The drone industry has witnessed a significant drop in prices in recent years. In the past, a decent drone would cost around $1,500, but now you can purchase one for under $900 without sacrificing quality or features.
If you’re on the lookout for the best drones under 900, keep reading. We’ve covered all the important details to help you find the one perfect drone for you. For those with a tighter budget, we also curated additional lists of other drones under 300, 400, and 700.
DJI Phantom 3 Standard
- Product Dimensions: 15 x 14 x 8.25 inches
- Item Weight: 8.2 Pounds
- Video Capture Resolution: 1080p
- Effective Still Resolution: 12 MP
- Video Capture Format: 2.7K/30fps
- Flight Time: 25 mins
- Max Transmission Distance: 500 m (CE) – 1000 m (FCC)
Design and Build
The first drone on our list is the DJI Phantom 3 Standard. Sporting the trademark four-pylon white design that the series is known for, the drone is instantly recognizable from afar. Metallic red decals accentuate the drone’s sleek exterior, with the DJI logo proudly displayed at the top center of the chassis. Two striking red strips sit at each of the four pylons, adding a touch of elegance to the design.
Despite its size, the Phantom 3 Standard is lightweight, weighing in at just 2.7 pounds and measuring 23 inches from wingtip to wingtip. This very light drone is equipped with landing struts underneath its body, and the gimbal and camera are mounted on the undercarriage. This portable drone design is perfect for content creators who need to transport the drone to various locations.
Battery Life and Flight Time
DJI claims that the Phantom can fly for up to 25 minutes on a single battery charge, but during my first test flight, I recorded 21 minutes of video (starting with a 90% battery charge and landing with only 10% left). It’s not recommended to fly the drone with less than 10% battery life remaining, so you can expect about 22-23 minutes of average flight time per charge, depending on your flying speed, altitude, and wind conditions.
Camera Capabilities
The Phantom 3 comes in four different versions that utilize similar cameras but offer varying maximum video resolution, frame rates, and bit rates. The Standard model can record footage at a resolution of 2.7K (1520p) at either 30fps or 24fps, with a bit rate of 40Mbps. When shooting at 1080p, the Standard can record up to 48fps and up to 50fps or 60fps at 720p. For these resolutions, the camera supports all lower frame rates (24fps, 25fps, and 30fps).
See DJI Phantom 3 Standard price on Amazon
DJI Air 2S
- Product Dimensions: 3 x 10 x 7.1 inches
- Item Weight: 1.31 Pounds
- Video Capture Resolution: 5.4K
- Effective Still Resolution: 20 MP
- Video Capture Format: 5.4K/30fps, 4K/60fps, and 1080p/120fps
- Flight Time: 31 mins
- Max Transmission Distance: 12 km
Design and Build
Another one of the best drones under 900 is the DJI Air 2S. The Air 2S shares a striking resemblance to the Mavic Air 2, with only a few subtle differences. As expected, it retains the foldable design that Mavic drones are famous for. The front arms extend outwards, while the rear arms pivot downwards and outwards during flight, contributing to the drone’s portability.
Despite being almost identical to its predecessor, the Air 2S measures a mere 183×253×77mm when unfolded and 180×97×80mm when folded. And at just 595g, this small drone only slightly heavier than the Air 2 and just over half the total weight of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, which is impressive considering its larger camera.
Battery Life and Flight Time
The Air 2S boasts a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, which is still impressive even though it falls short by three minutes compared to the Air 2. It’s important to note that this flying time is only possible in windless conditions, and once weather factors and the return to home function (activated when the battery hits 25%) are taken into account, the actual flight duration is often around 20 minutes per battery.
Camera Capabilities
The bells and whistles on a drone may dazzle, but ultimately it’s the camera quality that reigns supreme. With its impressive 20MP 1-inch sensor, this camera boasts an 88-degree field of view or a full-frame equivalent focal length of 22mm. Its fixed f/2.8 aperture and focus range of 60cm to infinity are comparable to those of the Mavic Air 2.
While the edges of still images may appear marginally softer than those from the Mavic 2 Pro, the difference is hardly noticeable in everyday use. And when recording videos, the Air 2S captures sharp footage across the frame.
See DJI Air 2S price on Amazon
DJI Mavic Air
- Product Dimensions: 7.24 x 6.61 x 2.52 inches
- Item Weight: 0.95 Pounds
- Video Capture Resolution: 4K
- Effective Still Resolution: 12 MP
- Video Capture Format: 4K at 100mbps, 2.7K/60fps, and 1080p/120fps
- Flight Time: 21 mins
- Max Transmission Distance: 4 km
Design and Build
The next great drone on our list is the DJI Mavic Air. The Mavic Air, being the smallest drone in DJI’s lineup, is designed with portability in mind. Like the Mavic Pro series, it can be folded for easy storage and transport.
When folded, it measures a mere 1.9 by 3.3 by 6.6 inches, making it small enough to fit into most jacket pockets. And weighing in at only 15.2 ounces, it’s even lighter than an iPad.
