As we all know, the drone is one of the most exciting and innovative technologies to emerge in recent years. All aerial drones allow you to explore your surroundings from above and take amazing photos and travel videos.
It doesn’t matter if you have decided to upgrade your drone or to buy a new one as a beginner pilot
Whether you’re upgrading your existing drone or buying your first model, there’s a whole range of options on the market to choose from. There’s a variety of drone models that vary in functions and budget – you just need to know where to start. How to choose the best drone in 2022?
Different types of drones
Most drones fall into two broad categories: large ones that fly outdoors and smaller ones that will either have a lower resolution camera or none at all (and can even be used around the home) – drones for beginners.
Which type of drone you choose will depend entirely on your specific needs. Some of us won’t get a drone unless the quadcopter can capture amazing shots of the sky outdoors. But for others, the fun of flying such a machine would be quite enough – those of us will be perfectly happy to be able to fly inside with a drone at a lower price, even if the camera quality is worse.
The other big difference between the cheaper drones and the ones with the really good cameras is the way you manage them. Larger drones usually have their own controller, allowing users to control both the machine and the integrated camera. On the other hand, smaller drones don’t have controllers, so you can only control such a quadcopter through an app on your phone or tablet.
Recently, however, higher-end models have begun to split into two subcategories – budget drones and premium models. More expensive drones will fly long time, you will be able to make better quality photos and videos, and come with upgraded features, such as the ability to automatically detect and avoid obstacles.
There are also racing and professional drones. The drones of the first group are aimed at those who love speed. These quadcopter models come in kits that you need to assemble by yourself and there are more that you can upgrade the configuration with. Professional drones are usually used byfilmmakers because they provide unmatched quality of video footage – hence they come with a much higher price tag.
What drone functions to look for when choosing one
The price of a drone will not give you an accurate indication of its quality, although it can serve as a quick, rough estimate of which drone model is better than another. In general, the higher priced drones have long flight time, capture better images, and come with more functionality. What are the basicfeatures to look for in a drone so you can buy the best one?
Battery
Generally, the flight time between charges barely exceeds 30 minutes, even with the better camera drone models. In order to increase flight time you can always carry a second battery – usually it is purchased separately.
Brushless motors
You may come across this term when looking through the list of different drones worth buying. The price of a brushless motor is higher than the price of a standard one. But in exchange for the higher price, they offer quieter operation and have a longer life.
Camera
If you want the best possible quality of the footage, you should pay special attention to the camera specifications. Therefore, do not forget to take a look at the resolution of the photos and video. The best drone models have a built in camera.
Headless mode
Controlling a drone is not as easy and intuitive as it might seem at first glance. On the contrary, the first steps can be quite difficult. That’s why it’s good that the drone you’re aiming for has the so-called headless mode. Basically, this mode makes it so that when you push the controller stick in one direction, the drone moves in that direction relative to you, not relative to its position. That is, if you push the joystick left, the drone will go to your left, no matter where the quadcopter is facing.
GPS system
In the higher class of drones, you will find models with built in GPS. It allows machines to know exactly where they are at any given time. This may seem insignificant, but it is very useful as it helps the drone find the way back to its starting point. This is done with a feature called “return-to-home” or RTH. The integrated GPS also has a massive effect on navigation functions and the stability of the machine.
Follow Me Option
This option allows the drone to follow you wherever you may be, so you can focus on some other activity – like mountain biking or skiing – while it just follows you around and captures you.
Gimbal
As the price of drones rises, you’ll notice that models in the higher price ranges are starting to have the so called built ingimbal. This component simply keeps the camera steady while the quadcopter moves via strong winds and high altitudes. Mini drones won’t have a gimbal, but they don’t really need one. Most of the time these drones are used either indoors or at lower altitudes.
Scope
The drone’s range indicator tells you how far away from you the drone can travel before you lose sight of it. The expensive and professional drones have great range of flying. It varies, and can even reach 20-30 kilometers, which is not bad at all. However, no matter how far the drone can go, keep in mind that it’s good to keep an eye on it in order to avoid unforeseen and unpleasant situations such as crashes.
