Best drones for 2023

There have been many changes in the drone world this year, but there have also been some things that have not changed, one of them being that DJI remains the sales leader in this sector. In this article I will tell you about the best drones for 2023 in case you are considering buying your first drone or changing your current equipment.

I will not only show you drones from DJI, I will also tell you about other drone brands, from the cheapest to the most expensive ones and also in which field they would be best suited to provide the best drone service.

The best drone in the world exists, and it depends on many things. Between them it depends on who needs it and what they need it for, in short, the best drone in the world will depend on your needs and other factors. There are therefore a wide variety of different types of drones to meet these needs.

The lifespan of a drone will be an important factor in determining whether it is one of the best drones for 2023. The lifespan of a drone changes depending on the life it is given.

If you take care of your drone during piloting with careful transitions so as not to damage the motors, take care of the batteries by recharging them as the instruction manual recommends, and perform frequent care and maintenance after flying your drone. The lifespan of your drone can be as long as 3-5 years. Let us remember the programmed obsolescence of many companies with their products.

Best drones for cheap 2023

In the category of, let’s say, best “affordable” drones, since the word cheap is relative, beacuse it will depend on some pockets or others, there is the SJRC F11 Pro 4K GPS and its evolution, the SJRC F11s Pro 4K GPS.

These two drones, apart from having a best affordable price, have very interesting features and a flight time of 18′, practically the same time for both drones. They also have a 4K camera for photography and video which, although not of TOP quality, can be considered quite acceptable.

The SJRC F11 will rely on your mobile phone to act as a remote control or controller. The maximum range is between 300-500m which is the maximum distance if you are working alone, as you cannot take the drone further away from you than 500m. The SJRC F11 reaches a maximum range of 3000 metres. These two drone models deserve to be on the list of the best drones for 2023.

The basic difference between them is the price, with the “s” model being slightly more expensive than its smaller brother, coming in at almost €200. For this price you will find few better drones unless you look on the second hand market.

Best drones under 250g for 2023

These drones are the best choice for those looking for a drone that is portable, easy to use and does not require registration in most countries. Some of these drones are more affordable than other drones weighing more than 250 grams, and are ideal drones for those just starting out in the world of drones.

Here are some of the best drones under 250 grams on the market:

Ryze Tello

The Ryze Tello is, in my opinion, one of the best drones for 2023 under 250 grams designed for beginners and childrenbest drones for 2023 under 250 grams designed for, as in the learning process is likely to, and children. or the drone falls to the ground a few times or suffers a loss because it is blown away by the wind, as it happened to me.

With this drone you can start taking your first drone photos and capture your first drone video. These are its main characteristics:

• It has a 5 megapixel camera and 720p video reco.
• The Tello is capable of capturing high quality images and video for its size. In addition, it has a flight time of up to 13 minutes and a transmission range of up to 100 metres.
• With a variety of flight modes and functions, the Tello is one of the best drones for cheap for 2023 and is an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable and easy-to-use drone under 250 grams.
• In addition, drones under 250 grams are ideal for indoor and outdoor flights in confined areas, as they are smaller and easier to manoeuvre. Of course, because they are smaller, they generally have less flight capability and fewer advanced features than larger drones.

Potensic ATOM SE

We continue with the list of the best drones of 2023 and now I want to talk about the Potensic Atom SE.

This is a medium-sized drone that offers a lot of functions and features for users, which I’ll tell you about below:

• The Potensic ATOM SE has a high quality 4K video camera and takes up to 12MP photos. The camera pivots from top to bottom.
• It has a GPS positioning system, allowing for greater flight stability and an automatic return-to-home function in case of signal loss or low battery. This feature already marks a leap forward for this drone compared to the previous one.
• The Potensic ATOM SE is equipped with a 9-axis gyroscope that provides smooth and fluid image stabilisation, but far from that offered by the drones I’m going to talk about from now on.
• The ATOM SE battery can last up to 31 minutes.
• It can fly at speeds of up to 16 m/s and has a video transmission range of up to 300 metres.
• It has intelligent flight modes, such as Follow Me Mode, Altitude Mode, Route Mode, Point of Interest Mode and Circling Flight Mode.

