |
| Performance | Sharp images with little fall-off and digital zoom |
Best drone for beginners
✅ You're looking for a more affordable beginner option: If your budget can't quite stretch to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, then the DJI Mini 3 is a great option and comes with the same high-quality camera on board.
❌ You want more advanced flying features: To save money, this drone doesn't come with obstacle avoidance or subject tracking, so you'll need to be very careful not to let it bump into things when flying it.
🔎 DJI Mini 3 With the same excellent camera on board, this is a great alternative to the DJI Mini 3 Pro for those on a tighter budget who want a more accessible beginner model. The only catches are that it doesn't come with obstacle avoidance or subject tracking and the 4K video tops out at 30fps. ★★★★
Beginner drones are often cheap and cheerful, and unfortunately severely lacking in the camera department, but that has all changed with the DJI Mavic Mini 3. This model is very much a cut-back version of the Mini 3 Pro – DJI’s flagship sub 250 g drone – but with the same camera so you can rest assured that image quality and overall build quality are excellent.
The camera provides an equivalent focal length of 24mm which is wide-angle and an ideal focal length for aerial photography and video. This is backed up by a 1/1.3-inch 12MP sensor and fixed f/1.7 aperture. The camera also rotates 90° to shoot photos and videos in both landscape and portrait formats, which is a most welcome feature for photographers and those creating aerial videos for social media.
ISO handling is also excellent throughout the full range of ISO 100-3200, while photos can be captured in both Raw and JPEG formats. Video can be captured in up to 4K at 30 fps in the Normal color profile, so while not as good as the Pro 3 which can shoot in the (flat/Raw) D-Cinelike color profile, it’s ideal for beginners and intermediate users. There’s also no collision avoidance so you have to take care when flying close to obstacles.
- Read our full DJI Mini 3 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Excellent 12.1MP camera with 1/1.3-inch sensor |
| Functionality | More basic, with no collision avoidance or subject tracking |
| Performance | Films in portrait or landscape, but only 30fps at 4K |
Best FPV drone
✅ You're new to FPV drones: FPV drones can be difficult to fly for beginners, but the DJI Avata makes the transition much easier by providing you with a straightforward Motion Controller to help you take to the skies immediately.
✅ You want the full immersive experience: You can purchase the DJI Avata as part of a kit with the DJI Goggles 2 to get the full FPV experience.
❌ You're an experienced FPV drone pilot looking for manual control: The DJI Avata doesn't come with a manual controller, but the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 is available to buy separately.
❌ You want to be able to fly vertically: Again, you would need to purchase the additional DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 to unlock this feature.
🔎 DJI Avata We think this is an excellent choice of drone for beginners who are new to FPV drone technology. The Motion Controller is easy to get the hang of and you can buy a kit with goggles for the full immersive experience. But more experienced FPV fliers would need to buy an additional controller to make full use of the drone's features. ★★★★½
FPV drones are notoriously difficult to fly, but with the DJI Avata anyone can easily capture immersive FPV video footage in stunning 4K resolution at up to 60fps. The Avata can be flown in Manual/Acro mode which is the holy grail of FPV flight, but it’s this that makes FPV drones difficult to fly, so DJI ships the Avata kits with its intuitive and easy-to-use Motion Controller that’s ideal for beginners. More advanced pilots can purchase the FPV Controller 2 separately.
The Avata features a cinewhoop style design where prop guards are built into the airframe to protect the propellers in the case of crashes. The drone is 180x180x80cm and weighs in at 14.46oz/410g with a battery, which is advertised as providing up to 18 minutes of flight time. There’s also 20GB of onboard storage alongside a microSD card slot, so plenty of storage options for safely recording FPV videos.
Video quality from the 48MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, the f/2.8 lens with a fixed focus from 0.6m to infinity and the 12.7mm equivalent focal length is excellent. And although you can also shoot photos in JPEG format, this isn’t the type of drone for stills photography. The Avata is designed for shooting immersive FPV video and can capture in 4K up to 60fps, 2.7K at up to 100fps and 1080p up to 100fps with DJI Goggles 2. While with the DJI FPV Goggles V2, 2.7K and 1080p video can be captured up to 120fps. Video colour profiles include Normal and D-Cinelike, and the maximum video bitrate is 150Mbps.
The DJI Avata is available standalone and in two kits, so owners of compatible controllers and goggles can use their existing accessories. This basic No RC kit costs $629/£499, while the Pro-View Combo costs $1388/£1229 and includes the latest DJI Googles 2 and accessories. The Fly Smart Combo costs $1168/£989 and includes the slightly older DJI FPV Goggles V2 and accessories.
