The Mobula 7 HD ($157.99) is one of the more popular pint-sized drones in the fastly growing category of cinewhoops. A cinewhoop is a small drone that has an HD camera that will allow you to capture footage that would be impossible to get on a larger, traditional photography drone. This Mobula 7 HD weighs only 42 grams and will fit in the palm of your hand.
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When Autel announced the folding Evo it looked like DJI was going to have some stiff competition. It took quite some time for Autel to actually launch after it was teased and early firmware glitches didn’t get the Evo off to a smooth start. DJI released the Mavic 2 lineup and people quickly forgot about the Evo. However, Autel has since addressed the firmware issues it carries a lower price tag than the Mavic lineup at $999. After spending some time with the Evo and comparing it to both the Mavic 2 Zoom ($1149) and Mavic 2 Pro ($1499) I have to say I’ve been impressed.
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The UVify OOri is a unique quadcopter. It was built by a company that has its roots in FPV drone racing but was uniquely designed with a beginner pilot in mind. The OOri can be flown like a traditional FPV freestyle or race quad that tops out at 50 mph. However, it also has a beginner mode that utilizes vision positioning software to help make it incredibly stable.
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It is no secret that I love my original Emax Tinyhawk, but the new Tinyhawk S takes it up a notch. The original is a great drone for flying both indoors and out. Emax did all the little things right when they made it. My only wish was that it could handle a 2S battery. Now it can and it is an absolute dream. This is the best beginner drone out there, but I wouldn’t stop there. If you fly FPV then you need this drone. Yes, it’s that good and it won’t break the bank starting at $99.
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The URUAV UR85 HD Bushido($155) is a Cinewhoop that you can fly right out of the box. This one is basically a lighter version of the popular Beta 85x HD. Because it is roughly the same size, but substantially lighter (23 grams) it is a much more capable drone. While it still isn’t something I’d recommend for strictly flying freestyle it is a lot of fun to fly and can capture some pretty awesome cinematic HD footage that just isn’t possible with a larger drone. If you haven’t flown a Cinewhoop style drone then this is definitely something you’ll need to check out. They are a blast and will get you video footage that you can’t get with really any other style quad.
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The BetaFPV Beta85x HD is a new drone in the growing class of Cinewhoops. Cinewhoops are small FPV style quadcopters that are capable of recording HD footage. While there are plenty of HD capable drones out there Cinewhoops make it possible to get HD footage from a palm-sized drone that pilots can fly in tight spaces that wouldn’t be possible with bigger drones. Not only can they fly in tight quarters, but they can fly acro style and are built to be able to withstand crashes.
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At first glance, the Mavic 2 Pro (1,499) seems like the obvious successor to the Phantom 4 (also $1,499). The Mavic 2 has equivalent specifications in almost all areas, but it folds into a fraction of the size of the Phantom 4 Pro. The Mavic 2 Pro also sports 10-bit color on a Hasselblad-branded camera and several new automated flight modes among other improvements. With these upgrades it seems like the Phantom 4 is finished, right? Despite the apparent advantages of the Mavic 2 Pro, the Phantom 4 Pro still has some key features that give it an edge for some pilots. In this comparison, I dive into the specs, discuss the hidden pros and cons of each drone, and tell you which is best for specific applications.
The Simtoo Fairy XT175 drone is the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. The Fairy has some impressive specs for a small, foldable drone. It has an 8MP camera, dual GPS and a handful of intelligent flight modes. All of these features are packed into a drone that can fit in your pocket. Right now the Fairy drone can be yours for $109. Does it sound too good to be true?
The FatShark 101 FPV Drone Training System ($246) is an excellent way for anyone looking to get into flying drones, and more specifically flying FPV or first-person view. FPV flying is the fast-paced, growing sport of drone racing. This FatShark 101 training system will give you the drone, goggles, controller, and accessories you’ll need to get started and you won’t have to deal with the setup and binding process. It is a headache and a hassle that is all too familiar with so many FPV drones. FatShark makes it easy.
The MJX Bugs 3 is an incredibly versatile and fun drone. It has brushless motors, which makes it more powerful and efficient than similarly-priced drones, like the Syma X8. It is more of an intermediate-level drone and I wouldn’t recommend it for children. However, if you want something that is fun, fast, and can carry a GoPro, then this is the drone for you. You will be pleasantly surprised by the versatility of this drone.
The Parrot Anafi ($699) is a unique drone and the only real competition we have seen to DJI’s compact Mavic Air. The Anafi sports a 4K camera with a full 180-degrees of travel as well as a 21 MP sensor that is capable of 2.8X digital zoom. With these features, the Anafi is a really compelling little consumer drone. Right now you can get the Anafi and two batteries for $700. Does that make the Anafi($699) a better deal than the DJI Mavic Air ($799)?
