The consumer drone market is accelerating at a fast pace.
Manufacturers are pumping out new units to meet consumer’s demands.
One area that has seen great advancements is drone photography.
Drone photography opened a whole world of possibilities and consumers just can’t get enough.
Today, you can find several drones with advanced cameras that capture crystal clear footage from a unique perspective.
However, most times, these units are used to capture an object or subject other than yourself.
So what do you do if you want to take a selfie with your drone?
In this instance, you’ll need a selfie drone.
If you’re interested in the best selfie drones on the market, let’s get right to it.
Drone
Features
Price
- Flight Range: 300 meters
- Flight Time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
- Flight Range: 3.7 miles
- Flight Time: 30 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
- What is a selfie drone?
- How does a drone take a selfie?
- 5 best selfie drones
- Features to look for on a selfie quadcopter
- Portability
- Ease of use
- Image quality
- Image Stabilization
- Follow me mode
- Precise positioning
- Facial recognition
- Gesture control
- Popular uses for selfie drones
- Tips for taking drone selfies aka “dronies”
- Conclusion
What is a selfie drone?
Selfie drones are available in a wide range of designs.
The majority of these units are foldable slim or compact enough to fit into your pocket.
They are all designed with portability in mind.
This makes it easier to be packed and carried around so when the moment is right you can capture the perfect selfie anywhere, anytime.
Most selfie drones are controlled using an app that you’ll need to install on your smartphone or tablet.
The app will be preprogrammed with intelligent flight modes like Selfie Mode that makes taking a selfie a lot easier.
In short, Selfie Mode allows you to focus on getting the perfect shot instead of worrying about the positioning of the drone.
How does a drone take a selfie?
If you feel like it’s time to up your selfie game and you’re ready to take a selfie with a drone, you may be wondering how exactly do drones take a selfie?
This will depend on the drone you use and the type of selfie you desire.
If you wish to have a simple aerial still, the drone selfie camera will focus on you, the subject or the group and then back out to reveal your location.
In some cases, you may have to fly the drone up to a suitable height, aim it at yourself, the subject or group and then take a selfie.
Other times, you may have to fly the drone backward and upwards to take a selfie.
On the other hand, some drones come with more autonomous features which can actively track you once you have selected yourself or another as the subject.
These units will follow and record or focus and then fly upwards and outwards revealing where you are.
5 best selfie drones
- Flight Range: 7.5 miles
- Flight Time: 31 minutes
- Weight: 1.31 pounds
If you want the best value high-end camera drone then choose the DJI Air 2S.
This selfie quadcopter is compact so you can pack it easily to experience and capture the world in stunning detail.
It is equipped with a 1-inch image sensor capable of capturing 5.4 K/30fps, 4K/60fps videos and 20 MP photos.
Moreover, the 8X zoom makes it ideal for close-up work.
The Air 2S is packed full of advanced intelligent features including FocusTrack features like Spotlight, ActiveTrack and Point of Interest.
These all make it easy to capture the perfect shot in any location without worrying about positioning the drone.
If you liked Quickshots on other DJI models then you’ll be sure to love MasterShots.
MasterShots is a step up from Quickshots and with a simple tap, the Air 2S can fly several routes while filming your subject.
Aside from its awesome capture and ability to capture every little detail, the Air 2S has a transmission range up to a whopping 7.5 miles.
This is thanks to the use of OccuSync 3.0 which gives you a clear, smooth and reliable image feed every time.
In terms of safety, the Air 2S uses APAS 4.0 4-directional obstacle sensing to avoid obstacles in complex situations and even at high speeds.
- 【1-INCH IMAGE SENSOR】Equipped with a 1-inch image sensor and large 2.4μm pixels, DJI Air 2S is...
- 【MASTERSHOTS】The next evolution of QuickShots, MasterShots is an advanced intelligent feature...
- 【THE CENTER OF ATTENTION】FocusTrack features Spotlight 2.0, ActiveTrack 4.0, and Point of...
- 【ONE BILLION COLORS】The 10-bit Dlog-M color profile can record up to one billion colors while...
- 【7.5 MILES MAX VIDEO TRANSMISSION】DJI Air 2S features DJI's most advanced O3 (OcuSync 3.0) image...
- 【ENVIRONMENT SENSING】DJI Air 2S has the ability to perceive its environment in four directions:...
- Flight Range: 6.2 miles
- Flight Time: 34 minutes
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
The DJI Mini 2 gives you the best bang for your buck.
Not only is it good value but also lightweight and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
This pocket selfie drone is the ideal travel companion that will transform the way you capture the world.
With a 12 MP camera and a 3- axis gimbal that guarantees stunning image quality that is consistently smooth regardless of how you fly.
It can even resist level 5 winds so your footage is always stable.
