In this post I’ll take a look at the newest drones for 2021 and breaking them down into catagories:
- The best video drone of 2021
- The best commercial drone for 2021
- The best affordable drone for 2021
- and DJI’s newest drone for 2021
Best Video Drone of 2021
If you love the DJI Inspire 1, then you are going to be in total admiration of the DJI Inspire 2. It is an improved version of all the good things about its predecessor giving it our best video drone of 2021 title. It now has a highly durable magnesium alloy body and a more reliable battery system. It seamlessly delivers supreme images and amazing videos, making it the top choice for highly demanding filmmakers and deep-pocketed fanatics.
DJI Inspire 2 Highlights
CineCore 2.1
The brand new image processing system CineCore 2.1 is integrated with the Inspire 2. It shoots 5.2K to 6K in Raw, CinemaDNG, and Apple ProRes. It is compatible with the Zenmuse X7, X5s, and X4s.
Premium Speed
Speed and acceleration are critical when shooting action footage or a moving object. This is where Inspire 2 stands out. In a span of four to six seconds, it can accelerate from 0 to 50mph and even up to 58mph. It is by far the market’s fastest drone.
Dual Battery System
If something goes wrong with the main battery, the second battery is activated to support the drone for safe flight and landing. Aside from the Dual Battery, the Inspire 2 also has Dual-Signal Propulsion, Dual IMU, and Dual Barometer. All these features combined make for more detailed flight data, minimising hazards and collisions.
Flight Modes
Create dramatic stills on a whim with Spotlight Pro. Streamline tough shots with TapFly, QuickSpin, and ActiveTrack. Obstacle avoidance is optimized, and intricate tasks can be repeated with Point of Interest and Waypoint.
DJI Inspire 2 Pros
- – Outstanding Video Quality
- – Superb Image Quality
- – Impressive flight modes
- – Improved durability
- – Amplified reliability
DJI Inspire 2 Cons
- – Expensive
- – Requires license keys to operate
- – Requires high-end computer and accessories to maximize full potential
Best Commercial Drone for 2021
Setting a new norm for the commercial drone, the DJI Matrice 300 RTK packs tons of features that make it stand out from the rest. With advanced safety features, extended flight time, enhanced IP Rating, and the ability to carry multiple payloads simultaneously, it is genuinely the cyber workhorse getting the title of best commercial drone for 2021.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK Highlights
6 Directional Sensing & Positioning
Keep your aircraft and your mission safe with ToF sensors on all six sides and dual-vision for a maximum detection range of up to 40 m. The DJ Pilot App allows for sensing behavior customization so you can easily navigate even in the most complex of environments.
IP45 Protection
The M300 RTK is moisture, wind, and extreme temperature resistant. Its inverted propeller can withstand turbulence up to 33.5 mph. With its intelligent and rigid design, critical, short-duration missions can be conducted even in unpredictable weather.
Smart & AI Capabilities
Routine inspections are automated and capture consistent results thru AI Spot Check. Establish numerous actions for one or more payloads and set up to 65,535 waypoints thru Waypoints 2.0. Live Mission Recording enables you to record aircraft movement, zoom level, photo shooting, and gimbal orientation.
Payload Capability
Add two sensors down and one sensor up (total of 3) to the M300 RTK; it has a maximum added weight capacity of 2.7kg. With a total weight of 9kg (including maximum payload), it can still fly unobstructed for a good 31 minutes before needing to replace batteries.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK Pros
- Improved safety
- Enhanced reliability
- Professional maintenance
- Top grade situational awareness
- Smart Inspection
- Multiple payloads
DJI Matrice 300 RTK Cons
- Hand launch/recovery is not an option
- Props are fixed and folded instead of Quick Release
- Not compatible with X4, X5s, and X7 cameras.
Best Affordable Drone of 2021
Ryze Tech, a Shenzen startup, collaborated with DJI and Intel to create Tello, an inexpensive toy drone with surprisingly good features making it the best affordable drone of 2021.
Ryze Tello Highlights
Fly easy with Tello App
You can download the Tello App for both Android and iOs and control it directly from your phone. It is also compatible with VR headsets and most Bluetooth game controllers.
Portable
Tello has an approximate weight of only 80 g, including the battery and propellers. It is so tiny and light that you can quickly put it in a bag and carry it anywhere you go.
EZ Shots
Use pre-scripted fly patterns like 360 and circle. Record coordinated short videos quickly.
Ryze Tello Pros
- Straightforward
- Simple app
- Interesting flight modes
- Packed and lightweight
- Very cheap
Ryze Tello Cons
- Not the most incredible video quality
- Can’t fly well with wind
DJI New Drone 2021
DJI Air 2S
Released only on April 15 of this year, the DJI Air 2s is the newest addition to the drone giant’s never-ending collection of a high-quality quadcopters. Shooting 5.4k video at 30 fps, the Air 2S features a 1-inch 20MP sensor for improved high ISO, digital zoom, and only weighing 595g; it is a compact drone on steroids.
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Professionals and consumers have been awaiting the release of Mavic 3 Pro, a fusion of all the versions of DJI’s best seller Mavic Series, and more. Collaborating with Hasselblad, it is perceived to shoot 5.7k videos with an f/2.8 aperture and 24mm focal length. With a 5,000 to 6,000 mah battery, it is predicted to fly for 40mins on each charge. Images of the Mavic 3 Pro shell have started to leak on the internet, looking pretty sturdy. The Mavic 3 Pro was highly anticipated this year, but resources say that we will have to wait until quarter one next year, 2022, around after the Chinese New Year.
