If you've been looking for a good time to take the leap into the drone world, the 30% discount on this sub-250 g beginner drone might be enough to tempt you.

Before the release of the DJI Neo 2, we ranked the DJI Neo as the best DJI drone for simplicity. Our drone expert, James Abbott, gave it four out of five stars in his hands-on DJI Neo review, noting that not only is it a lot of fun to operate, but it also makes drone flight as simple or as complicated as you would like, thanks to the multiple control options.

Get the DJI Neo drone on sale for one more day at Amazon for $139.

Because the DJI Neo is sub-250g, you don't have to worry about registering it under the current drone regulations. At this price, you can't go wrong, even if you're a seasoned drone pilot looking for a backup or just something that tracks you and your adventures autonomously.

• Check out our Amazon Prime Day hub, where we bring you the best deals of Prime Day 2026, including early Prime Day deals.
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For $140, you get nearly everything you need to get flying: a charger, a screwdriver and spare propellers.

You fly the drone using the DJI Fly app on your mobile phone, but, luckily for beginners (or anxious pilots), you don't worry about losing it. On top of its return-to-home capability, you can instruct it to fly in pre-programmed patterns or even track you autonomously as you go about your business for a fairly generous 18-minute flight time.

You can capture 4K video in 30FPS of your adventures, and a 12MP 1/2-inch sensor will capture snaps of whatever you see from above.

You will see from our best drone guide that DJI is one of the leading names in the drone industry. $139 from Amazon is a really good price considering its capabilities and overall ease of use.

This deal is still live for Amazon Prime Day 2026. Prime Day ends June 26, and we're not sure if this discount will last beyond that. We expect it to increase back to $170, if not to full price.

We have all the best deals on drones, technology, and skywatching gear in our Prime Day hub, which will be regularly updated by our deal-hunting experts through this evening.

Key features: Up to 18 minutes flight time, 4.76 oz / 135 g weight, video capture up to 4K 30FPS / FHD 60FPS, 117.6-degree FOV

Product launched: September 2024

Price history: $139 is the cheapest we have seen this drone for. before deopping to $139, it was on offer. Given that the Neo 2 is out now, when the DJI Neo is gone, it's gone.

Price comparison: Amazon: $139

Reviews consensus: In our DJI Neo review, our expert awarded it four stars, singling out its simplicity as a highlight. Its 4000+ Amazon reviews are even more positive, with purchasers praising its sheer ease of use, value for money and video quality.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Space: ★★★★ | Toms Guide: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best DJI drones

✅ Buy it if: You're new to flying drones and want something that is quick to get to grips with.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want to record hours of video, since it doesn't have a MicroSD slot. For that, consider the DJI Mini 4K.

DJI and Amazon really are knocking it out of the park with their Prime Day Deals. The DJI Neo is superb value right now, but for just $256 you can net the superior DJI Mini 4K, which our expert said "Offers everything you could possibly need in a drone while providing ease of use and reliability."

Get the DJI Mini 4K on sale right now at Amazon for $256.

DJI is one of the most trusted and acclaimed, drone manufacturers, and the DJI Mini 4K is another gem, appearing in our best drones, best beginner drones, and best camera drones guides. It's so beginner friendly, handling well in high winds, and captures 12MP photos in RAW and JPEG formats and 4K video in 30FPS. This bundle includes an additional battery and case, adding extra value to already great deal. There's also a Fly More Combo bundle which includes a three batteries and a battery charger.

• Check out our Amazon Prime Day hub, where we bring you the best deals of Prime Day 2026, including early Prime Day deals.
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This DJI Mini 4K is an amazing deal if you're new to drone flying or are just looking for a hobby drone to complement a top-tier model. In his review of the DJI Mini 4K, expert James Abbott awarded it a fantastic five stars, praising virtually every aspect of this drone.

With a 1/2.3-inch 12MP CMOS sensor and support for 4K/30fps (or 60fps at 1080p) video capture, you'll get brilliant birds-eye views of the world, and you can even use pre-programmed flight patterns for hands-free video capture.

Of course, you can also assume direct control and, by clipping your phone to the included remote, you'll see exactly what the drone sees. While there is no collision avoidance or follow-me subject tracking, it handles wind well and its return to home feature means it won't just plummet to earth when its battery gets low.

With two batteries included, you can fly for up to an hour and you also get a case for extra portability. This drone punches above its price tag at full price, but at $256, this is an unmissable deal.

Key features: 8.7 oz / 249 g weight, 7 x 5.55 x 5.47 inches / 178 x 141 x 139 mm size unfolded, 62 min flight time total (2 batteries), video up to 4K at 30FPS, photos up to 48MP

Product launched: April 2024

Price history: This is the absolute lowest we've seen this drone at, and with an extra battery included, it's a complete steal.

Price comparison: Amazon: $256 | Best Buy: $445 | Walmart: $499

Reviews consensus: Reviewing the DJI Mini 4K, our expert gave it an amazing five stars, praising its performance, ease of use and value for money. He remarked that, for beginners, it "offers everything you could possibly need in a drone while providing ease of use and reliability." Its Amazon reviews are similarly effusive.

TechRadar: ★★★★½ | Space: ★★★★★ | Digital Camera World: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones, best beginner drones, best camera drones, best DJI drones

✅ Buy it if: You're a beginner (or buying for one) and want to make the most of your money.

❌ Don't buy it if: You need a drone with follow-me subject tracking. Instead, consider the DJI Neo, which is also on sale for Prime Day.

Looking for a superb Prime Day Deal?
This DJI Neo drone was a good deal at $30 off, but now you can now save $60 on this beginner-friendly drone. That's double the discount!

Get the DJI Neo drone on sale right now at Amazon for $139.

It's easy to transport and, thanks to its sub-250g, you don't have to worry about registering it under the current drone regulations.

In our DJI Neo review, our expert James Abbott awarded it four stars, calling it "incredibly easy to use and fun." And, prior to the release of the DJI Neo 2, we ranked it as the best DJI drone for simplicity. At this price, you can't go wrong!

• Check out our Amazon Prime Day hub, where we bring you the best deals of Prime Day 2026, including early Prime Day deals.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

If you're a beginner, you'll be in high-flying heaven with the DJI Neo. For $170, you get nearly everything you need to get flying: a charger, a screwdriver and spare propellers.

You fly it via the DJI Fly app on your mobile phone, though you don't have to be super-attentive for fear of losing it; aside from its return to home facility, you can instruct it to fly in patterns or even track you (not as sinister as it sounds, I promise).

With an 18-minute flight time, it can capture 4K video in 30PS and a 12MP 1/2-inch sensor will capture snaps of whatever you see from above.

DJI is one of the leading names in the drone industry, and its products appear regularly in our best drone guide. At $169 from Amazon, this drone is a steal considering its capabilities and overall ease of use. This deal is already live ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2026, which starts tomorrow and runs until June 26. We have all the best deals across drones, technology and skywatching gear on our Prime Day hub, so stay tuned there for low prices.

Key features: Up to 18 minutes flight time, 4.76 oz / 135 g weight, video capture up to 4K 30FPS / FHD 60FPS, 117.6-degree FOV

Product launched: Sept 2024

Price history: We saw the DJI Neo drop to $159, but this is still an excellent deal. And, given the Neo 2 is out, when it's gone, it's gone.

Price comparison: Amazon: $169

Reviews consensus: In our DJI Neo review, our expert awarded it four stars, singling out its ease of use as a major plus. Its Amazon reviews are even more positive, with purchasers praising its sheer value.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Space: ★★★★ | Toms Guide: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best DJI drones

✅ Buy it if: You're a beginner after a budget-friendly drone that's easy to fly.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're going to record hour upon hour of video, since it doesn't have a MicroSD slot. Consider the DJI Mini 4K instead.

A new study suggests the search for usable water on Mars may soon rely on an unexpected tool: drones equipped with radar, flying just above the surface to peer underground in ways orbiters cannot.

Researchers led by the University of Arizona have shown that drone-mounted ground-penetrating radar can map buried glaciers on Earth in remarkable detail, offering a blueprint for how similar techniques could be used on Mars. The work focuses on glaciers in Alaska and Wyoming that closely resemble debris-covered ice deposits identified on the Red Planet, according to a statement from the university.

"If you want to make decisions about where to drill on Mars, you need to know if the ice you're trying to find is under one meter of debris or 10," Roberto Aguilar, lead author of the study and a doctoral researcher at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, said in the statement. "That's the kind of information a drone-based system could provide."

For decades, Mars missions have relied on orbital radar instruments, such as the Shallow Radar sounder (SHARAD) aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, to detect subsurface ice. These systems have confirmed that vast amounts of water ice are locked beneath layers of rock and dust, particularly in the planet's mid-latitudes. But while orbiters can identify large ice deposits, they struggle to resolve finer details near the surface — including exactly how deep the ice lies and how thick the overlying debris may be, Aguilar explained in the statement.

That limitation is critical. For future missions, knowing whether ice is buried beneath a meter of loose debris or tens of meters of hardened material could determine whether it is accessible at all.

The study shows drone-based radar can fill that gap. Flying low over glaciers across Alaska and Wyoming, researchers mapped ice thickness, detected debris layers just a few feet thick and revealed internal structures within the ice. The results were validated with field measurements from excavations and drilling, along with simulations confirming the radar signals originated beneath the debris.

On Mars, similar systems could scout buried ice and map the debris above it, resolving features orbiters cannot see. Instead of drilling blindly, mission planners could target locations where ice lies closest to the surface, providing a clearer picture of its depth and distribution.

"We already knew ground-penetrating radar works, but this was the first time we mounted it to drones and tested how we could put it into practice," Aguilar said in the statement. "For instance, we learned at what altitude and speed the drone should fly, as well as the importance of flying in the direction of the glacier's flow, and how to make sure the radar was properly aligned to detect the ice."

Rather than replacing orbiters or rovers, drones could likely serve as intermediate scouts in a layered exploration strategy: orbiters identify broad regions, drones refine those maps at high resolution, and surface missions carry out drilling and analysis. This approach could reduce risk and improve efficiency by guiding missions to the most promising sites.

The implications extend beyond logistics. Water ice on Mars is both a scientific archive of past climate conditions and a potential resource for future astronauts, supporting drinking water, oxygen production and agriculture. Targeting the right locations could also improve the chances of detecting signs of past life.

The idea builds on NASA's Ingenuity helicopter, which demonstrated powered flight in Mars' thin atmosphere and opened the door to more capable aerial science platforms.

"We are filling the gap between today's orbital observations and a more distant future, where astronauts land on Mars and make observations on the ground," Aguilar said in the statement. "This gives us a way to investigate the glaciers now, from the air."

The study does not propose replacing existing mission architectures, but enhancing them with aerial systems that make exploration more precise and adaptable. By borrowing techniques from Earth-based glacier studies, scientists are turning the detection of buried ice into something far more practical for future Mars exploration.

Their findings were published March 24 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

360-degree drones are a relatively new product category, and although DJI was pipped to the post by the Antigravity A1, the market leader has come back swinging with the launch of the DJI Avata 360. This is a drone that looks remarkably like the DJI Neo 2, but it’s a lot bigger and heavier, and its propeller guards enclose the propellers less.

With dual controller options available, including FPV, this could be one of both the best camera drones and the best FPV drones available. The ability to pair the Avata 360 with DJI FPV accessories means that you can capture even more immersive 360-degree video, where you’re flying through a building or weaving through and around trees in a forest. The DJI Avata 360 is currently waiting to be in stock at B+H, Amazon and other retailers.

It’s the ability to shoot first and reframe later that makes 360-degree drones an interesting and attractive option for pilots. What’s more, there’s a single lens shooting mode where you can take advantage of DJI’s impressive subject tracking.

The camera itself rotates at the front of the Avata 360 and features two 64MP 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensors with replaceable lenses. These can capture photos and video up to 8K 60FPS. Image quality is great for 360-degree capture, but it’s not as good as a standard camera drone — as is the case, to be fair, with most 360-degree cameras and drones.

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DJI Avata 360: Design

• Non-folding design
• Propeller guards
• Rotating gimbal

As previously mentioned, the Avata 360 looks a lot like the DJI Neo 2, except for the size and the fact that its propeller guards don’t fully enclose the propellers. It’s this cinewhoop FPV design that makes it ideal for flying through complex environments when using the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3 for FPV flight. It can also be flown like a camera drone when paired with a standard controller.

At 9.69 x 7.83 x 2.19 inches (246 x 199 x 55.5 mm), the Avata 360 is quite large for a drone with a cinewhoop-style design, and weighs in at 16.05 oz (455 g), putting it well above the 250 g threshold, so it's more restricted than smaller, lighter drones. Build quality is fantastic, as you’d expect for a DJI drone, while the set-up and operation of the drone are incredibly easy.

The camera sits at the front of the drone and cleverly rotates when the drone lands and takes off, keeping the lenses off the ground to avoid damage. The lens guards can be replaced if they do get damaged.

This is such a simple yet clever feature, and an improvement on the Antigravity A1’s mechanical legs that extend to keep the bottom camera off the ground. Image stabilization is software-based rather than relying on a mechanical gimbal.

The Avata 360 is compatible with multiple controllers, including the RC 2, RC-N2 and RC-N3. This means that if you already own a compatible controller, you could use that instead of buying a kit that includes either the DJI RC 2 smart controller or the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3.

Both of these were provided with the review kit, so it was possible to test the Avata 360 as both a camera drone and an FPV drone. The latter was both a lot of fun and provided the ability to capture more dynamic and immersive video footage. DJI's Motion controllers are incredibly intuitive and make FPV flight accessible to everyone.

DJI Avata 360: Functionality

• Subject tracking
• Collision avoidance
• 42GB of internal storage

The Avata 360 flies well using either standard controls or FPV goggles and a motion controller. Using a standard controller is much simpler and doesn’t require a spotter to keep an eye on the drone during flights, but pairing it up with FPV accessories is about as simple as it gets — compared to traditional FPV drones, anyway.

The drone features collision avoidance, which can be switched off but provides confidence when flying in complex environments. During testing, this was switched off when flying FPV in a forest to ensure smoother flight, although this naturally carries more risk.

Alongside collision avoidance, there’s also ActiveTrack, which has multiple modes that are selected automatically. Standard mode maintains a steady distance and altitude relative to the subject, while Cycling mode provides greater speed and faster turns to keep the subject in frame. Then there’s Intelligent Tracking, where you can lock onto and track subjects in the DJI Fly and DJI Studio apps.

The main difference between 360-degree drones and traditional camera drones is that you have to edit and reframe photos and videos before sharing them. You take the 360-degree image and essentially flatten it to a single, traditional view. Where things get interesting is that you can add camera movements using keyframes and make the drone appear to flip and roll.

DJI Studio is fairly easy to use, but it is also clunky, and there is a small learning curve. In all honesty, you will spend much more time using the DJI Fly and DJI Studio apps to reframe photos and videos than you’ll spend flying the drone; this is the main downside to using any 360-degree camera or drone, compared to standard cameras and drones.

Photos and videos can be saved to a microSD card or to the drone’s 42GB of internal storage. The internal storage is certainly useful because 8K 360-degree video requires a lot of storage, and this internal storage can supplement your microSD when necessary. However, with this in mind, somewhere in the region of 100GB of internal storage would have been preferable.

DJI Avata 360: Performance

• Dual cameras
• Up to 8K 60FPS video
• Photos and videos require editing

The Avata 360 creates its 360-degree image using two 64MP 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensors with ultra-wide-angle lenses. These have an f/1.9 aperture with focus from 1.5m to infinity.

You can set exposure manually, but leaving the camera set to Auto works extremely well when capturing 120MP photos and videos up to 8K at 60FPS. Shooting in Auto isn’t usually a good idea when capturing video, but with 360-degree drones, where you’re essentially capturing everything, it makes life so much easier. What’s more, you can’t use ND filters to control shutter speed anyway.

Image quality is what you’d expect from a 360-degree camera or drone, so no surprises here. It’s not as good as a standard camera drone, although the Avata 360 does have a single lens mode where you can capture 4K 60FPS video that doesn’t need to be reframed — just like a standard camera drone.

Once your 360-degree footage and photos have been transferred wirelessly from the drone, they need to be edited and reframed, either in DJI Studio on a computer or in the DJI Fly app. This is the main downside to 360-degree capture, but also its greatest advantage: Being able to add movement to videos, changing camera angle and adding effects while reframing photos, is both useful and creative.

Please note: Footage to come soon. It was shot in 8K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video can be captured at up to 8K 60FPS in either the Normal color profile for straight out of camera footage, after reframing, or in the 10-bit D-Log M flat color profile. This color profile requires color grading and provides much greater image quality and flexibility within an advanced and/or professional workflow.

DJI Avata 360: Price

The DJI Avata 360 comes in at a highly aggressive price point when compared to the competition. So, while DJI may not be the first drone manufacturer to produce a 360-degree drone, consumers in all regions — except the United States, where there’s currently a DJI ban — can now choose between two models, and the Avata 360 is less expensive than the competition and has different controller options.

Drone-only, the Avata 360 costs £409 / €459 / AU$799, while the option with the DJI RC 2 smart controller costs £639 / €719 / AU$1159. There are also two Fly More Combos that include a couple of additional batteries, a carry bag, a battery charging hub and other accessories. The DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) and the DJI Avata 360 Motion Fly More Combo both cost £829 / €939 / AU$1619. The latter includes the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3.

Should you buy the DJI Avata 360?

As 360-degree drones go, the DJI Avata 2 is incredibly well-priced compared to the Antigravity A1 and is so much more agile, thanks to its FPV credentials. Image quality is similar in many respects, but the ability to shoot in the flat D-Log M profile does give the Avata 360 the edge here.

The ability to fly the Avata 2 either as a standard camera drone with a smart controller, or as an FPV drone with the Motion Combo, is also fantastic. Having the ability to choose one controller option, or even both, will undoubtedly make it attractive. The only downside to flying a drone when wearing FPV goggles is that you must have a spotter/observer with you when flying outdoors.

If this drone isn't for you

The Antigravity A1 follows a camera drone design but is controlled using a motion controller and FPV goggles. It has a great FPV flight mode for capturing smooth, sweeping videos, and the automated flight modes are also impressive.

The DJI Neo 2 is an inexpensive selfie drone with impressive autonomous flight modes and subject tracking. Like the Avata 360, it can also be flown as a camera drone and an FPV drone when paired with the right DJI accessories.

If you’re looking for a fully fledged FPV drone, but one that can be incredibly easy to fly, the DJI Avata 2 is a great choice. Unlike traditional FPV drones, this one can hover and be paired with DJI’s Motion Controller 3.

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The DJI Mini 5 Fly More Combo bundle is now $500 on Amazon and it features in our best drones guide as we think it's the best sub-250g ever made.

Save $500 on the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo bundle at Amazon.

DJI's Mini 5 Pro is well up to the manufacturer's usual standards. In our review of the DJI Mini 5 Pro we awarded it 4.5/5 stars, praising its raft of features, including a 50MP 1-inch sensor camera, advanced obstacle avoidance and more.

Now, it's at its lowest-ever price and $500 off from Amazon. This Fly More Combo bundle includes a remote with an LCD screen, three batteries for nearly two hours of flight time, and more. It's not super beginner-friendly, so if you're a newcomer to drone flying, take a look at the best beginner drones. But if you're a seasoned flyer looking to trade up, it's a real steal.

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In short, this is a powerful, versatile drone, and the extras included in this bundle (3 batteries, extra propellers, a charging hub, a remote with a screen and more) make it a real steal at $500 off.

In our review of the DJI Mini 5 Pro, we remarked that it "redefines sub-250g drone possibilities thanks to its 1-inch sensor, rotating camera, Omnidirectional Vision Sensing System and some impressive video functionality", and that verdict still stands. In short, if you're looking to capture stunning aerial video or static shots, this is the drone for you.

Even factoring in that its starting price has been slightly spiked, you really can't go wrong with this DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. You get nearly two hours of flight time, spread across three batteries, and it's easy to transfer the captured video to your phone. If you've never flown a drone before, you might be better off with one of the best beginner drones, but for everyone else, this is a significant saving on a powerhouse of a drone.

Key features: 50MP 1-inch rotating camera sensor, 4K video, up to 108 minutes flight with three batteries, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, 6.18x3.74x2.68 in / 157×95×68 mm folded, 2.4 miles / 20km (FCC), 6.2 miles / 10km (CE/SRRC/MIC) transmission range, 8.81 oz / 249.9g weight.

Price history: Before today's deal, we've seen this drone as low as $1,200, but this is the cheapest it's ever been.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1099 | Best Buy: $1375

✅ Buy it if: You're looking for a powerful drone that'll offer excellent image and video quality, and will be with you for years to come.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're completely new to drone flying; instead, consider one of the best beginner drones.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

The Antigravity A1 is the first true 360-degree drone with dual cameras that can capture up to 8K video without capturing itself; the A1 remains invisible in the photos and videos you capture. It’s also a sub-250 g model, so it’s compact and lightweight, and even includes advanced features such as collision avoidance. This is extremely useful because of the way the A1 is controlled.

This is a camera drone, not an FPV drone, but the camera view, all 360 degrees of it, is viewed in a pair of high-quality FPV goggles where you can look in all directions. There’s also head tracking for changing direction, while the majority of control is provided by the motion controller. Basically, it’s just like the DJI Avata 2 in terms of control, but it isn’t an FPV drone in design or performance.

The A1 is arguably one of the best camera drones and the best drones because it’s the only 360-degree drone currently available, but it produces imagery on par with 360-degree action cameras and offers some impressive features. It works on a principle of capture first and reframe later, which means you capture photos and videos in 360 degrees, then choose the 2D camera view later, or export 360-degree photos and videos.

You can also make the drone appear to roll, flip and dive, like an FPV drone, but without the advanced piloting skills required for this type of flight, thanks to easy software reframing. Then there are Sky Genie automated flight patterns that are like Quickshots on other drones, and these allow you to set the drone to fly around a selected subject in interesting ways not possible with the motion controller.

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Antigravity A1: Design

• Folding sub-250 g design
• Vision goggles for a 360-degree camera view
• Motion controller

The A1 features a folding design that reduces its size for storage and transportation, like most camera drones these days. It comes with a case that keeps the two cameras safe, although it is possible to change the lenses yourself if they get scratched. The drone is white, rather than the usual gray of most drones, which has no effect on performance.

The drone has top and bottom-mounted cameras. These are mounted on the dampened front section of the drone. Image stabilization is software-based rather than provided by a mechanical gimbal. This front section of the drone also houses two forward-facing binocular vision sensors that look like cameras.

To keep the bottom camera off the ground during take-off and landing, there’s retractable landing gear where two legs extend when the drone is switched on and when it’s landing, while they retract when it has taken off. It’s one of those small features that’s incredibly simple but still manages to impress because it’s a never-before-seen feature.

As previously mentioned, the A1 is a camera drone rather than an FPV drone, so it’s a new direction for a camera drone to use FPV goggles and a motion controller. The Vision Goggles provide the camera view on dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED screens, each with a 2560 x 2560 pixel resolution, creating a square in-goggle image. The battery for the goggles can be attached to an included lanyard that you can conveniently wear around your neck, so it’s not dangling on its cable.

Other Google features include diopters with a range of -5.0 D to +2.0 D, which is great if you wear glasses. Then there’s 30GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for capturing goggle footage if you wish. There’s also a screen on the front left of the googles, so people can see the forward-facing camera view while you fly, and this is used to display information during firmware updates.

The A1 offers two battery options, but there is a caveat in that the larger capacity option takes the drone over the magic 250 g threshold. The 2360 mAh battery provides up to 24 minutes of flight time, while the higher-capacity 4345 mAh battery provides up to 39 minutes of flight time. The standard batteries were used during testing, and these typically provided around 16 minutes of flight time before Return to Home was automatically initiated.

Antigravity A1: Functionality

• Great flight performance
• Automated flight modes
• Subject tracking

The A1 flies incredibly well with Cinematic, Normal and Sport flight modes. Sport, like most drones with collision avoidance, is the one mode where the feature is deactivated. Despite the name Sport, the flight doesn’t feel particularly fast, which may be because I’m more used to using FPV goggles when flying faster FPV drones.

Flight is fun and immersive, but it’s certainly not as thrilling as flying FPV drones. This does, of course, make flight with the A1 much more accessible. You can, however, take advantage of the fly first, frame later approach, where you reframe photos and videos in Antigravity Studio and can increase speed and make the drone appear to dive, flip and roll similar to FPV drones, but it's not quite the same either.

Control is provided by the Vision Goggles through head tracking alongside the motion controller, where you point to where you want to fly. There’s also a dial on the motion controller that can be used for turning instead of using head tracking in the goggles. The two work well together for flying in FreeMotion Mode, while in FPV Mode, things are a little different.

In FPV mode, you simply pull the trigger to fly forward and tilt the controller left and right to turn. FPV mode allows for smooth and sweeping drone movements and is a great flight mode when you get used to it. It’s certainly a flight mode that you need to understand because if not, the drone can feel like it’s flying away. Furthermore, it’s not really an FPV mode; that’s just a name.

With motion controllers, you are limited in the ways you can control drones compared to a traditional stick-based controller. So, for flying around a pre-selected subject, Sky Genie provides six automated flight patterns that enable you to capture video with ease using sometimes complex movements. Sky Genie modes include Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away and Ascend.

Then there’s Sky Path, which is like waypoints, where you can pre-program flight paths so you can revisit locations multiple times and replicate flights, or allow other people to wear the goggles and enjoy a 360-degree view without flying the A1. There’s also a subject tracking mode that works incredibly well and requires you to select the subject to be tracked. Subject tracking takes advantage of Insta360's impressive Deep Track technology.

There’s also Virtual Cockpit in FPV mode, which provides an augmented reality overlay in the goggles and at the time of writing, you can fly with a dragon. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but some people will no doubt enjoy it, and more skins will be added in the future. Finally, when you use the Antigravity landing mat, it provides a precise Return to Home point and works surprisingly well, making landing incredibly easy.

Antigravity A1: Performance

• Dual cameras produce great image quality
• Invisible drone technology
• Up to 8K video capture

The image quality produced by the A1 is excellent, but this must be considered in context. It’s excellent for a 360-degree camera. Antigravity was incubated by Insta360, so it has a fine pedigree behind it when it comes to 360-degree photo and video capture. It’s not, however, as good as the image quality of a standard camera drone.

For example, the A1 captures 360-degree video in 8K, while most camera drones capture a single view in 4K to 6K, depending on the model. This is far higher-resolution, ultimately, than the A1. But let’s not be negative here because the A1 does capture great image quality for the type of cameras it uses.

During testing, the camera was set to Auto when capturing both photos and videos, and the A1 captured photos and videos with balanced exposures. You can also shoot in manual, so it’s up to you whether you take the easy option or go for the more consistent yet involved manual option.

The dual cameras both include a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. These create a 360-degree view where the drone is invisible, which is great. Photos can be captured in INSP and DNG formats at a resolution of 14MP (5248 x 2624) and 55MP (10486 x 5248). Shooting modes include Normal, HDR, Burst, AEB and Interval. You can reframe photos in several different formats and even create animated photos. These are fun and interesting and are exported as short videos.

Please note the footage below was shot in 8K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video can be captured in 8K at up to 30 FPS, 5.2K up to 60FPS, 4K & 1080p up to 30FPS and 4K and 1080p slow motion at 100FPS. The maximum bitrate is 170 mbps, and video can be encoded in H.264 or H.265. Photo and video editing can take place in the Antigravity smartphone app or the Antigravity Studio Desktop app. Both offer templates for quick and easy edits, but there are more available on the phone app.

Antigravity Studio is basically a reskinned version of Insta360 Studio, which is easy to use and will be familiar to many people. The software allows you to choose camera angles, add camera movements and even speed up drone flight to mimic FPV drones. The editing part of the image-making process is incredibly important and is where you can add flips, rolls and dives to your videos.

Antigravity A1: Price

The Antigravity A1 was launched on December 4, 2025. It’s also more expensive than other sub-250 g drones, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro, simply because of the FPV goggles that are part of the three kits that are available. It’s an innovative and, indeed, exciting drone, but its cost and reliance on goggles could be a dealbreaker for some drone pilots.

There are three kits available: the Standard Bundle, the Explorer Bundle and the Infinity Bundle. The Standard Bundle includes the drone, motion controller, FPV goggles, one battery and accessories. The Explorer Bundle includes all this plus three batteries in total, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag and spare propellers.

The Infinity Bundle is the same as the Explorer Bundle, but it includes higher-capacity batteries for longer flight times. The Standard Bundle costs $1599 / £1299, the Explorer Bundle costs $1899 / £1399 and the Infinity Bundle costs $1999 / £1499.

Should you buy the Antigravity A1?

If you would like a 360-degree drone capable of capturing 55MP 360-degree photos and 8K 360-degree video, then you should absolutely buy the Antigravity A1. It’s also the only 360-degree drone currently available, so it enjoys a monopoly, for now at least.

The reliance on FPV goggles does raise the price of the drone and means that you need a spotter to keep an eye on the drone while you fly. This might be a hassle you’re not willing to endure. It’s a shame that Antigravity didn’t also offer a standard stick controller option that can be used with a smartphone as a budget option.

The drone is exceptionally well-made and offers some fantastic features that make it stand out. The Sky Genie automated flight patterns are also great for focusing on subjects, while subject tracking works incredibly well. Flight speeds aren’t the quickest, but the capture first, reframe later approach means you can speed things up in the Antigravity Studio software.

If this drone isn't for you

If you'd prefer to capture true FPV video, the DJI Avata 2 is incredibly easy to fly with the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller. Flight is intuitive, even for beginners, and flight is so much more thrilling than with the Antigravity A1, which is quite slow in comparison.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an incredibly cost-effective sub-250 g drone that won’t break the bank. Despite its competitive price, image quality is excellent, and it has all the features most beginners and intermediate pilots will need, making it a great choice if you're on a budget.

If you’d prefer what is arguably the most innovative drone made to date, albeit not a 360-degree drone, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro could be what you’re looking for. This drone features three cameras, including the main camera with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, while the gimbal can be rotated.

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There’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard of a drone feature called Obstacle Avoidance. And, as the name suggests, it aims to sense and avoid obstacles to stop drones from crashing into objects and people. It sounds like witchcraft, and it is in some ways, but it’s far from perfect despite its impressive performance.

This is a feature that is only seen in the best drones, which are typically more advanced models. These are mostly DJI drones and a handful of Autel models. The most popular current DJI models offering Obstacle Avoidance are the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S, DJI Air 3, DJI Mini 4 Pro and the DJI Mavic 3 Series. Some newer and more advanced models also feature LiDAR, but this is used for obstacle sensing in low-light situations.

One thing to bear in mind is that collision avoidance can never be fully relied upon because, as effective as it is, and it is incredibly useful, errors can occur, and the vision sensors don’t always detect obstacles. Also, you have to make sure the system is set to the correct setting for the type of flight you’re making.

As always, pilot awareness remains the most important Obstacle Avoidance system with any drone, with drone-based Obstacle Avoidance acting more as a backup system. Between the two, your drone flights can be safer, and you can enjoy greater confidence when flying in complex environments or simply when flying close to obstacles such as trees.

