Best FPV drones 2024: Embark on a raw and rewarding flying experience

Our guide to the best FPV drones will introduce you to a number of our favorite models on the market, all offering impressive specs and excellent performance at a range of different price points.

Drones come in many different forms, and while many users will prefer to go for one of the best camera drones, there's nothing quite like flying an FPV drones. Short for 'First Person View', FPV drones come with goggles to allow you to see exactly what your drone sees. It's the closest you'll get to flying while keeping your feet on the ground, essentially.

The birds-eye view provided by the best FPV drone means it's easier than camera drones to maneuver around obstacles and pull of aerial stunts like rolls, flips and dives. When you're seeing everything live through your goggles, it's an exhilarating experience. But like VR headsets, however, some users can be prone to sickness while using a FPV drone, so they're perhaps not for everyone.

If you're looking to capture aerial photos and videos, in what you might call the standard way, check out our best drones and best beginner drones guides. In these, we explore the best drones currently available for all budgets and requirements. But for now, we're focusing on the best ready to fly FPV drone kits to get you started on your FPV journey.

The Quick list

Best FPV Drones we recommend in 2024

Best FPV drone overall

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The DJI Avata 2 comes almost hot on the heels of its predecessor, the DJI Avata, to deliver a more advanced FPV drone that's suitable for beginners and experienced FPV Pilots. With features including GPS positioning, rear and downward sensors and two controller options, this is an FPV drone that blends the ease, convenience and technology of a camera drone with the robust and exciting characteristics of FPV models.

The beauty of this drone is that it's easy to use, as discussed in our full DJI Avata 2 review. The kits come with everything you need, including DJI Goggles 3 and a Motion 3 Controller, which is easy and intuitive to use. The DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 can be purchased separately and unlocks the ability to fly in Manual mode for a true FPV experience.

Not many FPV drones can capture 4K video, and that's where the DJI Avata 2 shines. You can record 4K up to 60fps, using either a Normal color profile or D-Log M if you want to be able to professionally edit and color grade your footage afterwards. We've found still image quality to be excellent too, thanks to the 12MP 1/1.3-inch sensor and 12mm equivalent lens.

You'll get up to 23 minutes of flight time from the Avata 2, which is fairly impressive considering that this is a cinewhoop type of drone. It's also worth noting that the batteries used here are smart batteries, meaning they automatically discharge. We think they're much easier to use than traditional LiPo batteries found on other drones.

• Read our full DJI Avata 2 review

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Best older model

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While we think the DJI Avata 2 drone is the best FPV drone currently on the market, its predecessor, the Avata, is still a very worthy contender. It might lack some of the upgrades of its bigger sibling, but there's still an awful lot to like here — and thanks to being an older model, it means you can pick it up for a cheaper price, too.

You'll find some features typical of camera drones built into the Avata, such as GPS positioning and downward sensors, along with the freedom to fly manually in Acro mode. The downside there is, if you want to use Acro mode, you'll need to buy the FPV Remote Controller 2 which is only available separately. You do get a Motion Controller included, though, which we've found to be an adequate and easy to use device, but it doesn't give as much freedom as the FPV Remote Controller 2.

Video can be captured in 4K up to 60fps, 2.7K at up to 100fps and 1080p at up to 100fps with DJI Goggles 2. The DJI FPV Goggles V2 however, can shoot 2.7K and 1080p video at a rate of up to 120fps.The video quality from the 48MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.8 lens with a 12.7 mm equivalent focal length is excellent overall, as we discussed in our DJI Avata review.

The DJI Avata features a cinewhoop design with prop guards around the propellers to protect them in the event of a crash. These can be purchased separately and replaced if damaged. The drone is 180 x 180 x 80 cm and weighs in at 14.46 oz/410 g with a battery, which is quite heavy for a drone of this style, but it does include 20 GB of built-in storage alongside a separate microSD card for additional video storage.

You can get the Avata by itself, or in two kits with different goggle choices. There's also a Fly More Bundle available if you want more extras.

• Read our full DJI Avata review

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Best beginners freestyle kit

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The Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle, as the name suggests, is a freestyle FPV drone. This means it's perfectly designed and tuned for acro flight where you can flip, roll and dive the drone. You can even control the power output of the motors thanks to the ability to run the drone at 1S or 2S in terms of the battery configuration. Moreover, it features an HDZero digital VTX, so the FPV feed is much clearer than analog FPV drones. We loved this functionality and cover it in detail in our full review, which will be live soon.

