DJI is the most well-known brand for capturing professional-quality aerial footage, commanding nearly 70% of the drone market. Their drones are renowned for high quality and user-friendly designs that even beginners can master. In this guide, we’ve reviewed the top five best DJI drones you can buy in 2024, perfect for a range of users from novices to professionals. For more details, check the links provided for each product.
1. DJI Mini 2 SE: The Ideal Beginner Drone
The DJI Mini 2 SE is a basic model that lacks collision avoidance but includes GPS tracking, return-to-home functionality, and QuickShots—automatic flight patterns that allow you to capture professional-looking footage with the press of a button. This drone is ideal for folks who are new to drones or cannot afford the higher prices of professional models. It’s a full-fledged smart drone with powerful software and user-friendly control systems, but it’s priced reasonably.
This small but well-constructed drone can take 12-megapixel photos and 2.7K videos. Its maximum flight time of 31 minutes is another advantage for novices. Weighing less than 250g, it doesn’t require registration with the US government to fly lawfully, though you should still check local rules and regulations.
It’s portable and tiny—fold it up, and it takes up roughly the same amount of space as a can of soda, making it easy to transport on travels. Furthermore, DJI equipped the camera with a high-quality 3-axis gimbal, resulting in an image that is more stable than most 4K budget drones. Manual exposure is also available, but not in RAW.
2. DJI Avata Combo: Immersive FPV Experience
The DJI Avata Combo is a pricey entry point into the field of first-person view (FPV) drones that not only include FPV gear but also camera drone-like video capabilities. One of its most notable features is the first-person view, which provides a one-of-a-kind experience that no other drone can match. It would be similar to wearing the Meta Quest headset, with the exception that you’d be piloting an actual drone and recording professional footage. This drone’s video resolution is 4K at 60 FPS, allowing you to record high-quality footage.
This is one of DJI’s lightest and most nimble drones, making it an ideal choice for anyone wishing to film sports in a unique way while preserving all the details. Despite its agility, the drone is fitted with cutting-edge stabilizers to enable smooth recordings even during high-speed spins.
The rechargeable battery provides 18 minutes of recording time, and the DJI O3+ has a transmission range of up to 10 km. Remember that while learning how to manage it isn’t difficult, achieving advanced maneuvers will most likely require some practice. DJI has developed this drone to be simple to use, even for novices.
3. DJI Air 3: The Mid-Range Powerhouse
If you want something a little more professional and with far higher wind resistance, the DJI Air 3 is your best option. This drone strikes a mix between the Mini 3 Pro’s price and the Mavic 3’s professional specifications, including all of its excellent performance. With a takeoff weight of 720g, the Air 3 falls under Europe’s C1 category, which means it faces more limitations than sub-250g drones. However, there are other perks to carrying extra baggage, including a substantial 46-minute flight duration.
The DJI Air 3 introduces dual-camera drones to the mainstream. Could it be the best option for aspiring aerial photographers? The Air 3 boasts dual cameras, allowing you to choose between the conventional wide-angle drone shot and a considerably closer 70mm equivalent zoom. This adds a completely new dimension to your drone photos and might help your movie stand out from the crowd.
It also excels at slow-motion recording at up to 4K 100 FPS for some truly impressive action pictures. In fact, there are numerous high-end features that enhance your aerial videography capabilities, and the cost is reasonable. Overall, the mid-range DJI Air 3 drone is easy to use thanks to its adaptable wide-angle and telephoto cameras, excellent obstacle avoidance sensors, and long battery life.
4. DJI Mavic 3 Pro: The Ultimate Professional Drone
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a powerful, high-end drone designed to provide professional-quality recordings in all aspects. It stands out primarily for its high image quality of 5.1K at 50 FPS, which ensures that the footage appears great. The Mavic 3 Pro is suitable for cinematographers, independent filmmakers, vloggers, and other creative professionals. It is heavy enough to require FAA registration, and you must have an operator’s license to use it for paid projects, but it is still portable for on-site work.
There aren’t many drones that can offer footage in 4K or higher, but the DJI Mavic 3 Pro does it thanks to remarkable technology. You can also shoot photos at 48 megapixels, which will look just as good as films. In addition, the DJI RC remote controller is included, so you can easily control it and get a video feed of up to 15 km.
One of the reasons this drone is one of the best is that it uses three cameras to give the greatest possible video quality with a simple initial setup. Furthermore, the rechargeable battery is intended to provide up to 43 minutes of operation on a single charge. Overall, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is the greatest and most advanced consumer drone available today, thanks to advanced capabilities like omnidirectional collision avoidance, enhanced return-to-home, and advanced subject tracking.
5. DJI Mini 4 Pro: The Best Sub-250g Drone
The DJI Mini 4 Pro improves on the Mini 3 Pro’s features to set a new standard for sub-250g drone performance. The updated Mini 4 Pro refines all that was wonderful about its predecessor, preserving the camera, which can be remotely moved to portrait or horizontal mode, but increasing video ISO. Its sensor captures superb low-light video at frame rates of up to 30 FPS. The Mini 4 Pro has a maximum flight range of 11.18 miles and a maximum transmission distance of 12.4 miles.
Creatives are thus blessed with a gadget that can be brought almost anywhere and operated without a license in FAA areas while capturing 48-megapixel stills or 4K video, shooting in D-Log, and launching a full suite of DJI’s intelligent flight functions, including obstacle avoidance. DJI also provides a controller with a built-in 5.5-inch screen, as well as a more affordable version for people who want to use their smartphone as a monitor. Even better, DJI’s versatility extends to larger batteries—more than 40 minutes compared to the 34-minute norm—for those who can exceed the weight limit. Overall, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is an excellent sub-250g drone with features suitable for both professional and amateur use.
Conclusion
DJI continues to lead the drone industry with its innovative, high-quality, and user-friendly drones. Whether you’re a beginner looking for an affordable entry point with the Mini 2 SE, an adrenaline junkie craving the FPV experience of the Avata Combo, a mid-range enthusiast opting for the versatile Air 3, a professional needing the cinematic prowess of the Mavic 3 Pro, or a creative seeking the compact yet powerful Mini 4 Pro, DJI has a drone for you. Each model balances performance, portability, and advanced features to suit various needs and budgets. Check your local regulations, choose the drone that fits your goals, and start capturing breathtaking aerial footage today!