At first, you had to awkwardly aim your phone backward at you and hope that your blind shot was accurate. Then phones added the front-facing selfie camera. After that, the selfie stick was introduced and tourists everywhere could get amazing wide shots completely unassisted. But the age of the selfie stick is over, and we’re in the future now. The absolute best way to take a selfie now is with a selfie drone acting as your own personal robot photographer.
Nobody will able to tell the difference between these drone selfies and a picture taken of you by another person, and since the drone can do once things humans can’t – fly – you’ll be able to take your selfies from any angle imaginable. If you want to join the modern age and get the best self-portraits possible while you’re on vacation or just going for a nice stroll in the park, you’ll have to get a selfie drone to do the picture-taking for you.
Carry on reading to see our full list of the best selfie drones, followed by a recap breaking down what makes each product on our list stand out. Or jump straight to our number #1 pick here.
What Should You Look For in a Selfie Drone?
New to the world of drones? If you don’t know the first thing about drones, let alone selfie drones, don’t worry. We know how stressful it can be to buy any new product and we want to take care of all that stress for you. To make sure you have the smoothest buying experience that we can offer, we’re going to explain all of the criteria we used when assessing the best selfie drones so that you can jump right in and follow along without needing to put in hours of reading to become an expert.
Criteria #1: Camera Resolution –I don’t think you want to upload any blurry selfies to Instagram. Especially if you’re on vacation and have a breathtaking view in the background, then you’ll definitely want your selfie drone to have the best camera possible. Of course, specs like pixels and other camera qualities tend to come in more or less standard amounts, so it may be helpful to think of this criteria more as a point of entry than a spectrum of quality. We’re mostly looking for selfie drones with a picture quality of 12 megapixels (mp) and a video quality of 1080p. Anything more than that will deserve special mention, while anything less than that will probably not make our list, unless the drone is noteworthy in some other capacity.
Criteria #2: Battery Life –You know what’s the worst? Needing to stop in the middle of a great photoshoot with an amazing background because your drone is running out of power. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen, and that’s why we’re going to look for the best drones out there with a long flight time that will keep you snapping pictures all day long. Unfortunately, drone battery life is still pretty short, but we’re aiming to show you drones with a flight time of at least 15 to 20 minutes.
Criteria #3: Size – Since you’re probably going to be traveling with your drone, you’ll want to make sure it’s at least decently small and portable. This is probably the criterion that will involve the most sacrifice and compromise because the fact is that the smaller drones have their own drawbacks. They’ll have a worse battery life, and they’re likely to have a worse camera too. That being said, we’re going to try our hardest to find the real “Mighty Mouse” drones out there that manage to fit the best features into a small package.
Criteria #4: Extra Features – It’s the little things that make a big difference, and that applies to selfie drones as well. The best drones out there will come with all of the bells and whistles to make sure you have the smoothest experience possible. That can include gesture-based control, automatic landing, obstacle detection, all of the above, or some other amazing feature I haven’t even thought of. We want to offer you nothing but the fanciest drones out there because you deserve more than just a flying camera.
Criteria #5: Price – We’re not here to make you spend a ton of money for no reason. Meeting this criterion is less about being cheap and more about justifying your price. We’d rather buy an expensive product that’s cheaper than it should be than waste money on a cheaper product that isn’t worth the money and that will just break on you or not perform well. Unfortunately, full-sized drones are still very expensive, and the mini options don’t usually have a camera, but we’ll make sure to try and mitigate the damage as much as possible.
Here’s How We’ve Determined the Best Selfie Drones
We measured the specs of the top products on the market against our listed criteria to see how they held up and if they’re worth buying. We then checked customer reviews, blog posts, and “best selfie drones” articles to see if the products on our list performed as advertised. We’ll also make sure to include a wide variety of different products that fit a wide variety of price ranges so that everyone can find the exact selfie drone that’s perfect for them.
And without further ado, here is our list – tailored to your specific needs – of the best selfie drones.
#1: DJI Spark (Best Value – All-Purpose)
Get used to the name DJI. As one expert very simply put it, “If it’s DJI, it’s good.” That curt-but-glowing review should make it no surprise that the juggernaut drone manufacturer earned the number one spot on our list with the DJI Spark selfie drone, and there will be more DJI products where that came from. But one thing at a time.
