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The Best Drone

Last updated on August 14, 2024
Categories Electronics Tags

We looked at the top 14 Drones and dug through the reviews from 94 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Drones.

Best Drone

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top Drones

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

Ruko F11 Pro 4K Quadcopter UHD Live Video GPS Drone

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Ruko

F11 Pro 4K Quadcopter UHD Drone

With a 4K Ultra HD picture quality, you'll be able to wow your viewers when you upload videos to social media. This drone also has a maximum flight time of 60 minutes, which is more than other similar drones on the market. It's easy to operate, thanks to the one key take off, auto return and headless mode.

Overall Take

Stow and GoEach of batteries that come with this drone allow it to fly for 30 minutes, which means you'll get a total of 1 hour of flight time.

Pros
" It will surprise you with the range of high-quality features that it packs on its diminutive frame. It has the profile to impress advanced drone users, as well as surprise intermediate enthusiasts looking for their second drone model."
Cons
"No camera stabilizer."
 Best Value

DEERC Remote Control User-Friendly Drone

DEERC

Remote Control User-Friendly Drone

Both kids and adults will find this drone super easy to operate. It's able to capture HD footage and send it directly to your phone, where you can watch it live in real time. It offers gesture control, altitude hold, and even a remote control.

Overall Take

Economical ChoiceIf you're a beginner, opt for this budget-friendly drone.

 Battery Powered

Holy Stone HS110D Distortion-Free Battery Powered Drone

Holy Stone

Distortion-Free Battery Powered Drone

With this drone, you'll receive two batteries that can each power your device for up to 20 minutes. The drone comes with the option of downloading an app that allows you to control the unit using your voice and certain recognizable gestures. If you have children, you'll love the altitude hold feature, which keeps the drone in the air when you let g...

Overall Take

App CompatibleUse this drone's auto-hover function to practice using the machine and to take clearer pictures.

Pros
" The Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC is a beginner level drone that has a wealth of automatic flight features and a reasonable flight time. Set at a good price point, it's a great entry into drone flight."
Cons
"Battery charge drains fast. Connection can be a bit flimsy."
 Lightweight Build

DJI Mavic Mini App Controlled Aerial Photos Drone

DJI

Mavic Mini App Controlled Aerial Photos Drone

One of the most lightest models on the market, this drone weighs in at 0.55 pounds. It folds up when not in use, so you won't have any trouble finding a place to store it. When it comes to attractive features, you'll find this drone offers 30 minute flight times, superior camera stability and a built-in flight tutorial.

Overall Take

Folds for StorageThis drone makes for easy storage when not in use.

Pros
" If you need an inexpensive drone that makes it simple to capture top-tier video, this lightweight model is worth every penny. Featherweight design. Compact."
Cons
"Its 2.7K video can’t compete with the video quality of higher-end drones."

Buying Guide

Though their development dates back to World War I, drones — also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles — have become increasingly popular in recent years. These small gadgets fly through the air without an onboard pilot. Instead, they’re steered and controlled by a user from the ground, often with a remote control or a smartphone app.

Drones are useful for a number of tasks, including surveillance, security, aerial photography, surveying and recreation. More recently, police departments and emergency services personnel have been using them for an array of tasks, including during searches, rescue operations and natural disasters.

Many commercial businesses like Amazon, UPS and Domino’s are considering how to use drones for day-to-day operations like package delivery. Drones are also useful for crop management, building inspections and storm tracking.

The distance your drone can fly varies from model to model, depending largely on battery life and the reach of its onboard receiver from the remote controller or your smartphone. Although most drones will offer very little in terms of battery life, you can get more from some models than others. It’s also important to pay close attention to charging time since a quick charge can get your drone up and going faster.

In addition, some drones come pre-equipped with a camera, while others require the use of a gimbal to manually mount a camera. The gimbal setup often leads to a clearer picture or smoother video capture because the camera is a bit farther away from the vibrations caused by the rotors.

Photography has become a top selling point for drones. Professional photographers have found them invaluable for capturing those otherwise hard-to-get aerial shots. If you’re interested in shooting photos or video from the clouds, know this up front and look for a model that supports high-resolution photography and high-definition video.

Editing is also a consideration. Some apps are better than others at this, including filters and sharing capabilities. Whether you’re a photography hobbyist or not, being able to easily share the images you’ve shot across your social media sites may make some drones better choices than others.

Before you start shopping, it may help to set a budget. Drones can range in price from $100 to more than $1,000. While the higher-priced drones do offer advanced features, if you’re just looking to have a little fun, you may be fine with a more basic model.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
27

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the drones available to purchase.
14

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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94

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, The New York Times, Wired, BuyBestQuadcopter, Digital Camera World.

24,877

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 14 Drones and also dug through the reviews from 94 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Drones.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

DEERC Remote Control User-Friendly Drone

Key Takeawy

Both kids and adults will find this drone super easy to operate. It's able to capture HD footage and send it directly to your phone, where you can watch it live in real time. It offers gesture control, altitude hold, and even a remote control.