You can use the 4X zoom to capture images up close without putting yourself in danger.
Moreover, with QuickShots you can automatically record and shoot professional-level videos to share directly on social media.
Kick things up a notch by downloading the DJI app that will help you to produce impressive results every time.
The Mini 2 comes with OcuSync 2.0 that gives it a transmission range of up to 6.2 miles.
Flight time is also impressive as this pocket sized drone can last up to 34 minutes in the air.
Some of the best intelligent flight features on the Mavic Mini 2 are Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket and Boomerang.
- 【PACK LIGHT, FLY FREE】: at less than 249 g, it weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the...
- 【3-AXIS GIMBAL WITH 4K CAMERA】: a 12mp camera in the sky delivers content guaranteed to impress....
- 【OCUSYNC 2.0 VIDEO TRANSMISSION】: mini 2 supports up to 10km of hd video transmission and has...
- 【POWERFUL PERFORMANCE】: with a max battery life of 31 minutes, dji mini 2 grants more than...
- 【4X ZOOM】: there’s no need to get so close for your dream shot. 4x digital zoom makes it safer...
- 【QUICKSHOTS】: with just a few taps, dji mini 2 automatically records and shoots...
- Flight Range: 6 miles
- Flight Time: 31 minutes
- Weight: 2.1 pounds
I know what you must be thinking but yes, we have yet another DJI drone on our list.
This is because DJI is the world leader in the drone industry currently.
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is one unit that makes DJI great.
While being one of the largest drones on the market, it has one of the safest zooming cameras on a drone you’ll ever find.
This unit is powered by a 1/2.3 CMOS 12MP sensor with 4x zoom and 2x optical zoom.
It allows you to capture wide-angle to mid-range shots to unlock your creativity.
The Mavic 2 Zoom also features a 3-axis gimbal for steady shots as well as omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
You’ll be able to fly out to 6 miles and take advantage of intelligent flight features like Activetrack, Dolly Zoom, Hyperlapse, etc.
The flight time is around 31 minutes and the unit can reach speeds up to 44mph.
If safety is your number one priority, then the Mavic 2 Zoom stays at a safe distance and captures all the action.
- Please update the firmware version of your Mavic 2 to 01.00.00.00 or above via the App tips or DJI...
- See the Bigger Picture: Powered by a 1/2.3 inch CMOS 12MP sensor with up to four-times zoom,...
- Up to 31 minutes flight time, 44 mph max speed, 905g takeoff weight, 3-axis gimbal for steady shots,...
- Functions include ActiveTrack 2.0, Dolly Zoom, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Hyperlapse,...
- With Fly More Kit: Mavic 2 Zoom Set + 2 extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, Mavic 2 Car Charger,...
- Flight Range: 300 meters
- Flight Time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
We’re now moving off from the DJI options and the first non-DJI drone on the list is the Holy Stone HS120D.
This budget-friendly drone is suitable for anyone who is now starting their drone photography journey.
The HS120D comes with a 2K UHD 120 degrees FOV adjustable FPV camera.
You can capture high-definition footage and conveniently save it directly to your smartphone.
It even comes with gesture control that allows you to simply set the camera and it automatically generates photos and videos that you can share instantly on social media.
There’s the Follow Me Mode that has the drone following you and capturing every movement or it can be used to just take a selfie.
Activating this mode endures, the drone’s camera keeps you in the frame at all times and makes it easy to take those complex shots all the while providing hand-free flying.
The HS120D foldable controller transmits clear live feed in vivid colors out to 300 meters.
The flight time of this unit is around 18 minutes and comes with 2 batteries to extend the time to 38 minutes.
It also comes with a bunch of beginner-friendly features like Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, One Key Takeoff and Landing.
- Built for Adventure: The specially designed backpack can carry everything for HS120D, allows you to...
- 2K UHD 120 degree FOV Adjustable FPV Camera: Capture high definition footage ( 2048*1152p) and...
- Smarter Return Home: GPS assisted flight, it can perform automatically return home when the drone...
- Follow Me, Object Trace, Custom Path: The drone can trace and automatically follow you, let you...
- Better Flight Experience: 2 batteries give you up to 36 minutes immersive flying experience, 221g...
- Flight Range: 3.7 miles
- Flight Time: 30 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
If you want a high-end selfie drone but don’t want to go the DJI route, then the PowerEgg X Explorer is worth considering.
We know we said selfie drones are lightweight and compact and this one isn’t exactly that but hear us out.
The PowerEgg X Explorer is a fun and sophisticated drone that has been thought out for your selfie needs.
This first-of-its-kind waterproof AI drone can be used as an autonomous personal AI camera, a handheld 3-Axis AI camera or a high-performance drone.