What is Obstacle Avoidance?

Since it’s mostly DJI drones that feature collision avoidance, we’ll focus on the DJI Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS). When this is activated, the drone can be set to behave in different ways when an obstacle is detected. DJI drones with an omnidirectional binocular vision system typically provide 360-degree detection.

Obstacle Avoidance systems usually feature six vision sensors (two at the front, rear and bottom) and a downward infrared time-of-flight (ToF) sensor. These work from as little as 20 inches / 50 cm to as much as 98 ft / 30 m. Most of these sensors have a maximum range of 59 ft / 18 m. This is more than adequate for the majority of situations.

The binocular vision sensors look like small camera lenses positioned around the drone. When activated, the pilot will be alerted to obstacles in the DJI Fly app by default with visual warnings, obstacle distances from the drone are visible in the camera view window and an audio alert is made.

How do you use Obstacle Avoidance?

Using Obstacle Avoidance is incredibly easy and is switched on by default on compatible DJI drones. It’s activated, adjusted and switched off within the DJI Fly app, whether using a standard controller or a smart controller. Click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the app to open the menu and navigate to the Safety tab.

By default, Obstacle Avoidance will be set to Brake, which means the drone will stop and hover when an obstacle is detected. The other option is Bypass, which can be set to either Normal or Nifty. In Normal mode, the drone will bypass the obstacle at a safe distance from the obstacle. In Nifty mode, the drone will make more subtle automatic adjustments to flight with a greater risk of collisions.

You can also switch Obstacle Avoidance off, and this is necessary when it stops the drone or makes it adjust flight in an undesirable way when capturing video footage during flight in complex environments.

Why is Obstacle Avoidance useful?

With everything covered so far, you’ll be building a clear picture of why Obstacle Avoidance is useful. But as previously mentioned, while it’s a great feature to have, it’s not one that you can rely on all of the time. Obstacle Avoidance should only be used as a failsafe after your judgment when flying close to obstacles.

Obstacle Avoidance, when set to Brake, for example, could save your drone in a situation where you’ve accidentally misjudged a flight maneuver. This is the most obvious advantage of the feature, but Obstacle Avoidance also brings with it two additional key advantages.

The addition of Obstacle Avoidance on a DJI drone typically means the drone will have more advanced subject tracking functionality since this relies upon autonomous flight. What’s more, Return to Home is greatly improved and made safer because the drone can utilize the Obstacle Avoidance system. Again, it’s not perfect, but it’s better to have it than not.

What are the pitfalls of Obstacle Avoidance?

We’ve already mentioned that Obstacle Avoidance sensors don’t always identify obstacles, and light can be a reason for this. Too much or too little light can be problematic, such as night flying or flying directly in front of the sun, which can affect the sensors.

Another issue is that Obstacle Avoidance can make the drone fly less smoothly, which is hugely problematic when capturing video in complex environments. In these situations, you will often find that it’s both more effective and safer to switch obstacle avoidance off.

In the example video above, Obstacle Avoidance had to be switched off because the drone was being flown close to the ground, below and alongside trees. This was an Obstacle Avoidance nightmare where the smoothness of flight would have been impossible, even if the mode was set to Nifty.

Switching Obstacle Avoidance in complex environments like this is a calculated risk, but simple flight, care and attention to the environment go a long way. For most other situations, it makes sense to have Obstacle Avoidance switched on, and it will, for the most part, help to keep your drone safe from collisions.

How does LiDAR work with vision sensing?

The forward-facing LiDAR of more advanced DJI drones, including the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Air 3S, emits and receives lasers to identify obstacles ahead. Since the LiDAR is forward-facing, it can only sense in this single direction, unlike the standard vision sensing system. If and when an obstacle is identified, the drone will bypass obstacles or brake depending on the situation.

LiDAR is mainly used during low-light and night flights, and the drone will automatically switch between the two systems depending on the conditions. It will also, in some situations, use both systems at the same time. The LiDAR system can work with distances between 20 inches / 50 cm and 82 ft / 25 m. Objects with a diameter greater than 2.5 cm and a reflectivity greater than 40% can be identified, although LiDAR can’t identify wires, glass or snow.

DJI drones with advanced Collision Avoidance

Drones have become more accessible than ever before in terms of price and ease of use. Not to mention, as drone technology evolves, there has been a significant trickle-down of features and functionality to less expensive models. This means that the best cheap drones under $500 may have much more to offer than you realize.

For many newbie pilots, spending less on a first drone is a logical step because you have a smaller investment if something goes wrong and you happen to crash. In this guide, we'll be showing you the best cheap drones offering often unique and impressive features, so you can take to the skies without breaking the bank.

If you have a bigger drone budget, you may decide to invest in one of the best drones or one of the best camera drones available. But if you're just getting started, one of the best beginner drones may be the most suitable option for you. Whatever your plans, we have the perfect guides to help you discover the best drone for you.

The quick list

Looking for a drone but don't want to spend a fortune? The good news is that the best drones are more affordable than they've ever been. We've rounded up a selection of these high-flying gadgets, all at under $500.

From DJI to Potensic to Holy Stone we've picked out drones from trusted manufacturers, so you needn't worry about your new purchase letting you down.

Aided by our drone experts, we've detailed the pros and cons of each model, so read on and we'll help you choose a cheap but capable drone.

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Best cheap drones we recommend in 2026

Best cheap drone overall

The DJI Mini 4K may be DJI's lowest-cost Mini-series drone, but don’t let that put you off because it's a highly capable performer that can capture 4K 30 FPS video.

Image quality is fantastic considering the price of the drone, and this sits alongside 12MP photo capture in both RAW and JPEG formats with Manual and Automatic camera control available.

The Mini 4K flies well and offers Cine, Normal and Sport flight modes for use in different situations. Wind resistance comes in at level five, which equates to up to 21 mph and the controls allow for smooth and precise flight. We were hugely impressed with the overall performance in our DJI Mini 4K review.

Being a basic camera drone, collision avoidance and subject tracking features are unsurprisingly unavailable, but as a low-cost beginner camera drone it's an attractive option. If you're a beginner on a budget, you certainly won’t be disappointed.

• Read our full DJI Mini 4K review

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Best multi-purpose drone

The DJI Neo 2 is a lightweight drone that can be flown manually or autonomously. This can be drone-only, with the DJI Fly app, using the DJI RC-N3 Controller or it can be flown as an FPV drone when connected to DJI's FPV controllers and goggles.

The camera is fairly simple but it can capture video at 4K up to 60 FPS and 1080p up to 60 FPS. Image Stabilization is provided by the two-axis gimbal alongside Rocksteady and HorizonBalancing electronic stabilization.

12MP photos can also be captured in JPEG format, but RAW photo capture is unfortunately not available.

The Neo is designed for fun and simplicity, and the intelligent features and modes work well, as we discovered in our Neo 2 review. There's 49GB of onboard storage, which DJI says equates to up to 105 minutes of 4K/60fps video, up to 175 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 241 minutes of 1080p/60fps video.

• Read our full DJI Neo 2 review

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Best for vlogging

The DJI Flip is something of a jack of all trades in that it can be flown independently without an app or controller, with the DJI Fly app or one of two controllers that are available in the kits. We found the versatility of the drone was a breath of fresh air in our DJI Flip full review.

Intelligent flight modes allow for precise subject tracking while the camera can capture up to 4K 60 FPS video, alongside slow motion and vertical video in both Normal and D-Log M color profiles. Photos can be captured in JPEG and RAW formats.

The four propellers are encased in lightweight propeller guards for safer flights when tracking you, which is incredibly useful. For vlogging, you can combine intelligent subject tracking with audio recording.

This is achieved via the DJI Fly app when enabled, so you can record your voice while capturing video, or with the DJI Mic connected to your smartphone. Propeller noise is remarkably filtered out.

• Read our full DJI Flip review

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Best cheap non-DJI drone

The Potensic Atom is an impressive sub-250 g mini drone offering up to level five wind resistance, which is up to 24 mph. There's no collision avoidance, which is common for less expensive beginner to enthusiast models, but the Atom does offer impressive subject-tracking functionality.

The drone also offers automated flight patterns that allow you to capture cinematic video at the touch of a button, including Pull-away, Rocket, Circle, Spiral and Boomerang.

The camera itself is supported by a 3-axis gimbal for Image Stabilization, with both automatic and manual control over camera settings. Image quality is also respectable across photos and videos.

Video can be captured at up to 4K 30 FPS, while photos can be captured in RAW and JPEG formats. We found the Atom to be one of the best DJI alternatives available in our full review, thanks to great flight performance, features and camera functionality.

• Read our full Potensic Atom review

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Best for general use

Holy Stone has quite a fanbase, and the Holy Stone HS900 Sirius will undoubtedly pique the attention of pilots looking for a sub-250 g camera drone. In terms of flight performance, features and image quality, the HS900 is one of the best models available in this category.

The drone offers level five wind resistance, which covers wind speeds up to 24 mph. Then there are three flight modes which include Stable, Normal and Sport, with flight speeds of up to 11 mph, 22 mph and 31 mph respectively. Features include GPS positioning, downward vision sensors and Return to Home functionality, among others.

Automated flight patterns include Point of Interest, Spiral up, Tap Fly (waypoints), Gesture Selfie, One-key Ascension and Catapult. There's also a time-lapse feature, subject tracking and cruise control. Video can be captured up to 4K 30 FPS, while photos can be captured in RAW and JPEG formats.

• Read our full Holy Stone HS900 Sirius review

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Best selfie drone

The HoverAir X1 is an autonomous selfie drone that uses intelligent tracking algorithms to track moving and static subjects. Its capabilities are impressive, and this small and lightweight folding drone, just 4.4 oz / 125 g, is pocket-sized when folded and offers flight times of up to 11 minutes.

The HoverAir X1 impressed us in our full review because it can also be flown manually to capture photos and videos using the Hover X1 app and on-screen controls. It's not the best in this situation, but this functionality does further extend the capabilities of the drone. The X1 can capture photos in JPEG format and video up to 2.7K at 30 FPS.

The drone can be used with the app or without for quick and easy autonomous flights. Intelligent tracking modes include Orbit, Follow, Reveal, Overhead, Hover and Dolly Track. Overall, the X1 is incredibly easy to use, and its subject tracking capabilities are impressive.

• Read our full HoverAir X1 review

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Best cheap drones frequently asked questions

The most frequently asked questions on the best cheap drones under $500 answered by our contributing expert, astronomer James Abbott.

What is the best cheap drone under $500?
If you're on a tight budget, the DJI Mini 4K may not be the most feature-packed drone available, but for the low cost, its overall performance and image quality are outstanding. It's also regulator-friendly with a sub-250 g weight.

What is the best camera drone?
The Holy Stone HS900 Sirius offers features, functionality and image quality more commonly associated with mid-range mini drones. The Potensic Atom is similar in this respect and it's safe to say that both of these drones offer great value for money.

What is the best beginner drone?
If you're an absolute beginner, the DJI Neo could be a fantastic drone for you because it's small, lightweight and can be controlled in multiple ways. It's also incredibly affordable so you can enjoy DJI performance at a great price.

What is the best drone for selfies?
The best drone for selfies is the HoverAir X1, which is easy to use and is a highly effective autonomous drone. The DJI Flip can perform similarly, but can be used for vlogging and also be flown as a camera drone.

How we test the best cheap drones

Drones are tested in the same way to ensure consistency across the many models we review. Flight performance, features and camera performance are all put through their paces.

Most drone models are standard camera drones, although some models have more specific uses such as selfie drones and FPV drones, so these are always tested according to their specific features.

To test camera performance, which is often the main reason for flying drones, video footage is captured alongside photos. All camera features are tested where available, while image quality is assessed on a computer rather than a mobile device to provide the most effective viewing experience possible.

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If you're looking to get into flying drones on a budget, you should consider saving 34% on this Potensic Atom SE bundle deal, now its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Save 34% on the Potensic Atom SE Expansion Kit bundle, which is now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

In our Potensic Atom SE review, we found that it's one of the best beginner drones as it boasts a good build quality at an affordable price. It's a sub-250g drone, which means you don't have to worry about drone regulations, so those starting out with drones can get straight to flying. It also has a camera with 4K video capabilities and a 12MP Sony CMOS sensor. Crucially, its video transmission range to the controller is nearly two-and-a-half miles, which isn't massive, but enough to enjoy flying. This bundle comes with spare propellers, a controller, batteries and a carry bag.

• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

So what makes this drone worth having, and ultimately, this deal worth getting? It's ideal for those looking to take their first flight. A camera with a 12MP Sony CMOS sensor and 4K video capabilities is a great starting point, especially for beginners, even if it doesn't stack up to premium drones. Its foldable design and sub-250g weight mean it's easy to transport and the battery life allows for 30+ minutes of flight time on a single charge.

Other handy specs include the video transmission range, which allows you to see from the drone's perspective, and is nearly two-and-a-half miles. Video, normal, and sport modes are all available, and the drone has some automated flight modes and can use GPS to hover. While you may find more features and tech on more expensive models, this is more than sufficient for beginners. It's also worth remembering that this bundle is now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Key features: 12MP camera and 4K video capabilities, three different flight modes, GPS positioning, sub-250g weight, 30+ minutes flight time, bundle includes controller, carry bag and batteries.

Price history: Before today's deal, the price of the Potensic Atom SE Expansion Kit bundle ranged from $280 to $199, which makes today's price great value, as we haven't seen it any lower.

Reviews consensus: "If you’re a drone beginner on a budget, the Atom SE could be the perfect drone for you". This drone offers plenty of flight fun and features to satisfy beginners and it represents great value.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best beginner drones

✅ Buy it if: You're a beginner on a budget, as this drone offers plenty of flight satisfaction at an affordable price.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're looking for professional-grade equipment.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

DJI's Mini Pro range of drones has been a huge hit since the launch of the Mini 3 Pro – the first model in the line-up. This was the first sub-250g drone with professional photo and video credentials.

After the 4 Pro, which was little more than an incremental upgrade, we now have the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Not only is this a serious upgrade, but it also sets a new bar for what's possible in the most popular drone category.

There are numerous impressive new features to shout about, not least the 50MP 1-inch sensor in the camera, which can rotate 225 degrees in addition to 90 degrees for portrait capture.

There's also forward-facing LiDAR as part of the Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance system, and HDR video capture, to name a few notable features. It's safe to say that the Mini 5 Pro is one of the best drones and best DJI drones available, as well as being one of the best camera drones.

Image quality for photos and video is fantastic, thanks to the large sensor that's been magically added to the familiar Mini drone design. It is, however, slightly heavier than other sub-250 g drones at 8.81 oz / 249.9g. Plus, users have reported that some drones actually weigh in at up to 251 g, although aviation authorities seem to be overlooking this slight discrepancy.

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DJI Mini 5 Pro: Design

• Sub-250g model with a folding design
• Palm-sized when folded
• 1-inch camera sensor

One thing you can rely on is that DJI Mini drones look remarkably similar, so there's no mistaking them for any other model or manufacturer. The Mini 5 Pro follows this rigid style with its folding design, where Omnidirectional Collision Avoidance sensors are visible on the airframe. In terms of size, it's pretty much as you'd expect at 6.18x3.74x2.68 in / 157×95×68 mm folded and 10.04x7.13x3.58 in / 255×181×91 mm unfolded.

It's a sub-250g model, like previous versions, and the 5 Pro weighs in officially at 8.81 oz / 249.9g, although some users have reported that the drone weighs as much as 251g when they've weighed it themselves. This hasn't caused any issues with the drone's place in the sub-250g category according to aviation authorities, and the slight weight increase is remarkable given that DJI has managed to cram a 1-inch sensor into the rotating camera.

In terms of overall design and aesthetics, the 5 Pro looks extremely similar to previous models but is differentiated by the darker grey of the airframe and, of course, the bulkier camera to accommodate that larger sensor.

Flight times are advertised as being up to 36 minutes per 2,788 mAh battery, but in real-world flying conditions, flight times are around 20 minutes before Return to Home is initiated when the battery reaches 20% capacity. This is often the case, and the 20-25 minute range is still impressive considering the small size and capacity of the batteries.

As always, there are two controller options: the budget DJI RC-N2, which requires attaching your phone, or you can opt for a smart controller. The DJI RC 2 smart controller features a built-in 5.5-inch FHD display and provides a much more convenient experience if your budget extends a little further. It's well worth it if you can afford it.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Functionality

• Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing with LiDAR
• 360° ActiveTrack subject tracking
• Rotating camera

The Mini 5 Pro is an impressive performer in the sky, whether taking manual control yourself or using one of the automated flight modes and 360° ActiveTrack. Subject tracking is fantastic, and although this isn't a selfie drone like the DJI Neo 2 or HoverAir X1 Pro/ProMax, it still manages to successfully track people and cars, etc. In complex environments, it even manages to dodge trees and branches, which is thanks to its advanced collision avoidance system.

The Omnidirectional Vision Sensing system includes forward-facing LiDAR alongside fisheye lenses on the front and rear for sensing forward, backward, left, right, and upward. The bottom of the drone is fitted with binocular lenses and a 3D infrared sensor, enabling omnidirectional obstacle sensing. It's highly effective, and the LiDAR is designed to improve obstacle sensing and Return to Home in low-light conditions and at night.

The camera is extremely impressive, and although we'll go into more detail in the next section, the camera can rotate up to 225 degrees and it opens up many creative possibilities for capturing video. The camera also rotates 90 degrees, allowing for both landscape and portrait format capture, with the latter being ideal for social media.

There are automated flight patterns that allow you to capture cinematic video at the touch of a button, and these include MasterShots and Quickshots. There's also Free Panorama, which offers more manual control over how panoramas are captured. The new 2x 48mm equivalent zoom is claimed to be a vast improvement over older digital zooms, and image quality is certainly good when zooming in.

Advanced Return to Home utilizes Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance and LiDAR for a safer and more reliable Return to Home by calculating the most efficient route back to the take-off point. There's even Non-GNSS RTH, where the 5 Pro memorizes the path home when light levels are high enough, so you can get the drone safety home without satellite signals. This wasn't specifically tested, but RTH was always reliable when initiated during flight testing.

With all these features, the Mini 5 Pro takes a little of what the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Air 3 S have to offer, making it an incredibly advanced sub-250 g model able to take on professional work where a smaller and lighter drone is required.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Performance

• 50MP 1-inch sensor
• 24mm f/1.8 camera
• Excellent image quality

The camera offers a 24mm equivalent focal length and has a fixed f/1.8 aperture with focusing from 50cm to infinity. The camera houses a 50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor, and you choose between 12MP and 50MP modes. Shutter speeds available are between 1/8000 and two seconds, while in 12MP mode, you also get two and a half to eight seconds for simulated long exposure.

The image quality produced is excellent when capturing photos and videos, although photos taken in the 50MP mode are on the soft side. You can capture photos in Raw and JPEG when shooting in both 12MP and 50MP modes, although you can achieve better results using Adobe Lightroom's Super Resolution feature to increase the size of Raw files.

Video can be captured in Standard (for straight-out-of-camera use), the D-Log M flat color profile for color grading, and HLG for HDR capture with up to 14 stops of dynamic range. This makes it ideal for beginner and professional video capture. And with that fast f/1.8 fixed aperture, ND filters are extremely useful for maintaining a correct shutter speed during video capture.

Video can be captured up to 4K at 120 FPS and 1080p at up to 240 FPS for slow motion capture. 8-bit video is captured in H.264 while 10-bit HLG/D-Log M is captured in H.265 with a maximum bitrate of 130 Mbps. Photos and videos can be saved either on the 42GB of internal storage or on a microSD card inserted into the rear of the drone.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Off-State QuickTransfer allows for remote wake-up via the DJI Fly app within Bluetooth range. The Mini 5 Pro or the controller doesn't need to be switched on, and you can transfer files to your smartphone at up to 100 MB/s via Wi-Fi 6. It's pretty handy if you want to share photos and videos quickly and easily.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Price

With the ongoing issues with the availability of DJI products in the US, the Mini 5 Pro isn't available in the US, and therefore, no pricing is available. For UK-based drone pilots, several kits are available, with the basic option costing £689. With this kit, you get the DJI RC-N3 controller and a single battery alongside the drone and accessories.

To get the most out of the drone and increase flight times, one of the Fly More Bundles makes sense as they offer three batteries, a battery charging hub and useful ND filters for controlling shutter speeds when capturing video.

The Fly More Bundle, which includes the budget DJI RC-N3 controller, costs £869, while the DJI RC 2 smart controller Fly More Bundle costs just £979. Considering the smart controller kit is only marginally more expensive, this kit represents fantastic value for money.

Should you buy the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

If you're looking for a sub-250g drone and have the budget available, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is worth getting. And as previously mentioned, if you can stretch to the DJI RC 2 Fly More Bundle, you will enjoy fantastic functionality and value for money. The features on offer, including Omnidirectional Vision Sensing, 225-degree camera rotation, 360° ActiveTrack and more, are fantastic.

The 1-inch sensor produces excellent image quality for both photos and videos, although shooting in the high-resolution 50MP mode can produce softer images than 12MP shooting. It's no big deal and you can use Adobe's Super Resolution in Lightroom to increase resolution more effectively if necessary.

If this drone isn't for you

If you'd prefer a larger and more powerful drone with similar features, but two cameras instead of one, look no further than the DJI Air 3S. This drone also has a 1-inch sensor in the main camera and a second telephoto camera with a 70mm equivalent focal length.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an incredibly cost-effective sub-250g drone that is much less expensive than the Mini 5 Pro. Image quality is excellent, and it has all the features most beginners and intermediate pilots will need, but it’s not as feature-heavy as the Mini 5 Pro.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the flagship prosumer model and is the most advanced drone of this type to date. Image quality is exceptional, and the innovative new gimbal design allows for full rotation of the three cameras alongside landscape and portrait format shooting.

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Just a year after the DJI Neo was released, DJI hasn't wasted any time in producing a new and seriously improved version, the DJI Neo 2. It's not often we see a drone model replaced so quickly, but it seems that DJI is keen to dominate the selfie drone market. This includes the impressive HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax models.

With the new features, which include improved camera performance, Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance with combined vision and LiDAR sensors and 49GB of internal storage, up from 20GB in the Neo, to name but a few new features.

The Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance is particularly useful because it significantly reduces the risk of crashes when using intelligent tracking modes. The DJI Neo 2 is one of the best camera drones available since it does what it's designed to do incredibly well.

This small and lightweight drone maintains its FPV cinewhoop-style design with built-in propeller guards. This makes it safer to fly close to people and obstacles. It can also be controlled without a phone or controller, with the DJI Fly app, with a DJI RC-N3 controller and with DJI FPV accessories for FPV flight. So, plenty of options to suit a wide range of drone pilots.

What's so impressive about this drone is that it's inexpensive. This makes it ideal for beginners and those looking for a small, fun and easy-to-use drone. So, if you're looking for a drone that can intelligently track you on your adventures, the DJI Neo 2 could be the perfect solution.

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DJI Neo 2: Design

• Cinewhoop-style design
• Compact and lightweight
• Several kits available

The Neo 2 doesn't look drastically different from the Neo, but there are some obvious upgrades. It's safe to say that even the untrained eye could tell that the two drones are related. It maintains the FPV cinewhoop-style design with completely enclosed propellers that both protect them in crashes and keep people safe when the drone is intelligently tracking people.

The main visual and technological differences between the Neo and Neo 2 are the transceiver on the rear that comes with the Neo 2 in the Fly More Bundles. This allows the drone to connect to controllers and goggles.

There's also a display on the front that shows the active flight mode, a LiDAR sensor and a couple of obstacle avoidance sensors. The display is useful because it makes it so much easier to identify the active flight mode when using the drone without the app or a controller. Controls on the side of the drone allow you to scroll through the flight modes.

The drone weighs 5.6 oz / 160g with the transceiver or 5.3 oz / 151g without, which is incredibly lightweight, but has a fixed rather than folding design. It's still compact at just 167x171x54 mm / 6.57x6.73x2.13 in, and you can easily slip it into a backpack, handbag or camera bag. The Fly More Bundles strangely don't include a carry bag.

The kit sent for review was the DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo and includes a DJI RC-N3 controller. This features a telescopic phone holder at the top and allows you to fly the Neo 2 like a camera drone. This will likely be the most popular kit, although the Motion Controller Fly More Bundle with FPV goggles is an attractive option.

DJI Neo 2: Functionality

• Excellent flight modes and performance
• Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
• 49GB of internal storage

Despite its FPV-style design, the Neo 2, like its predecessor, flies well as a camera drone using the DJI RC-N3 controller. In fact, even the on-screen digital controls for manual flight in the DJI Fly app work well and are useful when you want to keep your carrying weight to a minimum. This, however, is a selfie drone that's designed to capture selfies and track moving subjects, whether you're running, cycling, skiing or walking.

It does a fantastic job of these thanks to its intelligent flight modes, which include Follow, Skiing Follow, Cycling Follow, SelfieShot, Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang, Dolly Zoom and Spotlight alongside Manual Control. This is further enhanced by the addition of Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance with combined vision and LiDAR sensors. When following you in complex environments, the Neo 2 does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and keeping the subject centered in the frame.

You also get Quickshots, which are DJI automated flight patterns for capturing professional-looking video at the touch of a button. These include Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix and Boomerang, so there are tons of flight modes to enjoy. All this is great for beginners and people who want to capture themselves on their adventures.

The 1606mAh batteries are advertised as being able to last for up to 19 minutes, although in reality, you're looking at around 10 minutes of flight before Return to Home is initiated. This is typical for selfie drones and DJI FPV drones, of which the Neo 2 is one, if you choose the Fly More Bundle that comes with a Motion Controller and goggles, or if you already own compatible accessories.

This is a drone that relies entirely on internal storage since it doesn't have an SD card slot. So the increase in storage to 49GB is a welcome upgrade. The Neo 2 can save up to 105 minutes of 4K/60fps video, up to 175 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 241 minutes of 1080p/60fps video, which should be more than enough storage for most people.

Once photos and videos have been captured, you can connect to the drone via WiFi with your phone to transfer the footage at up to 80 MB/s using the DJI Fly app. This is great for mobile editing and quick sharing, and you can download to a computer using a USB-C cable.

Other potentially useful and interesting features include Gesture Control, where the Neo 2 can be controlled using a range of gestures, and is useful when you don't have a controller. Most people will often have their phone with the DJI Fly app. I've never been a fan of gesture control myself, but I appreciate its usefulness. Then there's voice control, where you say your commands to the DJI Fly app, which then transmits them to the drone.

DJI Neo 2: Performance

• 12MP 1/2-inch sensor
• Photos are only captured in JPEG
• Excellent image stabilization

The Neo 2's image quality is good for photos and much better for video, with the former only captured in JPEG format and no Raw option available, which is a shame. It's certainly not designed to be a photography powerhouse like the DJI Mini 5 Pro, but this is to be expected from a selfie drone with great subject tracking capabilities.

The Neo 2 features a 1/2-inch sensor, which allows for the image Rocksteady Electronic Image Stabilization to completely smooth video footage. During testing, the Neo 2 was practically shaken, and although movement could be seen, the Electronic Image Stabilization did an incredible job – truly impressive.

The sensor has a 12MP resolution and provides an equivalent focal length of 16.5 mm. The aperture is fixed at f/2.2, while focus is between 70 cm and infinity. ISO can be set between 100 and 12,800. Video can be captured in 4K at up to 60 FPS, 1080p at up to 60 FPS and vertical shooting 2.7K (9:16) 1512×2688 px is available up to 60 FPS.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video is captured in the Normal/Standard color profile, so it can be used straight out of the camera, and the maximum video bitrate is 80 Mbps. Rocksteady Electronic image Stabilization keeps the video smooth and the horizon straight, producing what is a remarkably impressive effect that’s as good as a mechanical gimbal. This system is ideal for the Neo 2 with its two-axis gimbal that offers a tilt movement so you can adjust the camera angle.

DJI Neo 2: Price

The DJI Neo 2 was released on November 13, 2025, and comes in at a slightly higher price than the DJI Neo. That's really not an issue, though, because the Neo 2 is packed with many more new and advanced features, making it a much more rounded offering.

The DJI Neo 2 costs £209 drone only, which means you get one battery and can control the drone with the DJI Fly app. The DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo costs £349 and includes the drone, three batteries, a battery charging hub and a DJI RC-N3 controller.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, you could opt for the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo, which costs £509. This includes the extra batteries and charging hub alongside a Motion Controller and FPV goggles. All options are reasonably priced.

Should you buy the DJI Neo 2?

Unfortunately, the DJI Neo 2 isn't available in the US through DJI, but you may be able to get your hands on one another way. For those who can get hold of a Neo 2, if you're looking for either a selfie drone, an inexpensive beginner drone or an inexpensive and easy-to-fly FPV drone, the Neo 2 is a great option.

The fact that it can cover all of these bases, as well as having the ability to be used with the intelligent flight modes, drone only, or manually with the DJI Fly app, makes it incredibly versatile.

The new and improved features, alongside the Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance, are also positive factors that work in the drone's favour. If you're looking for a camera drone specifically, you might want to consider other models.

If this drone isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 Pro is another selfie drone, but this one has a folding design, which makes it more compact for transportation and storage. Performance is excellent when capturing up to 4K video, and there's a range of useful accessories available.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an affordable sub-250g drone that is a standard camera drone and a great alternative as a more powerful camera drone. It can capture video up to 4K and photos in both JPEG and Raw, with a range of useful features available.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is the best sub-250g drone available and also offers excellent subject tracking. It's not a selfie drone, but with its advanced subject tracking and excellent image quality, it's a much more versatile option than the Neo 2 in many ways.

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We think the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the best drone on the market, and you can still grab it for its lowest-ever price on Amazon, but you'll have to hurry as stock is running out.

Save over $500 on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro when you grab it on Amazon, or you can save over $600 on the Fly More Combo.

In our review of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, we were blown away by the quality of build, its performance and the features that are packed into it. Not only is it the best overall drone on the market, but it's also at the top of our best DJI drones and best camera drones guides. That's thanks to its three cameras, capable of shooting images with 100MP resolution and 6K video, its top of a top speed of over 60mph, advanced obstacle avoidance, a new Return to Home functionality and impressive tracking. This is an advanced drone aimed at those who want professional-grade gear at home. Hurry on this deal, as stock is running low.

• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

So what makes the Mavic 4 Pro stand out from the competition? As it's a drone that offers a professional-grade experience for casual flyers, you get 100MP resolution in RAW and JPEG images, 6K in video and complete camera rotation, with a range of -40 to 400 degrees.

Aside from its camera, the Mavic 4 Pro is packed with features like Return to Home, which kicks in when the battery hits 15%, so you don't lose the drone when the battery dies. It also has advanced obstacle avoidance, which is helpful if you're flying in a congested space, and it has a video transmission range of over 18 miles (29 kilometers), all relayed to a much-improved controller. The Mavic 4 Pro also has a sport mode, which allows it to fly over 60 mph (96 km/h), and while it has impressive tracking abilities, it can't track at that speed. The battery life is impressive too, allowing for up to 51 minutes of flight time.

