About selfies
Selfie (English selfie, from “self” – himself, himself) — one of the ways to realize a self-portrait through a camera. It has become more common in colloquial use since 2005, when front cameras appeared on mobile devices for the first time, but due to the poor quality of shooting, this option did not receive consumer recognition and until 2010 was considered absolutely useless. After 3 years, the word “Selfie” was included in the Oxford Online English Dictionary, later, in the same 2013, it was declared the word of the year. With the development of technology, the popularity of selfie
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as a kind of self-portrait, grew in arithmetic progression, where it eventually turned into a fashionable trend of modern humanity.
Until recently, the most popular and practical device for taking selfies was — monopod (selfie-stick), allowing the user to get the most successful angle and composition. But with the advent of household UAVs on the market, the need for its use has practically disappeared, and a new high-tech device has appeared in the everyday life of a selfieman. — A selfie drone that takes selfie shooting to a whole new level.
The main criteria for choosing a selfie drone
Camera
- First and foremost is the camera. In order to capture high-quality photos and videos, the drone needs an ultra-sensitive 4K camera. Motorized stabilization is also desirable, especially when shooting video. A drone with such a camera will capture clear footage the first time, which will save time and battery life.
Dimensions
- The second important parameter for a selfie drone is the size. All selfie models in 2020 have folding elements, propellers or beams with motors. Therefore, choose the folded size based on the fact that you have to constantly carry the drone with you. Compactness equals — convenience. The models presented in our rating easily fit into a shoulder bag.
Flight time
- The flight time is directly dependent on the battery. It will take a lot of takes and time to like a selfie. Therefore, we advise you to choose a drone capable of staying in the air for at least 10 minutes. Even 15 minutes of flight is enough for a couple of selfies. Spare batteries will correct the situation, but they significantly increase the cost and take up more space in the bag.
We bring to your attention the rating of the best selfie drones, the list of which includes drones that meet such requirements as compactness, workmanship, safety, autonomous functions and flight modes, shooting quality, compatibility with social networks, consumer recognition. Let’s start with the last — 5 places. For those who do not have time to fully familiarize themselves with the rating, we have prepared a table below.
comparison table
5th place
DJI Mini SE is another iteration of the time-tested Mavic Mini, which haunts developers even after the release of the technologically advanced Mini 2. There are practically no differences between the Mavic Mini and Mini SE, except that the latter inherited some appearance details from the top lightweight Mini 2. But there are starting at $299 for this model, making it the most affordable GPS drone, the potential of which has made many people familiar with this exciting hobby.
The list of key features of the drone includes:
- Drone flight weight 242 g
- Portable foldable design
- Positioning: GPS/GLONASS + three-sensor system
- Max. flight time 30 min
- Max. FPV Removal Distance (FCC/CE) 4km/2km
- Poppy. flight speed 46.8 km/h
- 12MP 2.7K camera built on 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor in tandem with 24mm lens, F/2.8 aperture, and 83° field of view
- 3-axis motorized gimbal
- Max. bitrate 40 Mbps
- Control: remote control (with removable sticks) + smartphone
- 3 × flight modes (Position/CineSmooth/Sport)
- 4 × automatic flight modes and QuickShots
- Intuitive DJI Fly mobile app
- Social platform Discover Popular Spots
- DIY Creative Kit for Drone Appearance Customization
- Additional accessories
DJI Mini SE from $299
pros
- Flight weight 249 gr
- Quality of performance and work
- Foldable design
- Positioning accuracy
- Shooting quality
- Flight time
- FPV Removal Distance
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Easy to use
- Price
Minuses
- Doesn’t fly around obstacles
- Return to the place of takeoff is carried out with an error
Release date: July 2021 Age limit 16+. Max. Learn more about the DJI Mini SE selfie drone in our review.
4th place
FIMI X8 Mini is one of the best affordable mid-budget solutions that has gained recognition in the hobby primarily for its weight category up to 250 grams, functionality, image quality and exemplary flight range. With its portable size and foldable design, the model will prove itself as a flying selfie camera, wherever you are.
