The best drone for 2026

Engadget · Feb 18, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Drones are no longer just niche toys for enthusiasts. Today’s models are compact, increasingly affordable and capable of capturing sharp aerial photos and video with minimal effort. Whether you’re curious about flying for the first time or looking to upgrade to a more advanced camera drone, the options available in 2026 are broader and more approachable than ever.Entry-level drones now offer features like GPS-assisted flight, return-to-home safety systems and automated shooting modes that take much of the stress out of learning to fly. Step up to more advanced models and you’ll find foldable designs that travel easily, longer flight times and stabilized 4K video that holds up well beyond social media clips.We’ve tested a range of drones to identify the best options across different skill levels and budgets. Whether your priority is learning the basics, capturing polished aerial footage or packing light for travel, these picks highlight the drones that offer the best balance of performance, reliability and ease of use.Quick OverviewBest drones for 2026Type: Mini camera drone | Flight time: Up to 34 minutes | Camera resolution: 48 MP | Video resolution: 4K at up to 100 fps | Weight: Under 249 grams Read our full DJI Mini 4 Pro review DJI’s Mini 4 Pro can do it all at a very reasonable price. It has an excellent onboard camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, 24mm f/1.7 lens, support for 4K 100 fps video with D-LogM, HLG and HDR capture and up to 48MP still photography. Endurance is around 45 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Plus battery and it can fly up to 12.4 miles away in unobstructed terrain, all while transmitting a 1080p 60 fps signal to your controller. It has multiple subject tracking modes so it’s ideal for vlogging, and obstacle detection sensors on all sides help keep it out of danger. On top of that, it weighs less than 249 grams so it’s exempt from licensing requirements in most regions. Best of all, and I can’t say this enough, it’s priced reasonably and even the basic kit comes with an RC-N2 smartphone controller. ProsManeuverableImproved obstacle avoidanceNew ActiveTrack 360 feature is greatSolid image qualityConsStill far from crashproofA bit expensiveNot the best for night scenesType: Camera drone | Flight time: Up to 40 minutes | Camera resolution: 20 MP | Video resolution: 6K at 30 fps | Weight: 835 grams If you prefer to not buy DJI drones due to the (very reasonable) risk that they may soon disappear from the US market, I’d recommend Autel. That company is based in China as well but some of its drones are made in the US and it isn’t on any sanctions lists. Autel’s Robotics Evo Lite+ has similar autonomous and obstacle detection features to the DJI Air 3S, while adding higher resolution 6K video and a 1-inch sensor, though it lacks a secondary camera. Battery life is a very solid 40 minutes and it has a maximum range of 7.5 miles with no obstacles. ProsGood autonomous and obstacle detection featuresSupports 6K videoSolid battery lifeConsNo secondary cameraType: Mini selfie drone | Flight time: Up to 18 minutes | Camera resolution: 12 MP | Video resolution: Up to 4K at 60 fps | Weight: 160 grams Read our full DJI Neo 2 review DJI’s Neo 2 has a host of improvements over the original Neo that make it the best personal drone on the market. On top of being tough and safe thanks to the rugged design and prop guards, it now protects itself from crashes thanks to the new LiDAR and omnidirectional sensors. That, along with the boosted speed, makes it much better as a follow-me drone for activities like vlogging, hiking, skiing and biking. You can still pilot the Neo 2 from a smartphone or launch it off your hand, but it now also supports gesture controls to steer it around or land it on your palm. And a fun new QuickShot feature for social media is the “Hitchcock zoom” that’s ideal for horror movie shots. Other key improvements include longer battery life, a storage boost to 49GB and, thankfully, much quieter operation than the banshee-like Neo. ProsQuieterLiDAR obstacle detectionFast for a small droneImproved battery lifeImpressive gesture controlsConsNo 10-bit LogM videoNoise carriesSubpar low light performanceType: Mini camera drone | Flight time: Up to 31 minutes | Camera resolution: 48 MP | Video resolution: 4K at up to 100 fps | Weight: 249 grams Read our full DJI Flip review DJI’s $439 Flip has a clever, user-friendly design, with all four propellers folding down and stacking below the body like some kind of Star Wars spacecraft. This helps protect the propellers to limit damage or injury in case of a collision. That people-safe design lets creators take high-quality 4K 60p video indoors (with D-LogM, HLG and HDR), even with dim lighting, thanks to the relatively large 1/1.3-inch sensor. Though the light weight allows you to fly it without a permit, the large surface and slowish speeds means it’s not ideal outdoors in windy