Technology has advanced to a point where drones have become a good investment in any photographer or videographer’s collection. Drones are more compact and affordable than ever before and can deliver amazing image quality.
Adding a mini drone to your photography and videography toolkit can greatly expand your capabilities as a creator. It can give you an unlimited range of compositions since you can fly your camera to any angle in the sky.
With so many great mini-drones available, it’s important to compare the options to find the right choice for your needs, skills, and budget. This article will help you to make the best choice by going over the key features of the latest mini drones on the market today.
How to Choose a Mini Drone
It’s important to consider some key features that will ultimately result in an amazing experience when flying or creating images with your mini drone. Let’s look at some features I typically consider when purchasing a new mini drone.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of the mini drone will have a big impact on its portability for travel and ease of use. It can even determine if you’ll need a permit to fly it in the U.S. or abroad. Mini drones that are sub-249 grams don’t require registration or a permit to fly for recreation in the U.S. They are also super easy to pack in a backpack for travel.
Camera Specifications
Having a high-resolution camera is a big advantage for a mini drone. It will allow you to capture detailed photos and videos that stand out. For example, a 4K video will open more opportunities for you to crop and re-purpose your footage. The more frame rate and available resolution options, the more flexibility you’ll have in post-production.
Signal Strength and Controller Range
Mini drones come equipped with different wireless control protocols. Depending on the type of signal that’s being used by the drone and controller. You will experience different levels of signal strength and transmission range. Budget options tend to offer Wi-Fi signals that are similar to your internet router’s signal. More advanced mini drones use radio frequency signals that are much more robust and have a longer range.
Battery Life
Drone battery technology has become really good in recent years. They provide creators with the ability to stay in the air longer and enable new types of media that require longer flight times, like drone hyper-lapse videos. With the best mini drones in the industry capable of offering over 40 minutes of flight time, it’s important to consider battery life as one of your deciding factors when choosing the best mini drone for your needs.
Advanced Flight Modes
Many of today’s mini drones come equipped with automated flight modes that have pre-determined maneuvers called “quick shots.” These modes make it easy for beginner drone pilots to execute relatively advanced movements with a single tap on an app or controller. They’re great for creating compelling shots easily when you’re just starting as a new pilot. Or when you just want to quickly grab a shot to share on social media.
Safety Features
One of the most important features to consider when choosing a mini drone is the safety features that are included. Many of today’s mini drones offer obstacle avoidance sensors that detect and avoid hazardous obstacles. It can save you from crashing and losing your drone. Some mini drones even offer geo-fencing. This prevents you from accidentally taking flight near no-fly zones like airports, military bases, etc.
Best Mini Drones
DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone
Why We Chose This Drone: Termed “Mini to the Max” by DJI, the DJI Mini 4 Pro packs a punch without tipping the scales, clocking in at a featherlight <249 grams. But don’t let its tiny body fool you. This powerhouse effortlessly churns out stunning 4K/60fps videos, offering Spotlight, Point of Interest, and the innovative ActiveTrack 360° for top-tier subject tracking that’ll have you shooting like a pro.
Drone Details:
- Size (dimensions): Folded (without propellers): 148×94×64 mm, Unfolded (with propellers): 298×373×101 mm
- Camera: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, Effective Pixels: 48 MP, FOV: 82.1°, Format Equivalent: 24 mm, Aperture: f/1.7, Focus: 1m to ∞
- Max flight speed: 36mph in horizontal movement (at sea level, no wind)
- Max flight distance: FCC: 20 km, CE: 10 km, SRRC: 10 km, MIC: 10 km
Moving through the skies with a drone is now a worry-free venture thanks to the Mini 4 Pro’s 360° obstacle sensing. Courtesy of its four wide-angle vision sensors and two downward vision sensors. Its built-in APAS lets you focus on capturing breathtaking shots, handling the dodge and weave with automatic braking and bypassing, ensuring a smoother, safer flight.
The Mini 4 Pro’s intelligent flight battery promises up to 34 minutes of airtime. With an option to kick it up a notch to 45 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. Toggle to True Vertical Shooting for that perfect social media snap. Or switch on Night Mode to keep shooting stars, not chasing them.
DJI Mini 2 SE Drone
Why We Chose This Drone: The DJI Mini 2 SE drone is your way to broadcasting crisp HD video across a whopping 10km distance. Fret no more about pesky signal drops, its anti-interference superpowers keep your feed clean and clear. With QuickShots, creating professional-looking videos becomes a breeze. Shoot, tap, and share directly to your social feed, making every post a cinematic event.
