There is nothing worse than being in the middle of capturing some awesome footage and then all of a sudden your live stream drops out and you loose control or return home is triggered.
Here are the top 9 long range drones. The DJI Mavic 3 is my personal recommendation as the best long range drone overall due to it’s 15km range paired with the high quality camera and mid range price bracket.
For cheaper long lasting drones on a budget check out my article on drones under $200 with the longest flight time.
| Drone | Range | Price Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas T Multicopter | 20km / 12.4mi | $$$$$ |
| DJI Mavic 3 | 15km / 9.3mi | $$$ |
| DJI Air 2s | 12km / 7.5mi | $$ |
| DJI Mini 3 | 12km / 7.5mi | $$ |
| DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced | 10km / 6.2mi | $$$$ |
| DJI FPV | 10km / 6.2mi | $$ |
| Autel Nano | 10km / 6.2mi | $ |
| Phantom 4 Pro | 9.6km / 6mi | $$ |
| Autel Pro 2 | 8.85km / 5.5mi | $$ |
#1 Best Long Range Drone
DJI Mavic 3
The DJI Mavic 3 is the best long range drone thanks to it’s range of 15km paired with outstanding photography capabilities and being far from the most expensive compared to other long range drones.
The current best price on Amazon can be checked here.
The Mavic 3 was release in November 2021 and has quickly made its place as one of the best long range drones with a camera.
I go through all of the specifications in the full comparison on the Mavic 3 and Mavic 2 Pro.
The price of the Mavic 3 is far less than the Mavic 2 Enterprise series because of the additional features included for commercial use. The M2E range have interchangeable attachments like speakers for search missions and thermal cameras. I compare the drones in this article on the Mavic 2 Enterprise series.
Pros
The camera on the Mavic 3 gives us more choice for photography, it has a range of resolutions and frame rates that we can select depending on our needs and outstanding colour quality.
The Mavic 3 firmware update has included intelligent flight modes such as point of interest and spotlight to keep an object in the middle of a shot, these weren’t available when the drone was initially released.
Cons
One of the drone’s downfalls is that the use of these intelligent flight modes aren’t available while shooting in 5.1K or in DLOG so if your a serious photographer but you also want the ease of these functions, this may not be the drone for you.
Best Long Range Drone on a Budget
Autel Nano
A much cheaper long range drone that still packs quality features is the Autel Evo Nano. The transmission range of the Autel Evo Nano is 10km.
The Autel brand is not as well known as DJI but is releasing some very competitive drones in the market.
Compared to DJI’s Mini 2, the Autel Evo Nano captures higher resolution photos at 48MP compared to 12MP and 16x digital zoom compared to 4x.
The Autel Evo Nano can often be snapped up on sale, cheaper than the DJI Mini; check the current best price on Amazon here.
Pros
- This is a great option for a transportable long range drone thanks to its small size.
- A really handy feature is the ability to charge the batteries via USB. This is great if taking footage while traveling because the batteries can be charged in the car.
- The Autel Evo Nano weighs under 250g meaning that it doesn’t have to be registered if just flown for fun.
- Decent flight time ; 28 min
- Great quality camera : 4k 30fps
- Includes tracking modes
Overall, the Autel Evo Nano combines long range capabilities with a great camera. It can shoot quality videos and photos straight out of the box, requiring no fuss with the camera settings.
Cons
On the down side the only real negatives are with the controller rather than the drone. The controller is pretty bulky for a mini drone that should be designed for packing up in a small bag. However, the controller does have a good ergonomic design that’s really conformable to use.
Drone Range FAQ
What determines the flight range of a drone?
1. Drone weight
The overall weight of the drone is the most significant factor in determining the flight range of a drone.
The lighter the frame and materials of the drone, the less demand they have on the battery and can stay in the air longer. There are advancements in battery technology that also make the battery itself lightweight. Most drones use LiPo and LiHV batteries which are compact and long-lasting.
Currently, most high end drones can fly continuously for half an hour, this decreases based on how it’s being controlled and the amount of wind resistance it’s trying to overcome.
Short battery life is a problem when you need to shoot further from your location because it uses up a significant amount of energy just by traveling and has limited resources for capturing photos and video. Some models have a shorter live-feed capability compared to the flight range because of this.
2. Drone Controller Signal Capability
The device and the controller are connected by radio transmission, be conscious of the maximum distance capable otherwise it may lose control not be retrievable if Return Home isn’t activated.
Your drone’s flight range is determined by how far the signal can be transmitted from your controller. The drone can perform the commands as long as the radio connection is there.
This depends largely on the quality and price of the drone, you’ll have a better controller transmission range with higher-end drones. Long-range drones can fly greater than 6 miles.
Be wary of the distance it’s flying and make sure to always fly within your line of sight so you can easily locate it if it drops.
3. Transmission Technology
The type of software used is important too. It’s the command system and language of the device. Controlling your drone with a good built-in software technology enables you to fly safer and farther than low or mid-range drones.
A good example of this is the comparison of the DJI Mini SE and the Mini 3 Pro. DJI uses a less robust transmission technology in their cheaper drone models. The Mini SE uses enhanced wifi connection and the Mini 2 and Mini 3 Pro have Ocusync 2 technology. Ocusync has noticeably less interference from surrounding signals like cell phone towers that impact the achievable range of drones.
What happens when a drone flies out of range?
Depending on the make of your drone it will do one of the following :
- Your drone will trigger RTH (Return To Home) feature. It goes back to the takeoff place automatically.
- The drone will land where it reaches it’s maximum range.
- The drone will stop and hover. This will enable the owner to get closer to it to retrieve it safely or be within range to continue flying.
- The drone will fly away. It’s called the “flyaway drone situation”.
All these are possibilities that can be avoided if you’re aware of your drone’s limits. It will also lessen the chances of these happening if you have long-range drones in the first place.
How can I increase the range of my drone?
Here are several ways to increase the range between you and your drone without buying accessories:
- Make sure that there are no obstacles in your line of sight.
- Make sure that your controller and drone’s antenna are in a relative orientation.
- Check if you have a high-powered transmitter for your drone and controller
- Use the 2.4 GHz band, which offers more range and stable connectivity than the 5.8 GHz.
- Check the flight area if there is RF interference.
The DJI Mini 2 automatically switches between channels to minimize interference.
In terms of maximum theoretical range, 2.4GHz frequency is 2.5 times better than 5.8GHz.
Wrap Up On the Best Long Range Drones
The capabilities of drones continue to improve throughout time with the advancement of technology. Whether you’re an enthusiast or professional, investing in a drone that features long range capabilities can save a lot of time and disappointment.
Also take a look at the top 10 drones with the longest flight time for more UAVs that are pushing the boundaries.