Today the Tello remains the only drone on drone-giant DJI’s website that isn’t branded as a DJI-built drone. The feature-packed mini-drone arose from a partnership between Ryze, Intel, and DJI. Their goal was to create the ultimate beginner drone. When you hear names like “DJI” and “Intel” you immediately think, “this drone must pack the latest technology and be really expensive”. The Tello does indeed have a lot of incredible features. This little drone sports an HD camera, intelligent flight modes, image stabilization, and a handful of sensors for stable flight. What it doesn’t have is a high price tag. Just under $100, this small drone is worth every penny.
The Tello isn’t only for sale at DJI.com. There are some great package deals on Amazon.
The DJI Inspire 2 is an aerial cinematographers dream drone with its seemingly endless versatility in the air and unmatched performance. My drone of choice has been the Phantom 4 Pro for the past 2 years but since upgrading to the Inspire series I haven’t looked back. The Inspire 2 aircraft is sold separately from the various cameras DJI sells so while I won’t be showcasing any footage today, I certainly will be focusing on what makes this one of the most powerful drones DJI has produced.
The Mavic Pro is according to insiders, DJI’s best selling drone ever. It is small, light, foldable, very capable and, at least in our experience, very reliable. It wasn’t the world’s first foldable drone, but it was the first one that got (almost) everything right. DJI has sold thousands of them around the world and in the eyes of many, it has become the gold standard for foldable drones. The two-year-old Mavic Pro still holds its own against its much newer little brother the DJI Mavic Air. Now, as the sun is setting on this all-time favorite, we thought it made sense to do a final DroneDJ Review. As a goodbye and thank you if you will, but also for those of you who are considering picking one up, new or used, as prices are likely to drop even more after DJI’s ‘See the Bigger Picture‘ event tomorrow.
If you asked me what is the best drone on the market right now my response would be the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Sure, there are drones like the Inspire 2 that are better equipped, but they have their own set of downfalls. The Phantom series offers the perfect blend of performance, quality, and portability at a reasonable cost which makes the Phantom 4 Pro my all-time favorite drone to use.
After a little over six months of flying the DJI Mavic Air, I’ve gotten to experience how even small drones have incredible potential. Slated between the Spark and Mavic Pro, DJI could have done a lot more with this product but chose not to because of how it’s positioned in their current offerings. This mixture of creating the best drone possible and trying not to compete with their other products leaves the Mavic Air as an almost perfect drone.
With its smaller design, the Spark features a smaller battery which as a result decreases the flight time. Extra batteries are pretty cheap at $49 a piece, but once you start carrying around your drone, batteries, and extra accessories, things can get hard to pack in your bag. This is why the DJI Spark Portable Charging Station has become my favorite accessory that I own.
Last summer, my wife, kids and I were in a very fortunate situation to finally do the American Road Trip we had been dreaming about. The four of us visited 22 National Parks in about 6 weeks time. Expect for only a few nights we camped out every night. Apart from the beauty of the National Parks, one thing that struck me was how disconnected you are from day to day life once you are in a park like for instance Yellow Stone NP. The little campsite we stayed at had no power, no running water, and only a port-o-potty. No problem at all. We did not mind being disconnected. Live without internet, email, social media was very easy to get accustomed to. A blessing really. However, not being able to charge a flashlight, camera, drone, phone, or even a laptop, that got old really fast. Had we had something like the portable Jackery Explorer 240 battery charger and the Jackery 50W Explorer solar panel, that would have gone a long way in making our camping experience more convenient.
When I look at all the different pieces of equipment I use, I realize almost all of them need charging every single day. Normally this is not a big deal, but when I’m traveling, it is quite a challenge to keep everything fully charged. That’s where the Jackery Explorer 200 comes in. This power bank gives you all the connections to keep your drone, laptop, phone and other devices powered up, multiple times over. Jackery sent me the Explorer 200 to review and after having used it for the last couple of weeks, I really like it. This bad boy will be coming with me on any future trip I’ll be making.
We got our hands on two pairs of DJI Goggles Racing Edition, so we thought what better way to put these First Person View (FPV) Goggles to the test than to take them to the Lime Rock Park Racetrack and fly the DJI Mavic Air against the DJI Mavic Pro over the track and through the turns!
The first time I got the DJI Spark in my hands was back in June. Since then I have flown the Spark mini-drone on numerous occasions, at many different locations, and in varying conditions. To say that I like the Mavic Pro’s smaller brother is an understatement.
I simply love the Spark. Yes, I wish it had 4K video, a real 3-axis gimbal, and a longer flight time. But the way the Spark flies when you put it in sports mode (fast and agile) and the fun that you can have with it, make up for its shortcomings. As they say, the best drone you have is the one that is with you. The Spark has joined me on many trips, where I simply would not have bothered to take the bigger and heavier Mavic Pro. As you probably can tell, the DJI Spark is one of my favorite drones!
With that out of the way, I owe you a full review of the DJI Spark mini-drone, so here we go.
Carpe Diem and capture the moment! That seems to be the spirit and purpose of the Moment foldable, selfie-drone from the Chinese company Simtoo. It is a lightweight drone that is easy to carry with you on your travels to capture all those amazing moments. It is also competitively priced at $199 when you buy it through their IndieGoGo campaign. The full retail price will be $349 however once the campaign has ended.