Drone Details:
- Size (dimensions): Folded: 138×81×58 mm, Unfolded (with propellers): 245×289×56 mm
- Camera: 1/2.3-inch CMOS, Effective Pixels: 12 MP, FOV: 83°, Format Equivalent: 24 mm, Aperture: f/2.8, Focus Range: 1 m to ∞
- Max flight speed: 36mph in horizontal movement (at sea level, no wind)
- Max flight distance: FCC: 10 km, CE: 6 km, SRRC: 6 km, MIC: 6 km
The Mini 2 SE is easy for beginners to maneuver, especially with the DJI Fly app (complete with instructions and tutorials). LightCut is a technology that can scan through a user’s aerial footage, pick which clips to highlight and edit accordingly. With LightCut, photographers and videographers alike can enjoy countless aerial templates, accessible through one-tap editing.
Additionally, this mini drone can withstand wind conditions of up to 38kph, with a 3-axis mechanical stabilization system found within. The footage will stay smooth and consistent, no matter how turbulent the adventure may get!
When it comes to battery life, the DJI Mini 2 SE Drone allows a maximum of 31 uninterrupted minutes. You can take your time planning and curating the perfect shot in the air.
DJI Mavic 3 Drone Fly More Combo
Why We Chose This Drone: The DJI Mavic 3 is a professional drone that can deliver amazing image quality from its 4/3 Hasselblad camera. It has 360-degree Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, 5.1K video recording, and 45 minutes of flight time, making it a powerful drone for a variety of use cases.
Drone Details:
- Size (dimensions): Folded (without propellers) 221×96.3×90.3 mm, Unfolded (without propellers) 347.5×283×107.7 mm
- Hasselblad Camera: 4/3 CMOS, Effective pixels: 20 MP, FOV: 84°, 35mm Format Equivalent: 24 mm, Aperture: f/2.8 to f/11, Focus: 1 m to ∞ (with autofocus)
- Tele Camera: 1/2-inch CMOS, FOV: 15°, 35mm Format Equivalent: 162mm, Aperture: f/4.4, Focus: 3 m to ∞
- Max flight speed: 47 mph in Sport mode
- Max flight distance: FCC: 9 miles
The DJI Mavic 3 packs, not one, but two cameras onboard a powerful platform that is suitable for drone pilots with professional aspirations. Its main camera is a massive Micro 4/3 Hasselblad sensor that can capture stunning 20-megapixel still images and shoot in 5.1K 10-bit 4:2:2 color. The main camera has a 24mm full frame equivalent lens, with an f/2.8 to f/11 mechanical aperture. This is extremely useful for managing light because you can put a moderate ND filter on it and balance exposure with the mechanical aperture just like you would with an interchangeable lens.
The Mavic 3 has a full 360-degree obstacle avoidance system. New and professional drone pilots can take to the skies and feel confident that they will be safe when flying.
The flight time of the Mavic 3 is an impressive 45 minutes, giving you ample time to create compelling aerial photos and videos at longer distances. The amazing flight time and battery life of the DJI Mavic 3 are enhanced even more by its robust wireless O3+ transmission system. With up to nine miles of robust transmission and control signal, the DJI Mavic 3 is one of the most powerful long-range professional drones on the market today.
AirSelfie AIR NEO
Why We Chose This Drone: The AirSelfie Air NEO is smaller than an iPhone and weighs less than a golf ball. It fits in your pocket, and operates hands-free, using AI Tracking technology. This is a great option if you need quick social aerial photos and videos.
Drone Details:
- Size (dimensions): 101 x 85 x 13.7 mm
- Camera: Effective Pixels: 12 MP
- Max flight speed: NA
- Max flight distance: FCC: 65 feet
Not only does this drone fit in your pocket like a smartphone, but it is also fully autonomous and can fly hands-free without a controller or an app. Simply toss the NEO into the air and watch it perform a myriad of AI-based shots and maneuvers.
AirSelfie AIR NEO is equipped with a built-in battery and charges using a USB-C connection. It can capture six minutes of video, or hundreds of still images on a single charge. The AutoFly AI control mechanism of NEO uses facial and body tracking to follow subjects around, eliminating the need for a controller.
AutoFly also features fun maneuvers and pre-programmed shots that are easy to share on social media, via the free AirSelfie smartphone app. Try quick and fun shots fully autonomously, including Zoom, Orbit, 360, Wide, and Video.
Conclusion
With such a wide range of sizes, prices, and features, it can be somewhat challenging to choose the right mini drone for your needs. We’ve covered a diverse set of options, ranging from professional-grade drones that can be used in production, to purely social media-focused drones that are smaller than an iPhone.
Regardless if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced professional, there is a drone in our guide that will be a great choice for your creativity. It’s not always about the specs and features, but about the way we choose to use and create with our gear. Regardless of which drone you choose, be sure to stay creative, experiment with new ideas, and continue to learn and practice new techniques.
