Whether or not you’re searching for an skilled pilot or somebody who’s by no means flown earlier than, I’ve put collectively the final word present information for drone fanatics. From budget-friendly starters to premium FPV setups, right here’s every little thing it’s good to know to nail your vacation purchasing this 12 months.
Drone items for absolutely the newbie
DJI Neo – $199
At simply $199, the DJI Neo is my prime choose for anybody getting began with drones (there’s additionally the DJI Neo 2, but it surely’s tougher to get your arms on and it’s dearer). It launches from the palm of your hand, shoots spectacular 4K video and weighs solely 135 grams (no FAA registration wanted!). The fully-enclosed propellers make it protected for flying indoors or round children. Good for content material creators, vloggers or anybody who needs to seize distinctive selfie angles with out the educational curve of a standard controller.
Why I adore it: It’s essentially the most beginner-friendly drone in the marketplace, and you may’t beat the worth.
DJI Mini 4K – Purchase on Amazon
For simply $100 greater than the Neo, the DJI Mini 4K delivers considerably extra functionality. You get correct 4K video at 30fps, a devoted distant controller (included!), and 31 minutes of flight time—practically double the Neo. It weighs below 250 grams, so leisure pilots nonetheless don’t must register it. That is my suggestion if you’d like a “actual” drone expertise with out breaking the financial institution.
Why I adore it: Greatest worth for the worth, arms down. It’s what I like to recommend when individuals ask for the most affordable drone that also delivers high quality outcomes.
For the drone pilot able to improve
DJI Flip – $439
The DJI Flip is the drone that shocked me most this 12 months. At $439, it delivers the identical 48MP digicam high quality because the Mini 4 Professional (which prices $320 extra!) however in a novel design with foldable, full-coverage propeller guards. It’s good for vacationers, vloggers and content material creators who prioritize portability and security. The vertical taking pictures mode is clutch for Instagram Reels and TikTok.
Why I adore it: Skilled-level digicam in a beginner-friendly bundle. The propeller guards imply I don’t stress about flying indoors or round individuals.
DJI Mini 3 – $419
If battery life issues greater than anything, the Mini 3 is your drone. You rise up to 38 minutes of flight time (or 51 minutes with the Plus battery), plus a big 1/1.3-inch sensor that captures beautiful 4K HDR video. The True Vertical Capturing characteristic makes it good for social media content material. It’s not too long ago dropped in value, making it the most effective values within the under-$500 class.
Why I adore it: Longest flight time of any DJI drone below $500. Once you want further airtime for advanced pictures, that is the one.
HOVERAir X1 – $439
The HoverAir X1 stands out as one of the best non-DJI choice on this value vary. It’s ultra-compact (128g), launches out of your palm, and has a novel get together trick: it information audio by way of your telephone. The fully-enclosed propellers and pre-programmed flight paths make it lifeless easy to make use of. Whereas the two.7K video isn’t as sharp as DJI’s choices, it’s good for informal creators who worth portability above all else.
Why I adore it: Generally you need a DJI different, and that is one of the best one below $500.
For the FPV adventurer
DJI Avata 2 – $999
The DJI Avata 2 is hands-down one of the best indoor drone and essentially the most thrilling drone I’ve flown this 12 months. With built-in propeller guards, you’ll be able to zip by way of tight areas with out worrying about crashes. The included DJI Goggles 3 and RC Movement 3 controller ship an immersive FPV expertise that feels such as you’re within the pilot’s seat. The upgraded 1/1.3-inch sensor shoots attractive 4K video, and 23 minutes of flight time provides you loads of room to nail your pictures.
Why I adore it: It makes FPV flying accessible to everybody. You get that adrenaline rush while not having to construct your individual racing drone.
DroneMask 2 – $179
Wish to flip your present drone into an FPV expertise with out spending $500 on DJI Goggles? The DroneMask 2 is your reply. This intelligent headset works along with your smartphone and virtually any digicam drone to present you that first-person view. At lower than half the worth of DJI Goggles 3, it’s good for anybody FPV-curious who needs to dip their toes in with out committing to a full Avata setup.
Why I adore it: Most reasonably priced approach to expertise FPV flying with a drone you already personal.
For cameras that aren’t really drones
DJI Osmo Motion 4 – Value varies
Each drone pilot wants an incredible motion digicam along with their drone. We are actually onto the Osmo Motion 6 — however my Osmo Motion 4 remains to be holding sturdy and stays my go-to for ground-level motion pictures that complement aerial footage. It shoots 4K/120fps, handles excessive temperatures and the magnetic mounting system is genius. Plus, it performs good with DJI drones in your workflow.
Why I adore it: It’s the proper companion to drone footage. The colour science matches DJI drones, making modifying a breeze.
Insta360 X5 Necessities Bundle – Purchase on Amazon
Sure, I’m hawking a non-DJI digicam proper right here! The Insta360 X5 takes 360-degree footage to an entire new degree. Simply look to the work we see from drone pilots like Eric Thurber that don’t rely simply on drones.
Items that don’t take up any house
Drone Adventurer Masterclass
Enroll now – Use code SALLY50 for a reduction
Whether or not you need to shoot actual property, weddings, or industrial work, this masterclass covers all of it. The funding pays for itself after your first paid gig.
