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Best drones for 2024

How to choose the best flying camera

In this article: I’ll hook up a few key recommendations, each based on a common camera drone application or level of experience.

  1. Best drone for beginners — DJI Mini 4 Pro
  2. Best drone for hobbyists — DJI Mavic 3 Pro
  3. Best drone for racers — DJI Avata
  4. Best drone for professional videography — DJI Inspire 3

You’ll also find helpful drone shopping tips and a few quick reminders about drone safety.

While we’re at it, keep an eye out for some cool alternatives thrown in for good measure.

D

rones come in a multitude of flavors. They can be just a cool toy or an efficient way to film action sequences on a movie production. Many fly, but some float or roll. There are camera drones that take underwater pictures or drive on six wheels like the Mars rover. With one pretty neat exception, we'll be focusing on flying camera drones in this article. If only because they're my favorite.

"Why?," you might ask. Well, if you're looking to capture a beautiful sunset, how much cooler is it to frame that picture with miles of surrounding countryside? Finding the right angle or vantage point on foot can be difficult. There's this whole thing called "rough terrain" you have to contend with.

Flying drones are effectively airborne cameras. In a matter of seconds, they can traverse the environment, free as a bird, and help you capture shots that are otherwise impossible to get from the confines of the earth below. "Gravity weighs down the soul," as the saying goes, so why not take the opportunity to liberate ourselves, if only for a moment?

Drone photo high above the landscape

With a drone camera's aerial perspective, the daily commute I took for granted became a sweeping landscape. It's way cooler than the view from my car, that's for sure.

What type of drone should you buy?

We divide most of the camera drones we carry into three basic categories: Micro, Mini, and Full-sized. Micro drones are the smallest type of drone, usually requiring very little assembly or setup, and are often the most affordable. We usually recommend these small drones for entry-level flyers.

Mini drones are a step up from micro drones. They're generally faster, have longer flight times, and tend to carry high-resolution cameras. Mini drones with a camera work out really well for a wide range of hobbyists.

Full-sized drones are biggest type of drone, flying the fastest and staying in the air the longest. They're also often jam-packed with sophisticated technology and the most advanced cameras. This makes full-sized drones a great choice for flyers looking for a premium experience.

Our top drones for 2024

Let's break down our picks for the best drone cameras this year. There's a drone for every type of pilot, from beginners taking off into the skies for the first time to experienced aerial photographers who've mastered the winds and are looking for that next great shot. These picks should help you get started and find the right drone for you.

You'll notice a lot of DJI drones on this list. We carry excellent drones from other manufacturers like Autel Robotics and Parrot that could've also easily made the list. We keep coming back to DJI because they have such wide, versatile range of camera drones. They do a little bit of everything and they do it all well, with at least a few models in our top-selling list of drones at any given time.

DJI Mini 4 Pro aerial quadcopter with 4K camera

Best drone for beginners — DJI Mini 4 Pro

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is great for folks who have just dipped their toes in the water and are looking for something that has a lot of bang for their buck. It's value-packed, offering powerful visuals and flight at an attractive price point. This mini drone can fly up to 35.7 miles per hour, is wind-resistant, and has a 48-megapixel camera capable of recording 4K/HDR video at 60 fps.

With a host of intelligent flight and shooting modes like QuickShots, Slow Motion, and Hyperlapse, the Mini 4 Pro makes it simple to snag great footage. The wireless connection to the remote controller also uses OcuSync 4.0, which transmits a clear, strong signal up to 12.4 miles — letting you fly with confidence.

Because the Mini 4 Pro weighs 8.7 oz., you can fly without taking the extra time to register the mini drone in most regions. This helps you get you in the air just a little faster, and makes travelling with your drone easier.

Details:

  • 48-megapixel 1/1.3" CMOS sensor captures 4K/HDR video @ 60 fps
  • can capture 4K @ 100 fps in slow-motion
  • True Vertical Shooting auto-rotates the camera gimbal for portraits perfect for social media
  • maximum speed: 35.7 mph
  • maximum flight time: 34 minutes

Budget-friendly alternative — DJI Mini 2 SE

The DJI Mini 2 SE is an ultralight and easy-to-use camera drone. It's even easier on your wallet, but still jam-packed with cool features.

