How Drones Are Ranked?
Rankings are based after researching thousands of verified customer reviews. We never accept free products from any company. We review products we love and by clicking on the products below, we may receive a commission at no cost to you.
RANKED #1
Halo Stealth Pro
Rating - 9.4 /10
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The Halo Stealth Pro comes packed with a great performing, detachable 4K camera with a Sony IMX 377 sensor. The fact that it's detachable means you can switch it out for your own action camera, and it's easily replaceable should it get damaged in a crash. The Halo Stealth Pro comes with a great flight system that’s intuitive and easy to learn and use. It includes automated takeoff and landing features as well as amazing follow features and waypoint navigation abilities due to its included Follow Module. -
The Halo Stealth Pro does come in on the larger end and isn’t as easy to lug around like, say, the DJI Mavic. However, it does make up for its size by having a more stable flight and fast speeds with its larger props. -
The up-and-coming newcomer, the Halo Stealth Pro, takes our number one spot as the best drone for its unique design, video quality, and feature rich flying experience that has been rolled up in the best-bang-for-your-buck package. Coming under the price tag of the Yuneec, the Halo Stealth Pro has an impressive camera, even better follow, tracking, and selfie features, and great feedback and feel while in the air. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better RTF drone. The Halo Stealth Pro takes all the great flying features you could want and packs it into a single, easy to use, affordable package.
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RANKED #2
Yuneec
Rating - 8.6 /10
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You get a lot more than what you paid for. The Yuneec Typhoon H comes with a 4K camera capable of 360-degree rotation, retractable landing gear, as well as awesome sonar and Intel RealSense avoidance systems. It has great battery life and it's pretty awesome to have user serviceable components. -
While we love the design and overall quality it fell in its ranking due to two reasons. It doesn't contain a Samsung battery and is the new kid on the block. Once more reviews are established, it will find itself on the list of the top drones. -
You also lose some finesse with the lower price. Although it has great features, the Yuneec isn’t as easy to fly as the DJI and definitely needs some previous drone flight experience to pick up and go. Although easily serviceable, the Typhoon H drone is easily breakable with some flimsy plastic parts. But for its price-point, most find the tradeoff of design and build quality for high-end features to be worth it.
RANKED #3
DJI
Rating - 8.2 /10
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The Phantom 4 PRO comes with DJI’s Obstacle Sensing System, which helps you avoid objects while flying and, is a great perk for beginners and professionals alike. Its camera is also able to shoot 120 fps Full HD video, great for nice slow motion shots. These drones have great battery and are easy enough to use for first time flyers. -
You will need a phone or a tablet to connect the remote to before you can fly (and be sure it has full battery because you don’t want to lose your eyes mid-flight), and its Obstacle Sensing System will only work when you are flying straight ahead, so be careful while panning. Battery packs for the DJI are very expensive and the non-collapsible design of the drone makes it a bit of a pain to take around. The Phantom 4’s camera, although great for the price, is starting to become outshined by the competition (as well as its older brother, the Mavic Pro). DJI is known for their very poor customer service because it's nearly non-existent. This is a big price to pay once the drone has an issue and you're stuck with the drone. -
Still one of the best drones on the market for ease of use and video quality for the price, the DJI Phantom 4 holds its ground against the Updated Mavic Pro. While the older models helped bring drone cinematography to the average consumer, the Phantom 4 solidified DJI’s place as a drone manufacturer providing great features and clear 4K video recording.
RANKED #4
DJI
Rating - 8.2 /10
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Designed to be extremely capable and compact, the DJI Mavic Pro is probably the most capable drone package at its size. With obstacle avoidance sensors, folding propellers, and one of the smallest 3-axis gimbals we've seen, the Mavic is able to capture great 4K aerial footage. -
To get to its smaller size, a few compromises were made. The camera on the DJI Mavic is pretty good, but it is not great. With a narrower 78.8° field of view, you wont get the wider landscape shots as you would with a Phantom, or the even wider cinematic shots you would get with the Halo Stealth Pro or GoPro Karma. DJI's consistent firmware updates and regulations have also put a damper on people's flight experience, forcing you to update before you can fly - problematic if you arrive on location to fly, only to find out an update has been released. DJI is known for their very poor customer service because it's nearly non-existent. This is a big price to pay once the drone has an issue and you're stuck with the drone. -
Software and camera limitations aside, the DJI Mavic is a marvelous piece of technology. So much tech has been jam-packed into such a tiny package that most are willing to forgive its shortcomings for its portability. Easy and intuitive to use, if ultra-portability is your thing, this is the drone for you.
