Discover the Best 5 Beginner-Friendly Drones for 2023
Drones have become increasingly popular, and for good reason. They offer a unique way to capture aerial photos and videos that would be impossible to get from the ground. If you're a beginner looking to get into drone photography and videography, there are a few things you'll need to consider when choosing a drone.
Price: Drones can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It's important to set a budget before you start shopping because the cost doesn’t stop at the drone—you’ll need accessories, a case, extra batteries, etc.
Features: Some drones come with a variety of features, such as obstacle avoidance, intelligent flight modes, and high-resolution cameras. If you're serious about drone photography and videography, you'll want to choose a drone with a good set of features within your budget.
Portability: If you plan on traveling with your drone, you'll want to choose a model that is lightweight and easy to transport.
Ease of use: Drones can be a bit tricky to fly, so it's important to choose a model that is easy to learn how to use.
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5 best drones for beginners in 2023:
1. DJI Mini 3 Pro
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the best overall drone for beginners. It's a small, lightweight, and foldable drone that weighs less than 249 grams, making it exempt from registration in most countries and regions. It’s pretty easy to fly, and has a great set of features, including a 48MP camera, obstacle avoidance, and intelligent flight modes. It also has a new 3-axis gimbal that helps to keep your footage smooth and stable, even in windy conditions.
Key features:
48MP camera with 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor
Obstacle avoidance in all directions: The Mini 3 Pro has front, rear, and downward obstacle avoidance sensors that help you to fly safely and avoid collisions.
Intelligent flight modes: The Mini 3 Pro has a variety of intelligent flight modes that make it easy to capture stunning aerial footage, such as ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest.
Max flight time: 34 minutes
Foldable design
Price: Starting at $909
2. DJI Mini 2
The DJI Mini 2 is a great option for budget-minded beginners. It's smaller and lighter than the Mini 3 Pro, but it still takes great photos and videos. It weighs less than 250 grams, also making it exempt from registration in most countries and regions.
Key features:
12MP camera with 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
Obstacle avoidance in front and rear
QuickShots: The Mini 2 has a variety of QuickShots modes that make it easy to capture stunning aerial footage, such as Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket.
OcuSync 2.0: The Mini 2 uses OcuSync 2.0 technology for reliable video transmission up to 10 kilometers.
Max flight time: 31 minutes
Foldable design
Price: Starting at $339
3. Autel Evo Lite+
The Autel Evo Lite+ is a great choice for beginners who want a drone with a bit more power. This is a high-end drone that offers a number of features that are not found on other drones in its price range. It has a larger sensor than the DJI Mini 2, which means it takes better photos and videos in low-light conditions.
Key features:
20MP camera with 1-inch CMOS sensor
Obstacle avoidance in all directions: The Autel Evo Lite+ has front, rear, and downward obstacle avoidance sensors that help you to fly safely and avoid collisions.
Intelligent flight modes: The Autel Evo Lite+ has a variety of intelligent flight modes that make it easy to capture stunning aerial footage, such as ActiveTrack, Spotlight, and Waypoint.
Max flight time: 40 minutes
Foldable design
Price: Starting at $1,399
4. Holy Stone HS720
The Holy Stone HS720 is a great value for the price. It has a 12MP camera, obstacle avoidance, and intelligent flight modes.
Key features:
12MP camera with 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
Obstacle avoidance in front and rear: The HS720 has obstacle avoidance sensors in the front and rear that help you avoid collisions. This makes it a great drone for beginners who are still learning how to fly.
Intelligent flight modes: The HS720 has a number of intelligent flight modes, such as Follow Me, Orbit, and Waypoint. These modes make it easy to capture stunning aerial footage without having to be a skilled pilot.
Max flight time: 26 minutes
Foldable design
Price: Starting at $249
5. Fimi X8 Mini
The Fimi X8 Mini is a great option for beginners who want a foldable drone. It's small and lightweight, but it still has a 12MP camera and a 4K video recorder. It's also a good value for the price, making it a popular choice among budget-minded buyers.
Key features:
12MP camera with 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
4K video recording
Obstacle avoidance in front and rear: The X8 Mini has obstacle avoidance sensors in the front and rear that help you avoid collisions. This makes it a great drone for beginners who are still learning how to fly.
Intelligent flight modes: The X8 Mini has a number of intelligent flight modes, such as Follow Me, Orbit, and Waypoint. These modes make it easy to capture stunning aerial footage without having to be a skilled pilot.
Max flight time: 30 minutes
Foldable design
Price: Starting at $359
Additional tips for choosing a drone for beginners:
Start with a small, lightweight drone. This will make it easier to learn how to fly.
Choose a drone with a good camera. This will not only help you take great photos and videos, it won’t look and feel outdated in just a couple of years.
Consider the features that are important to you. Do you want a drone with obstacle avoidance? Intelligent flight modes? A long flight time? These are all worth taking into consideration when making an investment on a drone you won’t outgrow too quickly.
Regardless of which drone you chose, please remember to fly responsibly. With the rise of drone usage, certain countries, popular destinations and nature reserves have resorted to stricter regulations. Be sure to familiarize and obey yourself with local laws.