While this is the lowest price we've seen for this done, it's important to note that stock is running low, so if you want a great price for a great drone, you'll have to act soon.

Key features: 100MP image resolution, 6K video, three cameras with complete camera rotation, tech features to make the flying experience more user-friendly, multiple flying modes, a huge video transmission range and a good battery life.

Product launched: May 2025

Price history: Before today's deal, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro usually retailed for around the 'before' price of this deal, which is $2699. That means that the saving of $519 is genuine and a good value offer.

Reviews consensus: By far the best MAvic drone DJI has produced and takes drone technology to new heights. It's aimed at professionals and experts and has seriously impressive speed, agility, power and features.

Space: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones, best DJI drones, best camera drones

✅ Buy it if: You want the best of the best, and your budget stretches that far.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're on a budget and having the absolute best specs available isn't a must for you, or you're a beginner.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, Lego and much more.

From Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 of every year, France celebrates the Fetes des Lumieres (Festival of Lights) at the Parc de la Tete d'Or in Lyon. There, the city hosts artwork spread across its iconic squares and opera house, including artwork made via drone.

What is it?

The Fetes des Lumieres is far older than LEDs, projectors or drones. Its roots go back to the 17th century, when people of Lyon vowed to honor the Virgin Mary for protecting the city from plague. In 1852, the devotion settled on a key day, Dec. 8, when residents placed candles, or lumignons, on their windowsills to celebrate the inauguration of a new statue of Mary in the city.

Over time, the religious event became much more urbanized, and in modern times now uses projectors, LEDs, and even drones to light up the night sky. By the 2000s, the festival had become world-famous, attracts millions of visitors to Lyon every December.

Where is it?

This image was taken at the Parc de la Tete d'Or in Lyon, which is in central-eastern France.

Why is it amazing?

This year's celebration included a "ballet" of 500 synchronized dronesworking together to make distinct shapes in France's night sky, including this model of planet Earth. Each performance lasted about eight to 10 minutes, with shows beginning every 30 minutes to allow the drones' batteries to recharge. This image captures two moments in time, a centuries old tradition meeting cutting-edge technology to give spectators a dazzling wintry show they would never forget.

Want to learn more?

You can learn more about drone technology and LEDs.

For decades, NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have relied on some of the driest, most rugged places on Earth to simulate the extreme environments on Mars. California's Mojave Desert, including Death Valley National Park, have long served as proving grounds, from the Viking Lander in the 1970s to the landing trials for NASA's Perseverance rover.

Rotorcraft, like helicopters and drones, have become increasingly important since the success of NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which made 72 pioneering flights on the Red Planet before completing its mission in 2024. Craft like Ingenuity can be helpful in exploring hard-to-reach areas, including areas on another planet.

That's what NASA's Mars Exploration Program is looking into, using various simulations and tests to get the job done.

What is it?

The most recent test campaign, captured in our image of the day, focused on software called Extended Robust Aerial Autonomy, designed to help future Mars rotorcraft navigate somewhat featureless terrain, which was the very challenge that caused problems for Ingenuity during its final flights. Engineers experimented with camera filters, landing algorithms and real-time navigation over two key locations: the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes and Mars Hill, a rocky Death Valley site that NASA has used for Mars research for over 50 years.

Where is it?

This image was taken at Death Valley National Park in southeastern California.

Why is it amazing?

NASA envisions drones that can map landing zones, locate resources or guide astronauts across hazardous ground. The software tested in this recent series of experiments could allow future explorers to rely on robotic partners that think and navigate independently.

Given the variation in Martian terrain, which features dunes, boulder fields, craters and volcanic slopes, having improved technology in rotorcraft like drones can allow scientists to safely explore terrain that Ingenuity had a hard time accessing, revealing more about the Red Planet.

Want to learn more?

You can learn more about drones and Mars exploration.

One of the best Cyber Monday drone deals is still live, as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is still $500, but they've been flying off the shelves, so there are only a few left in stock.

Save $500 on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, the best drone on the market at its lowest-ever price.

Not just one of the best drone deals, but one of the best Cyber Monday deals (still available!) is the DJI Mavic 4 Pro with a $500 discount. In our DJI Mavic 4 Pro review, we found that it's stacked with useful features like omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, return to home and more. It also features three cameras, taking video in 6K and 100MP resolution images. It's a serious bit of gear, aimed at serious done flyers and features in our best drones, best camera drones and best DJI drones guides. You'll have to be quick, though, as there are only a few left in stock, and this is its lowest-ever price.

• Our Cyber Monday hub is back, where we highlight all the best deals of Black Friday 2025.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is serious gear and is a demonstration of just how good drones can be. The three cameras are fully rotatable from -40 to 400 degrees and can take 6K standard video along with 100MP photos. Combined with an impressive gimbal, the Mavic 4 Pro is smooth in flight and stable when capturing footage.

It also features a sports mode, allowing it to travel in excess of 60mph, and it has very impressive subject tracking, which is great for capturing footage on the move. Useful features include return to home, obstacle avoidance, hover precision and more. All of this and a battery life that allows up to 51 minutes (it's more like 37 with an automatic return to home feature kicking in) is seriously impressive.

It may not be Cyber Monday anymore, but you can still enjoy a last-minute, must-have Cyber Monday drone deal, as the last few in stock are still on sale for the same price as during the annual sales event.

Key features: Three cameras, 6K video, 100MP stills, 60mph-plus top speed, Return to Home, subject tracking, precision hover, 51-minute flight time, wind resistance, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, more.

Product launched: May 2025

Price history: Before today's deal, this drone consistently retailed for around $2699, but we saw it reduced by $500 over Cyber Monday and that's the price it is today, still its lowest-ever.

Price comparison: Amazon: $2199 | Walmart: $3997 | Best Buy: $2999

Reviews consensus: This is the best drone on the market, bar none. If you're looking for how good a drone can be, with flight time, performance, camera capabilities and functionality to top the competition, this is the drone you want.

TechRadar: ★★★★★ | Space: ★★★★★ Toms Guide: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones

✅ Buy it if: You want the best drone on the market.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're on a budget or you're an absolute beginner.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

If you're looking for a Cyber Monday drone deal with all the bells and whistles, getting nearly half price (while stocks last!) on the Bwine F7GIM Pro drone could be what you're looking for.

Save 47% on the Bwine F7GIM Pro drone bundle this Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday deals are flying off the shelves, but they won't hover around forever, as the annual sales event ends today. The Bwine F7GIM Pro drone is one of the biggest Cyber Monday drone deals you'll find and there's plenty to like. It features a 6K camera, 4K video, a 3-axis gimbal for smooth recording and this bundle includes a carry case, a controller, spare batteries, cables and propellers. If this deal interests you, but it's not quite right, you should check out our guides to the best drones, DJI drones and beginner drones this Cyber Monday.

• Our Cyber Monday hub is back, where we highlight all the best deals of Black Friday 2025.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

We tested the Bwine F7GIM drone and found that it was easy to use, had a good camera and its flight performance was up to the job. Now the Pro model is on offer and you get a camera with 6K capabilities for stills, 4K for video, a 3-axis gimbal to provide stability, one-button take off and return to home functions, 10,000-feet video transmission and 70-minute flight time, thanks to the batteries provided. It's the lowest price we've ever seen it, but you'll have to hurry as this Cyber Monday deal won't hang about.

Cyber Monday is in full flow, and it's a great opportunity, but your last chance to save before the holidays. That means whether you're looking to grab gifts, treat yourself or make big-ticket purchases, now is absolutely the time to do it, as countless products are discounted across countless retailers, which includes this massive 47% discount on the Bwine F7GIM Pro.

Key features: 6K images, 4K video, 3-axis gimbal for stability, 10,000-feet video transmission, extended flight time, return to home and one-button take off functions, a carry case, a controller, spare batteries, cables and more.

Price history: Before today's deal, we regularly saw this drone retail for between $400 and $500. We have previously seen it retail for as low as $300, but this is comfortably the lowest price we've ever seen, making it great value.

Price comparison: Amazon: $273.90 | Walmart: $303.99

✅ Buy it if: You're looking for a drone bundle that provides performance along with plenty of extras to maximize your flying experience.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're looking for the best of the best, in which case the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is currently $500 off.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro has flown in at the top of our best drones guide, and it's now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon in one of the best Cyber Monday drone deals out there.

Save $500 on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, the best drone available, now at its lowest-ever price for Black Friday.

If you're looking for Cyber Monday deals this Black Friday weekend, you'll want to consider this one. In our DJI Mavic 4 Pro review, we praised it for its amazing camera movements, its fast and smooth flight and its impressive features, among many other things. It has three cameras and can capture footage in up to 6K and images with 100MP resolution. We're not sure how long this deal will last for, so if you're serious about drones and discounts, you'll have to act quickly.

• Our Black Friday hub is back, where we highlight all the best deals of Black Friday 2025.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is packed full of useful features and great technology. It has advanced obstacle avoidance, return to home, impressive car tracking, a top speed of over 60mph and is resistant to winds up to 26.8 mph. The video transmission feed is massive at over 18 miles and you can fully rotate the camera while flying to deliver high-quality footage. It is a heavier drone, weighing 2.34 lbs / 1,063 g, so you'll have to register it to comply with local drone laws, but its foldable design makes it easy to transport.

We're into the Sunday of Black Friday weekend, which means Cyber Monday is upon us. This is unquestionably one of the best deals out there purely because it's the lowest price seen on a drone of this quality. You'll have to act soon if you want this saving though, as there's never a guarantee of stock or how long this deal will be live for.

Key features: Three cameras, 6K video, 100MP stills, 60mph-plus top speed, Return to Home, subject tracking, wind resistance, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, more.

Product launched: May 2025

Price history: Before today's deal, this drone consistently retailed for around $2699, meaning that the $500 discount is genuine and this is good value.

Price comparison: Amazon: $2199 | Walmart: $3997 | Best Buy: $2999

Reviews consensus: Rated as the best drone on the market, it's by far the best Mavic drone ever made and takes drone technology to new heights. The image quality is fantastic and the flight performance is impressive.

TechRadar: ★★★★★ | Space: ★★★★★ Toms Guide: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones

✅ Buy it if: You want the best drone you can possibly get your hands on.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're on a budget.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Holy Stone has established itself as one of the most active drone manufacturers at the beginner end of the market, offering a wide range of options to suit the requirements of beginners. The Holy Stone HS600D is an upgraded version of the HS600 and delivers 4K 30 FPS video and large 48MP photos from its automatic camera.

The HS600D faces some stiff competition in the beginner category with a price of $400, but thanks to its size and power it may still be one of the best beginner drones. It's certainly not one of the best drones, but that is one of the most difficult categories for any drone to secure a position in. The HS600D does, however, offer some interesting features that expand its usefulness and creative potential for beginner pilots.

It could be used by more advanced pilots for basic professional aerial tasks, but the fully automatic camera and mixed image quality will always be a hurdle to its use for more advanced operations. For beginners, this is a drone with GPS positioning, which in turn delivers features including GPS Return to Home and subject tracking. Plus, there are other creative features including timelapse, panorama, slow-motion video and Quickshots automated flight patterns.

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Holy Stone HS600D: Design

• Folding design
• 3-axis gimbal
• Great controller

The HS600D sports a folding design where the propeller arms fold out, taking it from a compact 7.95 x 3.74 x 3.27-in / 202 x 95 x 83 mm when folded for travel, to 14.76 x 10.16 x 3.27-in / 375 x 258 x 83 mm unfolded for flight. The propeller arms fold in, in such a way that the large fixed propellers, rather than those made of two swivelling parts, sit parallel to the sides of the airframe.

Where the HS600D differs from most other folding drones is that its two front legs also fold out from the propeller arms to raise the front of the drone when on the ground. Despite these, the airframe still sits low to the ground so a landing mat will be a useful accessory for take-off and landing. Just bear in mind that this mid-sized drone weighs 21.03 oz / 603 g, so although it's lightweight, US-based amateur pilots will need to register with the FAA.

The build quality of the drone is good and can’t be faulted, although it's more plastic than metal. It's fair to say that it's not quite at the standard of the best drones available but don’t let that in itself put you off because there's a huge price difference involved in many cases.

The gimbal and camera housing are also made of plastic, which is likely to keep both costs and weight down, but the 3-axis mechanical gimbal paired with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) does a great job of stabilizing video footage.

The 3500 mAh LiPo batteries are advertised to provide up to 40 minutes of flight, so with two batteries in the kit that's up to an impressive hour and 20 minutes of potential flight time. Testing of the drone was conducted in early winter in the UK when temperatures were around 32°F / 0°C, so flight times were much lower at around 25 minutes, so a fair assessment couldn’t be made. In warmer months, battery life would naturally be extended.

The controller that comes with the HS600D looks like it's modelled on the DJI RC-N2, but with a screen to show flight information. There's a telescopic phone holder at the top where the phone cable can be stored and the control sticks can be removed and stowed in rubberized compartments at the bottom of the unit.

There are also seven direct access controls to make operation more convenient by providing quick access to commonly used settings and features, which reduces the need to use app control. The controller and drone take 40 seconds to pair each time one or both are switched on, and with each flight in a new location, you'll be prompted to calibrate the compass; this only takes around 15 seconds to complete so it's never an issue.

Holy Stone HS600D: Functionality

• Auto Return to Home
• Timelapse functionality
• GPS subject tracking

Most drones these days come packed with a range of useful and, indeed, creative features. The HS600D is one such drone and delivers a handful of features that enhance the overall experience of using the drone from both a safety and creative point of view. Firstly, one feature that US pilots will appreciate is that the HS600D features a built-in Remote ID to meet FAA requirements.

This is also a GPS-enabled drone which means that it will hold a hover. Although, it's not the most precise in this area — there is some horizontal and vertical movement. Sadly, you cannot rely on its precision at low altitudes and close to obstacles.

GPS does, however, deliver a couple of useful features which include GPS Follow Me, which uses the GPS signal from your smartphone to track you. Then there's Return to Home (RTH) functionality with Smart RTH to return to the take-off point. Return to Home also offers Failsafe RTH and Low Voltage RTH, which bring the drone back in situations where the signal to the controller is lost and when the battery charge is low, among other situations.

Another safety feature, although one you wouldn’t need to use too often, if at all, is Optical Flow Positioning for indoor flights when a GPS signal is unavailable. This ultimately isn’t the type of drone that's well-suited to indoor flight.

The HS600D also offers shooting modes including Panorama, Time-lapse and Slow Motion. All are easy to use but when creating a panorama, the final image is only available on your smartphone with low-resolution dimensions that vary from shot to shot but are typically around 2346 x 633 pixels.

This is despite the 48MP resolution of the sensor. There's also AI Subject Tracking, which works well to follow the selected subject, but the drone either remains in a hover or you have to fly it manually if the subject is moving.

Then there are Quickshots automated flight patterns, including Point of Interest, Catapult, One-key Ascension and Spiral Up. Other options within the same menu include Gesture Selfie and Selfie Video, Camera Filter and Portrait Format Capture. For the latter, a 9:16 format 4K video is captured while a landscape format image is captured on the microSD card; the upright photo is saved to your smartphone in 9:16 format 4K dimensions.

Holy Stone HS600D: Performance

• Mixed image quality results
• Auto camera control only
• Photos in JPEG only

The HS600D camera features a 48MP Sony 1/2.3 in CMOS sensor and a fixed f/1.8 aperture. Information about the equivalent focal length produced by the lens is unavailable. The camera itself is fully automatic, so you simply point and shoot to capture photos and videos. The only adjustments available are for white balance, contrast, saturation, sharpness and brightness.

Frustratingly, there's no control over exposure compensation, so in some situations, the camera will naturally over- or underexpose photos and videos slightly. This is an incredibly simple control that's essential for any camera, but arguably most important for a fully automatic camera. With the sun behind the drone with the camera facing forward, however, exposure is typically fine. Image quality, like most drones, is best in brighter conditions.

Photos and videos are captured in two formats: one on the microSD card that's inserted into the drone and another on your smartphone. Photos are captured at 48MP with dimensions of 8000 x 6000 pixels when saved to the microSD card in the drone. These are also saved to your phone at 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K).

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

Video here

Panoramic images are only saved to your phone at low resolution rather than on the microSD card at a higher resolution. Video is captured at 4K 30 FPS when saved to the microSD card while 720p 30 FPS is set to your phone. It's pretty basic, but the main thing here is that 4K video is captured at 30 FPS.

The image quality is pretty good, but what's strange is that there's a noticeable fall-off in depth-of-field further back into the scene you’re shooting, particularly with photos. The front of the scene is perfectly sharp but the fall off is visible. Video is much better when the drone is moving because the eye can’t settle on a fixed point, but with static video, you do notice the fall-off in sharpness.

Holy Stone HS600D: Price

The Holy Stone HS600D costs $400, which puts it up against some serious competition from the likes of the Holy Stone HS900, DJI Mini 4K and the DJI Mini 3. All three of these models are also regulator-friendly sub-250 g models. However, the HS600D is a larger and more powerful drone, which undoubtedly has advantages in certain situations.

The HS600D comes in a kit that includes the HS600D drone, a controller, two batteries, phone connection cables, USB-C cables for battery and controller charging, a spare set of propellers and a shoulder bag to carry everything. In a nutshell, this is everything you need to get started except for registering with your local aviation authority.

Should you buy the Holy Stone HS600D?

If you're looking for a point-and-shoot drone where you have no control over camera exposure settings for photos and videos, the HS600D is one of the larger and more powerful models to offer this basic beginner functionality. There are also several other features available including time-lapse, slow-motion video, panorama and GPS subject tracking, so you do have creative options available.

As previously mentioned, the HS600D faces some stiff competition from some impressive drone models in the same price bracket. In light of this, you have to consider these models alongside the HS600D to decide which is ultimately the best model for you.

If this drone isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 is the best drone Holy Stone has produced to date with excellent flight capabilities and a great camera to match. It's also less expensive than the HS600D.

The DJI Mini 4K is DJI's least expensive drone that's capable of capturing 4K video. Image quality is great for a drone with a small sensor. Plus, it flies well and is incredibly easy to use.

The DJI Mini 3 is an affordable mini drone with a fantastic camera that can be rotated 90 degrees for capturing photos and videos in landscape and portrait formats. It's a great sub-250 g all-rounder.

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Holy Stone continues to release beginner-friendly drones at a range of sizes and price points to cater to the needs of a wider community of beginner drone pilots. The Holy Stone HS360E is a sub-250 g model that looks a little like the DJI Mini 4K and is similar in many ways but offers a much more basic camera.

Camera specs are thin on the ground but it's 12MP and features a 2-axis gimbal for tilting the camera, which is supported by Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) rather than the more effective mechanical stabilization that's delivered by 3-axis gimbals. It certainly smooths video, but it can't eliminate larger movements of the drone during flights.

This produces FPV-style video footage where the tilt pitch and roll of the drone are captured to produce a more immersive type of video. This isn't for everyone, but if you'd like this type of video capture, the HS360E could be one of the best beginner drones for you. Video is captured at 4K 30 FPS on the microSD card in the drone, while 720p 30FPS video is captured on your smartphone with the HS Fly app installed.

Photos are captured in JPEG format in either 4000 x 3000px or 3840 x 2160px (4K) dimensions on the microSD card. Photos saved to your smartphone are in 4K dimensions. Image quality isn't the best but we'll cover that in more detail later. Several features are great for beginners and these include GPS Return to Home, subject tracking, timelapse, panorama, slow-motion video and several automated flight patterns.

Holy Stone HS360E review

Holy Stone HS360E review: Design

• Folding design
• Well-made drone
• Solid controller

The HS360E, as previously mentioned, looks similar to the DJI Mini 4K with its light gray airframe and folding design. The propeller arms fold out horizontally, which takes it from 5.5 x 3.5 x 2.17in / 140 x 90 x 55mm when folded to 8.37.1 x 2.17in / 210 x 180 x 55mm when unfolded, with a weight of 8.78 oz / 249 g. This means that US pilots won't have to register the drone with the FAA if flying recreationally.

The overall design is simple, but the build quality is good. The overall kit looks and feels like good value for money. There are no sensors on the drone for collision avoidance, but there is a much more basic optical flow sensor facing downwards on the bottom of the airframe.

There is also a light on the bottom that changes color to signify whether or not the controller is connected. In low-light conditions, the light on the bottom of the drone could allow the pilot to identify the orientation of the drone. In daylight, it's impossible to see once the drone is in the air.

The HS360E gimbal is extremely simple with only a 2-axis movement for changing the tilt of the camera, with smoothing of video provided by Electronic Image Stabilization. The tilt mechanism of the gimbal isn't the most refined — it's difficult to position it between -90 and 0 degrees and easiest to either set the camera to look forward or straight down.

The 2000 mAh Li-ion batteries are advertised to provide up to 30 minutes of flight. During testing, flight times were coming in at around 19 minutes before a low battery warning came on. This was in 50°F / 10°C temperatures, so during the summer, it's safe to assume that this would increase slightly but certainly not to 30 minutes. So, with only one battery in the kit, a second and possibly even a third would be a worthwhile investment.

The controller that comes with the HS360E is the most common controller with Holy Stone drones and it looks like it's heavily inspired by the DJI RC-N2 controller, but with a basic screen to show flight information. Build quality is lower than the DJI RC-N2, but it's not bad either and it's comfortable to hold and easy to operate, which is most important.

There's a telescopic phone holder at the top where the phone cable can be stored and the control sticks can be unscrewed from the gimbals and stowed in rubberized compartments at the bottom of the unit.

Where most of these controllers come in dark gray to match Holy Stone drones that are typically this darker tone, this version comes in light gray to match the HS360E. There are seven direct access controls to make operation more convenient.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Functionality

• Auto Return to Home
• Timelapse and slow-motion features
• Basic subject tracking

The HS360E uses the same Holy Stone app as the higher spec and more expensive Holy Stone HS600D; the features and functionality of the two drones are extremely similar, despite the HS360E being the more basic model of the two.

The HS360E does fly well and the flight controls are responsive, allowing for smooth operation of the drone to achieve a range of maneuvers, so no complaints here. It's not the fastest and most powerful drone, with a maximum wind resistance of just 12.3 mph, making it unsuited to windy conditions.

This is a GPS-enabled drone like most, if not all, consumer camera drones. This holds the drone in a hover so it doesn't get blown along in the wind. Although, there is both vertical and horizontal movement of the HS360E to the extent that it's best to keep a close eye on the drone when hovering at lower altitudes. With no collision avoidance, this drifting could result in a collision but is, of course, much less of an issue when flying at higher altitudes.

GPS also allows for GPS Follow Me, which uses the GPS signal from your smartphone to track you. This works reasonably well but it's far from the most sophisticated application of the feature. GPS also delivers Return to Home (RTH) functionality with Smart RTH to return the drone to the take-off point at the touch of a button. Return to Home also offers Failsafe RTH and Low Voltage RTH, which return the drone when the signal to the controller is lost or when the battery charge is low.

RTH is both a functional and safety feature that can be extremely useful in a range of situations, as the feature's application suggests. This, alongside the take-off and landing button on the controller, makes it safe and easy to get the drone up and into the air.

This button also initiates an emergency stop when depressed for two seconds, but this only works when the drone is below 16 ft. Then there's Optical Flow Positioning for indoor flights when a GPS signal is unavailable.

The HS360E also offers shooting modes including Panorama, Time-lapse and Slow Motion video. These are easy to use and certainly provide some creative options for beginner pilots. One point to make concerning panoramas is that these are saved to your smartphone, rather than the microSD card, and that they're captured at such low pixel dimensions that they're only suitable for web use.

Within the Multi-functions menu, there are automated flight patterns available, including Point of Interest, Catapult, One-key Ascension and Spiral Up. AI Subject Tracking is a feature where you draw over the desired subject in the HS Fly app and the HS360E camera follows the selected subject effectively. The drone remains in a hover, so you have to fly it to maintain tracking of moving subjects. Other options within the menu include VR capture, Gesture Selfie, Selfie Video and Camera Filter.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Performance

• Automatic camera control
• Photos in JPEG only
• Images are soft

Camera specs are thin on the ground, but we know that the camera has a 12MP sensor. This can capture photos in JPEG format in either 4000 x 3000px or 3840 x 2160px (4K) dimensions on the microSD card in the drone. Photos saved to your smartphone are in 4K dimensions. Video is captured at 4K 30FPS on the microSD card, while 720p 30FPS video is captured on your smartphone.

The camera itself is automatic, so you simply point and shoot to capture photos and videos. The only adjustments available are for white balance, contrast, saturation, sharpness and brightness, so there is some control available but it is limited. The exposure of the automatic camera is pretty good and if you find it's too light or too dark, it can be adjusted using the brightness control.

One issue with the camera only having a 2-axis gimbal for tilting the camera while relying on EIS to smooth video, is that the pitch of the drone is captured when you first fly forwards or backwards. Any movement of the drone is captured in videos with the EIS removing only vibration. This produces an FPV look in videos. To combat this to a degree, flying slowly and smoothly does reduce the pitch and roll of the drone, so it's less prominent in videos.

For photos, the roll of the drone into the wind when hovering can result in the horizon being captured at a 45-degree angle. Image quality from the automatic camera is on the soft side and JPEG processing is visible in photos. Video quality is better, as is often the case with drones, and videos shot in brighter conditions typically look best. This does mean that it's not the best drone at this price point for camera functionality.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Cost

The Holy Stone HS360E costs $249 / £269. This is a good price for a beginner drone in the sub-250 g category but the HS360E faces some stiff competition from several manufacturers.

The HS360E comes in a kit that includes the drone, a controller, one battery, a charging hub, phone connection cables, a USB-C cable for battery and controller charging, a spare set of propellers and a shell case with a shoulder strap to carry everything. The case offers two cutouts for batteries but I think it would be worth purchasing a second battery to increase flight times.

Should you buy the Holy Stone HS360E?

The HS360E is a basic drone with a point-and-shoot camera that relies on Electronic Image Stabilization to smooth video, which produces a more FPV style of video capture. It does fly well and features available include time-lapse, slow-motion video, panorama and GPS subject tracking, so you do have creative options available.

Build quality is good and the HS360E is undoubtedly easy to set up and use. The size and weight of the drone are also ideal for beginners. However, if you'd prefer a drone with a more advanced camera and gimbal functionality, this isn't the drone for you.

If the Holy Stone HS360E isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 is the best Holy Stone drone available and is also a sub-250 g model. It offers excellent flight capabilities and a high-quality camera for capturing photos and videos.

The DJI Mini 4K is DJI's most basic sub-250 g drone that's capable of capturing 4K video and Raw photos. It flies incredibly well and benefits from DJI build quality and overall performance.

The DJI Flip is a selfie drone with camera drone functionality. This means it can track you intelligently or you can fly it yourself to capture aerial photos and videos. Plus, it features built-in propeller guards.

Whether or not you believe that bigger equals better, the HoverAir X1 PROMAX is the highest-resolution selfie drone available that also beats most camera drones. With up to 8K video capture, 10-bit HLG, up to 4K slow motion video capture and 48MP JPEGs, this small and highly portable selfie drone punches well above its weight in terms of image capture. The PROMAX could be one of the best camera drones.

Selfie and even vlogging drones like the DJI Flip are growing in popularity. These drones feature built-in propeller guards to keep you safe while the drone autonomously tracks you using clever algorithms that work like magic. The first drone of this type was the HoverAir X1 which has subsequently led to the more advanced HoverAir X1 PRO and the HoverAir X1 PROMAX.

The higher-end HoverAir X1 PROMAX is aimed at professional content creation which is why it features a 1/1.3in CMOS sensor and a 16mm equivalent lens alongside the high-resolution image capture capabilities. Whether you’re walking, running, cycling or skiing, for example, the PROMAX’s autonomous intelligent flight modes will track you with impressive precision.

There’s also a range of optional accessories that can improve and enhance the performance of the drone. These include physical controller options that offer alternatives to the excellent app control for manual flight. The PROMAX can be operated drone-only for the intelligent flight modes, with the app for flight modes and manual flight, with the Beacon and with the controller, with the latter being comprised of the Beacon and joysticks.

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HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Design

• Compact and lightweight folding design
• Built-in propeller guards
• Multiple control options

The X1 PROMAX is a compact and lightweight folding drone with built-in propeller guards that fold out from below the small airframe. These keep objects and people safe when the drone is flying autonomously, since the propellers are encased in a protective frame. This feature also allows for safe palm take-off and landing.

The drone is small enough to fit in a jacket pocket at 4.13 x 5.86 x 1.34 in / 105 x 149 x 34 mm when folded. Unfolded, it’s still pretty small at just 6.81 x 5.86 x 1.53 in / 173 x 149 x 39 mm, with a weight of 6.79 oz / 192.5 g. This means that US-based pilots flying the drone recreationally won’t need to register it with the FAA. UK-based pilots will still need to register with the CAA as an operator.

The design is simple with a single circular button and two directional buttons around this in a circular design. There’s also an OLED screen above to show the currently selected flight mode and this is most useful when flying the drone autonomously without any other control device connected. The battery slots neatly into the top of the airframe.

The batteries are small and lightweight with a 1920mAh capacity, and battery life is extremely close to the advertised 16 minutes of flight time. This may not sound long, but for a drone that’s primarily designed for subject tracking, which typically takes place in short bursts of a minute or two at a time, this is perfectly adequate. Although, higher capacity batteries would still be useful.

The PROMAX can be flown ‘drone only’ and with the Hover X1 app. The app is required for setting up the drone, to set the parameters of the intelligent flight modes and to adjust settings, alongside offering excellent virtual controls for manual flight, like a camera drone. Several other controller options are built around the Beacon, which is an optional accessory.

In isolation, the Beacon improves tracking capabilities and offers some crude physical flight controls. This can be paired with one of the Joysticks for a one-handed motion controller. Other options include pairing the Beacon with both Joysticks to provide a camera view on its small screen, or with your smartphone acting as the screen when attached to the Beacon and Joysticks. All of these options work well for smooth flight. There’s also voice control available if that's your thing, but it's not really necessary since other options are so easy to use.

The drone features 64GB of onboard storage alongside a microSD card slot that's compatible with cards of up to 1TB capacity. If you’re capturing video in 8K, it would be worth installing a microSD to extend storage to be sure that you don’t run out because file sizes are large.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Functionality

• Highly effective subject-tracking
• Palm take-off and landing
• OmniTerrain feature

The PROMAX is incredibly easy to set up and fly using the intelligent flight modes for autonomous flight, or for traditional manual flight using any of the controller options. To get flying, all you have to do is unfold the drone, switch it on, select the flight mode using the arrow keys then press the main button with the drone camera facing you. To land, simply place your open palm beneath the drone and it will land. For manual control, simply open and connect to the Hover X1 smartphone app or connect the Beacon and Joysticks.

The manual flight interface in the app offers excellent virtual on-screen controls. They’re so good that you can perform smooth and complex maneuvers, alongside moving the gimbal with the on-screen control to adjust the pitch. These are all less effective than physical controllers, as you’d expect, but they are fantastic for quick and easy flights with a transmission range of up to 1640 ft / 500 m. The transmission range is extended up to 0.62 miles / 1 km with the Beacon and Joysticks.

