When we fly the best drones, we're assessing several things: how well they fly, video and photo quality, flight and safety features, plus how well they perform for the price. The results are different for every drone we test and that's why we recommend different drones for different people in this guide.
Of all the drones we've flown, our personal favorite is the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It's a feature-packed drone complete with obstacle avoidance and an excellent camera. It's also safe and easy for first-timers to fly, plus it weighs less than 250g so it comes with less restrictions and legal requirements than heavier drones, making it an excellent beginner drone. However, it won't be the right choice for everyone, especially pro pilots for whom the weightier Mavic 3 Pro could be a better bet.
Our recommendations below include everything from entry-level drones to pro-grade models. Each has been tested by our expert team in the real world, who look for the benefits and drawbacks of every option. We've summarised the takeaways to make it easy for you to land on your ideal drone.
Top 3 picks
If you don’t have time to read our full list of the best drones, you can use the summary below for a quick overview of the the best options for different buyers. When you find a drone that ticks your boxes, use the links beneath to jump to our full write-up.
The best overall
With 360 obstacle avoidance and improved image quality, the Mini 4 Pro packs pro performance into a compact drone under 250g.
The best budget drone
If you don’t need collision avoidance, the Mini 4K is the best budget drone you can buy, being small, lightweight and way more affordable than the Mini 4 Pro.
The best drone camera
The world's first triple-camera consumer drone is one for aerial image makers, with DJI's industry-leading flying and safety features to boot.
Best by use-case
The best all-rounder
The dual-camera DJI Air 3S hits a sweet spot: it's relatively affordable yet still boasts top performance, great image quality and a deep feature set.
The best DJI Air 3S rival
Capable of shooting 5.4K footage at 30fps using a 1-inch sensor, it shares a remarkably similar spec sheet to the DJI Air 2S and is a decent alternative.
The best value camera
The Classic edition of the Mavic 3 lands at a lower price by losing the telephoto camera of its pricier sibling, yet keeps its class-leading 4/3 main sensor.
The best cheap drone
Simple, lightweight and affordable, the Ryze Tello is a fun drone for first-time flyers. Despite its budget price tag, the Tello offers plenty and reasonable flight time.
The best FPV drone
Upgraded Goggles and controls, sharper video and longer battery life make the second-gen Avata the best FPV drone you can fly straight out of the box.
The best compact DJI alternative
The colourful Evo Nano+ is a capable competitor to the DJI Mini 4 Pro, bringing a big sensor and bright lens to the sub-250g category.
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The best FPV drone for beginners
An accessible FPV kit, we think the BetaFPV is the best way for beginners to try first-person drone flight, complete with goggles and controller.
The best for quick selfies
Similar to the HoverAir X1, the Neo is DJI's most exciting drone for years with multi-control options, including; controller-free, FPV, remote and app.
Tim is TechRadar's Cameras editor. With more than 15 years’ experience in the photo video industry, Tim has spent countless hours working with all kinds of camera kit. As a result, he’s gained a deeply technical knowledge of what makes a good camera – and that expertise extends to drones. Tim notes, "As you'll find in the list below, DJI continues to dominate the drone market in 2024, producing excellent models for every niche – from entry-level to professional. That said, we've also covered options from a number of other drone manufacturers, particularly where they represent good value alternatives."
The best drones 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best drones in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
Best sub 250g compact drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro sample images
✅ You want the best lightweight drone: With excellent image quality and obstacle avoidance in all directions, this is the most feature-packed sub-250g drone.
✅ You’re serious about video: Support for 4K 100fps slow-mo and the D-Log M color profile offers additional versatility and finer control of video output.
❌ You’re already happy with your Mini 3 Pro: While the Mini 4 Pro has some new features, many will find that they don’t justify switching from the already capable Mini 3 Pro.
❌ You only fly in the open: Omnidirectional Video Sensing is useful, but only if you operate in complex environments with lots of obstacles.
With a lightweight build and pro-grade features, the DJI Mini 3 Pro was previously our favorite drone. The Mini 4 Pro builds on its qualities to deliver an even better experience, albeit not a radically different one. If you already own a Mini 3 Pro, it probably doesn’t justify an upgrade. But if you’re switching from a different model or buying your first Mini series drone, it’s an excellent choice. Its small, folding design is almost identical to the Mini 3 Pro, as is the regulation-friendly 249g takeoff weight. Also the same is the 1/1.3-inch sensor, which still delivers excellent image quality.
Thanks to processing updates, we found it even better at handling noise in low light. Serious videographers will also welcome the new D-Log M color profile, which offers greater consistency with the Mavic 3. Obstacle avoidance is now omnidirectional, meaning the Mini 4 Pro is even safer than its predecessor when it comes to operating indoors or near trees. We also found ActiveTrack 360° highly effective, making it an easy drone for beginners to fly confidently. If you can afford the DJI RC 2 controller option, you’ll have the best backpack-friendly drone bundle.
- Read our in-depth DJI Mini 4 Pro review
