The popularity of consumer drones has caused manufacturers to offer a wide array of products that meet a growing spectrum of needs and applications. Now, you can find a specialized selfie drone that you can use to make your social media selfie-taking affairs as brilliant as possible.
Smartphones were the first step in the evolution of selfies. However, if you want to be able to take advanced selfies that are above and beyond what pointing a mobile phone’s camera at yourself or using a selfie stick can offer, a good drone for your selfies is your best bet. These are small standard drones that also have a high-quality camera so that you can take the best and most creative photos. These drones have special features such as facial recognition that facilitate your selfie-taking experience. Drones can be operated through an app you download onto your mobile device, giving you maximum ease of use for a creative photo session.
Criteria to Keep in Mind When Buying a Selfie Drone
We used the following criteria to come up with our list of the best selfie drones. We recommend that you use this list, too, when you’re searching for the right drone for your needs.
Start off by writing out all the features you would like to have in a drone. Prioritize your list so you can place a greater emphasis on the features that are more important to you. You can compromise on the features of lesser importance. Then, once you’ve narrowed down your search using that list, make your choice based on the price that best suits your finances.
Price tag
When thinking about which drone you will be buying, the price is a fundamental concern. The cost has to be in-line with your budget while also reflecting the features and benefits you get from the product you decide on. Do your research and look through all the buying criteria so that you don’t end up making a choice solely based on price, only to have a case of buyer’s remorse when you realize that the drone you chose is not ideal for what you want to accomplish.
Resolution of the camera
Since you will be using your drone to take selfies, the camera resolution should be one of the higher priority items on your list of criteria. Although selfie drones carry surprisingly good cameras, you will still want to give some thought to what type of camera fits your needs the best. With options ranging from 1080p to 4MP, it’s important to understand the differences in camera resolution and how they apply to drones. Drones may shoot video at a different resolution than photos. Make sure to examine the camera specifications and find something that fits your requirements.
Taking a general look at the available camera types, a 4MP camera is vastly better than a 1080p and can record super-HD video with a resolution that is twice that of a 1080p. 4K also provides much sharper recording than 1080p. It’s up to you to decide on what your demands are. If you are on a budget and your requirements are not as strict, a 1080p camera may suffice as it has twice the resolution of a 720p. Go to your favorite online video platform and switch between the resolutions offered. You may find that a 1080p will do you justice. If not, consider some of the more advanced options.
Maximum range
The drone’s maximum range has to do with the greatest distance from the pilot that the controller and video transmission can function effectively. For some other types of consumer drones, this range can reach up to several miles from the pilot. In the case of drones that take selfies, the maximum range tends to be less as we are dealing with smaller devices; however, you can still find smaller models with maximum ranges of thousands of feet.
To make the best selection for your needs, you should think about the drone use you’re considering. Do you want to take selfies in your backyard or in the park where you only need the drone to fly within a few feet of you? Maybe you are looking for exhilarating swooping shots from a hill several hundred yards away. Give some thought to your usage as it is a factor that will guide your choice.
Flight time
How long will you need your drone to remain airborne? Flight time is self-explanatory but important to consider, nonetheless. You may want to spend some time thinking about your drone’s flight time in conjunction with the maximum range and how they figure into the type of photography you will be engaging in. You will find drones with flight times ranging from four or five minutes up to approximately half an hour.
When contemplating buying a selfie drone, you need to be clear about your desired usage. The choices you make based on usage will drive your selection and can also limit you once the purchase is made. Maybe you currently have a simpler usage desire in mind, but in the future, you may want your drone to have a longer flight time and maximum range. Plan ahead so that you don’t paint yourself into a corner and have to buy a higher-end model in the near future. Drone technology is always improving, and the required components such as batteries and computer electronics are getting smaller and more efficient. It’s better to err on the side of caution and buy a more capable drone than one that is too limited.
Additional features
By additional features, you may think we are referring to “bells and whistles”; in some cases, you would be right. However, some additional features may include essential elements like obstacle avoidance capabilities. If you will be purchasing a drone with a smaller range and flight time that you only plan to use in a limited way, you may not need obstacle avoidance. However, if you are buying a high-end model that will be used to photograph at higher altitudes or pass through trees and around buildings, this feature is paramount to safeguarding your investment from a collision.
More advanced features that have recently been built into drones include facial recognition, precise positioning and gesture control. Facial recognition can help you take selfies more efficiently whereas precise positioning will aid in making your photo-taking and video-taking a steadier process. Gesture control is when your drone recognizes a gesture you make with your hands in order to perform a task, like snapping a photograph. All these additional features can come in handy if you plan on using your drone to photograph events or you plan on taking it with you on a hiking trip or other expedition.