The drone is fast and nimble despite its small size. Although, to get the fastest flight speeds in manual flight mode, you have to adjust the settings since the defaults are fairly slow. Flight speed is up to 26 mph with bursts of up to 37 mph when tracking, so during testing the drone was always able to keep up when cycling. The wind resistance of the PROMAX is Level 5, which equates to 24 mph. In gusts around the level, however, the drone did return to home with a high wind warning, so this level appears to be slightly optimistic.

The intelligent flight modes are the feature that seems to work almost like magic. This is highly effective on its own, but you can increase tracking precision using the Beacon accessory. The intelligent flight modes available include Hover, Zoom Out, Follow, Orbit, Bird's Eye, Dolly Track Side Track, Ski Mode, Cycling Mode, Indoor Follow and 360° Spin — there are many to choose from. They all perform incredibly well and the PROMAX was able to successfully fly in complex environments thanks to rear-side collision detection provided by proximity sensors and vision-based sensors.

Other features include Return to Home functionality and OmniTerrain, which when active means the PROMAX can be safely flown over water, snow, cliffs and at night. You just have to be sure that the OmniTerrain icon is highlighted green and active in the Hover X1 app or on the Beacon screen before flying in these environments.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Performance

• Excellent video quality
• Photos in JPEG only
• Effective stabilization

The X1 PROMAX camera features a 1/1.3in CMOS sensor with an equivalent focal length of 16mm and a 107-degree field of view. This provides a great wide-angle view where the subject and their environment can be captured. Although, you can set the tracking distance in the Hover X1 app, and with the propeller guards, it is safe to fly close to subjects for tighter shots.

The video quality produced by the X1 PROMAX, like the majority of drones, is better than photos, while both are most effective when captured in brighter conditions. This isn’t a huge issue because this is a drone that’s designed primarily for subject tracking and that is where it excels.

Photo image quality is good, but not as good as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, for example. It’s also much better at lower ISO levels since high ISO noise reduction and JPEG processing are stronger at higher settings. The camera only captures photos in JPEG with noticeable processing even at ISO 100. ZeroZero Robotics has said that Raw photo capture is on the way with a future firmware update, and this should hopefully improve photo quality and open up flexibility for photographers.

Photos can be captured in 4000 x 3000 px dimensions, which equates to 12MP, or 8000 x 6000 px which is 48MP. There's also a 2x zoom that captures these dimensions, and image quality only reduces by a small amount, which is impressive since digital zooms usually degrade image quality significantly.

Please note the footage below was shot in 8K but our video player only plays in HD.

Moving back to video, this can be captured at 8K up to 30 FPS, 4K up to 120 FPS, 10-bit HLG (HDR) up to 60 FPS and FHD up to 120 FPS. The maximum bitrate is 160 Mbps. You can also capture vertical video in 4K up to 30 FPS, 2.7K up to 60 FPS and 1080p up to 60 FPS, which includes 10-bit HLG. This is cropped on the sensor rather than the camera rotating 90 degrees, but 4K vertical using this method is an impressive and useful feature.

Image Stabilization is provided by SmoothCapture 2.0, which is a combination of the two-axis gimbal and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). It works as well as you’d hope with videos looking smooth regardless of the speed and movements of the drone.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Price

The HoverAir X1 PROMAX is available in a Standard kit, which includes the drone, one battery, a USB-C cable and a soft storage bag for $699 / £639. The Basic Combo kit includes all of the above plus a second battery, a two-battery charging hub, a 65W charger and a combo case for $879 / £799. This Basic Combo kit will make sense for many people because of the useful accessories that are included.

The drone itself is part of a wider accessory ecosystem where you can buy further kits that include certain accessories or you can purchase them separately to enhance the performance of the drone. Accessories include the Beacon and Joystick bundle for $228 / £208, The PowerCase for $169 / £155, the Multi-function Carry Bag for $79 / £69, the HandleBar Mount for $20 / £19 and the ND Filter set for $69 / £65.

Should you buy the HoverAir X1 PROMAX?

The HoverAir X1 PROMAX is an impressive selfie drone offering excellent intelligent tracking modes, camera drone functionality and up to 8K video and 48MP photo capture. It’s also lightweight and compact, which is ideal for a drone designed to be carried around and deployed in a matter of seconds.

The drone does exactly what it’s designed for and does it well, but for many people, the cost of the PROMAX will make it difficult to justify. In this situation, the X1 PRO may be an appealing alternative. However, pair the PROMAX with the accessories and you get an interesting and versatile drone with high-resolution image capture.

If this drone isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 is the older and more basic selfie drone from ZeroZero Robotics, but it offers the same intelligent tracking modes and is the most affordable of the X1 models available.

The DJI Neo is a multi-use selfie drone with several control options including drone only, app control, a standard DJI controller and it can even be flown as an FPV drone using DJI FPV accessories.

The HoverAir X1 PRO is extremely similar to the PROMAX but video tops out at 4K. For many people, this will be sufficient, and it’s also much less expensive making it a more affordable option.

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Beginner drones come in many shapes, sizes and styles these days, making the list of the best beginner drones more varied than ever. The Bwine F7GIM is a pretty run-of-the-mill beginner model that’s easy to use and offers a fully automatic camera for capturing photos and videos. It’s nothing special, but that’s certainly not a bad thing.

The Bwine F7GIM is something of an oddball in terms of weight because at 12.6 oz / 357 g it will require registration with the FAA in the U.S, even for recreational use. The focal length of the camera is 60 mm, which means you can capture subjects from further away, which works well given the weight. Put simply, you don’t have to fly as close as with a 24 mm equivalent camera.

Image quality is respectable, and you can capture photos in JPEG format up to 5700 x 3200 px, which equates to 18MP. Video can be captured up to 4K 30 FPS, while reducing the capture resolution to 2.7K and 2K allows for 50 FPS capture. This is all pretty standard for a basic drone like this, which also offers a handful of useful features we’ll cover later.

The drone is perfectly adequate in most ways, but it is on the expensive side considering the other drones are available for a similar price. These include the DJI Neo and the Potensic Atom 2, both of which are superior drones. However, the F7GIM could still be exactly what you’re looking for, and it does excel in one or two areas, including wind resistance.

Potensic Atom 2 review

Bwine F7GIM review: Design

• Pleasant gray and orange color scheme
• Lightweight but over 250 g
• Folding design

This is a compact folding drone that’s just 6.50 x 3.54 x 2.56 in / 165 x 90 x 65 mm when folded and 14.17 x 11.02 x 2.56 in / 360 x280 x 65 mm when unfolded. Looking at it, you could easily mistake the F7GIM for being a sub-250 g model, but it sneaks in at a weight of 12.6 oz / 357 g. As previously mentioned, this means it has to be registered with the FAA in the United States. The drone does feature Remote ID, making it FAA-compliant.

The weight of the F7GIM certainly isn’t the end of the world, but it is something to consider if you’re only looking for a drone for recreational flight. Many beginners opt for sun-250 g models precisely because of not having to register. Not to mention, they’re also smaller and lighter to carry around.

Getting back to the design, the drone comes in a dark grey with orange accents on the propellers, which does look good. Build quality can’t be faulted, while the camera and 3-axis gimbal are well-made.

There’s also an optical flow sensor on the bottom of the airframe for detecting the ground during low-level flying and to assist with landing. As you’d expect, there’s no collision avoidance.

The controller is of a reasonable quality and is quite chunky and comfortable to hold thanks to rubberized grips. It features a small screen that shows basic information, but it’s not bright, so it can be difficult to view in sunny conditions.

The controller offers a range of direct access controls, and the control sticks can be stowed at the bottom of the controller for transportation and storage. The phone holder extends from the top of the controller with space to store the phone cable when not in use.

Bwine F7GIM review: Functionality

• Level 5 wind resistance
• Smart Return to Home
• Basic subject tracking

The F7GIM comes with a level 5 wind resistance rating, which equates to wind speeds of up to 24 mph. The drone was tested in winds of this speed and it had no issues whatsoever, although this is the same wind resistance level as many lighter sub-250 g models. With the weight increase, a power increase would be welcome, but it’s unfortunately absent.

Flying in winds of around 25 mph provided flight times of around 22 minutes, as opposed to the advertised 35 minutes, but it’s safe to assume that less windy conditions would provide longer flights. This would most likely be just a few additional minutes rather than the full advertised 35 minutes per battery, which is optimistic at best.

The F7GIM features GPS and Return to Home (RTH) functionality, and you can set the RTH altitude within the Bwine Mini app. By default, this is set to the minimum of 20 m, so be aware of your surroundings when making your first flight and adjust accordingly.

Return to Home can be initiated by the pilot when the battery is low and when the controller connection is lost. Smart RTH allows you to also control the drone during the return process to avoid obstacles.

There are a few basic subject tracking functions available, but during testing these weren’t the best examples I’ve experienced. The GPS follow was the most reliable since it tracks the controller, but the subject doesn’t always remain in the centre of the camera frame. Orbit, where the drone orbits the subject, was unreliable and haphazard.

Despite these features lacking in performance, overall flight performance is great and can’t be faulted. The controller allows for precise movements, and the gimbal is smooth when incorporating gimbal movements with flight to capture interesting video footage. This is always a good test of drone gimbals, and the F7GIM passed with flying colors.

Within the main feature menu, there are also quite a few other options, including Route Planning, VR Split Screen, Digital Zoom, Night Mode to increase brightness in the app camera view and several other options.

The Bwine Mini app is basic and easy to use, which is ideal for beginners. One point to mention is that by default, the drone is set to Beginner Mode, which limits altitude and flight distance, so you’ll have to manually switch this off to increase both of these.

Bwine F7GIM review: Performance

• Fixed focus 60mm lens and 3-axis gimbal
• Up to 4K 30 FPS video
• Automatic camera

The F7GIM camera features a 1/3.2 in Sony sensor with a 60mm equivalent focal length and an f/2.0 aperture. This is a long focal length for a single-camera drone, but it seems to work. The camera is supported by a 3-axis gimbal, resulting in smooth video capture.

The important point to make here is that the camera is fully automatic with fixed focus, so you have no control over any settings. This is perhaps ideal for photography beginners, but less so for enthusiasts.

Image quality is surprisingly good despite the fully automatic camera, although it does have a depth-of-field issue. Objects closer to the camera are lovely and sharp, but those in the distance do fall out of focus.

The centre of the frame is also characteristically sharper than the outer area, which is normal for most drones, and since the camera is automatic, it’s best to shoot with the sun behind the drone for more reliable exposures. With no control over exposure compensation, shooting towards the sun results in underexposure.

Bwine F7GIM video

The only variables that can be changed are the resolution and frame rate of video, while the resolution of photos can be adjusted to three different amounts. Photo sizes are in a 16:9 ratio and are captured in JPEG format. The resolutions available include 3840 x 2160 px, 4096 x 3072 px and 5700 x 3200 px.

Video can be captured in 4K 30 FPS, 2.7K 50/30 FPS, 2K 50 FPS and 720p 30 FPS. 720p is stored on your phone, alongside photos, so you have to keep an eye on how much storage it’s using over time. It’s a shame this can’t be switched off if desired. Other footage and photos are stored on the microSD card in the drone, and the F7GIM can accept 16 to 128GB cards. Video quality is, as is often the case with drones, better than photo quality.

Bwine F7GIM review: Cost

The Bwine F7GIM is a respectable beginner drone, but where it ultimately falls is in its price of $400 / £296. This puts it in direct competition, price-wise, with the DJI Neo and the Potensic Atom 2, which are both more advanced drones with superior flight performance and features in general.

If the F7GIM was less expensive, it would be a much more attractive proposition, although it’s not a bad drone at all if you’re willing to pay that price. Like all tech, it depends on what you're looking for in terms of brand and features.

The drone comes in a kit which includes the drone, controller, two batteries, an extra set of propellers, an extra set of controller sticks, phone cables, USB-C cables for charging, a carry case and other accessories. This is everything you need to get started.

Should you buy the Bwine F7GIM?

This is a tricky one because the F7GIM is a good beginner drone. It flies well, image quality is good for a basic model of this type and the fully automatic camera makes it incredibly easy to capture photos and videos. What’s more, the kit comes with everything you need and more in terms of the accessories that are included.

The main issue is the price, which is too close to bigger-name and more advanced drone models. However, if price isn’t an issue for you, you won’t go wrong with the F7GIM. It may be the simplicity of the camera that attracts some people to it because it’s very much a point-and-shoot affair.

If the Bwine F7GIM isn't for you

The DJI Neo is a sub-250 g beginner drone that can be flown autonomously with impressive subject tracking functionality, with the DJI Fly app via your smartphone or using a traditional controller. The drone can capture 4K video and photos in JPEG format.

The Holy Stone HS900 Sirius is another sub-250 g beginner drone worth considering, thanks to excellent flight performance, impressive image quality and useful features. Video can be captured up to 4K and photos in Raw and JPEG.

The Potensic Atom 2 is the best DJI alternative available in a regulator-friendly sub-250 g package. This impressive drone is available at an attractive price and can capture 4K video and photos in Raw and JPEG.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Russia is targeting UK space infrastructure, and in particular military satellites, on a weekly basis, according to the head of UK Space Command.

In an interview with the BBC, Maj Gen Paul Tedman said that Russia was "shadowing" UK satellites. Shadowing involves orbiting and aligning a satellite close to the target satellite, in order to be near enough to jam communications or intercept signals to steal critical information.

Tedman said Russia's satellites had "payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them". He also confirmed that jamming of UK military satellites was taking place.

This involves broadcasting signals on the same frequencies as those used by satellites, in order to intentionally disrupt or overwhelm legitimate signals. It does not physically damage spacecraft, so as soon as the jamming signal is no longer being emitted, communications can be restored. The jamming of satellite signals can take place from the ground, ocean or air, as well as from space.

But what about other tactics that could be used to disrupt satellites? One thing not mentioned in relation to the attacks on British military satellites, is the use of lasers. These can be deployed to dazzle satellites' onboard optical sensors. This can interfere with electronic circuity but would not cause lasting physical damage.

The most serious type of attack of course would be the use of a direct-ascent missile, which can be launched from the ground, sea or air, to destroy an orbiting satellite. Previous tests of this kind of anti-satellite (Asat) weapon have generated worrying levels of orbiting debris. This debris can then collide with other satellites, potentially generating even more debris for other space-based assets to avoid.

On February 24, 2022, the day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, satellite broadband users across Europe got a taste of the kind of attacks that the military is now used to. A cyber-attack was launched against Viasat's Ka-Sat satellite network, which supplies internet access to tens of thousands of people across Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Experts said they believed the purpose of the attack was to interrupt service rather than to access data or systems.

A recent talk by German IT researchers also revealed how much damage hackers could potentially do if given unfettered access to a satellite's onboard systems. The experts said that attackers could exploit vulnerabilities in open source software used by NASA and Airbus to control satellites. This in turn could give the intruders access to the control functions on a satellite, allowing them to change its orbit by sending a command to fire its thrusters.

Attacks don't need to target the satellite directly. Targeting control stations on the ground can also disrupt operation of the satellites in orbit. This can also have consequences for end users of a satellite service.

Wider problem

It’s not just the UK's satellites that are being targeted, however. In September, the head of French space command Maj Gen Vincent Chusseau said there had been a spike in hostile activity in space. Chusseau said activity had increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He said that adversaries, especially Russia, have diversified methods of disrupting satellites and that jamming, lasers and cyber-attacks have become commonplace.

The same month, Brig Gen Christopher Horner, commander of 3 Canadian Space Division told a space security summit that there were more than 200 anti-satellite weapons orbiting Earth.

While he didn't provide details on their nature, he said it was a "shocking number" to threaten allied satellites.

Increased investment

It's possible to satellites by improving the encryption of data transmitted to them as well as with anti-jamming technology. This uses a variety of techniques to block out or nullify the signals used by jammers to interfere with satellite communications. It’s also important to ensure there are alternative providers for critical space services as a backup in case of attack.

In response to increasing threats to UK satellite infrastructure, the UK government has recently increased its investment in projects geared towards space security. The government has invested £500,000 in a project to develop sensors that counter lasers used to blind satellites. The UK has also recently developed Borealis, a software platform designed to monitor and protect critical UK and allied satellites.

As well as investing in its own projects, the UK has also sought to improve space-based security by strengthening international partnerships. For instance, the UK recently invested €163 million (£141 million) in Eutelsat, which provides satellite internet and is a rival to Elon Musk's Starlink system.

Starlink’s importance not only for consumers, but also for military applications has been demonstrated in the Ukraine war – where Ukrainian troops had come to rely heavily on it for battlefield communications. But the drawback to this dependency on a privately owned company such as Starlink was highlighted when Musk denied coverage to Kyiv in 2023.

The investment in Eutelsat not only strengthens space-based collaboration between the UK and France, but also boosts a company providing a backup system for satellite communications.

The US and UK also recently conducted their first coordinated satellite maneuver. The US repositioned one of its own satellites to examine a UK satellite to make sure it was operating normally. Such a maneuver could potentially be used following an attack designed to disable a spacecraft.

The reports of Russian meddling highlight the importance of security in orbit as global tensions continue to expand into space.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Potensic saw something of a renaissance with the launch of the Potensic Atom SE and then the Potensic Atom, which are both popular sub-250g folding drone models. The company moved away from larger drones to more compact and lightweight folding models and never looked back.

Building on this success and pushing features and functionality further, we now have the Potensic Atom 2, which is also a sub-250 g model and a compelling DJI alternative. The Atom 2 offers a useful range of effective features that help it to be one of the best beginner drones available. These features, alongside image quality, make it suitable for a wide range of pilots, so it's also arguably one of the best drones.

Drones are mainly used for their cameras, and the Atom 2 is a capable performer in this area, with image quality improvements over its predecessor alongside 4K video capture, RAW and JPEG photos and slow-motion video, to name but a few features.

Flight performance can't be faulted and the AI-driven subject tracking modes are highly effective, considering the competitive price of the drone. All in all, it's a drone well worth considering whether you're a beginner, an enthusiast or even a more advanced pilot. Let's take a more detailed look at what the Atom 2 has to offer.

Potensic Atom 2 drone review

Potensic Atom 2 review: Design

• Compact folding design
• Excellent build quality
• Unique controller

The Potensic Atom 2 follows what has become the standard build for sub-250 g drones with its light gray folding design. This takes the drone from 5.63 x 3.46 x 2.28-in / 143 x 88 x 58mm when folded to 8.3 x 5.98 x 2.28-in / 210 x 152 x 58mm unfolded, not including propellers.

The weight comes in at 9 oz / 249 g. Build quality is excellent and the new propellers do seem to be quieter as claimed. You can certainly hear the drone in flight, but the buzz of the propellers appears to be a lower tone.

There's nothing particularly exciting about the overall design — it's functional and does exactly what it's supposed to. There's a basic downward vision system but no collision avoidance. There's also a flashing green light on the rear of the drone, which may be bright enough for night flying. This is extremely useful considering the AI Night feature.

In terms of flight times, the batteries lasted around 22 minutes during testing before Return to Home was suggested by the drone at a 15% battery level. It's certainly not the advertised 32 minutes, but not bad at all for 2230 mAh capacity batteries.

The fast-charging hub that comes in the Fly More Combo does indeed provide a fast charge of three batteries at once and uses an adaptor for charging rather than USB, which may be the reason.

The controller has been upgraded and improved since the Atom and Atom SE but follows the same unique design where your smartphone sits in the centre between the comfortable handgrips. This presents itself more like a smart controller, and the weight distribution is much more comfortable than controllers where phones are top-mounted.

There are six direct access controls for accessing commonly used functions, including the gimbal tilt, which ranges between -90 and +20 degrees, so the camera can look up slightly, and also the digital zoom. Other controls available include switching the gimbal angle from 0 to -90 degrees, flight mode, a shutter button and a Return to Home button. Two buttons are customizable, alongside customizable control stick modes and sensitivity.

There's also an antenna that needs to be lifted before the phone is attached — the video transmission distance is 6.2 miles. During testing, there was occasionally some pixelation of the video feed, but it was minor and caused no issues. The build quality of the controller, like the drone, is excellent, and the overall design makes it a pleasure to use.

Potensic Atom 2 review: Functionality

• Fast and powerful
• Time-lapse and slow motion video
• AI subject tracking and Quickshots

Despite being a fairly inexpensive drone, the Atom 2 comes packed with some impressive and useful features. As previously mentioned, there's no collision avoidance, but there is Return to Home and the GPS enables a steady hover with no perceptible drift during test flights.

Flight modes include Video, Normal and Sport, with Sport mode offering a top speed of 35.8 mph, which is fast for a drone of this size and weight. Wind resistance is Level 5, which equates to a wind speed of 23.6 mph and is fantastic because it means you can safely and confidently fly in a wider range of conditions.

The controls and flight performance are excellent, making it possible to perform smooth maneuvers when capturing video. The gimbal tilt is also smooth, so there's a lot of potential available when capturing video. US-based pilots will be happy to know that the Atom 2 includes a built-in Remote ID to remain in line with FAA requirements.

Many pilots prefer manual flight, but if you like to use automated flight patterns, there are AI Quickshots which include Pull-Away, Spiral, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang and Dolly Zoom. All of these perform well and Dolly Zoom produces a good result that utilizes the digital zoom, alongside flying backwards, to create the effect. Quickshots can be applied to a human subject or object by drawing around the desired subject on the phone screen using the Potensic Eve app.

Within the same on-screen controls for Quickshots are also AI Track options for subject tracking, which include AI Spotlight, AI Follow and AI Parallel. Again, these all work well and make tracking static and moving subjects while capturing video incredibly easy.

Other features pilots will find useful are the Interval Timer for time-lapse capture and Cruise Control. The latter keeps the drone locked, flying at a set speed and direction without having to push the control sticks once initiated.

Another useful feature is Dynamic Home Point, which returns the drone to the controller location rather than the take-off point when Return to Home is initiated. This means that you can walk around while flying, if necessary, safe in the knowledge that the Atom 2 will return to your current location rather than the take-off point.

Potensic Atom 2 review: Performance

• Fixed focus 26mm f/1.8 lens
• 4K and slow-motion video
• Photos in RAW and JPEG

The drone features a 12/48MP Sony 1/2 in CMOS sensor with 4-in-1 pixels, which is claimed to reduce noise and enhance low-light performance. There's also the ability to switch between 12MP and 48MP photo capture. The caveat of the 48MP/8K photo capture is that it's only available in JPEG format and not in RAW.

Hopefully, this will be rectified in a future firmware update when other functionality, including log video and an additional panorama, is added. Camera control is available in Auto and Manual, which is great. However, there's no histogram to aid with exposure, which would also be great to see in a firmware update.

The camera provides a 26 mm equivalent focal length with fixed focus from 4 m to infinity, while the aperture is fixed at f/1.8. Sharpness is best in the centre of the frame when shooting photos, with a fall-off in sharpness towards the edges, which is typical of most consumer drones. There's also a noticeable vignette in photos and white balance can be inconsistent, but it can be easily fixed when shooting RAW.

JPEG processing is on the heavy side and sharpening is strong, so capturing photos in Raw is the best option. Vertical shooting is also available at 1520 x 2704 pixels, which is a 9:16 ratio for social media, and these shots are captured in JPEG only. Video quality is much more consistent, with none of the aforementioned issues. Most consumer drones produce better video quality than photo quality.

Video can be captured at 4K 24/25/30FPS, 2.7K 24/25/30FPS, FHD 24/25/30FPS and Slow motion FHD at 2/3/4/5x with a maximum bitrate of 80 Mbps. There is a Defog mode for shooting in hazy conditions and an AI Night mode for capturing video at night. The latter reveals more shadow detail but image quality in these lightened areas isn't great.

Video color modes currently include Normal and HDR, but the Atom 2 will be capable of capturing flat log footage, P-Log, with a future firmware update. Log footage is a flat color profile that captures a greater dynamic range than standard profiles. It must be color graded/processed and it allows for more advanced and professional video capture.

A digital zoom is available at 4K up to 2x, 2.7K up to 3x and FHD up to 4x. Photos can be zoomed in up to 2x. Image quality naturally reduces but the feature can be useful for capturing distant subjects or maintaining a safer shooting distance. The digital zoom also allows for Dolly Zoom. Additional photo features include Bracketing of 3/5 frames and Burst Shooting of up to 7 frames.

Panorama capture is available with Wide Angle, 180-degree and Vertical. Sphere will be delivered in a future firmware update. Panoramas are stitched in-camera and saved as JPEGs alongside the constituent images. If you'd like to capture panoramas in RAW, you'll have to capture them manually.

Potensic Atom 2 review: Cost

The Potensic Atom 2 is available in two kits, with the Fly More Combo offering the best value for money because of the additional accessories on offer for not a lot more money. The Atom 2 Standard Kit includes the drone, controller, one battery, two sets of spare propellers, phone cables and other accessories for $330 / £300.

The Atom 2 Fly More Combo includes all of the above plus two additional batteries, a fast-charging hub, a shoulder bag and another two sets of spare propellers for $430 / £400. For the extra $100 / £100, this option makes sense because of the useful additional accessories alongside longer flight times thanks to the extra batteries.

The charging hub and two batteries bought as an additional set are more expensive than the additional cost of the Fly More Combo.

Should you buy the Potensic Atom 2?

The Potensic Atom 2 offers a similar level of performance, features, functionality and image quality as mid-range sub-250 g drones such as the DJI Mini 3. In some areas, the Atom 2 even exceeds these drones.

Once the P-Log color profile is delivered in a firmware update, the drone will occupy an interesting space between the mid-range and professional-level drones within the category.

For the price, the Atom 2 is a highly attractive drone that will suit the needs of many pilots, from beginners to advanced enthusiasts. It could be used professionally, but there are more advanced sub-250 g models available that may better suit the needs of professional pilots.

If the Potensic Atom 2 isn't for you

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the most advanced sub-250 g drone available, which, alongside producing excellent image quality in photos and videos, also offers advanced collision avoidance.

The Potensic Atom may be the older model but it's still available to buy and, with the launch of the Atom 2, the original Atom is available for a lower price if you're on a budget.

The DJI Mini 4K is an inexpensive drone capable of capturing 4K video and the image quality is impressive considering the price of the drone. The features are basic, but it flies well.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

An increasing number of drones have been spotted around Denmark's airports in recent weeks. The most recent incidents around Aalborg and Billund airport caused considerable disruption followed as scheduled flights were prevented from landing or taking off.

These incidents follow several others, including at Copenhagen Airport. This is similar to the disruption that was experienced around London Gatwick airport in 2023, again causing widespread disruption.

In addition to drones being spotted around civilian airports, there have also been sightings around military airbases where the Danish F-16 and F-35 combat aircraft are based.

A civilian drone flights have been banned for a week in advance of a European Union summit in Copenhagen on October 1.

Given the widespread disruption that has been caused, questions are now being raised about what can be done to either suppress or destroy drones and prevent future attacks. There is also a risk to civilian aircraft from mid-air collisions with the drones and the potential for civilian deaths and injuries.

The Danish government has claimed that these most recent drone flights have been conducted by someone trying to spread fear among the Danish population. There have also been claims that they are part of wider Russian hybrid operations, which aims to disrupt Danish defense.

Suspicions of increased Russian activity has been fostered by an increasing number of incursions by drones into several other nations' airspace This is something that has been strenuously denied by the Kremlin.

Lasers, bullets and missiles

Ukrainian forces have used fishing nets to try to catch Russian drones deployed against their positions. Some drones have even been engineered to fire nets in a bid to snag other drones.

Another way of reducing or removing this relatively new threat is to directly shoot down the drones that are around the airspace of airports and airbases. This could potentially be done with combat aircraft, but also with high-powered lasers. But this is not as straightforward as it sounds.

One of the biggest challenges in taking this action is that it usually requires new legislation to be passed by national parliaments. Even with emergency legislation this can take time, meaning that it is not the immediate response to the threat that is clearly necessary. Similar legislation to that being considered by the Danish parliament was passed in the UK in 2018.

But once legislation has been passed the challenges do not end. Given the relatively small size of the drones causing the disruption, they can often be very difficult to target through traditional military means. Even if drones can be targeted, an additional risk is then posed – when a drone is shot out of the sky, there is little control over its trajectory as it falls to earth.

Once destroyed, it could easily land on airport infrastructure, on civilian property or in a worst-case scenario on people, causing injury or death.

Decisions whether to target drones causing this disruption must therefore be taken after a great deal of thought and consideration. But other methods are available and new technologies are being developed that may provide more effective solutions in the future.

Jamming technology

Instead of using so-called kinetic methods to physically destroy drones that are posing this problem, the use of jamming technology could be used to disrupt the communications link between the drone and the operator. As with kinetic attack, this response poses the challenge of what happens to the drone itself once the signal has been jammed and it falls out of the sky.

There are, however, several advantages to this approach. The first and most important advantage is that jamming can work for relatively long distances. This, disincentivizes further attacks as, in theory at least, any drone being flown cannot get within sufficient range to cause the level of disruption that has been seen in Denmark.

In addition to this, the lack of physical destruction from kinetic engagement means that, in theory at least, the drone can be recovered and information about its operation and whether it is a civilian or military asset can be discovered.

But using jamming technology to prevent drones from flying around civilian airports and military airbases has its own drawbacks. Jamming technology, as it is currently exists, cannot be targeted against individual aircraft. This means that any other aircraft within the vicinity of the airport or airbase where jamming technology is being used is also vulnerable to disruption. Due to this, closure of airspace would still be required to remove the threat of the drone, but this should be for a vastly reduced amount of time than is currently required.

There are, however, potential future technologies that might be incorporated into the defense of civilian airports and military airspaces. One such technology is currently being developed by the Royal Navy and has been named DragonFire. This uses the power of a long-range laser to physically destroy a drone in the sky from distances of up to three miles.

A further technology that is being developed by the British army, is jamming technology that can be directed on to targets with greater precision than is currently available outside of the British military.

These new technologies will take time to be widely used in civilian applications. So the sort of disruption we've been seeing lately will probably continue in the near future.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The DJI Mini 4K is one of the best beginner drones on the market and it's 20% off for Prime Day in October, so today is your last chance to save big on something that was already good value for money.

Save 20% on the DJI Mini 4K when you grab it from Amazon on the last day of Prime Day in October.

We also believe that the DJI Mini 4K is one of the best drones you can get overall, as we gave it a five-star review when we got our hands on it. We love that it features a high-quality camera capable of shooting video in 4K at up to 30 FPS, as well as useful features and modes. It's well-made and competitively priced, especially for a DJI model. If you want to check out more top deals this October Prime Day, you should scroll through our Prime Day deals hub.

• We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

So what makes the DJI Mini 4K a five-star drone? Firstly, it has a good camera. It can shoot video in 4K and take images with 48MP resolution. It has handy features like Return to Home, GPS and automated flight paths. It has considerable video transmission (over 6 miles, or 10km) and over 20 minutes of flight time before the Return to Home feature will kick in. Crucially, it weighs under 250g, meaning you don't have to worry about drone regulations and a foldable design makes it easy to transport to different locations. It's well made and now it's 20% off for October Prime Day.

