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Which drone to buy in 2024?
Which drone to buy in 2024?
This is a question that I get A LOT from friends and my followers. And there isn't a better answer then "it depends". It does indeed depend on what you want to do with it, on where do you live and ultimately, on how much you're willing to pay. Let's try to break down the different categories based on the best products on the market.
Some assumptions
Some assumptions
you're somewhere based in Europe. This is because, since December 31st of 2020, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) introduced Regulation (EU) 2019/947 applicable to all the EU member states (plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein).
you're somehow interested in videography. This simply means that you're not looking for a "toy" drone to just have fun. You're searching for a drone embedded with a more or less professional camera.
Best brand?
Best brand?
Probably the easiest of the questions. The answer is without any lingering doubts: DJI. Despite courting some controversies in the US this year, Chinese drone company Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) continues to be the world's leading manufacturer of civilian drones. Over 75% of the commercial drone market is captured by them.
Risk of monopoly? Yes, maybe. But they are releasing drones for every use case and innovating continuously. Forget about Parrot, Yuneec, Autel, Fimi, etc. Not worth investigating them.
Best for amateurs?
Best for amateurs?
All DJI drones are now reliable when it comes to GPS-enabled hovering, automatic Return-to-Home, battery failsafe, 3-axis camera stabilization, etc. Therefore, on paper, any drone could be suitable for a newcomer to the "drone world".
However, it is a good strategy to purchase a drone below 250 grams. Why? You won't need a license to fly in categories A1 and A3! You'll simply have to register yourself as a drone operator and purchase insurance. Remember: those steps are always mandatory (more about that in an upcoming blog post).
Said that, I strongly recommend the DJI Mini 3. It features extended battery life (almost 30 minutes in real-life conditions), detail-rich 4K HDR video, and fun features like True Vertical Shooting for social-media-optimized shots. What does it mean? The camera can rotate allowing you to shoot vertical videos (9:16) ready to be shared on your Instagram feed! In addition, the f/1.7 aperture record clear details and present exceptional imagery even in low-light scenarios.
Cheapest option?
Cheapest option?
DJI Mini 4K is the perfect deal for beginners that do not want to sacrifice camera quality (has 4K support) and want to enjoy the portability and stability of a drone below 250 grams under 400 euros.
The drone still features an emergency Return-to-Home function and Quickshots which are intelligent flight modes where the aircraft records according to the selected shooting mode and automatically generates a short video.
Wanna go a bit more Professional?
Wanna go a bit more Professional?
Probably the best overall on the market at this point in time and my personal favourite: DJI Mini 4 Pro.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a compact and powerful drone designed for both hobbyists and professionals. Featuring a 4K camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, it captures stunning high-definition videos and 48MP photos. The Mini 4 Pro boasts advanced stabilization with a 3-axis gimbal, ensuring smooth and steady footage even in challenging conditions. With a flight time of up to 31 minutes, it offers extensive aerial exploration capabilities. Intelligent flight modes, including ActiveTrack, QuickShots, and Panorama, make capturing creative shots easy. Weighing less than 250 grams, the Mini 4 Pro is highly portable and perfect for on-the-go adventures.
If you have a drone license?
If you have a drone license?
Then is the sky the limit? No, I mean, you're not obliged to stay within 250 grams but you may still wanna check your local area or your travel destination if you can get a permit to fly drones above certain weight. In addition, starting from 1 January 2024 operations in the open category must be conducted either with a drone bearing a C0 to C4 class identification label.
Here comes my personal favourite in this category: DJI Mavic 3 Classic. First of all, it has a C1 classification label (as Mavic 3) that will allow you to fly in the open A1 category even after January 2024. The DJI Mavic 3 Classis has a Hasselblad camera with a large 4/3-inch sensor. Thanks to the size of this sensor, you can record detailed videos in 5.1K resolution.
The battery not only offers a long-flight time (almost 35 minutes) but it also ensures a high wind resistance capacity, especially if you're flying above mountains. Combined with a 360-degree obstacle avoidance system, you do not need to worry if the signal is lost: it will automatically return home!
Last but not least, I LOVE the "cruise control" functionality. You don't have to continuously press the joysticks when you fly. It also reduces the risk of unintentional movements, so you'll have smoother recordings, especially for hyperlapses.
Best for value?
Best for value?
DJI Air 3 is most probably the best drone available out there. It combines all the benefits of having sensors for avoiding obstacles, the long flight time, and portability with a great price point.
It is suitable also for professionals as it features a dual camera system with a 3X zoom for epic parallax effects, RAW photos, D-Log M capabilities, and 5.4K resolution. Yes, even higher resolution than the Mavic 3 Pro.
This is a beast for wind resistance! It provides the same power but with less weight than a Mavic: no more fear!
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