You'll find everything you need to get started within the Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle package. Along with the drone itself, you'll get Emax Transporter 2 HD FPV Goggles, an Emax E8 Transmitter, two sets of propellers, two 1S batteries, a six-port USB battery charger and a wealth of other accessories. If you need, more accessories can be purchased separately, such as extra batteries. We think it's worth stocking up on more so you can increase your flight times: A battery typically lasts for around three or four minutes.

The Transporter 2 HD FPV Goggles produce an HD image and can capture up to a 720p 60 FPS (1280 x 720 px) video using the built-in DVR when a microSD card is inserted. These videos can be viewed in the goggles or downloaded to your computer where you can share your best FPV flights to social media and beyond. This kit isn’t cheap, and there is a less expensive analog version, but what you get is well worth the money in terms of quality, versatility and performance.

• Our full Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle review is coming soon

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Best for beginners

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The Cetus X, leading BetaFPV's Cetus series, stands out as the most powerful and adaptable model in the lineup. There are two versions available and the one we reviewed is the Cetus FC version which features position hold, hovering and emergency landing in Normal flight mode. This makes the drone behave more like a camera drone than a FPV drone, which is great for getting used to using FPV goggles, and beyond this, the most useful mode is Manual/Acro where the Cetus X is powerful enough to perform freestyle tricks such as rolls, flips and dives etc.

We think the Cetus X is a great choice if you're looking to go from a beginner user to an experienced FPV pilot, and it won't break the bank. It's a reasonably budget-friendly drone and in the kit you'll find everything you need to get started: the drone, goggles, controller, batteries, charger and a number of other helpful accessories.

One thing to bear in the mind is that the battery life is fairly short: Each set of batteries will get you around five minutes, although that's fairly run-of-the-mill for microwhoop-type FPV drones. You'll get a full charge in about 20 minutes, so we'd recommend purchasing extra batteries to give you more flight time while you're waiting for more to charge.

The Cetus X is a strong and fun drone, with better endurance and power than the other three Cetus models. Plus, it comes with goggles that can record the 480p FPV video feed.

• Read our full BetaFPV Cetus X review

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Best cheap FPV drone

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If you're interested in experiencing FPV flying without spending a fortune, the BetaFPV Cetus Lite FPV Kit is an excellent choice. In our Cetus Lite FPV Kit review, we found that it is incredibly small and lightweight and not particularly powerful, making it suitable for indoor flight only using the included basic controller and analog FPV goggles.

It includes all the necessary components to start, such as analog FPV goggles and batteries. This kit is known for its simplicity and user-friendly design, making it suitable for everyone, including children. It's a budget-friendly way to dive into the world of FPV hassle-free.

We've found the Cetus Lite FPV Kit very easy to fly, making it a great place to start. Releasing the left control stick will automatically center it, and the drone will always stay level. It can't do flips, rolls or dives so if you fancy some stunt-flying, this isn't the FPV drone for you — but if you're simply looking to nail the basics of steady flight, the Cetus Lite will do just nicely.

The downside, of course, is that you won't be able to level up your flying skills by using the Cetus Lite and for most users, that will make the lifespan of the product rather short. On the upside, you'll also get used to using FPV goggles by flying this drone, so if you're not sure if FPV piloting is for you, this is a rather inexpensive way of finding out.

• Read our full Cetus Lite FPV Kit review

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Best for 4K video capture

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DJI's first venture into the FPV drone space, the DJI FPV, received mixed reviews due to its larger and heavier build compared to traditional FPV drones. It includes GPS positioning in Normal mode, allowing beginners to fly it like a camera drone, which we appreciated in our DJI FPV review. A notable safety feature in this mode is the sensors that slow down the drone upon detecting obstacles, though it won't bring the drone to a complete stop.

The camera provides both the digital FPV video feed as well as the ability to capture immersive footage up to 4K at 60fps. This can be captured in the Standard color profile for straight out-of-camera footage, or in D-Cinelike (RAW) for color grading and incorporating into a professional workflow. At over a year since its release, the DJI FPV is available for a competitive price.

There are two modes to choose from on the DJI FPV: Sport and Manual. While you're in Sport mode, you can fly up to 60 miles per hour, and in Manual, you can go even faster at an incredible 87 mph. We wouldn't recommend using Manual mode unless you're an expert with plenty of FPV experience, however. 

Sport mode is a good, balanced mode suitable for most users. It turns off the downward sensors and while it isn't quite as fast as its Manual counterpart, it's still exhilarating to use.

• Read our full DJI FPV review