The DJI Spark selfie drone boasts a 2-axis stabilized camera that will have no problem taking mid-flight photos and will deliver stunning 12-megapixel photos along with amazing 1080p videos. The DJI Spark also gives you 16 minutes of flight time that will give you more than enough time to take the perfect new profile picture. This DJI selfie drone measures 10.2 x 8.5 x 6.61 inches and weighs only 2.2 pounds, so packing it and bringing it with you on vacation won’t be too much of a problem.
Plus, with gesture-based controls, you’ll save some space by leaving the controller at home. That’s right, you can control this high-quality selfie drone with just a wave of your hands, so you don’t need any extra equipment. Have it take off just by raising it to eye-level, and then do the rest with waves and gestures. If you prefer the old-school feel of a controller, you can control it manually in that manner, so you don’t need to worry about being overwhelmed by this fancy new technology. Or you can use your smartphone to control this drone.
You can quickly and easily edit your drone’s photos and videos with the DJI GO 4 mobile app. With the amazing ActiveTrack feature, this drone can follow a moving target so you’ll always have the perfect video. Our best selfie drone can zoom around at a high cruising speed of 12 mph and a top speed of 31 mph, so you’ll never lose a single target. The DJI Spark has a control range of 1.2 miles so you can really zoom all the way out and get some incredible landscape shots that will leave your friends in awe.
If you Google “best selfie drones” I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll always see the Spark selfie drone listed in the top 3. There’s pretty much a full consensus that DJI is the best brand for drones and that the Spark is one of their best products. It comes in at a reasonable and affordable price, much cheaper than some other drones, which makes it the best value out there.
There’s no better drone for keeping things affordable and getting a good return on your dollar, and that’s why we had to go with the DJI Spark as our best selfie drone. There really wasn’t any competition.
#2: DJI Mavic Air (Best Overall Selfie Drone)
As we said, the DJI Spark is the best value out there, and it delivers an amazing performance at a cheap price. But what if you want to pull out all the stops? There are some absolutely mind-blowing DJI drones out there if you’re willing to pay for them, but there might be non better than the DJI Mavic Air. This top-tier selfie drone is basically an upgraded version of the Spark, so if you were impressed by the Spark, you’ll definitely want to keep reading. Here are some of the amazing features that might convince you to splurge and spend your hard-earned cash on the DJI Mavic Air selfie drone.
Reason #1 to Choose This Product: Better Battery
It’s pretty easy to see the appeal of this. More is better. While our number one selfie drone already has a pretty great battery that offers a 16-minute flight time, the DJI Mavic Air boasts an incredible 21-minute flight time, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything out there that can compete with that. There’s no rush with the DJI Mavic Air. You can take your time and make sure you get the perfect picture, or just fly around and explore. Thanks to the foldable remote controller that holds your smartphone, you’ll be able to see everything as you pilot your drone, so the world is your oyster with the DJI Mavic Air and its long-lasting battery.
Reason #2 to Choose This Product: Longer Range
I meant it when I said the world is your oyster. Probably the most amazing feature of the DJI Mavic Air is its control range of 2.2 miles. Combine that with the long flight time and the live stream being beamed straight to your smartphone, and the DJI Mavic Air is the best way to explore and cover a lot of ground without taking a single step. Explore the skies and see a whole new world thanks to the miracle of modern technology that is the DJI Mavic Air.
In addition to the longer range and superb battery life, the DJI Mavic Air features 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded upon with a micro SD card, and you can quickly and easily transfer all your photos and videos with a USB-C cord. You’ll also get the same ActiveTrack feature found in the Spark selfie drone, and six different quick-shot options that are guaranteed to give you the best gram-worthy pictures. On top of all that, you also have the option to shoot amazing slow-motion videos that will look amazing in any highlight reel. Plus, it features a sleek foldable design and a dozen other amazing features I can’t even begin to delve into.
This premium selfie drone has a frame of 7.7 x 10.1 x 5.6 inches and weighs a little over 5 pounds, so it’s on the bigger side, but all those features had to fit somewhere. Just as with our last DJI drone, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a list of the best drones, selfie or otherwise, that doesn’t feature the DJI Mavic Air.