The Mini 2 SE's 12-megapixel camera captures video at up to 2.7K HD resolution. The drone also flies fast and strong, hitting up to 35 miles per hour, and can stay up in the air for up to 31 minutes at a time. The Mini 2 SE makes it easy to soar high and capture cool footage even if you're still learning the ropes.

DJI Mavic 3 Pro aerial drone

Best drone for hobbyists — DJI Mavic 3 Pro

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro offers smooth, fast flight and a host of intelligent flight modes with a three-camera design for expansive visual creativity. There's a 5.1K camera with a 4/3" CMOS sensor custom-built by Hasselblad, world-famous makers of cameras and lenses. It also features a pair of 4K telephoto cameras that support different focal lengths, 166mm and 70mm respectively.

You can switch between the three different cameras at will, giving you the freedom to capture the same subject in a variety of ways. And there's also a flight mode for everyone, like MasterShots, which lets you pick a subject for the drone to automatically keep it center-frame while performing a sequence of 10 different aerial maneuvers. It's an easy way to create a short, cool-looking cinematic video that's perfect for social media.

The drone can also capture up to one billion shades of color with its 10-bit D-Log color profile. And uses Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), a rigorous system that calibrates sensor data at the pixel level with a unique image processing algorithm. HNCS accurately reproduces rich, natural colors that pop without presets of any kind.

Details:

  • tri-camera system includes 20-megapixel Hasselblad camera with 4/3" CMOS sensor, 48-megapixel medium tele camera with 1/1.3" CMOS sensor, and 12-megapixel tele camera with 1/2" CMOS sensor
  • APAS 5.0 and omnidirectional obstacle sensing helps you fly safely
  • MasterShots helps you quickly create a short cinematic video focused on a single subject
  • flies up to 46.9 mph
  • flight time: up to 43 minutes

Budget-friendly alternative — DJI Air 3

The DJI Air 3 rocks out a powerful camera, fast flight, and a ton of smart features that help enthusiast explore their aerial creativity. Its 48-megapixel camera has a large 1/1.3" CMOS sensor for detailed images even in low-light conditions. It also captures 4K video at 60 fps — hooking you up with especially smooth, crisp recordings.

With several shooting modes, the Air 3 has something for everyone. You can rock out slow motion, keep moving objects in focus with FocusTrack, or use the processing features of SmartPhoto 3.0 to optimize your image quality in a variety of shooting conditions. It also includes obstacle avoidance to make it easier to fly safely, with infrared three-dimensional sensors that detect obstacles around the drone.

DJI Avata aerial quadcopter

Best drone for racers — DJI Avata

The Avata is DJI's first "cinewhoop"-style drone, designed from the ground up for maximum agility and stability. This style of drone build comes from the racing scene, where competitors zoom around the tight corridors of indoor courses. The DJI Avata also offers an experience few other camera drones can get close to, letting you see the world from a visceral first-person perspective untethered by the weight of gravity.

The Avata has three core flight modes. Each is designed for a different level of experience, helping you work your way up to the drone's full potential. N Mode uses obtacle detection, automatically decelerating the drone to avoid collisions. M Mode takes the training wheels off entirely, giving you complete control and letting you fly at full throttle. S Mode bridges the gap between N and M, offering simplified manual controls with a focus on capturing cool first-person footage.

This drone is my all-around favorite pick. Who hasn't looked up at our big, blue sky and dreamed of flying? This is about as close as you can get.

Details:

  • 48-megapixel camera with 1/1.7" CMOS sensor
  • records 4K video @ 60 fps
  • OcuSync 3.0+ (O3+) sends 1080p/120fps live video up to 6.2 miles away
  • compatible with DJI FPV Goggles V2 and DJI Goggles 2 for first-person flight
  • flies up to 60 mph
  • resists winds up to 24 mph

Budget-friendly intermediary — DJI FPV

The DJI FPV lets you fly through the sky with the perspective of an eagle, seeing through the drone's "eyes" while hitting upwards of 87 mph. That's insanely fast for a drone. And while you're up there, you can use the drone's gimbal-mounted camera to capture detailed 12-megapixel stills and smooth 4K video.