conditions. And though the Flip offers sophisticated subject tracking modes, it has limited obstacle detection when that function is enabled. Still, it’s a powerful drone with up to a 10-mile range that offers a lot of functionality for the price. ProsSharp and smooth 4K videoPeople-safe designExcellent battery lifeNo license neededConsObstacle detection is very limitedBulkier than the competitionNot great in windType: Mini selfie drone | Flight time: Up to 16 minutes | Camera resolution: 48 MP | Video resolution: 8K at 30 fps | Weight: 192.5 grams Like the Flip, the $699 HoverAir X1 ProMax offers features like a folding, people-safe design, and a 1/1.3-inch sensor. However, unlike DJI’s model, the HoverAir X1 ProMax can dodge obstacles while tracking people, making it superior for that purpose. It’s also a touch faster with a maximum tracking speed of up to 26 mph and offers up to 8K 30 fps video, along with 4K 120 fps slo-mo footage. The main drawback, as mentioned, is the short 1km max range (with the optional beacon controller) and limited 16-minute battery life. ProsFolding designGood people tracking with obstacle avoidanceMax tracking speed of 26 mphSupport for 8K 30 fps videoConsShort battery lifeType: Professional camera drone | Flight time: Up to 43 minutes | Camera resolution: 20 MP (main), additional telephoto lenses | Video resolution: Up to 5.1K at 50 fps | Weight: 958 grams Read our full DJI Mavic 3 Pro hands-on DJI’s Mavic 3 Pro is the best cinema drone if budget is no object, thanks to the Hasselblad Four Thirds primary camera with full D-Log capture (up to 4K 120 fps) that allows for excellent picture quality in most conditions. It also carries both 3x and 7x telephoto cameras that work well not just for creative content capture, but also things like wildlife spotting and search and rescue. Battery life is excellent at 43 minutes and range is a respectable 9.3 miles. Naturally, it has all of DJI’s ActiveTrack subject tracking features and is covered with obstacle detection sensors on all sides. ProsSupport for 4K 120 fps videoGood subject tracking and obstacle detectionGood battery lifeConsExpensiveType: Camera drone | Flight time: Up to 45 minutes | Camera resolution: 50 MP (wide-angle), 48 MP (telephoto) | Video resolution: 4K at up to 120 fps | Weight: Not specified Read our full DJI Air 3S review The DJI Air 3S has a unique dual-camera setup that allows you to capture many types of shots. The 50-megapixel, 1-inch sensor wide camera with a 24mm f/1.8 lens supports 4K recording up to 120 fps and 1080p at 240 fps, along with D-LogM to improve dynamic range. The secondary 70mm (3x) zoom camera has a still-decent 1.3-inch sensor, and supports the same video specs and color modes as the primary. Battery life is ample at 45 minutes and the Air 3S can sense obstacles in all directions. The addition of a forward-facing LiDAR sensor aids detection in low light, making the ActiveTrack subject-tracking feature more versatile. With its high speeds up to 45 mph, the Air 3S can be used in windy conditions and can range as far as 12.5 miles away. It has 45 GB of internal storage as well, on top of a microSD slot. The basic kit is reasonably priced, but I’d recommend paying a bit more to get it in the Fly More kit with extra batteries. ProsExcellent image qualityLiDAR improves obstacle detection at nightActiveTrack 360 produces cinematic tracking shotsLong battery lifeNow has 42GB internal storageConsSometimes fails to detect small obstaclesType: FPV racing drone | Flight time: Up to 23 minutes | Camera resolution: Not specified | Video resolution: 4K at up to 100 fps | Weight: 410 grams Read our full DJI Avata 2 review The Avata 2 is known for being DJI’s main FPV drone, and yes, it can get as fast as 60 mph and its acrobatic abilities allow you to create exciting first-person footage. It’s more than just that, though. The 1/1.3-inch sensor camera can shoot high-quality 4K footage at up to 100 fps in D-LogM and HDR modes, matching the quality you get with the Mini 4 Pro. The protected propellers make it highly resistant to crashes and allow you to use the Avata 2 indoors or around people. It lacks obstacle detection sensors though, instead relying on its tough design and prop guards to survive crashes. Since battery life is only about 20 minutes, it’s best to buy the Avata 2 in the Fly More combo which includes an updated headset, three batteries and the latest RC Motion 3 controller. ProsImproved video qualityBetter maneuverabilityCheaperLonger battery lifeConsGoggles 3 may lack comfort for someWhat to look for in a droneCamera featuresFor this guide, we're looking only at drones that are basically flying cameras, so you want the best video and photo features possible. Bigger devices like DJI’s Mavic 3 Pro or Air 3S carry relatively large sensors, offering superior camera quality for nighttime cityscapes or other low-light scenes. Smaller models like the Mini 4 Pro and HoverAir X1 Max use smaller camera sensors, so they aren’t as good in dim light.Field of view and mini