Best Heavy Lift Drone For Stability, Flight Time & Transmission Quality

After testing out several drones for their flight time, payload weight, stability, and transmission quality, we found that the Best Heavy Lift Drone is the best heavy lifting drone. It has good stability, flying time, and even has several smart features that will help you in your work.

Though there were several other drones in the field, after testing them all, we only found a handful to be as good as the Matrice 600. There is the DJI Spreading Wings S900, which came close to the first position and gave good results during the test. There are other alternatives too which we have listed down below. It would help you to choose the best heavy weight lifting drone for your profession.

Recommended Heavy Lifting Drones

There are various heavy lifting drones in the market which might confuse you. To help you out, we have made this list which consists of the best heavy lift drones. Each of these drones was tested upon several parameters and has proved to be fruitful in the tests.

1. DJI Matrice 600 – Best For Long Transmission

The first heavy lifting drone that we have on this list is the DJI Matrice 600. DJI Matrics 600 is a drone that is designed for industrial uses. It comes with tons of features which will surely make you amazed. It has a DJI A3 flight controller which has several smart features.

The DJI A3 controller is self-adaptive in nature, which in turn helps in adjusting the flight parameters based on the weight of the items on the drone. Talking about the payload, this drone can easily carry around 6kgs of weight, which is quite enough to lift cameras, sensors, and much more.

Even after carrying a weight of 6kgs, the drone can fly for 16 minutes. Though the takeoff weight of the drone is 15.1 kgs, it can fly at a maximum speed when the load is less than 6kgs. While testing the drone, we found that it can fly for 38 minutes without any load.

You can easily remain connected with the drone, thanks to its long transmission range of 5kms. Moreover, this drone is compatible with the Zenmuse gimbals and cameras and will not give you any trouble regarding that.

The drone even comes with six intelligent batteries that manage the power system of the drone. Smart flight safety and intelligent ECS makes it possible for the drone to manage the drone and notify of any collision beforehand. You can easily operate this drone with the help of the DJI Go app as well as the DJI Assistant 2 app.

However, if you do not know how to assemble a drone or if you are buying a drone for the first time, we won’t suggest this drone. The DJI Matrice 600 comes in individual parts, which means you have to assemble the drone all by yourself. If you are a beginner, then this drone will be difficult for you to operate.

Bottom Line

The DJI Matrice 600 is a drone that is designed for professionals. It comes with various smart features and will not disappoint you at all. If you are an advanced level pilot, then this drone is made for you.

2. DJI Spreading Wings S900 – Best For Filmmakers

The next drone is the DJI Spreading Wings S900. The Spreading Wings series of DJI are basically designed for lifting heavy items and are mostly preferred by filmmakers and professional photographers.

The S900 is portable, making it possible to carry around unlike other drones. The thing that we liked about the S900 is that it can fly for around 20 minutes. Talking about the payload, this drone can handle a weight of 6.5kg. Though it has a takeoff weight of 8.2 kg, it can work faster with a lesser load.

The Spreadwings S900 is made with Carbon fibre which is light in weight. The carbon fibre reduces the weight of the drone but increases the stability and strength of the device. Besides that, the drone even has a spark-proof plug that will make sure that there are no short circuits when you plug in the device.

The DJI Spreadwings S900 can even work in colder regions. It has a record for working in an environment with a temperature as low as -10 degrees Celcius. It is highly compatible with the Zenmuse Z15 gimbal and cameras and is best for filmmakers and photographers.

The DJI A2 controller makes sure that the drone does not get into flight accidents and the smart sensors notify you about the nearby surroundings.

However, the drone does not come with a battery. You have to buy a 6S 12000mAh battery separately which can work with the drone. Apart from that, there is nothing that we didn’t like about this drone. It has foldable arms, has a wide range of shooting angles and you even have the option of customizing it by adding extra sensors.

Bottom Line

The Spreading Wings S900 is a portable, lightweight drone that can carry a large amount of weight easily. If you are looking for a drone to carry your professional cameras and accessories, then you can depend on S900 to do the job for you.

3. DJI Matrice 100 – Best For Professionals

For people who love to experiment with sensors and processors, this drone is the best choice for them. It is built for the experts in the house who want to modify the drone and add extra features.

