The Best Drones

In the last decade, the drone market has exploded from a niche interest to a global phenomenon. Leaps in technology have made drones faster, more compact, and loaded with technology that transforms them from novel toys into versatile tools.

With consumer demand high, manufacturers are pitted against each other to create the most versatile and durable drones possible. The result is a market flush with affordable models that push the boundaries of what both consumers and manufacturers thought was possible.

Covered under the FAA’s blanket term for drones—“unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAS) or “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAVs)—are numerous variations, designed with every need and pilot in mind.

Professional drone racers zoom across landscapes using First-Person View (FPV) capabilities. Beginner pilots enjoy drones designed with features that make flight simple. Photographers and vloggers use drones to record and capture amazing cinematic shots that would have otherwise been impossible.

Some drones are even equipped with infrared technology, which helps police and fire departments locate heat signatures emitted by bodies. They have saved the lives of people trapped in forest fires or lost in the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Everyday, drone enthusiasts are thinking of creative new ways to use their UAVs. The technology continues to improve, and it’s becoming impossible to imagine a future where drones don’t play a large role. They are functionally dynamic, highly portable, and—of course—a blast to fly.

Drones are generally divided into four categories, based on their application and use.

Used by almost every industry, the demand for high-power drones with a range of features has never been higher. From 2012 to 2022, the value of commercial drone activity rose from $40 million to around $1 billion. That number—a testament to how vital drones have becomes—continues to climb.

 

 

Equipped with obstacle sensing in five directions, a 1-inch CMOS sensor and 20MP camera, and an incredible 30 minutes of flight time, the Phantom 4 Pro is one of the most dynamic and maneuverable drones available for commercial use.

Dual compass modules and dual IMU units allow the Phantom 4 Pro to reliably track data while achieving remarkably stable flight. At its price point, it’s arguably the best UAV for land surveys and similar data-heavy tasks.

  • 30 Minutes Flight Time
  • 1-inch 20MP sensor
  • Five-direction obstacle sensing
  • Waypoint control sends Phantom 4 Pro on a pre-established route
  • Sensor redundancy stabilizes flight and quickly processes large amounts of data
  • Intelligent batteries prevent overcharging and calculate the remaining flight time

 

 

The Mavic 2 Pro followed on the heels of the ultra-popular Mavic 2, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s built with a breathtaking 20MP camera designed by Swiss camera manufacturer Hasselblad and has become one of the most desired aerial photography drones available. Commercial pilots have used it for everything from surveillance to building inspections.

This exceptional UAV sports a best-in-class flight time and intelligent functions like ActiveTrack, which allows the drone to track up to 16 objects simultaneously and ensure that the Mavic 2 Pro never misses its mark.

  • 31 Minute Flight Time
  • 45mph (72kph) Max Speed
  • 20MP camera
  • 4k HDR video resolution
  • Hyperlapse mode
  • Foldable, highly portable
  • Omnidirectional obstacle sensing
  • 5k mile (8km) range

 

 

The Mavic Air is ideal for contractors or professionals on the move. It’s highly portable, weighs less than 1lb, and has foldable arms that allow it to fit snugly in any space. It’s been heralded as an engineering marvel and is capable of highly detailed 32MP panoramic images.

  • 21 Minute Flight Time
  • 25mph (45kph) Max Speed in sport mode
  • 4K video resolution
  • Weighs less than 1lb
  • 8GB of storage
  • 3-axis stabilizing gimbal
  • Intelligent flight features
  • Highly portable design with foldable arms
  • 32MP panoramic camera

 

 

Lighter than the Phantom 4 Pro but still highly durable, the Phantom 4 Advanced is capable of advanced satellite positioning using both GPS and GLONASS systems and can fly at a remarkable 44mph for up to 30 minutes.

Even when GPS is disabled, DJI’s FlightAutonomy system allows the Phantom 4 to precisely navigate any terrain or airspace by using five powerful vision sensors.

  • 30 Minute Flight Time
  • 44mph (71kph) Max Speed
  • Dual-band (GPS and GLONASS) satellite positioning
  • FlightAutonomy with five vision sensors allows for precise navigation
  • 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor
  • 3mile (7km) range

When people think of toy drones, they imagine small, fragile devices that zip around for a few minutes before running out of battery. They couldn’t be more wrong. In the last few years, toy drones have come into their own and have upgraded in almost every way without sacrificing a key component – affordability.

 

 

Equipped with obstacle sensing in five directions, a 1-inch CMOS sensor and 20MP camera, and an incredible 30 minutes of flight time, the Phantom 4 Pro is one of the most dynamic and maneuverable drones available for commercial use.

Dual compass modules and dual IMU units allow the Phantom 4 Pro to reliably track data while achieving remarkably stable flight. At its price point, it’s arguably the best UAV for land surveys and similar data-heavy tasks.