Today is the last day of October Prime Day, so if you like this deal, you'll have to hurry. Of course, this isn't the only deal available and if you want to check out other offers, you should take a look at our deals hub. This is a great chance to get ready for the holidays and beat the rush of Black Friday, too, so you don't have to risk stock issues and price changes.

Key features: 4K video up to 30FPS, 48MP resolution images, Return to Home, GPS, automated flight path features, 20-plus minutes flight time battery life, foldable design, sub-250g weight and over 6-mile video transmission range.

Price history: We don't often see this drone's price as low as this. Sometimes it's on offer but still retailing for over $250, which makes today's deal good value.

Price comparison: Amazon: $239 | Best Buy: $499 | Adorama: $397

Reviews consensus: The DJI Mini 4K offers excellent camera quality and overall performance, especially given its price. While there are more premium models available, we feel it's particularly great value at this price point and one of the best cub-250g drones available.

Space: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones, best beginner drones

✅ Buy it if: You want top value for money in a beginner drone or you're looking for something with genuine quality that's lightweight and easy to transport around.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want the very best of the best on the market, and you're willing to pay for it, in which case we would recommend the DJI Mavic 4 Pro.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

We rate the Potensic Atom 2 as one of the best beginner drones on the market, and you can now save 17% on a useful bundle, which is now the lowest price we've seen.

Save 17% on the Potensic Atom 2 Fly More Combo bundle when you grab it on Amazon.

The bundle is useful as it comes with a controller with a screen to aid flying, a fast charging hub to support three batteries and a carry case, for easier transportation. In a yet-to-be-released review of the Potensic Atom 2, we found it's excellently built, is packed full of useful features and it has a decent camera. We'll get into all the details below, but if you want more top drone content, we recommend looking at our best drones, best FPV drones and best DJI drones guides.

• We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

There's a lot to like about the Potensic Atom 2 and not just the now-lowered price. Firstly, it weighs just 249g, which means you don't have to register it with any authorities to fly. We also like the features it has, like Automatic take off and landing, Return to Home and Subject tracking, which are all useful features to help flyers achieve the results they want, while aiding them in flight, allowing for a fun experience, especially for those without much prior flight time.

Its camera is a big plus for flyers too. It can take images with a 48MP sensor in up to 8K resolution and it can also capture video in 4K. The video transmission has a range of 6.2 miles, or approximately 10km. It's important to note that while the camera can capture in both RAW and JPEG, it will only capture 8K stills in JPEG format.

The bundle itself includes a fast charging hub, which can support three batteries, which are included, which will allow for a total of 96 minutes of flight time. You also get a controller with a screen and a helpful interface, along with a carry case, for safe transportation. At $399.99, this is the lowest price we've seenfor this combo for this drone.

Key features: Sub 250g, three batteries and fast charging hub, 4K videos and up to 8K photos, content captured in RAW and JPEG format, Return to Home, Auto take off and landing features, 10km/6.2 miles video transmission, excellent build quality

Product launched: April 2025

Price history: Before today's deal, we would see this bundle retail for between $450 and $480. Although the latter is steep when compared to market value, it shows that today's deal is genuinely good value.

Price comparison: Amazon: $399.99 | Walmart: $514.62 | Adorama: $479.99

Reviews consensus: For its price, the Potensic Atom 2 is good value and fares well against its direct competition while exceeding its competitors in some areas. It's a well-made drone with useful features and a decent camera, a solid choice for beginners and those wanting a sub-250g drone.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best beginner drones

✅ Buy it if: You want a sub 250-g drone with a good camera and is excellently made, something that competes with the best on the market in its area.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a drone with more firepower and a better camera, in which case you may need to look at options that weigh more than 250g and look at DJI models.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Many of the smaller drone manufacturers are improving the camera functionality of their beginner models to include 4K video and higher resolution photo capture. The Veeniix V11PRO follows this trend to deliver a beginner drone that can capture video in up to 4K at 30 FPS and 48MP/8K photos in JPEG format.

Beginner drones are typically sub-250g models these days, but some manufacturers continue to produce larger and more powerful models within this popular category. The Veeniix V11PRO is extremely similar to the Holy Stone HS600D, and both are perhaps two of the best beginner drones because they provide something different despite being far from perfect.

The V11PRO comes in a complete kit that includes two batteries to extend flight times. All you need is a smartphone, a microSD card for the drone and the Veeniix Fly app to get up and into the air. US pilots will also need to register the drone with the FAA because of its 21oz/600g weight, but this is a simple process.

The drone flies well and provides a range of useful features and flight modes. Image quality isn't great overall, and there are similarly priced beginner drones with better cameras available, although these are typically sub-250g models. For a drone of a comparable size, weight and power to the V11PRO alongside a better camera, you'd have to pay double or more.

• Back to top

Veeniix V11PRO: Design

• Folding design
• Mid-range weight
• Controller with info screen

The Veeniix V11PRO features a simple folding design, where the propeller arms fold out horizontally for flight and the two legs on the front propeller arms fold down. This raises the front of the drone to keep the camera and gimbal off the ground. When folded, the large propellers sit parallel to the airframe.

This is a medium-sized drone that's 7.95 x 4.21 x 3.27-in / 202 x 107 x 83 mm when folded and 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.27-in/350 x 350 x 83mm when unfolded. It's also reasonably hefty, weighing in at 21 oz / 600 g, but with the larger size and powerful motors comes greater power than smaller sub-250 g models.

The V11PRO is made of blue and purple plastic, so it breaks away from the traditional gray or black of most drones. This is purely aesthetic and has no bearing on performance or even visibility in the sky. Build quality is good, but the V11PRO doesn't have the same quality feel in the hand as some other drone models from other manufacturers.

Battery life from the 3500 mAh Li-ion batteries is claimed to provide up to 40 minutes of flight time, but during testing in UK winter temperatures around 32°F/0°C, flight times were much lower at around 25 minutes. During warmer months, these times would likely increase, but we'd be surprised if they are indeed as long as 40 minutes per battery.

The V11PRO controller is identical to the Holy Stone HS600D controller, and both appear to be modelled on the DJI RC-N2. The main differences are that the build quality is lower and there's a basic information screen to show flight information. There's a telescopic phone holder at the top where the phone cable can be stored, while the control sticks can be removed and stowed in rubberized compartments at the bottom of the controller.

There are seven direct access controls to make operation more convenient by providing quick access to commonly used settings and features. The controller and drone take around 30 seconds to pair and the signal that pairing is complete is that the controller ceases beeping. Also, with each flight after the drone has been switched on, you'll be prompted to calibrate the compass but this is a quick and easy process.

Veeniix V11PRO: Functionality

• Basic subject tracking
• Return to Home
• Vertical shooting is poor

In terms of features, the V11PRO is pretty basic but it does include some useful functionality that pilots can enjoy. Like most drones, the V11PRO is GPS-enabled to hold it in a hover and to make flying easier as a result of not drifting. This also allows for useful features, including Return to Home, GPS Follow and Waypoints. There's also a built-in Remote ID for compliance with FAA rules in the US.

Return to Home can be manually initiated by the pilot and will also be enabled automatically when the signal to the controller is lost and when the battery charge is low. This is great from a safety point of view because there are times when all three types of Return to Home will be required. But with no collision avoidance, you have to take care when this feature is in action because the V11PRO can't detect potential obstacles.

GPS Follow uses the GPS signal from your smartphone to track you, while Image Follow requires you to select a subject for tracking. Both work adequately, but they're not the most refined application of this type of feature. Other options within the feature menu include Interest Point (orbit), Music (for adding music from the Veeniix Fly app), VR (for split-screen recording), Gesture Control, Filter, Zoom and Switch.

Switch is for vertical shooting of photos and videos, but it's not a usable feature in reality, despite how useful it may sound. Vertical shooting behaves strangely because landscape format photos and videos are saved to the microSD card in the drone, while 720x540px video and square photos are saved to your smartphone. The camera also features a 5x digital zoom, but this is best avoided due to the loss of image quality.

Other safety features include a TOF sensor, an ultrasonic module and night navigation lights on the bottom of the drone. The TOF sensor detects the altitude of the drone during low-level flights, aids during landing and assists with positioning when a GPS signal is unavailable. The downward-facing night lights are turned on manually by pressing the shutter button on the controller for three seconds.

Veeniix V11PRO: Performance

• Up to 4K 30 FPS video
• Basic camera control
• 3-axis gimbal

The V11PRO camera houses a 48MP Sony 1/2 in. Sony CMOS sensor and a fixed f/1.8 aperture. The camera is essentially point-and-shoot, but there is control available over white balance, sharpening, contrast, saturation and exposure value.

The latter is the most useful setting because it allows you to adjust exposure quickly and easily, while a 'Restore default setting' button resets everything. This is undoubtedly crude, but these settings do allow for a welcome degree of control.

Image quality is best in brighter conditions like most drones, while the centre of the frame is noticeably sharper than the edges. The image quality is generally okay, but what appears to be camera shake is sometimes visible and there's a noticeable fall-off in depth-of-field further back in the scene.

This is less noticeable in videos than in photos, and videos are much more forgiving in terms of image quality, particularly when the drone is moving. JPEG processing is also visible in photos.

Photos and videos are captured both on the microSD card that's inserted into the drone and on your smartphone in a smaller format. Photos transmitted to the phone are saved in 4K dimensions, while video is saved at 720p at 30fps. On the microSD card, photos are captured at 48MP with dimensions of 8000x6000px, while video can be captured in 4K at 30 FPS or 1080p at 60 FPS. Smooth video is captured thanks to a 3-axis mechanical gimbal and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

Overall, results can be inconsistent and subjects closer to the camera exhibit the most detail and clarity. It's a fixed-focus camera, so this suggests, alongside the fall-off in depth-of-field in deeper scenes, that the lens is configured for closer subjects rather than using hyperfocal focusing to maximize sharpness throughout the scene to infinity. Image quality is vastly better than the Veeniix V11, but it remains far from perfect.

Veeniix V11PRO: Price

The Veeniix V11PRO is priced at $580/£464, which makes it as expensive as, and in some cases more expensive than, DJI and Potensic drones that are capable of producing better image quality with more camera control available.

The drones in question are typically sub-250g models, so you may decide that the more powerful V11PRO is better suited to your needs at the expense of image quality. In the kit, you get the V11PRO drone, a controller, two batteries, two USB-C cables for charging the batteries directly, a spare set of propellers and a carry case.

Should you buy the Veeniix V11PRO?

The V11PRO is easy to use and flies well. The camera is pretty much point-and-shoot, but you can make basic adjustments, so there is a degree of control available. Image quality is okay, so it's adequate for beginners, but it wouldn't hold up for professional drone work.

It's also one of the larger and more powerful models in the beginner category, which may be advantageous for some pilots. Flight controls are smooth and the V11PRO offers several other features, including cruise control, waypoints, digital zoom, vertical capture and GPS subject tracking, so creative options are available.

The V11PRO is also extremely similar to the Holy Stone HS600D in terms of design and performance, although they do offer different features. Plus, the drone faces a great deal of competition with many similarly priced and less expensive drone kits available from several manufacturers.

If this drone isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 is the best drone Holy Stone has produced to date, with excellent flight capabilities, a great camera, lots of features and it weighs less than 250g.

The DJI Mini 4K is DJI's most inexpensive drone that's capable of capturing 4K video. Image quality is impressive and the Mini 4K flies well and is a great option for beginners on a budget.

The Potensic Atom is a sub-250g drone capable of capturing 4K video and photos in JPEG and Raw format. Image quality is superior and it's also less expensive than the V11PRO for the kit.

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These two Ruko drone deals mean you can save almost 50% and get genuine quality, whether you're looking for something with real build quality or something more lightweight.

Save 44% on the Ruko F11PRO2 drone and 49% on the Ruko U11MINI 4K drone bundle when you grab them on Amazon.

In our Ruko F11 Pro2 drone review, we found that it has an excellent build quality and can take 4K video up to 30FPS along with 6K image resolution. Our Ruko U11MINI 4K drone review details an inexpensive, complete drone kit and a drone that flies well with useful features. If you're looking for drones, but these aren't quite right for you, you should check out our guides to the best drones, best beginner drones and best DJI drones.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our pages for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

If these savings alone weren't enough to tempt you, then the fact that these drones are now at their lowest-ever prices might.

The Ruko F11PRO 2 drone is a lightweight drone that offers plenty of useful functionality along with a suitable camera. It weighs 357g, so you will have to check out local drone regulations, as you'll have to register it. It is a drone with plenty of useful features, though, like return to home, GPS, subject tracking, level five wind resistance, a sport mode and nearly two-mile video transmission. You do get a remote controller with this deal and it does feature 4K up to 30FPS and 6K camera capabilities, even if the camera itself isn't the most reliable on the market.

The U11MINI drone is a sub-250g drone, meaning you don't have to worry about registering it. It's a beginner drone with basic features including a foldable design, return to home, subject tracking, level four wind resistance, strong image processing and an automatic camera. It has a good-quality remote controller with it and like the F11PRO 2, it features a video transmission of nearly 2 miles. The camera features 4K video resolution up to 20FPS and 8.2MP for stills. The bundle comes with a controller, spare rechargeable batteries and propellers and a carry case.

Key features: Two Ruko drones, both nearly half price, both at their lowest-ever price. The F11PRO 2 features 4K video up to 30FPS and has useful features like GPS, subject tracking and return to home. The U11MINI weighs less than 250g, has similar features and comes with a controller, spare propellers, rechargeable batteries and a carry case.

Price history: Before today's deals, we have consistently seen the Ruko F11PRO 2 retail for between $400 and $500, so while the before price seems steep in the first place, the price to pay is still great value. It's a similar story for the U11MINI as we regularly see it retail for between $350 and $400.

Reviews consensus: The Ruko F11PRO 2 is a very well-built camera that is let down a little by its camera quality, despite the good level of specs it boasts, following our review. The U11MINI flies really well and has useful features, ideal for beginners. Unfortunately, its camera lets it down slightly, where images can lead to distortion and overprocessing.

✅ Buy it if: You want a drone that's suitable for beginners or is at least well built and easy to fly, and can shoot decent photos and videos, even if its camera isn't the best on the market.

❌ Don't buy it if: Camera quality is everything for you in a drone.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

DJI is one of the most innovative drone manufacturers, alongside several others who are breaking new ground. It's fair to say that DJI is responsible for producing some of the best drones, including some of the best camera drones and the best FPV drones available. The Chinese drone company is also the first to create what's known as a motion controller.

Since the DJI RC Motion 3 is the most recent DJI motion controller, we'll focus on this throughout the article alongside the DJI Avata 2. Motion controllers, keeping things simple at this point, combine the use of basic physical controls alongside motion-based control that allows you to intuitively fly several DJI drones. But, it's DJI's FPV drones where this interesting controller impresses most.

The DJI RC Motion 3 Controller is included in the DJI Avata 2 kit and at a basic level, requires the pilot to pull the trigger to fly forwards while tilting it forwards or backward to ascend and descend. Turning is achieved by tilting the controller to the left or right. This is just the tip of the motion controller iceberg, so let's take a deeper dive…

What's the difference between a motion controller and a regular controller?

I may be showing my age here, but the easiest way to describe motion controllers is that they're like a joystick handle that's not attached to a base or wired. Motion controllers connect to drones — typically DJI FPV drones — allowing pilots to move the entire controller to turn the drone and adjust altitude rather than using control sticks.

In terms of FPV drones, these are traditionally difficult drones to fly even competently with a traditional FPV drone controller. It's said that to even begin to develop basic competency in manual/acro flight mode, where you can flip, roll and drive the drone alongside flying through tight gaps, takes 50 hours or more of flight experience. This is often recommended between real drone flight and FPV simulators.

Motion controllers, with the DJI Avata or Avata 2, use GPS positioning and hover functionality to allow even absolute beginners to fly FPV drones competently and confidently. No need to spend days and weeks learning to fly, you can hit the skies and fly through tight gaps in a matter of minutes.

The DJI RC Motion 3 Controller does allow for some basic 'stunt' maneuvers, but the downside is that you can't enjoy anywhere near the same degree of control as a traditional FPV controller. This is only a small negative, as the ease of use of FPV drones on offer is exceptional, and many people simply don't have the time or patience to learn how to fly traditional FPV drones.

What Drones can I fly with a DJI RC Motion 3 controller?

The DJI RC Motion 3 Controller is compatible with the DJI Avata 2, DJI Avata, DJI Neo, DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Air 3 and DJI Air3S. It's likely that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is also compatible since this new drone uses DJI 04 video transmission.

Depending on the drone and compatibility, the drone needs to be paired with either the DJI Goggles 3 or the DJI Goggles N3 for the DJI RC Motion 3 to be compatible. The FPV goggles act as the screen to see the camera view, as well as to change drone and camera settings.

In the case of camera drones, you can enjoy FPV-style flight, but it's the DJI Avata and Avata 2 with their cine whoop design and built-in propeller guards that make the most sense to use with the DJI RC Motion 3. Not to mention, the Avata 2 comes in a kit that includes the controller.

DJI is the main drone company to incorporate motion controllers into some drone packages and compatibility options, but ZeroZero Robotics also produces a motion controller for two of its selfie drones. If that name doesn't sound familiar, think of the HoverAir X1 PRO and HoverAir X1 PROMAX.

These two drones don't come with a motion controller out of the box, but when you purchase the Beacon & Joystick Bundle, you can take advantage of a motion controller with a built-in screen. With this innovative accessory, you can create several modular controllers, including a motion controller.

Is it easier to fly with a motion controller?

When it comes to DJI FPV drones, using a motion controller makes immersive flight incredibly easy and intuitive. So much so that within 10 to 15 minutes of first using the controller, you'll have the confidence you need to push your flights further to fly through gaps and within small spaces.

Just remember, you must have an observer with you who can maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) of the drone, since you're wearing FPV goggles.

Of course, like everything, perfecting your skills takes a little time, but the fact that an absolute beginner can competently fly an FPV drone in minutes is incredible. Just for perspective, as previously mentioned, learning to fly in manual/acro mode with a traditional FPV controller takes 50+ hours of flight practice.

So, the ability to be in the air and be able to fly with expert precision with a motion controller within minutes is incredible. Combine this with the immersive flying experience produced by wearing DJI FPV goggles and you'll be amazed at how intuitive the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller is.

How Do I fly DJI Drones with a motion controller?

Let's keep things super simple because they are. With the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller connected to a DJI Avata 2 and DJI Goggles N3, simply double-press the Emergency Brake and Hover button to start the propellers, then press and hold the button to take off and hold in a hover.

To fly forward, pull the trigger back and to turn, tilt the Motion Controller left or right. To fly up, tilt the controller back, and to fly downwards, tilt it forwards. A cursor— a white circle — can be seen in the FPV goggles, and this can be used as a target for where you want the drone to fly.

The Joystick can be used to adjust altitude, but tilting the motion controller forwards or backwards using the in-goggle cursor as a target is much more effective for moving up or down when flying forward. The joystick is best used to adjust altitude when hovering. To land, when hovering at a low altitude, simply press and hold the Emergency Brake and Hover button.

Since the majority of control is applied using motion, the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller has minimal direct access controls. These consist of just an On/Off button, an Emergency Brake and Hover button, a Flight Mode & Return to Home button, a Joystick to adjust altitude and roll the drone left and right, an Accelerator Trigger, an FN Dial for settings and a Record button. These are all incredibly easy to find when you can't see them when wearing FPV goggles.

The DJI Air 3 is a huge $165 off in one of the best Amazon Prime Day drone deals available, and we rate it as one of the best camera drones out there.

Save $165 on the DJI Air 3 when you grab it on Amazon this Prime Day.

If you're looking for genuine quality this Prime Day and you want to save big on your next drone, this could be the ideal deal. In our DJI Air 3 review, we loved its excellent dual cameras, its power (especially given its portable and lightweight design) and the omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, showing real quality for your money. It's the last day of Amazon Prime Day, so time is running out to make the most of this deal.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

There's a lot to like about the DJI Air 3. Yes, we've already highlighted its dual cameras, but they offer 4K up to 100FPS, which is worth shouting about. The drone also features over 12 miles of video transmission and up to 46 minutes of flight time, which is pretty good. It also boasts omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and a smart return to home feature, so it's great for safety features. With the drone, you also get three shooting modes: Cine, Sport and Normal. These are just the highlights and you can check it all out in our review.

The drone has Dual 48MP 1/1.3-inch sensors with 24mm and 70mm cameras and it can capture vertical video too. It's important to note that while its jam-packed with quality features, tech and plenty of power, it does weigh 720g, which means you'll have to register the drone to fly it and comply with local drone regulations.

Key features: 4K video up to 100FPS, dual cameras, 48MP sensor, 46 minute flight time, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, return to home, three shooting modes, 720g weight, over 12 miles of video transmission.

Price history: Before today's deal, we occasionally saw this price dip to around the $900 mark, but not often and it usually hovers at $1099. That means, while this isn't the lowest-ever price, this is a genuine deal.

Price comparison: Amazon: $934 | Best Buy: $1099

Reviews consensus: It offers great power and camera capabilities to those who want it. It's not ideal for those who need a mini drone but for anyone who isn't worried about having a drone that weighs more than 250g, this is a great choice.

Space: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best camera drones, Best Amazon Prime Day drone deals

✅ Buy it if: You want a powerful drone that's jam-packed with useful features and boasts excellent camera capabilities.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a drone that weighs sub-250g.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

There are several Amazon Prime Day drone deals still available as the sales event has ended, but some offers have spilled over into the weekend.

We're seeing plenty of the best Amazon Prime Day deals are still available and that extends to drone deals. While we're struggling to see many worthwhile DJI drone deals, there are still sizable offers on leading brands, including Holy Stone and Ruko.

If you don't find what you're looking for here, or something suitable, then we recommend checking out the best drones, best FPV drones, best beginner drones and best camera drones. So, for the best Prime Day drone deals you can still get your hands on, scroll down below.

• Check out our Prime Day deals hub for the best offers across the board.
• Become an Amazon Prime member to gain access to exclusive discounts.

Best Amazon Prime Day 2025 drone deals

Amazon Prime Day Drone Deals FAQs

Drone flight alongside photo and video capture is incredibly rewarding because it provides photographers and videographers with unique viewpoints that are otherwise unattainable. Within a minute or two, you can have your drone set up and ready for flight to shoot in locations unreachable on foot or from altitudes you'd otherwise need a cripplingly expensive helicopter charter to reach.

Taking photo and video capture one step further, we're going to explore image capture at night, where you can elevate locations to something much more eye-catching. We'll take you through what you need to know, including rules and camera techniques, to give you the confidence to make your low-light aerial photography and video exceptional.

If you're looking for your first drone or your next upgrade to give aerial photography and video a try, be sure to take a look at our best drones, best camera drones, and best beginner drones guides will help you to find the best drone model for capturing stunning aerial photos and videos and night.

Rules and safety for night flight

For recreational flying, you must adhere to the same drone regulations as daytime flying. In a nutshell, this includes flying within a maximum altitude of 400 ft / 120 m, maintaining a visual line of sight. You must avoid restricted airspace and register your drone if it weighs above 0.55 lbs / 250 g. You'll also need to fit an anti-collision light to your drone for night flying.

When flying a drone at night in the US, your drone must be fitted with an anti-collision light that is visible for a minimum of three miles. These lights must also have a strobe feature. In the UK, pilots must fit their drone with a green strobe.

One point to note is that fitting an anti-collision strobe to a sub-250 g drone will take it above this weight threshold. This means you'll have to register the drone with the FAA in the US and will be more restricted with regards to where it can be flown in the UK.

What's the best drone for night shooting?

This is the most common question, and in truth, any high-quality drone will do the job. Just make sure to adhere to local laws and regulations concerning flying a drone at night.

For this article, we used a DJI Mavic 3 Pro to take advantage of the 20MP Four Thirds camera with its 24mm equivalent focal length and adjustable aperture with a maximum f/2.8 setting. The 70mm equivalent camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and fixed f/2.8 aperture was also useful. This is the same sensor that's used in the DJI Mini 3 and DJI Mini 4 Pro.

The DJI Mini 3 and DJI Mini 4 Pro are also excellent drones for shooting at night because of their fast f1/.7 fixed aperture and large 2.4μm pixels on the 1/1.3-inch sensor. The DJI Air 3S is another drone that's perfect for capturing night photos and videos, thanks to excellent image quality and night-friendly features. Plus, it features a 1-inch sensor in the main camera and a 1/1.3-inch sensor in the second – both offer f/2.8 apertures.

When is the best time to shoot at night?

Unless you're shooting the night sky, which we'll delve into later, the best time to shoot at night is during dusk or blue hour. This is simply because there's still a blue glow in the sky rather than it being completely black and featureless. This glow balances beautifully with artificial lighting from buildings and street lights.

Blue hour typically occurs up to 30 minutes before sunrise and from 30 minutes after sunset. The duration of blue hour isn't necessarily an hour, and it depends entirely on the latitude of where you're shooting and the season. So, to take advantage of this time, just be on location, ready to shoot before sunset and at least an hour before sunrise. This also makes sunrise and sunset shooting possible, so it's a win-win.

Shoot aerial videos at night

Shooting videos at night is very much the same as shooting videos in daylight. The main difference is that instead of typically requiring ND filters to reduce the light entering the lens to achieve a correct shutter speed, you use ISO to increase the sensitivity of the sensor to attain the correct shutter speed. Quite simply, aim for a shutter speed that's double the frame rate of the video.

Set the video resolution and the desired frame rate. Here, it was set to 4K at 24 FPS. Next, set the shutter speed to double the frame rate, so for these settings, it was 1/50 sec. If you're shooting with a drone that has an adjustable aperture, set it to the maximum, which is often f/2.8.

Set the white balance to either Daylight/5500K to emphasize the colors of artificial lights, or set it manually to neutralize the color balance of artificial lights to make them look white. Don't use Auto white balance because this can change during flight.

These settings remain fixed. Now, simply increase the ISO until the on-screen exposure looks correct. Here, the ISO was set to 3200 based on the conditions. Hit record and perform the desired flight maneuvers.

Take aerial photos at night

Shooting photos at night is also pretty much the same as shooting in daylight. Just like shooting video, you will need to increase the ISO to boost the sensitivity of the sensor to light to achieve faster shutter speeds. The Shutter speed doesn't need to be fast if it's not windy. But if the drone is being bumped by the wind, you will have to crank up the ISO to avoid camera shake.

To capture the photo above, the drone was left in a hover at the correct altitude, then rotated and the camera pitch was adjusted to compose the photo. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro's main camera was set to ISO 1600 at f/2.8 to gather as much light as possible.

Shutter speed was set manually to 1/25 sec, which showed as being one stop underexposed. This maintains highlight detail in high-contrast night scenes while ultimately providing a natural look.

Capture the night sky

Shooting the night sky isn't the most obvious use of a drone, but it is possible. You'll need a drone that can capture photos in Raw because of the image quality and flexibility this file type produces. Mini drones work well because they have fast f/1.7 apertures to gather more light, although drones with larger sensors and f/2.8 apertures also work well.

To capture the photo above, the drone was set to hover in low-wind conditions to avoid camera shake during the long exposure. Exposure with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro's main camera was set to 3.2 seconds at f/2.8, ISO 3200, with white balance set to Auto. This exposure duration is as long as you'd ideally want to help avoid camera shake. Even when the wind is virtually non-existent on the ground, it's often windier at higher altitudes.

The above photo was taken with the same settings as the first star shot, showing how a uniform approach to exposure works well. Shooting with a longer shutter speed and a lower ISO would be preferable for improved image quality, but exposures longer than 3.2 seconds drastically increase the chances of camera shake.

The biggest challenges for capturing the night sky with a drone are similar to standard still photography. It's always best to be in the darkest location possible, ideally a dark sky location. And if there are nearby towns and villages, face the drone away from them. Light pollution makes it difficult to see stars.

Another problem is the wind, so you ideally want to shoot when there's barely even a breeze. Wind isn't always consistent, so if there is a slight breeze, shoot plenty of photos to increase the chances of one being sharp and shake-free.

Capture drone footage in daylight

While we've focused on shooting at night, the settings and concepts covered here are extremely similar to shooting in daylight, with just a few tweaks here and there.

Check out our beginner's guide to drone video to get to grips with video capture with a drone before tackling night shooting.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More combo is now $230 off in this massive Memorial Day drone deal and its currently at its lowest-ever price.

Save $230 on the DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo Plus and get it for its lowest-ever price.

I search for deals for a living and without an abundance of noteworthy Memorial Day drone deals available, I think this might be the best out there. DJI is responsible for some of the best drones on the market and in our DJI Mini 4 Pro review, we found it has improved video features, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and it's not too dissimilar in price to its predecessor. The Fly More Combo Plus also means you get extras like a remote controller and extra batteries for more flight time.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

So what makes this deal a good value, aside from the price and the savings? Well, the drone itself offers 4K video resolution up to 100FPS and image resolution up to 48MP. Importantly, this drone falls under 250g, which means you don't have to worry about drone regulations regarding weight and register it with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). It's also designed to be palm-sized when folded, which makes it easy to transport and you get extra flight batteries, which means you can get up to 46 minutes of flight time.

The Mini 4 Pro has some impressive features and modes, aside from the physical specs. The subject tracking is improved from its predecessor and the obstacle avoidance is omnidirectional, which is a very useful safety net when flying. It also features a Return to Home mode, which means the drone will automatically return to you when battery levels are low or connection is lost. DJI's Mini 4 Pro also has Normal, Cine and Sports modes, which means a variety of flying options are available.

Key features: 249g weight, foldable design, 4K up to 100FPS, up to 48MP image resolution, Return to Home, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, improved subject tracking, remote control, extra batteries.

Price history: Before today's deal, we've seen this drone combo retail for a little less than $1250 but as high as $1550 at times, so a price of $1099 represents good value.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1099 | Walmart: $1809

Reviews consensus: A truly top drone, it features a lot of very useful features and it's a pleasure to fly, but it isn't leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

Featured in guides: Best camera drones

✅ Buy it if: You want one of the best Memorial Day drone deals available and you want genuine quality.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're on a budget, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is still a decent option and will cost less.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

With a spring in its step, or should that say flight, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro has launched to meet, and in many cases, exceed expectations of drone pilots around the world. The latest iteration of this popular drone series is packed with features and functionality that make it not only one of the best drones but also one of the best camera drones.

The drone features the all too familiar folding design created by DJI, but its size and weight have increased slightly over the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. It looks similar, like a sibling, but with improved flight performance and a completely new camera and gimbal design. It's a far superior drone in every way.

The camera and gimbal redesign include a more spherical-shaped camera and robust gimbal that allow for vertical shooting and camera rotation, with the three cameras offering 28mm, 70mm and 168mm equivalent focal lengths. The gimbal can also tilt the camera upwards to an astonishing 70 degrees.