You can customize your controls to focus on obstacle detection with automatic deceleration to avoid collisions, take full control and fly at full throttle, or use a hybrid mode with simplified, manual controls that bridge that gap. There are also nifty safety features like an emergency brake, usable in any of the flight modes, that lets you press a quick button to make the drone stop moving and hover in place.

DJI Inspire 3 aerial quadcopter with 8K camera

Best drone for professionals — DJI Inspire 3

The DJI Inspire 3 is a professional-level drone designed from the ground up for filmmakers looking to capture high-quality footage from the air, untethered by cables, cranes, and other tools bound to terra firma. The included gimbal-mounted camera uses a full-frame 35mm CMOS sensor to capture detailed, lifelike video up to 8K Ultra HD resolution, and it's compatible with DJI's impressive line of DL Mount lenses (sold separately).

When flying manually or using automated flight modes, the Inspire 3 can detect and avoid obstacles in real time. You can take full control in the moment or plot out preset flight routes with detailed instructions down to camera settings and positioning — then review, adjust, and re-run them at will. Plus, each of the Inspire 3's limbs also has an integrated fisheye camera to help you avoid snagging on anything while raising or lowering the landing gear.

You can gain even more control of the Inspire 3 on a mission with a teammate. Dual mode lets one person pilot the drone using the FPV camera, while another controls the attached gimbal camera. This mode requires two remote controllers (extra controller sold separately), but it allows your pilot and camera operator to coordinate for more complex shots than a single person could otherwise achieve.

Details:

  • 8K camera with full-frame 35mm CMOS sensor (lens sold separately)
  • FPV ultra-wide camera with 1/1.8" sensor and night vision
  • omnidirectional, customizable obstacle detection and avoidance for safe flight
  • Waypoint Pro helps you plan and execute complex aerial cinematography by simulating crane, cablecam, and dolly movements while the drone is fully airborne
  • Spotlight Pro automatically recognizes and can lock onto people, vehicles, and other subjects
  • flies up to 58.4 mph
  • flight time: up to 28 minutes

Budget-friendly alternative — Sony Airpeak S1

The Sony Airpeak S1 is a agile, versatile drone that combines with the Gremsy Gimbal T3 to take one of Sony's popular Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras airborne. It's also compatible with select E-mount lenses for a wide range of kit combinations. This lets you outfit cameras with some serious optics like the Sony Alpha 1, which offers 8K video quality and razor sharp 50.1-megapixel stills.

The video feed from the FPV camera can be transmitted to the drone operator while the gimbal-mounted feed is simultaneously sent to the camera operator with a second controller (sold separately). This lets them work as a team to capture shots that would be hard for a single person to achieve.

Drone shopping tips

The first thing I learned when I started flying was that camera drones do a lot of work, so they can only be airborne for so long. The easiest solution is to have extra batteries charged and lined up so you can swap them out and keep going. If you accidentally bump a drone into something, it’s also nice to have a set of replacement propellers around, just in case.

Because most drones can interface with your smartphone, it’s not uncommon for a drone to be compatible with a remote controller, but not come with one in the box. I prefer the tactile feedback of a controller, so this one’s a must for me.

Before you buy a drone, hit up our “What’s in the Box?” to double-check what accessories are included. From there, you can peruse the accessories tab of any drone on our website to see a full list of compatible extras.

Most of the drones we carry also have a bundle or combo version that comes pre-packaged with extra gear. Keep an eye out for these, they can save the time and effort of picking up extra batteries or parts later on.

DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More combo

The Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo includes a smart controller, a nifty carrying case and everything you need to, well, fly more!

Head to our full list of drones and accessories to get a bird’s-eye view of what we offer. The best part of drones is the flying, so my best advice is to put yourself in a good position to maximize your airtime.

Looking for commercial drones?

Commercial drones are generally full-sized and designed for a plethora of advanced enterprise applications, everything from surveying and mapping to fighting forest fires. These drones are meant to fulfill very specific needs.

If you're looking for more info on our commercial drone options, check out our helpful article on How to Choose a Drone for Business.

