December 2024

Video Drones: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of video drones rankings posted by key online experts, as of December 2024.

Summary

On 10 Dec 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 82 video drone endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

39 video drones were endorsed in total, only 18 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 10 Dec 2024, DJI Mini 4 Pro takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed video drone with 6 expert endorsements. 4 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 video drone' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking video drones start at $39.99 (Holy Stone HS210) and go up to $7655.12 (DJI Inspire 2). Median video drone costs $799 (DJI Mavic Air 2).
$39.99
$7655.12

At a glance - December Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Video Drone
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
BestReviews
WIRED
PCMag
Man of Many
Wirecutter
Digital Camera World
T3
CNET
1
- Check price
DJI Mini 4 Pro
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a compact drone that offers exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, a long flight time, a reliable signal connection, effective obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability, making it a recommended choice for those looking for a compact drone with advanced features.
2
1
-
4
1
-
-
1
1
-
2
- $2140
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a highly praised drone that offers excellent camera quality, impressive video capabilities, extended flight time, strong range and signal strength, advanced obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a powerful and versatile tool for professional photography and videography.
-
3
3
5
3
-
2
5
5
-
3
- $1079
DJI Air 3
The DJI Air 3 is a highly regarded drone that offers exceptional camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it suitable for professional photographers and videographers.
-
-
-
1
2
-
1
2
-
-
4
+1 $1299
Autel Evo Lite Plus
The Autel Evo Lite Plus is a highly praised drone that offers impressive camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it suitable for professional-grade aerial photography and videography, as well as for travel and outdoor activities.
-
5
-
6
5
-
5
6
-
-
5
-1 $335
DJI Mini 2 SE
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
9
-
-
6
- $419
DJI Mini 3
The DJI Mini 3 is a compact and lightweight drone with excellent camera quality and advanced stabilization features, making it ideal for adventurers and travelers who want to capture stunning aerial footage on the go.
4
-
-
-
4
-
3
4
-
-
7
- $999
DJI Avata 2
-
8
-
-
8
-
4
-
4
-
8
- Check price
Autel Evo Nano Plus
The Autel Evo Nano Plus is a highly praised drone that offers a high-quality camera experience, impressive video capabilities, reliable flight performance, comprehensive obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability.
9
9
-
-
6
-
-
-
6
-
9
+1 $399
HoverAir X1
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
-
10
+1 $1827
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is a highly praised drone that offers excellent camera quality, impressive video capabilities, a long flight time, advanced obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a top choice for professional videographers and photographers.
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
2
-
11
+1 Check price
DJI Air 3S
1
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
+1 Check price
Dji Ryze Tello
The DJI Ryze Tello is a beginner-friendly drone with good camera quality and portability, making it suitable for casual photography and videography, but may not meet the needs of professional or advanced users.
-
7
-
7
-
8
-
-
-
-
13
+6 $199
DJI Neo
5
11
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
16
- $1689
DJI Mavic 3
The DJI Mavic 3 is a highly praised drone that offers exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, an extended flight time, strong range and signal strength, effective obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability, making it suitable for a wide range of professional applications.
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
17
-2 Check price
Dji Avata
The DJI Avata drone is highly praised for its camera quality, video capabilities, and portability, making it a top choice for professional photographers and videographers.
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
18
-9 Check price
DJI Mini 2
The DJI Mini 2 is a highly recommended drone for capturing high-quality photos and videos, offering impressive camera quality, stable footage, long transmission range, and a compact and portable design.
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
7
19
-2 $1292
DJI FPV
The DJI FPV drone is highly praised for its camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a versatile and powerful tool for capturing stunning aerial footage.
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
20
-2 $884
DJI Air 2S
The DJI Air 2S is a highly recommended drone for its exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, reliable flight performance, and convenient portability.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
6

Video Drone
#13 $199 DJI Neo
#18 $299.95 DJI Mini 2
#5 $334.95 DJI Mini 2 SE
#9 $399 HoverAir X1
#6 $419 DJI Mini 3
#20 $884 DJI Air 2S
#7 $999 DJI Avata 2
#3 $1078.95 DJI Air 3
#1 $1236.32 DJI Mini 4 Pro
#19 $1291.91 DJI FPV
#4 $1299 Autel Evo Lite Plus
#16 $1689.10 DJI Mavic 3
#10 $1826.53 DJI Mavic 3 Classic
#2 $2139.83 DJI Mavic 3 Pro