The main 28mm 4/3 Hasselblad camera offers a 100MP resolution and an adjustable f/2-f/11 aperture, the 70mm camera houses a 48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor and the 168mm camera features a 50MP 1/1.5in sensor. Video can be captured at up to 6K 60fps with the main camera and up to 4K 120 FPS / 100 FPS with the two telephotos.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro review

DJI Mavic 4 Pro review: Design

• High-quality folding design
• Complete camera rotation
• Excellent new controller

The Mavic 4 Pro features the standard folding design that we've become accustomed to, but the overall design is now more aerodynamic than the Mavic 3 models. Combined with larger propellers, there's an undeniable increase in speed, power and maneuverability. The camera and gimbal are also much larger, alongside a slightly larger drone with a weight that now comes in at 2.34 lbs / 1063g.

Moving back to the camera and gimbal, these have experienced a massive overhaul. There are still three cameras, but the camera unit has a more spherical shape and can be rotated from -40 to 400 degrees, which means you can rotate the camera during video capture for creative effects. The cameras can also be rotated 90 degrees for portrait orientation shooting, alongside the ability to tilt the camera in landscape orientation between -90 and 70 degrees.

Flight times per battery are claimed to be up to 51 minutes, which is an impressive claim, but in real-world testing, flight times while capturing photos and videos were typically around 37 minutes. Flights ended when the Mavic 4 Pro initiated Return to Home at 15% battery. More time could have been squeezed out of the batteries, but it's often safer to land and change batteries at this point.

Both the drone and the controller switch on automatically when they're unfolded to make it quicker and easier to get into the air. The controller also goes into sleep mode when closed, unless you switch it off, to reduce start-up time if you're moving from one location to the next.

The new DJI RC 2 smart controller features a 2000-nit 7-inch high-bright Mini-LED display on an arm that holds it in front of the controls. This can be rotated 90 degrees when shooting in portrait format. When folded down, the screen hides and protects the control sticks, so you don't have to remove and stow them in the rear of the controller as you do with other DJI smart controllers.

The controls available on the controller are standard, although there's a new adjustment dial to change camera settings easily, and this is useful for adjusting exposure. The controller is also claimed to provide up to 4 hours of battery life. Other features include an HDMI port for video out, 128GB of built-in storage and audio can be recorded with the built-in mic or with a DJI Mic.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro: Functionality

• Advanced obstacle avoidance
• New Return to Home functionality
• Impressive car tracking

This is a fast and powerful drone with a top speed of 60.4mph in Sport mode, and a top speed of 40.3mph when tracking moving subjects. The smoothness and power of flight combined with the responsive controls make the Mavic 4 Pro a pleasure to fly, while hovering precision is impressive. Hover precision is naturally better in low wind conditions, although the drone does have a maximum wind resistance of 26.8mph.

The Mavic 4 Pro features a 0.1-Lux Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing system, where six low-light fisheye sensors, a forward-facing LiDAR and an infrared sensor on the bottom of the aircraft work in combination to provide obstacle avoidance even in low-light conditions. The standard with Brake and Bypass options available in the controller menu to select how the drone reacts when an obstacle is detected. The Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing worked well in both daylight and low-light conditions during testing.

Return to Home has also been impressively improved, and the Mavic 4 Pro can take off and Return to Home without a GPS signal. For this, the drone uses real-time vision positioning and map construction technologies to capture flight paths to allow for Return to Home without GPS. This is especially useful when the GPS signal is lost during flight in complex environments.

The only caveat of this feature is that it requires enough light on the scene to map the flight path, which suggests it won't work at night. There's also Dynamic Home Point where the Home Point is set by the controller location rather than using the take-off point. This could be useful when tracking vehicles if you're a passenger in the vehicle.

Subject tracking is nothing like the DJI Flip or Neo, it's not for close subjects or with multiple autonomous close tracking options, but it does work well in general, with a particular emphasis on car tracking. With this, the Mavic 4 Pro locks onto selected vehicles successfully once selected, and maintains tracking when the car is partially obscured by trees, as claimed. It's best for top-down and rear tracking, and it didn't want to fly backwards in front of and facing the car when this was attempted.

Other useful features include Quickshots automated flight patterns, Free Panorama, Timelapse, the ability to transfer files to your computer without being switched on, file transfer to the DJI Fly app on your phone using off-state quick transfer over WiFi 6 and many more. The Mavic 4 Pro also uses DJI O4+ with 10-bit HDR Video Transmission up to 18.6 miles. The controller connection and camera feed were never an issue during testing within safe and legal flight distances.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro review: Performance

• Three cameras
• Up to 6K video capture
• Up to 100MP photos in Raw and JPEG

The main Four Thirds Hasselblad camera features a 28mm equivalent focal length and an adjustable f/2.0-f/11 aperture. F/2.0 is an aperture setting that makes astrophotography more achievable with the drone, although you still have to use ISO 3200 to keep exposure times at 3.2 seconds to avoid camera shake in low wind conditions.

The new Four Thirds sensor in the main camera can be set to capture at an impressive 100MP or 25MP, the 70mm equivalent camera features a 48MP/12MP 1/1.3-inch sensor and the 168mm equivalent camera uses a 50MP/12.5MP 1/1.5 in. sensor. Both of these telephoto cameras have a fixed f/2.8 aperture, and all cameras can capture photos in Raw and JPEG formats. The higher resolution captures with the cameras typically appear slightly softer than lower resolution photos, but additional sharpening in Lightroom works well with Raw files.

Image quality is excellent overall, although there is a small amount of fall-off in sharpness towards the edges of the frame with all three cameras when capturing photos. The cameras feature Dual Native ISO Fusion, which aims to reduce noise in photos and videos. Video image quality, as with all drones, is better than photo quality, but this is likely due to less of the sensor being used and the moving rather than still image. Color rendition is also fantastic, with bright and realistic colors captured.

The main camera can capture video at up to 6K 60 FPS, the 70mm can capture up to 4K at 120 FPS and the 168mm up to 4K at 100 FPS. The main camera can also capture 4K video at up to 120 FPS, so all three can capture slow motion when required. Cropped vertical video is also available with all three cameras. The main camera can shoot up to 4K 60 FPS, and the telephoto cameras can capture up to 2.7K up to 60 FPS. You can also rotate the camera to portrait orientation to capture photos and video.

Color profiles for video capture include Normal for straight out of camera use, D-Log, D-Log M and HLG (HDR) for use in professional workflows where color grading is required. When shooting HDR, the 28mm can capture up to 16 stops of dynamic range, the 70mm up to 14 stops and the 168mm up to 13 stops. The 512GB Creator version of the Mavic 4 Pro can also capture video in the ALL-I 4:2:2 codec. This is the most advanced of the two Mavic 4 Pro models, offering additional storage and advanced video functionality.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro review: Cost

The Mavic 4 Pro is extremely well-priced considering the features and functionality of the drone, with three kits available. The basic DJI Mavic 4 Pro (DJI RC 2) kit includes the Mavic 4 Pro, RC 2 smart controller, 64GB of internal storage, an Intelligent Flight Battery and accessories. This basic kit is $TBC / £1879.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo costs $TBC / £2459, and this includes all of the above plus two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries, a DJI 100W USB-C power adapter, a battery charging hub and a shoulder bag.

The premium kit is the DJI Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo, and this includes everything in the standard kit alongside 512GB internal SSD storage, a 240W power adapter, two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries, a parallel battery charging hub, a USB-C to USB-C high-speed data cable and a shoulder bag for $TBC / £3209.

Due to the need to adjust the market strategy, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro will not be available in the US upon its initial release. Therefore, we do not know at the time of writing how much it will cost in the US.

Should you buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro?

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is by far the best Mavic drone ever made and takes drone technology to new heights. The image quality and features of the three cameras are fantastic, with professional video capture possible with the drone. The camera can also be rotated between -40 to 400 degrees to create an effect like a camera being rotated on a video gimbal. Plus, the entire camera unit can be rotated 90 degrees for upright shooting with all three cameras, while the camera can be tilted 70 degrees upwards.

Flight performance is impressive thanks to the speed, power and agility of the drone, and the Return to Home functionality has seen a serious upgrade. This is undoubtedly aimed at experts and professionals, but it's incredibly easy to use, so it's also beginner-friendly if you can justify the cost. The price of the Fly More Combo is also excellent value for money and comes as a welcome surprise.

If the DJI Mavic 4 Pro isn't for you

The DJI Inspire 3 is an extremely expensive professional drone with some stunning features and functionality. Not least, a 44.7MP full-frame camera with interchangeable lenses, Hollywood-grade video functionality up to 8K and is also ideal for inspections and surveying.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is more regulator-friendly, not to mention a more compact and transportable drone capable of professional and amateur use. This is the best sub-250g drone available and features impressive obstacle avoidance that will be useful to beginners and professionals alike.

If you'd prefer to capture immersive FPV video, the DJI Avata 2 is the drone for you. This drone can capture fantastic 4K video, and with the DJI RC Motion 3, it's incredibly easy and intuitive to fly. FPV experts can also buy the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 for full manual flight.

Ruko is a drone company that's constantly developing new beginner drone models to suit a variety of budgets. The launch of the Ruko F11PRO 2 delivers a small and fairly lightweight drone, but it sits above the regulator-friendly 250 g threshold, meaning it will need to be registered with the FAA.

The F11PRO 2 is the best designed and built Ruko drone to date and it certainly looks and feels like it's made to a high standard. It isn't one of the best beginner drones like the DJI Flip, which is a selfie/vlogging and camera drone, but the F11PRO 2 can capture up to 4K video at 30 FPS and photos in up to 6K dimensions.

The drone also features a couple of basic subject tracking modes, GPS positioning and Return to Home functionality, but unsurprisingly, it doesn't offer collision avoidance. This is a feature that's only seen with more advanced and expensive small drones such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro.

The F11PRO 2 comes in a comprehensive kit that includes everything you need to get started with drone flight, including two batteries that extend flight times. But, at $459 / £372 for the kit, this puts the drone up against some serious competition in terms of both price and image quality with DJI, Potensic and Holy Stone all offering some enticing alternatives.

Ruko F11PRO 2 review

Ruko F11PRO 2 review: Design

• Small but weighs over 250 g
• Excellent build quality
• Controller with basic info screen

The F11PRO 2 is by far the best-designed Ruko drone we've reviewed and features a solid folding design and excellent build quality. The camera housing is made from metal and the drone certainly has a more premium feel than the previous Ruko models we've reviewed. Overall, it's a well-made drone and features lights on the front that can help to determine orientation when flying close to yourself.

This is also a fairly small drone at just 6.5x3.5x2.56 in / 165x90x65 mm when folded, and 13.8x15.162.56 in / 350x385x65 mm when unfolded. To the naked eye, the F11PRO 2 looks like a sub-250 g drone, but this deceptive UAV weighs in at 12.6 oz / 357 g. This essentially puts it in the same category as a drone that weighs twice as much.

This also means that US pilots will need to register the drone with the FAA, even when only flying recreationally. This is simple and inexpensive, so it's not the end of the world but is, of course, something that you have to consider if you decide to buy this drone.

The 3200 mAh batteries are advertised as providing up to 35 minutes of light time, but during testing, flight times averaged at around 20 minutes in UK winter temperatures. Flight times would inevitably increase in warmer temperatures so it's impossible to provide a reliable and fair assessment of how well the batteries perform.

The F11PRO 2 kit includes a handy carry case where you can safely store everything that comes in the kit, including USB-C cables and spare propellers. There's also a pre-cut compartment for the controller which is designed to match the drone with its light grey outer shell.

The controller is comfortable to hold and lightweight with rubberized grips that work well. There are several direct access controls for the camera, gimbal take-off/landing, speed/flight mode and to initiate Return to Home.

The control sticks can be stowed at the bottom of the controller when not in use, while the phone holder extends from the top and can accommodate small and large smartphones, with space to store the phone cable.

Ruko F11PRO 2 review: Functionality

• Two basic subject tracking modes
• Level 5 wind resistance
• Return to Home functionality

The Ruko F11PRO2 is a basic beginner drone with basic features to match, but it flies fairly well and is most reliable close to the controller at around 660 ft / 200 m despite its maximum transmission range of 1.89 miles. There are two flight modes available with Stable/Camera providing a flight speed of up to 13.4 mph while Sport offers speeds up to 17.9 mph.

This is slow compared to similar drones and although the F11PRO 2 wasn't tested in strong wind, these flight speeds suggest that the Level 5 wind resistance, which is up to 24 mph, is possibly an over-optimistic claim. For this level of wind resistance, you'd expect the drone to have more power and a higher maximum speed in all flight modes.

GPS positioning is available and this helps to keep the drone locked in a hover. There is some movement when hovering but while this isn't excessive, it's certainly not as precise as some competitor drones. GPS also delivers the ability to include features that rely on this technology to function.

GPS makes reliable Return to Home (RTH) functionality available, and you can set the RTH altitude within the Ruko Mini app. RTH can be initiated by the pilot or is activated automatically when the signal between the drone and controller is lost and when the battery reaches a low level where there's enough power to return to the take-off point; all of which are extremely useful from a safety point of view. There's also a downward optical flow sensor for basic positioning when a GPS connection is unavailable.

With a range of features included in the drone, pilots can take advantage of GPS Follow, Fly Around, Route Planning (waypoints), Split Screen (for VR capture), Recording (for sound recording via your smartphone), Night Mode, Zoom (up to 5x digital zoom), Filter (effects) and Vertical for capturing vertical photos and videos.

There's also a feature called Lens Angle within the app menu but this is completely pointless because it simply allows you to adjust the pitch of the gimbal on-screen, but there's a dial on the controller for this.

Ruko F11PRO 2 review: Performance

• Soft photos and videos
• Up to 4K 30 FPS video
• Automatic camera

Despite the impressive design and build quality of the F11PRO 2, including the robustly built camera and gimbal, image quality isn't a strong point for the drone. Photos and videos of closer subjects, such as the barn in the gallery above, have the greatest level of sharpness and clarity but generally speaking, the images produced are soft and slightly hazy.

This is frustrating because looking at the drone, you would expect more impressive image quality and camera control as a whole. But as the adage suggests, you should never judge a book by its cover. The camera is fixed focus from 23.3 in / 60 cm to infinity, although sharpness is lacking as previously mentioned. The camera features an f/2 aperture while the sensor is small at just 1/3.2 in.

The camera is fully automatic, so apart from resolution options for photos and videos, along with framerate options for video, the camera is point-and-shoot. On the one hand, this does make photo and video capture incredibly simple for beginners, but it means that you have no control over aspects of image making including exposure or white balance.

Photos can only be captured in JPEG format and you can select from one of three resolutions. These include 3840x2160 px / 4096x3072 px and 5700x3200 px. The latter equates to 6K so at 300 dpi, you can make prints up to 19x10 inches, which is quite large. The problem here, however, is that the softness of the camera and the heavy JPEG processing will be extremely noticeable at this size.

Video can be captured in 4K at 30 FPS, 2.7K at 30/50 FPS and 2K at 50 FPS, so there are a reasonable number of options and 4K at 30 FPS is the most important for a modern drone. The 3-axis gimbal does indeed work well to smooth video, although the front drone propellers can sometimes be visible in videos, depending on the pitch and speed of the drone.

Ruko F11PRO 2 review: Cost

The Ruko F11PRO 2 comes in a kit that costs $459 / £372, putting it up against some serious competition from DJI, Potensic and Holy Stone, who all produce sub-250 g beginner drone kits at around this price. This, of course, for drone pilots, has the advantage of providing more options to choose from in terms of personal preference.

The Ruko F11PRO 2 kit is a complete kit with everything you need including the Ruko F11PRO 2 drone, a controller, two batteries, two USB-C cables for charging the batteries directly, a spare set of propellers, instructions and a carry case. This complete kit comes with everything you need for flight, except for a smartphone and the free Ruko Mini app.

Should you buy the Ruko F11PRO 2?

The Ruko F11PRO is the best-built and designed Ruko drone we've tested and the drone itself is of comparable build quality to the bigger-name drone manufacturer's lightweight drone models. The F11PRO 2 flies well and the 3-axis gimbal enables the capture of smooth video footage, while basic subject tracking features are also available and work reasonably well but lack the finesse of DJI drones.

The camera and gimbal are well made and look to be of high quality, but the camera features a small sensor and the image quality for photos and videos is soft. The camera is also fully automatic so you can't change any settings except for photo and video resolution, so drone pilots who require high image quality and camera control should consider other drones. The F11PRO 2 will also need to be registered in the US because its weight is above the 250 g threshold.

If the Ruko F11PRO 2 isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 Sirius is Holy Stone's best drone to date and is a sub-250g beginner model packed with useful features. It offers impressive flight performance and produces fantastic image quality, making it a great option for beginners.

The DJI Neo is a beginner drone that's inexpensive and can be flown in multiple ways, including autonomously with clever subject tracking. It's ultimately a selfie drone but it can be flown like a camera drone for photo and video capture.

The DJI Flip is a sub-250 g beginner drone that's incredibly easy to use with capabilities that allow it to be flown autonomously and as a camera drone. Image quality is better than the F11PRO 2 and the drone with just one battery is less expensive than the Ruko.

Why is this amazing?

The International Space Station and a space shuttle, as seen here, joined other historic spacecraft and scenes from space history as part of a student-led drone show for the opening of the Space Foundation's 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 7, 2025.

Who was behind this space-themed drone show?

A group of 10 high school students, working with their teacher and the St. Vrain Innovation Center in Longmont, Colorado, built, coded and coordinated this show using 300 drones, according to KRDO news radio.

In addition to recreating the ISS and shuttle, the students also programmed the drones to form an astronaut walking on the moon, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and the symposium's logo.

"To see high school students be able to take hundreds of drones and actually make it look professional, this was kind of like an Olympic opening ceremony," said Damian DiPippa, CEO of Auria Space, in an interview with KRDO.

Who saw this light show?

This drone show was staged over Broadmoor Lake as a crowd of more than 10,000 Space Symposium attendees from 60 countries looked on from the shore.

Now in its 40th year, the Space Foundation's Space Symposium brings together global space professionals from all sectors, providing a platform to explore critical space issues, foster dialogue and drive innovation across the space industry. This year's event runs through April 10, 2025 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Where can I learn more?

You can read and watch KRDO's coverage of the drone show. You can also read more about some of the announcements at the 40th Space Symposium, including the reveal of a new moon rover and the comments made by NASA's acting administrator about the "weird period" for the space agency right now.

Selfie drones have become a permanent fixture in the drone market, with the HoverAir X1 paving the way for these innovative and intelligent autonomous UAVs. The DJI Neo most recently caught the imaginations of consumers thanks to the operational extensions of the simple selfie drone it delivered, but there are two new selfie drones available from ZeroZero Robotics, the makers of the HoverAir X1, and all four are among the best beginner drones.

The HoverAir X1 PRO, which sits alongside the HoverAir X1 PROMAX — a more advanced 8K model, builds on the technological success of the HoverAir X1 to deliver what could be the best consumer selfie drone available. The PROMAX is the better model of the two in terms of image quality and some features, but it's the 4K PRO that has incredible potential thanks to a lower cost and more manageable video footage for beginners and enthusiasts.

The drone is aimed at tracking snow sports and cycling, but it can be used much more widely than this and the new accessory ecosystem, which includes physical controller options, greatly extends its application.

The X1 PRO offers a variety of autonomous intelligent flight modes, including manual flight. The flight modes can be activated drone-only, with the app, with the Beacon, or with the controller if you choose to buy the physical accessories.

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HoverAir X1 PRO: Design

• Lightweight folding design
• Propeller guards for safety
• Fantastic app control

The X1 Pro is a lightweight and compact folding drone that's pretty much pocket size when folded at just 4.13x5.86x1.34 in / 105x149x34 mm folded and 6.81x5.86x1.53 in / 173x149x39 mm unfolded. It's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket and weighs just 6.75oz / 191.5 g, so it's also below the all-important regulator-friendly 250 g threshold. The design is highly similar to the HoverAir X1, with propellers enclosed in propeller guards that fold out from below the airframe. These keep propellers, objects, and people safe when the drone is flying close to obstacles. It's also a minimalistic design with just a single button and two directional buttons around this in a circular design, with an OLED screen above to show the currently selected flight mode.

Battery life from the 1920mAh batteries comes in close to the advertised 16 minutes of flight time, which is plenty of time for a drone of this type; you typically don't fly selfie drones for as long as camera drones, instead opting for shorter bursts of tracking and manual flight.

There are also thermal batteries that can be purchased separately for $99 / £89 and these are designed for use in temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit / -20 degrees Celsius.

These batteries are essential if you aim to use the X1 PRO for tracking winter sports, and would also be useful for any kind of drone flight with the X1 PRO in winter temperatures. Of course, the normal batteries will work in colder temperatures, but the thermal batteries are going to keep you flying in more extreme conditions.

There are several control options available for the X1 PRO, but some of these require additional accessories, some of which we'll cover briefly in the next section. For many users, set up and control will be achieved using the Hover X1 app where you can adjust the parameters of the intelligent flight modes, adjust camera settings, control the drone manually and also share X1 PRO photos and videos to the HoverAir X1 community.

The manual flight interface has undergone fantastic improvements since the original HoverAir X1. Manual control now works in horizontal orientation within the app, which is much more intuitive than portrait orientation with virtual controls overlaid on the large camera view with gimbal control available.

These controls are nothing short of excellent, and although not as effective as a physical controller, you can still achieve complex flight maneuvers using both controls at the same time alongside gimbal movements.

HoverAir X1 PRO: Functionality

• Excellent subject tracking
• Palm take-off and landing
• Excellent accessory options

Setting up for flight is incredibly quick and easy and you can be up and in the air in around one minute using either drone only or the Hover X1 app. All you need to do is fold out the propeller guards from beneath the airframe, switch the drone on and select the desired flight mode.

To take off, you simply press the main button and the X1 Pro will take off from the palm of your hand, and once finished hold your hand below the drone and it will land. The drone features 32GB of onboard storage alongside a microSD card slot that's compatible with cards up to a 1GB capacity.

The feature that defines the X1 PRO is the intelligent flight modes that use advanced AI algorithms to track the subject and to keep them in the centre of the frame. The X1 PRO does a fantastic job when tracking or flying around subjects, and the Follow mode is particularly effective with a flight speed of up to 26mph, and bursts of up to 37mph available.

Whether or not this is truly possible is difficult to say, but when cycling as fast as possible on a mountain bike the drone was able to keep up without any issue. However, with manual flight control, flight speed is extremely pedestrian and remains slow.

This is despite increasing the speed rates for the drones within Joystick settings in the Hover X1 app. Flight and controls are still extremely smooth during manual flight, which is great and it offers a wind resistance Level 5, which equates to 24mph.

The intelligent flight modes include Hover, Zoom Out, Follow, Orbit, Bird's Eye, Dolly Track and Side Track. The intelligent flight modes are excellent with impressive tracking, but Follow, Dolly Track and Side Track are the most fun and interesting of what's available. The X1 Pro is also able to navigate complex environments with ease with just active rear-side collision detection provided by a proximity sensor.

Other useful features include Return to Home functionality, but without full collision avoidance sensors, you have to take care when using it by watching the video feed for potential obstacles and taking manual control if required. Also, when OmniTerrain is active, the X1 PRO can be flown over water, snow, cliffs and at night, unlike the original HoverAir X1 which cannot do this.

To extend the capabilities of the X1 PRO, the optional accessories are fantastic if you can stretch your budget to include them. Without going into full detail, the Beacon improves tracking capabilities and can be paired with the Joysticks for a one-handed motion controller, used together with the Beacon screen providing the camera view, or all of the above with your smartphone acting as the screen.

These controller options all work exceptionally well and allow for smooth and precise control of the drone. However, when using your smartphone as the screen, you unfortunately can't access or adjust drone or camera settings. This would be fantastic functionality if it could be added with a future firmware update and would further improve the flying, photo and video capture experience.

HoverAir X1 PRO: Performance

• Excellent 4K video quality
• High ISO handling isn’t great
• Photos in JPEG only

The video quality produced by the X1 PRO is far superior to photos, but this is unsurprising given that it's a selfie drone with advanced subject tracking capabilities, primarily for capturing action videos. Photos are absolutely fine when captured at lower ISO settings, but we'll go into more detail about both in a moment.

The X1 PRO features a 1/2in CMOS sensor with an equivalent focal length of 17mm. This is a fantastic wide-angle focal length for a selfie drone that captures both the subject and their environment well. The X1 Pro can be set to follow subjects at different distances, so the wide-angle aspect of the lens makes close following/subject tracking much more effective than a longer focal length.

Video can be captured in 4K at up to 60 FPS and 1080p at up to 120 FPS for slow motion capture, which is useful for capturing fast-moving subjects interestingly. You can also capture vertical video, which is cropped on the sensor rather than the camera rotating 90 degrees, and this can be recorded in 2.7K and 1080p at up to 60 FPS.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

HoverAir X1 PRO intelligent flight modes

HoverAir X1 PRO manual flight

Moving onto photo image quality, this is good but not exceptional and is much better at lower ISO levels since high ISO noise reduction and JPEG processing are strong at higher settings.

The camera only captures photos in JPEG, which is a shame because Raw would open up greater potential for processing and editing, but it's not the end of the world and the X1 PRO is primarily a tracking drone for video capture. Still, it would be great to see this functionality added if possible.

Photos are captured in 4000x3000px dimensions, which equates to 12MP and is large enough to produce prints of up to around A3 size. There's also a 2x zoom that captures in these dimensions, so it must use some kind of in-camera software-based interpolation. Image quality only reduces by a small amount with the 2x zoom, which is impressive overall.

HoverAir X1 PRO: Price

The HoverAir X1 PRO is available in a Standard kit, which includes the drone, one battery, a USB-C cable and a soft storage bag that costs $499 / £459. The Combo kit includes all of the above alongside a second battery, a charging hub, a 65W charger and a combo case for $679 / £629. This kit is ultimately better because of the additional accessories, but neither option is cheap.

There are also useful optional accessories available that enhance drone performance. These include the Beacon and Joystick bundle for $228 / £208, The PowerCase for $169 / £155, the Multi-function Carry Bag for $79 / £69, the HandleBar Mount for $20 / £19 and the ND Filter set for $69 / £65. This certainly drives up the cost of the drone, but they are extremely useful for enhancing the overall HoverAir X1 PRO and PROMAX experience.

Should you buy the HoverAir X1 PRO?

In terms of selfie drones, the HoverAir X1 PRO and PROMAX (we haven’t reviewed the PROMAX) are both the best selfie drones in many respects including size, weight and compact folding design for transportation.

The accessory ecosystem also greatly extends their usefulness, but the drone kits and optional extra accessories are more expensive than the original HoverAir X1 and the DJI Neo.

The HoverAir X1 PRO is, however, and fantastic selfie drone that's packed with impressive technology and does exactly what it's designed to do. Plus, it does it well. So, if your budget allows, it's most certainly a selfie drone option to consider.

If this drone isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 is a more basic selfie drone than the X1 Pro but offers the same intelligent tracking modes for autonomous flight and comes in at a more affordable price.

The DJI Neo, which we reviewed recently, is DJI's first selfie drone with several options for control ranging from drone only, app control, and standard DJI controller, and it can even be flown FPV using DJI FPV accessories.

The DJI Air 3S isn't a selfie drone, it's a mid-sized camera drone, but it offers excellent subject-tracking capabilities making it a versatile option to consider.

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The DJI Mini 4K is one of the best budget-friendly, lightweight drones on the market — and it's currently at its lowest price this year thanks to a 20% saving on Amazon.

Save 20% on the DJI Mini 4K on Amazon: Normally $299, it can be yours for just $238.99.

Not only do we think the DJI Mini 4K is one of the best beginner drones, it's also one of the best camera drones on the market. If you want all the quality of a DJI drone at a bargain price, this is the drone you want.

In our DJI Mini 4K review, we rated it a maximum five stars. For beginners, we said that it "offers everything you could possibly need in a drone" and praised how well it handles in flight. Its camera is also impressive thanks to its 4K video capabilities and it can capture 12MP stills. This is a top value-for-money drone.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

The DJI Mini 4K is the most entry-level drone in DJI's lineup, but despite that, it's still a seriously impressive bit of kit. It's super-portable, ideal for traveling with, and a pleasure to fly, partially due to its Level 5 wind resistance (up to 24mph). You'll get around 21 minutes of flight time before needing to charge, too (although extra batteries can be purchased to give you extra time).

In terms of camera, the DJI Mini 4K packs in a 1/2.3-inch 12MP CMOS sensor. It's tiny but performs well and perhaps delivers the best image quality of all beginner drones. You can capture in JPEG or RAW format, and you can also capture video at 4K/30fps (or 60fps at 1080p).

Since the DJI Mini 4K weighs under 249g, you don't need to register it for use in the UK or USA. If you plan to travel with it, however, it's always wise to check local regulations before using it.

In the box, you'll get everything you need to take to the skies immediately: the drone, its controller, battery, USB-C cable, RC cable and spare propellers.

Key features: weighs 8.7 oz / 249 g, battery lasts up to 31 minutes, video transmission range of 6.21 miles/10km, video resolution of 4K at 30fps. Return to home, one-tap takeoff/landing and stable hovering are all user-friendly features of this drone.

Product launched: April 2024

Price history: We've seen prices drop a little under the current discount over Black Friday, but it's frequently available at MSRP, so this is a great discount not to be sniffed at.

Price comparison: Amazon: $238.99 | Walmart: $299 | DJI Store: $299

Reviews consensus: We think this is one of the best beginner drones on the market, and we were very impressed with its flight ability and camera capabilities. Digital Camera World agrees: They say it isn't revolutionary, but it offers everything you need with no compromises. TechRadar says it's the best first drone you can own. Overall, it comes highly recommended.

TechRadar: ★★★★½ | Space: ★★★★★ | Digital Camera World: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best beginner drones, Best camera drones

✅ Buy it if: You're new to drones and want an inexpensive model with no compromises.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're already an experienced drone flyer: You'd find something like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro more suited to your needs.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Since the launch of the DJI Neo, which is extremely similar to the HoverAir X1 Pro and its still available predecessor, the HoverAir X1, the world's leading drone manufacturer has begun to take beginner drones in a new direction. The DJI Flip is the latest beginner model to hit the shelves, and this vlogging drone delivers intelligent flight modes alongside camera drone functionality.

With this level of versatility alongside an attractive base kit price of $439/£369, the Flip will likely appeal to beginner and enthusiast drone pilots. This is a drone that will undoubtedly take a place among the best beginner drones considering all this alongside the unique folding design of the Flip, where safety is paramount.

Moving back to the design, which is one of the most eye-catching aspects of the Flip, there's no way you'll have seen a drone like this before. The four propellers are encased in lightweight propeller guards for safer flights when tracking you. These fold down below the airframe and when folded out, make the Flip a much larger drone, but within the regulator-friendly sub-250g category.

The Flip can be flown independently without an app or controller, with the DJI Fly app or one of two controllers that are available in the kits. Intelligent flight modes allow for precise subject tracking while the camera can capture up to 4K 60 FPS video, 4K 100 FPS slow motion video and up to 2.7K 30 FPS vertical video in both Normal and D-Log M color profiles. Plus, photos can be captured in JPEG and Raw formats.

