Best High Altitude Drone In [year]

After testing several high-altitude drones for their altitude, flight time, speed, transmission range, and stability, we concluded that the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the best high altitude drone in the market. It has the highest flight range and has an excellent transmission range and stability.

There was tough competition while testing out the devices. During these tests, we found that the  Autel Robotics EVO is also a nice option, but due to some minor differences, it got second place. There are other alternatives too, which we found. All the alternatives are included in this list, which will help you decide the best one for yourself.

Recommended High Altitude Drones

We know how confusing it can get to choose the perfect drone for your work. There will be lots of suggestions and options available in front of you. To help you out, we have curated this list consisting of the best high altitude drones that we found after testing them. We have tested these drones for their speed, battery life, obstacle sensing, and much more. You can refer to this list of drones and select the best one for yourself.

1. DJI Phantom 4 Pro: Best For Professionals

The first high-altitude drone that we have on this list is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. It is made for professionals and will help you a lot in your professional work. It is strong yet light in weight, hence making it perfect for various videography purposes.

It can fly up to 19,685 feet, which is the highest we have seen. Apart from that, it has a flight time of 30 minutes, giving you enough time to get your perfect aerial shot.

The thing that we liked about the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is its rigidity. It is made up of titanium alloy and Magnesium alloy, which gives it super strength to fly even in strong winds.

Moreover, the weight of this device is quite less, due to which it can travel at a greater speed. Apart from that, it has a 1- inch 20MP camera that can even shoot objects at speed. The mechanical shutter of the camera makes it possible to capture clear images even at high speed.

If you are a professional photographer or filmmaker and need a drone for aerial shooting, this should be your choice. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro has 5-direction obstacle sensing and 4-direction obstacle avoidance, making flight safety its priority.

Due to the positions of the obstacle avoiding sensors, you can remain assured that there won’t be any accidents.

Talking about the transmission, the Phantom 4 Pro has dual frequencies at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. The transmission stability is quite good, thanks to the TDM technology, and you would be able to communicate with your device with the remote control.

Phantom 4 pro is especially recommended for professionals who know how to use high-tech drones. However, there are some things that we didn’t like about this device too. The “Return To Home” or RTH feature is not quite good. When the battery is low, it goes into the anti-flight mode or would start flying backwards, making it difficult to track the device.

Bottom Line

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is designed specifically for professional use. It has a great camera and a nice flight time, allowing you to get the perfect aerial shot.

2. Autel Robotics EVO: Best For Mountaineering

The next device that we have on this list is the Autel Robotics EVO. This particular option is best for people who love going trekking, hiking, and mountain climbing. It can fly up to 3281 feet and comes with a flight time of 25 minutes.

Apart from that, there are various things about this device that made us fall in love with it. The Autel EVO weighs only 2.2 kgs and is compact. You can fold it and carry it with you during your adventure.

Moreover, it has a 4K ultra HD camera to capture 12MP still images even at speed. You can capture images and even get access to live HD footage. The remote controller comes with an OLED display screen of 3.3 inches, which gives you a clear view of what your device is viewing.

Another great thing about this device is that this does not come with any restrictions. You can fly the Autel EVO in any area. But, if you enter any restricted area like an airport, the device will send you an alert. After receiving the alert, it is up to you to follow the rules in the area.

The EVO camera is built on a 3 axis gimbal, hence providing it with great stability. Talking about stability, the EVO has dual frequencies and comes with a transmission range of 1.93 km.

Unlike DJI Phantom 4 Pro, the Autel EVO has an excellent RTH feature and will avoid your device from getting damaged.

We are suggesting this device as the best choice for mountaineering due to its build-up. It is built with a military-grade case that will fully protect the device from water, dust, and external damage. The high altitude drones of the military level are taken as a reference to make the Autel EVO.

Though this one is not as good as the military level drones, it is quite helpful. The Autel EVO even has a GLONASS satellite navigation feature, which will detect the device’s position and alert you.

However, this device does not come with a collision avoiding feature. Due to the lack of collision avoidance features, you need to be very careful while using this device. It can collide with a tree or pole if you do not pay attention. Moreover, Autel EVO is a bit big as compared to other foldable drones.

Bottom Line

The Autel Robotics EVO is suitable for those who love going for adventures and trips. It has nice features and will even help you in difficult situations. It is light in weight, compact, and does not need much maintenance.

3. DJI Mavic Pro: Best Compact Product

The next device that we have on this list is the DJI Mavic Pro. It is the best compact drone that you can get in the markets. It comes with all the latest features and tons of smart features that will help you in various ways.

Coming to the flight time and battery life, this device can easily fly for 27 minutes with a single charge. Moreover, it only weighs 1.81 kg, making it quite light. As Mavic Pro is a compact device, you can easily fold it and carry it with you anywhere. Due to its lightweight, it can easily travel at a speed of 40mph up to a height of 8200 feet.

