We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
We've tested over 30 drones in the last seven years, highlighting 9 top contenders in this review. After hundreds of hours of flying, we can help you find the best model for your needs and budget. Our consultations with professional drone pilots allowed us to find the most adept fliers, our in-house professional photographers and videographers helped us find the most cinematic models, and our panel of newbie pilots revealed the most user-friendly options. Whether you're an experienced aerial videographer or a new pilot, our testing results will help guide you to the right drone.
If you're interested in drones but want a less sophisticated model or one that's suitable for children, check out our review of the best drones for kids. These models will get you flying without dropping too much cash. Looking for a camera for capturing wildlife images in the great outdoors? See our review of the top trail cameras.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on April 5, 2024, to include more information on our testing process.
Maximum Video Resolution: 5.1K | Maximum Speed: 46.9 mph
REASONS TO BUY
Eye-catching video quality
Responsive controls
Confidence inspiring stability
REASONS TO AVOID
Controller best for smaller hands
Case not included
Expensive
From breathtaking video quality to incredible flight performance, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is at the front of the pack in its drone class. The camera gifts crystal clear 5.1K video and can handle high and low light conditions simultaneously. This is the only model in our review that offers three different on-board cameras, allowing you to dramatically change your shot mid-flight. The video is smooth and free of vibration thanks to a highly effective gimbal, which also helps keep decent framing regardless of the flight orientation. The flight performance is nearly unparalleled, with responsive and sensitive controls giving pilots full flying freedom. The intelligent flight modes can follow, orbit, return home, and perform more complex, pre-programmed flight sequences. Despite the professional build quality, this drone is also relatively easy to learn and fly.
While the Mavic 3 Pro is a truly incredible product, there are a few setbacks you should be aware of before making a purchase. For new drone pilots, the controls may feel overly sensitive and challenging to use, at least initially. You can adjust this sensitivity, but your first flights are best kept short and simple. If you have larger hands, you might find the controls to be a bit cramped, and you'll need to buy a case for this drone separately. Lastly, this drone is expensive, and the price can skyrocket depending on the package you choose. If the Mavic 3 Pro is in your budget, it is worthy of your consideration as a top-notch, professional drone.
Maximum Video Resolution: 5.4k | Maximum Speed: 42.5 mph
REASONS TO BUY
Large sensor
Control over ISO and shutter speed
Easy to fly/land/takeoff
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks following capabilities
No aperture control
The DJI Air 2S sets itself apart from other medium-sized drones with a hefty and capable sensor. This larger sensor allows for complete control over ISO and shutter speed, helping the pilot customize their footage. The adjustable gimbal responsiveness and micromovements like yawing and turning are smooth, ensuring the video is free of tremors. Not only are the controls intuitive and easy to learn, but taking off and landing are easy too. You can just as easily catch the Air 2S as you can land it on flat ground, which is extremely helpful. The Air 2S also offers obstacle avoidance and a plethora of intelligent flight patterns, including MasterShots, allowing the pilot to stack intelligent flight patterns consecutively for a cool finished product. While this drone is on the smaller side, it holds its own against light wind and connects to your smartphone or tablet, offering a clear and lag-free image.
The Air 2S sensor allows for control over ISO and shutter speed, but it does not allow you to adjust the aperture. This can be troublesome on particularly bright days, but with the help of a filter and automatic exposure, it doesn't affect the final product too negatively. MasterShots is a super cool feature, but it is imperative to ensure your surroundings are obstacle-free when using it. On occasion, we noticed a small amount of propeller intrusion during autonomous flight, but this can be avoided by turning off obstacle avoidance and ordering the drone to prioritize composition. Again, you'll need to ensure your area is obstacle-free. Lastly, the Air 2S costs quite a bit less than the most expensive options in our test suite. It is still an investment, but the level of performance renders it a truly high-value choice.
