10 drones to look out for this holiday season
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Love them or think they’re the sign of a coming dystopia, commercial drones aren’t going away anytime soon.
The good news is that they’re pretty fun to play around with. And if you have more professional aims, you don’t need us to tell you about the opportunities they enable.
Best of all, consumer drones have become more mainstream in the past year, so many models have dropped in price pretty dramatically.
There's never been a better time to fly a drone. Heck, I tried one this year and really liked it. The 10 drones on this list represent the best options for people who want to dip their toe into the space, or jump in head-first.
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DJI Phantom 3
AmazonIt might not be the newest model, but when you factor in value for dollar, the DJI Phantom 3 is the best drone on the market today. All but the newest of flyers should be able to control it without too much trouble; it’s decked out with useful features, and its camera takes smooth, crisp footage.
It doesn’t support 4K capturing like the higher-end Phantom 3 Professional, but it’s more than $200 cheaper, and plenty of people don’t have anything capable of displaying the benefits of 4K shots in the first place. At $699, it’s still pricier than the $461 Phantom 3 Standard, but that model’s dated remote makes it trickier to use. If you’re willing to commit hundreds to a drone, the Phantom 3 Advanced is simply the most sensible choice.
DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, $699, available at Amazon
Blade Nano
AmazonIf you’ve never touched a drone in your life, though, our favorite drone for beginners is the Blade Nano QX. That shouldn’t be a shock — like the Phantom 3, it’s received near-universal acclaim from a whole lot of reviewers and hobbyists. It’s tiny enough to fly indoors and out, it’s relatively sturdy, and it flies in a way that’s simultaneously accessible and instructive.
For under $60 now, it’s not too expensive either. If you aim to upgrade to something like the DJI one day, or you just want an affordable way into hands-on drone flying experience, it’s a great buy. It’s also worth noting that there’s an FPV version of the Nano, too, which is naturally more expensive but serves as a similarly enjoyable introduction to first-person flying.
Blade Nano QX RTF, $53.12, available at Amazon
Hubsan X4
AmazonLike the Nano, the Hubsan X4 is another lauded tiny trainer drone. It isn’t as sturdy or responsive in the air, but it’s not finicky, and it goes for about $20 less. This particular model, the H107C, is currently marked down to $37 outright, even though it has a built-in camera.
It’s not a particularly good camera, sure, but if you wanted a cheap route into taking your first aerial shots, it works well.
Hubsan X4 (H107C), $36.80, available at Amazon
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