DJI offers drones at many prices, ranging from the $399 Spark, a small selfie drone that responds to your gestures, to the Inspire 2 (starting at $2,999), a professional video drone that can carry a state-of-the-art digicam to seize butter-smooth video even in tough circumstances.
In between are several different fashions: the transportable however highly effective $799 Mavic Air; the $999 Mavic Pro, whose fold-up design outlined a model new generation of compact, easy-to-carry drones; and the Phantom collection, aimed toward those who prize video high quality over compactness. But which most accurately fits your needs? We’ll examine every drone based on its video and photo resolution, flight time and distant.
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Spark
Phantom 3SE
Mavic Air
Mavic Pro
Mavic Pro Platinum
Phantom four Pro
Phantom four Advanced
Inspire 2
Price
$499
$599
$799
$999
$1,099
$1,199
$1,499
$2,999
Video Resolution
1080P 60FPS4K 30FPS4K 30FPS4K 30FPS4K 30FPS4K 60FPS4K 60FPS4K 60FPS*Photo Resolution
12MP
12MP12MP12MP12MP20MP
20MP
24MP*
Takeoff Weight
eleven ounces
forty three ounces
15 ounces
26 ounces
26 ounces
48 ounces
48 ounces
7.6 lbs
Gimbal
2-axis
3-axis3-axis3-axis3-axis3-axis3-axis3-axisBattery
1480 mAh
4480 mAh
2375 mAh
3830 mAh
3830 mAh5780 mAh5780 mAh4280 mAhMax Flight Time
16 minutes
25 minutes
21 minutes
27 minutes
half-hour
30 minutes
30 minutes30 minutesMax Speed
31 mph
*Requires further cameraOne factor to note: There is a model new drone referred to as the Tello, a low-end mannequin that costs about $99 (opens in new tab). This low-cost and cheerful model is intended mainly for youths, as it focuses on protected flying and may be programmed using a model new programming language called Scratch. It is not made by DJI, nevertheless it does use DJI parts and is offered by the corporate. We have not had the prospect to check the Tello but, but we will replace this information as quickly as we’ve.
Video and Photo Resolution
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At the bottom of the vary is the DJI Spark, which captures 1080p video and 16-megapixel still pictures. It’s designed as a selfie drone, one that you rapidly launch to take a photograph of yourself or pals, then land.
Mavic Air For these seeking to seize more of the majesty of nature, both the Mavic Air and the Mavic Pro take very sharp 4K video at 30 frames per second or 20-MP still images. The Air also has a neat trick: It mechanically captures eight images after which stitches them together into a 32-MP, 360-degree panorama that the consumer can pan round in. It’s an effective way to photograph a landscape or scenic spot.
DJI Spark The Phantom four Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced, however, are nice for getting the most effective video quality. They can take 4K video and embody extra refined gimbals that can pan and tilt with outstanding smoothness. These drones are greater than the Mavics, however that does make them stabler on windy days, which means smoother video in less-than-ideal shooting circumstances.
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The Inspire 2 is the workhorse of skilled drone video-makers, providing a choice of optional cameras that seize the highest-quality 4K video. The cost of those Zenmuse cameras ranges from $599 for the Zenmuse X4S to $2,699 for the Zenmuse X7, which has the same size digital camera sensor as professional movie cameras.
Remote
The DJI Spark does not include a remote (although one is out there for $119); as a substitute, you control it with hand gestures and your face. Turn it on and hold it at arm’s size, and the drone will acknowledge your face, take off and fly into position to take a photograph. Put your fingers together within the traditional move-frame gesture, and it’ll start a countdown to snap a photograph. Wave your hands, and the drone will fly again to your hand and land.
Both the Mavic Pro and the Mavic Air come with a small, fold-out distant that clips onto your smartphone, so you need to use the cellphone as a preview display. The Phantom comes with a larger remote that is simpler to make use of for longer flights and may handle a tablet for an even bigger video preview.
The Inspire comes with a very subtle distant that provides a huge quantity of control for the skilled flier. You can also connect a second remote to regulate the digicam alone, so you can have a pilot watching the drone and a digital camera operator making sure they get the shot you want.
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All DJI drones can also be controlled via the free DJI Go four app, out there for each iOS (opens in new tab) and Android, which offers on-screen controls and the ability to create a GPS-guided path on a map. With the higher-end drones such as the Phantom 4 Pro, this mapping course of is more subtle and contains the flexibility to do things corresponding to control the pan and tilt of the digital camera as it follows a preset path, so you probably can film a shot a quantity of occasions (or even repeat it on a quantity of days).
Although the DJI drones range tremendously in size and capabilities, their flight occasions do not differ that much. From the small Spark to the big Phantom 4 Pro, they provide between 20 and half-hour of flight time. All supply interchangeable batteries, so if you want to fly the drone longer, you should buy a spare battery that you can swap out in a few seconds. These batteries cost between $43 for the Spark (opens in new tab) and $130 for the Phantom four (opens in new tab). The Inspire offers as a lot as 27 minutes of flight time, relying on the digicam that is connected to it.
Design and Size
The Spark and Mavic Air drones are compact packages that may match into a pocket or small bag. When folded up, both drones are only about 6 x four.5 x 1.eight inches, so you’ll find a way to simply carry them round with you on a hike or trip. The Phantom and Inspire series of drones are bigger, measuring about 20 inches across with a white body that makes them more seen within the sky. Both share a design that is extra about operate than kind, with a rigid physique that favors power over portability.
Best Overall: DJI Mavic Air
The Mavic Air provides the best balance of options and worth, that includes a exceptional range of capabilities for underneath $800. It takes excellent-quality video, and is a fast, maneuverable drone that is lots of fun to fly.
If your finances can bear it, consider the $999 Fly More combo, which provides a second battery, charger and plenty of spare propeller blades.
Best Video Drone: DJI Phantom 4 Pro
If worth is no object, the DJI Inspire 2 is one of the best airborne video platform you might get. But most of us have a finances, and the Phantom 4 Pro is our top decide for value. While a completely outfitted Inspire 2 will cost you upward of $4,000, the Phantom four Pro has every little thing you want, for underneath $1,500.
It takes top-quality video in 4K, has a particularly easy stabilization system and is dependable sufficient to supply the same flight path multiple times, which is important if you need to catch the sunshine on the rocks simply so.
Best Selfie Drone: DJI Spark
Looking for the simplest way to take photos of yourself and your mates on the beach? The Spark can do it. Just turn it on, and let it take off from the palm of your hand. Then, control it with hand gestures to take HD photographs and video.
Without an optional distant, it can’t handle the aerial acrobatics or fancy video tips of more refined fashions just like the Mavic Pro, however it’s a simple approach to seize memorable pictures and video.
Credit: Tom’s Guide
