10 Best DJI Drones in 2023 (For Beginners and Pros)

DJI dominates the market for high-quality consumer drones. But you’re probably wondering what the best DJI drone is. Look no further! We’ve rounded up the top 10 DJI drones and feature the latest models from this world leader in drone technology.

From the Mavic Mini to the Phantom 4 Pro, these drones will take your aerial photography to the next level… But our top choice is the DJI Mini 3 Pro. With a portable body, great image quality, and easy handling, this drone has it all for a great price! 

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What Is the Best DJI Drone?

Here is a brief round-up table of our top choices! Regarding video frame rates, note that fps stands for “frames per second.” 

10 Best DJI Drones

Our top choice is the DJI Mini 3 Pro. If you take into account all its features, plus its price, it makes for the best DJI drone for any ability. Beginners can achieve professional-level drone shots. And professionals will have a compact, portable drone packed with great features.

DJI describes this drone as lightweight and hassle-free. This sounds like a blessing to most photographers familiar with drone photography. And weighing under 250 g, it can be a welcome addition to any trip you go on.

Considering the 34 minutes you can get out of each battery, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is perfect for a full day of hiking and shooting—if you have spare battery packs.

As for specs, not only does the DJI Mini 3 Pro produce 4K video footage at 60 fps. But you can shoot images up to 48 MP! If you need those extra frames per second, it allows you to shoot in 1080p at 120 fps.

With specs like this, people will be surprised you didn’t rent a helicopter for the beautiful shots you take. Overall, this is a great drone for multiple skill levels and is relatively cheap!

Our close number 2 is the DJI Mavic 3 Classic for professionals. The most notable feature is its 4/3 CMOS sensor produced by Hasselblad. If you mention Hasselblad to any generation of photographers, you’ll have them watering at the mouth.

This is because of Hasselblad’s stellar reputation. They make quality cameras—from analog to digital ones. And to find a camera system like this in a drone is just what any professional is looking for.

This camera system can take videos at 5.1K at 50 fps, a spectacular resolution for a drone. If you need a faster frame rate, it can also shoot in 4K at 120 fps! This means you can get spectacular results from this imaging system.

If you want to take a photo, you get a 20 MP image. This is less than the top option, but remember, the Mavic 3 Classic has a bigger sensor. So this ensures a higher dynamic range and a better image!

The extended flight time of 46 minutes is a welcome feature for most, allowing you to fly for longer on a single battery pack. You will also notice the DJI Mavic 3 Classic can reach up to 15 km from your remote control.

This extended reach and range may be your sole reason for buying the Mavic 3 Classic. And with features like this, you won’t be disappointed!

The DJI Air 2S is another of the best DJI drones you should consider. The one-inch sensor in its camera system is the most attractive feature for photographers.

It takes images with 20 MP image quality. But the sensor size also provides a wide range of color tones and a wide dynamic range.

This beautiful sensor also allows for 5.4K video at 30 fps. If you want to shoot in the super smooth 120 fps, you can do this in Full 1080p HD.

The 10-bit DlogM color profile can pick up the slightest shades and tints your environment gives you. And along with the one-inch sensor, the color profile is so well-tuned that it can pick up vibrant colors in low-light situations.

The DJI Air 2S provides great additional features for photographers. One of my favorites is the intelligent HDR.

This HDR setting blends multiple images to give you an even more in-depth dynamic range. It ensures photographers get the shot they want, even in difficult lighting conditions.

The Hyperlapse and panorama modes are also excellent. It even allows you to take 180-degree photo stitches or a photosphere (a 360 photo)! (You can read our review on the best 360 cameras for other options)

If you like the look of our top choice but want to shed some cost, take a look at the DJI Mini 3. It has similar features to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, but the camera system isn’t as high quality.

You still get a compact-size drone that weighs under 250 g with a 1/1.3-inch sensor. And the flight time is a few minutes longer, probably due to not having to operate at as high of a level as the Pro version.

This mini drone can shoot videos in 4K at 30 fps. You can shoot videos in 2.7K at 60 fps, but the drone doesn’t provide any 120 fps options. This isn’t a dealbreaker, as 60 fps provides you with smooth footage.