Hubsan Zino Mini Pro

The Hubsan Zino Mini Pro is another drone that tops our list of the best drones for 2023 under 250 grams and opens the list of drones that start at a higher price point. Its main features are:

• The Hubsan Zino Mini Pro features a 4K camera that captures high-quality 30 fps images and video, and a 1/2.3-inch sensor that is slightly larger than the Mini.
• You can get 48 MP photos.
• It has a flight time of up to 27 minutes real time and a transmission range of up to 6 km.
• It has a variety of flight modes, such as Orbit, Follow Me and Waypoints.
• You have an option to buy it with insurance in case it is lost or damaged.
• In my opinion, it still has a long way to go in terms of application and user experience, where DJI is still ahead with its “mini” drones.
• It has an HLog profile (logarithmic profile) for more dynamic range when editing your videos. It is a very interesting option that this Hubsan Zino Mini Pro, with such a price, brings this option for greater control of image editing in post-production.
• The obstacle avoidance sensors sometimes work and sometimes don’t, so you still have a long way to go with this drone.

You can see that this drone still has shortcomings but they are minimal in flight. There are other drones that weigh more than 250 grams but obviously their prices are higher than this one, so I think the price-quality-weight ratio is more than acceptable for this Hubsan Zino Mini Pro.

DJI Mini 2

The DJI Mini 2 is one of the most popular drones under 250 grams. It has been DJI’s best-selling drone to date given its very good price/quality ratio, and therefore a must on the list of the best drones for 2023.

If you want to buy it on the DJI website you won’t find it. In the link above with the name of the drone you can buy it.

• With a 12 megapixel camera and 4K video recording, the Mini 2 is capable of capturing high quality images and videos.
• It has a flight time of up to 31 minutes and a transmission range of up to 10 km.
• It has a variety of flight modes, such as QuickShots and Dronie.
• It is easy to use and is an excellent choice for those looking for a high quality, portable drone.
• The Mini 2 is one of the smallest and most portable drones on the market.
• It is designed with a three-axis gimbal that provides smooth and fluid image stabilisation.
• It can fly at speeds of up to 47 km/h and has a video transmission range of 10 km.
• Intelligent flight modes: The Mini 2 comes with a number of intelligent flight modes, such as QuickShot, Dronie and Helix, so you can drone video reco without being an expert pilot. Although I always recommend that you learn to ride well and that these modes are a little help.
• It features collision avoidance sensors and low battery return warnings, which help prevent accidents and ensure the drone returns home safely.

DJI Mini 3

The DJI Mini 3 is one of DJI’s latest wonders. It has very similar features to its predecessor, the DJI Mini 2, but with some variations that I’ll tell you about below:

• It has a high quality camera and takes 4K HDR videos.
• It has a vertical camera function which is an extraordinary and very modern feature for videos for Instagram and other social networks.
• A maximum take-off MMA of less than 249 grams.
• A maximum flight time of 38′, and can go up to 51′ with intelligent flight plus batteries.
• A maximum flight distance of 18 km (although we should be aware that, according to regulations, it is not possible to fly more than 500 metres without logistical support at different points).
• Even if you think the drone is a bit flimsy and windy, you should know that the DJI Mini 3 is a type of drone already equipped with wind resistance function 5 for wind gusts above 38 km/h.

Holy Stone HS440

Although the Holy Stone HS440 weighs more than 250 grams, and as it is classified by its manufacturer as a toy for children, it is a drone that you can fly without having a licence and a very interesting option as the best drone for beginners.