The DJI Matrice 100 is known for its excellent flight time. It can fly for 50 minutes, without any payload, giving you enough time to know where you need to make changes. The drone weighs around 3 pounds and comes with a takeoff weight of 3.6kgs.

Talking about its features, the Matrice 100 has excellent guidance features. The ultrasonic sensors and the stereo guides the drone towards the destination and avoid any kind of collision. Moreover, the sensors can detect the obstacles from a distance of 65 feet, hence giving you enough time to divert the direction of the device and avoid any accidents.

If you are adding an item like a small camera or similar items, the flight time will be around 20 minutes. Besides that, the drone comes with excellent communication features as the antennas of the drone are placed at two different positions. This setup makes it possible to have effective communication. The Matrice 100 works perfectly with the Zenmuse x3 gimbals and will give you good results.

But, you have to buy a camera for the drone as DJI does not provide a camera with this drone. Apart from that, the drone has two parallel UART ports, which comes in handy while connecting third party accessories. In short, we can say that the Matrice 100 is a customizable drone with excellent features and will help you in various ways.

Bottom Line

A modern customizable heavy lifting drone that can help you a lot in the technical field- It not only sounds good but makes you want to try it. The DJI Spreading Wings S1000 is a modern drone that you can modify as per your needs. If you want a drone for modifying and trying out your experiments, then S1000 is the best choice.

4. Yuneec Drone Tornado H920

The Yuneec Drone Tornado H920 is built for professionals in the area of drone flying. If you are an advanced pilot and need a drone that will allow you to practice your drone flying and help in carrying heavy accessories, then the H920 is made for you.

This heavy lifting drone has a flight time of 24 minutes and can fly up to an altitude of 4000 meters. Besides that, the speed of the drone is quite good. Even with load, the drone can fly with a maximum speed of 47mph.

If you are wondering about the weight it can carry, then let me tell you that this drone can carry a weight of 3.53 pounds and can still remain stable in the sky. The whole frame of the drone is made up of carbon fibre, which increases the strength of the drone while keeping the weight of the device in check.

The H920 comes with various features like RTH, foldable arms, and even air pressure checks. The air pressure feature of the drone makes sure that the drone does not get much damaged if it falls from the sky.

It has an ST24 transmitter that makes sure that the stability is intact and gives you the best aerial shots. Moreover, this device is compatible with Android devices that have a screen size of 7 inches. It is even compatible with the GB603 Gimbal and Panasonic GH4 camera.

Though the drone is a bit on the expensive side, it is quite good for advanced pilots. If you are a beginner, then you should not invest in this drone as it can be difficult to operate it.

Bottom Line

The Yuneec Tornado H920 is made specifically for the pro drone flyers in the field. This drone is not for beginners and will be of no use if you buy it without any prior experience in drone flying. Moreover, it is expensive and you should invest in it only if you have handled advanced drones before.

5. DJI Spreading Wings S1000 – Best For Digital Videos

If you are looking for a drone that is stylish and has nice features, then you should check out the DJI Spreading Wings S1000. It comes with a modern touch and will make your drone stand out in the crowd.

But only good looks are not enough for the customers to buy a drone. The Spreading Wings S1000 even comes with some amazing features. Some of the most significant features that the S1000 has are OSD and DJI Lightbridge digital video. These two amazing features make it possible to use the drone for shooting from above.

Though the autonomous modes of the camera are not quite good, you can still click pictures manually from the drone. Apart from that, the drone has a takeoff weight of 11kg and a payload capacity of 7 kgs. The S1000 is an octocopter which makes it easier to carry a heavy load.

Another bonus which you would find in this drone is that it has two extra rotors. The advanced power distribution system allows the drone to consume less amount of power. This drone even comes with a spark-proof plug which avoids any kind of short circuits inside the drone.

Besides that, the drone even has a removable upper centreboard. However, even after having such amazing features, the flight time of the drone is not quite good. It can only fly for 15 minutes. If you are ready to invest in a drone that cannot fly for long period, then you can go for it. The S1000 is quite good for beginners in heavy drone flying.

Bottom Line

The Spreading Wings S1000 is fit for people who want to try their hand in heavy lifting drone flying. Though the flight time is quite less, it is an octocopter, which gives it extra strength. The drone can carry extra loads and give you good results.

