Drones have been a big hit on the consumer market but one of the biggest obstacles that consumers face when flying drones is their short battery life.
This can be particularly frustrating to those who use drones commercially where long battery life is needed to get the job done the first time.
When the first sets of drones hit the market, you were lucky if the flight time exceeded 10 minutes
However thanks to advancements in technology, we now have drones back in last up to 30 minutes or more on a single charge.
Today we will be taking a look at the longest battery life drones available.
Drone
Features
Price
- Longest battery life drones
- Affordable drones with the longest battery life
- Mid-priced drone with the longest battery life
- Expensive drones with the longest battery life
- Is it possible to increase drone flight time?
- Frequently Asked Questions about drones with the longest battery life
- 1. Who needs drones with good battery life or a long flight time?
- 2. How long can drones hover?
- 3. What is the average drone flight time?
- 4. How long do racing drones battery last
- 5. Will my drone return home when the battery level drops low?
- 6. Can I use a bigger battery?
- 7. How do I charge a LiPo battery?
- 8. How long do you charge the drone battery for?
- 9. How long can a LiPo battery stay charged?
Longest battery life drones
Affordable drones with the longest battery life
Beginners that are looking for a drone with a long flight time will be delighted with this section.
This section lists some of the cheapest drones on the market with the longest flight time.
Ryze Tech Tello from DJI
- Flight range: 100 meters
- Flight time: 13 minutes
- Weight: 2.88 ounces
If you’re a beginner looking for an affordable drone with a fairly long flight time, make the Ryze Tech Tello from DJI your first choice.
This particular unit was made by Ryze Robotics who had worked closely with DJI to come up with one of the cheapest yet powerful units in its price range.
It uses a 3.8 VDC, 1100mAh battery that delivers 13 minutes of flight time.
It comes with a low battery warning that automatically lands the unit when the battery dips below a certain percentage.
You can extend the flight time and recharge time by purchasing extra batteries and a 3-battery charging hub with the Tello Boost Combo.
Other than its flight time, the unit can be flown out to 100 meters and is equipped with a 5MP camera that captures 720p videos.
It comes with eight different takeoff and piloting modes which makes it very easy for beginners to fly.
The unit connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and comes with a controller powered by DJI to allow you to always stay in control of the unit.
The Ryze Tech Tello is a fun and affordable drone that offers a pretty decent flight time considering its price.
- Equipped with a high-quality image processor, the Tello drone shoots incredible photos and videos….
- Camera features 5MP (2592×1936) photos and HD720 videos at a maximum flight time of 13 minutes.
- Tello has two antennas that make video transmission extra stable and a high-capacity battery that…
- Thanks to all the tech that Tello’s packing, like a flight controller powered by DJI, you can…
- What you get: RyzeTech Tello powered by DJI, 4x Propellers (Pair), Propeller Guards (Set), Battery,…
- Video capture resolution: HD 720p
Holy Stone HS720 GPS 2.7K Drone
- Flight range: 80 meters
- Flight time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 21 oz
Holy Stone is a drone manufacturer that has made a name in the industry as the provider that provides high-quality products on a budget.
The Holy Stone HS720 has a pretty long flight time which makes them a great option for learning how to fly as well as aerial photography.
This brushless motor drone comes with a 2800 mAh battery that allows it to provide 18 minutes of flight time.
The flight time can be extended if you purchase extra batteries.
Other features include dual GPS, auto return to home, and a variety of intelligent flight modes.
The onboard 2.7K HD camera captures decent quality thanks to its image stabilization feature.
It comes with 5Ghz transmission that allows for lag-free FPV back to your phone while the 90°adjustable angle of the camera lens gives you a broader view of the world around you.
The 2.4GHz controller allows you to stay in control of the unit at all times with a control range out to 80 meters.
With its foldable design, the Holy Stone HS720 is a great option for those on a budget that are looking for a drone that is portable and has a long flight time.
- 2.7 K Camera & 5G Image Transmission — 2.7K HD camera catches incredible clarity in the photos; 5G…
- Intelligent Flight — Equipped with GPS positioning, the drone can automatically follow the pilots….
- Custom Flight — Design a flight path by tapping several points or make it fly in circle with camera…
- Folding Construction– Both drone arms and propellers are foldable. There can always be surprises on…
- Unlock More Play Ways — It’s quite wind-resistant for outdoor fights. FPV transmission range up…
Mid-priced drone with the longest battery life
We move on to drones in the mid-priced category.
They may not be the cheapest drone offering long flight time but they are not the most expensive either.
This unit is the best mid-priced quadcopter with long flight time that is worth every dollar.
Parrot Bebop 2
If you want just a little more flight time without spending too much then you can settle for the Parrot Bebop 2.
