Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2023

Best Camera Drones for beginners that still shoot pro quality video and photos compared:
DJI Mini 2 vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mini 3 vs. Air 2S vs. Autel Evo Nano Plus vs. Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 3 Classic vs. Autel Evo Lite Plus vs. DJI Inspire 2 with X5S

Link for the Cinematography & Editing drone course, includes the drone business/marketing course now too so they are just one thing.
$100 Off because I love you I guess:
https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/aerial-video-a-to-z/?product_id=872022&coupon_code=GROOVYLITTLEDISCOUNT&affcode=58782_fajjfmbu

If you cannot get the best thing do not stress about it, all of the drones I go over are still incredible to be able to get as "entry level."
Even the Mini 2 is STILL an awesome drone. Mini 2 SE should be shipping when I post this, so that would be your model to go for (same as Mini 2 but better signal).

It is a 1/2.3" sensor and shoots 12 megapixel photos but it is PLENTY to grow with. Just find it used on Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Offerup for like $300 or lower.


Mini 2 SE (2020) - $350
(used to be called Mini 2)
4K Video, RAW photos photos, no collision sensors but can live in your pocket

Mini 3 (2022) - $450
4K, RAW photos, Great connection, Vertical Filming, .76 inch sensor, really impressive for the convenience and ease

Mini 3 Pro (2022) - $750/$900
Get the $900 one, it is a billion times worth having a dedicated smart remote especially for so little extra.
.76 inch sensor, 4K footage, vertical filming, 12 megapixel RAW photos, quietest body type, looks like a bug when its flying. Could write a book about this thing. By far the most fun, incredible connection. Footage often looks like it came from a bigger drone. Activetrack to follow you around if you care about that.
I've got a review on the Mini 3 Pro as well, LOVE it.

Air 2S (2021) - $1000
Not as fun as Mini 3, not as quality as Mavic 3, so kind of neither benefit. Color profile is sometimes maybe gud, sometimes maybe sheit.
5.4K footage, 1 inch sensor. 20 megapixel photos which is great for pros.
60fps if you care (I don't). After the Mini 3 Pro being out for a year, that thing just overperforms and I'd say just get a Mini 3 Pro instead.

Mavic 2 Pro (2018) - $700 Used
King of drones up until 2021. 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel RAW photos. Beautiful image but software/firmware is getting dated. You would do better with most newer drones.

Autel Evo Lite Plus (2022) - $1100
6K 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel photos. Flies pretty rigid so stick to front/back and left/right. Really nice picture, lovely reds like in all Autels. Oversharpened image but I can live with that. Fun colors to pick from give extra points, could use on a work day no sweat. Doesn't beat DJI but this isn't bad.

Autel Evo Nano Plus (2022) - $700
4K footage, f1.7 lens (just means a bit brighter image) 12 megapixels. Features promoted at launch still haven't come, software janky crashes. Was not a good time. Great at low-light and sunsets compared to the Mini 3 Pro though, that is the one strong suit. Everywhere else it loses bad.

Mavic 3 - $2150/$2850
4/3 inch Sensor, 5.1K footage, 20mp photos. Long flight time. Get the normal version not the $4000 Cine version if you don't know what Prores format is.
This is the Business Class plane ticket drone, there is no going back after having this. Unbelievable dynamic range. UNREAL stability, default color, flight control, flexible rich data for color grading.
A 7x zoom lens comes on Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine, not perfect but SO fun to use that thing. Great for cool angles and cinematography nerds. In general most of what I film on this drone looks better in the end than what I thought I was getting while shooting. They knocked it out of the park with this drone, no limits honestly.

Mavic 3 Classic
Not typing all that again, you get the point. Minus the Zoom lens, everything else is the same. Crapping myself at the price being so cheap now.

DJI Mini 4 - No, don't even start asking.

Inspire 2 + X5S camera - $8000+ Used
Shoots 6K RAW Video (literally filming in RAW photos)
5.2K 422 Prores and 4K Proress 4444 incase you know what that all means. Cinema formats but such a pain to lug around, and the noise is a lot. It's more like a once in a while, Ace in the hole to blow something out the water or shoot Stock Footage and practice cinematography. Interchangeable lenses are really nice too.

I have other videos on making money, go watch those if you need.
If you want the fastest way to get better footage, watch the Cinematography one, trust me it is very necessary.

00:00 .
00:40 Buying a cheap drone
01:30 Photo/Video Drones
02:08 Drones Listed
03:10 Drone Quality comparison
03:55 DJI Drones
04:38 Drones Tech Update
06:07 Used Drones
07:52 Noise Test
09:00 Mavic 3 Best Drone
09:50 Sensor chart comparison
11:08 Photography
11:44 Avoid Salesy Words
13:15 SMART REMOTE!!!
14:09 Make a Decision
14:25 Mini 3 Pro vs Mavic 3
16:40 Best Experience
17:20 Fastest Way to Improve