Finally, two more advanced options some drones include are gravity induction mode and headless mode. Gravity induction mode makes flying your drone easy as it makes the drone move in tandem with the angle of your phone. This can be a handy feature for beginners. Headless mode, on the other hand, is also a good feature for drone newbies as it removes the confusion over which part of the drone is the front and which is the back.
Top 3 List of the Best Selfie Drones
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1. ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini
Although there is a great variety of drones and in all price ranges that you can use for your selfies, the ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini combines many of the criteria for several different uses.
The ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini folds to slide nicely into your back pocket. Its built-in camera and intelligent flight control options along with the Do.fun app provide you with the ability to take aerial selfies or landscape shots with ease. It is an economical option that gives a good range of functionality for the casual user. It may require the pilot to spend a little time becoming familiar with its operation, but the ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini is a great all-around multitasking option for your aerial photography needs.
Buy on Amazon
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications | Makes use of dual satellite positioning system • Includes onboard HD camera for 4K images and 1080p HD video • Uses gesture control and facial recognition • Can be set to use smartphone’s swipe function as a motion controller • Real-time image monitoring • Synchronizes photos taken in-flight on your mobile with a share function • Can do both indoor and outdoor flight through steady hovering functionality • Uses a three-way cooling solution for optimal performance • Weighs under a pound • Dimensions are 1.4 inches by 2.6 inches by 5.3 inches • Can take single, burst and timed photos • Flying time of up to nine minutes without wind • Maximum range of 100 meters |
ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini Pros:
• Small size for ease of carrying
• Very quiet while in flight so as to not bother anyone nearby
• Android and iOS compatibility for use with a range of smartphones
• Can be flown both indoors and outdoors
ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini Cons:
• Battery drains fast, meaning you have to recharge repeatedly
• Not suitable for windy weather, so you can’t fly the drone in wind gusts
• May take some time getting familiar with drone before operating it
• Some users report losing connection to drone within 20 feet of them
What do other reviews say?
Check out this review of the ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini, which showcases its tracking, return home and orbit features and paints the picture of a surprisingly fun drone.
2. GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0
If you want a bigger drone with increased capabilities, the GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0 offers a good return on investment. Its compactness provides ease of transfer so you can place it in the trunk of your car or the back seat. With an estimated flight time of over 26 minutes, this model gives you a wider range of usage. The GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0 has a follow-me feature that leaves you free to prepare for the shot rather than controlling the drone.
Buy on Amazon
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | Dimensions are 10.8 inches by 8.8 inches by 4.2 inches • Weighs 4.17 pounds • Maximum range of 2,000 meters • Offers 4K video capture at 30 frames per second • Supports a microSD card of up to 64 gigabytes |
GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0 Pros:
• Convenient size makes transporting easy
• Interchangeable gimbal and camera for better operation
• Four-level wind-resistant, letting you fly it in conditions that aren’t perfect
• Flight time close to 30 minutes, meaning less time recharging
GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0 Cons:
• Can’t control camera recordings remotely on the GoPro camera
• Application is sometimes buggy
• Drone may not work in sync with older smartphones or tablets
What do other reviews say?
Here’s a thorough GDU-BYRD Premium 2.0 review showing the drone as a fast-moving, highly responsive flyer that is fun to pilot.
3. DJI Spark
The DJI Spark is a mini-drone that is ideal for all your selfie-taking needs. This drone contains a whole lot of features for its tiny size. Even though the hull of the Spark is about the size of a candy bar, it holds many of the features that bigger and more expensive drones can be expected to have. For those looking for a small but very capable drone, the DJI Spark is a value-for-money choice.
Buy on Amazon
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight of 2.3 pounds • Dimensions of 10.2 inches by 8.5 inches by 6.6 inches • Maximum flying time is 16 minutes • 31 mph maximum flying speed • Shoots video in HD |
DJI Spark Pros:
• Ultra-portable size makes carrying simple
• Obstacle avoidance feature allows for easier piloting
• Very good positioning system for better tracking
• Intelligent flight modes for a variety of uses
DJI Spark Cons:
• Camera is dated, so picture quality may not be the best
• Has a low wind resistance, so it’s best not to fly when it’s windy
• Short flight time, requiring constant recharging
What do other reviews say?
This DJI Spark review shows why this specific model, although being the most affordable drone the company has ever built, is feature-rich and a great value for your money.
Conclusion
We have just presented you with the three best options for selfie-taking drones on the market for the widest range of use the average consumer could have. They are all reasonably priced and offer great features to make your selfie-recording sessions fun and productive. All three are small and feature-rich, allowing you to meet all your selfie-taking needs.
With all that said, our choice for the best selfie drone is the ZEROTECH DOBBY Mini. Pick up this drone on Amazon today.
If you are interested in some other drone options, be sure to check out our article on the best nano drone with a camera where you’ll find some great information about nano and micro-drones, which make a great option for beginners and more experienced pilots alike. Finally, be sure to come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.