If you are worried about the transmission range, then let me tell you that you can communicate with this device over Wi-fi up to a range of 7 km. It has a modern transmission system called OcuSync transmission, which increases transmission stability.

As this is a combo kit, you will get various things with it. There is a shoulder bag, which will hold all device parts and batteries. You will also get a 16GB SD card, a power bank adapter, two extra batteries, two extra foldable propellers, a car charger, and a charging hub.

However, you might have to buy an extra bag, as the shoulder bag does not provide much protection. Coming to the smart features, this device has features like Active track and Tap fly, which helps you to capture your videos effortlessly.

DJI has paid extra attention to flight safety, and you can see it with its efficient sensors. The Mavic Pro has a combination of obstacle avoidance and sensor redundancy, which speaks volumes about flight safety.

But, the obstacle avoidance feature will get disabled if you switch to the “sport mode.” The Mavic Pro even has GLONASS intelligent tracking system combined with GPS, which will help you to track it from your device.

However, you cannot use this device with Android phones, as it is compatible with iOS devices. Moreover, you would have to use a longer cable to connect with the controller if your iOS device has a screen size of more than 7 inches.

Bottom Line

The DJI Mavic Pro is indeed the best compact drone that you can get in the market. It is light in weight, can fly up to a large height, and has many smart features. You won’t regret buying this device.

4. DJI Mavic Mini: Value For Money

If you are looking for a decent drone at a lower price, then the DJI Mavic Mini will be the right choice for you. It is not expensive, and you get tons of features at such a low price. The first thing is that the Mavic Mini is extremely light in weight. It only weighs 1.72 kgs and gives you a flight time of 30 minutes!

Moreover, the Mavic Mini can fly up to 98.42 feet, which is quite impressive for such a light device. It comes with an in-built DJI intelligent battery management system that powers the battery and improves the drone’s performance.

Apart from that, the Mavic Mini has a camera built on a 3 axis gimbal, which is a bonus for the user. To operate this device, you need to download the DJI fly app on your phone. However, you need to set up your flight settings for every flight.

Another thing that you need to be careful about is “obstacle collision.” This device does not come with an obstacle avoiding feature. Moreover, as Mavic Mini is a lightweight device, it cannot withstand harsh winds. You would find it difficult to fly this device in harsh winds.

Though Mavic Mini has downward vision sensors, it cannot prevent the device from colliding with any obstacle nearby. The downward vision sensor does help the device to maintain stability.

Another thing that you need to keep in mind is “flight restrictions.” Unlike other drones, Mavic Mini comes with flight restrictions, and you need to know where you can fly the device in your location.

As this is a budget-friendly device, it lacks certain things too. Despite having smart features like Quickshot, and many more, the Mavic Mini does not have various modes. You can only click pictures with single shots and timed photo modes.

Bottom Line

The Mavic Mini is an excellent drone for a low price. It even comes with some smart features which will help you in your work. As it is lightweight and compact, you can easily carry it with you.

5. DJI Spark: Best For Beginners

If you are a beginner in the field of drone-flying, then the DJI Spark will serve as your best companion. It is designed for people who are new to this area. DJI Spark is easy to handle and is extremely light. In addition to that, it comes with some nice smart features that are quite difficult to find at such a price.

For a beginner, it is important that the device should have easy-to-understand controls. DJI Spark has both gesture control as well as a remote controller. You can either use the hand gestures mentioned in the manual to operate the device or go for the remote controller.

The DJI Spark has a quick launch feature, where the device will start after recognizing your face. You can even share, edit, and capture the shots with the DJI Go 4 App. Apart from that, DJI Spark weighs only 1 kg, making it extremely light and easy to carry around.

Though it has a flight time of 16 minutes, that is quite good for beginners. Besides that, the DJI Spark can fly up to 1640 feet and comes with a transmission range of 98 feet.

Normally, it can fly at a speed of 31 mph, but it can fly at 34 mph in the sport mode. Moreover, it even has a “TapFly” feature, where you can select the place where you want to click an image from your phone, and the device will do the job.

For a beginner, a drone with nice and smart features is a boon. However, it is quite confusing to operate the device with hand gestures.

Keeping in mind that this device is made for beginners, the price is too much, and the flight time is not too good. But, if you need a branded or trustworthy device for your beginner’s level, then DJI Spark can be your pick.

Bottom Line

For a beginner, the DJI Spark is the best choice. It has several smart features and is quite easy to handle. Though it is a bit expensive for a beginner drone, it is quite handy, and you won’t regret buying it.

If you are still confused and want some guidance, then we have this buying guide for you. The guide consists of all the important features that a drone should have. It will help you in making a clear decision.

