Ultimate Drone Buying Guide For Total Beginners 2025
Ultimate Drone Buying Guide For Total Beginners 2025
Best Camera Drones for Beginners that still shoot pro quality video and photos compared:
DJI Mini Flip vs. DJI Mini 4 Pro vs. Air 3S vs. Autel Evo Lite+ vs. Mavic 3 Pro vs. Mavic 3 Classic vs. DJI Mini 4K vs. DJI Inspire 2 with X5S
Link for the Cinematography & Editing drone course, includes the drone business/marketing course now too so they are just one thing.
$100 Off because I love you I guess:
https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/aerial-video-a-to-z/?product_id=872022&coupon_code=GROOVYLITTLEDISCOUNT&affcode=58782_fajjfmbu
If you cannot get the best thing do not stress about it, all of the drones I go over are still incredible to be able to get as “entry level.”
Even the Mini 4K is STILL an awesome drone. Mini 4K is the Mini 2’s updated model and you have to get it on Amazon strangely.
It has a 1/2.3″ sensor and shoots 12 megapixel photos but it is PLENTY to grow with. Just find it used on Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, for like $250 or lower.
DJI Neo (2024) – $200
No, its a toy
Mini 4K (2020) – $250
(newest version of the Mini 2)
4K Video, RAW photos, no collision sensors but can live in your pocket
DJI Flip (2025) – $400
SAME Camera as the Mini 4 Pro. 4K, RAW photos, Great connection, Hyperlapse, Follow Me modes, .76 inch sensor, really impressive for the convenience and ease. No anti-bonk
Mini 4 Pro (2023) – $750/$900
Get the $900 one, it is a billion times worth having a dedicated smart remote especially for so little extra.
.76 inch sensor, 4K footage, vertical filming, 12 megapixel RAW photos, quietest body type, looks like a bug when its flying. By far the most fun to use, incredible connection. Footage often looks like it came from a bigger drone. Activetrack to follow you around if you care about that.
I’ve got a video on the Mini 4 Pro vs Mini 3 Pro as well, LOVE it.
Air 3S (2023) – $1000
MASSIVE improvement on its predecessor, 2 camera on it which I actually use equally and didnāt expect that. Sensor has improved low-light and exposure balancing is really great in this generation, even if the sensor is same size as mini 3 pro.
4K footage, .76ā sensor, 12 megapixel photos.
60fps if you care (I don’t). It is cooler than the Mini 4 Pro because of camera 2 and the sick looking body, but Mini 4 Pro is just so convenient so its a tossup. Get mavic 3 classic if pro quality is priority.
Autel Evo Lite Plus (2022) – $1100
6K 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel photos. Flies pretty rigid so stick to front/back and left/right. Really nice picture, lovely reds like in all Autels. Oversharpened image but I can live with that, just adjust some in editor. Fun body colors to pick from give it extra points, could use it for work and still get the job done if DJI gets hit by a car one day. Doesn’t beat DJI but not bad.
Autel Evo Nano Plus (2022) – $700
NO
Mavic 3 Pro (2022) – $2200
4/3 inch Sensor, 5.1K footage, 20mp photos. Long flight time. Get the normal version not the $4000 Cine version if you don’t know what Prores format is.
This is the Business Class plane ticket drone, there is no going back after having this. Unbelievable dynamic range. UNREAL stability, default color, flight control, flexible rich data for color grading.
A 3x and 7x telephoto lens comes on it. Never use the 7x aside from fun, but the 3x is a great length and usefulā¦ just hard to give up the quality of the wide camera that is 5.1k.
In general most of what I film on this drone looks better in the end than what I thought I was getting while shooting. They knocked it out of the park with this drone, no limits honestly.
Mavic 4 Pro (2025) – $2200
Not available in the USA. Honestly Mavic 3 from 2021/22 is still the king and just needed some small fun updates. Basically similar quality though, same sensor.
Mavic 3 Classic – $1200
Not typing all that again, you get the point. Minus the Zoom lenses, everything else is the same. Crapping myself at the price being so cheap now. What a deal.
DJI Mini 5 Pro – Probably any day now.
Inspire 2 + X5S camera – $5000+ Used
Shoots 6K RAW Video (literally filming in RAW photos)
5.2K 422 Prores and 4K Proress 4444 incase you know what that all means. Cinema formats but such a pain to lug around, and the noise is a lot. It’s more like a once in a while, Ace in the hole to blow something out the water or shoot Stock Footage and practice cinematography. Interchangeable lenses are really nice too.
I have other videos on making money, go watch those if you need.
If you want the fastest way to get better footage, watch the Cinematography one, trust me it is very necessary.
00:00 .
00:15 Advice
00:45 Beginner Drones
01:45 Photo/Video Drones
03:30 Drone Quality comparison
04:35 DJI Drones
06:20 Drones Tech Update
08:40 Used Drones
09:30 Collision Sensors
11:20 Noise Test
12:00 Cinematography
12:30 Mavic Best Drone
15:02 Sensor Chart comparison
16:13 Photography
16:48 Specs Need vs Don’t
18:33 Follow Me
19:35 SMART REMOTE!!!
20:40 Make a Decision
21:31 Pro Drones
24:11 How to Improve
