Capture stunning shots with ease

Even if you’ve only had a cursory glance at this list, you’ve probably already noticed that DJI rules the roost where drones are concerned. Part of DJI’s success is down to the features it implements with each device, but also the range of drones available to suit a variety of budgets. The Mavic series has long been the go-to choice for creators at the higher end of the scale, but with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, the company has just taken things to a whole new level.

Starting with the highlight feature, the Mavic 4 Pro has not one, not two but three separate cameras built in, providing three distinct fields of view which give you more flexibility to find the exact shot you want from the scene that you’ve settled on. If you want to get a sprawling shot of the landscape, or a tracking shot of one person walking through a luscious forest, you have the tools to do so with this drone.

What will probably be the biggest boon however for those who own the Mavic 3 Pro, and any of DJI’s earlier drones, is that the battery life has now been extended so that it can run for up to 51 minutes on a single charge. As any filmmaker or content creator knows, sometimes having that bit of extra charge in the tank can make all the difference in getting that one shot that makes it into the final edit. For this alone, the Mavic 4 Pro is worth the investment.

Even though you might not be too fussed about obstacle detection if you’re a skilled drone handler, DJI’s technology in this area has finally seen a massive leap forward in efficiency. With LiDAR in tow, the low-light vision sensors can now easily pick up whether or not the drone is in danger of crashing into an object after dark, which is just so much more helpful for peace of mind when engaging in night-time shoots.

You can also capture plenty of detail when shooting with the Mavic 4 Pro. Not only can you shoot 4K 120fps for fast paced action scenes, but there’s also capacity for 6K 60fps for rich, cinematic style footage that’ll help your project to stand out from the crowd. No matter which mode you’re shooting in, the drone still manages to be impressively quiet in operation, so you’re far less likely to disrupt local habitats when out on location.

DJI’s Mini-series of drones has long been our go-to recommendation for entry-level buyers given how easy they are to use, not to mention how compact they are compared to the larger drones on the market. Well, the DJI Mini 5 Pro isn’t just a great addition to that esteemed lineup; it arguably shows the world exactly why DJI is at the top of its game right now in the world of drones.

The typical trade-off with getting one of DJI’s Mini drones is that while you get the type of portability that makes carrying these devices a breeze, you don’t get quite the same level of capture quality that more heavy-duty drones are capable of. Well, with a massive one-inch sensor onboard the Mini 5 Pro, that compromise now feels like a thing of the past.

It’s one heck of an achievement, and the result of having this upgraded sensor is that the DJI Mini 5 Pro can capture a lot more detail, especially in lower light where previous compact drones would have fallen short. HDR performance is now equally excellent, giving all areas of a shot the attention they deserve, so your eyes can drift and spot new points of interest in a single photo.

When it comes to video capture, it’s not a massive leap over the DJI Mini 4 Pro, but that’s no bad thing. You can shoot crisp 4K footage at up to 60fps, or bump it to 120fps for slow-motion video for a bit of cinematic flair. There’s also D-Log M and HLG colour profiles available, giving more freedom to intermediate users who might want to add their own distinct look to footage after the fact.

The one thing holding back the DJI Mini 5 Pro is the issues that arise over its seemingly fluctuating weight. Our test unit came in at 253g but that doesn’t seem to be a consistent number, which is why DJI has labelled the device as a “near-250g drone”. Because it can exceed the 250g limit that would require a licensed operator to fly the drone in the UK, anyone living there should be careful to follow official drone law to make sure that they’re not at fault.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the best of DJI’s sub-250g Mini series, making it our recommended choice for hobbyists and professionals looking to fly their drone in the UK with the fewest restrictions possible.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro costs slightly more than its predecessor, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, but with this new price comes some small but significant upgrades. The drone is also a fraction of the price of the flagship Mavic 3 Pro.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a small, lightweight drone that collapses down tiny enough to fit in a large coat pocket.

The simple twin-stick control setup is responsive and allows for precise movements. The Mini 4 Pro can travel as fast as 16m/s in S mode and the four motors are strong enough to ensure the drone remains steady in winds of up to 10.7m/s.

Key features include obstacle avoidance via vision sensors, with the Mini 4 Pro covering more angles and directions than the Mini 3 Pro. We found that the sensors work well but it’s worth noting they aren’t as effective in low-light conditions. The Mini 4 Pro also includes an improved version of DJI’s ActiveTrack subject tracking, along with ActiveTrack 360 to circle your subject while moving up and back or forward without crashing.

Inside the drone is a gimbal-stabilised 12-megapixel, 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with support for 4K video at up to 60fps, or slow-motion 4K at up to 100fps. There’s also 1080p/200fps for those looking to increase the frame rate even further. The new imaging processor supports 10-bit colour up from 8-bit through the D-Log M profile for a wider colour gamut and greater dynamic range.

Stills can be captured at 12-megapixels or 48-megapixels thanks to the Quad Bayer sensor, but low light performance can be hit and miss – especially when compared to results from the larger sensors in DJI’s Mavic drones.

When it comes to battery life, the Mini 4 Pro delivers the same 34 minutes of flight time as the Mini 3 Pro.

The DJI Flip is an entry-level folding quadcopter, ideal for first-time flyers looking for a lightweight and affordable drone for casual use or dipping their toe into the world of aerial photography.

Weighing below 250g, the Flip is subject to fewer regulatory restrictions in the UK than larger, heavier drones. This allows it to be flown in public places and within 50m of uninvolved people as long as you pass a basic online exam and pay £11 for an operator ID.

