Interest in drones has skyrocketed in a way that few could have predicted. Once reserved for military applications, the use of these devices has swept a wide range of industries ranging from filmmaking and producing live sporting events to monitoring infrastructure and tracking wildfires. One particular application of drones has been gaining a lot of traction lately; using them to take photos and videos. In recent years, drones that are specifically designed for this purpose have seen the light of day. To help you better understand how these devices operate, our detailed guide will demystify everything you need to know about them and will help you find the best selfie drone on the market today.
Selfie drones are a relatively new invention and their popularity seems to be increasing with each passing year. As a result of this, manufacturers have been aggressively marketing their products in an attempt to capitalize on the positive trend. The downside of this was the sudden influx of low-quality drones that offer very little when it comes to functionality. To help you sift through all of this, we have compiled what we believe to be the most crucial factors that every buyer should be aware of. This is by no means a complete list, but it should be enough to help you find the perfect model for your budget.
This is one of the first aspects that you need to pay attention to. Selfie drones have to be designed in a way that allows for easy storing and carrying. Since the majority of your activity will probably take place in the outdoors, you need a device that can be folded down to a fraction of its original size. The drone should also be light enough to be carried without requiring a lot of physical effort.
Flight stability has a direct impact on the level of control that you have over the drone selfie device as well as on the quality of images that you take. A good drone should be able to hover in a steady fashion and should be equipped with a built-in mechanism that reduces vibration and unnecessary movement. This factor is hard to gauge due to the lack of any metric that can accurately quantify it. Your best bet is to rely on user reviews in order to get a detailed look at what to expect from the drone.
The image quality that you want out of your drone will depend on various factors such as your budget and the kind of application that you are planning to use it for. Entry-level drones are often equipped with cheap cameras that are on the low end of HD resolution. If you want a professional grade image quality, you should aim for drones that are equipped with 4K cameras.
Flight time refers to the number of minutes that the drone can sustain continuous flight for. The affordable models can generally deliver up to 8 minutes of flight time while high-end units can exceed the 20-minute mark. Before making a decision, make sure to have a clear idea of what your needs are in order to avoid getting a drone that is not suited for you.
Drone technology is improving at a staggering rate. Unlike the old models that only had basic flight controls, the current generation of drones comes with a wide array of features that contribute to boosting performance and facilitating maneuverability. Ideally, you should get a model that comes with several of these characteristics. Features like gesture control, flying selfie camera facial recognition, and follow-me are guaranteed to provide a tremendous user experience.
GPS location is an integral component of great navigation and control. Drones that have this feature can be quickly retrieved in case of a malfunction and are able to return to the launching point after taking the pictures. It is worth noting that the flight of your drone can be interrupted by a host of factors that are completely outside of your control. The most common of these is running into strong winds and unexpected collisions with objects that cut their trajectory short. Having integrated GPS will help you pinpoint the location of your drone at any time.
This feature is usually found in high-end models. When you are flying a drone, you run the risk of crashing into various obstacles that are found throughout your path. If your budget allows it, it is preferable that you opt for a device that is equipped with the obstacle avoidance feature. Besides the fact that it shields the drone from damage, obstacle avoidance is ideal for beginners who don’t have a lot of experience with regards to proper navigation and control.
The range is the distance that the drone can fly. Models that can cover a long range tend to be significantly more expensive and are generally geared toward professional use. Some manufacturers have a made a habit out of exaggerating the range of their devices, so make sure to check some reviews to verify if everything checks out.
Including this selfie drone in our list was a no-brainer. This unit comes with all the characteristics and features that are required for a wide range of uses and applications. It is remarkably small and can be launched from very small platforms with relative ease. Moreover, the DJI Spark drone can be controlled in a convenient manner via an app on your phone or through a remote controller.
As it is the case with any offering from the undisputed market leader, this drone boasts a number of advanced technologies that facilitate flight and control. It is equipped with a highly sophisticated face recognition system that is extremely effective as well as a gesture control that allows you to take your photos by simply gesturing to the drone. Despite its cutting-edge tech, the DJI spark is actually easy to use for a beginner and comes with no learning curve to speak of, that's why it's one of the best selfie drones.
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If you are on a tight budget, this mini selfie drone option could be ideal for you. While the quality is far from professional grade, you can expect an adequate performance out of this competitively priced unit. In fact, the JJRC H37 possesses the majority of the features that are found in the more expensive E50 drone. The list is rather comprehensive for an entry-level unit and includes a headless mode, a G-sensor mode, and a one key return function among many other features. Additionally, the drone is very light, resulting in easier control and maneuverability.
When it comes to the quality of the photos, it is surprisingly great for such a cheap product. Furthermore, the drone has LED lights on both sides of the camera. This comes in really handy when you are trying to take a selfie in low-light conditions.
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The Zerotech Dobby is the perfect mid-range option for anyone wanting a little more performance than what entry-level models offer. In this dobby drone review I also want to discuss that It uses an advanced dual satellite positioning system and comes with one of the best HD cameras on the market. Like the majority of premium drones, it has a gesture-based mechanism that enables you to control the unit through facial recognition. Moreover, the Zerotech Dobby makes use of your phone’s swipe function in order to provide you with real-time motion control.
As far as flight capabilities are concerned, this drone gets the full mark. The Dobby is remarkably adept at hovering in a steady fashion, which makes it ideal for use in a wide range of environments, both outdoor and indoor. It boasts a good range that exceeds 100 meters and has the capacity to deliver up to 10 minutes of continuous flight time. The image quality is simply immaculate and the camera comes with burst and timed modes.
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This model is one of the best sellers on the market. This is hardly surprising since this drone is easily the best option in its price range. As the flagship model of the company, the HS700 boasts a plethora of features that are geared towards making flight and control as smooth and effortless as possible. On top of its quality performance, the drone is also well-designed and has a sleek look that its direct competition is lacking.
The Holy Stone HS700 is equipped with an advanced GPS location system that enables the device to hover stably. Furthermore, the drone returns to its launching point every time the battery dips below the minimum range or when the signal is lost. The flight performance of the HS700 is also excellent. You can expect around 20 minutes of continuous flight time and maneuverability is made easy thanks to the effective and practical controls.
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This pocket drone with camera is another affordable option for beginners and amateurs. This drone has a unique foldable design that makes it easy to store and carry around. Additionally, it is aesthetically pleasing and does not have the cheap look that you will notice in the majority of entry-level devices. It comes with a number of features that are typically found in mid-range drones, namely the automatic height adjustment and the advanced app that is used to control the unit.
The FLYZOE Pocket RC drone is capable of some amazing aerial maneuvers. It can perform 360-degree flips and rolls with ease and has the capacity to flip in 4 different ways; left, right, forward, and backward. As for the image quality, the 720p HD camera is more than enough for non-professional use.
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Finding the best selfie drone does not have to be a complicated task. The metrics and variables that you need to keep in mind are fairly simple and straightforward. Go over our reviews and check some user feedback if you want to ensure that you are making an informed purchase decision. At the end of the day, it is up to you to pick the device that suits your needs and budget.
Last update on 2024-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API