In today’s world of technological marvels, quadrocopters, or drones, are no longer exotic and have become one of the most prominent and sought-after trends in electronics. Airborne gadgets capable of taking off into the sky and transmitting images in real time open up a world previously accessible only to birds and pilots. Video enthusiasts, surveyors, builders, farmers, rescuers – representatives of many professions and hobbies have turned their eyes to the sky, seeing the incredible possibilities in drones.
In the sky, as in any other sphere, the rules are determined by those who are at the forefront of technological progress. It is quadrocopter manufacturers who set the tone and direction of development of this industry, offering consumers more and more new technological solutions. But who is the real leader? Who dictates the fashion in this aerial ballet? Let’s find out.
Rating of quadcopter manufacturers
- DJI: The undisputed leader in the world of drones. This Chinese company continues to amaze with its innovations, offering high-quality quadcopters for different needs – from amateur to professional.
- Parrot: A French company that combines style, innovation and quality in its products. Special attention is paid to design and functionality.
- Yuneec: A company with years of experience offering a wide range of drones, from budget models to advanced professional quadcopters.
- Hubsan: A popular choice amongst budding drone enthusiasts. Hubsan offers reliable and affordable models that are great for learning.
- Skydio: An American company specialising in autonomous drones with advanced obstacle detection and object tracking systems.
- GoPro: Although better known for its action cameras, GoPro also launched the Karma quadcopter, which has been received with great enthusiasm due to its high quality footage and integration with the company’s cameras.
- Autel Robotics: A serious player in the drone market, Autel offers advanced technology and high quality with its quadcopters such as the Evo series.
- Walkera: A company with many years of experience in manufacturing radio-controlled gadgets including drones. It is characterised by a good combination of price and quality.
- Holy Stone: One of the leading manufacturers in the budget quadcopter segment, offering stable and easy-to-use models for beginners.
- PowerVision: A company that focuses on innovation. Their PowerEgg drone was a real breakthrough with its unique design and functionality.
Top quadrocopters
Autel EVO II 8K
A professional drone with impressive performance. It offers long flight time, outstanding range and an excellent camera. Specifications include single shot, long exposure, HDR support and burst shots, making it ideal for film production, aerial photography, industrial surveillance and monitoring.
The only drawback might be its weight due to its built-in capacitive battery. However, if you need a powerful and productive drone for long flights, the Autel EVO II 8K with its advanced battery and intelligent control system is a reliable and efficient choice. It easily covers long distances and is suitable for capturing both static landscapes and fast-moving objects. This drone is often used for commercial purposes due to its incredible value for money.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | Autel EVO II 8K |
| Operating time | 40 minutes |
| Flight range | 25 kilometres |
| Weight | 1127 г |
| Speed | 5-8 m/s |
| Camera | 1/2″ CMOS, 48MP, 8K at 25fps, 6K at 60fps |
Yuneec Mantis Q
A powerful and smart drone that will take your aerial photography to new heights. This quadcopter is especially attractive to professionals due to its miniature size and high-quality camera.
Key benefits of this bird include the popular Follow Me mode, which allows the drone to automatically follow the user, freeing you from having to control it. This drone is ideal for exploring the area, shooting video clips and long photo shoots.
The only downside might be its limited range of 2km, making it less suitable for long distance photography. However, the Yuneec Mantis Q makes up for this with its high speed of 72 km/h, allowing you to move quickly. The drone’s camera provides high resolution and detail, as well as smoothness even in challenging shots, making it a great tool for aerial photography.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | Yuneec Mantis Q |
| Operating time | 33 minutes |
| Flight range | 2 kilometres |
| Weight | 505 г |
| Speed | 72 kilometres an hour. |
| Camera | 1/3.06 CMOS, 4K – 3840×2160 at 30 frames per second |
Autel Evo Nano+
An excellent handheld model for affordable aerial photography. It has good frame stabilisation, high resolution shots and an excellent obstacle avoidance system. The drone also has powerful propellers, intuitive setup, and great battery life.
This drone stands out for its fast flight speed and long operating time, making it a great choice for high quality shots even in hard-to-reach places. The presence of 12 advanced sensors makes flying the drone safe, and the user possibilities become almost limitless. You can quickly move this tiny device between desired locations to create beautiful and contrasting photos and videos.
Thanks to the camera’s wide dynamic range, content is insured against over- and underexposure, making the Autel Evo Nano+ an attractive tool for aerial photography.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | Autel Evo Nano+ |
| Operating time | 28 minutes |
| Flight range | 10 kilometres |
| Weight | 249 г |
| Speed | 33 mph. |
| Camera | 1/1.28″ 0.8″ CMOS, 50MP, 4K/30FPS HDR |
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
It is a simple yet versatile drone, perfect for beginners and professional drone pilots alike. This drone offers long flight time, stable control, easy transport and attractive design.
Key features of the DJI Mavic 3 Classic include crisp and detailed footage, a wide field of view and cinematic image quality even in low light. However, it is worth noting that optional features can add weight to the drone compared to its competitors. Despite this, the cost of this drone remains quite high.
However, the disadvantages of this model are almost imperceptible against the backdrop of its advantages. It is equipped with a powerful camera that is capable of capturing high-quality aerial photos and videos during long flights. The drone also ensures safe flights thanks to its advanced navigation system and collision avoidance sensors. It can be used to safely cover a distance of 15 kilometres with precise control and a lot of leeway. Many drone pilots believe that the DJI Mavic 3 Classic in 2023 is the perfect combination of precision, manoeuvrability and speed.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | DJI Mavic 3 Classic |
| Operating time | 46 minutes |
| Flight range | 15 kilometres |
| Weight | 895 г |
| Speed | 21 metres per second. |
| Camera | 4/3 CMOS, effective pixels – 20MP, FOV 84°, 5.1K – 5120×2700 at 24/25/30/48/50 fps |
Exo Cinemaster 2
A fast and compact drone with a great camera that is perfect for beginner operators. It has an extended flight time that allows you to create spectacular photos and videos. It also offers a handy “Follow Me” function for convenient shooting.
It is important to note that the Exo Cinemaster 2 can be used to create great shots at long distances, even beyond the operator’s line of sight. The drone moves quickly thanks to its high-speed motors. In addition, this model is very easy to store and transport thanks to its compact size and light weight.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | Exo Cinemaster 2 |
| Operating time | 28 minutes |
| Flight range | ½ mile. |
| Weight | 620 г |
| Speed | 27 mph. |
| Camera | 4K video at 30fps, 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor, 10-megapixel camera, 3840 x 2160 px – still images |
DJI Mini 3
An amazingly light and mobile drone capable of capturing video at up to 60fps, even in vertical mode. It is manufactured by DJI, the market leader in quadcopters, which guarantees its high quality and reliability.
While the quality of the footage may not always live up to the advertised specifications, the DJI Mini 3 has a long run time, making it suitable for both photo shoots and leisurely landscape exploration. It has a range of 10 kilometres, allowing you to use the drone to take pictures in a variety of conditions. The fast and manoeuvrable model is suitable for both amateur and professional users, delivering high-quality images. The lightweight and recognisable design, easy setup and convenient controller control make the DJI Mini 3 one of the most popular models in 2023.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | DJI Mini 3 |
| Operating time | 38 minutes |
| Flight range | 10 kilometres |
| Weight | 248 г |
| Speed | 16 metres per second |
| Camera | 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 12MP effective pixels, FOV 82.1°, 4K – 3840×2160 at 24/25/30 fps |
DJI Avata
A drone to be admired for its fantastic manoeuvrability, great camera and voice recognition technology. It offers easy setup and intuitive operation, making it suitable even for beginners. Its almost silent operation makes using the drone comfortable in a variety of environments.
However, there are two disadvantages: limited runtime and a rather high price. Despite this, the DJI Avata is ideal for photographers and filmmakers who value high quality footage. The drone provides safe flights thanks to the inbuilt GPS and collision avoidance system. Also worth mentioning are the intelligent shooting modes, the ability to choose a creative photo and video style, and accurate navigation.
This drone is one of the longest range and fastest quadcopters in its class. It combines lightness, high speed and manoeuvrability. In addition to a reliable engine, the drone offers the ability to capture incredibly sharp wide-angle photos and detailed videos.
| Characterisation | Significance |
| Model | DJI Avata |
| Operating time | 18 minutes |
| Flight range | 10 kilometres |
| Weight | 410 г |
| Speed | 27 metres per second. |
| Camera | 1/1.7-inch CMOS, 48MP effective pixels, 155° FOV, 4K at 30/50/60 fps |
An overview of the different drones in this review highlights the variety of models on the market with different features, purpose, allowing users to choose the best drone according to their needs and budget, whether they are novice operators or seasoned aerial professionals.
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