- Read our full DJI Avata review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Easy to fly with beginner-friendly Motion Controller |
| Functionality | Clear video feed via DJI Goggles 2 |
| Performance | Excellent video quality with 48MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor |
Best mid-priced drone
✅ You're looking for a slightly more affordable option: This drone is less expensive than the Mavic Air 2S and offers great features for the money.
✅ You want to track objects with your drone: This drone offers very effective subject tracking, allowing you to highlight an object for the camera to lock on to and then the drone will follow it wherever it goes.
❌ You don't like using an app: The controller on this drone doesn't come with a screen, so you'll need to attach your smartphone via a cable to fly the drone with the DJI Fly App. It's possible this cable could get frayed over time.
🔎 DJI Mavic Air 2 This drone offers great value for money, since it's cheaper than its successor, the Mavic Air 2S, but still boasts a 48MP camera and 4K video. Some may miss features like a controller screen and digital zoom, but important flying features like subject tracking and obstacle avoidance are still covered, making it a solid compromise between price and functionality. ★★★★
The Mavic Air 2 was closely followed up by the Mavic Air 2S, but this small drone remains highly relevant in the market due to being 25g lighter than the Air 2S at 570g, and most importantly it’s much less expensive making it ideal for those on a budget. With a 1/2-inch 12MP sensor, the Air 2 can capture stills in both Raw and JPEG format, as well as video at up to 4K at 60fps. Plus, the drone can capture video in the D-Cinelike profile (Raw) as well as the Standard profile.
The Mavic Air 2 looks almost identical to the Air 2S and features the standard folding design of the Mavic series. Advertised flight time is up to a respectable 34 minutes and maximum flight speed is up to 42mph in Sport mode. There’s no digital zoom available with this model, but you can capture 48MP stills that are saved as JPEGs so you can crop photos down to achieve a similar effect, and with video you have to zoom into 4K footage slightly and output at FHD in video editing software.
In terms of safety features, the Mavic Air 2 provides front and rear obstacle sensors, plus there are sensors on the bottom of the airframe. The drone also features geofencing to keep it away from restricted airspace such as airports, and Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0 can be set up to fly around objects when detected or to brake. These, alongside the video functionality, make the Mavic Air 2 a strong beginner option alongside the Mavic Mini 2 despite the larger size.
- Read our full DJI Mavic Air 2 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Good quality but smartphone connected via a cable |
| Functionality | Impressive object tracking and obstacle avoidance |
| Performance | High-quality 48MP still images and 4K video |
Best premium FPV drone
✅ You want the full immersive FPV experience: This drone comes with the DJI Goggles V2, allowing pilots to fully immerse themselves in the drone's perspective. Just make sure you have someone else on hand to act as a spotter to avoid any mishaps.
✅ You want a drone you can learn and develop your skills with: The various flight modes available on this drone mean that it caters to relative beginners as well as more experienced pilots, so you won't need to upgrade once you become more skilled.
❌ You want something that's easy to transport: This drone doesn't feature the convenient folding design that you get with the DJI Mavic range, so you'll need quite a big bag to carry it and will also need to remove the propellers to stop them getting damaged in transit.
❌ You're serious about aerial photography: More seasoned photographers may find this drone a bit limiting, since it only shoots in JPEG and there is no option to shoot in Raw. It also lacks the quality and automated shooting modes common to the Mavic drones.
🔎 DJI FPV This drone offers the full FPV immersive experience and has enough flexible features to cater to a range of different skill levels, making it great fun for anyone to fly. Those whose main focus is photography and image quality may be better off with the DJI Mavic range, but the DJI FPV is ideal for hobbyists who want to experience the thrill of flying an FPV drone. ★★★★
The DJI FPV was one of the first drones to make the specialist world of FPV drones available and accessible to general consumers, and its versatility means that we still feel it deserves a place on our list. If you're a complete beginner, we'd always recommend getting to grips with the flight controls on a standard drone first, but anyone who already has some flying skills will enjoy the immersive experience on offer with the DJI FPV.
With the DJI Goggles V2 you'll come as close as you can to the feeling of actually flying. The screen view is crisp and sharp, and we loved the accompanying motion controller. Unlike the Mavic series, this drone has a non-foldable design, and with dimensions of 10 x 12.3 x 5 inches you'll need a pretty big bag to transport it along with all its accessories. But we think this is well worth it for the exciting experience it gives.
