Top 5 Drones to Elevate Your Videos in 2025

We know what to look for when selecting the best drone because we have flown a variety of them: clear images, dependable safety features, easily accessible flight controls, and practical in-flight amenities. Every drone listed below, according to our thorough evaluations, partially or fully satisfies those requirements.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the drone we would purchase if we had to pick just one. With its many features and collision avoidance sensors, this flying machine is safe for novices to use. By weighing less than 250g, it also evades the majority of legal restrictions. It’s among the best DJI drones available, in our opinion. However, you would be better off looking at something like the DJI if you want a more sophisticated drone.

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Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

1.DJI Mini 4 Pro

Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Our favorite drone in the past was the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which had professional-grade features and a lightweight design. The Mini 4 Pro improves upon its features to provide an even better—though not fundamentally different—experience. It’s unlikely that upgrading is warranted if you currently own a Mini 3 Pro. However, it’s a great option if you’re upgrading from a different model or purchasing your first drone from the Mini series. Its compact, foldable design and its regulation-friendly 249g takeoff weight are nearly the same as those of the Mini 3 Pro. This also applies to the 1/1.3-inch sensor, which still produces very good images.

We discovered that it was even more adept at managing noise in low light because of processing improvements. The new D-Log will also be welcomed by serious videographers.M color profile, which offers greater consistency with the Mavic 3. Obstacle avoidance is now omnidirectional, meaning the Mini 4 Pro is even safer than its predecessor when it comes to operating indoors or near trees. We also found ActiveTrack 360° highly effective, making it an easy drone for beginners to fly confidently. If you can afford the DJI RC 2 controller option, you’ll have the best backpack-friendly drone bundle.

In terms of design, DJI Mini-series drones don’t require much introduction these days. The Mini 4 Pro shares a lot of similarities with the Mini 3 Pro, including its folding design, small weight, and regulator-friendly size. The primary visual differences are the additional Omnidirectional Collision Avoidance sensors on top of the airframe and an Auxiliary Light on the bottom.

The majority of the improvements are, in a sense, under the hood and take the shape of improved features and software. Although it has image processing improvements, the 12/48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor is identical to the Mini 3 Pro’s. However, this isn’t a bad thing because it’s a great sensor that can produce excellent image quality despite its small size when compared to the sensors in flagship Mavic 3 prosumer models.

The Mini 4 Pro’s new features, which we’ll discuss in more detail later, bring its flight and video capabilities much closer to those of the Mavic 3 models. Professional drone pilots who want more consistency in their workflow will love this, and enthusiasts can just enjoy a better Mini Pro model.

There are two controller options for the Mini 4 Pro, depending on your needs and budget: the DJI RC 2 smart controller and the DJI RC-N2, which has a telescopic phone holder but no screen, so you must use a smartphone with it. With its 700-nit brightness and 5.5-inch screen, the DJI RC 2 offers a much more convenient flying experience and quicker setup times.

2.DJI Air 3

Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

DJI is once again focusing on its mid-sized Air series of drones after their popular and reasonably priced Mini family took center stage in recent years. Notably, the first model in the lineup to have both a dual-lens camera and all-around obstacle sensors is the Air 3. Overall, it’s a great performer and a good option if you need a mid-telephoto lens, but it falls short of our Editors’ Choice winner for enthusiasts and creators, the more reasonably priced DJI Mini 3 Pro, in terms of performance.

In the consumer drone market, DJI mostly faces off against itself, but it keeps coming up with new ideas and ways to improve. A desire for more compact, portable drones led to the creation of the Air series, which helped pave the way for the even tinier Mini line. Battery life has continually improved, too, while obstacle avoidance sensors have made their way into all but the entry-level models. What’s DJI left to do? The answer, it seems, is to add more cameras. The Mavic 3 introduced a dual-camera system, and it got a triple-camera upgrade in the form of the Mavic 3 Pro. And now, the Air 3 also has two cameras instead of one.

The original Mavic Air wasn’t large enough at 1.9 by 3.3 by 6.6 inches (HWD) to handle a dual-camera gimbal. But since the 249g Mini line hit the market, DJI’s engineers have let the Air series creep up in size. The Air 3 is the largest yet at 3.9 by 3.6 by 8.2 inches (HWD), slightly bigger all around than the Mavic Air 2 (3.8 by 3.3 by 7.1 inches). Despite the size increase, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a place for it in your camera bag or dealing with its weight (1.6 pounds).