The list of key features of the drone includes:
- Flight weight 245 g
- Portable and foldable design
- Positioning GPS + GLONASS + Beidou + visual positioning system consisting of two optical and one laser sensors
- Brushless propulsion unit working in tandem with folding propellers
- Level 5 wind resistance
- Control methods: Separately by smartphone (via 5.8GHz Wi-Fi) / Smartphone + remote control
- Specially designed for the Mini version of the drone, control equipment with a sliding structure, removable sticks and a modified receiver
- 12MP 4K camera built on a 1/2.6-inch CMOS sensor, working in tandem with a top-end Hisilicon ISP chipset
- Pixel size 1.55 µm
- 3-axis mechanical gimbal with 0.005° accuracy
- 3x digital zoom
- F-Log and DNG RAW modes
- Max. bitrate 100 Mbps
- HDR video
- Night shot mode
- H.264/H.265 video compression format
- Video streaming via 2nd generation TDMA HD digital system at 5.8 GHz
- Max. removal distance 8 km
- 720p video quality
- Max. flight altitude 500 m (electronically limited)
- Max. flight speed 57.6 km/h
- Max. flight time 31 min
- 4 × pre-programmed Cine shots
- 3 × Intelligent Object Tracking Modes
- Waypoint flight mode with task scheduling
- 3 × panorama shot options
- 3 × Motion-lapse options that do not require post-processing
- The ability to broadcast video stream from the drone’s camera through all known social platforms
- SAR mode
- New mobile app Fimi Navi Mini (iOS/Android)
Xiaomi Fimi X8 Mini from $319
pros
- Flight weight 249 g
- Foldable design
- Powerful B/C motors
- wind resistant
- 4K camera (HDR video; Night Shot; F-Log; DNG RAW; Video compression format H.264/H.265)
- Max. removal distance 8 km
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- SAR mode
- The ability to broadcast video stream from the drone’s camera through all known social platforms
- Price
Minuses
- The defect prevails, which affects the overall performance and functionality of the drone (requires a performance check on the spot)
- Fragile
- Insufficient battery potential (limits flight range)
Release date: March 2021. FIMI X8 Mini is sold by the developer both through its own stores and through various online trading platforms at a price of $319 (excluding taxes and delivery). Age limit 14+. More details about the model can be found in our review.
3rd place
The DJI Mini 2 is one of the best lightweight portable solutions for realizing aerial selfie photography. It is the top version of the popular Mavic Mini series. Thanks to the powerful potential of the drone beyond its size and the intuitive interface of the mobile application, it will allow the user to always keep it with him in order to capture and share the surrounding atmosphere with the whole world at any time, quickly and without problems.
The list of key features of the drone includes:
- Drone flight weight 249 g
- Portable foldable design
- Positioning: GPS / GLONASS / GALILEO + three-sensor system
- Max. flight time 31 min
- OcuSync 2.0 video transmission system
- Max. FPV removal distance 10 km
- Poppy. horizontal flight speed 57.6 km/h
- Level 5 wind resistance
- 12MP 4K camera built on 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor in tandem with 24mm lens, f/2.8 aperture, and 83° field of view
- 3-axis motorized gimbal
- 4x zoom
- Max. bitrate 100 Mbps
- 3 × flight modes (Cine/Normal/Sport)
- Auto functions: Auto takeoff/landing; Holding a position; Auto return home
- 5 × automatic flight modes and QuickShots
- 3 × automatic panorama modes
- DJI Fly Mobile App
- Direct upload and instant photo/video editing functions
- RC231 Control Gear (Same as Mavic Air 2)
- Support for DJI Smart Controller
- Social platform Discover Popular Spots
- DIY Creative Kit
- Additional accessories
DJI Mini 2 from $449
pros
- Flight weight 249 g
- Quality of performance and work
- More durable than its predecessor
- Foldable design
- More powerful and at the same time less noisy power plant
- Exemplary wind resistance
- 4K zoom/JPG/RAW/AEB/Panorama camera
- New More Comfortable Remote/OcuSync Technology/Max. flight distance 10 km/Support DJI Smart Controller
- Max. flight time 31 min
- Direct upload and instant photo/video editing functions
Minuses
- Doesn’t fly around obstacles
- The charging hub cannot charge the batteries and the remote control at the same time
- Propeller guards are not included in the combo
- No Tripod Mode
Release date: November 2020. DJI Mini 2 is available for purchase in all official online stores starting at $449. Age limit 16+. More details about the model can be found in our review.
2nd place
DJI Mavic Air is the only design in the Mavic series. It is a time-tested ultra-compact solution with full-sized drone potential that even selfie enthusiasts will surely appreciate, as it has all the tools you need to quickly capture shots with a professional accent, even if you have never done it before.
The list of key features of the drone includes:
- Flight weight: 430 g
- Calculated geometry of the fuselage and internal frame elements
- Foldable arms and landing legs
- brushless motors
- ESC FOC (Field Oriented Control) speed controllers with sinusoidal drive
- 12MP 4K camera built on 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
- 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- Shooting 4K video at 30 fps
- Recording speed 4K video at 100Mbps
- Slow-Motion video in FHD quality
- Shooting 32MP spherical panoramas
- New HDR image processing mode
- GPS/GLONASS
- 3-way visual positioning system
- Flight Autonomy 2.0
- Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS)
- Visual inertial odometry (VIO)
- 3D vision of the world
- Route planning with the ability to avoid obstacles
- Intelligent Return to Home (RTH)
- Improved SmartCapture Gesture Control
- Improved intelligent flight mode Active Track
- 6 × Intelligent QuickShots
- Optional built-in 8GB memory module
- Portable control equipment with removable sticks
- Flight time 21 minutes
- Maximum flight speed 68.4 km/h
- New Dual Band 2.4/5.8GHz Wi-Fi Video Transmission System
- FPV removal distance up to 4 km
- Compatible with DJI Goggles
DJI Mavic Air from $599
pros
- Execution quality
- Portability
- Flight qualities / Flight range up to 4 km
- Intelligent Flight Modes
- Camera (quality and shooting capabilities)
- Flies obstacles/APAS/VIO
- Flight Autonomy 2.0
- Modified SmartCapture
- Flight time up to 21min
- Compatible with DJI Goggles
Minuses
- Video transmission over Wi-Fi
- Rotor not foldable
Release date: January 2018. The DJI Mavic Air is available for purchase on all major online marketplaces starting at $599. Age limit 16+. More details about the model can be found in our review.