UAV Coach Programs
The gold customary for Half 107 take a look at prep. In case your present recipient is severe about flying commercially, they want this coaching. UAV Coach persistently updates their materials to match present FAA laws.
Drone Dojo Subscription
Ongoing schooling is vital on this trade. Drone Dojo retains pilots present on laws, strategies, and trade developments with contemporary content material each month.
Masterclass Subscription
Past simply drones, Masterclass provides unimaginable programs from the world’s finest photographers, filmmakers, and storytellers. I’ve realized a lot about composition and storytelling from well-known specialists within the discipline comparable to Jimmy Chin, the man who made “Free Solo.”
Important Equipment
Premium Drone Provides Customized Touchdown Pad
A high quality touchdown pad isn’t nearly defending your drone, it’s about wanting skilled. For hobbyists, perhaps it’s nearly having enjoyable and creativie along with your shoot. That’s the place customized drone touchdown pads come into the image.
I take advantage of Premium Drone Provides as a result of they provide customized choices that allow you to add your emblem (or hey, perhaps your favourite image.
Save $5 in your order from Premium Drone Provides with code SALLYFRENCH.
Why I adore it: Sturdy, folds down small, and the brilliant colours make it straightforward to identify in any terrain.
Spare batteries and propellers – Value varies
That is the 2025 vacation present for the sensible pilot. Further batteries imply extra flight time, and spare propellers imply your recipient gained’t be grounded after their first crash (and belief me, there will likely be crashes). Be sure to match the battery to their particular drone mannequin. Unsure what drone the one you love has? Simply ask (as a result of propellers and batteries could be incompatible with completely different drone fashions).
MicroSD Playing cards – Value varies
You possibly can by no means have too many microSD playing cards. I like to recommend SanDisk Excessive playing cards as a price range choose — they’re quick sufficient for 4K video and dependable sufficient that I belief them with paid gigs. Get at the very least 128GB.
Professional tip: Label them!
Apple AirTags – $30
I lose plenty of issues! With drones, there’s the elevated danger of theft. AirTags can provide some peace of thoughts that at the very least you’ll know the place your stuff is at. I like to recommend tucking one in your drone case.
Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K Energy Financial institution – $55
A conveyable battery pack is important for all-day flying periods. This Belkin mannequin is my favourite—it costs quick, holds sufficient juice for a number of drone batteries and the compact measurement means it really matches in my digicam bag.
Enjoyable and distinctive items for drone pilots
Santa Drone Decoration – $16
Each drone pilot wants a drone decoration on their tree. Higher but when it’s Santa flying a DJI Phantom lookalike. It’s the little touches that present you get their ardour.
Customized Puzzle – $10
Flip their favourite drone shot right into a customized puzzle. It’s a considerate present that celebrates their finest aerial work.
TinyCircuits TinyTV 2 – $60
This tiny retro TV shows movies and photographs from a microSD card. Load it up with their finest drone footage, and so they’ve bought the world’s smallest spotlight reel on their desk. It’s quirky, nostalgic, and truly helpful.
Nationwide Geographic World From Above – $26.56 (41% off)
This beautiful espresso desk ebook is principally 200+ pages of aerial pictures porn. Curated by Nationwide Geographic explorer Jeffrey Kerby, it showcases the world from above by way of the lenses of the world’s most modern photographers—lots of whom used drones to seize these pictures.
What makes it particular:
- Over 200 full-color aerial pictures organized by coloration, form, texture, and scale
- In-depth interviews with photographers about how they captured their most spectacular pictures
- Sidebars exploring the historical past of aerial perspective, from historical earthworks to fashionable drones
- Hardcover, outsized format (good for that espresso desk or workplace)
Good for: Drone pilots who want inspiration, photographers who admire composition from distinctive angles, or anybody who loves beautiful nature pictures.
Aura Frames – $180
That is digital picture body that ‘s truthfully an incredible present for anybody who loves trip slides and household photographs. It rotates by way of your curated record of photographs. For drone pilots, it makes their finest drone pictures seen every single day.
2025 vacation present suggestions from a drone knowledgeable
Match the present to the ability degree. A $1,000 FPV drone is wasted on somebody who’s by no means flown earlier than, identical to a toy drone will disappoint an skilled pilot.
When doubtful, go together with equipment. Further batteries, a touchdown pad, or coaching programs are all the time appreciated and by no means the mistaken selection.
Verify compatibility. DJI batteries and equipment are model-specific. Double-check you’re shopping for for the fitting drone earlier than you wrap it.
Think about an expertise. Generally one of the best present is a drone pictures workshop, a guided flying lesson, or perhaps a day journey someplace scenic to fly collectively.
Reward playing cards work. When you’re undecided what they want, a present card to B&H Photograph, Amazon, or immediately from DJI means they’ll get precisely what they need.
Completely happy holidays, and comfortable flying! 🎄✈️
— Sally French, The Drone Woman
Disclosure: Some hyperlinks on this information are affiliate hyperlinks, which suggests I’ll earn a small fee should you make a purchase order by way of them. This doesn’t value you something further and helps help my work creating free content material like this present information. I solely suggest merchandise I’ve personally examined and genuinely consider in. Thanks for supporting The Drone Woman!
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