The maximum flight time out of this unit is 25 minutes with its 2700mAh battery that powers a 14Mp camera that records 1080p videos.
The camera also has a fisheye lens that provides a wide-angle view for stunning image captures.
You can opt to buy the Bebop 2 FPV Bundle since it comes with the Parrot Skycontroller 2 and the Parrot Cockpitglasses and the longest-lasting drone battery possible for this unit.
However, this will raise the total price of your unit and if you don’t have the budget, then you can settle for a few spare batteries instead.
The flight performance at high altitudes and against powerful winds is impressive.
Stability is provided by its 3-axis digital stabilization system.
It always comes with safety features like the propellers that are programmed to shut down automatically in the event of a crash to protect both the unit and the pilot.
Piloting the Parrot Bebop 2 is made easy using the FreeFlight 3 piloting app on your smartphone or tablet.
Simply download the app which is free on both Apple App Store and Google Play.
However, this app contains an in-flight purchase called Flight Plan which allows you to map out the unit’s journey and have the drone automatically follow it.
The price is not expensive and only purchase Flight Plan if you need it.
- Enhanced 14 megapixel fish-eye lens offers 1080p video recording and stunning image capture
- 25 minutes of flight time thanks to a powerful 2700 mAh battery
- Equipped with powerful motors for flight in greater altitudes
- Powerful rear flash LED for better visibility—even in the dark
- Requires registration with FAA. Visit their website for more info on how to register.
- German (Publication Language)
Expensive drones with the longest battery life
As we move down our list of the longest battery life drones, we have now reached the stage where we identify the expensive units on the market.
These units come from top drone manufacturers and cost quite a lot for enthusiasts.
The drones mentioned in this section are more on the professional side and better for those who need a unit for commercial purposes.
DJI Mavic Air 2
No list of drones about long-lasting drones cannot be without a DJI unit since the company is one of the top drone manufacturers in the world.
DJI has some of the most powerful camera drones and drones with the longest flight time on the market today.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 may not have the best camera and flight range of other DJI units but it surpasses all the others thanks to its 34 minutes of flight time.
Its 3500mAh battery provides all the flight time you need so that you can capture all you need in just one go.
That being said it still has an impressive range out to 6.2 miles which is more than you’ll ever need since you need to always keep your drone in your line of sight.
It can also hold its own with its 48MP camera with a ½ inch Quad Bayer CMOS sensor that captures stunning 4K/60fps videos.
The unit is equipped with a 3-axis gimbal that helps with stability and distortion-free imagery while a bunch of intuitive shooting functions makes aerial photography a breeze.
As expected for a DJI unit, the DJI Mavic Air 2 is all you need to stay in the air for long enough to capture all the breathtaking imagery you need.
- 【UP YOUR GAME】: The Mavic Air 2 camera drone takes power and portability to the next level. It…
- 【NEXT-LEVEL CONTENT】: Capture impressive 48MP photos with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor while the…
- 【IMPROVED FLIGHT】: An impressive flight time of up to 34 minutes allows you to pull off epic,…
- 【INTELLIGENT TRACKING】: Mavic Air 2 features intuitive shooting functions that make aerial…
- 【APP COMPATIBILITY】: The DJI Fly app requires iOS v10.0, Android v6.0, or above. Compatible…
- 【WHAT YOU GET】: Mavic Air 2 Aircraft, Remote Controller, Intelligent Flight Battery, 3x…
- 【VIDEO CAPTURE RESOLUTION】: 4K Hd. Operating Temperature Range–10° to 40°C (14° to 104°F)
Autel Robotics EVO II
While DJI leads the drone world, there are a few other units from different manufacturers that can give DJI a run for their money.
One such company is Autel Robotics that has a lineup of some pretty impressive units.
Today, we’ll look at the Autel Robotics EVO II which is an exciting update to their already impressive EVO drone.
This drone makes use of a 7100mAh battery that gives it an incredible flight time of 40 minutes.
Pilots will enjoy that 40 minutes flight time and who knows the possibilities of what you’d be able to capture.
Its extended connectivity and 8K camera open a world of possibilities.
You can choose to go for the Pro model that uses a bigger sensor but that unit only comes with a 6K camera.
If you’re looking for a drone with best battery life for commercial and professional uses, then the Autel Robotics EVO II is a perfect choice.
Of course, there are industrial drones that are probably better than the EVO II but the prices of those units are usually sky-high.