1 place
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the perfect tool for any selfie shooter, with the potential to tackle any creative vision, both in and out of selfie photography. With the advent of the Mini 3 Pro, you will only need a smartphone to make/receive calls, because in most cases you will prefer to use a drone to take photos/videos, since it will always be at hand.
The list of key features of the drone includes:
- Drone flight weight (battery / battery Plus): 245/286 g
- Two battery options: Intelligent Flight Battery (included) / Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (available as an option and only for some countries)
- Max. flight time (batteries/batteries Plus): 34/47 min
- New portable and foldable design
- Positioning: GPS/Galileo/BeiDou + bottom sensor system
- New more powerful and at the same time less noisy power plant
- Max. horizontal flight speed: 57.6 km/h
- Poppy. ceiling above sea level (battery / battery Plus): 4,000/3,000 m
- Max. wind resistance: 10.7 m/s (level 5 on the Beaufort scale)
- DJI O3 Digital Video Streaming Technology (OcuSync 3.0)
- Operating range 2.4GHz / 5.8GHz frequencies with the ability to automatically switch in real time to the channel with the least interference
- Max. FPV flight range: 12 km
- Max. video stream quality 1080P at 30 fps; Max. bit rate: 18 Mbps
- 3-way (Front/Aft/Bottom) obstacle detection and avoidance sensor system with a new sensor layout that eliminates the problem of sensor overlap with propellers when flying backwards
- Advanced Pilot Assistance System APAS 4.0
- FocusTrack Intelligent Follow Mode Set (ActiveTrack 4.0/Spotlight 2.0/Point of Interest 3.0)
- Intelligent auto-flight and MasterShots based on three performance scenarios (Portrait/Proximity/Landscape)
- Intelligent Auto Flight and QuickShots (Dronie/Circle/Helix/Rocket/Boomerang/Asteroid)
- 48MP 4K camera built on 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with 2.4µm pixel size; with built-in Bayer color filter array; FOV: 82.1°; aperture: f/1.7; equiv. focal length: 24mm
- The camera is installed in a new 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- The camera system is equipped with advanced Dual Native ISO technology
- Max. video mode: 4K at 60 fps
- Max. SlowMotion Mode: 1080P@120fps
- Max. bit rate: 150 Mbps
- H.264/H.265 video codecs
- Max. photo mode: 48MP; 8064 × 6048 (JPEG/DNG/RAW)
- Color profiles: Normal/10-bit D-Cinelike
- Auto HDR mode (for Photo/Video)
- True Vertical Shooting or Vertical Shooting Mode
- Timelapse function (includes four execution modes, including automatic ones: Free/Circle/CourseLock/WayPoint)
- 4 × panoramic photo modes (Wide/180-degree/Vertical/Spherical)
- 4x digital zoom (4K: 2x/2.7K: 3x; FHD: 4x)
- QuickTransfer function (up to 25 Mbps air transfer rate)
- Built-in memory: 1.2 GB
- Built-in microSD port: max. Memory card size: 512 GB
- DJI RC-N1 Standard Control Equipment (Included as standard)
- New multifunctional control equipment with a built-in full-size 5.5-inch FHD display with a brightness of 700 nits – DJI RC (included in the top package or purchased separately)
DJI Mini 3 Pro from $759
pros
- Completely redesigned and foldable. Still in the weight category up to 250 grams
- 3-Way (Front/Aft/Bottom) Obstacle Detection and Avoidance Sensor System with New Sensor Layout
- DJI O3 Top Digital Video Streaming Technology (OcuSync 3.0)
- Max. FPV removal distance: 12km
- Max. flight time (batteries/batteries Plus): 34/47 min
- 48MP 4K camera built on 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with 2.4µm pixel size; with built-in Bayer color filter array; FOV: 82.1°; aperture: f/1.7; equiv. focal length: 24mm
- 10-bit D-Cinelike color profile
- Intelligent flight and shooting modes: FocusTrack/MasterShots/QuickShots
- Advanced Pilot Assistance System APAS 4.0
- Price
Minuses
- Lack of declared HDR video mode (actually it is 8-bit SDR REC 709; May be corrected with the next firmware update)
- Incorrect operation of the noise reduction system at ISO 800 and higher in 4K up to 30 fps (Possibly corrected by the next firmware update)
- Lack of manual adjustment of sharpness, contrast and saturation (Possibly corrected by the next firmware update)
- Lack of flight mode Tripod mode (Perhaps they will add the next firmware update)
- Inability to connect and control the drone with a single smartphone
- Battery Plus is not available for sale in all countries
- Image quality when using DJI ND filters
- Built-in memory: 1.2 GB
Model release date: May 2022. Implemented by the developer at a price of $759. Age limit 16+. The most detailed about the drone in our review.