6. Freefly Systems – High ALTA UAV 

The Freefly Alta drones are made for aerial photography only. This particular drone has both sky as well as ground views which makes it possible to get the best shot. Moreover, the Alta UAV has a user-friendly configuration, making it easier for beginners to handle the drone.

The best thing about this drone is that you can unpack it and start it in under 5 minutes. It comes in fully assembled and all you have to do is start the device and fly it. Another thing that we observed is that you can use this drone in any kind of climate. Be it sunny, windy, or raining, this drone will still work.

The operating range of the Alta UAV is 2000 meters and it can fly for 16 minutes only. The remoter control of this drone has a controller frequency of 2.4GHz which makes the communication between the user and the drone effortless.

Though it does not consist of many smart features, it is quite good for the price. It will help you in getting used to flying drones which are meant for heavy weight lifting.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a drone for practicing heavy drone flying, then you should go for the Freefly Alta UAV. Though it does not consist of many smart features, the drone is still good for beginners. It comes fully assembled and you won’t find it difficult to operate it.

Before selecting a drone, you need to know about the drone. Below we have our buying guide, which will help you in knowing more about the features of the drones.

Buying Guide 

Heavy lift drones are not meant for beginners and are quite expensive. You would not want to invest your money in a drone that does not meet your expectations. To help you out in making this decision, we have curated this buying guide. This guide has all the features that a heavy lifting drone should have. It will help you in knowing what you should look for in a lifting drone.

1. Payload Weight

The payload weight is the amount of weight that the drone can carry. For a heavy lifting drone, payload weight is important. It determines the type of objects the drone can carry and the services it can provide.

Most of the manufacturers provide the lift-off weight instead of the payload weight. In such cases, you have to subtract the drone’s weight from the lift-off weight and you will get the payload weight.

It is better to look for a drone that can carry at least 5-10kgs. For example, the DJI Spreading Wings S1000 has a payload capacity of 7kgs.

On the other hand, the Freefly Alta UAV drone can lift up to 9kgs, which is by far the highest any drone can lift. It will help you to carry your cameras and other equipment without any difficulty.

If the payload weight of the device is 5kgs, then you should let it carry a maximum of 4kgs. If you put on 5kgs, then it will affect the speed of the drone. Moreover, the payload weight even differs due to many factors like wind, extra accessories, and many more.

2. Stability

The next important thing that you should keep in mind is the stability of the drone. A drone that can carry a lot of weight but can’t remain stable in the sky is of no use. It would be difficult to operate these drones during harsh winds and bad weather.

It is important to get a drone that is stable and will be able to deliver things even during harsh weather. Heavy lifting drones are usually used to provide rescue operations in remote areas, to deliver to the people, and even for aerial shooting.

If a drone can carry all the equipment but becomes shaky during the fly mode, it will become a problem. It will not only take a lot of time to deliver the items but will even consume a lot of power.

Drones like the DJI Matrice 600 and the Freefly Alta UAV have the capability of flying in any kind of weather and remain stable even in harsh winds.

3. Flight Time

Flight time is the amount of time that the drone can remain in the air. The more is the flight time, the better is the drone. A drone that can carry more than 10lbs, but can only fly for 10 or 15 minutes, will be of no use. These types of drones will only travel halfway or deliver the items but won’t be able to return to their initial position.

The flight time of the drone even depends on various factors like the weight of the load, batteries, climate, and much more. It is better to look for a drone that can not only carry heavyweight items but can even fly for more than 20 minutes.

If you go for a drone like the DJI Spreading Wings S900, then you will get a flight time of 18 minutes, which won’t be of much help. But, if you choose the Yuneec Tornado H920, then you are getting a flight time of 24 minutes, which is quite commendable.

4. Transmission

Here, transmission defines the communication level between the drone and the controller. Look for a drone that has a transmission range of more than 1.93 miles. It would help you to remain connected with the drone throughout the path.

A good operating range proves to be a boon for the pilots and helps them in knowing the drone view in a better way. The DJI Matrice 600 has the highest operating range, of 5kms, which helps you to remain connected with the device.

Moreover, most of the drones come with wireless communication facilities, making it easier to know the location of the drone without having to travel much. Most of the drones come with dual frequencies for better transmission and it has proved to be fruitful.

5. Mode of operation

The mode of the operation says a lot about the drone. While most of the drones have remote controllers, others have FPV mode of operation or First Person View.