Estas son algunas de las características del Potensic A20W:

• The Holy Stone HS440 has a compact design, it is a small and portable drone, easy to carry and store anywhere.
• In its packaging it comes with 2 batteries that will give you a flight time of 20 minutes each.
• It weighs 116 grams
• The drone comes with a built-in camera that can take aerial photos and record real-time video at 1080P and 20 FPS. Clearly, this camera will have neither the resolution nor the quality of the drones I will tell you about below.
• You will be able to take off and land with a single click.
• The Holy Stone HS440 has an interesting altitude hold mode as it is equipped with an air pressure sensor that allows it to maintain a stable altitude, making it easier to control.
• It has a route flight mode where you can design a route and the drone will fly it automatically.
• The Holy Stone HS440’s headless mode allows the drone to steer in any direction, making it easy to operate and allowing for a more intuitive flight experience.

So much for the list of the best drones under 250 grams for 2023. Below you will find all of them in columns, making it easier to visualise them in case you decide to buy some of them.

Because remember that by purchasing some of these products, for you at no extra cost from these links, you help me to keep the javiergomiz.com website alive and to continue offering the best information about photography and video with drones.

Best drones over 250 grams for 2023

DJI Mavic 3

DJI, the leader in the drone industry, has launched the DJI Mavic 3, an ideal choice for those looking for high-quality, high-performance drones. It is DJI’s flagship drone, the quintessential professional drone of the highest quality.

This drone is for me the best drone for 2023, without a doubt, at least in my case since I am dedicated to professional drone flying and above all to photography and video. I’m not going to go on too long because I’d like to do a full article on this drone, but here are some of its most notable features:

• With a flight time of up to 46 minutes, the Mavic 3 is a robust and reliable drone.
• It has a Hasselblad L2D-20c 4/3 CMOS camera with 20 megapixels and an aperture of f2.8-f11, equivalent to a focal length of 20 millimetres.

• It features Apple ProRes 5.1K video recording, DCI 4K/120 fps, 10-bit D-Log, HLG, and Night Mode.
• In addition, it has an omni-directional obstacle detection system and a transmission range of up to 12 km.
• And many other features that as I said I will tell you about in an exclusive DJI Mavic 3 post.

Autel Evo II Pro

The Autel Evo Lite is a high-end drone manufactured by Autel Robotics, which was launched in 2020. It is an updated version of the original Autel Evo drone.

It is an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers looking for a drone capable of producing high quality images and video in a variety of situations and environments.

Personally, I consider the Autel Evo Lite to be another of the best drones of 2023 because it is a direct and real competitor of DJI and because it offers a series of very interesting features:

• It is an ideal choice for those looking for a high quality camera in a compact drone.
• It has a camera with a Hasselblad CMOS 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor. With these features the Evo II Pro captures images and videos in stunning quality.
• It has a flight time of 40 minutes and a signal transmission range of up to 15 km.
• It has a 12-directional obstacle detection and avoidance system, which ensures that the drone stays safe and avoids colliding with objects during flight, allowing it to avoid obstacles in all 360 degrees.
• It can record video in 6K resolution at 30 fps, as well as 4K at 60 fps and 2.7K at 120 fps.
• The Evo II has a maximum flight time of up to 40 minutes, and also has a video transmission range of up to 9 km.
• It has intelligent flight modes, including autonomous flight modes and object tracking.

DJI Air 2s

The DJI Air 2s is, without a doubt and said by many professionals, at the TOP of the best drones for 2023 in terms of quality/price ratio.

This is the drone with which I do my drone photography services and video projects and cover any kind of event filmed with a drone in Mallorca. I’ll tell you a little about him:

• The DJI Mavic 2s has a 1-inch camera and video recording in 5.4K at 30 fps and 4K at 60 fps. The images it takes are of truly astonishing resolution and quality.
• It features a variety of intelligent flight modes, such as Hyperlapse, QuickShotsSpotlight 2.0, Point of Interest and Activetrack, which allow the drone to automatically follow a person or object in motion. In addition, it has an all-directional obstacle detection and avoidance system and a transmission range of up to 12 km.
• The ability to generate D-log files on video recordings (logarithmic files that give you more control over the image in post-editing), makes it a drone to consider for professionals in the imaging world.
• Its maximum flight time is 31 minutes, making it one of the drones with the longest flight range.
• It has a three-axis stabilisation system for incredibly sharp images and smooth, stable movies.
• The drone can transmit live video in 1080p resolution over a distance of up to 10 kilometres.
• The DJI Mavic Air 2s has the option of buying a remote control that has an integrated 6.7-inch screen and a long battery life, which will obviously increase the final price, and another option is to use your own mobile phone as a remote control.