Beyond its weight, the Flip features an innovative folding design that stacks the four prop motors on top of each other when not in use. Prop guards are also incorporated into the design, preventing the propellers from colliding with objects or people and making the Flip suitable for indoor flight.

We found the Flip to be easy and safe to fly, offering an impressive 31-minute battery life despite its weight, though it can fall closer to 20 minutes when you factor in manoeuvres and camera use.

The Flip offers multiple flight control options, including the RC 2 controller, the DJI Fly app and even hand gestures – a feature also found on the DJI Neo. The drone can take off and land on your palm and includes AI-assisted subject tracking.

This drone only includes a forward-facing sensor for detecting objects in its way. If you want an ultra-light drone with full, omnidirectional object sensing, you’ll need to pay out for the DJI Mini 4 Pro. Wind resistance is also limited, though any lightweight drone would also struggle in the conditions we put the Flip through.

Moving on to the camera, this drone features a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with a 24mm equivalent lens. The camera is capable of capturing 48-megapixel stills and 4K HDR video at up to 60fps, or 100fps when recording slow-motion content.

Photos can be captured in JPEG or DNG RAW, while the D-Log M colour profile allows video to be colour-graded in post. While you’ll get superior results from a premium drone such as the DJI Air 3S, our reviewer was more than happy with the Flip’s photo and video performance with the drone producing excellent results in good lighting.

The DJI Mini 3 is another small drone, sitting just below the Mini 3 Pro in DJI’s Mini 3 line-up. While not as well-equipped as our favourite drone, the Mini 3 remains an excellent entry-level option that delivers a lot for its low price.

The Mini 3 looks very similar to the Mini 3 Pro and weighs the same 249g thanks to its thin plastic construction. At 148 x 90 x 62mm, the drone is small enough to slip into a coat pocket and the low weight means it falls under a less restricted category of UK drone law than larger drones like the DJI Mavic 3.

There’s a USB-C port for charging and file transfers as well as a microSD slot for storage, and the drone is compatible with the same choice of two controllers supported by the Mini 3 Pro.

Unlike the Mini 3 Pro, the Mini 3 doesn’t benefit from front and back sensors to help detect and avoid obstacles around it and avoid collisions. Instead, the Mini 3 sticks to downward-facing sensors which only aid stability and landing so you’ll need to be a little more careful when flying this drone.

The drone itself is very responsive and easy to fly with no discernable delay between the twin joystick controllers and the drone’s reactions and 720p live feeds are clear and stable. The device has a maximum control range of 6km.

The Mini 3 is capable of hitting speeds of up to 16m/s in windless conditions and we found the drone did a decent job of withstanding coastal wind despite its tiny size. Furthermore, the battery life is even longer than that on the Mini 3 Pro at 38 minutes to the Pro’s 34 minutes.

There are also features like automatic take-off, landing and return-to-home available here, along with some automated shot modes. However, unlike the Mini 3 Pro and the DJI Mavic 3, there’s no Active Track tracking so you will need an actual person to control the drone if you want the camera to follow you around.

The 12-megapixel 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor is a downgrade compared to the Mini 3 Pro’s camera, but the ability to snap 12-megapixel stills and shoot 4K/30fps video is still impressive for an entry-level drone.

The DJI Avata 2 is the best drone we’ve tested for FPV flight and the ideal gateway for those interested in it.

If you’re looking for a drone that handles more like a plane than the steady DJI Mini, Air, and Mavic, zipping through the sky and allowing you to bank, roll, and loop through the air, then the Avata 2 is the one for you.

The Avata 2 is sleeker and around 40g lighter than its predecessor, the DJI Avata, with a reworked design for improved aerial agility and responsiveness. The drone also includes 46GB of built-in storage and a microSD slot for expansion.

Despite its reduced weight, the 380g drone remains too heavy to fit into the sub-250g class, meaning the drone cannot be flown over or closer than 50m to ‘uninvolved people’ or within 150m of residential, recreation, commercial, or industrial sites under UK law.

The drone comes with DJI’s Goggles 3 headset and RC Motion 3 controller, allowing you to see what the drone sees on two 100Hz 1080p micro OLED displays. There’s also a camera built into the Goggles 3, allowing you to check your surroundings without pausing to remove the headset.

The Avata offers similar speeds to its predecessor, including 8m/s in Normal mode, 14m/s in Sport mode and 27m/s in Manual, with the latter requiring the twin-stick Remote Controller 3 rather than the RC Motion 3. Manual mode removes the stabilisers, allowing for exhilarating dives and turns, albeit with a higher risk of crashing. If you’re keen to avoid damage to your drone, you’ll likely want to stick with the Normal and Sport modes.

The drone features improved camera specs compared to the original DJI Avata, though video resolutions and frame rates remain mostly unchanged. The ultra0wide camera can capture 4K video at up to 60fps, or 2.7K at up to 120fps, but low-light performance and the dynamic range have been bolstered, allowing the drone to draw more detail out of interiors and night-time shots than its predecessor.

The Avata 2 can now shoot video with a 10-bit D Log M colour profile for easier colour grading in post-production, and the HorizonSteady and RockSteady image stabilisation modes found on other DJI drones are available. We found these modes to be effective at providing smooth, horizon-locked footage.

Finally, the DJI Avata 2 includes a 23-minute battery life. If you’re searching for a user-friendly introduction to FPV flying, the Avata 2 is a great (though expensive) choice.