There has never been a better time to buy a drone. In fact, UAVs house high-end 4K cameras and portable form factors. Meaning, many of today's best drones fold up for easy transport. So you can take them wherever you are. Ultra-stable video stabilization is also the hallmark of a great drone, and you'll find it available on almost every drone model. You don't have to be an expert drone operator to get started with a high-quality drone. Most drones are easy to pick up and fly, although selecting the best drone is a difficult task. We have recommended the following best drones after countless hours of rigorous testing on our heads. Drones from DJI and Parrot continue to rule the skies, whether you're a beginner or an experienced drone pilot looking for the best hovering camera. The best part of picking the best drones in 2019 is that budget or even cheap drones now shoot video in 4K resolution with constant image stabilization. That's true you don't need a Hollywood box office budget to capture stunning aerial footage. Even though our #1 drone recommendation, the DJI Mavic Air, isn't really cheap, it's still the best drone for your money. Finding a quality drone at a reasonable price is no longer a daunting task. Being able to legally drive your drone is sometimes more difficult, especially in cities. The good news is that the best drones available properly warn you, usually through the associated apps, to determine where it is legal to fly without incurring the wrath of local authorities. Here's our pick of the best drones for everyone from beginners to experts.
1.DJI Mavic Air
This is the foldable drone you want in 2018.Weight: 430g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 12MP | Battery size: 2,375mAh | Range: 6.2 miles) Incredible portability 4K video up to 100 Mbps Near-perfect obstacle avoidance. You really need multiple batteries. It's hard not to love the DJI Mavic Air, the first foldable drone capable of capturing steady 4K video at 60 frames per second, while fitting into a backpack or even a jacket pocket. There's not much of a compromise either if you're okay with a 21-minute autonomy. Our tests show that actual flight time can be as short as 18 minutes, but that's plenty of time for most people, especially if you buy the recommended Fly Plus package with three batteries (which is well worth ) . The Mavic Air is small, fast, and can do a lot of tricks. You can follow moving subjects, boomerangs around you on a pre-coordinated path and take spherical video as if collapsing to capture your best robot selfie. The reason this is at the top of our list is that it's the best foldable drone for your buck, but we'd recommend spending a little more for the well-worth the Fly More Bundle product. Read the full review: DJI Mavic Air
2.DJI Mavic 2 Pro
The king of drones returns.Weight: 907g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 20MP | Battery size: 3,850mAh | Range: 3.1 miles Excellent foldable design New photo and video modes. Superior Camera Can't Shoot 4K at 60fps DJI's second iteration of the Mavic Pro provides the sharpest video and images of any mainstream drone thanks to its Hasselblad platform stabilization camera, featuring a one-inch CMOS sensor. Images are brighter, more detailed, and much better than those taken with the previous model. DJI has also made improvements on the software side, with new modes for capturing photos and videos, including Hyperlapse, which creates stunning aerial videos. This comes at a price (the Mavic 2 Pro is a more expensive proposition than the previous version), but it could be a lot more tempting on Black Friday. Many retailers offer special deals on premium drones, including the Mavic 2 Pro. Read the hands-on review: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
3. DJI Spark
Small price, smaller drone, with Jedi-like motion controls.Weight: 300g | Controller: yes / not included | Camera resolution: 12MP | Battery size: 1480 mAh | Range: 1.2 miles Controller-free gesture commands Quickshot automatic modes Short flight time The DJI Spark is the company's most affordable drone. With its amazing gesture controls that make you feel like a Jedi and the diverse and colorful bodies of it, it's definitely more fun than many others on this list. It's easy to control with the help of your smartphone, but you should keep in mind that it's the only controller you'll have unless you want to buy a separate controller. It's certainly affordable in drone terms, but we'd still like to have an integrated controller for good measure. It's an incredibly light drone, unsurprisingly the size of a coil. It is one of its biggest strengths and weaknesses because it is very easy to transport in your bag, but it will be affected by the wind during the flight. Read the full review: DJI Spark
4. DJI Phantom 4
Weight: 1380g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 12.4MP | Battery Size :: 5,350mAh | Range: 3.1 miles Nice and stable 4K footage Fisheye lens Great smartphone app Not easily scalable A refinement of the impressive DJI Phantom 3 Professional, the Phantom 4 offers a more solid build, updated object avoidance technology, and like many other DJI offerings, an excellent dedicated remote control that connects to a smartphone just as feature-rich as the app. 4K video recording is supported, and the gimbal design means you get stable footage even when the drone is moving at high speed and changing direction. The biggest downside, and you'll notice it's a common complaint with many commercial UAVs, is battery life, only lasting 15-20 minutes. Depending on how hard you push the drone. While not exactly in the same category as its Inspire 1 sibling, the Phantom 4 offers a similar level of performance and features at a lower price point, making it a great choice for aerial photographers. budding rather than experienced professionals. Read the full review: DJI Phantom 4