The DJI Mavic Air may be expensive, but it’ll change the way you look at drones and photography. So if you’re feeling ready to jump in and get one of the best drones out there from the best drone brand out there, you’ll have to spend the big bucks and buy the DJI Mavic Air selfie drone.
#3: Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone (Best Compact Option)
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I know how annoying it can be to get everything to fit in your bag and stay under the allowed weight limit before a flight or just to carry around a heavy bag all day if you’re out and about. It can also be annoying to need a bag just for your drone if it doesn’t quite fit in your pocket. So if you want to keep things compact and portable, then the Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone is the best choice for you.
Offering 1080p video and beautiful HD 12 MP pictures, this Dobby selfie drone has measurements of 5.31 x 2.64 x 1.45 inches and weighs just 7 ounces. This mini drone is guaranteed to fit in your pocket and not weigh you down. The flight time is about 9 minutes, so the battery is definitely on the weaker side, but you should still have plenty of time to get that perfect selfie. And with a camera this good, you won’t need too much time.
The Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone’s camera offers facial recognition, a digital 3-axis stabilizer, and voice control. Our Dobby selfie drone features one-button take-off, or if you want to add some flair, you can get this drone flying just by throwing it. The Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone also offers an intuitive control scheme that lets you swipe a path on your phone, or use the same phone as a motion controller. The added benefit of this is that you’ll save even more space by leaving the controller at home.
Coming in at the cheapest price on our list so far, the Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone is a great option for anyone looking to save a little, and it was praised on Amazon for being a great budget drone that’s definitely worth the money.
There may be better drones out there, and there may be smaller drones available, but if you’re looking for an ideal combination of size and performance, there’s no option better than the Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone.
#4: Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone (Best Low Cost)
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Some customers might think that it’s impossible to really keep things cheap while looking for a good selfie drone, but Holy Stone has proved the naysayers wrong and shown that there’s always a good deal if you know where to look. One of the leading brands in nano drones, Holy Stone’s drones typically are about as cheap as you can imagine, and the irony is that the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone is actually one of their most expensive products. But most nano drones don’t come with a camera, and if you want to keep things while still getting some amazing pictures, then the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone is one of the best drones on the market for you.
This budget selfie drone features our standard 12 MP pictures and 1080p video, plus it boasts a light weight of 15.04 ounces and a frame of 8.86 x 7.28 x 2.95 inches. With a flight time of 10-12 minutes, you’re getting some solid mileage out of this Holy Stone selfie drone considering its cheap price.
Our budget selfie drone also comes with an easy-to-use controller that can hold your smartphone so you always see exactly what your drone is seeing, and you can always opt to control this drone directly with your phone. Thanks to built-in gesture sensors, you can snap a quick picture just by raising your hands in a V shape. On top of that, you also have one-touch take-off and landing which makes this a great drone for beginners.
Though the battery isn’t ideal, the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone has a battery-low alarm that will keep you in the loop if you’re running out of time. Since it comes with a second battery, you can switch out your battery instead of taking the time to recharge the drone.
The biggest downside by far of this budget selfie drone is that it only has a flying range of about 160-230 feet, so you won’t really get to explore the skies like you can with some of our other drones. But that might seem like a small compromise considering all the money you’re saving, and that’s still more than enough space to work with to take a professional-grade self-portrait for all of your social media profiles.
Sometimes there’s just no reason to spend a ton of money if you don’t have to. Save a couple of bucks and buy the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone.
#5: DJI Mavic Pro Drone (Best Luxury Option)
We just finished showing you one of the cheapest drones out there in the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone, but if even the DJI Mavic Air wasn’t really enough for you, then we’re here to offer you the biggest and baddest selfie drone on the market – the DJI Mavic Pro.
The bigger brother of the Mavic Air selfie drone takes every feature of its predecessor and improves upon it. Besides the amazing video and picture quality, the DJI Mavic Pro Drone measures just 83 x 83 x 198 mm and weighs a surprisingly-light 1.5 pounds. So it’s actually smaller than the standard Mavic Air, despite offering an amazing flight time of 27 minutes and blinding top speed of 40 miles per hour.
The 4K camera is also stabilized by a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for clear shots. Next, the DJI Mavic Pro has an insane range of 4.3 miles. You’ll be able to zoom around the whole neighborhood and take in all of the sights as quickly as possible, with the best picture quality possible. And to top things off, you’re getting the same ActiveTrack mode we’ve learned to expect from the folks at DJI. You also get Tripod Mode, which makes the Mavic Pro move slowly and precisely.