If you are buying a drone that has an FPV mode of operation, then you would require other accessories to control the drone. For an FPV controlled drone, you would need a set of VR glasses and a Wi-fi connection.

Besides that, the VR glasses and the drone should be compatible and provide a clear vision to the user. Most of the FPV controlled drones do not come with VR glasses. In such cases, you have to buy VR glasses separately and make sure that they are compatible.

For drones that can be controlled with a remote controller, there is no need for extra accessories. For example, the DJI Matrice 600 and the DJI Matrice 100 can only be operated with remote controllers and they don’t need any extra accessories.

But, make sure that the remote controller has nice features so that you can easily use it. Most remote controllers even come with a display screen so that you can view your drone. Look for the type of operation mode before buying the drone.

6. Safety Features

Flight safety is important and should be your priority while choosing a drone. You do not want your drone to crash from the air and get destroyed. Moreover, there have been cases where the drone has crashed and has caused harm to people too.

The Yuneec Tornado H920 has excellent safety features which include failure survivability feature. It prevents the drone from falling off the sky in case of any accidents. It is important that the drone comes with flight safety features so as to avoid accidents.

There are drones that come with a parachute deploying feature, where they deliver the item with the help of a tiny parachute. It prevents the item from falling upon someone. A drone with good guidance is also important.

Look at the DJI Matrice 100 which has excellent guidance, thanks to the ultrasonic sensors and stereo guidance. Look for a drone that comes with flight safety features so that it will prevent the drone from getting damaged and harming others.

7. Sensors

Technology is upgrading every day and we cannot imagine our lives without it. Drones that come with advanced forms of technology are more useful than the ones that are devoid of it. Manufacturers are using various smart sensors to make their drones more helpful and advanced.

Some of the most common sensors that you can find in a drone are obstacle detecting sensors, GPS, GLONASS, and much more. Some drones even have temperature sensors and notify the users about the change in temperature. The DJI Matrice 600 has the most advanced sensors that we have seen.

Moreover, you can even get drones where you can modify and add extra sensors. Due to advanced GPS sensors, the users can now set the latitude and longitude in the code and then let the drone fly as per the code. It even allows you to know the exact location of the drone.

Temperature sensors warn you if there is any spark or fire in the drone. Obstacle detection sensors tell you about the obstacle that is in front of the device and prevents any collision.

8. Budget

Heavy lifting drones are expensive and are more of a one-time investment. The cost of the drone depends on various things. If you are going for a drone that can lift more than 10lbs, then you have to invest more money. On the other hand, drones that can lift at least 5-8lbs cost less and are quite easy to maintain.

Besides that, you would even need some extra accessories like batteries covers, and much more. Most of the drones are compatible with accessories of the same company which might cost you more. You need to write down your budget and then select the drone which will fit under the budget. Keep in mind that you would need extra accessories.

9. Life Span

Nobody would like to invest around 5000 USD on a drone that would only last for 6 months. If you are spending money on a drone, you need it to have a longer life span. To assure that the life span of the drone increases, you need to take it for regular maintenance. Moreover, before buying a drone, you need to know the appropriate number of years that the drone can serve. Make sure to read the reviews as it would help you know the life span of the drone.

10. Flight Restrictions

While most of the drones follow flight restrictions, others just notify you about the restricted area. It is important to follow the flight restrictions else it would lead to severe consequences. Different places have different flight restrictions and you need to have a drone that follows the restrictions in your place. If you do not follow the flight law and order, then it can lead to suspension of your FAA license and other things too. Hence, look for a drone that follows the flight restrictions or notifies you when the device enters the restricted area.

Final Verdict

Heavy lifting drones are the ones that are designed for professionals. These are not meant for people who are beginners in the field of drone flying. The DJI Matrice 600 is the best heavy lifting drone that you can find in the market. It is built for professionals, who know how to operate the drone perfectly.

Operating a heavy-lifting drone is not an easy job. You need to be careful and know how to avoid any kind of accident. Before deciding the best drone for you, prioritize the things that you need from your heavy weight-lifting drone. After listing out the things, it would become easier to choose the best drone for yourself. Another thing you need to consider is the budget. These drones are quite expensive and you need to invest a large sum of money to get the best one in the market. If you are a professional and ready to invest your money, then you should go for the heavy drones.