We’ve flown all kinds of drones, so we know what to look for when choosing the best drone: good image quality, reliable safety features, accessible flight controls and useful in-flight features. Based on our in-depth reviews, each of the drones recommended below ticks those boxes to some degree.
If we had to choose a drone to buy for ourselves, we’d go for the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It’s a feature-packed flying machine with collision avoidance sensors that makes it safe for beginners to fly. It also avoids most legal restrictions by landing at less than 250g. We think it’s one of the best DJI drones you can buy. That said, if you want a more advanced drone, you’re better looking at something like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.
Our guide is designed to cover the best drones for every type of buyer, from novices to seasoned pilots. Each entry distills the results of our expert tests, including the benefits and drawbacks that we discovered in our full review. If you’re just getting started, we also suggest checking out our dedicated round-up of the best beginner drones.
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
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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
Best budget drone without obstacle avoidance
DJI Mini 4K sample images
✅ You’re a first time buyer: The DJI Mini 4K is a great starting point if you’re new to drones, with decent 4K video and flight features.
✅ You’re want the best cheap drone: For less than $300 / £300, you get a well equipped 4K drone with 3-axis gimbal and decent flight performance.
❌ You're typically gung ho: The Mini 4K doesn’t feature collision avoidance like the Mini 4 Pro, so the daring will likely get into scrapes quickly enough.
❌ You want decent subject tracking: Despite having Quickshots flight moves, the Mini 4K doesn't have the same sophisticated tracking features as the Mini 4 Pro.
First time buyers can't go wrong with the Mini 4K – it is the best budget drone you can buy at under $300 / £300. It is a carbon copy of the DJI Mini 2 SE, only it comes with higher resolution 4K video to the Mini 2 SE's 2.7K video. The Mini 4K also shoots 2.7K up to 60fps and video bitrates are higher, so its videos are less compressed, plus you get a 2x digital zoom. Otherwise, the drones are identical; a regulator-friendly 246g take-off weight, 3-axis gimbal and stable flight performance considering the tiny size.
If money is no object, the Mini 4 Pro is the best beginner drone you can buy. It has omnidirectional object avoidance and advanced Follow Me subject tracking, plus a larger sensor and slightly better image quality overall. If you're typically gung ho, you might get into a few scrapes flying the Mini 4K given the lack of obstacle avoidance or need to be extra cautious to avoid objects, especially when flying over bodies of water. However, the Mini 4K is admirably robust and a third of the price of the Mini 4 Pro while being equally capable in many ways. Its battery life is excellent, despite not fulfilling the 31 minute measured times it can go longer than rivals, plus DJI's Quickshots flight moves get you dynamic video sequences around your chosen subject.
All in all, we found the Mini 4K to be an excellent beginner drone, perhaps the best, and a decent second drone for advanced pilots.
- Read our in-depth DJI Mini 4K review
Best drone camera
DJI Mavic 3 Pro sample images
✅ You need camera versatility: The only triple-camera drone perfectly balances quality and versatility.
✅ You want DJI's best safety features: DJI's most advanced collision avoidance plus advanced return to home ensure accident-free flying.
❌ A single camera will do: The Mavic 3 Pro's main camera can also be found for less on the Mavic 3 Classic.
❌ You don't need all the bells and whistles: There are highly capable and cheaper drones available, while lighter models come with fewer restrictions.
The Mavic 3 Pro won best camera product of the year in the TechRadar Choice Awards 2023, and with good reason. It's the first consumer drone to feature three cameras, ideal for aerial photography and filmmakers who need the most versatile drone on the market. The Mavic 3 Pro's main camera is the same one used by the Mavic 3 Classic and its 20MP Four Thirds sensor offers the best image quality of the three, together with an adjustable aperture, pro-tier video formats and frame rates. That said, if you need the extra reach from the main 24mm focal length of this camera, both 3x and 7x telephoto cameras produce excellent images.
As a pro drone, the Mavic 3 Pro is also incredibly easy to fly even in windy conditions and accessible to all users, thanks to its excellent safety features and intuitive controls, although its in the restrictive C2 European drone category because of how heavy it is. Another sticking point is its price that makes it overkill for beginners. However, it’s a more portable and less expensive option for pros than the Inspire 3, plus it's even more versatile.
- Read our in-depth DJI Mavic 3 Pro review
Best all-round drone for aerial photographers
DJI Air 3S sample images
✅ You want to keep your distance: The Air 3S has two lenses, including a 3x telephoto that lets you get close to the action to make videos from a safe working distance.
✅ You need a sturdy drone for windy conditions: The Air 3S is physically larger than the Mini 4 Pro and has better wind resistance for breezy weather.
❌ This is your first drone: The weighty DJI Air 3S sits in the C1 category of drones and that comes with flying restrictions that you don't get with sub-250g drones like the Mini 4 Pro.
❌ You shoot a lot of video: Both of the Air 3S’s lenses have fixed apertures, which are particularly restrictive for shooting video with ND filters in variable light.
Clearly sitting between the Mini series and Mavic Pro series of DJI drones is the Air series, and the latest model is the Air 3S. Novices will find a sub-250g model like the Mini 3 more manageable than the Air 3S, but you can enjoy much better wind resistance with the larger model, plus a generous 45-minute flight time. We also think beginners will get to grips quickly with the Air 3S's easy interface and safety features such as obstacle avoidance.
As a drone with 724g take-off weight, the Air 3S is placed in Europe’s C1 category and that comes with flight restrictions, meaning you need to keep a greater distance from people and animals and events to be safe and legal. However, you can still get close to the action thanks to the Air 3S's 3x telephoto lens with 70mm (approx) focal length. Like the Air 3, the Air 3S is a dual camera drone and the main camera is improved, with a much larger 1-inch sensor (to the 1/1.3-inch sensor of the Air 3). That means better image quality in challenging light, especially at nighttime. You also get obstacel sensing with LiDAR which performs better at night, plus more built-in memory to store your 4K videos and (up to (50MP) photos.
The Air 3S is a minor update of the Air 3 and not worth the upgrade if you already own the older model, but those new to the Air series should go for the older model, as our Air 3S vs Air 3 article suggests. Ultimately, the Air 3S is an iterative update of the already class-leading Air 3, without a price hike.
- Read our in-depth DJI Air 3S review