Remember that the drone needs to be registered with the FAA. With the Mini 3 Pro and other drones weighing 8.78 ounces (249g) or less, you can avoid paying the $5 fee every three years that recreational pilots must pay. For travel, we suggest the Mini 3 Pro because it’s a minor annoyance in the US, but it’s much more restrictive in other countries. Even if their drone weighs less than the 249g threshold, professionals who use them for profit must still obtain a remote pilot certificate.

Each of the two cameras on the Air 3 takes advantage of DJI’s prior miniaturization efforts and occupy equal space on a three-axis gimbal. The 24mm F1.7 primary lens is borrowed from the Mini 3 Pro, while the short telephoto 70mm F2.8 is the same one as on the Mavic 3 Pro. A Quad Bayer Type 1/1.3 sensor backs each lens for consistent picture and video quality. The lenses have fixed apertures, but you can add a set of four ND filters for $99 if you want. The gimbal’s tilt range is ample, too: Like with the Mini 3 series drones, you can point the camera straight down at a 90-degree angle or tilt it up to 60 degrees.

3.DJI Mavic 3 Pro

Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

With good reason, the Mavic 3 Pro took home the 2023 TechRadar Choice Awards’ best camera product of the year title. Being the first consumer drone with three cameras, it’s perfect for filmmakers and aerial photographers who require the most adaptable drone available. With its 20MP Four Thirds sensor, pro-tier video formats, frame rates, and an adjustable aperture, the Mavic 3 Pro’s primary camera—which is also used by the Mavic 3 Classic—offers the highest quality images of the three. Nevertheless, both the 3x and 7x telephoto cameras yield good images if you require the additional reach from the camera’s primary 24mm focal length.

The Mavic 3 Pro is a professional drone that is also very simple to fly even in windy conditions and accessible to all users, thanks to its excellent safety features and intuitive controls, although its in the restrictive C2 European drone category because of how heavy it is. Another sticking point is its price that makes it overkill for beginners. However, it’s a more portable and less expensive option for pros than the Inspire 3, plus it’s even more versatile.

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro’s distinctive large three-camera gimbal at the front of the drone pushes the series toward greater creative potential because of those three practical cameras for both photography and video. With all the amazing safety and flight features that the Mavic 3 series drones are known for, this is the first triple-camera drone in the world and is unquestionably among the best drones on the market.

Similar to the original Mavic 3/Mavic 3 Cine, and Mavic 3 Classic models, the primary camera is the same Four Thirds 20MP Hasselblad. With an f/2.8-f/11 adjustable aperture and a dynamic range of up to 12.8 stops, this camera has the most features and the highest quality of images of the three.

Video resolution is available up to 5.1K in Normal, HLG (hybrid log-gamma high dynamic range), and 10-bit D-Log M profiles at 200Mbps, while three Apple Pro Res options offer a significantly higher bitrate for professional workflows. 5.1K can be shot at up to 50fps, DCI 4K (4096 x 2160 17:9 cinematic 4K) up to 120fps, 4K up to 120fps and FHD up to 200fps. Plus, photos can be captured in 12-bit raw and JPEG.

4.DJI Mini 3

Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

It seemed as though DJI was abandoning genuine drone models that were accessible to beginners when it introduced the Mini 3 Pro in 2022. Although the Mini 3 Pro is compact, incredibly portable, and falls into the sub 250g category that is safe for regulators, some of its features—and even its cost—are more suited for experts and more experienced users.The primary distinction between DJI’s two Mini 3 models, which appear nearly identical from the outside, is that the Mini 3 lacks obstacle avoidance sensors, which is one of its primary drawbacks.

Regardless of your level of experience, collision avoidance is a very helpful feature, but you can live without it. The original Mavic Mini and the Mini 2 didn’t have obstacle avoidance and both dominated the entry-level drone market. Other key downgrades include lower video specs, no 48MP photos and no subject tracking (Follow Me).

It’s not surprising that the Mini 3’s features have been pared back, but on the whole, it’s still a high-quality portable drone capable of capturing photos and videos in both landscape and portrait format. 12MP photos can be captured in both raw and JPEG, while video can be captured at up to 4K and 30fps. And despite not having collision avoidance, you can still enjoy Quickshots automated flight patterns.