It uses AI fix recognition technology to deliver accurate, efficient, multi-angle, remote face recognition and subject lock when following the subject.
Even after being blocked by obstacles, this unit can look for and lock back onto the face of the subject within a fraction of a section.
This makes it great for selfies or self-filming blogs.
The 4K UHD camera on a 3-axis gimbal and the ability to withstand level 5 winds captures stabilized views every time.
Meanwhile, the automatic obstacle avoidance with both forward and downward binocular sensors makes this unit fly even smarter.
The PowerEgg X Explorer drone has a range of up to 3.7 miles and a flight time of 30 minutes
- 【Stunning 4K60FPS footage】: Capture high-definition aerial footage with crystal-clear detail and...
- 【Dual-mode functionality】: Enjoy the versatility of two modes in one device, with a handheld...
- 【Intelligent features for creative shooting】: Use slow-motion and time-lapse effects to add...
- 【Advanced obstacle avoidance and landing protection】: With visual sensors that detect obstacles...
- 【Long-range transmission and flight control】: Control the drone and transmit real-time video up...
Features to look for on a selfie quadcopter
Portability
Portability is an important feature to look for when thinking of purchasing a selfie drone.
This is because you want something convenient and easy to carry.
However, in some cases, you may want to trade portability for a better camera.
In that instance, it is perfectly fine to purchase a slightly heavier unit.
Click here for the best drone with camera.
Ease of use
Look for a drone that can be controlled by an app on your smartphone.
This will allow you to be up and flying with just a few simple taps.
Some may even allow you to edit and share directly on social media.
Image quality
Most people tend to think that because it’s a selfie drone you cannot get professional-quality photos.
The truth is that many selfie drones come with professional 4K cameras that are capable of capturing stunning imagery.
Image Stabilization
Image stabilization is one of the most important features you need to pay attention to.
Some drones tend to wobble in the air which can distort images, etc.
Image Stabilization is a combination of hardware and software that ensures your image is distortion-free, sharp and crystal clear.
The drone may have flexible parts and motor leveling arms that work on the outside.
Meanwhile, the software can be using techniques such as cropping and others to compensate for the jolt of rapid movements.
Any selfie drone where the camera is affixed to a gimbal is better than a drone with a fixed camera.
Follow me mode
Follow me mode is one of the most popular features of selfie drones.
You can set the drone to follow you from behind or focus on your face from the front.
On the other hand, you can choose to have the drone fly around you capturing you from all angles.
Precise positioning
Some selfie drones come with vision sensors that help to keep it precisely in place even without GPS.
Facial recognition
Facial recognition features on selfie drones give them the ability to focus on your face or the face of your subject to get a clear selfie image.
Gesture control
Gesture control allows you to put your controller away and instruct the drone to perform certain activities by simply making certain gestures with your hand.
For example, creating a picture frame with your hands tells the drone to take a photo.
Popular uses for selfie drones
Most people want to be able to capture their memories anytime and anywhere
This is why many people take selfies when they’re on the go when having fun or doing something interesting with friends and family.
Selfie drones are a great way to capture memories at events like birthday parties, family reunions, holidays, backyard parties and picnics.
These types of drones allow you to have fun and create memories without being stuck behind a camera or busy flying the drone.
Aside from that, campers, hikers and those that enjoy outdoor activities can launch their selfie drone in the air and capture themselves in action or a complex shot.
Tips for taking drone selfies aka “dronies”
There are a few basic tips to remember before you fly:
- Take the time to read the operating manual so that you are familiar with the various processes.
- Try performing practice flights in a safe area to get you familiar with the intelligent flight features
- Be mindful of the area you’re flying in since some selfie drones may not come with obstacle avoidance features.
Once you’re able to fully understand your selfie drone and can fly without trouble, follow these tips
- Start by flying the drone up to 5 or 10 feet off the ground.
- Turn the drone so that the camera is facing you and make sure that the desired background is behind you.
- If your drone is equipped with a gimbal, set it to a level angle so that it can capture the horizon and not the ground when the drone backs away from you.
- Start to pitch the drone away from you for a few seconds and elevate slowly. Try to keep the pitch and elevation level. Some units will do this for you if they have built-in selfie features.
Conclusion
If you want to up your selfie game, then choose any of the best selfie drones on our list.
We have from the most budget-friendly to the more expensive units.
All of the selfie drones on the list are capable of capturing stunning images and footage without requiring much from you.
Simply set the drone to capture you or the subject by activating the Selfie Mode, Follow Me Mode or other intelligent flight feature and let the drone do its thing.
If you want more than just a selfie drone, check out this follow me drone guide.
Drone
Features
Price
- Flight Range: 300 meters
- Flight Time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
- Flight Range: 3.7 miles
- Flight Time: 30 minutes
- Weight: 7.8 ounces