The biggest, sturdiest, fastest, and most reliable drones available today are geared toward the professional audience. These are the kinds of devices that the film industry utilizes to shoot movies, that commercial companies utilize to check out infrastructure, and search & rescue groups depend upon to help people.
We're really thrilled that lots of our favorite smaller consumer models can take care of some of the simpler professional requirements however, we'll cover more about that later. You don't have to operate a drone for business to appreciate these machines, yet most of these quality drones do come with a substantial cost.
As we get into the higher quality professional grade drones, we find the purpose of the drones to be a lot more specific. These types of drones should be considered for serious fliers with advanced experience. Since drones have become extremely popular and expanded the market, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to do research about the best drones for professionals.
We have done the research for you and compiled a list of the best professional drones. Join us for a listing of some of the greatest professional quadcopters.
Top Professional Drones
The market for the perfect drone is growing at a rapid pace. From hobbyists to professionals, there are many different types of drones out there. Some are used for fun drone flying while others are used for work purposes. However, it’s important to know what type you want before buying one. Here are some of the most popular models on the market today.
DJI Inspire 2
The DJI Inspire 2 is one of the best drones you can buy today. This drone is designed to make aerial photography easier than ever. With a push of a button, it takes off and lands itself. And it does so without GPS.
This drone is capable of taking high-quality photos and videos. You can even use it to shoot 4K videos. It features a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer, making sure that your footage is steady.
You can control the camera settings manually via the app. Or, you can let the drone do all the work. For example, you can set the exposure, white balance, ISO and focus. Then, just sit back and relax while the drone flies around and captures amazing images.
With a maximum flight time of 30 minutes, you won't have to worry about running out of battery power. Plus, there are no annoying propellers to deal with.
So, what are you waiting for? Get yours today!
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced
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The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced was released as an upgraded version of the Mavic 2 Enterprise and is definitely worth the price. It is a versatile machine for search & rescue-type tasks. Equipped with a largely improved thermal resolution creating sharper images and the capability to see fine details from farther away. The higher refresh rate is an improvement as well and enhances the effectiveness of surveillance and rescue operations by making it easier for people to see moving objects.
It has an optional infrared camera for a variety of purposes, and the accessory port lets you connect things like speakers, light bulbs, and more. Another great new feature is the ability to measure temperatures while flying. This is an extremely valuable aspect for solar, gas line, and power line inspections. It’s worth noting that the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is an upgrade to that of the Mavic 2 series of drones, meaning this drone is just as easy to fly and foldable for transport. It is not too expensive either.
DJI Phantom 4 PRO V2.0
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The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is the latest of DJI's Phantom series and remains an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers who want high-quality image capture capabilities. Some of the upgraded aspects include a 1-inch sensor, adaptable aperture, mechanical shutter, and up to 4K video. All of the new upgraded aspects of the DJI Phantom 3 Pro V2.0 plus the power and speed behind it make it a very alluring choice for drone enthusiasts and professionals.
Looking for the in-flight features of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0? It comes with a wide variety of flight modes including three ActiveTrack modes: profile, spotlight, and circle. A new flight mode called draw lets the pilot do exactly that. You can draw a flight path and the drone will then fly it. All of this is done using the DJI Go 4 app.
Like selfies? the tapfly mode tells the drone to fly backward and takes aerial selfies with no problems. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is a heavy drone and large in size but is definitely compensated by all of the upgraded features of this premium drone.
DJI Mavic 3 Cine
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The DJI Mavic 3 Cine is the latest addition to the Mavic family along with the regular DJI Mavic 3. This is an upgraded compact quadcopter with a built-in gimbal and not just one but two cameras. It has many improvements over the previous models. You can use it for aerial photography and videography. It has a simple design and intuitive controls.
The video quality is excellent, even in low light conditions. The maximum resolution is 20 megapixels with a 4/3 CMOS sensor. The image stabilization and obstacle sensing systems put this drone far above others. The Mavic 3 supports up to 5.1K videos and photos. The battery life is an incredible 46 minutes.
The Mavic 3 Cine is a professional's dream come true with 1 terabyte of internal storage compared to the 8GB on the regular Mavic 3. It also includes a 10Gbps lightspeed data cable for faster and higher quality post-production.
Autel Robotics EVO II
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The Autel Robotics EVO II is a professional drone designed for aerial photography and videography. It is the premium drone offered by Autel. It's one of the most popular models among photographers because of its ability to capture stunning images. This foldable drone comes in a fun orange color which is a nice change of pace compared to most other drones. While it is a little on the heavy side for a drone, it really packs a punch in the quality department as the leader in picture quality and flight intelligence.
This drone is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It offers amazing flight times thanks to its powerful motors and high battery capacity. You'll never run out of power again. Autel Robotics' EVO 2 has a maximum speed of up to 45 mph and a range of up to 4 miles. Its 3-axis gimbal stabilizes the drone while flying, ensuring steady shots every time.
You can use the included remote control to fly the drone manually or automatically. There are three modes of auto-flight: follow me, return home, and waypoint mode. The 20MP camera contains Sony's CMOS sensor which provides impressive low-light images. It also allows for 4K video footage with stronger noise reduction and can record up to a billion colors. It also has an anti-collision system with sensors going in all directions. And thanks to the integrated Wi-Fi module, you can quickly transfer files directly to your smartphone or tablet. This professional drone will surely offset the heavy price tag.