When unfolded and ready to fly, the Mavic Air measures 2.5 by 7.2 by 6.6 inches, making it perfect for on-the-go aerial photography adventures. With its sleek Arctic White, Flame Red, or Onyx Black finish, the Mavic Air is sure to turn heads.
Battery Life and Flight Time
According to DJI, the Mavic Air boasts a flight time of approximately 21 minutes with a fully charged battery. However, our testing found that the drone averaged around 18 minutes of flight time per battery.
Like other DJI drones, flight time is subject to various factors, including weather conditions and features like return to home.
Camera Capabilities
The Mavic Air may be compact, but it boasts a powerful 4K camera mounted at the front and stabilized with a three-axis gimbal. This little wonder can capture smooth, high quality video at UHD resolution (at 24, 25, or 30 frames per second), with 100Mbps compression. It also supports 1080p and 720p at up to 120fps and 2.7K at standard frame rates up to 60fps.
While it doesn’t support the wider 4K DCI standard like the Mavic Pro Platinum and Phantom 4 series, the Mavic Air’s video quality is nevertheless top-notch.
See DJI Mavic Air price on Amazon
DJI Mavic Air 2
- Product Dimensions: 7.09 x 3.82 x 3.31 inches
- Item Weight: 1.26 pounds
- Video Capture Resolution: 1080p
- Effective Still Resolution: 48 MP
- Video Capture Format: 4K/60fps
- Flight Time: 34 mins
- Max Transmission Distance: 18.5 km
Design and Build
The Mavic Air 2 looks absolutely sleek and professional. My only issue is the gray color can sometimes make it hard to spot in certain lighting conditions. The drone’s low profile demands careful attention during landings, and users would need either a landing mat or extension legs to prevent damage from uneven terrain.
Like all the DJI drones, the Mavic Air 2’s camera and overall build require delicate handling to avoid damage. While the drone is relatively sturdy, rough handling during transport or storage could lead to costly repairs.
Battery Life and Flight Time
The Mavic Air 2 has got some serious stamina. DJI claims that it can stay in the air for 34 minutes on a fully charged battery—a big jump from the 21 minutes of its predecessor, the Mavic Air. And our tests have shown that DJI’s claims are pretty spot on, as long as you’re not battling strong winds or tricky weather conditions.
Camera Capabilities
The quality of a camera drone largely depends on its sensor, and DJI has definitely stepped up its game with the Air 2. They’ve replaced the previous 12MP camera with a brand new one that boasts an impressive 48MP resolution, available in both DNG and JPG formats.
In addition, the Air 2’s camera also doubles as a video recorder, though without a built-in soundtrack. With 4K UHD resolution at up to 60fps, the video quality is top-notch. This is largely thanks to the Air 2’s crisp lens, gimbal stabilization, and impressive 120Mbps compression rate. Should you need to conserve storage space or prefer a lower resolution, you can switch to 2.7K or 1080p.
See DJI Mavic Air 2 price on Amazon
What Other Drone Brands Offer the Best Drones Under 900?
Aside from DJI, many other drone brands offer impressive features under 900, including:
- Ryze Tech- Ryze Tech’s Tello is perfect for beginner or drone pilots and drone enthusiasts on a tighter budget. Despite its small size, this beginner drone has decent features, including a 720p camera, automatic takeoff and landing, and VR headset compatibility.
- Holy Stone – Holy Stone is renowned for offering beginner-friendly, quality drones that are easy to operate, equipped with a variety of impressive features such as GPS-assisted flight, sleek remote controller, and high-quality cameras.
- Parrot – Parrot offers a variety of drones that are both affordable and user-friendly. The ANAFI, ANAFI USA, ANAFI FPV drone are popular Parrot models with stylish remote control and advanced features like 4K video capabilities and impressive flight performance.
Read more: Best Drones Under 800 [Honest Review]
Will My Camera Drone Violate Someone’s Privacy?
It’s possible for a camera drone to violate someone’s privacy, including your neighbor’s. If you fly your drone over your neighbor’s property and record or photograph them without their permission, it could be considered a violation of their privacy.
So, make sure to be informed of the drone regulations in your area and obtain certain permits and licenses, especially if you’re planning to use your drone for commercial purposes.
Why Do Only a Few Drones With Digital Stabilization Manage to Produce High-Quality Video?
Digital stabilization relies on cropping the image to stabilize it, which results in a loss of resolution and image quality.
In contrast, drones with mechanical stabilization use physical mechanisms, such as gimbals, to stabilize the camera. This allows for smooth and stable footage without sacrificing image quality.
However, mechanical stabilization can be more expensive and heavier, which is why some drone manufacturers opt for digital stabilization instead.
Do I Have to Register My Drone?
In the United States, drones weighing over 0.55 pounds or 250 grams must be registered with the FAA. The registration can be done by anyone at least 13 years old and does not necessarily have to be the person flying or purchasing the drone. However, if a drone weighs less than 0.55 pounds, registration with the FAA may not be required. If you’re outside of the US, check out this article.
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