Maximum Video Resolution: 4K | Maximum Speed: 35.8 mph
REASONS TO BUY
Phenomenal portability
Multiple shooting modes
Excellent video quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Fewer obstacle sensors
Impacted by wind
The DJI Mini 3 Pro boasts incredible performance for its portability, scoring better in some metrics than drones twice its size. You can literally fit this model in your pocket, and with effective intelligent flight, you can be both the director and the star of your own video or photo shoot. With the ability to switch to portrait mode mid-flight, this product is an excellent option for social media influencers or storytellers, and the intuitive controls make piloting it a breeze. With excellent gimbal stabilization and note-worthy video/photo detail, this is a drone that is always worth taking on a trip.
The Mini 3 Pro doesn't have quite as many obstacle sensors as other options, so we'd keep this drone away from flights that are particularly complex. On windy days, we also had a tougher time hovering, taking off, or landing, though this is completely understandable with its modest size. Lastly, we weren't able to customize its flight performance as much as its competition. Despite these considerations, the Mini 3 Pro is a well-designed travel drone and is worthy of your consideration, whether you need a portable model or not.
The DJI Avata Pro-View Combo offers new pilots an approachable way to learn first-person view (FPV) piloting. Historically, the learning curve of an FPV has been steep, but this model offers multiple self-stabilizing modes so you can soak up the immersive experience of this drone class without worrying as much about crashing it. We also loved the Avata's propeller guards, making for an excellent indoor or outdoor drone as it can handle more complex environments without damaging you, the drone, or your environment. In well-lit scenes, this option's 4k video offers excellent detail and can be a decent content creator while you enjoy the FPV experience.
The DJI Avata Pro-View Combo doesn't handle dynamic or low-lit scenes as well as its competition, with a large amount of graininess in the shadows. The remote that's included is a unique pistol grip design that uses hand motion to steer. While it's fun to use, it's unlike any other controller we've tested, and more committed drone pilots will want to upgrade to a more standard controller. The Avata Pro-View is one of the best options out there as an FPV learning drone, and with decent video quality and propeller guards, you can capture some great footage in complex environments.
Maximum Video Resolution: 720p | Maximum Speed: 18 mph
REASONS TO BUY
Wallet-friendly
Simple controls
Easy to transport
REASONS TO AVOID
Video quality
Shorter range
The DJI Tello is the only model we've found that still flies with some semblance of stability and slides in at an affordable price. Most models in this price range don't have any sort of flight sensors, with even the slightest bit of overzealousness sending them careening into a crash. Thus, it can take the skill and patience of a Jedi master to keep them steady. But the Tello sports some DJI flight sensing technology, making a stable hover its center point and maneuvering out of that hover very easy and intuitively. This allows for a much more fun and less frustrating flying experience for kids and can be a good introduction for adult novices who want to get a feel for flying before putting a much more expensive camera in the air.
Video quality is the biggest shortcoming for the Tello. The footage comes across as grainy and often drops frames, resulting in odd cuts and jumps. However, the quality still far outstrips what most comparably priced models can produce. The Tello is controlled via virtual joysticks on your mobile device's touchscreen, which is just not as fun as using real joysticks. But this problem can be easily rectified with a compatible third-party Bluetooth gaming controller. Bottom line, we think this is the inexpensive model that is least likely to be flown into a wall right after opening the box, and it's the one that kids and novices will enjoy the most.
Drones make it possible to get shots that would otherwise be inconceivable.
Credit: Steven Tata
How We Test Drones
We continually research all the top drones on the market, focusing on the models most likely to provide consumers with the best experience with the least hassle. To keep our testing process objective, we buy all the models in our review at full price from standard retailers and put them through a specially designed testing regimen that includes hundreds of hours of flight time, a side-by-side comparison of video footage in various lighting conditions, and an exhaustive analysis of every feature and setting. We fly them in long, smooth paths and see how well they can execute tight turns. We assess image color quality and resolution, and we evaluate their ease of use and portability. For more info on our drone testing process, see our How We Test article.
