What are the Best Drones of 2020 ? Price & Spec

We all have to admit that drones are cool, some are glorified tech toys, but most models we highlight here are fit for use in imaging and cinematic applications small and large. If you think you can use a flying camera in your next project, there’s some good news—the tech has come a long way in a very short time. There are models on the market now that put earlier copters to shame in terms of video quality and stabilization.

And if you want an aerial video platform that can capture stunning footage, you need to be ready to spend some cash. Because drones are such pricey propositions, it pays to do your research before buying one.

There are low-cost drones on the market, but you’re still looking at spending a few thousand rupees (Rs.) to get a solid model that’s stable in flight with an excellent integrated camera.

The drones we recommend are ready-to-fly models, so you can use them right out of the box. In most cases, you’ll need to bring your own Android or iOS device to view the camera feed in real-time, but we’ve recommending a few models that stream video directly to a remote control. We don’t cover racing, industrial, or agricultural aircraft here—our focus is on aircraft intended for aerial imaging and videography.

Best Drones of 2020

While they might seem like toys, a high-quality quadcopter is a serious investment, and an easy way to add production value to a film project, or get a unique view on the world for your travel vlog. We’ve flown some & analyzed others through specs & reviews, and these are the best drones of 2020 in our tests.

1. DJI Mavic 2 Pro

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro is the best small drone on the market, with superior image and video quality, obstacle avoidance, and excellent battery life.

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2. DJI Inspire 2

If money is no object, the DJI Inspire 2 is the best drone you can buy, delivering Raw video capture at 5.2K quality, superb build quality, and top-end performance.

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3. Autel Robotics EVO

The Autel Robotics EVO is a very solid small drone with strong battery life, a stabilized 4K camera, and an obstacle detection system.

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4. DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom sets itself apart from other drones thanks to an optical zoom lens. It’s loaded with features, including obstacle avoidance, and is a fine choice for enthusiast pilots.

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5. Parrot Anafi

The Parrot Anafi puts all emphasis on size—the small, folding drone is ideal for travel, thanks to 4K video capture, a small airframe, and USB charging.

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6. DJI Mavic Air

The Mavic Air is DJI’s smallest, most portable drone, and is just as full-featured as its larger siblings.

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7. DJI Spark

The DJI Spark is a $500 palm-size gesture-controlled selfie drone for the masses, but it’s hampered by short flying time and an app that could be easier to use.

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8. Ryze Tello

The Ryze Tello is a toy quadcopter flyable via smartphone or laptop (using Scratch). Its video quality isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s a fun tech toy and learning tool.

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9. DJI Mavic Mini

The DJI Mavic Mini is a lightweight drone that you don’t have to register, but spotty connectivity makes it hard to recommend wholeheartedly.

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Regulations and Safety of Drones in Nepal

The rules of the air vary from region to region & country to country —we’ve covered what to know for Nepali Drone pilots. But, typically, if your drone weighs 8.8 ounces (250g) and up, you’ll need to register it in order to fly it outdoors legally—even over your own property.

There is one mass market exception, the recently announced DJI Mavic Mini. Its 249g takeoff weight avoids the need for registration in the Nepal, US and other many countries, and opens it up to (legal) operation in other regions.

It skips a safety feature—obstacle avoidance—to make weight, though. But it includes all of the other expected tools to help ensure a safe flight, including GPS stabilization, automated return-to-home, and automatic takeoff and landing.

Almost all of the models featured here have some safety features. Even the DJI Spark, which isn’t built for long-distance flight, includes a GPS and automatic return-to-home functionality. If your control signal is interrupted, or if the battery gets down too low (most drones can only fly for about 25 minutes on a single battery charge), you drone will start to head back to its takeoff point and land.

Flyaways still happen, and there are horror stories on various web discussion forums. Of course, negative experiences are amplified in this context, simply because uneventful flights that don’t result in a crash or missing drone aren’t hot topics for discussion.

If you’re flying within the NEPAL, you need to take heed of CAAN guidelines—or be prepared to face potential fines or jail time. There are no-fly zones set by the CAAN, Department of Tourism & Ministry of Home Affairs so don’t take off if you’re near an airport without notifying the control tower first. And, even if you’re out in the middle of nowhere, don’t take your drone above 120 meters (394 feet). Most are set to obey these regulations out of the box, but controlling a quadcopter is just like driving a car—even if you missed seeing that speed limit sign, you’re still liable to pay the fines.

Racing and Toy Drones

There are a number of products on the market that are sold as drones, but don’t quite fit the bill. Remote-controlled aircraft have been around for ages. (Check out this clip from Magnum, P.I. if you don’t believe me, or just want to see Tom Selleck in a bathrobe.) But with the recent surge in popularity, quadcopters that would simply be sold as RC products are now being tagged as drones. These don’t include GPS stabilization, return-to-home functionality, and other automated flight modes that make a drone a drone.

We’ve reviewed a handful of these products and placed them in our Toy reviews category. If you’re interested in something you can use on the International Drone Racing Association, keep your eyes tuned there for reviews.

What Are the Best Brands of Drones?

DJI models currently dominate our top picks, and there’s a good reason for that. The company is simply a few steps ahead of its competition right now, and has a product catalog with models at various price points, which take up a good number of the slots in our top ten. It made a huge splash with its iconic Phantom series, and now makes the best small drones we’ve tested in the form of the Mavic series.

Small vs. Large Drones

For a long time, the DJI Phantom series was about as small as you could go if you wanted to get a full-featured drone that maintains stability in the air and includes strong safety features. That’s no longer the case. Hikers and travel photographers appreciate a small, light kit, and they can now get a drone that fits into a backpack.

The Best Drones for Pros

The DJI Inspire 2 is aimed at professional cinematographers, news organizations, and independent filmmakers. You have the option of adding a 1-inch sensor fixed-lens camera, a Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens model, or a Super35mm cinema mount with its own proprietary lens system and support for 6K video capture.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the models listed here.