5. Bebop Parrot 2
It offers a new perspective on drone flights.Weight: 500g | Controller: Optional | Camera resolution: 14MP | Battery size: 2,700mAh | Range: 300 meters. Shake-free video recording Excellent controller and headphones Some features cost extra to unlock The Bebop 2 is a mid-range offering that doesn't break the bank but offers a surprising number of features for the price. The camera uses a fisheye lens and software stabilizer eliminates the need for a gimbal; Combined with the clever construction of the chassis, which uses rubber dampers to reduce in-flight vibrations, the result is refreshingly unadorned footage. If you're feeling particularly comfortable, you can take Bebop 2 to the next level by purchasing the optional flight controller and FPV headset. The former connects to your smartphone and offers the appropriate flight controls, while the latter uses your phone's screen to present a first-person view of what Bebop 2 actually sees. It's pretty shocking to drive the camera like this, but after a while, you'll want all drones to come with that accessory. However, Parrot has locked some of Bebop 2's coolest features, like route planning and Follow Me, behind a paywall, which means the cost goes up even more if you want to use them. . Battery life is also somewhat disappointing, so it may be worth investing in a replacement power cell. Read the full review: Parrot Bebop 2
6. anafi parrot
A small drone with an incredible range of cameras.Weight: 3202g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 21MP | Battery Size: 2700mAh 4K UHD Video at 60fps 180 Degree Vertical Camera No Obstacle Avoidance This lightweight, insect-like drone may be small, but its photographic benefits are among the most impressive around. Its camera has a vertical range of 180 degrees, allowing it to take photos directly, a feat no other drone can match. It also has a 2.8x zoom lens with no reduction in image quality. Parrot Anafi is a particularly good option for selfie lovers. Its Follow Me mode tracks your movements, automatically adjusting for more photogenic angles, and its SmartDronies modes (Orbit, Parabola, Boomerang, and Tornado) allow the drone to fly in different circles and arcs. The main downside is that the Parrot Anafi hasn't avoided the pitfalls, making it difficult to recommend to new users. It's also unfortunate that two flight modes get locked as additional in-app purchases after paying for the drone. Read the full review: Parrot Anafi
7.DJI Mavic Pro
Weight: 734g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 12.35MP | Battery size: 3830mAh | Range: 4.3 miles Very portable Dedicated remote control Low shot in low light The DJI Mavic 2 Pro now replaces it, but it's still one of the best drones for the general public, and now it's more affordable. Until the arrival of the DJI Spark, the Mavic Pro was the smallest drone in the DJI range. Don't let its small size fool you, though: this pint-sized flyer packs the kind of performance larger DJI drones are famous for. The camera is mounted on a gimbal, which is unusual for drones of this size. It offers fantastic results with photos and videos in good lighting, although the small size of the sensor makes it difficult to shoot in low light. The Mavic Pro has a top speed of around 40 mph. It is not left in this department and the battery lasts for about 20 to 25 minutes of aerial action. As with other DJI drones, the Mavic Pro comes with a dedicated remote controller that uses your phone's screen to show you exactly what the camera sees. The distance is estimated to be over four miles, giving you the ability to capture amazing images and video without worrying about losing your connection. Read the hands-on review: DJI Mavic Pro
8.DJI Inspire 2
Perhaps the best flagship drone out there today.Weight: 3440g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 30MP | Battery size: 4280mAh | Range: 7 km. Incredible build quality Good autonomy Lots of features Overpriced Very impressive Inspire 2 clearly leaves its predecessor in the front row. With a sleek update to the composite metal body, it's a much better looking piece of kit. In addition, with the most advanced object avoidance technology, you don't have to worry about your beautiful body being scratched when you accidentally cut a tree. It has over 25 minutes of flight time from dual battery configuration and the ability to swap camera lenses means professional photographers and videographers have full control over their 5K images and video. . The full smartphone app and dedicated remote control make this drone incredibly easy to control, but don't get me wrong, this is professional kit. Read the full review: DJI Inspire 2
9.DJI Inspire 1
A professional drone with a professional price tag.Weight: 2935g | Controller: yes | Camera resolution: 12.76M | Battery size: 5700mAh | Range: 2 km. Incredible build quality Easy to upgrade Estimated for the typical consumer. The DJI Inspire 1 may look like some kind of scary war robot from the distant future, but once you've gotten past its rather daunting appearance, it's all too easy to fall in love with this nimble and feature-rich device. It comes with its own controller, which offers amazing range (you'll need to provide a monitor via your smartphone or tablet screen, though), and the camera, which is gimbal-mounted for pointing, can be upgraded. Don't be afraid that your investment will become obsolete after a few months. The performance in the air is simply exemplary, even in windy conditions. The DJI Inspire 1 is also incredibly fast and easy to handle when paired with this excellent controller. These are just downsides: its cost and the fact that the supplied battery only leaves you with 15-20 minutes of flight time before needing to be recharged. Read the full review: DJI Inspire 1