We ranked DJI Mini 4 Pro #1 in December 2024 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 4 experts ranked DJI Mini 4 Pro as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 9 Oct 2023)
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a compact drone that offers exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, a long flight time, a reliable signal connection, effective obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability, making it a recommended choice for those looking for a compact drone with advanced features.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

A tiny drone with the best video transmission feed

Much better low light performance
Smoother video transmission feed
Vertical video mode

Most expensive in the Mini series

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best compact drone for most people

Improved video features
Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
Lightweight but powerful

Not a major upgrade
Camera has a fixed aperture

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Ultralight Drone

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Overall / Editor's Choice

Small, portable design
249g takeoff weight sidesteps registration requirements
4K60 video in SDR, HDR, or D-Log M
Supports vertical video and upward camera tilt
Two remote control options

Doesn't include AirSense transponder
Extended battery option puts it above registration weight limit

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

A full set of pro functions in an ultra-light drone / Editor's Choice

All-round collision sensors
Good quality AI for orbiting etc.
Camera switches to optical portrait mode
4K 60fps shooting capability
Up to 200fps slow-mo

Light drones subject to gusts
Priced to match Pro drones too
Fly More kit doesn’t include filters

Go to ranking

T3

Best drone overall

Ideal consumer drone
Exceptional camera
Superb performer
Brilliant feature set
Under 250g in weight

Not the cheapest mini drone you can buy

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mavic 3 Pro #2 in December 2024 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a highly praised drone that offers excellent camera quality, impressive video capabilities, extended flight time, strong range and signal strength, advanced obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a powerful and versatile tool for professional photography and videography.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best drone camera system – a trio of lenses

Superb Four Thirds camera
Triple-camera system
Adjustable aperture

Pricier than rivals
Some missing features at launch

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Best for First-Person Flight

With a 5K camera tha can record up to 200 frames per second in 1080p quality. the Mavic 3 Pro excels at video recording and aerial photography, First-person mode works seamlessly with controller's built-in screen.

The price tag and fast flying speed make this a challenging drone for beginners.

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Luxury Drone

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Drone for Pro Video and Cinema

Stabilized, triple-camera array
Wide-angle Four Thirds camera with Hasselblad color
Midrange 3x lens shows excellent picture quality
Up to 5.1K30 or 4K120 video
All-around obstacle sensors
Includes a companion app and a remote with a built-in screen

Base model has just 8GB of onboard storage
Falls shy of promised 43-minute flight time
Only the pricey Cine model supports ProRes

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

A drone with all the bells and whistles

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

The most powerful folding drone money (and plenty of it) can buy

Triple camera system for zoom and wide
Main camera has a 4/34ds sensor
Excellent 60fps live video feedback

Average looking telephoto
ProRes video recorded onto unswappable memory

Go to ranking

T3

Best premium drone

Amazing triple lens camera system
Exceptional video possibilities
Stunning photos
Supreme flyer
Exceptional remote controller

OTT for most users
Not cheap

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend video drones.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of video drones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for December 2024 ranking

We ranked DJI Air 3 #3 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked DJI Air 3 as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 4 Sep 2023)
The DJI Air 3 is a highly regarded drone that offers exceptional camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it suitable for professional photographers and videographers.
Critic endorsements:
WIRED

Best for Most People

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Obstacle Avoidance System

Wide-angle and mid-telephoto camera stack
Sharp 4K footage with standard, flat, or HDR color profiles
Gimbal-stabilized cameras with 60-degree upward tilt
All-around obstacle avoidance
Hyperlapse, slow-motion, and waypoint flight features
Long battery life

Fixed-aperture lenses
Requires FAA registration
Meager 8GB of internal storage

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

The best drone for aerial photos and videos

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Dual camera drone for switchable zoom makes this hard to beat

Dual-cameras offer creative choice
All-round collision sensors for safety
4K 100fps slow motion
Long-range and long battery life

HLG and D-Log M 4:2:0 best output
Smaller sensor than Air 2S

Go to ranking

We ranked Autel Evo Lite Plus #4 in December 2024 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The Autel Evo Lite Plus is a highly praised drone that offers impressive camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it suitable for professional-grade aerial photography and videography, as well as for travel and outdoor activities.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best rival to the DJI Air 2S

1-inch sensor with adjustable aperture
40-minute flight time

Costs more than Air 2S
No D-Log profile

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Long Flights

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Drone for Photography

Stabilized 6K30 and 4K60 video
20MP stills in Raw DNG or JPG
1-inch camera with variable aperture
Beefy battery for up to 40 minutes of flight
Three-way obstacle sensors
Automated camera moves and Hyperlapse
GPS and automated return-to-home