Drone safety, laws, and regulations

Drones are super cool, but they aren’t toys. Learning to fly safely and responsibly is the most important thing you can do as a drone owner. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) offers safety tips and information about laws regulating drone use. Some key reminders:

You can’t fly a drone camera near an airport or national park. It’s best to not fly over large groups of people (like an outdoor concert) or over someone else’s private property. The FAA website provides the most up-to-date and accurate information:

FAA Drones Q&A

Laws can evolve rapidly and often vary based on your area. It’s best to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the current regulations that impact you before you fly your drone. Safety comes before any other consideration — drones can easily injure innocent bystanders or damage property if they’re not flown responsibly.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!

Get started today!

Our website has a solid selection of drones. If you need help finding exactly what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly Advisors.

Free lifetime tech support is included with your Crutchfield purchase.

Popular questions customers ask

Most of the drones we carry are consumer drones of various sizes designed for hobbyists interested in capturing pictures and videos from the air. Then there are commercial drones designed for enterprise applications like emergency response, aerial surveys and inspections, and education. Commercial drones often have advanced features like thermal vision, programmable software, or even special sensors like Lidar.

With a little practice, yes! Drones frequently feature assisted or automated flight modes to make flying easier. Look for drones with obstacle detection and avoidance. Many drones are controlled via a mobile app. These drones usually have a controller that connects to and docks your phone so you can use its screen. Smart controllers with built-in screens are often available, too.

Yes, most of the time. The FAA requires any drone over 5.5 lbs. to be registered. Depending on where you are, there may be other restrictions to consider as well.  You’ll want to research your local laws before you ever take off with a drone.

You can fly your drone in most places, but there are official “no-fly” zones like airports, government facilities, etc. You’ll always want to research where you’re flying in advance. The FAA also requires that you fly with your drone within line-of-sight. That means even if your drone can maintain a signal for miles, you need to be able to visually pinpoint your drone in the sky the whole time.

In short, it depends on the drone. Most drones feature rechargeable batteries, and we’ll list the approximate flight time available per charge for each drone. If you’re looking to stay in the air longer, you’ll want to pick up extra batteries or even a battery charger. These will be listed with a drone’s compatible accessories. We also carry special packages that bundle drones together with extra batteries and other accessories.

Please share your thoughts below.

  • Commenter image

    Colin M. from Crutchfield

    Posted on 6/8/2023

    Hi Shane, most consumer drones only slot a single battery but there are some commercial-grade drones that use multiple batteries or have hot-swappable batteries. These tend to be for surveys, search and rescue, industrial inspection, etc. If you're looking to photograph fireworks, either as a hobbyist or a professional photographer, a good quality consumer drone with a long battery life is what you're probably looking for. And getting a bundle with extra batteries goes a long way. The DJI Mini 3 Pro for instance can be paired with the Fly More Kit Plus, which comes with a charger and 2 extra batteries that provide flight times up to 47 minutes each. I hope this helps! If you need more help picking out the right drone, don't hesitate to get with one of our expert Product Advisors.

  • shane from Butternut

    Posted on 6/7/2023

    For extended fly time is it needed to land a replace battery or are there drones that hold more then one battery. Looking to video a fireworks show and need longer flight time?

  • David Kaleal from Warren

    Posted on 1/5/2023

    I'm trying to decide which to purchase from your excellent selection. The advice given is extremely helpful. I want to try an inexpensive drone before I spend a great deal of money with your excellent company.

    Commenter image

    Colin M. from Crutchfield

    on 1/6/2023

    Glad the article was helpful! If you need any additional advice picking out a solid starter drone, don't hesitate to chat with one of our Product Advisors.
  • David from Prescott AZ

    Posted on 10/8/2021

    The idea hit me - and this is the first place I stopped. Man, am I glad I did. Very good write-up. Thanks

    Commenter image

    Colin M. from Crutchfield

    on 10/11/2021

    Thanks! Glad to help. :)
  • Fernando Amaya from Flint

    Posted on 8/16/2017

    Very informative!! A lot of different options and styles to consider. Thank you for all this food for thought!!

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