First-person drones or FPV drones are designed to put you directly in the pilot’s seat, giving us an unhindered view of the camera’s live feed. So, whether you are using drones for aerial photography, racing or any other application, you will get an awesome, unique experience.
Choosing the best FPV drone can be a challenge with so many options on the market and new tech to consider. The good news is that we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We’ve scoured the market and identified the best FPV drones of 2022 for three core categories;
- The best FPV drone for beginners
- The best FPV drone for filming and
- The best FPV Drone under $20
The Best FPV Drone for Beginners
We recommend the DJI Ryze Tello as the best FPV drone for beginners. If you are buying your first FPV drone, you’ll need an easy-to-use drone that’s also affordable. It’s expected that as a beginner that you’ll crash your drone several times as you master how to operate it.
Even if you end up damaging the drone, repairing or replacing it won’t be expensive. Once you master the basics of flying this beginner FPV drone, it will be time to level up.
So, with so many models on the market why do we recommend the DJI Ryze Tello as the best FPV drone for beginners?
Take a closer look at its features.
DJI Ryze Tello
The DJI Ryze Tello is one of the best FPV drones for people who are learning to fly drones. They are easy to use, compact, and lightweight. Also, it has been equipped with onboard sensors as well as propeller guards, designed to reduce accidents, which may damage the drone or other objects on its way.
Setting up and using this drone is a straightforward process. You simply need to download its app on your smartphone or tablet, switch it on and then connect it to the app on your smartphone or tablet. From there, you’re ready to roll. It comes with an auto take-off feature, making it easy to launch it and explore your surroundings.
DJI has provisioned this drone with a 720p camera and with your VR headset, you will view your surroundings through the eyes of the DJI Ryze Tello. Also, you can shoot high-quality videos and photos while flying this drone.
The flight time for the DJI Ryze Tello is approximately 13 minutes. As mentioned earlier, the DJI Ryze Tello is a lightweight drone, meaning it’s not designed for outdoor use. But, if the weather is calm, you can fly it outside. It has a flight range of approximately 100 feet. But, considering its small size, you shouldn’t fly it too far away, as you may end up losing sight of it and control.
One of the best features of this FPV drone for beginners is convenience. It’s small, compact and lightweight. You can slip it into your pockets. Also, you don’t need a separate controller for this drone. So, moving around with it is easy. It will allow you to practice your drone-flying anywhere.
With its affordable price point combined with its build quality, impressive features and top-notch convenience, you can be confident of getting value for your money. If you are a beginner looking to purchase your first FPV drone, you should definitely consider the DJI Ryze Tello.
Best FPV Drone for Filming
If you’re a professional photographer or videographer, you’ll need an FPV drone that can capture high-quality footage. You’ll also need a camera that comes with a decent flight time and long flight range. Your filming drone also needs to be of high quality, so that it can withstand rough handling.
We’ve actually split this into two of our favourites because we know there is a huge range in budget from amateur and hobbyist pilots to those that fly drones for commercial use.
We’ve selected the best drone for filming under $300 and a higher end FPV drone. Understandably, the camera quality and capabilities are much higher quality with higher price tags.
Let’s take an in-depth look at why we selected these drones as the best FPV drones for filming.
Holy Stone HS720E : Best FPV Drone for Filming Under $300
Without a doubt, the Holystone HS720E remains one of the best FPV drones for filming. It records high-quality footage, has decent flight time and comes with numerous cool features. And above all, it comes at an affordable price point.
Also called the EIS 4K drone, the Holy Stone HS720E is the newer version of the original HS720 drone. While this model may not come with all the features and technologies that you may find in premium drones, it remains a solid performer, which will get the job done.
The HS720E is a foldable, compact drone, which makes it easy to pack and travel around with, wherever your work may take you. It’s GPS-enabled, meaning you can track it via its smartphone app. So, losing this drone is almost impossible. Also, the GPS makes it easy to fly this FPV drone for filming autonomously, via its smart flight modes.
The manufacturer has also outfitted this drone with an optical flow sensor, placed on its belly. This sensor is designed to allow you to operate the done in areas with a weak GPS signal.
The HS720E delivers an average flight time of approximately 23 minutes, thanks to its powerful battery. It has a range of approximately 900 meters. It also comes with an extra battery as part of the package. Therefore, you can get double the flight time, without having to recharge the battery first.
Holy Stone has equipped the HS720E with a decent camera, which can record 4K-quality videos and photos. For a full review check out Holy Stone HS720E Review: Pros and Cons.
DJI Mavic 3 : Best FPV Drone for Filming for Professionals
The DJI Mavic 3 is a huge step up when it comes to FPV filming and drone photography. This drone was released in 2021 and DJI keep smashing their personal bests when it comes to flight time, camera quality and maximum flight speed.
The video resolution for filming can capture 120 frames per second and a bit rate of 200mb/s. This is the quantity of data that is saved or transferred in a set amount of time (mega bits per second).
For an in depth review and a comparison with it’s predecessor, the Mavic 2 Pro, check out this article on the Mavic Pro 3.
Best FPV Drone Under $200
The best FPV drone under 200 is the Ruko F11 Pro but finding a high-quality and reliable FPV drone under $200 can be a challenge. The reason behind this is that most of the drones within this price range are of poor quality, in an attempt to reduce production costs. And, the Ruko F114K is designed to solve these challenges.
Ruko F11 Pro
The Ruko F11 Pro is one of the best FPV drones under $200. And while this drone may come with an affordable price tag, its capabilities and features are almost at par with some of its premium counterparts.
This FPV drone comes with two 2,500 mAh batteries. Each battery can deliver an average flight time of 25 minutes. So, when combined, they can deliver a flight time of approximately 50 to 60 minutes. As for the flight range, you can control it up to 1200 meters. Furthermore, it has a video transmission range of around 500 meters.
It comes with a UHD camera, which can record photos in 4K and videos in 2.9K. The videos recorded have decent clarity and details. The manufacturer has also outfitted it with brushless motors, which enable it to hit speeds of up to 43.2 km per hour.
As much as the Ruko F11 Pro may come at a budget-friendly price, it packs plenty of features and technologies. Also, it captures high-quality photos and videos, making it the ideal choice for someone who needs a reliable FPV drone under $200.
If the Ruko F11 peaks your interest you may also be interested in this Ruko F11 GIM Drone review.
Wrap Up on The Best FPV Drones of 2022
You have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to FPV drones. But, if you are looking for the best, whether it’s a beginner-friendly FPV drone, a filming drone or an affordable drone under $200, then we highly recommend the DJI Ryze Tello, the Holy Stone HS720E , Ruko F11 Pro.
