It’s never too early nor too late to get yourself a drone. With its many functions that make everyday tasks easier and habits funner, it’s easy to see why more and more people are loving these unmanned aircraft. And you don’t have to be an aviation expert to fly a high-quality quadcopter, as drone developers have made sure that drone flying is as seamless and hassle-free as possible.
With so many drones to choose from, however, deciding which one to buy can be tough. With the price tag attached to them, you need to know which drone is worth every penny. Well, worry not now, as we’ve come up with a list that will guide you through the decision-making process.
Best Drones to Buy in 2019
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, here is a list of the best drones to buy in 2019 worth checking out.
1. DJI Mavic Air
“Small but terrible” is probably the best way to describe DJI’s Mavic Air. At first glance, this beast looks small, but it comes with impressive features, making it one of the best drones to buy in 2019. Since it is compact and foldable, the DJI Mavic Air is a great pick for those looking for a portable drone. It can even fit in your jacket’s pocket!
The Mavic Air shoots 4K videos with seamless stabilization with three axis gimbal and captures stunning photos with its 12 MP HDR still image capturing. Mavic Air lets you save photos and videos directly to the aircraft with its 8 GB of internal storage, which means you can enjoy the whole 21-minute flight without interruption commonly caused by low storage.
The Mavic Air is sold at $799 and comes in different colors including arctic white, onyx black, and flame red. DJI also sells a combo pack for Mavic Air, which comes with extra batteries, propellers, and more, for only $999.
2. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Another DJI drone makes it to this list and it’s definitely no surprise!
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro folds and fits in your hand, which makes it a top pick for always-on-the-go drone pilots. The low-noise flight technology–incorporated Mavic 2 Pro lets you fly faster, longer, and quieter with its 31-minute flight time and speed of 72 km per hour.
Inheriting DJI’s top-notch technology, Mavic Pro delivers the sharpest videos and stills thanks to its gimbal-stabilized Hasselblad camera. It takes pictures that are more detailed and noticeably superior over the results produced by DJI’s previous models.
Mavic 2 Pro, however, is pricier than other DJI drones, most especially compared to its recent iteration (Mavic Pro). It’s sold for $1499 with drone essentials included. (If you’re not ready to splurge a thousand dollars on a drone, DJI’s Black Friday sale will convince you to.)
3. DJI Spark
Spark is a mini-drone that features all of DJI’s signature technologies, allowing you to capture stunning images and videos whenever. A smartphone is literally all you need to control Spark, but you can also get a separate controller or DJI googles to control it, whichever works better for you.
Spark is built as a compact drone. Although to some it may appear like a toy, what with its bright colors, this drone can fly quite well even in windy conditions. It also comes with many features such as quick shot, quick launch, active track, and more.
What makes Spark one of the best drones to buy in 2019 is not only the superior technology but also its price—a very surprising $399. Since Spark does not come with a separate remote controller, DJI sells a combo that includes a remote controller, extra battery and propeller set, and more.
4. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium
Let’s take a break from DJI and include other worth-mentioning manufacturers. Let’s start off with Autel Robotics and its star drone X-Star. This premium drone, first and foremost, is ready to fly straight out of the box, no assembling needed!
X-Star is especially made for those into aerial photography. It has numerous smart features including the Follow Me mode, way points, and orbits. Another thing that makes X-Star one of the best is how it uses GLONASS and GPS navigation systems to connect to satellites, making for more precise flying and greater obstacle avoidance skills.
It’s equipped with a 12 MP camera and a 3-axis gimbal, giving users 4K ultra HD and stabilized captures in a single 25-minute flight. This large drone can easily be controlled using the Starlink app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. A price of $699 is already good deal given its make, model, and features.
5. DJI Phantom 4 Advanced
Phantom 4 Advanced is a refinement of the already impressive DJI Phantom 3 Professional. With 4K Ultra HD video recording at 60fps supported plus a 20-megapixel mounted, you can be sure that Phantom 4 Advanced will deliver the finest aerial photography and film stills. It flies 72 km per hour with 30 minutes maximum flight time to let you capture as many awesome images and videos while up in the air.
Phantom 4 Advanced has no obvious differences from previous Phantom series drones aside from a remote controller. This RC has a built-in screen that allows pilots to watch the live stream in 1080p resolution. It has a 5.5 inches screen with an intelligent display that automatically adjusts screen brightness when shooting under the sun.