This drone offers impressive video quality for an FPV drone, producing up to 4K at 60fps. It has a 12MP 1/2.3-inch COMS sensor with a fixed focal length equivalent to 14.66mm, a 150-degree field of view and a fixed f/2.8 aperture.
Whilst the video comes out beautifully, this wouldn't be the best choice of drone for still photos as it only shoots in JPEG and lacks the automated shooting modes found on other models. However, it's primarily designed to be a fun bit of kit to fly from a first-person perspective, and we think it does this very well.
- Read our full DJI FPV review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Non-foldable but comes with DJI Goggles V2 |
| Functionality | Range of different flight modes to suit all levels |
| Performance | Great videos but not the best for still images |
Best drone for children
✅ You want to test out drone flying for the first time: This drone is a nice inexpensive way to try out the world of drones without worrying about crashing a seriously expensive bit of kit on your first flight.
✅ You want a fun present for kids: We think this drone would make a fun gift for any adventurous kids in your life, especially as it's safe to fly it indoors as well as in the backyard.
❌ You're looking for high image quality: In line with the price, the DJI Ryze Tello only offers 5MP still images and 720p video, so it's more suited to people who want to have fun flying than to people who want to capture brilliant shots.
❌ You want to do extended flying sessions: The battery life on this drone means that you can only get around 11-13 minutes of flying time.
🔎 DJI Ryze Tello As the cheapest drone on our list, this is ideal for anyone who wants to try out drone flying for the first time and would make a great gift for kids as well. It lacks the image quality of more expensive drones and the battery life is quite short, but it's a lot of fun and a good way to learn some initial flying skills. ★★★★
Drones come in two main categories: toys and serious camera drones for shooting photos and videos, and the Ryze Tello by DJI certainly falls into the former category. But while the Tello offers extremely limited photo and video functionality with the 5MP camera producing JPEGs and 720p video, it may provide an inexpensive entry point for beginners to ‘test’ fly a drone to get a feel for how they operate without the risk and fear of crashing a significantly more expensive model.
The limited camera capabilities, lack of a gimbal and maximum flight time of up to just 13 minutes mean that you wouldn’t want to buy this drone for creating high-quality visuals. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, and as previously mentioned provide a stepping stone into the world of drone flying.
In terms of fun, the Tello can be flipped in mid-air, take-off from the palm of your hand and the propeller guards coupled with the small size and low weight of 80g means that you can safely fly the drone indoors. Flight distance is limited to 100m, and most people control the drone using the controls in the smartphone app, plus it can be programmed using Scratch making it an educational and fun device for kids.
- Read our full DJI Ryze Tello review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek, lightweight and affordable, with propeller guards |
| Functionality | Easy to fly with fun trick flight features |
| Performance | Responsive controls and basic camera functions |
Buying advice
- Read more: Drone regulations
Buying a new drone is an exciting prospect because you’re essentially buying a flying camera that will allow you to discover new and interesting views of the world. And whether you’re on a tight budget or you can afford the best model money can buy, drone technology has made leaps and bounds in the last few years so it’s unlikely that you’ll be disappointed.
DJI is undoubtedly the market leader when it comes to drone technology, value, features in general and the number of models available. It’s safe to say that there’s truly something for everyone in the DJI lineup. However, Autel, Parrot and Skydio all provide compelling alternatives and unique features that will certainly appeal to many drone pilots so they’re all worth considering.
One point you must remember is that if you’re buying a drone that weighs more than 249g, you must register as a pilot with the CAA (UK) and FAA (US). Registration is quick, easy and inexpensive, and failure to do so could result in a hefty fine so it’s worth taking the time to do so.
How we test
Space.com reviews a wide range of products ranging from telescopes, drones and cameras to 3D printers and VR headsets. Consequently, our reviews have varying formats depending on the type of product being tested. No matter what we’re covering though, there are three core areas that we look to test when writing our reviews: design, functionality and performance.
The best drones typically offer a combination of features, functionality and photo and video quality. Testing takes place over several days in different locations, environments and weather conditions (excluding rain) to assess flight performance, flight features, overall handling and image quality for both photo and video capture.
Drones are flown using manual flight patterns to test the connection between the aircraft and the controller, latency between the two, the accuracy of the controls, app connection and reliability and flight in general. Automated flight patterns and collision avoidance are also typically available with these models, so these are always tested to check accuracy, reliability and ease of use.
All testing is conducted in a way that meets local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights are safe and legal. Drone laws vary from region to region, so you must check local laws and make sure that you’re following the guidelines for your country before embarking on your first drone flights.