There’s really no other way to put it, the DJI Mavic Pro is incredibly expensive. Of course, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Other than that, the only downside to this top-of-the-line selfie drone is that it’s only compatible with iOS 9 or later. So if you don’t have an up-to-date smartphone, you may be out of luck when it comes to using this drone.
Of course, in terms of actual specs, features, and performance, it’s really nothing but the best with the DJI Mavic Pro. DJI is the best brand out there, and this is their best drone by far. So if you want a battery life that gives you almost 30 minutes of flight time, an insane range of 4 miles, and all of the best photos you can imagine with the best features, then go search under the cushions for some pocket change, because the DJI Mavic Pro is the only option for you.
How Do I Use a Selfie Drone?
While it will depend on your drone, I can guarantee that you’ll get the concept down pretty quickly. You may not be a master pilot right away, but you’ll be able to fly your drone and get those beautiful pictures. There are three standard control schemes – a remote controller, line-drawing on your smartphone, and motion control with either your body or your smartphone.
Most drones that have the motion control feature will also have smartphone line-drawing control, so you’ll be able to choose the one you’re most comfortable with. If you want to keep it simple, then a remote controller is obviously the way to go, but it’s definitely worth exploring the more high-tech forms of drone piloting, as you may be surprised at how intuitive they are.
Verdict: Your Best Selfie Drones
We’re reaching the end of our list, and you’re hopefully starting to get a good idea of which of our products is best for you. But if you haven’t made up your mind yet, not to worry. We don’t want to rush, and we know how important it is to make sure you’re getting the selfie drone that’s perfect for you. That’s why we’re going to recap all of our selfie drones and focus on their standout features. This way, you’ll be able to see the highlights and really know what each product has to offer for you.
If you want the best value for your money, pick the DJI Spark.
Could you expect anything else from DJI’s flagship model? The Spark selfie drone features basically every industry-standard feature out there, from 1080p video and 12 MP photos to ActiveTrack technology with a 2-axis stabilized camera. It also comes in a decently compact frame of 10.2 x 8.5 x 6.61 inches that weighs only 2.2 pounds. Add a 16-minute run time on top of that with a range that’s over a mile and you can go all the way up into the clouds and get some amazing pictures from every angle. You even have a solid top speed of 12 mph that will help you get the most out of that battery life and range. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, DJI’s Spark drone should be your jumping-off point.
If you need the most compact option, pick the Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket Drone.
Phone, wallet, keys, (for now) mask, and also drone? That’s a lot to keep track of, and a lot of stuff you have to carry around all of a sudden. If you want to keep the baggage as light as possible, then the Dobby Mini Selfie Pocket is the best choice for you. This miniature selfie drone measures 5.31 x 2.64 x 1.45 inches and weighs just 7 ounces, making it one of the smallest drones out there and almost definitely the lightest. It also doesn’t use a controller, so you’ll be saving a lot of packing space. But it’s not just small, it’s cheap too, and it offers all of the standard features like one-button take-off and the smartphone drawing control scheme. That’s a lot of features shoved into a little drone with a low price.
If you want to keep the spending cheap, pick the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone.
If you need a cheap drone, go to Holy Stone. Of course, most Holy Stone products don’t come with a camera, but the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone is the holy grail of budget drones. This nano selfie drone has our standard 1080p video quality and 12 MP picture quality, and you have the option of controlling it with a controller or with your smartphone. The only drawbacks are the short battery life and the short flight-range, but you’ll still have plenty of time and room to take the perfect selfie. If you don’t need anything too crazy and you don’t want to spend more than you have to, then buy the Holy Stone HS160 Pro Foldable Drone.
That brings us to the end of our list. If none of the highlighted products above really caught your interest, then you may be intrigued by the DJI Mavic Air, which offers everything but the kitchen sink. Anf it hat’s not enough for you, there’s always the super-expensive DJI Mavic Pro that offers everything including the kitchen sink, and more.
It might be a good idea to write down the trait that’s most important to you in your selfie drone. This will really save you some time during the shopping process, as you can skip the products that don’t meet your standard.
That’s all for now. We hope our list helped, and we hope you enjoy the best selfies science can offer!