  • 30 Minutes Flight Time
  • 1-inch 20MP sensor
  • Five-direction obstacle sensing
  • Waypoint control sends Phantom 4 Pro on a pre-established route
  • Sensor redundancy stabilizes flight and quickly processes large amounts of data
  • Intelligent batteries prevent overcharging and calculate the remaining flight time

 

 

Designed for beginners and loaded with stunt features, the Rize Tello is perfect for beginner drone pilots who want to have fun without breaking the bank. It can flip in 8 directions, begin flight after being tossed in the air, and bounce up and down in the pilot’s hand.

The Tello app allows users to operate the mini UAV from their phone by using intuitive controls, and VR headset compatibility makes FPV flight simple. It’s the perfect starter drone for pilots of all ages.

  • 13 Minute Flight Time
  • 18mph (29kph) Max Speed
  • EZ Shots records coordinated videos
  • 5MP camera
  • 720p HD transmission
  • Tello App allows pilots to operate UAVs from a phone
  • DJI Flight Tech stabilizes flight
  • Stunt features include 8D flips, Bounce Mode, and Throw & Go

 

 

With three pilot modes and several stunt features, the Parrot Mambo is a toy drone that’s sure to turn beginner pilots into enthusiasts. It’s also great for pilots interested in coding and comes with software that allows users to manage flight patterns.

  • 9 Minute Flight Time
  • Integrated vertical camera
  • FreeFlight Mini allows pilots to control Mambo from a smartphone
  • Stunt features include barrel rolls and flips
  • Advanced stabilization with powerful sensors makes flight easy both indoors and outdoors
  • Cut-out system stops flight in case of impact to prevent harm to drone
  • Scalable thanks to the SmartBlock system

 

 

Designed with collector-level attention to detail, the Propel’s Star Wars Drones are not only fun to fly—they are battle-ready. Up to 12 players can engage in battle games, which use sensors to detect the position of other Star Wars Drones in the area.

A flight simulator app offers beginner pilots combat training, and flight stabilization makes learning how to fly Star Wars Drones a pleasure.

  • 30mph (48kph) Max Speed
  • Hand-painted and collector quality
  • 3-speed settings for pilots of all levels
  • Intelligent flight modes
  • Flight simulator app
  • Battle up to 12 Star Wars drones simultaneously
  • Stabilization technology makes flight simple

Capable of blurring speeds and first-person view capabilities, drone racing is perhaps the most fun you can have while piloting a UAV. The drones in the class were built for speed and maneuverability, and all of them come equipped with a camera that streams directly to either FPV goggles or a video screen.

 

 

Borne from carbon fiber and finished with a sleek matte-black design, the Eachin Race 250 FPV drone was built to rocket through the airspace while meeting minimum resistance. Brushless motors enable quiet, efficient flight, and headlights allow FPV users to fly at night.

  • 14 Minute Flight Time
  • Ultrafast speeds exceed 100mph (160kph)
  • Brushless motors make flight efficient and quiet
  • Headlights allow for night flight
  • Colorful taillights allow for easy tracking
  • Carbon fiber build is lightweight and durable
  • FPV enabled

 

 

Built for customization, the Team BlackSheep Vendetta drone can rip through the sky with any number of high-speed rotor options. FPV enabled, it comes with a ZeroZero camera, an extended battery charger, and carbon fiber parts that are both lightweight and highly durable.

Setting up the Vendetta is simple. It comes pre-tuned and can fly within five minutes of opening the box. It’s considered one of the best racing drones available.

  • Flight time varies based on battery choice
  • Interchangeable carbon fiber parts make customizing Vendetta simple
  • The flight controller runs on a 72MHz processer with added USB port
  • Very responsive and agile
  • 410g without battery
  • ZeroZero camera ideal for high-speed FPV flight, capable of low light handling
  • Scalable

 

 

Unlike other Racing Drones, the Teal Drone RTF comes with FPV goggles—Fatshark Teleporter V—allowing pilots to experience Teal’s fastest drone in a thrilling, immersive fashion right out of the box. Capable of flying at speeds of 85mph (137kph) while maintaining video range for up to 100m, Teal’s RTF Drone is ideal for experienced pilots who want to take their racing to the next level.

  • 5 Minute Flight Time
  • 85mph (137kph) Max Speed
  • Runcam Swift Rotor FPV Camera
  • 100m max FPV video range
  • KISS flight controller
  • Fatshark Teleporter V FPV goggles
  • Ready to Fly (RTF) right out of the box
  • Scalable

 

 

DJI Spark’s amazing agility, top speed, 12MP camera, and FPV capabilities have made it one of the most dynamic and capable racing drones available. It can be paired with DJI’s FPV goggles for a fully immersive flight experience that rivals any on the market.

