6 Best Drones

There is also the option of getting the Anafi Extended which comes with two batteries, extra sets of propellers a carry case, a small shoulder bag and even a two-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud’s Photoshop and Lightroom or its Premiere Pro plan. It also comes with room for a remote control that charges via USB-C.

The Parrot Anafi is a small airframe and is considered customer-friendly because of its folding quadcopter design. It has accommodated USB charging. The construction is mostly foam which is ideal because it does not have much weight. The brand has gone a step ahead and added a plastic body with a mix of carbon fiber for a sleek finish. Even with that, the drone is quite light. It does meet the FAA standards with regards to weight, but it is not heavy to the point that you’ll find it cumbersome to carry it with you in your bag.

The Anafi has folding propellers, and in general, you can consider this drone to be compact. The propellers are small compared to other drones in the market and lightweight too. With regard to controlling the phone, you’ll need to use your phone as a display. The Anafi does have a GPS, so it can return to its point of takeoff. This primary feature is vital for any drone. When it is hovering, it uses downward sensors to keep it steady.

When it comes to storage, the Anafi comes with a 16GB card that’s located underneath the battery. It can capture 20 minutes of 4K video. You can use the Parrot FreeFlight app to transfer the video to your phone. Also, ensure that you update the Anafi’s firmware after you get it and before using it.

The thing to note is that the Parrot Anafi doesn’t have obstacle detection. That puts more work on the pilot to ensure that the drone doesn’t hit anything. Equally, the digital zoom cuts into 4k quality, and you do need your smartphone to operate the Parrot Anafi.

Verdict: The Anafi is useful if you’re looking for something compact and are keen on the flight time you get. The batteries give you an exciting fly time of 25 minutes where you can capture all the footage you need.

There is the flight mode option where the obstacle avoidance sensors kick in, and you don’t have to worry about crashes. You can transmit a 1080p live stream video thanks to the enhanced connectivity of OcuSync 2.0. There is an included remote control that is the same as what you get with the DJI models. It has a monochrome display that shows the charge level, telemetry data, and much more. There is a short cable that you can connect to your smartphone. The other cables present accommodate Lightning, micro USB, and USB-C ports. Do keep in mind that you can still fly the drone without our phone. The only problem is that you won’t be able to see what the camera captures.

Just as with other DJI drones, you’re able to choose between getting the drone alone or opting for the Fly More package. With it, you get additional batteries and a carry case. It is portable and can fit in a small bag. That means you can take it with you anywhere and not have to worry about space. All that is thanks to the fact this quadcopter folds down so much so that it can also fit into a large pocket. When it comes to weight, the Mavic Pro does check off with the FAA requirements, but it is still lightweight enough for recreational flying.

Other features that you get with the Mavic 2 Pro are the return-to-home feature and also the pause button that you can use to have the drone stay in one place. There is also a small four-way controller that you can use to point the camera ahead or down.

Do note that the DJI Mavic 2 Pro does not support USB charging. It also does not have a 4k DCI video.

Verdict: You want to opt for the Mavic 2 Pro if you’re looking for a DJI model that has an impressive flight time. It is also portable, making it ideal for taking with you anywhere for recreation purposes.

What makes this drone better than the previous models is the six-rotor design that gives the drone a lot of power. In the event of the loss of the engine or propeller, it can stay aloft. Something to note is that the 4k camera is actually able to rotate freely and thus giving you the freedom to capture footage how you want.  When it comes to flight time, you only get 19 minutes, which is low compared to other brands and models on this review. 

When it comes to remote control, people take issue with the fact that it is large and doesn’t fold for storage. It can also be intimidating for a beginner as they will wonder what all the buttons do. With practice, though, you’re able to become a pro. The Yuneec Typhoon H Pro does also have retractable landing gear. The weight of the drone, which is 3.7 pounds, you’ll have to register with the FAA. We do have to mention that this drone is quite expensive as compared to other drones.

