8 of the best drones under £1000

8 of the best drones under £1000

Drones are no longer the preserve of pro filmmakers and the military. The past couple of years has seen an abundance of affordable, easy-to-fly quad- and hexacopters hit the market, putting the power of aerial photography in the grasp of anyone with a bit of spare cash to burn. GoPro, Yuneec, DJI… with all this choice, which drone is the right one for you? Read on and we’ll give you all the answers.

1) DJI Spark

The Spark (£449/$399) is a compact, lightweight camera drone that’s designed for simplicity and spontaneity. Portable enough to be carried around in your bag (or tossed into your car’s glove compartment), it’s a fast, agile and stable flyer that captures impressively detailed 1080p video clips and 12MP stills, although battery life could be better. You can even fly it with nothing more than a mobile app and hand gestures, but the optional twin-stick handset will give you more control. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

2) Yuneec Typhoon H

The Typhoon’s extra pair of propellers make a big difference to stability, especially in windy conditions, while the retractable landing gear lets you spin the camera without getting the drone’s feet in shot. A painfully slow charge time of two hours holds the Typhoon H (£739/$800) back from greatness but the 12MP sensor provides beautiful 4K image quality and its controller comes with a built-in 7in touchscreen. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

3) DJI Mavic Pro

Despite being of a similar shape and only slightly larger than the Spark, the Mavic Pro (£899/$999) is a far more advanced drone. Battery life runs to 27 minutes of flight time; the controller range extends to an astonishing 7km (with a 1080p live video feed to your phone); the camera can record 4K video and capture RAW stills; the automatic flying modes are richer; and the drone itself can cut through the air at 40mph in Sport mode. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

4) Parrot Bebop 2

The compact, lightweight and affordable Bebop 2 (£405/$400) is probably the perfect starter model to cut your teeth on. There’s no gimbal, which limits your options regarding image stability, and the 1080p footage is a little uninspiring, but it certainly zips around in lively fashion. Just don’t rely on the quoted 300m transmission range – it starts to become an issue at just 150m. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

5) Propel Star Wars Battling Drone

It might be “just a toy” but these Star Wars Battling Drones (£115/$180) are a ton of fun whether you’re eight or 80. Buy two (X-Wing, TIE Fighter and Speeder Bike models are available, and battles can accommodate up to 12 drones) and you can dogfight just like in the movies, using infrared to “blast” critical spots and cause your opponents’ flyer to spiral slowly to the ground. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

6) DJI Mavic Air

Combining the best tech from the Mavic Pro with the best software features of the more beginner-friendly Spark, DJI’s Mavic Air (£769/$799) is the best all-round drone hobbyists can buy. It’s almost as easy to capture stunning 4K videos and stills as it is to fly, thanks to its many auto modes and sensors, plus it’s practically pocketable when folded up. If only it was a little bit quieter when taking off and landing. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

7) Parrot Mambo FPV

For £150/$180, the Mambo FPV has everything you need for first-person flight: a clip-on video camera, twin-stick remote controller, and a pair of video goggles that you just need to slip your smartphone inside. The drone itself feels a little flimsy, and it’s so lightweight it tends to drift a lot outside, but as long as you’re aware of its limitations and don’t expect much from the camera, it’s a decent introduction to drone-o-vision. Stuff says ✭✭✭✩✩

8) GoPro Karma

GoPro has discontinued its Karma drone meaning it’s now available from £630/$599 (around half its original price). It lacks the flight time, transmission range, obstacle detection and wide selection of auto flying modes offered by its rivals, but if you’re already invested in the GoPro eco-system and buy a Karma with the camera included, it’s usable with all existing accessories. Tempting. Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