DJI Flip Review: Design

• Folding design
• Propeller guards
• Multiple controller options

Most drones these days feature a folding design, and the DJI Flip is no exception here despite its unique design. This sub-250g drone features propeller guards made of polycarbonate around the edges with lightweight carbon fiber string on the top and bottom; these fold up from below the airframe to create a drone that's much larger than other models within the sub-250g category.

Folded, the Flip is 5.35x2.44x6.5 inches/136x62x165 mm which increases to 9.17x11x3.11 inches/233x280x79 mm when unfolded. It's a strange-looking drone in both states, but its design is functional and makes sense for a drone that can be used autonomously for vlogging and taking selfies, and also works as a fully functioning camera drone.

The Flip's airframe is taller than other sub-250g drones and is also a different shape, but this incorporates the 3D infrared sensor at the front of the drone above the gimbal. The black panel at the front of the drone also displays the currently active intelligent flight mode, which is great when using the drone app-free; with the mode button on the side of the drone allowing you to select the desired mode.

The drone can also be controlled with the DJI Fly app, including manually, and using voice control which is convenient and allows flight parameters to be adjusted. For camera drone use, the Flip can also be flown using the DJI RC-N3 controller or the DJI RC 2 smart controller. Which controller depends on the kit you choose. For the review, the DJI RC 2 was supplied and this is a fantastic controller featuring a bright and clear built-in 5.5-inch display.

This number of control options is fantastic for a beginner model because it allows users to select the control method that's most suitable for the current flight. Traditional controllers are naturally the best option for flying manually, as a camera drone, but for vlogging and selfie functionality, app-free or control with the DJI Fly app are perfect.

DJI Flip Review: Functionality

• AI subject tracking
• 2GB of internal storage
• Wind resistance isn't great

As previously mentioned, one of the standout features of the Flip is that it's a vlogging drone and a camera drone aimed at beginners. This means it has excellent intelligent flight modes for subject tracking alongside the ability for audio to be captured via the DJI Fly app when enabled, so you can record your voice while capturing video, or with the DJI Mic connected to your smartphone; propeller noise is filtered out/reduced in both situations.

The Flip's Intelligent flight modes include Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight and Helix where AI subject tracking aims to keep the subject in the centre of the frame during photo and video capture. This works exceptionally well with ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0 all playing a part in its success as a feature.

Within the DJI Fly app, there's also Manual Control which allows you to fly the Flip using on-screen controls and although limited in terms of flight distance and control, it's a useful to have feature but is still no match for a traditional controller. The physical controllers provide the best manual flight experience possible and also allow pilots to access Quickshots, which include Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang.

With GPS positioning, the Flip can effectively hold position and this alongside the 3D Infrared Sensing System provides safe and effective Return to Home functionality in even complex environments. The return path is shown on the controller screen and DJI claims that this feature also makes lowlight and night flights safer. The sensing system also acts as forward-facing collision avoidance with a brake option available to stop the Flip when an obstacle is detected.

In terms of camera drone flight performance, the Flip flies well overall and its ability to be flown autonomously and as a camera drone makes it highly versatile. The drone can fly at speeds up to 27mph in Sport mode with Normal and Cine also available for slower and smoother flight. But it's not the fastest drone, and it's not the best performer in windier conditions with a noticeable reduction in flight speed. This could be a result of the shape of the propellers alongside the propeller guards themselves.

Other features include Hyperlapse with Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint options that can capture hyperlapse videos at up to 4K horizontally or 2.7K vertically. The charging hub also features fast charging where two batteries can be charged simultaneously while the hub can accommodate four batteries in total rather than the three most DJI hubs can accept at once.

Data transfers of up to 30MB/S to the DJI Fly app allow users to easily move photos and videos captured with the Flip to their phone. The Flip can also be plugged into a computer via USB-C to transfer data from the 2GB internal storage and/or the installed microSD card without switching the drone on. 2GB of onboard storage is next to nothing these days, especially when capturing 4K video, so a microSD card is essential.

DJI Flip review: Performance

• 12MP/48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor
• Up to 4K 60 FPS video
• Raw photos and D-Log M video are available

The Flip features a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for smooth footage, but this unfortunately doesn't rotate between landscape and portrait format like the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 4 Pro models. This isn't a major issue since the Flip can capture cropped vertical video which is ideal for social media, but it would be a welcome feature if available.

The camera features a 12MP/48MP 1/1.3-inch Quad Bayer 4-in-1 sensor with large pixels and Dual Native ISO Integration. The lens offers a 24mm equivalent focal length with an f/1.7 aperture and focus that ranges from one meter to infinity. There's also a digital zoom for photos and videos that's either 3x or 4x depending on the shooting mode and capture resolution selected.

Image quality is good but not amazing by any stretch; it's fair to say that it sits firmly in the realms of beginner quality. That's not to say you can’t capture high-quality imagery, it's just not at the same level as the DJI Mini 4 Pro with the same size sensor, for example. To be fair, the price difference between the two drones naturally suggests that the Mini 4 Pro is the more advanced model.

Photos and videos exhibit a degree of muddiness, which may be a result of HDR if it's applied to all photos and videos as the marketing materials vaguely suggest. Otherwise, as is the norm for consumer drones, photos and videos are sharpest in the centre of the frame with some fall off towards the edges.

Video can be captured in 4K at up to 60fps, 4K at 100fps in Slow Motion mode, 1080p up to 100fps and vertical video can be captured in 1080p and 2.7k at 30fps. Video can be captured in the Normal color profile for straight out-of-camera footage, which is ideal for beginners and quick turnarounds; while advanced users can capture in the 10-bit D-Log M flat profile with a 150Mbps bitrate for greater dynamic range and the ability to color grade footage. Photos can be captured in JPEG and Raw formats, so there are plenty of options to suit most pilots.

DJI Flip Review: Cost

The DJI Flip is available in three kit options where the controllers available are the main deciding factor. The DJI Flip kit includes the drone, DJI RC-N3 controller, one battery, a pair of spare propellers and other basic accessories for $439/£369. The DJI Flip (DJI RC 2) kit, which is identical apart from the controller, costs $639/£549.

The DJI RC 2 Fly More Combo is the only Fly More Combo available but is well-priced compared to the base kit when you consider the additional accessories and the benefits of the smart controller. This kit includes all of the above alongside two additional batteries, a four-battery charging hub, a shoulder bag and two additional pairs of spare propellers for $779/£659.

Should you buy the DJI Flip?

The DJI Flip is certainly an interesting drone that sets a new direction for beginner models thanks to its versatility. On the one hand, you have the vlogging/selfie drone element, thanks to the intelligent flight modes for autonomous flight and subject tracking, alongside the ability to capture audio through the DJI Fly app. On the other, you have the camera drone functionality that further extends the usefulness of the drone.

These aspects of the Flip, as well as its relatively low cost, make it a great option for beginners and it is marketed as a beginner drone after all. But with this, the image quality produced isn't as good as the DJI Mini 3 or DJI Mini 4 Pro. So, if you'd prefer the best image quality possible with a sub-250g drone, one of these models will be more suitable.

If this product isn't for you

The DJI Neo is a selfie drone with the same intelligent flight modes as the DJI Flip, as well as multiple flight control options. Photo and video capture isn't as good as the Flip, but the Neo is still a great beginner drone at a reasonable price.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the best sub-250g camera drone available and produces superior image quality for photos and videos. It also features advanced subject tracking so it can be safely flown as close to people as the Flip, making it a great drone for subject tracking if this is important to you.

The DJI Flip FPV may look like an FPV drone but it isn't one, so if you'd like to be able to capture immersive FPV video the DJI Avata 2 is perfect. What's more, the DJI RC Motion 3 makes the Avata incredibly easy and intuitive for beginners, while advanced pilots have other control options.

Ruko drones are popular options for beginners, and the Ruko U11MINI is a sub-250 g model that weighs just 8.29 oz / 235 g — one of the lighter drones in this popular category.

With some impressive drones released in 2024, the U11MINI does not qualify as one of the best beginner drones because competition in this category has seriously heated up, but it remains an option to consider.

The U11MINI comes in a complete kit with everything you need to begin flying, including a couple of batteries which is always useful. Plus, it offers a range of basic features we have come to expect in even the most basic drone models.

Flight performance is pretty good with responsive controls and agile flight, so as a first drone, it could be a worthwhile option for familiarising yourself with drone flight and controls.

Like most less expensive beginner drones image quality is not the best, but you can capture JPEG photos in 4K dimensions, which equates to 8.2MP.

Video can be captured up to 4K, but the frame rate is a little low at this resolution coming in at just 20 FPS. This certainly isn’t a deal breaker, but it is something to be aware of if you require 4K 30 FPS video.

Ruko U11MINI review

Ruko U11MINI review: Design

• Small and lightweight
• Folding design
• Good controller

With such a small, lightweight and foldable design, the Ruko U11MINI is a highly portable drone and, importantly, doesn't require FAA registration or Remote ID if it's being used recreationally. This is great for beginners because it takes some of the hassle out of drone ownership thanks to simpler rules.

This black drone has two blue lights on the front which you might think would indicate the direction it's facing, but being such a small drone they are impossible to see once you've flown away. They look good, but it is a shame they are not brighter. The downside to brighter lights would, of course, be a greater drain on the batteries, so from that point of view it is not a bad thing.

Battery life and flight times are advertised as up to 35 minutes, but during testing, flight times averaged just over 20 minutes. To be fair, the temperature in the UK is dropping to single figures, and it was windy during flights, so in warmer and calmer conditions, battery life would naturally improve.

Moving on to build quality, the drone is perfectly adequate but it is not the best we have seen. This is a folding drone, which makes it more compact for transportation and storage, and combined with the low weight, certainly makes it comfortable to carry around. Not to mention, the carry case that is included in the kit is small and has a useful handle at the top.

The controller is of higher build quality than the drone itself, with an array of direct access controls for the camera, gimbal and to initiate Return to Home. It's also comfortable to hold and the control sticks can be stowed at the bottom of the controller during transportation and storage. Finally, the phone holder extends from the top and can accommodate small and large smartphones, with space to store the phone cable, which is useful.

Ruko U11MINI review: Functionality

• Basic subject tracking
• Level 4 wind resistance
• Return to Home

The U11MINI is a basic beginner drone, and as such the features are basic but also standard for a model of its type. GPS positioning is provided by GPS and GLONASS satellites with a horizontal and vertical accuracy of ±1.64 ft / 50 cm. This appears to be correct because there is noticeable movement of the drone in all directions during hovering.

GPS also brings with it Return to Home (RTH) functionality, and you can set the RTH altitude within the Ruko U11 app. Then there's a barometer, optical flow sensor, and TOF. These are all useful, but as you would expect they are no match for full-blown obstacle avoidance sensors, which are an expensive feature only seen in the best drones.

With a range of features included in most Ruko drones, pilots can take advantage of GPS Follow Me, Image Follow, Waypoints, Point of Interest, and digital zoom to name but a few. These features all work, but they are far from being refined and the subject is not always kept in the center of the frame. Also, the fact that there is no Image Stabilization, mechanical or electronic, means that subject tracking features like all videos produce bumpy results.

One area where the U11MINI does excel for a drone of its price point is in terms of flight performance and controls. Controls are responsive and it is certainly nimble when flown in Sport mode, with a top speed of 26.6 mph. Cine mode is the slowest with Normal being the flight mode pilots use most of the time for a balance between speed and battery usage.

No sub-250 g drone is well suited to strong winds, although some do offer Level 5 wind resistance. The U11MINI offers Level 4 wind resistance, which equates to speeds of up to 18 mph, so while not the most powerful drone of its type, it was powerful enough to handle this wind level with ease during testing.

One negative that must be mentioned is that the instructions state that pairing between the controller and drone takes up to 51 seconds, and it certainly does take that long, if not longer sometimes.

This has to be done every time you switch the drone on which is a little frustrating, to say the least. You also have to keep your smartphone unplugged during the pairing process because this seems to stop the drone and controller from connecting.

Ruko U11MINI review: Performance

• Strong image processing
• Up to 4K 20 FPS video
• Automatic camera

Like most drones, the U11MINI performs best in terms of image quality in brighter conditions due to the small sensor. There is not a great deal of information about the camera and lens itself, but it appears from the specs that a Sony sensor is used, which captures photos in 4K dimensions suggesting an 8.2MP resolution.

Camera control is fully automatic, so it's a point-and-shoot affair for both photos and videos, with 4K capture at 20 FPS and 2.7 at 30 FPS. This framerate is low for 4K video these days, and it would be much better if 4K 30 FPS was available for smoother videos at this resolution.

The main problem with a fully automatic camera is that you have no control over exposure compensation, so some shots will be perfectly exposed, others are underexposed and the rest will be overexposed. Photo and video capture can sometimes feel like a lucky dip.

Image quality isn’t great and both photos and videos exhibit strong artifacts; halos from oversharpening and generally far too strong in-camera processing. Also, depending on the pitch of the gimbal, which can be set between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, severe barrel distortion is present. Distortion is at its lowest when the camera is facing forwards but there is some pincushion distortion, with tilting down around 45 degrees being where barrel distortion is most visible.

We have already mentioned the absence of Image Stabilization which means videos are bumpy. But alongside this, another symptom of no stabilization is that if a side wind is blowing the drone, the horizon is captured at an angle rather than straight as it should be. So, although the U11MINI can handle Level 4 wind, it is more suited to calmer conditions when shooting photos and videos.

Ruko U11MINI video

Ruko U11MINI review: Cost

Ruko drones are popular in the United States and this can be attributed to price. The Ruko U11MINI is a beginner model with an attractive price of $260 / £198, which removes the barrier of cost from drone ownership. However, with the release of the DJI Neo at a similar price for the base kit, there will be some seriously tough competition for entry-level beginner drones like the U11MINI.

In the kit, you get the U11MINI drone, a controller, two batteries, two USB-C cables for charging the batteries directly, a spare set of propellers, and a carry case. It's a complete kit with everything you need except for a smartphone where you will also have to download the Ruko U11 app for adjusting drone settings, using the camera, and accessing flight features.

Should you buy the Ruko U11MINI?

The U11MINI flies well with responsive controls, so from a flight point of view it provides a great option for getting to grips with flight controls before upgrading to a more expensive model. It also has useful yet basic features such as GPS positioning, downward sensors and Return to Home.

Where it is lacking, unfortunately, is in the camera department, where image quality is not great and suffers from distortion, oversharpening, and general overprocessing of photos and videos leading to artifacts. So, if you are simply looking for a drone to fly for the sake of flying, the U11MINI is perfectly capable, but as a camera drone, there are better options available for a similar price.

If the Ruko U11MINI isn't for you

The DJI Neo is a beginner drone that is affordable and can be flown in multiple ways, including autonomously with clever subject tracking, with the DJI Fly app via your smartphone, or using a traditional controller. Image quality for photos and videos is also great for a drone of its price.

The Holy Stone HS900 Sirius is an impressive sub-250 g beginner drone with a host of useful features, excellent flight performance and impressive image quality when capturing photos and videos. This is a drone that will easily take you from beginner to intermediate drone pilot and beyond.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the best sub-250 g camera drone money can buy with a fantastic camera for capturing photos and videos. It also features advanced obstacle avoidance and subject tracking, so this is a drone that could provide years of faithful service in a compact and lightweight package.

It was with the DJI Air 2 and DJI Air 2S that DJI began to fork the road for some drone models. The Mavic 3 series then followed suit with several models available. As many have anticipated, we have now seen the release of the DJI Air 3S just over a year after the DJI Air 3.

The Air 3S is an impressive dual-camera drone. Although there are only a handful of upgrades, they are pretty impressive, making it a highly attractive mid-size drone.

Before we get into the details, you can be sure that the Air 3S is one of the best drones. Thanks to the impressive dual camera capable of producing excellent image quality for photos and videos, it is also one of the best camera drones. Reaching a level where a drone fits comfortably into these prestigious categories is no mean feat, but the Air 3S has casually flown into both.

Where the Air 3 sports two cameras using a 1/1.3-inch CMOS but with different focal lengths, the Air 3S features a 50MP 1-inch CMOS in the 24mm equivalent main camera, while the 70mm equivalent medium telephoto uses a 48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS. Video can be captured in professional and enthusiast profiles up to 4K 120 FPS, while photos can be captured in Raw and JPEG at 12MP and the full resolution of each sensor.

Both Air 3 drones look practically identical. The main differences aside from the camera are improvements to the Omnidirectional Vision Sensing System, which includes forward-facing LiDAR and downward ToF sensors to make lowlight flying and the advanced Return to Home functionality safer and more reliable. Of course, there are other improvements, and we will delve into those later.

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DJI Air 3S: Design

• Standard DJI folding design
• Level 6 wind resistance
• 42 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot

DJI consumer drones look remarkably similar and feature a practically identical folding design; this is where the propeller arms fold and twist out from a folded transport and storage position that makes the drone’s footprint significantly smaller to flight position when required. It’s a tried and tested design and clearly shows no signs of needing a revamp – it simply works.

Unfolded dimensions are arguably negligible because the drone is in the air most of the time in this state, but at 8.43 x 3.96 x 3.51 in / 214.2 x 100.6 x 89.2 mm with a weight of 25.54 oz / 724 g, you can see just how compact it is. This is, of course, way above the 250 g threshold, which means that the Air 3S, like the Air 3, is subject to greater restrictions and pilot requirements in most regions including both the US and the UK.

Despite this relatively compact size, weight aside because it is roughly three-quarters the weight of the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, it is a powerful and fast drone with some impressive credentials in this area.

The Air 3S has a 47 mph top speed, Level 6 wind resistance which equates to 27 mph and the 4276 mAh batteries provide up to 45 minutes of flight time. This couldn’t be fairly tested in the cool fall temperatures in the UK, but flight times per battery were never an issue.

The Air 3S also features 42 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot to expand storage potential if and when required. Plus, there’s a USB-C port that can be used for data transfer from the internal storage and/or to charge the currently installed battery. If you have the Fly More Combo, the included three-way charging hub is undoubtedly the better option for charging.

You can buy the drone with either the DJI RC-N3 controller, which is a standard controller that requires a smartphone running the DJI Fly app to be attached, or the DJI RC 2 smart controller, with its bright 700 nit 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen and 32 GB of onboard storage. The DJI RC 2 is the more convenient of the two and doesn’t cost a huge amount more than the DJI RC-N3 Fly More Combo.

DJI Air 3S: Functionality

• Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance with forward-facing LiDAR
• New Free Panorama feature
• 10-bit 04 Video Transmission

In many respects, the Air 3S is the same drone as the Air 3, but it has a few aces beyond the improved camera that we will discuss in the next section. The most significant is the 360-degree omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, which has been upgraded with forward-facing LiDAR and downward infrared time-of-flight (TOF) sensors.

The LiDAR and downward TOF sensors aim to improve obstacle avoidance at night. This could not be tested in the UK because night operations require special authorizations from the CAA. However, their inclusion on the Air 3S can only benefit pilots in countries where night flights are allowed without jumping through complicated regulatory hoops.

One thing to bear in mind, however, is that collision avoidance, even in daylight, can never be fully relied upon because as effective as it is, and it is amazing, it is not a failsafe, and errors, however infrequent, can occur. So, pilot awareness always remains the most critical collision avoidance system with any drone and the two should supplement one another.

The DJI Air 3S features ActiveTrack 360° subject tracking, which is highly effective and aims to keep the subject sharp and in focus in the center of the frame. This feature utilizes the collision avoidance system and is designed to maintain an optimum flight path during automated subject-tracking flights.

The drone also uses the same DJI O4 HD video transmission technology that is used in the Air 3, which is claimed to be able to transmit 1080p 60 FPS video at up to 12.4 miles in the US and up to 6.2 miles in other regions. This could not be tested to its extreme, but suffice it to say that connection between the drone and controller was never an issue during testing within legal flight distances.

Other useful new features include the new free panorama mode where panoramic shots are manually selected rather than simply selecting a panorama preset option, and the results are stitched together in-camera. Then there is Off-State QuickTransfer, which lets you connect the Air 3S to a computer to download files without switching it on. It's a simple feature that would have been great if it had been implemented in DJI drones long ago, but better late than never.

Finally, let's not forget the DJI Cellular Dongle 2, which can be inserted directly into the Air 3S to provide 4G connectivity when there is interference or disconnection from DJI O4 HD video transmission. This is not a necessity for everyone, but for some pilots working in complex environments, it will provide enhanced reliability and peace of mind.

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DJI Air 3S: Performance

• 24mm and 70mm equivalent cameras
• 1-inch sensor in the main camera
• Up to 4K 120 FPS 1080p 240 FPS video

Regarding camera performance, the Air 3S features a stunning pair of cameras that not only provide versatility for professionals and enthusiasts but also produce excellent image quality. The main camera is a real gem, and although it doesn't offer an adjustable aperture like the Mavic 3 models’ main camera, you can use ND filters to control shutter speed when shooting video.

The main camera uses a 50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor and provides an equivalent focal length of 24mm, alongside a fixed f/1.8 aperture. Focus is from 1.64 ft / 0.5 m to infinity. The medium telephoto features a 48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor and offers a 70mm equivalent focal length, alongside a fixed f/2.8 aperture and focus from 9.94 ft / 3 m to infinity.

There’s also a digital zoom available for the cameras, but as always, the image quality drops as the zoom factor is increased since you’re cropping pixels rather than zooming optically. Overall image quality, as previously mentioned, is excellent from both cameras, with sharp and detail-packed photos and videos. There is a small amount of fall-off in sharpness towards the edges of the frame, but this is completely normal and minor.

For photography, both cameras can be set to either their full resolution or 12MP if you only require a lower-resolution image. All resolution options allow for capture in RAW and JPEG formats, as well as all shooting modes including Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) and Burst Shot, etc. Some DJI drones don't allow for these modes to be used when shooting in their high-resolution option.

Both cameras can capture video in 4K at 24/25/30/48/50/60/120 FPS and in 1080p up to 240 FPS. For both 4K and 1080p video, capture at 120 and 240 FPS, respectively, requires the Slow Motion video option to be selected. 2.7K vertical video in 9:16 can be captured at 24/25/30/48/50/60 FPS, which is ideal for social media; this is a crop of landscape format rather than a rotation of the camera and gimbal like the Mini 3, 3 Pro and 4 Pro.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

Video can be captured in Normal, HLG (HDR capture), and D-Log M color profiles with the former available in 8-bit and 10-bit with H.264 and H.265 encoding, and the latter two being 10-bit in H.265. This provides options for both straight-out-of-camera footage, which will appeal to enthusiasts, and flat profiles for professional workflows with color grading. Both cameras can also capture up to 14 stops of dynamic range, which is fantastic in high-contrast situations.

DJI Air 3S: Price

The Air 3S is available in three well-priced kit options considering the features on offer. It naturally sits between the DJI Mini 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 models in terms of cost and offers something different to both.

The standard kit uses the DJI RC-N3 controller and includes this, the drone, a battery, and a USB-C/PD cable. This base kit costs $1099 / £959. There are two Fly More Combos with the less expensive of the two offering the same controller as the standard kit, and this option costs $1,399 / £1,239.

The premium kit is the DJ RC N2 smart controller option, and this costs $1599 / £1,439. The Fly More Combos include everything in the standard kit alongside the relevant controller, two additional batteries, a shoulder bag, a three-battery charging hub, and an ND filter set with three filters to help with controlling shutter speed when shooting video or for creative photographic effects.

Should you buy the DJI Air 3S?

The DJI Air 3S is an excellent drone. Although the main camera doesn't have an adjustable aperture like the Mavic 3 models, the Air 3S produces excellent image quality. The Omnidirectional Vision Sensing System, which includes forward-facing LiDAR and downward ToF sensors, makes lowlight flying and the advanced Return to Home functionality safer and more reliable.

This is also a fast and powerful drone with respectable flight times per battery, and this additional power alongside the weight makes it much more stable in windy conditions than the DJI Mini 4 Pro. Ultimately, the question you have to ask yourself is do you go for the Air 3S (this drone) or the Mavic 3 Pro. Both are excellent drones, but the Air 3S does have the edge in a few areas, including cost.

If this drone isn't for you

If you would like a more powerful professional drone with three cameras, including an adjustable aperture in the main camera, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is the flagship model and provides fantastic image quality and features.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the best sub-250 g camera drone available, and it's much more regulator-friendly than the DJI Air 3S. Its photo and video quality are great, and its small size and light weight make it highly portable.

If you would prefer to capture FPV video, and photos are not important, the DJI Avata 2 is incredibly easy to fly with the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller. Flight is intuitive, even for beginners, and the quality of the 4K video is fantastic.

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It's not often that DJI is behind the curve, but even the world's leading drone manufacturer isn't going to be leading the pack all of the time. The DJI Neo is a sub-250 g beginner drone that can be flown autonomously, with the DJI Fly app, using the DJI RC-N3 Controller, and even flown as an FPV drone when connected to DJI's FPV controllers and goggles.

This drone is highly versatile for these reasons, but at the simplest end of operation, it is extremely similar to the HoverAir X1. The Neo does, however, take clever autonomous flight a step further with its multiple control options, which combined with the low price of the base kit make it one of the best beginner drones. It will never be one of the best drones, but it is undoubtedly an interesting addition to the DJI stable.

The Neo is not a particularly fast drone and alongside GPS positioning, it only features downward visual positioning and a single-axis gimbal that's supplemented by effective Rocksteady and HorizonBalancing stabilization. Camera functionality is also basic with 4K 30 FPS being the fixed 4K option for video capture alongside FHD at 30, 50, and 60 FPS. You can also capture 12MP photos, but these are limited to JPEG format in either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.

Camera functionality is also basic with 4K 30 FPS being the fixed 4K option for video capture alongside FHD at 30, 50, and 60 FPS. You can also capture 12MP photos, but these are limited to JPEG format in either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.

Camera limitations aside, which are of no consequence for beginners, the Neo is designed for fun and simplicity and it certainly achieves this. And at just $199 / £169 for the base kit where you can fly the drone autonomously with or without the DJI Fly app, it makes getting into drones incredibly cheap and easy for absolutely anyone.

DJI Neo review

DJI Neo review: Design

• Small and lightweight
• Propeller guards
• Multiple controller options

The DJI Neo sports a design that puts it somewhere between a micro whoop and a cine whoop FPV drone, with enclosed propeller guards to keep people and objects safe. This makes it safe for hand take-off and landing, as well as for flying close to people when using the autonomous subject tracking modes.

It is just a little larger than the palm of your hand with a weight of just 4.76oz / 135g, so if you are using the Neo controller-free, using the on-drone controls to initiate autonomous flight or the DJI Fly app, it's a minimalist kit to take out. You can also take standard control of the Neo using the DJI Fly app using the onscreen digital controls or activate voice control.

Voice control requires the DJI Fly app to be opened on your phone and connected to the drone anyway. So, it is just as easy to initiate flight using the app where you have more control over flight parameters such as flight distance when tracking a subject.

The Fly More bundle includes the DJI RC-N3 Controller, which makes the Neo behave more like a camera drone and extends the transmission distance from 50m when using the app with the Neo’s WiFi to standard camera drone distances. Plus, you can pair the Neo with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 or the DJI RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3 for FPV flight.

Despite the small size and light weight, the Neo is well-made and certainly feels robust enough to take a knock or two. Plus, the propellers are enclosed top and bottom, as well as having standard propeller guards that are built into the airframe, so it's a safe drone to fly around and close to people. However, care still has to be taken since the Neo only has downward vision sensors and not collision avoidance sensors.

DJI Neo review: Functionality

• AI subject tracking
• Level 4 wind resistance
• GPS positioning

The Neo may be a relatively simple drone in terms of operation, but behind-the-scenes AI subject tracking is hard at work to keep the subject in the center of the frame when capturing photos and videos. This works alongside the Intelligent flight modes, which include Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Omni, Helix, and Boomerang.

Flight speed is pretty slow at 1.11mph in Cine mode, 13.42mph in Normal mode, and 17.89mph in Sport mode when flying using the RC-N3 Controller. But although the top speed isn't anywhere near as fast as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, it should still be fast enough to keep up with most moving human subjects, including cyclists.

The flight speed can be increased to 35.79mph when using the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 in Manual mode, alongside using DJI Goggles 3. Plus, when used with the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller you can take advantage of Easy ACRO where you can Flip, Roll, and 180° Drift the Neo while also taking advantage of the intuitive FPV control provided by the Motion 3 Controller.

How many people will use the Neo for FPV is difficult to guess because of the additional FPV accessories that are required. The most likely use of the drone will probably be palm take-off and landing, using either the controls on the drone or the DJI Fly app. But even if you intend to mainly use the Neo this way, the Fly More Bundle with the RC-N3 Controller does open things up somewhat.

With the RC-N3 Controller, the Neo behaves more like a standard camera drone with more precise control available. This also opens up GPS positioning, Return to Home, and an on-screen map. Not to mention, using this controller massively extends the drone's range beyond the 50m transmission distance when using the DJI Fly app to control the Neo over its WiFi connection.

As previously mentioned, there is no collision avoidance, which would be useful for a drone like this, but it would also drive up the cost. There are downward vision positioning sensors with a precision range of 0.5-10m, and during testing the drone was able to fly under and around obstacles when tracking subjects — most likely because the subject avoided them, but it is still impressive.

The Neo offers up to level 4 wind resistance, which is 18mph, but it is not well suited to flying in winds even close to this level. It's not at all stable, and although Electronic Image Stabilization using a 1/2-inch sensor covers up to 45 degrees of horizontal tilt, stronger winds make the drone roll further than this. With lower wind levels, however, the Image Stabilization is excellent.

With 22GB of onboard storage, which DJI says equates to 40 minutes of 4K 30 FPS or 55 minutes of 1080p 60 FPS video, you have plenty of storage for a day out. Photos and videos can then be transferred to the DJI Fly App using Quick Transfer, or downloaded to your computer when the Neo is connected via the included USB-C PD cable.

DJI Neo review: Performance

• 1/2-inch sensor 12MP sensor
• Up to 4K 30 FPS video
• Automatic shooting

One of the great things about the Neo when flying in the autonomous subject tracking modes, is that photos and videos are captured automatically, so you don't have to worry about a thing. Simply take off, and the drone will do the rest for you. Camera functionality is most limited in these modes, but it does open up when using the RC-N3 Controller.

The drone features a 12MP 1/2-inch sensor which is quite large for such a small drone, but this provides more than enough pixels to accommodate the 45 degrees of horizontal tilt when using Electronic Image Stabilization. This is incredibly effective, but larger bumps of the drone from wind remain noticeable in videos.

The camera provides a wide 117.6-degree field of view, with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 13mm. The aperture is fixed at f/2.8 and the fixed focus lens provides sharpness from 60 cm to infinity. ISO and shutter speed ranges are large enough for a wide range of lighting conditions, while Manual and Auto shooting modes are available.

The image quality is good but not outstanding, but there is nothing to complain about here. Camera functionality is limited with 4K video fixed at 30 FPS while shooting at 1080p opens up more frame rate options. The color profile is Standard for straight-out-of-camera footage, with no flat profile available for color grading, while the bitrate is set at 75mbps. The video does look slightly oversharpened, but this can be reduced for a more pleasing and natural look when using the RC-N3 Controller.

