Drones have sprung up over the past decade or so, starting as a way to take that stunning shot over a city landscape and developing into a piece of incredible tech used all over the globe in countless ways.
The buzzing, flying machines have been used to make sure people were obeying social distancing (not just in the US but all the way in China), and caught police officers off guard when they found a huge penis mowed into a field instead of a suspect.
In Tel Aviv, drones have even been used to drop free bags of weed to unsuspecting passersby.
Whatever you might want to use a drone for, here is a round up of the best ones out there to invest in and why.
Best all-rounder
DJI Mavic Air 2
If you’ve been thinking about investing in a drone and can’t decide which one to go for, the Mavic Air 2 is a fantastic all-round option.
Created by the leader in consumer drone technology, the Mavic Air 2 continues to impress with a drone that features an advanced sensor system and clever comprehensive obstacle avoidance.
It also has an amazing camera that can capture 48MP stills, quality 4K video and slow-mo full HD video at up to 240fps. It’s a machine that’s suitable for all levels of experience and does a great job of fusing fun with cutting-edge aerial camera technology.
£769, Diji Store
Best for 8k video
Autel Robotics Evo II
Built with a modular design, the Autel Evo II is perhaps the biggest challenge to DJI’s air supremacy.
It can be bought with one of three cameras mounted to it. This pick-n-mix combo is made up of a 48MP camera 8K camera, a 20MP with a 1in sensor that captures 6K video and a FLIR thermal imaging camera. There really is a setup to suit every creative need.
This drone is on the larger side and isn’t one for beginners but it does offer smart tracking and obstacle avoidance. It’s not cheap but worth the money if you need high-res video or thermal imaging.
From £1,489, Park Cameras
Best for portability
DJI Mavic Mini
Pocket-sized and carrying a fantastic camera, the Mavic Mini offers the best mix of portability and picture quality.
Flying is fuss-free and it captures 12MP stills and video at 2.7K/30fps or 1080p at 60fps, making it a great drone for beginners.
But even people with experience will find the Mavic Mini a joy to fly. One of the best things about this diminutive beast is that it weighs only 249g — falling 1g below the threshold for mandatory drone registration. In the UK, all aerial operators must register to fly a drone that weighs over 250g, which costs £9 per year and requires the completion of a simple theory test.
£369, Diji Store
Best for quiet propellers
Parrot Anafi 4K HDR
French drone maker Parrot produces quality quadcopters for everything, from search and rescue, to just having a bit of airborne fun. So they have got a pretty decent set of credentials.
The Anafi 4K HDR can capture 4K video and 21MP stills and, like the other drones included here, it boasts clever auto modes that make capturing high quality video clips so easy people will wonder if they were taken by a professional.
Its unique 180-degree camera design and built-in zoom allow for some fun creative shooting options, including dolly zoom and capturing shots from directly above it. The Parrot Anafi 4K HDR is also extremely quiet for a drone.
£629.99, Parrot
