It's that time of the year again and we're rounding up our favorite drones of 2022.
We know there's a lot to consider when it comes to picking the right drone, and it can be overwhelming. Luckily, we've sorted and ranked all of the best drones for every budget and need, so you can pick the right one for you. Whether you're a hobbyist buying their first drone or a professional creator looking to branch out into drone photo and video, we've got you covered.
Let's dive right into the best drones of 2022.
The Best Drones of 2022 for Every Budget
DJI has truly cornered the drone market. We know that the Glyph community values best-in-class products, and we've tested their drones. DJI has done a beautiful job refining their offerings to have something for everyone. When it comes to content creation, DJI takes the cake.
The Go-To Starter Drone: Mavic Mini 2
The Mavic Mini 2 is our pick for best entry point into the drone world right now. Yes, this is an older model, but that means that you're able to pick it up used for a great discount.
This drone is going to cost you anywhere between $300 and $400 used and shoots 4K video and RAW photos. This drone has a weight of just under 249 grams, which skirts the FAA requirement for registration. It's a great choice for beginners and hobbyists looking to step into drone photo and video with confidence.
One quick note about this price point. You can definitely find drones that cost less than $300, but you'll lose out on the quality. They might have cameras, but they're not going to be getting the video and photo achieved with a Mavic Mini 2.
Mid-level Priced Drone: Mini 3 Pro
The Mini 3 Pro is our pick for the mid-level-priced drone. This is going to cost you $750 new, but it's worth every single penny.
DJI stepped up the sensor size for this drone. That means it has a greater dynamic range and can capture some seriously compelling footage, shooting video in 4k and capturing RAW photos at 12 megapixels.
The Mini 3 Pro is lightweight, relatively quiet, and captures great images. You can absolutely use this drone for paid work.
You could also spend around $1,000 to pick up the Mavic 2 Pro used. It has a 1-inch sensor and shoots RAW photos at 20 megapixels. It used to be the best drone out there, and now it’s a solid middle-budget pick.
Professional Drone: Mavic 3
The Mavic 3 is going to cost you around $2,000 new at the base price, but this is the drone you need to pick up if you're looking to do serious professional work. It's also a great choice for people who've got a little extra money to throw into their drone purchase.
The Mavic 3 can capture video up to 50FPS at a resolution of 5.1k, or a stunning 120FPS in 4k. These larger resolutions are ideal if you're looking to reframe your shots in post-production. The dynamic range is incredibly impressive, and it makes color correcting in post-production that much easier.
This drone also flies like a dream. The Mavic three has an omni-directional vision system that allows it to detect, and prevent, collisions from any direction.
There's really nothing to complain about when it comes to the Mavic 3. If you’ve got the budget, get this drone.
The Cinema Drone for When Budget Doesn't Matter: Inspire 2
We're going to include another drone here that's for hardcore professionals working in Hollywood or people who have money to burn.
The Inspire 2 is going to cost you over $5,000 new, but you can buy it used for somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000 used.
This drone shoots video in 6K RAW format. That's wildly impressive. Outside of drones that tow a cinema camera and require multiple operators, the Inspire is as good as it gets - and it's been used on countless TV shows and films.
This drone is also big and very loud, making it not for the faint of heart.
How to Pick the Right Drone for Your Needs
Budget aside, there are some important things to consider when shopping for your next drone.
Consider the Size (And the Noise)
The first thing you need to consider is the size and the noise of the drone that you'll be getting.
Sure, the Inspire 2 has the best video out of all of these drones, but it's also heavy and loud. You're not going to just be able to throw this one in your backpack to do some drone photography while you're out and about.
The best camera is the one that you use the most and a Mavic Mini is not only affordable, but you can throw it in your backpack to make some drone videos whenever the mood strikes.
Check the Specs
Understanding specs when it comes to photography and video is a little complicated, so let's unpack it quickly.
We're going to be honest about what specs matter the most. If you're mostly shooting video and photos for social media like TikTok and Instagram, you are probably not going to get much use out of extremely high resolutions. Those apps downscale your photo and video pretty noticeably.
On the other hand, if you plan on selling stock footage, working for paying clients, or breaking out into cinematic video, you're going to want to get the highest resolution and best dynamic range possible.
Think About Your Goals
You also need to think about your goals when it comes to picking a drone. All of these drones will open the door to outstanding photo and video, but each one is going to be able to take you to a different place.
The budget drone is going to be great for people learning the ropes, and it can even do some very basic paid work. It's also great for getting some content out there on social media.
As we move up in price, we also move up in professional utility. If you've got clients asking for drone footage, spending a little bit more money up front will ensure that you have higher quality photo and video to work with when it comes time to edit.
All of these drones are around the same difficulty when it comes to their operation. You're going to have the same learning curve when it comes to Flying a $300 used Mavic Mini 2 as you are flying a $5,000 Inspire 2.
At the end of the day, the right drone for you is the one that's going to inspire you to do more drone photography and video.
Wrapping Up The Best Drones of 2022
Whether you're going with the ultra affordable Mavic Mini 2 or you're ready to level up your game with the Inspire 2, one of these drones is exactly what you've been looking for.
Drop your favorite drone pick in the comments and let us know if we've missed any favorites.