We divided our testing criteria into four key rating metrics:
Video Quality (45% of overall score weighting)
Flight Performance (35% weighting)
Portability (10% weighting)
Ease of Use (10% weighting)
Why You Should Trust Us
We relied heavily on the expertise of FAA-certified drone pilot and director of photography Dane Henry for this review. Dane has been piloting aerial cameras since their introduction to the professional market, working with such A-list clients as Apple, Nikon, National Geographic Adventure, ESPN Films, Red Bull, and Patagonia, to name just a few. Dane brings his in-depth knowledge and experience to our review by piloting our test models and assessing the resulting footage. Professional photographer Laura Casner is also a crucial member of the test team, bringing a critical eye and years of institutional knowledge to analyzing the footage produced by these drone cameras.
Nick Miley, Zach Lovell and Austin Palmer joined the review team in the most recent update. Nick is a boundary-spanner who brings together the skills, insights, and knowledge needed to sync up and flesh out a project in a thorough manner. He has worked in journalism, tech, and research throughout his twenty-year career. Zach is a detail-oriented Mountain Guide, writer, photographer, and gear reviewer with published work both in print and online. He is one of the primary writers of our drone articles at GearLab, combing through an extensive amount of testing data and distilling that information into a digestible series of articles to best communicate our testing findings to the public. Austin Palmer is the lead product tester at GearLab and brings the experience of thousands of product tests to the table. In this review, he was critical to maintaining consistency in testing and data analysis.
We tested range as well as fine-navigation capabilities for each drone.
The Mini 2 offer some intelligent flight patterns.
We spent a lot of time flying drones in beautiful locations.
Analysis and Test Results
In less than a decade, small aerial vehicles — colloquially referred to as drones — have gone from the stuff of spy and sci-fi novels to gaining widespread commercial use while fostering enjoyment among scores of everyday consumers. If you've ever thought of joining this aerial renaissance, our testing results will help lead you to the perfect model for your needs and budget.
Value
We do not factor price into the scoring of the drones we test and rate. However, price is a huge consideration with such expensive devices and can't be overlooked. We consider high-value products to be those that expertly balance performance and price. Sometimes, it's worth it to pay top dollar, but depending on your needs, you may not always need to take that route.
Nearing the top of the scoreboard in terms of performance with a price lower than the premium models, the DJI Air 2S is hard to beat regarding value. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is slightly less capable than the larger models, but it is relatively inexpensive and infinitely portable, making it an excellent value for people who want a drone they can toss in their backpack and travel with easily. And if you want a budget option for the kids, the DJI Tello can't be missed. It doesn't have even close to the same video quality as the premium options, but it's still a ton of fun and a great way to dip your toes into the world of drones without maxing out a credit card.
The DJI Air 2S offers incredible performance at half the price of other high-end drones.
Credit: Laura Casner
Video Quality
As fun as it can be to pilot remote-controlled aircraft, the resulting video footage is the primary goal for most users; thus, we weighted video quality the most heavily in the overall scores. A camera's resolution, sharpness, and color quality are vital to creating a good image. To test this, we take similar footage with each one of our models and carefully examine the resulting video files side-by-side on the same high-definition monitor. The best resolution and most vivid colors can be ruined if the video is shaky and unstable. We test these video quality attributes by recording both broad panning shots and fast-paced, tight shots from following a fast-moving subject. We then evaluate this footage based on how smooth and stable it is, whether the horizon remains horizontal in the frame, and if the rotors or rotor shadows are present.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro leads the pack in this evaluation, although the DJI Air 2S isn't too far behind. These drones' stable gimbal, 5K+ video resolution, and advanced sensors coalesce to produce amazing video quality. Both of these models represent the "prosumer" category as they are accessible to everyday consumers but are capable of producing professional quality results.
The Mavic 3 Pro (and Mavic 3 Pro Cine) have three onboard cameras you can switch between mid-flight to dial in the exact shot you need.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Autel EVO II V3 captures impressive 6K footage (the highest tested to date) and has decent gimbal stabilization for shake-free video in normal flight conditions. While most users will be more than pleased with its video quality, this quality falls off when pointing the camera towards the sun. That said, the camera exhibits a decent highlight roll-off, which will be pleasing to most users when shooting an overexposed sun.