You may be limited if you consider using this drone for still images. The Mini 3 shoots still images at 12 MP. This can provide good images, but with different clarity than other drones on this list.

You will find that this drone is still packed with the same intelligent features as the Pro. These range from pre-set flight patterns to certain photo techniques like 180-degree photos.

My favorite among these is that you can shoot vertically, which is perfect for people who use their photos and videos for social media.

Now we feature the top-of-the-range option from DJI—the DJI Inspire 2. This is one of the best DJI drones on the market.

It features halfway down this list as the price point makes it available only for professionals or people with a big budget. But this is the best DJI drone for you if you want to make a movie!

This high-end drone can shoot 5.2K video at 30 fps as full RAW video! This provides you with professional-level video files that give you plenty of information and control in the editing process.

The camera has a Sony Micro Four Thirds sensor for detailed images. The drone weighs more than others on this list at 3440 g and flies for a shorter time. But this tells us it is built specifically for video performance rather than for exploring or acting as a travel camera.

The Inspire 2 is packed with a range of smart features that can assist you in getting the best shot possible. My favorite is that you can use two remotes for the same drone. This can give a drone team a heightened level of control that is difficult to attain.

Overall, it is a superb DJI drone, but best left for the professionals.

The DJI Mini 2 is quite similar to the Mini 3 in weight and features, but you can pick it up for a lower price. This is due to the slightly smaller sensor.

But even though it has a smaller sensor, it takes the same quality visuals as the Mini 3. It can shoot stills at 12 MP and video up to 4K at 30 fps. These are the same specs, but the extra sensor size on the third version gives it a better dynamic range.

The main selling point of the Mini series is the size and weight of the DJI drone. It weighs under 250 g, can fold down, and easily fit in a small camera backpack. This makes it the perfect drone for travel photography or for those who like to be out and about.

A feature that you can find in the Mini 2, and most of DJI’s other drones, is the quick transfer feature. This allows you to get access to your videos directly from your phone.

This feature makes the Mini 2 perfect for those who want shots for social media. You can take the video, send it, and edit it—all within a few minutes!

Lastly, this is also one of the cheapest options from DJI, making it the perfect DJI drone for beginners or pilots on a budget.

Now we have a new approach to video making with a drone. The DJI Avata features FPV (First Person View) control with a headset. This looks like a lot of fun to operate and provides a unique viewpoint that is hard to achieve with other DJI drones.

This is another compact and light drone. It doesn’t fold up like the Mini series, but it can still fit in a backpack.

This FPV drone is perfect for smooth and agile video shots. This makes it an ideal action camera. It can be a “follow cam” for sports or for diving down between dramatic landscapes.

The FPV goggles add to the dramatic shots you can take. To personally experience the view of your drone must feel like flying. This can make you even more aware of your environment, and you will notice a dramatic difference in your composition.

Its image quality is superior, utilizing its 48 MP sensor to the fullest. But you will be restricted by its 18-minute flight time.

Another great feature is that the DJI Avata is durable. It features a well-protected body that can take a few knocks and still operate.

On top of this, DJI has provided a system that can bounce back from small hits and stay in the air. This is a god-sent feature for those who want to get tight shots in environments tough to fly in.

As you can tell, we’re a big fan of the Mini series due to plenty of features for a reasonable price. This is no different for the DJI Mini SE, the most affordable option on this list.

This DJI mini is just as compact and portable as the others on this list, weighing a similar weight and measuring at a similar size. It even has a 30-minute flight time that matches the other mini drones.

With the mini drone version, you get a reduced sensor size of 1/2.3 inches. This only allows you to shoot still images at 12 MP, but this is still a great resolution for a drone that is so portable!

You can shoot up to 2.7K video at 30 fps. But the frame rate can go up to 60 fps if you shoot in Full HD.

The Mini SE still features most of the smart features you can find on other drones. This includes pre-planned flight paths and auto video editing.