It’s pricey, sure, but for a feature-packed drone like Phantom 4 Advanced, shelling $1199 will definitely be worth it.
6. Yuneec Typhoon H
If there’s any Chinese aircraft manufacturer other than DJI that has awe-inspiring releases, it’s Yuneec. So it should not come as a surprise that one of the best drones to buy in 2019 is from this Jinxi-based drone maker.
Meet Yuneec Typhoon H.
For a bit less money than the DJI Phantom series, you get quite a few extras with the Typhoon H. This drone comes equipped with six propellers, and if you happen to break one mid-flight, you can still safely land the drone with the help of the remaining five. Unlike DJI drones that pan the camera up and down, Typhoon H can rotate a full 360 degrees. One more amazing thing about this drone is the dedicated remote controller and its 7-inch touchscreen.
This brilliant hexacopter costs $899.99 only, with the controller and other Typhoon H drone essentials included.
7. Yuneec Typhoon H Plus
It’s just Yuneec Typhoon H drone—but with enhanced features. Typhoon H Plus is bigger in size (520 mm) and maximum video resolution (4K/60fps). The drone is equipped with a 20 MP camera that takes more vivid, colorful, and clearer videos and photos.
In addition, Typhoon H Plus is more powerful and efficient than its predecessor. It can withstand extreme winds without compromising the media quality. It can rotate a full 360 degrees.
Safe to say, Yuneec’s Typhoon H Plus is a total upgrade from the Typhoon H, although it comes with quite a price. With drone essentials included, Typhoon H Plus costs $1899.99.
8. DJI Ryze Tello
Spark was the cheapest drone DJI has ever had—until Ryze Tello was introduced.
DJI’s Tello is definitely here to impress with only a $99 price tag attached to it.
Like any other drone, Tello has the patent of the DJI signature design. When it comes to appearance, you might mistake Tello drone for the Spark. It is small and has a white canopy and dark gray body. The Tello drone can be controlled using the Tello app installed on your smartphone or a supported Bluetooth remote controller like the Gamesir or Gamevice RC.
A drone loaded with features but comes at a very affordable price, DJI’s Tello UAV definitely deserves a spot on our list of best drones to buy in 2019.
9. Parrot Anafi
If you wish to break away from the DJI drones hype but still want to get your money’s worth, the Parrot Anafi drone is the one for you.
Anafi, the flying 4K HDR camera, is ultra compact and foldable, not to mention everything you need to fly it fits in just one pack. It’s perfect for pilots who are always on the go. It’s also worth mentioning that the drone’s battery can easily be recharged using a power bank.
The drone comes with a dedicated support app that allows you to capture aerial selfies and cool landscape videos, rotate the drone 360 degrees, and instruct it to return home or avoid marked no-go areas for safer flights. It’s durable enough to resist difficult weather conditions thanks to its carbon reinforced frame. It also has a camera that resists temperature from -10° to +40°. If you’re an adrenaline junkie who goes on the most extreme of all trips, the Anafi is the perfect drone to bring with you.
Anafi Extended is on the shelf for only $599.99.
10. DJI Inspire 2
Inspire 2 provides a superb image quality, power, and intelligence to meet the needs of professional filmmakers and businesses that focus on media production. It has all the amazing features found in Inspire 1—and takes them to a whole new level. This alone makes Inspire 2 one of the best drones to buy in 2019.
Inspire 2 is equipped with an all-new image processing system that records videos at 5.2K and goes 80 kilometers per hour. It also has a dual battery system that extends flight time to a maximum of 27 minutes. It comes with multiple smart flight modes that allow pilots to capture complex, dramatic shots. It also has a self-heating system that cools it down during warmer days and vice versa.
Definitely one of the best drones to buy in 2019, Inspire 2 comes in four different types: regular, professional, premium, and cinema premium. The price ranges from $2999 to $20439. The more expensive it gets, the more powerful it becomes.
There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a drone. If you’re a beginner, you must do some research or ask around to know which ones are easier to fly. With the overwhelming number of drones on the market today, each boasting unique set of impressive features, deciding on which would be a good purchase can be hard.
Remember that it all boils down to how you plan to use the drone, your main purpose for buying it. The shelves are full and the options list is long, but trust that there is a drone out there that best suits your needs.
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