The Spark is also coveted for its lightweight 300g frame, which makes it the ideal racing UAV for pilots who travel frequently.

  • 16 Minute Flight Time
  • 31mph Max Speed
  • 300g frame
  • Intelligent flight modes
  • FaceAware identifies the pilot’s face
  • A mechanical gimbal ensures smooth video
  • 2 mile (2km) range

The advent of drone photography revolutionized the way we capture and see the world. Everyone from action sports photographers to traveling vloggers has found ways to use UAVs to capture cinematic shots that were all but impossible only a decade ago.

 

 

Not only is the Inspire 2 one of the fastest camera drones available—maxing out at 58mph—it was engineered with best-in-class technology. It’s equipped with a CineCore 2.1 image processing system capable of 6K video recording, continuous burst shooting, and 24MP stills.

An efficient workflow system streamlined Inspire 2’s post-production process, allowing files to be quickly copied and transferred without additional software.

  • 27 Minute Flight Time
  • 58mph (94kph) Max Speed
  • CineCore 2.1 image processing system allows for 6k video recording
  • 12MP stills
  • 20fps continuous burst shots
  • Streamlined workflow for simplified post-production
  • Obstacle avoidance and protected flight up to 34mph
  • Intelligent flight modes
  • Spotlight Pro uses advanced tracking algorithms to achieve complex shots
  • Smart ReturnHome flies Inspire 2 back along the departure route
  • DJI Lightbridge Technology

 

 

Designed for professionals and prosumers, the Inspire 1 V2.0 is equipped with a remarkable 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, a 12MP camera capable of stunning 4K, and a 3-axis rotating gimbal that ensures reliability smooth footage.

The Inspire 1 V2.0 can also fly at a remarkable 49mph, which has made it a favorite of action sports photographers and videographers. No matter the subject, the Inspire 1 V2.0 is able to keep up while producing breathtaking images.

  • 18 Minute Flight Time
  • 49mph (79kph) Max Speed
  • 12MP camera mounted on 3-axis, 360-degree rotating gimbal
  • 0 motor upgrades greatly improve handling and performance
  • Video Positioning Systems allow for GPS-free flight
  • Dual-operator mode splits flight and camera duties for perfect shots

 

 

A professional-grade drone, the Matrice 600 Pro is one of DJI’s most advanced photography UAVs. Equipped with 6 rotors, it’s capable of powerful, impeccably balanced flight. Multiple cameras can fit into the Matrice 600 Pro, and with a maximum payload of 6kg, there’s no limit to how you can customize its video capacity.

  • 40mph (65kph) Max Speed
  • 38 Minute Flight Time
  • 6kg payload
  • 6 rotors
  • Retractable landing gear
  • A3 Pro Flight Controller
  • Lightbridge 2 HD transmission system
  • Can change six batteries simultaneously
  • 3miles (5km) range

 

 

The Spread Wings S1000+ is the most advanced professional-grade DJI octocopter to date. Made of lightweight, powerful carbon fiber, its eight-rotor design ensures powerful and responsive flight.

While the Spread Wings S1000+ doesn’t come with an onboard camera, a large payload of 11kg allows pilots to attach their favorite DSLR to the UAV. Beneath the frame, the S1000+’s gimbal bracket is isolated with dampers that ensure smooth, clear footage.

  • 15 Minute Flight Time
  • 8 rotors ensure smooth, powerful movements
  • 11kg payload allows DSLR cameras to be attached
  • Foldable arms make for increased portability
  • Retractable landing gear
  • Ready to Fly within 5 minutes
  • The removable upper centerboard gives access to the IMU
  • Compatible with Zenmuse gimbals

When Spire Drones began back in 2013, it was conceived as an outlet for drone enthusiasts who wanted to keep an eye on the market and a resource for beginners who wanted to dive into the world of UAVs. Our passion for piloting—which began when one of our founders purchased the original DJI Phantom—has only grown over the years, and it’s our hope that others will discover how dynamic UAVs can be.

Even if you’ve never piloted a drone and are unfamiliar with the technology, it’s a thrilling time to get started. The industry is rapidly expanding, and manufacturers are fighting to produce the best UAVs possible. So far, DJI seems to be winning the hearts and minds campaign, but companies like Yuneec, Parrot, and Hubsan are right on their heels. By 2021, commercial drone shipments are expected to reach 29 million, so there’s a lot of room for competitors to gain traction.

For those hoping to fly commercially, the Federal Aviation Administration offers a drone certification process for all prospective pilots. It involves a two-hour multiple-choice test that covers regulations, airspace & requirements, weather, loading & performance, and operations for a total of 60 questions. Regulations regarding UAVs can be found on the FAA’s website under Part 107.

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