Color video profile isn't configurable
8-bit flat video profile
Screenless remote is a step backward from previous generation
Doesn't support autonomous navigation around obstructions

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

An alternative to DJI

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Folding mid-weight drone with 5.4K video and adjustable aperture

5.4K
Adjustable aperture
Night mode

Props can get in shot when flying fast
Plasticky controller
Subject tracking could be better

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mini 2 SE #5 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked DJI Mini 2 SE as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best budget drone if you don’t need obstacle avoidance

Decent 4K video image quality
Excellent value

Lacks collision avoidance
No Follow Me tracking

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Best of the Best

It weighs less than 249 grams, so it doesn't need to be registered with the FAA to be flown legally. It can fly for up to 31 minutes and has a maximum transmission range of 6.2 miles, plus it can fly in wing speeds up to 23.6 miles per hour.

Some had issues with the return home feature failing to properly return the drone.

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Finally, DJI's low-cost drone has no significant compromises

Side-steps registration fees
GPS and Altitude Hold
Shoots RAW as well as JPEG stills
Some subject-tracking features

Camera could have better dynamic range
No forward collision sensors
Lacks ability to program waypoints

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mini 3 #6 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Mini 3 is a compact and lightweight drone with excellent camera quality and advanced stabilization features, making it ideal for adventurers and travelers who want to capture stunning aerial footage on the go.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Vertical video for less

Can shoot vertical video
Extremely long flight time
Easy to fly
Light and agile

Fewer obstacle avoidance sensors than Mini 3 Pro
Light weight makes is susceptible to wind gusts

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Budget Drone

Good-looking 4K30 video
Support for vertical video and upward gimbal tilt
12MP stills in Raw DNG or JPG
38-minute flights with standard battery
51-minute extended battery available
249g build for registration-free flight
Built-in GPS and FlySafe safety features

Omits obstacle detection
Limited to one color profile
Doesn't support Hyperlapse or ActiveTrack

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

An impressive entry-level drone

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

A great choice for the beginner and often often found cheaply

Very portable
Registration-free in USA, China, and more
Easy-to-fly
Raw photos

Limited tracking features
Feature enthusiasts should go for the Mini 4 Pro
No collision sensors

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Avata 2 #7 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best FPV drone

Incredible image quality
Solid flight times
Easy and stable to fly

Awkward manual handling
Imperfect controller ergonomics

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Racing Drone

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

A thrilling, ready-to-fly FPV drone

Go to ranking

T3

Best drone for cinematic shots

Amazing flight characteristics
Easy-to-use flight control
Immersive experience
Robust design
Front and rear obstacle-sensing

Manual mode is extremely difficult
Manual mode requires a different controller

Go to ranking

We ranked Autel Evo Nano Plus #8 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The Autel Evo Nano Plus is a highly praised drone that offers a high-quality camera experience, impressive video capabilities, reliable flight performance, comprehensive obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best camera drone not made by DJI

Comes in multiple colors
Small and light
Good video and photo quality

More expensive than DJI Mini 3 Pro

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best DJI Mini 3 alternative

Big sensor and bright lens
Collision detection
Stunning video and stills

Fragile
Still missing subject-tracking

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best 249g Drone Without Geofence

4K30 video with gimbal stabilization
Camera supports 12MP and 50MP photos
Automated quick shots and Hyperlapse
Up to 28 minutes of flight time
Three-way obstacle sensors
GPS with return-to-home functionality

Raw photos are tricky to process
Overprocessed look to video
Log profile is only 8-bit

Go to ranking

T3

Best DJI-alternative premium drone

Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor
Excellent for low light shooting
Stunning 4K video and 50MP stills
Three-way obstacle avoidance

Doesn't deal with high winds well

Go to ranking

We ranked HoverAir X1 #9 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Doesn't require a lot of flying experience

Ultra lightweight and compact
Doesn't require controls
Good subject tracking
Durable

Expensive for its size
Very sensitive to wind

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

A drone that can follow you and take video without any help

Rotors inside a safety cage
Brilliant folding design
Automatically follow you and records

Needs a phone for first use
Not ideal for younger kids because

Go to ranking

T3

Best drone for selfies

Perfect for personal use
Excellent 2.7K camera
Image stabilisation
Wide rage of automatic flight modes
No controller required
Pocket sized

Not especially cheap

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mavic 3 Classic #10 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is a highly praised drone that offers excellent camera quality, impressive video capabilities, a long flight time, advanced obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a top choice for professional videographers and photographers.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Best camera drone

Amazing camera quality
Long flight time
Great obstacle avoidance

Lacks 28x zoom of Mavic 3

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Get a Mavic 3 for less (if you can do without the zoom)