Photos can only be captured in JPEG format in 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios. Image quality is best in brighter conditions, like most drones and action cameras with small sensors, so nothing is unusual here. All in all, it is an incredibly simple camera, but since simplicity is a key attribute of the Neo, this comes as little surprise.

Manually captured video

Intelligent Flight Modes

DJI Neo review: Cost

The Neo is available in two kits and the base kit includes the drone, battery, and accessories which costs $199 / £169. This kit allows for controller-free and app-controlled flight and is the most accessible option for absolute beginners. The Neo is absolutely fine at this basic level, but by investing in the Fly More Bundle you can increase the usability of the Neo, allowing it to be controlled and used as a camera drone.

The Fly More Bundle (DJI Neo Combo in the US) includes the drone, a DJI RC-N3 Controller, three Smart Batteries, a Battery Charging Hub, and accessories. This kit costs $289 / £299, so it is great value when you consider the two extra batteries and the controller that are included. The Neo can also be controlled with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 and DJI Goggles 3 for manual FPV flight or the goggles and the DJI RC Motion 3, but these would make it an overly expensive drone kit unless you already own the FPV accessories.

Should you buy the DJI Neo?

The DJI Neo is a lot of fun and makes drone flight as simple or as complicated as you would like it to be thanks to the multiple control options that are available. This not only makes it versatile but also provides a clear path for upgrading the drone as your skills and requirements grow.

For beginners, it is a drone worth considering and the two inexpensive kit options make it highly accessible to even those on a tight budget. But for more advanced drone pilots looking specifically for either a camera drone or an FPV drone, there are better DJI drones that you can invest in.

But even if you are a more advanced pilot and you would simply like a drone that can track you autonomously while you are out on your adventures, the Neo will do exactly that and do it well.

If the DJI Neo isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 is the first autonomous drone of this type. It is a great performer and incredibly easy to use. It doesn't have all of the flight control options offered by the DJI Neo, but it does feature a foldable design that makes it more compact.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is an amazing sub-250 g camera drone and is much more powerful than the Neo with a much better camera. It also features advanced subject tracking so although it can be flown as close to people as the Neo, it is a solid option for those looking for a lightweight camera drone.

If you would like to get into FPV, the DJI Avata 2 is a much better drone for this than the Neo and has a superior camera for capturing 4K video. What's more, to fly the Neo as an FPV drone you need the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 or the DJI RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3, which would take the cost close to the Avata 2 if bought separately.

The panic in New Jersey and across the nation is very real as there is still no explanation for the multiple drone sightings over the state. Reports of these drones have poured in nightly after the first sighting on Nov. 18, 2024, and the source of the drones is still a mystery. The drones have been seen over reservoirs, the U.S. military's Picatinny Arsenal facility, President-elect Trump's Bedminster golf course, and were even reported following a U.S. Coast Guard vessel.

Almost 100 years ago on Oct. 30, 1938, many of these same parts of New Jersey were also the setting for the infamous radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" by Orson Welles. This radio play, detailing Martians who landed in Mercer County, New Jersey, fooled many who tuned in late and believed the events were really happening.

It would be unfair to compare the current drone situation directly with the "War of the Worlds" broadcast. There was no real event that corresponded to the broadcast, and no one saw anything in the sky. However, there are several interesting parallels, says A. Brad Schwartz. Schwartz is the author of "Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles's War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News," a historical analysis of the infamous 1938 radio broadcast. "War of the Worlds has become a huge part of local folklore in that part of the state, so anything touching on the subject of UFOs is going to remind people of the broadcast," said Schwartz. Many in New Jersey, he says, have family stories of someone who listened to the broadcast. Some even went on school field trips to visit the "landing site."

But the parallels do not end there. Wedged between two World Wars, the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression and mass unemployment. "Much like today, October 1938 was a very anxious time in America and around the world, when fears of war, economic depression, and environmental catastrophe felt very real for many people," says Schwartz.

In fact, he says, many listeners of the broadcast did not think the visitors in the broadcast were Martians, but instead, Nazis, or that the crash landing was tied to some other environmental catastrophe.

"When there's that much anxiety in the atmosphere, it tends to attach itself to an event like 'War of the Worlds'," says Schwartz. "People speculate publicly about their origin without knowing all the facts." This has been seen with the current drone situation, where explanations have ranged from mischievous hobbyists, an Iranian mothership, the Chinese, the Russians, our own government, Amazon, Google, Elon Musk, or even, yes, aliens.

"One of the lessons I think people can still take away from War of the Worlds," says Schwartz," is to think more carefully about our sources of information, especially with a story like this that seems alarming or feeds into the anxieties of the moment."

For their part, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement asserting that "it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully," according to Reuters. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a press briefing on Dec. 12 that "there is no known malicious activity occurring" related to the reported drone activity.

Nevertheless, some U.S. senators have made statements calling for the reported drones to be shot down.

There is a lot of anxiety that exists today — especially with the current political situation and the advent of particularly powerful technologies — technologies that we don't know how to manage on a global stage. Similar anxieties existed in the late 1930s, when new forms of mass media were appearing. Some feared these technologies would threaten democracy.

"Today, we all need to be even more careful to ensure that what sounds like news comes from a reliable source before we believe it or share it. That's the best and only way to stop fear from going viral and spiraling out of control," says Schwartz.

A new celestial navigation system designed for drones could make them harder to detect by eliminating the need for GPS signal emissions.

Scientists from the University of South Australia have developed a new navigation system that allows uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) — or drones, as they're more commonly known — to sense their location based on the stars in the night sky.

Such a system could make drones harder to detect and more resistant to jamming attacks that deny or disrupt GPS signals, one of the most common forms of long-distance navigation and positioning.

Celestial navigation, as this technique is known, has been used by humanity for thousands of years. Aircraft and spacecraft have used similar systems for decades, but this new system is designed to be low-cost and lightweight enough to be used on smaller drones, according to the researchers developing it.

"Unlike traditional star-based navigation systems, which are often complex, heavy and costly, our system is simpler, lighter and does not need stabilization hardware, making it suitable for smaller drones," said Samuel Teague of the University of South Australia (UniSA), in a statement.

The new system combines visual observations of the stars with standard autopilot technologies. In tests of the system using a fixed-wing UAV, researchers were able to pinpoint the drone's position within 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).

Such a capability could be used to operate drones in areas where GPS signals are jammed or degraded due to electronic warfare. This type of warfare targets the electromagnetic spectrum, through which radio signals and other emissions pass.

The researchers behind this new celestial navigation system say it could help not only with military missions, but also in peacetime operations like Earth observation.

"We have developed a navigation method that’s resilient, independent of external signals, and achievable with low-cost, easily accessible components. This makes it applicable to a variety of UAVs, from commercial drones to more advanced defense applications," UniSA scientist Javaan Chahl said in the statement.

"For instance, in environmental monitoring over remote locations or long-endurance surveillance missions where GPS might be unavailable or compromised, this technology offers a valuable new capability," Chahl said.

Russia has repeatedly jammed GPS signals in Ukraine throughout its nearly three-year invasion of the nation, using mobile jammers mounted on trucks. The U.S. Space Force has been developing and testing similar systems of its own.

But on the other hand, the capability to operate drones without the need to transmit and receive GPS signals could make it harder for militaries and other security forces to detect and defend against UAVs.

Several high-profile drone incursions above military facilities or sensitive facilities like nuclear power plants have shown that UAVs are already skirting air defense systems and pose a new threat for which there is no easy solution.

And as the ongoing war in Ukraine shows, the future of air warfare will likely move away from large, expensive fighter jets crewed by human pilots and toward smaller, less expensive drones that are easy to replace.

With that being the case, creating small, inexpensive celestial navigation systems will likely only accelerate the already-burgeoning future of drone warfare.

This research was published last month in the journal "Drones".

The DJI Mini 4K is the best affordable, lightweight drone in our best beginner drone guide. James, our expert drone pilot and reviewer says it is easily one of, if not the best, sub 250 g drones available at its regular price point. And now there's a reason (or 4000) you should buy it.

Save $60 and get the best affordable, lightweight drone for $239 this Cyber Monday.

No 4K doesn't really mean 4000 but 4K 30 FPS video, but that's a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels (over 8.2 million!) which is surprising in a beginner drone under 250 g in weight. With 31 minutes flight time, and no need to register it for flight with the authorities, it's great for beginners.

It's no secret that DJI is the market leader in the drone world although up until recently their beginner models left something to be desired. Then the Mini 4K came along. It is the best-ever low-cost model that DJI has produced, serving the beginner pilot audience, and it doesn't disappoint.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Cyber Monday space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

See the below footage from our DJI Mini 4k review below. Please note that the footage was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

Key features: Up to 4K 30 FPS video, RAW and JPEG file formats, manual and auto camera modes, foldable, sub 250 g, up to 31 minute flight time

Product launched: May 2024

Price history: The average price over the last year (or 217 days since its release date) is $299. We have seen it dip to $199 but that deal lasted for just one day – likely a spotlight deal on Amazon where you have to be very quick!

Price comparison: Amazon $239 | Adorama $299

Reviews consensus: This is a great drone that will serve a beginner drone pilot for a long time before they want to upgrade.

TechRadar: ★★★★ ½ | Space: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones for beginners (best lightweight affordable drone)

✅ Buy it if: You want to capture aerial photos and videos and has most of the features you could want and need as a beginner drone pilot. Because it is less than 250 g you won't have to register it with the FAA either.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something with collision avoidance, you will have to pay more for that. Take a look at the DJI Air 3 instead.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Our drone expert James Abbott reviewed the Potensic Atom last year. He thinks it is one of the best beginner drones available and deems it to be one of the best drones you can fly for less than $400, so it's even better now it's less than $330! It did dip to $319 for Black Friday so the price is already on the rise. It's already back up to $359.99 at Adorama. Don't miss out on a saving.

Get the Potensic Atom bundle $91 cheaper now just $323 today at Amazon

This drone is stiff competition for the ever-popular DJI drone brand and the features and functionality you get for a drone at this price point are impressive – even more so when it's on sale.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Black Friday space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

We'll start by saying that if you're looking for a drone that has collision avoidance, like most drones in this price bracket, the Potenisic Atom doesn't have it.

It has subject tracking, which is an automated flight pattern that follows a predefined moving subject while capturing video. It also features the handy 'Return to Home' feature so you can be sure the drone will return before the battery runs out

It weighs 249 g and folds down to a compact 3.5 x 5.6 x 2.3-in / 88 x 143 x 58 mm so you can take it anywhere. We found that the flight time averages around 25 minutes before Return To Home was initiated (when the battery level gets to 16%). You can override this, but always ensure you have enough power to get the drone back to where you stand, or you will have to take a long walk to retrieve it!

James tested the drone when the wind was gusting at around 33 kilometers per hour (21 mph), and this nifty little drone performed well. When flown to higher altitudes (where it was windier than at ground level), the app gave a warning and suggested reducing altitude to keep the drone safe.

Overall, it flies very well with easy-to-use responsive controls, and plenty of flying modes to make slick-looking 4K videos. The 16:9 stills photos are impressive too, though you'll find you may have to do a bit of editing to bring out their full color and sharpness potential.

Key features: Sub 249g, smartphone app, GPS positioning, subject tracking, 'Quickshots' (automatic flight patterns), 12MP photos in JPEG and RAW, 4K video, 3-axis mechanical gimbal.

Product launched: 2023

Price history: The price was a few dollars cheaper on Black Friday, we expect it to return to normal price tomorrow.

Price comparison: Amazon: $329.99 | Adorama $359.99

Reviews consensus: The Potensic Atom is a beginner-friendly drone that offers impressive features at an affordable price. It boasts a 4K camera with 3-axis gimbal stabilization, ensuring smooth and high-quality video capture. The drone is lightweight, weighing just under 250 g. It has intelligent flight features and a user-friendly app, making it accessible to new drone pilots. However, it lacks collision avoidance and has a fixed-focus lens, which may limit its versatility in some environments.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best beginner drones

✅ Buy it if: You're a beginner or enthusiast who wants one of the best feature-rich beginner drones on the market without having to break the bank.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a drone with collision avoidance, for that try a model like the DJI mini 4 pro or the DJI Air 3.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

In our review of the Holy Stone HS900, we deemed it the best drone Holy Stone has brought to the market. We continue to regard it as one of the best beginner drones on the market. Released earlier this year, it showcases significant performance and camera quality improvements over earlier models, particularly the Holy Stone HS360S.

Save $200 and get the fantastic Holy Stone HS900 for $398.99 today, Cyber Monday

This drone is a compelling option for beginner and intermediate pilots, sitting mid-range in the sub-250g drone category. We would happily recommend it at full price, so the $200 saving sweetens the deal. Limited units are available at this price; at the time of writing, 37% of them have already been purchased.

The HS900 is packed with features found on more advanced drones, including GPS positioning, Return to Home functionality, and downward vision sensors. We would have liked to see obstacle avoidance, but for this price, we can't have it all.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Cyber Monday space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

The camera's image quality is impressive, with stabilized video up to 4K that will likely satisfy both beginner and intermediate pilots, especially on bright days. It has Level 5 Wind Resistance for smoother shots. It features a Sony 1/2.3-inch 48-megapixel CMOS sensor with a fixed-focus f/2.6 lens offering a 100-degree field of view. RAW photo shooting is unavailable, you can only capture photos in JPEG, but we understand it will be included in a future firmware update, but we've no idea when that will be.

See the below footage from our Holy Stone HS900 review.

Key features: 4K stabilized video, Return to Home, GPS positioning, automated flight patterns, cruise control, 48MP stills photos

Product launched: May 2024

Price history: This drone was sold for around $350 at its launch, but since gaining a respectable reputation, the price has shot up. Since its release, the prices fluctuate between $450 and $600, so $398.99 is a pretty generous deal.

Price comparison: Amazon: $398.99

Reviews consensus: This drone is still relatively new to the market (around 6 months), so there aren't thousands of customer reviews, although the 4.2/5 star rating on Amazon is in line with the four stars that we awarded it. Users are happy with the value for money, the ease of use and the image quality — all things we agree with. Some users have experienced pairing issues, but this is often due to user error.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best drones for beginners (best budget model for features)

✅ Buy it if: You're a beginner or intermediate drone pilot who wants a feature-rich camera drone for a very fair price.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want to shoot RAW photos. You can only shoot in JPEG. If shooting RAW is important to you, consider the Potensic ATOM. We've found it for less than $300 at Adorama.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Buying your first drone can often be an exercise of overcoming several hurdles: fear of crashing an expensive device, complexity and regulations. A basic drone that addresses all of these is the Ruko F11 Mini, which is an inexpensive sub-350g model offering basic features in an easy-to-use package.

Features available include basic subject tracking, point of interest and waypoint flight alongside GPS positioning. But being a low-cost beginner model, more advanced features such as obstacle avoidance and manual camera control are absent. This is pretty much the norm at this end of the scale. It’s certainly not one of the best drones, but it could be one of the best beginner drones in terms of being a model that’s useful for learning flight controls.

The main advantage of the F11 Mini is that it’s inexpensive for a sub-250g drone at just $156 / £200 on Amazon. This makes drone flight alongside aerial photography and video accessible to more people and also means that you don’t have to have a huge budget to get started. Of course, you have to make some concessions at this level, particularly in the area of image quality, but this is to be expected for the low price.

Despite the low price, the F11 Mini comes in a kit with everything you need to fly, including two batteries which is great. Quite often, less expensive drones only come with a single battery which severely limits flight times when you’re out for the day. However, with any drone where the batteries are charged directly via USB cable, including the F11 Mini, you can easily charge on the go using a USB power bank.

Ruko F11 Mini review

Ruko F11 Mini review: Design

• Sub-250g folding design
• 2-axis gimbal
• Basic controller

The F11 Mini is a sub-250g drone, so it’s compact and lightweight with a folded size of 5.90 x 3.34 x 2.16 in / 150 x 85 x 55 mm, which extends to 11.81 x 8.46x 2.16 in / 300 x 215 x 55 mm when unfolded. The weight comes in at 8.64oz / 245g. This makes it regulator-friendly and US users won’t need to register the drone with the FAA and it doesn’t need a remote ID, although UK users will have to register with the CAA and display their Operator ID on the drone.

The build quality of this palm-sized drone, when folded, isn’t as high as more expensive models but it’s fine and there’s even a protector to the sides of the gimbal that would protect the camera in the event of a crash. The gimbal itself is only 2-axis, so you can only tilt it up and down to adjust the camera angle, with no mechanical or Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).

The controller is basic but offers all of the controls you need including buttons to adjust the tilt of the gimbal, photo and video capture buttons, a take-off/landing button and a Return to Home button among a few others. The phone holder lifts from the front and can accommodate both smaller and larger smartphones, and two grips extend from the bottom of the controller to make it more comfortable to hold. It’s far from the most robust feeling drone controller, but perfectly adequate for its intended purpose.

The connection between the phone and the drone for app use and to view the camera feed is via the drone’s Wi-Fi, so no cables are needed which keeps things simple. But you do have to switch off mobile data on the phone to avoid a blank screen and also manually pair the controller and drone each time you fly or change the battery. This is achieved by pushing the left control stick up until you hear a beep, and then down until you hear a beep.

Ruko F11 Mini review: Functionality

• Basic automated flight features
• GPS positioning
• Impressive battery life

When it comes to flight, the F11 Mini flies well and uses GPS positioning to maintain position and a downward optical flow sensor for indoor flight. There is some drift when hovering outdoors and connected to GPS, but this isn't a problem because it's only minor. GPS, in turn, brings Return to Home functionality, which is where the drone will fly back if the connection to the controller is lost, when the battery reaches 20% or when initiated by the pilot.

Battery life is advertised at up to 30 minutes, and during testing in 20 mph wind gusts the F11 Mini achieved an impressive 21 minutes of flight before Return to Home was automatically initiated at 20% battery. 

In this wind, the drone struggled, so it's much more suited to low-wind situations where the battery would naturally provide longer flight times. Flight modes available include Normal and Sport, with the latter providing more speed and power but also using more battery power.

GPS Follow, Waypoint/route planning and Point of Interest are three automated flight modes alongside a Split Screen capture option for creating virtual reality videos. These all work, but there's no real finesse here so results are much less impressive than with more expensive drone models. Plus, with no obstacle avoidance, you have to be flying in an open area where there’s no chance of a collision with an obstacle.

Ruko F11 Mini review: Performance

• Unimpressive image quality
• No Image Stabilization
• Point-and-shoot camera

There's no getting away from the fact the F11 Mini's camera is basic in terms of control, with point-and-shoot only, and unimpressive image quality for both photos and videos. Exact camera specs are a little thin on the ground but photos come in at 12.5MP and you can capture video in 4K at 15 fps and 2.7K at 25 fps. The latter will provide smoother results in terms of frame rate, but with 4K being the standard video resolution these days, it’s a shame that the 4K frame rate is so low.

Overall, image quality is slightly better than that of a toy camera, with fixed focus and heavy processing diminishing detail. The most significant shortfall, especially for video, is the absence of any kind of Image Stabilization.

This means that alongside the FPV look where the camera captures the pitch and roll of the drone in photos and videos, videos are shaky because every drone movement is captured in videos and this is exacerbated in windy conditions.

An FPV style of video capture is always present in drones that don’t have a 3-axis gimbal, which handles movement, but the lack of even Electronic Image Stabilization results in extremely rough and ready video footage.

Couple this with jello, which is image wobble from the electronic shutter, and the video quality isn’t great overall. Then there's the pitch change of the drone as it flies forwards or backwards, which can make it difficult to compose videos correctly because you have to guestimate the camera angle to account for the pitch change beforehand.

Ruko F11 Mini review: Cost

The Ruko F11 Mini is a fairly inexpensive beginner drone, priced at $156 / £200 on Amazon. The kit includes everything you need: the F11 Mini drone, a controller, two batteries, two Micro USB cables, a spare set of propellers, a screwdriver and a carry bag. 

Setup is easy enough, but you do have to connect the controller and drone manually each time you fly, change the battery, and turn off mobile data on your phone to avoid Wi-Fi connection issues.

The included carry bag comfortably accommodates the whole kit when out flying, which isn't always the case with drones. Plus, there’s enough space in the bag to carry a small USB power bank that could be used to charge the drone batteries and controller on location.

Should you buy the Ruko F11 Mini?

If you're a beginner on a tight budget, the F11 Mini could provide an entry point into drone flight before purchasing a more expensive and advanced model. As a flight-learning drone, it’s a good option and with some drift when hovering, when you move onto a more advanced model you’ll find it incredibly easy to fly in comparison.

If your aim is, however, to also have a drone capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, this isn’t one of the F11 Mini’s strengths. With no Image Stabilization, mechanical or electronic, video has a shaky, rough-and-ready appearance that may appeal to some people, but overall image quality for both photos and videos is lacking. 

If the Ruko F11 Mini isn't for you

If you’re looking for an affordable beginner drone that can capture decent photos and videos, the Potensic Atom SE is a great option to consider. This drone offers Electronic Image Stabilisation so 4K footage is smoothed, but still exhibits the FPV look where the tilt of the drone is captured. Image quality is good, and it can even capture Photos in Raw and JPEG formats.

For those with a bigger budget, the DJI Mini 3 is the best sub-250g beginner drone available, offering the most reliable features and the best image quality for its price. This drone can capture video and photos in both landscape and portrait (upright) formats, which is useful for people who upload their drone shots to social media.

If you’re looking for something a little different, the DJI Avata 2 is the most expensive model to be recommended here, but it’s also one of the easiest FPV drones to fly thanks to the intuitive Motion Controller that can be used to control it. If you’re an FPV beginner hoping to capture immersive FPV video, this could be the drone for you.

It's not often that a Ready to Fly (RTF) kit captures your imagination, but the Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle Kit raises the bar of FPV drone kits for beginners. This diminutive freestyle FPV drone kit is one of the best FPV drones available, building on the well-respected heritage earned by its two predecessors.

If you're new to FPV (first-person view) drones, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well, just imagine experiencing a sense of acrobatic flight while your feet are firmly and safely on the ground — that pretty much sums it up at the most basic level. However, the main difference between FPV drones and the best camera drones is that alongside the first-person element where you wear goggles, flying these drones, even at a basic level, requires skill.

Once you harness your skills through practicing on a flight simulator and an RTF kit like the Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle Kit, you can learn how to fly in acro mode, where you can dive, roll, flip and fly the drone through tight gaps and around obstacles. The difficulty comes in the absence of hovering, GPS and other drone technologies. FPV is barebones, but it's a huge amount of fun.

The Emax Tinyhawk III Plus is a mini freestyle FPV drone that's designed to make getting into FPV freestyle as easy as possible. The whole package itself has everything you need to get started, although more batteries are a necessity, all for a price that makes it incredibly accessible. What's more, alongside great flight performance for beginners and intermediate pilots, the drone uses an HD video feed to provide a clear camera view in the goggles.

Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit Review

Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit: Design

• Mini freestyle design
• Lightweight and well-built
• Comfortable controller 

The Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle, as the name suggests, is a freestyle FPV drone, which means it's an X shape with the motors and propellers at the end of each arm and the flight controller and other electronics sandwiched in the center of the airframe. The batteries attach to the top of the airframe, secured by a Velcro strap and plug into a wired connector at the back end of the drone.

It's a small and lightweight design with dimensions of just 3.94 x 4.09 x 0.87 in / 100 x 104 x 22 mm, with a weight of 2.31 oz / 65.5g (without batteries). There's no on/off switch, powering on and off is achieved simply by connecting and disconnecting the batteries, just like other traditional FPV drones. It's also extremely tough, but not immune from damage in serious crashes on hard ground such as concrete.

At the front of the drone is the RunCam HDZero Nano Lite Camera with an adjustable angle for changing the pitch of the camera depending on the intended speed of flight. You just have to loosen two hex screws on either side of the camera to adjust its angle. The camera is also recessed behind the bottom of the drone's airframe, which provides a degree of protection in crashes.

The controller that comes in the kit is the Emax E8 Transmitter, which runs on the ELRS 2.4G protocol and can be used with other ELRS FPV drones. The controller is comfortable to hold, even without a neck strap, with low-profile grips on the back. 

The dimensions are 5.91 x 5.51 x 1.77 in / 150 x 140 x 45 mm, and it weighs a modest 9.17 oz / 260 g without a battery. The control sticks/gimbals do not have gimbal protectors, which is a shame, but these can be bought separately if you'd like the peace of mind they provide when transporting the controller.

The battery used is a replaceable 18650, which is fantastic because you can carry spares and replace degraded batteries over time, which ultimately extends the working life of the controller. There are eight channels and the power output can be set between 10 and 100 mw. Plus, the controller can also be plugged into computers via the USB-C port to control FPV simulators.

This is an invaluable feature for beginners and is common with FPV controllers; it allows you to hone your skills in a safe digital environment without the fear and risk of damaging your FPV drone in a serious crash.

It's commonly said that you need at least 50 hours of flight to gain even basic FPV flight proficiency, and FPV simulators are a great way to get there alongside providing a practice ground in the colder and wetter winter months, depending on where you live.

Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit: Functionality

• Dual 1S/2S battery configuration
• Beeper to help find after crashes
• Tough propellers

FPV drones aren't typically feature-packed, and the Tinyhawk III Plus is no exception. It does, however, come with a handful of useful features that are common in the FPV world, but not necessarily common in beginner RTF kits like this one.

Freestyle drones have exposed propellers, unlike micro whoop and cine whoop FPV drones, which have propeller guards. This gives the appearance of vulnerability, which there is to some degree, but the propellers are extremely tough, and a spare set is included in the kit. What's more, replacement sets are inexpensive if and when you need more.

One of the most interesting and, indeed useful features of the Tinyhawk III Pro is that despite being tuned for a 2S battery configuration using two 1S batteries, you can also use just a single 1S battery. In the 1S configuration, an HV plug is included in the kit to complete the circuit. In this setup, the drone is slower and easier to fly, which is ideal when you first start flying FPV.

To get the best out of the Tinyhawk III Plus, you have to run it in the 2S configuration, and with this, you get maximum power from the motors with the ability to fly freestyle and perform aerial stunts. Flight times are typically in the region of 3-4 minutes, but the exact time depends entirely on the aggressiveness of your flying.

Another useful feature is that the drone has a beeper that can be switched on by flicking a dedicated switch on the controller. This is useful for finding the drone in the event of a crash, but you can only hear it from a maximum of a few yards away, and if the batteries disconnect in a crash, it doesn’t work. That said, it remains extremely useful and isn't common with FPV drones at the price level of the Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit.

Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit: Performance

• HDZero digital FPV video feed
• 4.5-inch 60Hz TFT goggles
• 1280 x 720 px 60 FPS DVR capture

The Tinyhawk III Plus doesn't capture video like the DJI Avata 2, which can record excellent 4K video and provide an FPV feed from the camera. Instead, the Emax Transporter II HD goggles produce an on-screen image and can capture up to 720p 60 FPS (1280 x 720 px) video. 

The FPV feed is recorded using the built-in DVR when a microSD card up to 64GB is inserted. This is configured to auto-record out of the box, which makes life so much easier than having to start and stop recording. The video isn't stabilized, though, so expect it to be shaky and abrupt. This does, in some ways, add to the charm of goggle footage, with all of the goggle information still visible in videos.

The Goggles use the HDZero video system which produces a much clearer image than traditional analogue systems. Although, and this isn't a bad thing, the interference and image break up you typically get with FPV video transmission look quite similar to analog — you see what looks like static and flashes with image break up occurring gradually as you near the maximum transmission distance. Digital systems often look fine one second, and then the image freezes the next or pixelates when close to or at the maximum transmission distance.

These are box goggles with a 4.5-inch 60Hz TFT display that connects magnetically to the body of the box goggles. This allows users to attach the screen to a mini tripod or the controller, with the supplied attachments for use on the controller, if they don't like wearing FPV goggles. This is a great feature for beginners because getting used to wearing goggles is part of the steep learning curve that comes with FPV drones.

The image produced is clear, but like with all box goggles, you can't wear glasses with them, and there are no diopters available to correct the displayed image. As someone who needs reading glasses, the on-screen image was a little blurry, but flying was no problem, and battery levels, etc., were still readable despite their blurriness. People who don't wear glasses wouldn't have this issue.

The Transporter II HD goggles feature an integrated 2200 mAh battery, which typically lasts for four flights before it needs to be recharged. And at around 3.5 minutes per flight with some power left in the batteries to suggest that the advertised flight time of up to four minutes is correct, it's not a huge amount of time. However, you can hook up the goggles to a USB power bank and charge while using them.

During testing, the screen detached from the box goggles and landed on the concrete which scratched the screen. This was, admittedly, my fault because I was wearing them on my forehead and looked down to adjust the drone on the ground before take-off. The scratches, fortunately, don't have any detrimental effect when using the screen or goggles, but it was a reminder that we needed to be mindful of the magnetic screen attachment when using them.

Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit: Cost

The Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Ready to Fly Kit comes with everything you need to get started including the drone, Transporter 2 HD FPV Goggles, E8 Transmitter, Two 1S batteries, two sets of propellers, a six-port USB battery charger and other accessories. This all costs $691 / £496, which is understandable considering the VTX (FPV feed) is digital rather than analog.

With only two batteries in the kit, it's well worth buying several extras, but at the time of writing the 1S 650 mAh HV batteries that the Tinyhawk III uses are unavailable on the Emax USA website. You can, however, pick them up on Amazon and from independent FPV retailers. Prices vary so shop around, although buying directly from Emax is the most cost-effective option when available.

Should you buy the Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit?

In a nutshell, yes, if you're new to FPV or even if you're a more experienced pilot looking for a small freestyle drone that's incredibly quick and easy to get into the air. The 1S battery configuration provides a somewhat pedestrian flight experience that's perfect for beginners, but plug in two 1S batteries for the 2S set-up and you unleash the full potential of this mini freestyle drone.

The drone and controls are fine-tuned for the 2S battery configuration, but they work well either way. The controls are responsive but undoubtedly set with the beginner and learning FPV pilot in mind. More experienced pilots can hook the Tinyhawk III Plus up to the free Betaflight software to customize the tuning to their liking.

If the Emax Tinyhawk III Plus Freestyle RTF Kit isn't for you

There are many options when it comes to FPV drones, but if you'd like to keep things as simple as possible in terms of flight while enjoying many of the features of camera drones, the DJI Avata 2 is ideal. This FPV drone offers GPS positioning, Return to Home, excellent 4K video capture and intuitive control using the Motion Controller. It can also be flown like a traditional FPV drone.

If you'd prefer a micro whoop FPV drone kit, which features built-in propeller guards and even has an extremely basic hover function, the Beta FPV Cetus X is a 2S analog FPV drone that's great for beginners. This model is just as much fun as the Tinyhawk III Plus, but thanks to the propeller guards, it can also be flown safely indoors.

Alternatively, if you prefer the easiest-to-fly traditional FPV drone and one that's even suitable for children, check out the BetaFPV Cetus Lite. This drone hovers and is suitable for indoor flight only due to its low power, but it's a great way to get used to using FPV goggles for an incredibly low cost.