The Autel Evo II V3 can shoot in 6k video, the highest resolution of our current lineup.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Despite its modest size, the DJI Mini Pro 3 packs a punch with 4k resolution, gifting surprisingly crisp and clear footage for such a tiny drone. The camera produces vibrant colors but with an average dynamic range, getting challenged in bright or dim lighting with a lack of detail in highlights and shadows. The more sizeable camera sensors of the higher-end models simply handle dynamic lighting conditions better. However, it's worth noting that recent firmware upgrades help the Mini Pro 3 by providing manual exposure and white balance controls.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro may be small, but it still offers 4k video.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Flight Performance
A nimble, responsive, and predictable quadcopter allows you to get great footage with ease. It also reduces the inherent stress of flying your expensive investment out in the real world, where things like trees and power lines seem to pop up out of nowhere (editors note: we don't recommend flying near trees and powerlines). Takeoffs and landings are usually the most stressful and accident-prone parts of each flight, so stability in those moments is paramount. Finally, most modern camera drones have several autonomous flight functions, like aerial cable cam, orbit, and even follow functions that can make capturing footage easier and more consistent. Running through hundreds of takeoffs and landings, we test all aspects of flight performance, completing dozens of figure 8s and loop-de-loops with each model while pushing all their autonomous functions to their limits.
The DJI drones, including the Mavic 3 Pro and Air 2S, soared above the competition in our flight performance tests. Generally speaking, these models provide everything you could want from a consumer quadcopter: rock-solid stability, responsive maneuvering, sport modes that allow you to exceed 40 mph, enough power to deal with wind gusts, and a bevy of autonomous flight functions.
While all the DJI drones are fantastic flyers, the Mavic 3 Pro sets the bar in this metric. This model has easy takeoffs and landings, excellent autonomous and intelligent flight modes, and an extremely long 43-minute flight time. The Mavic 3 Pro also offers a convenient return-to-home feature that works well so long as the user remembers to set the home point at takeoff.
From its intelligent flight to take-offs and landings, the Mavic 3 Pro leads the pack in flight performance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DJI Air 2S comes in just behind the Mavic 3 Pro and essentially has the same flight characteristics — it's fast, maneuverable, and has excellent autonomous flight programs. However, what sets these two models apart is the flight time. At 31 minutes of battery life, the Air 2S provides pilots with 12 minutes less flight time — that can make a big difference in golden hour filming sessions.
The Air 2S has a somewhat shorter battery life, but its quick and smooth flight makes up for it.
Credit: Laura Casner
The Autel EVO II V3 scored decently in certain areas of this metric, with stable landings/take-off, effective pre-programmed waypoint flight, and accurate return home. When examining the following capabilities of this drone, we were left wanting more. When we asked the Autel to follow a subject doing anything more than walking, it had a tough time keeping the subject in frame. Depending on the intended use of their drones, some pilots will prioritize the following function of intelligent flight, some won't.
The Autel Evo II V3 has worthy flight performance besides its following function.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DJI Avata Pro-View Combo offers a unique propeller guard design and downward-facing sensors that allow it to be flown effectively indoors or in complex outdoor settings. Considering that it is an FPV (first-person-view) drone, you'll just need to spend some time learning how to fly it. Fortunately, this drone is one of the best options we've found for learning FPV flight.
The Avata Pro-View Combo is the friendliest FPV drone we've tested to date, offering a much friendlier learning curve than other first person view models.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DJI FPV Combo is another excellent drone to learn FPV flying with, as it offers multiple modes that are self-stabilizing, so you can embrace the immersive experience of first-person view without plummeting your delicate drone to the ground. You can progressively get more and more manual with your FPV flight, allowing you to ultimately go fully manual if you wish. In acro mode, this drone is the fastest of any model in our review, with a top speed of 87.2 mph.
The DJI FPV Combo is a high-powered drone that allows you to slowly ease into the deep end of first person view.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability
Over the past few years, consumer models have become increasingly compact and lightweight, meaning pilots don't have to choose between portability and camera quality. Traveling with your drone ensures that you'll never miss a shot and enables you to get footage in locations that just several years ago would not have been feasible.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is clearly at the front of the pack in this metric as a super portable model capable of producing great video. It weighs just over half a pound and folds down into a compact package that can literally fit in your pocket. The controller similarly folds down into a slim package that is barely larger than a smartphone, making this a drone that can easily come on every adventure.