- 40 MINUTES OF STABLE FLIGHT TIME: From inspecting electrical cell towers to surveying property…
- LIGHTWEIGHT FOLDABLE DESIGN: Deployed in under 30 seconds, the 2.5lb EVO II is ideal for rapid…
- PATENTED LOCKING PROPELLER DESIGN: No tools required, quick release foldable propellers for the EVO…
- INTERCHANGEABLE PAYLOADS: Designed for versatile operations, pilots can alternate between the 8K,…
- LIVE CONTROLLER VIDEO FEED: Control almost all aspects of your mission right off the 3.3 inch OLED…
Is it possible to increase drone flight time?
Many factors can affect your drone’s battery life including the unit’s weight, aerodynamics, power consumption from lights or the camera, and fighting the wind in the sky.
However, there are few ways to increase drone flight time.
These include:
Removing excessive weight like propeller guards, the camera if it’s not needed, or any unnecessary accessories.
- Avoid flying in windy situations since the drone uses more power to stay in the air and fight against the wind.
- Fight conservatively since changing directions rapidly performing tricks, flips, and spins well consume more energy.
- Don’t drain the battery since this could cause the chemistry inside of the battery cell to break down.
- Keep extra batteries handy so you can easily swap the depleted unit for a freshly charged unit.
- Do not overcharge the battery as doing so can damage it as well.
- Try to charge just before you decide to fly to get the most of the drone flight time.
Read more on how to extend the battery life of your drone in our extending the average drone battery life article.
Frequently Asked Questions about drones with the longest battery life
1. Who needs drones with good battery life or a long flight time?
People who fly drones commercially need units with good battery life so that they get a long flight time they get their jobs done the first time around.
This would include those in real estate, construction, land surveying companies, photographers, filmmakers among others.
Changing batteries every couple of minutes can be quite frustrating for these professionals and so they require that extra bit of time in the sky.
That being said, they will have to keep spares handy because, after some time, they will have to swap batteries.
However, drones with longest battery life will make this process less frustrating since the time between swapping will be greatly extended.
You can read our drone flight time article for the longest flight time drone.
Professional photographers and those needing to take world-class shots should read the best drone for photography guide.
2. How long can drones hover?
Since you’re not using the motors when hovering, a drone can last longer than the flight time of the drone.
This is because the motors use energy and when hovering the motors are not consuming any energy.
However, you can’t operate your drone at hover at all times, you’ll have to take into consideration the power it consumes during take-off and landing.
So even though hovering can save you on energy consumption, it’ll only give you a few minutes more than the flight time.
3. What is the average drone flight time?
The average drone flight time is about 20 minutes.
Today, the flight time of a drone can depend on various factors like price and type.
You will find beginners drones have a flight time of 5-10 minutes, mid-priced drones flight time is around 15-20 minutes while expensive drones will give you around 20-30 minutes in the air.
For a drone with a longer flight time, you may need to consider a gas powered drone.
4. How long do racing drones battery last
Racing drones are built for speed so that means they go as fast as possible across short distances.
This causes them to overwork their motors which consume battery power at a fast rate.
So the average time of a racing drone battery is about 5 minutes.
5. Will my drone return home when the battery level drops low?
This may not be the case for every drone as some are designed to return home after the battery level dips below a certain percentage to automatically land.
Other units may use GPS location data to predict how much battery power is needed to return home.
However, we never heard of any unit that accounts for wind or other conditions so be aware of if you fly your drone long distances.
Let’s say if you fly long distances in high winds and it drains half of your battery, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have enough power to return home.
This is because the drone will have to fight against the wind which will drain the battery faster, stopping it short and making it almost impossible for the unit to return to home.
6. Can I use a bigger battery?
This will all depend on the drone that you have.
A few units on the market have the hardware and software capabilities while others have limitations and you’d not be able to use a bigger battery.
In general the more mAh the battery has the longer the flight time.
Drones with limitations will refuse to boot up if the official or incompatible batteries are used.
If your drone model allows you to use a bigger battery ensure that it is a compatible battery since some batteries offer different voltages.
In the racing community, you’ll hear talks of batteries called 1S,2S, up to 6S.
In simple words, each S is worth 3.7 volts which means that you shouldn’t use a 6S battery in a drone that was meant to work with a 1S drone.
7. How do I charge a LiPo battery?
Almost all drones come with battery chargers where you simply plug the battery in and wait for the light to turn green.
Some of these chargers can be plugged into a wall or a USB outlet like the ones on your computer or other existing outlet attachment.
Check out the best Lipo charger by clicking on the link.
8. How long do you charge the drone battery for?
The time to recharge the drone battery will differ from unit to unit.
Some may take 1 hour while others may require a few hours.
Sometimes purchasing a different charger can speed up the recharge process.
9. How long can a LiPo battery stay charged?
Lithium Polymer batteries lose power slower than NiCad and NiMH batteries.
However, they do lose their power after 2 or 3 days.
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