What to Look For

  • Before purchasing a drone, consider your skill and commitment level. Some are labeled “ready to fly,” meaning they require very little or no special training to use. Others are designed for more advanced users.
  • Another factor to consider when it comes to drones is portability and design, especially if you’re short on storage space at home or plan on taking it with you on a trip and won’t have a lot of room. The DJI Mavic Mini FlyCam Quadcopter Drone folds up, with the thumbsticks able to be stored under the arms that hold your phone. The Holy Stone FPV RC Gravity Sensor Drone, on the other hand, doesn’t fold easily but is so small and lightweight, it’s still fairly portable. The only issue is that the arms don’t fold into its body, so you may worry about breaking the rotors if you don’t transport it in a carrying case. The Ruko F11 Pro 4K Quadcopter UHD Drone is even less portable since the landing gear and camera are attached to the body.
  • Because drones operate using a battery, it’s important to consider battery life when making a purchasing decision. The majority of consumer drones have a battery life between 5 and 25 minutes. Many drone users recommend purchasing spare batteries and having them charged up before you start flying so you can easily swap out the extras. The DJI Mavic Mini FlyCam Quadcopter Drone flies a little longer than usual without a charge, at 30 minutes. The Holy Stone FPV RC Gravity Sensor Drone has a shorter flying time between charges and, unfortunately, charging time takes a while, so be prepared to be patient.
  • The most popular type of drone among recreational users is a multirotor drone. A drone with three rotors is known as a tricopter, while a drone with four rotors (an extremely popular model) is called a quadcopter.
  • Other types of drones include fixed-wing drones and single rotor helicopters.
  • Depending on what you plan to use your new drone for, you’ll also want to consider the payload of various models. Some are equipped to carry heavier payloads than others. This may be an important factor if you’re considering using your drone for something like aerial photography or videography.
  • One of the biggest issues with drones is maneuverability. If it’s a windy day, you need a drone that isn’t going to be easily blown around. Look for a model that holds its own against all but the strongest wind gusts, as many other drones struggle even in the lightest breezes. Best of all, if it’s too windy, you’ll the drone may come with a warning in the app.
  • If you’re new to drones, you may prefer the Holy Stone FPV RC Gravity Sensor Drone. The joysticks aren’t quite as sensitive to sudden movements, so it’s a great model to help you learn to navigate. Another model to consider as a newbie is the DJI Mavic Mini FlyCam Quadcopter Drone, which has intelligent flight modes to help you gain confidence in avoiding obstacles. It will also return to home and land itself if you can’t.
  • For some, aerial photography is the primary reason for purchasing a drone. If photography is your goal, you’ll likely veer toward the Ruko F11 Pro 4K Quadcopter UHD Drone, which shoots smooth 4K video.
  • The DJI drones have gimbals, which hold the camera in place for a smoother shot. This is especially important if you plan to be capturing video during even moderately windy conditions.
  • As advanced as drones are, they do have their limitations. If you think you’ll feel the need to zip through the air, you may want to steer toward a model that boasts speeds of up to 42 mph. You may find your drone a little harder to control at these speeds, though.
  • Unless you plan to just fly your drone in your living room, you’ll need a decent range for your drone-to-remote connection. Holy Stone FPV RC Gravity Sensor Drone includes an app that offers 1080p live view on your smartphone or tablet, but that will only work for up to 328 feet.
  • As you’re flying your drone around, you’ll occasionally encounter obstacles like trees and telephone poles. Instead of relying solely on the app, with some drones you have the built-in safety of obstacle detection and avoidance. Some even come with five-direction avoidance. If the drone has this avoidance, make sure it covers your drone from the sides or top. Look for a drone that has Active Track mode, which automatically detects obstacles and tracks them.
  • Drone pilots rely heavily on the remote. Some drones give you an app that you can use to adjust exposure, shutter speed and other factors. If you want a touchscreen controller instead of using the drone’s provided app, it will be a $300 add on.
  • Look for a drone that offers gesture controls, which can make navigating easier. However, this feature can be bug-prone, with the app not always recognizing you.
  • If you’re planning to shoot video to share with friends, look for a drone with an app that makes it easy to both edit and share the video you’ve just captured on social media. Some models even include built-in filters and templates to add that special touch.
  • Price may be one of the biggest differentiators among drones. Select a drone based on your desired uses and your skill level—you can always “level up” to a more sophisticated and expensive drone.

More to Explore

The Federal Aviation Administration is the government body responsible for regulating drones. According to the rules, you’ll need to register your drone and be sure to keep it below 400 feet off the ground. You’re also not allowed to fly over stadiums, large groups, events or anywhere near emergencies (which seems like it should be a no-brainer!). Laws can vary from one jurisdiction to the next, so check before you start flying.

In addition to legal concerns, there are also some privacy issues associated with drones. If you’re flying your camera-equipped drone over neighbors’ homes, for instance, you may find you get complaints, especially if they’re trying to enjoy some private time in their own backyard. You may even get into legal hot water if you’re posting photos and videos of your neighbors online without their permission.

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