The Mini 3 Pro is our most portable drone in this line up, and it still offers great performance in other metrics.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weighing just 2.8 ounces, the DJI Tello is easily the lightest model in our review. However, you have to be careful of its exposed props if you want to carry it around in a backpack, as it doesn't fold down at all. Fortunately, its diagonal size is similar to many others after they're folded.
The DJI Tello is our lightest drone tested so far, and although it doesn't fold up, it still has travel-friendly dimensions.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is relatively portable, especially when considering its professional-grade video and flight prowess. It comes in at a folded diagonal size of 8.75 inches and weighs 33.8 ounces, just over two pounds. The Autel EVO II V3 has similar dimensions but weighs nearly 42 ounces.
As a high-performing drone, the Mavic 3 Pro is relatively portable and easy to take with you on longer trips.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
It's easy to forget how much technology is stuffed into these little quadcopters and just how complex the algorithms are that bend that technology to the user's will. Distilling all of this technology effectively into a versatile yet straightforward user interface is an arduous task, and some manufacturers do it better than others. Our ease of use testing covered every facet of the operation, from opening the box, getting in the air, landing safely, and downloading footage. We evaluated the initial setup, including installing rotors, downloading apps, charging batteries, and linking each model to the requisite controllers or smart devices. We also considered the controllers themselves, assessing how they felt in our hands, how intuitive they were, and the usability or clarity of on-screen menus.
In general, we found that the gimbal models we tested were relatively easy to set up and get in the air. On top of that, they all have nice, intuitive controllers. The non-gimbal models are also easy to set up but tend to have less streamlined user interfaces. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro, Air 2S, and Mini 3 Pro dominate this metric. All of these models have seamless initial setup processes and can be in the air within 20 minutes.
The DJI Mini's controller hooks up to your phone as a monitor.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
DJI has put drones in the hands of many experienced and beginner pilots, and that legacy is evident in the superb user experience the company has engendered. Regardless of your model, the out-of-the-box setup is quite simple and streamlined, and pairing the drone with its associated controller and app is similarly easy. DJI makes a few different-sized controllers for its drones, and we find all these designs quite ergonomic. All the joysticks are supple and predictable. However, we found the Mavic 3 Pro controller to be on the small side for those with average to larger hands.
Some users will have no issues with the Mavic 3 Pro controller, but larger hands may find this model harder to use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The PowerVision PowerEgg offers users quality ease of use features, though not as beneficial as the DJI models discussed above. The main issues the PowerEgg faces are its ease of flight and video transmission. Its yaw controls proved to be a bit challenging to master, and the video links leave something to be desired as well. Its video is a bit laggy at all distances.
The Autel EVO II V3 was in the air minutes after unboxing, and with intuitive controls, we were able to learn how to fly it with relative ease. It's also the only model in our review that has tri-band frequencies, helping with transmitting distance, especially in wooded areas or near buildings.
The Autel Evo II Pro V3 is easy to use, and its tri-band frequencies help with connectivity.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DJI Avata Pro-View Combo and the DJI FPV Combo both have incredible ease of use when considering it is an FPV drone. When in normal mode, these models have self-stabilization, allowing you to slowly get comfortable with the first-person view. As you get more comfortable, you can go into fully manual flight. The Avata Pro-View comes with a pistol grip remote that's fun to use but isn't as effective as a more traditional controller.
The motion 2 controller that comes with the DJI Avata Pro-View Combo is an acquired taste, and some will want to buy a more traditional controller.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Drones are incredible pieces of technology that have brought some of the tools of professional filmmakers into the hands of creative hobbyists. We know buying a drone can be stressful and confusing. However, we believe we've completed the most exhaustive and scientific side-by-side comparison of the current models available on the market. We hope this will help you decide which one is best for you on your path to spreading awe on Facebook, Vimeo, and Instagram. Happy (and safe) flying!
—
Zach Lovell, Laura Casner, Nick Miley, and Austin Palmer