Camera has 4/34ds sensor
Excellent 60fps live video feedback
5.1K video
Stand-out battery life
ARPS 5.0 subject tracking

Misses out on the hybrid camera zoom
5.1K maxes out at 50fps

Go to ranking

T3

Best drone for high-res video

Impeccable flight characteristics
Shoots incredible 5.1K footage
And 20MP stills in RAW or JPEG
Four-way obstacle avoidance
Wide range of autonomous flight settings

Still quite pricey by consumer drone standards
No zoom camera

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Air 3S #11 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked DJI Air 3S as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best drone overall

Easy to fly
Smooth 4K/60fps video
Detailed stills thanks to two cameras
Great low-light video
Vertical shooting available
Long flight time

Not very different from Air 3
FAA registration required

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best all-round drone for aerial photographers

Dual cameras
Excellent wind resistance
Generous flight times

C1 European weight rating
Fixed aperture lenses
Large protruding camera

Go to ranking

We ranked Dji Ryze Tello #12 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Ryze Tello is a beginner-friendly drone with good camera quality and portability, making it suitable for casual photography and videography, but may not meet the needs of professional or advanced users.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best cheap drone for novices

Responsive flight controls
Lightweight and compact

Choppy video transmission
Unstable in wind

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Toy Drone

Go to ranking

Man of Many

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Neo #13 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best cheap drone

Easy to fly and control
Compact and lightweight
Gorgeous 4K footage
User-friendly app
Multiple fun shooting modes

Susceptible to gusts of wind
No obstacle avoidance
Short flight time

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best DJI drone for quick selfies

Super quick easy to get airborne
Super cheap

Level 4 wind resistance only
Cost of extras quickly adds up

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Selfie Drone

Small, light build
Smooth, stabilized aerial footage
Takes off from and lands in your palm
Automated flight modes are easy to use
22GB internal storage holds 40 minutes of 4K
Up to 18 minutes of flight time per charge

Unattractive, overbaked video profile
Kludgy manual flight controls in phone app
Very limited operating range without physical remote (sold separately)
Middling wind resistance
Lack of Remote ID is a problem for licensed pilots

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mavic 3 #14 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Mavic 3 is a highly praised drone that offers exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, an extended flight time, strong range and signal strength, effective obstacle avoidance, and excellent portability, making it suitable for a wide range of professional applications.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best value camera drone for enthusiasts

Excellent Hasselblad sensor
Impressive safety features

Still an expensive option
Flight time shorter than claimed

Go to ranking

CNET

Best drone for serious photographers

Superb image quality, superb flight times, relatively compact size

Higher price puts it out of reach for many

Go to ranking

We ranked Dji Avata #15 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Avata drone is highly praised for its camera quality, video capabilities, and portability, making it a top choice for professional photographers and videographers.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Best small FPV drone

Fast
Easy to fly
Everything included

Goggles somewhat uncomfortable
Short flight time compared to other DJI drones
Requires extra controller for manual mode

Go to ranking

CNET

Best FPV drone for exhilarating first-person flying

Easy to fly with the motion controller, exhilarating flight experience, smaller and safer design

FPV flying can cause nausea, extra flight restrictions depending on location

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Mini 2 #16 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Mini 2 is a highly recommended drone for capturing high-quality photos and videos, offering impressive camera quality, stable footage, long transmission range, and a compact and portable design.
Critic endorsements:
WIRED

Best Budget Drone

Go to ranking

CNET

Best beginner drone

Pocket-friendly size, easy to fly, relatively affordable price

Better camera quality on other models

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI FPV #17 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI FPV drone is highly praised for its camera quality, video capabilities, flight time, range and signal strength, obstacle avoidance, and portability, making it a versatile and powerful tool for capturing stunning aerial footage.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Best drone for aspiring racers

Very fast
Easy to fly (at the beginner level)
Three skill levels
Great FPV goggles

Shorter flight time than other DJI drones

Go to ranking

CNET

Best full FPV flying kit for less

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We ranked DJI Air 2S #18 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best video drones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 29 Aug 2023)
The DJI Air 2S is a highly recommended drone for its exceptional camera quality, impressive video capabilities, reliable flight performance, and convenient portability.
Critic endorsements:
T3

Best mid-range drone

Sensational camera and shoots in 5.4K
Four-sided obstacle avoidance
Lightweight and compact
Quiet to fly

Fiddly licensing required

Go to ranking

CNET

Best all-round drone

Great image quality, long flight times, helpful automated flying modes

No ability to shoot video or photos in portrait orientation

Go to ranking