With so many features to look for, buying a drone can be really confusing. But fear not — we’re here to make the search for a new drone less confusing.
The answer to this question entirely depends on your level of piloting experience, what you want to do with your drone, and your budget.
Drones under $100 are generally designed to be toys rather than serious aircraft. As such, they are usually fun to play with — but don’t expect anything more.
There are quite a few good drones in the $200 to $500 range. While none of them is suited to professional photography, some take great pictures. Many also offer autopilot modes and a generous battery life.
Once you cross the $700 mark, anything is possible. This kind of investment can get you a lightning-fast racing drone, a flying video rig, or even a cargo drone. Just like high-end cars, these premium flyers have all the tricks.
Perhaps the most important feature is gyro-stabilization. Without this automatic assistance, most drones would be very difficult to fly — particularly in breezy conditions.
The next thing to look for is flight time. Some drones can only stay airborne for three minutes before needing more juice.
Another useful feature on bigger drones is GPS. This allows your drone to “return to base” autonomously should anything go wrong.
Here are some of the best drones to be released this year:
At the budget end of the market, Tello is perfect for first-time flyers and young pilots. It’s small and nimble, with a built-in camera for taking videos.
Price: $79 USD
This impressive foldable flyer takes 4K videos, with auto flight modes to handle the camera work. In addition, the Mantis Q can stay airborne for up to 33 minutes.
Price: $499.99 USD
For $100 more, you can capture HDR 4K video with the new Parrot Anafi. The camera also has a 2.8x zoom, and it is mounted on a stabilizing gimbal.
Price: $599.99 USD
Version 2 of this ever-popular drone offers 4K video at 60fps, 20MP photos, a 4.3-mile range, and advanced autopilot modes guided by on-board cameras.
Price: $1,249 USD
Meet the undisputed king of drones. Equipped with a Hasselblad camera, the Mavic 2 Pro offers exceptional image quality. It also has enhanced HDR, with multiple video modes for breathtaking footage.
Price: $1499 USD
None of these take your fancy? Not to worry. With the DJI Phantom 5 slated for next year, there’s plenty to look forward to in 2019!