RANKED #5
Parrot
Rating - 7.8 /10
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Great safety features for the propellers, they will instantly stop should they come into contact with objects – protecting both the drone and whomever you may accidentally fly your drone into. The Parrot Bebop 2 drone has pretty decent battery life for its price and is quite durable and sturdy, so even if you have some accidents, you don’t have to worry about breaking your drone. It’s also small in size so it’s easy to fit into an average sized backpack. -
The camera quality is so-so and the price can definitely go up when bundled with Parrot’s giant controller. Its flight range is limited and you’re stuck with only 8 GB of internal storage for photos and video. Although it is much more affordable than the other drones on this list …you’re definitely getting what you paid for. -
Parrot drones have long been known to be great at being ok. Perfect for the entire family or a first-time flyer, the camera on these drones is nowhere near the quality of the upper echelon of manufacturers, but they’re easy to use, sturdy, and come in at a relatively cheap price.
DRONE SPECS
| Product |
#1
Halo Stealth Pro
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#2
Yuneec Typhoon H
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#3
DJI Phantom 4
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#4
DJI Mavic Pro
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#5
Parrot Bebop
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| Rating |
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| Dimensions | 13 X 3 X 5 | 20.5 X 12.2 X 18 | 7 X 11.5 X 11.5 | 3.3 X 3.3 X 7.8 | 3.5 X 12.9 X 12.9 |
| Weight | 3 LBS | 3.7 LBS | 3 LBS | 1.6 LBS | 1.1 LBS |
| Camera Type | Integrated with Gimbal | Integrated with Gimbal | Integrated with Gimbal | Integrated with Gimbal | Integrated without Gimbal |
| Video Resolution | 720p, 1080p, 4k, 2.7k | 1080p, 4k | 720p, 1080p, 4k, 2.7k | 720p, 1080p, 4k, 2.7k | 1080p |
| Megapixels | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Design |
5/5 |
4/5 |
4/5 |
4/5 |
3.5/5 |
| Max Speed | 45 MPH | 30 MPH | 35 MPH | 40 MPHp | 24 MPH |
| Automated Flight Features | Return-to-Home, Orbit, Waypoint, Follow | Return-to-Home, Orbit, Waypoint | Return-to-Home, Orbit, Waypoint | Return-to-Home, Orbit, Waypoint | Return-to-Home |
| Follow Me Module |
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| Watch Remote Control |
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What To Look For When Buying a Drone
Battery
In your search to buy the best drone, one of the most important aspects to consider is of course the battery. To be more specific, it is the flight time that the battery allows. Cheaper drones will give you roughly fine minutes of flying time while higher end drones will give you 20-30 minutes of fly time. These batteries also tend to be pretty expensive for higher end products due to their quality, capacity, and their charge cycles. Make sure to take the cost of spare batteries into consideration when you purchase a drone, or else you might be flying for 20 minutes then waiting to charge for two hours between flights. Also note that there are special instructions to take care of your battery for it to last its full lifetime -please be sure to check your product manual to follow these instructions.
Camera
Another key component to consider in looking for a top drone is the camera. Top drones will include 4K cameras with a fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal. There are multiple camera/sensor/lens combinations available to you, ranging from the 1" sensors on the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, all the way down to cheap 720p cameras on lower end drones. If you need professional level imagery, spend the money on higher end equipment. If you're just a weekend warrior who wants to shoot YouTube videos, save your money and get a drone that fits those needs. This way you'll have extra to spend on any accessories you might need to help you get the shots you want (ND filters, extra batteries, etc.).
Warranty
We recommend purchasing a drone from a company that doesn't shy away from providing a warranty. A six month warranty should be the minimum to ensure you can still have technical assistance even months after your purchase. When looking to buy a drone, make sure the warranty covers most technical issues that might arise.
Display Screen/App
We highly recommend purchasing a drone that includes a well detailed display screen, or highly intuitive software for your smartphone or device to allow for the best flying experience. You should have access to important functions and sensors right at your fingertips to ensure you're at the correct altitude, getting the shot you want, and keeping yourself out of dangerous no-fly zones such as airports. Drones are only as good as the software and monitoring that controls them, so be sure the drone you're looking to invest in is well supported.
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