DJI AIR 3

The DJI AIR 3 is DJI’s latest gem. It has 8 clear differences compared to its predecessor the AIR 2s, which I tell you about in my article on the new DJI AIR 3.

Apart from these 8 improvements, the most remarkable ones are the paradigm shift with the camera, where you can see in the picture below that I include two lenses: a 24 mm wide-angle lens and a 70 mm telephoto lens.

The other notable feature is the new, improved Ocusyn O4 drive system.

DJI has once again turned the house upside down with this consumer drone, which surpasses the AIR 2s in many ways and in some others its “superior”, the MAVIC 3.

Contixo F35 GPS

And to finish this list of the best drones for 2023 I wanted to leave for last, but not least: the Contixo F35 GPS.

Here are its characteristics:

• GPS Positioning System: The Contixo F35 is equipped with an integrated GPS receiver system that enables stable and accurate flights. This feature is essential to maintain altitude in flight, and the ability to return home (RTH).
• HD camera: This drone is equipped with a high-definition camera, allowing you to capture quality photos and videos during the flight. You can use a mobile application that will allow you to perform these functions remotely.
• Intelligent flight mode: A quality that many people use, and I did use them at first, is the intelligent flight modes. You can follow objects and fly in a circle. This will allow you to take more creative and dynamic shots, moving out of manual mode.
• Flight time and range: The flight time of this drone is approximately 15′, although this may vary depending on flight conditions and the type of piloting of the aircraft. In terms of range, the Contixo can fly at a distance of approx. 300 metres.
• Remote control: It is intuitive and provides a comfortable flying experience. It has an LCD screen that displays the most relevant data on flight status, remaining battery and GPS signal.

Holy Stone HS720

The Holy Stone HS720 is the next version of the Holy Stone HS440, here we are talking about a different device, the difference in image quality is noticeable, also in price, but not much more expensive. But that is something you have to assess for yourself what kind of drone you are looking for and for what purpose.

Features of the Holy Stone HS720

• It has two different types of speed: the low speed of 3 m/s, and the high speed with which it reaches speeds up to 12 m/s.
• The battery is larger than the previous version, now 2800 mAh, giving you about 26 minutes of flight time on each battery.
• The lens is a 130° wide-angle lens, 10° wider than the Holy Stone HS440.
• You’ll be able to fly without worrying about getting lost, as its high-precision GPS signal will automatically return you to where you started from when you lose the signal.
• The image transmission rate is 1080P at 60fps and 4K at 30fps so you will have smooth and stabilised images.

Undoubtedly a very interesting value for money option for a drone weighing more than 250 grams.

I leave you the summary in blocks of the best drones for 2023 over 250gr in case you decide to buy any of them.

The best drone for 2023

So much for the article on the best drones for 2023. We have seen many types of drones so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs, but I’m going to give you my opinion and tell you about the one that for me is the best for beginners and for working as a professional.

For me the best drone to get started in the world of drones is the Holy Stone HS440. The reasons are clear: because of its price and ease of flight, which gives a great user experience to the pilot, and from my own experience, this helps a lot when starting to fly a drone, as flights are quite erratic and erratic.

And if you’re already looking for a good option for flying a drone in the professional world, I think the DJI Air 2s is the best value for money option you’ll find on the market. Its logarithmic (D-log) video files, its incredible RAW photography, and its A-behaviour on site, make it for me not one of the best drones for 2023, but the best. DJI has got the TOP and excellence with this drone.

Which drone have you finally decided for, would you include or remove any of them, have you missed any drone in this ranking? I’d love to know, your opinion always helps me to improve the content of my website.