Best Quad-Copter Drones
Flying a drone is a fun challenge that can yield some of the most amazing video you’ve ever made. Check out our favorite three.
Drones allow you to see, experience, and document the world in ways you've never imagined. It is easier than you think- but there is a learning curve. We've had fun filming wildlife (from a safe distance), documenting real estate and properties, landscape and event photography, and much more.
Whether you’re wanting to bring your cat videos to the next level or want to document your next family vacation like never before, we know you’ll want to start out strong. Our top choices are DJI products. You really do get what you pay for here, so if you can invest a little more, we strongly recommend it. We have had outstanding experience with DJI's customer service. The build quality, features, accessories, and video is exceptional.
Remember before you take your drone out to be sure you are compliant with laws in your area. Check the most recent FAA laws here.
You'll want to give yourself a lot of time to practice in an open field in safe terrain to familiarize yourself with your drone before taking it out anywhere special. Trust us- put in the hours. During a test flight in challenging conditions, one of our Caribbean team experienced the loss of a DJI drone in a jungle and we'd hate for anyone else to go through that.
Drones allow you to see, experience, and document the world in ways you've never imagined. It is easier than you think- but there is a learning curve. We've had fun filming wildlife (from a safe distance), documenting real estate and properties, landscape and event photography, and much more.
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Ready to dive in?
Our Good, Better Best reviews include our three top picks from the same category at three price points.
Good
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This is a sleek and fun little drone that has the key features you’ll be looking for in an entry-level drone such as a 4K stabilization-enhanced sensor (though only 30fps at 4K. 60fps is available for 1080p) and GPS guided “Return Home” and “Follow Me” flight modes. You can also program it to fly pre-programmed routes so you can concentrate on controlling the camera to capture your best shots.
It comes standard with a carrying case, two batteries, a controller, and some extra propellers in case you bump into something with your drone.
As with most drones in this category and price range, the controller needs to be attached to a tablet or smartphone to fly. We’re not sure why the manufacturer says that the drone needs a 5G capable device to fly with as flying it with 4G devices had no noticeable impact on performance.
The battery life was not quite as long-lasting as the other drones on our list; listed at 23 minutes, but realistically, you should expect about 17-20 minutes of flight time before you need to head for home. The drone comes with 2x batteries, but we would recommend picking up an extra battery or two.
The manufacturer’s batteries are listed as 2800mAh capacity, but there are aftermarket batteries with expanded capacity up to 4300mAh, but we did not test any aftermarket accessories.
Unfortunately, this model is over the FAA weight limit for unregistered drones, so you’ll have to register it if you plan on flying within the U.S. but the registration process is fairly simple.
Better
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DJI Mini 2
The Mavic Mini 2 is an outstanding little drone that we would recommend to anyone considering a drone purchase. While it doesn’t quite have all the same features as the Mavic Air 2, the amazing DJI optical sensor, high flight speed, and intuitive flight controls mean that this drone is a blast to fly. Considering the excellent capabilities of the drone and the price when compared to similar drones, it is one of the best in terms of overall value in its class.
Performance-wise, battery life is about the same as the Mavic Air 2, and as with the Mavic 2, we were unable to match the listed maximum range, but again, we were testing it under less-than-optimal conditions. What’s more impressive yet is that DJI was able to fit everything good about the Mavic Mini 2 into a small and light enough package that it falls just under the weight limit for drones that require FAA registration.
If you haven’t been able to tell, this evaluation has made DJI fans out of us. DJI is well established as a solid and reliable manufacturer and probably the most recognizable name in the consumer drone market. And for good reason; their products are well-built, very easy to operate, and your drone is backed up by a robust product support system, which we can vouch for after we had an unfortunate incident during which we lost a drone in a thick jungle while doing our testing. In addition, because of how popular the DJI drone are, there are a ton of great aftermarket accessories for DJI drones ranging from propeller guards to beefed-up landing gear to camera filters and lenses.
One final accolade for the Mini 2 from our testing should be noted. We’ve mentioned how much we enjoyed the controls and flying experience; indeed the controls are so intuitive that with only a few minutes of instruction and a few minutes of practice, we taught an 80-year-old retiree with no video game or flying experience to comfortably take off, fly, and safely land the drone. This drone can really be fun for the whole family.
Best
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DJI Mavic Air 2
The Mavic Air 2 is a solid performing drone that has an absolutely outstanding feature set that includes a 48mp 4K sensor (8K in hyperlapse), a low-latency dual-frequency datalink with a 6 mile range (we never tested it out that far), the DJI proprietary obstacle avoidance system (APAS), and a listed max flight distance of just over 11 miles.
Although there is a newer model of the Mavic family available, the Mavic 3, we didn’t review it as it didn’t quite fit in the same category as the other drones we reviewed due to higher cost and advanced features.
For the DJI Mavic Air 2, we would recommend that you purchase one of the “Fly-More” combo bundles to get the most bang for your buck. Typically, these bundles will come with a couple of extra batteries, the carrying case, some spare rotor blades, and of course, the controller. You can also find some great deals on certified refurbished drones and kits on Amazon.
Overall, we were thrilled with the performance of the Mavic Air 2. We couldn’t get the listed range before we lost connectivity, but we were not operating in optimal conditions for transmission. The battery life is pretty much spot on, and we successfully tested the low-battery-fly-home feature under careful conditions in a park. And finally, the video and photo quality is stunning, but just as you would with an SLR camera, you will need to take the time to learn how to optimize the camera settings to truly get the most of your drone. Trust us, take the time, it will make that much of a difference.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires registration of many drones flown in the US. Whether you're a new drone pilot or have years of experience, rules and safety tips exist to help you fly safely in the national airspace. To get started, be sure to select which type of drone user you are and find out what rules and regulations apply to your specific situation. You can then begin researching where it is safe to fly and when you need approval to fly.
To learn more about drone registration requirements, visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone page here: