There are a lot of mini drones out there. DJI has produced six of its own. Autel has made a few, as has EXO, Hubsan, Fimi, Potensic, and MJX. Which mini drone is the best? Which one is the best one for you? We’ve built this chart to help you decide. Mini drones, or drones that weigh less than 250 grams typically have few restrictions. In the United States, they don’t have to be registered and they are not subject to remote ID.
There are two options that we believe are the best. The DJI Mini 2 SE and the DJI Mini 3 Pro. There are two other options that we would suggest avoiding: the Mini 2 and Mini SE. The Mini SE is hard to find and the new Mini 2 SE is a better option for only $40 more. The Mini 2 SE and Mini 2 are nearly identical drones but the Mini 2 costs $110 more and the only real upgrade is the 4K camera. But for an additional $20 you can upgrade from the Mini 2 to the Mini 3 and get a much better drone if you really need 4K but don’t want to spend more than $500.
The BEST option for most people – The DJI Mini 2 SE
The new DJI Mini 2 SE is an excellent drone. It is by far the best value in the group. It fixes the original Mini SE’s biggest weak point, the WiFi transmission system. The Mini 2 SE is essentially the same drone as the Mini 2 but for $110 less. Its biggest drawback is that its highest video resolution is 2.7K and not 4K. However, for non-professionals, this video is going to be more than good enough. The Mini 2 SE isn’t just a good mini drone, it is an excellent drone. This is the best option for anyone that wants a drone with good video quality but they don’t want to break the bank.
| Check the price of the DJI Mini 2 SE |
The BEST option for people that want the BEST – The DJI Mini 3 Pro
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the absolute best drone you can buy that weighs less than 250 grams. The Mini 3 Pro also has front, rear, and downward obstacle avoidance sensors. With those sensors you’ll also get active track and a handful of additional flight modes. The Mini 3 Pro has the best camera in the group. Its larger sensor and dual ISO make it a great tool and it is good enough for some professional applications. The Mini 3 Pro uses DJI’s new O3 transmission system, giving it 12,000 meters of range. It also has an impressive flight time of 34 minutes or up to 47 minutes with an extended battery. The Mini 3 Pro isn’t just a good mini drone, but it is a good drone at any size.
| Check the price of the Mini 3 Pro |
The BEST non-DJI option – Autel Nano+
The Autel Nano+ is a very good mini drone. In terms of quality, it falls somewhere between the Mini 2 and Mini 3 Pro. Autel makes good drones but the one thing people love about Autel is that unlike DJI they do not use geofencing on their drones. The pilot is ultimately responsible for making sure it is safe to fly. DJI doesn’t give pilots that option and geolocks certain areas that might be hazardous to fly in. For anyone that needs more autonomy, the Autel Nano+ is a great option.
| Check the price of the Autel Nano+ |
The BEST drone under $500 – DJI Mini 3
The DJI Mini 3 is nearly identical to the Mini 3 Pro. It has the same camera but loses the obstacle avoidance. The Mini 3 also doesn’t have the active track flight modes. It uses the older O2 video transmission system so it doesn’t quite have the range the Pro version does. There are however two advantages that the Mini 3 has over the Pro version. It is a little lighter so it will gain a few extra minutes of flight time. The Mini 3 is alos $200 less than the Pro version and that makes it the best drone you can buy for less than $500.
| Check the price of the DJI Mini 3 |
Thanks for visiting Half Chrome
Make sure you check out our YouTube channel so you can stay up to date with all things drone. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss our new videos and live streams. Whether it is an aerial photography machine from DJI or a lightning-fast FPV racer we have you covered. We also use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep our readers and viewers up to date. Consider joining our Patreon for sneak peeks and quick communication. Join HERE.
If you want to buy a drone we highly encourage you to use the links in the article above. By using them we’ll make a small commission but won’t cost you anything extra. It is how we are able to keep producing content for you. Check out our shop tab at the top for deals from Amazon, DJI, Banggood, and more.
Make sure you check out some of our more popular pages like Best Drones Now, Aerial Photo Tips, Top Accessories, and All Things FPV. Happy Flying.
Disclosure:
This website contains affiliate links, which means we receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. For full details visit the disclosures and disclaimers page.