This drone is perfect for beginner drone operators on a budget or families who want a unique perspective for their family photos. I would even say this is a great option for drone operators who want a more portable option.

You can even buy extra accessories like blade guards and extra batteries. This increases the drone’s lifetime by keeping it in the best condition possible. So overall, you can have a fantastic drone with a long product life for an excellent price!

You can read our review on the best drones for under $200 for other budget options. Or check out our review on the best drones for kids.

The DJI FPV is, as you have guessed, another First Person View drone from DJI. This is more affordable than the DJI Avata, but it comes with compromises in its quality of build and design.

First, you will notice that it doesn’t have the same outer protection as the Avata. But it does include all the same flight modes.

The cheaper FPV has a manual (M) mode that allows full control and can take your drone from 0 to 100 kph in just 2 seconds!

With the DJI FPV, you get a headset like the Avata. You will also notice a new controller that looks like a joystick.

DJI newly developed this to give you more intuitive controls over your drone. This looks fun to play with, and I can see how it would give you silky-smooth shots. But you can still use the drone with a normal controller if this isn’t for you.

Thanks to DJI’s care with the high speeds, the affordable FPV features a great emergency brake and hover system. This easy-to-press button has the drone hover in any environment in just a few seconds. This ensures the 4K, 60 fps camera is kept as safe as possible!

At the bottom of our list is the DJI Phantom 4 V2.0. This system series (Phantom) used to be the flagship series from DJI, so their last model finds itself on this list as it still performs to a high standard.

With a one-inch sensor, the Phantom 4 can capture dynamic still shots at 20MP and 4K video at 30 fps. And you can push this to 120 fps at Full HD.

The controls are not as smooth as the other drones on this list. DJI has since spent a lot of its time working on the maneuverability of its drones. So you don’t get silky shots as easily with the Phantom 4.

It is still possible to get great shots, but it takes more work to achieve. You miss out on a lot of the new smart features of newer DJI drones.

The big downside to the Phantom 4 is that the price has stayed the same, so it still costs a lot of money. This is because the Phantom 4 Pro v2.0 still shoots in professional video formats with the one-inch sensor.

Videographers can still get beautiful footage to edit out of this drone. This includes professional footage you can use for commercial jobs and movie-making. I suggest buying another DJI drone on this list, but this can still be a great option for filmmakers.

Buyers Guide FAQ

Here are our answers to frequently asked questions about DJI drones.

How Easy Is a DJI Drone to Fly?

Flying a DJI drone is known to be an easy skill to pick up but then more challenging to master. DJI has spent a lot of time refining its controls so that anyone can “pick up and play” each of their drones.
Some drones may have more complex controls than others. But these drones have basic operations that are easy to learn.

What Is the Range of a DJI Drone?

DJI drones have a set range they can travel from the controller. They can roughly go between 4.3 and 9.3 miles (7 and 15 km) away.

You should check the specific maximum distance of the drone you buy.

How Long Does a DJI Battery Last?

DJI’s need a lot of power to fly and operate high-quality cameras. This means battery life isn’t as long as we would like. Each drone is different, and batteries last between 25 and 45 minutes.

DJI recognizes this and has ensured their battery packs are easy to replace. This means you can buy multiple DJI battery packs if you want to use your drone for a whole day of shooting.

Does a DJI Drone Come With a Warranty?

DJI has an amazing warranty called DJI Care that’s sold as a one-year plan. The DJI Mini 2 has a two-year warranty plan. DJI Care will send you a new drone no matter what damage has been inflicted on your drone!

Conclusion: The Best Dji Drone

The best DJI drone of them all is the DJI Mini 3 Pro. This drone is perfect for those looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use drone that still offers an impressive range of features. It has a 3-axis gimbal for stable video, a 12 MP camera, and a range of up to 6 miles.

It also has a variety of intelligent flight modes and obstacle avoidance. It has excellent build quality, battery life, and an intuitive user interface. So the DJI Mini 3 Pro is the perfect choice for a great first-time drone experience. If you travel a lot, check out our Next Stop: Travel Photography e-book which touches on drone photography.