Let’s talk about what you find when you unbox the Typhoon H pro. The construction of this drone is carbon fiber. It is folded down when you get in from the box, and in general, it is easy to put it together. What can be someone difficult is installing the propellers. You will pull it off; the issues come in with how easily your fingers can navigate the propellers. When getting this drone, you’ll have to set extra money aside for a backpack where you can put in the drone and the remote control.

Verdict: This drone is quite expensive as compared to others on the list, but a worthwhile buy if you’re looking for stability and fantastic imaging. What makes it cost as much as it does is the Intel RealSense collision avoidance sensors.

The remote is smaller than the other makes. The control stick detaches when you want to store it, so that means that there is no LCD information. However, there are clips at the bottom of the remote where you can hold your smartphone. You’re then to use lightning, micro USB, and USB-C cables where you use the cable to plug in your phone.

The other fantastic thing about the Mavic Air is that it is ideal if your concern is portability. You can pack it, and it comfortably fits in a jacket pocket.  Something to note that this is the smallest size drones that DJI makes. That’s because this drone is foldable, and it also weighs less than an iPad.

As with other DJI drones, the Mavic Air has both GPS and GLONASS satellite positioning. You’re able to pinpoint the drone’s location on the globe, so that means you can have automated or semi-automated flight modes. Equally, there is the return-to-home safety feature so you can be sure that your drone will make its way back to you. Thanks to location detection, you’re able to know the no-fly zones. That said, the Mavic Air can fly up to 19 feet from the controller.

One thing to note is that the DJI Mavic doesn’t support USB charging. It also has no 4k DCI video. The flight time is also limited to 18 minutes. This is a great drone for beginners.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a small and portable drone that you can fit in your jacket pocket then you’re good going for the DJI Mavic Air. You also get the same (and even more) benefits as the other drones the brands have without compromise because of the size. You also get excellent video imaging.

The other aspect that makes it a fan favorite is that it is small enough for you to park and go somewhere with it. The return-to-home safety feature is also available, so you don’t have to worry about losing your drone. You can expect it back from where it took off from in the event you lose sight of the drone. The images that you capture get stored in a microSD memory card.

With the features given so far, we can safely say that this is mostly a selfie drone because of the limited range it has. It is also so because you can interact with it by waving your hand. As a safety feature, the drone has forward obstacle avoidance. The top speed on the Spark drone is 31mph. When it comes to this drone and the weight, the brand will be quick to let you know that it weighs less than a soda can. It doesn’t fold, but the propellers, so that makes transporting easier.

The drawback of the Spark is that it only has a flight time of 12 minutes. It does have a USB port so you can always recharge it with a power bank or laptop for when you need to get it back into the air. It also has a limited range and also the speed tends to suffer when you’re controlling the drone with your phone. As mentioned, the 1080p is what you get with regards to video, but there are other products in the market that give you better imaging.

Verdict: If you want a drone that you don’t want to fuss about when it comes to learning, then you’re good to go with the DJI Spark. It is fantastic with selfies and also for those who want to control their drones using hand gestures.

The Phantom comes with a case that has a handle where everything fits in perfectly. The drone is small, but not the smallest that we have on this list or even in the market. When you get the Phantom from the box, you do have first to attach the propellers. The battery and the remote control that this drone comes with do need to be charged, and the remote takes quite a bit of time; almost 4 hours.

There is a clamp available on the remote control that you can use to put your phone or tablet. These get connected to the remote using a USB cable. For some running, you should update the firmware before you make your first flight. That said, if you lose sight of your drone, you’re able to activate the return-to-home function and regain your drone. There are other cool functions such as the TapFly that you can use to send the drone right to where you want it. You can tap the screen and have the drone fly directly to that spot. As it does so, it avoids obstacles and also adjusts the elevation to get it to the place you need it to be.

There is also the ActiveTrack function that lets users select the subject, and the drone can follow whatever subject you’ve picked. That said, the flight time of the Phantom is quite impressive, and perhaps the best on this list of drones to consider. It flights for 30 minutes. 

Verdict: If you’re looking for high flight time, then you should look for the Phantom. It also as amazing features that include gestures; you can even use your head to control the drone. The TapFly feature is also great, so you’re able to get straight to what you wish without interruption, with the ActiveTrack feature making it more practical.