Freefly Alta X
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The Freefly Alta X professional quadcopter drone is perfect for beginners who want to learn how to control a drone. With its easy-to-use controls, it will help you take amazing photos and videos. This drone features the ability to change payloads. You have the option to add different types of cameras depending on your needs. Some options include a mapping camera, photography camera, and a high-speed camera perfect for capturing 4K video.
You can easily adjust the settings including the flight altitude, speed, and direction. There is also a built-in GPS system that helps you navigate wherever you go. With the included batteries, you can enjoy up to 50 minutes of flight time without a payload. Depending on the weight of the payload, on the short end, you can expect a flight time of 22 minutes. If you run out of power, just plug the charger into the charging port and you'll be good to go again.
Flyability Elios 3
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Flyability is a Switzerland-based company. The Flyability Elios 3 is a professional-grade drone. It has advanced features like dust-free lighting, a 4K camera, a thermal camera, a 3-axis gimbal, and a 180° field of view. This drone is perfect for professional inspections, mapping, and data gathering with a 3D live map function. It's also the first collision-tolerant drone of its kind. The advanced technology on this aircraft allows it to construct 3D maps in real-time and enables the aircraft to sense its environment with precision.
Flyability emphasizes that it worked on Elios 3 for four long years. During that period, they worked hard on R&D and collected lots of user experience (UX) data through test missions to improve their product. They claim that it is "the most reliable indoor drone" and is now available for enthusiasts, professionals, and more.
Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus
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The Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus is a huge drone, at least as far as hobby pilots are concerned. This hexacopter can easily haul your DSLR or similarly sized camera into the sky. Yuneec made their own camera for this drone, which very closely resembles the Panasonic GH4 micro fourth thirds camera system. We are always intimidated by the H920 Plus, it is a large drone, but we trust it to carry our cameras into the sky. Just be aware that direct connectivity to a camera is limited to a few shooters.
If you are looking for the largest off-the-shelf drone that Yuneec produces, you’ll be looking at the Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus. This is a sizable hexacopter made to haul a fair-sized camera. By default, you’ll launch with the CGO4, which compares nicely to the Panasonic GH4. Was that a collaboration? Well, go ahead and install the camera gimbal to launch with the GH4 itself. In the end, the H920 Plus is an older drone, it’s still reliable and masters the basics, but runs Yuneec’s older in-house software.
Bottom line, if you need a powerful drone for your more basic Hollywood camera flight needs, the Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus is a solid consideration.
What industry uses drones the most
Drones are used by a wide variety of industries, which shows their versatility. Typically, the drones that are used professionally and commercially are not cheap drones but are modern drones. Agriculture is a very popular industry that utilizes drones to map out the elevation of fields, make smarter planting decisions, and identify any irregularities in the field.
Drones are also perfect for real estate and can capture impressive aerial photos and aerial videos to help both buyers and sellers. Drones can be especially useful for insurance companies in the event of a disaster. Drones can be flown in to assess damage without putting people in harm's way. Other industries that use expensive drones to elevate their business are construction, telecommunications, security, the military, and conservation efforts.
Can you make money flying drones?
The short answer is yes. There are many ways you can make money by flying a drone however, you will most likely be hired as an independent contractor and not employed full-time by one specific company.
One of the easiest ways to get hired to fly your drone is for real estate or wedding photography and videography. These fields typically have a large client base and you can absolutely make a career out of flying your drone with some business 101 and practice. Other options for making money while flying your drone are a bit more niche specific like building inspections, deliveries via drone, search and rescue operations, aerial mapping, and travel or hotel ads.
How to choose the best drone for you
There are many different types of drones available, each offering its own pros and cons, so it's important to do some research before buying. Here are some things to consider when choosing a drone: find the feature or function you need most. That will narrow down your search significantly.
From there, you can search our website and various articles discussing our picks for the best of the best for each category. You'll be able to find different brands and other features that interest you so you can make the best decision for your needs.
What type of flight does the drone offer?
There are three main categories of drones: fixed-wing, multi-rotors, and helicopters. Fixed-wing drones use propellers to move forward; multi-rotors use rotors to spin around and lift themselves into the air, and helicopters use blades to rotate and lift themselves. Each offers unique advantages and disadvantages.
For example, fixed-wing drones tend to be cheaper because they don't require batteries, but they aren't able to hover like multi-rotors. Helicopters are much faster and quieter than both, but they cost much more money.
How big is the drone?
The size of the drone affects how far it can travel. Smaller drones typically travel farther distances than larger ones. However, smaller drones are less stable and harder to control. Larger drones are easier to handle, but they can't go as far.
Drones can also be deceiving in size due to the fact that some are foldable. This means that they can unfold to fly but make it super easy to fold up and go.
How long can the battery last?
A drone's battery life depends on how often it needs to be recharged. A fully charged drone might run out of power while hovering over a crowd, but it could continue flying for hours without needing to recharge. Some drones will come with multiple batteries too.
For example, if you need to fly a drone for 20 minutes and then land, the multiple batteries can come in handy and allow you to fly for sometimes an hour at a time. If you plan to fly a drone frequently, look for a model with longer battery life.
Conclusion
Professional drones range from high-quality consumer drone cameras for photo and video to borderline commercial use. These drones are the top of the line and come with the best cameras, minutes of flight time, and obstacle avoidance systems.
Hopefully, our list of the best professional drones has clarified any questions you had and narrowed down your selection to the best of the best. Commercial use drones are best suited for mapping, surveying, and deliveries just to name a few functions. Check out our list of the best commercial drones if you would rather find a drone for commercial use.