Buying Guide

Before selecting a high altitude drone, you need to know certain features of the device. By knowing about the features, you would be able to decide which device is suitable for you. Here is a buying guide that consists of various features that you should consider. You can refer to this buying guide while selecting the device.

1. Altitude

The first thing that you should look for in a drone is its minimum altitude. The maximum altitude that a drone can attain without any license is 121 meters. If you want to fly your device above that, you need to get an FAA license.

Most of the drones have an altitude of 1 km and more. If you are looking for a drone for aerial photography, you should go for one with a higher altitude.

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro has an altitude of 19,685 feet, which is the highest altitude that you can find in the market.

A higher altitude will help you in getting a perfect aerial shot. However, make sure that you have a license and an ID to fly your device above the legal altitude limit.

2. Battery Life

The next thing that you should check, is battery life. The average battery life should be around 20-30 minutes. If the battery life is below 20 minutes, then it would be difficult to use the drone.

Look for a device that has a sustainable battery life and will give you enough time to do your work. Like, the Autel Robotics EVO takes 90 minutes to get fully charged and provides a run time of 25 minutes.

Also, keep in mind to check for the battery types. Some batteries provide long battery life and even have a nice life span. Make sure to go for such drones only.

3. Transmission

When you are using a drone, the video transmission of the device should be good. It is important to have a clear real-time view as it allows you to direct the device to get the perfect shot.

The transmission range depends on various factors like the battery, obstacles, and wind speed. A device with high-quality transmission will allow you to get a clear view and get the perfect shot. Apart from that, the device must have stability.

If the transmission feed is not stable, you will lose the signal between your controller and the device. Some drones do not have a strong transmission range; like the DJI Spark has a transmission range of 98 feet. On the other hand, the DJI Mavic Pro has a transmission range of 4.3 miles, which is quite good.

4. Flight Performance

The flight performance of a drone includes many things. It consists of flight safety, flight time, and much more. It is important to check for good flight performance, as it will increase the life span of the device.

Drones are quite expensive, and if you invest money in one, it should have a good flight performance. It should be at least 20-30 minutes with a full battery charge, which is the average flight time.

You can select drones, like the DJI Mavic Mini or the DJI Mavic Pro, which provides you with a flight time of more than 20 minutes. On the other hand, beginner drones, like the DJI Spark DJI Spark , have a flight time of 16 minutes only.

Talking about flight safety, the device should have appropriate sensors and intelligent modes to avoid any kind of flying accident. Look for a drone that has good safety features, like obstacle sensors.

Obstacle sensors will help the device detect any flying object in its line of view. This particular sensor will help in avoiding any kind of accidents that might happen.

5. Return To Home

Return To Home is one of the most important features. The “return to home” feature allows the device to return to its starting point when the battery is low. Due to this specific feature, the device will not get damaged by falling to the ground when the battery level is low.

The “return to home” is the most important feature, as it even helps you to find your device in case it’s a few feet away from your line of view. Make sure that the device you are buying consists of this feature.

High altitude drones need to have the RTH feature to ensure maximum safety while in operation. The Autel Robotics EVO has the best RTH feature. You can remain sure that your EVO will return to you when the battery is low.

6. Types

There are various types of drones that are based on certain factors. Before choosing a particular one, you should know the various types available in the market.

If you are a beginner in this area, you should go for a device with an altitude of 121 meters. It would help you to get acquainted with the device. For example, you can go with DJI Spark or DJI Mavic Mini, explicitly designed for beginners in this field.

If you are a pro, you can go for an advanced device with an altitude of more than 121 meters. However, make sure that you have a license to fly your device above 121 meters.

For advanced pilots, there are drones like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, which comes with all the high-tech and can fly up to a height of more than 19000 feet.

Moreover, there are lightweight and heavy-duty drones too. If you want a device for aerial photography or videography, you should choose a heavy-duty drone. But, if you need one for combat or racing, then go for a lighter one.

7. Camera

High-altitudes drones are mainly used for aerial photography or videography. It is important that the device should have a nice camera for such purposes. A high-altitude drone with great transmission and great features will be of no use if it does not have a nice camera.

Drones nowadays come with the latest camera technology, making it possible to capture the best shot from above. Look for drones that can even capture a nice shot even in dim light.

A camera with a 4K Ultra HD video capture mode, like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro or Autel Robotics EVO, can come in handy for professional aerial shooting. Apart from that, the device should have other camera features, too, like a mechanical shutter, hyper-lapse, and dim light capture.

Final Verdict

Though there are several high-altitude drones available in the market, you can only select one. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the best in this field and will help you in your professional work. If you are a professional photographer and need a drone for aerial shooting, you should go for this particular device.

However, you need to sort out your priorities and needs before selecting the device. If you are a beginner, then go for one that is easy to handle and is light in weight. Whereas, if you need a device for shooting and for going on trips, go for one that is foldable and compact. Sort out your priorities and then select the best device for yourself.