If you’ve seen the Mini 3 Pro, you already have a good idea of what the Mini 3 looks like since the two are nearly identical. The main visual difference is that the Mini 3 doesn’t have collision avoidance sensors. But like all Mini models, the Mini 3 sports a folding design where the propeller arms fold in for convenient storage and transportation. Folded dimensions are 148×90×62 mm and unfolded are 251×362×72 mm, and the drone including battery and microSD card weighs just 248g. 

The Mini 3 offers a slightly longer flight time than the Mini 3 Pro using the same 2453mAh Intelligent Flight Battery. The maximum advertised flight time is 38 minutes compared to the Pro’s 34 minutes, but taking into consideration environmental factors as well as the default charge level of 25% when Return to Home is initiated, flight time in reality is around 25 minutes. These numbers come from winter testing and we think flight times will improve during the warmer summer months.

5.Autel Robotics Evo Lite+

Last update on 2025-01-10 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Evo Lite+, the flagship aircraft from Autel’s most recent lineup of DJI competitors, directly competes with the Air 3S. Its specs are strikingly similar, and it can record 5.4K video at 30 frames per second with a 1-inch sensor. However, with its 40-minute flight time and adjustable aperture (from f/2.8 to f/11), it also outperforms the Air 3S and the Mavic 3 Pro. Although the Lite+ model lacks the Evo Lite sibling’s fourth-axis stabilization, its sensor’s larger pixels improve its ability to capture light in low light.

The absence of 10-bit video and D-Log profile, as well as the unfortunate omission of side sensors for obstacle avoidance, may make professional drone videographers reconsider. However, in every other respects, we found the Lite+ to be an impressively versatile piece of flying camera equipment in our review. For the money, its 20MP sensor is probably the best camera available on a drone today, which gives the Air 2S some serious competition.

The Evo Lite+, the flagship aircraft from Autel’s most recent lineup of DJI competitors, directly competes with the Air 3S. Its specs are strikingly similar, and it can record 5.4K video at 30 frames per second with a 1-inch sensor. However, with its 40-minute flight time and adjustable aperture (from f/2.8 to f/11), it also outperforms the Air 3S and the Mavic 3 Pro. Although the Lite+ model lacks the Evo Lite sibling’s fourth-axis stabilization, its sensor’s larger pixels improve its ability to capture light in low light.

The absence of 10-bit video and D-Log profile, as well as the unfortunate omission of side sensors for obstacle avoidance, may make professional drone videographers reconsider. However, in every other.For existing Autel fans, it offers almost everything they love about the Evo II series, but in a more transportable package and with significantly better flight times. The only obvious caveat is that the Evo Lite+ costs more than the DJI Air 2S, with the standard version commanding a similar price to the Air 2S Fly More Combo. DJI now doesn’t officially sell the Mavic 2 Pro since it launched the Mavic 3, but the Evo Lite+ is cheaper than that drone was when it was available.

How to choose the best drone for you

The first thing to consider when selecting your ideal drone is your budget. The largest sensors, the best video resolutions, and the newest pro-grade features are typically found in flagship drones, but these typically cost thousands of dollars. The best deals are frequently found in the middle of the range, where devices like the DJI Mini 3 Pro strike a balance between cost, portability, and functionality. The Ryze Tello provides a respectable experience if you’re a beginner looking for an inexpensive drone to get started.

Drones with safety features like obstacle avoidance, which lessen the chance of collisions in midair, are a good option for novice pilots. Additionally, set-piece maneuvers can be easily executed without the need for expert flying skills thanks to automated flight modes. Drones that have a follow-me mode also take the effort out of tracking a subject.

What are laws around flying a drone?

Laws governing drones are in place to guarantee a high degree of safety in the airspace, particularly in close proximity to sensitive locations such as national parks and airports. Additionally, they seek to resolve privacy issues that come up when camera drones fly over residential areas.

Drones weighing less than 250g are exempt from registering with civil aviation authorities in a number of places, including the US. Even though registration may not be required, local drone laws must still be followed. This includes the need to always keep your drone visible while in the air.

Rules vary from one country to another. Drones weighing less than 250g were previously exempt from registration requirements in the UK. Now, owners of drones with cameras are required to register their aircraft with the Civil Aviation Authority.