As an American drone pilot, I was devastated when, in December 2025, the government effectively banned not only popular brand DJI but all “foreign-made drones.” Since then, new drones – as well as cameras and accessories from DJI – have not received the FCC approval to launch in the US.

The US drone ban has long had me wondering if the government understands just how devastating the change is to aerial creators – not to mention the first responders, farmers, and businesses relying on the technology. American drone pilots still have access to drones registered prior to the FCC ban, but the latest drone technology is quickly becoming inaccessible to US users.

While there are American drone brands, none that I’ve found offer consumer drones – just expensive drones for Hollywood-level films, industrial drones, and military drones. That means American drone tech has been effectively placed on an indefinite pause until an American drone company is able to develop and launch a consumer drone – a process that will likely take years.

But now through May 11, the FCC is seeking comments from the public. Drone pilots, first responders, business owners, and any member of the public affected by the ban are invited to share comments on how the restrictions impact the community.

The public input could impact the FCC drone ban moving forward, as DJI has filed an appeal to its inclusion on the FCC Covered List. In an email from a company representative, DJI told me, “We encourage all US-based drone users – from public safety agencies and small businesses to hobbyists – to share their experience on how DJI drones impact their work, business, community, and daily life.”

The Drone Advocacy Alliance has a set of instructions that simplifies the federal forms. For a simple comment, users can navigate to the page, use Proceedings Number 26-22, and the name “In the Matter of SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.” Public commenters then fill in the details and write their comments.

The deadline for submission is May 11, so the public comments close in a matter of days.

As a drone pilot and tech journalist in the camera space, I think that one of the reasons the foreign-made drone ban is so devastating is that the current US-based companies do not offer consumer-grade models. The non-DJI consumer drones are also built outside of the US.

Skydio, which recently announced a US expansion, does not sell drones made for photography and videography but rather for industrial use, first responders, and the military. Skydio stopped building consumer drones in 2023.

Launching American-made consumer drones will not happen overnight. Skydio’s expansion, for example, is expected to take five years, and the company has not indicated if that growth will even include a consumer drone.

Creating a drone is a time-consuming and complicated process, and newer companies in the category are at a disadvantage. For example, the US-based action camera giant GoPro once launched a drone called the Karma. The quadcopter was recalled due to a battery door failure that had drones falling out of the sky, and GoPro left the drone market shortly after.

Perhaps the reason that the FCC foreign-made drone ban hurt the most, however, is that the government-mandated security review of DJI never actually happened, to my knowledge, perhaps because the law never assigned an agency to the task.

DJI has not only pointed to previous security audits, but has repeatedly stressed that flight logs are never stored on DJI’s servers. DJI drones also support using third-party apps to fly, including some apps made by American companies.

DJI's other products have also – unfairly, in my opinion – fallen under the ban. While the FCC ban includes all foreign-made drones, it also lists all DJI products, not just their drones. That prevents tech like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 as well as DJI's future action cameras, gimbals, mics, and other tech from entering the US.

Of course, one of the reasons behind the ban isn’t tied to a specific company at all, but worry over interruptions in the supply chain. I understand the need for a US-based supply chain – after all, in retaliation for tariffs, China once blocked American drone maker Skydio from getting any batteries for its drones.

But such an immediate and overarching drone ban is devastating for every American using drone technology, from aerial artists like myself to first responders and business owners.

As a drone pilot and tech journalist, I’m strongly urging the FCC and US government to restore the public’s access to the latest drone technology. Complete a full and fair audit to determine if non-US drone companies are a security risk.

If such an audit determines a security threat, propose an interim plan with the aid of drone users to avoid freezing drone technology that many small businesses, journalists, photographers, videographers, farmers, and others rely on.

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As an American drone pilot, I fully expected to wake up to the news that the drone giant DJI and Autel were now banned from new launches in the US as the long-awaited December 23 deadline arrived – instead, the banned list now includes not just DJI but every foreign-made UAV. With few consumer drones made in the US, the move is a devastating pause on drone tech for American drone pilots and aerial artists.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List, or the list of products that the federal organization will not approve for sale in the US, now includes “uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country.” The foreign drone ban was added to the list on December 22.

The problem? Few, if any, consumer drones are made in the US. The move is a devastating blow for aerial photographers and videographers in the US, as well as all drone hobbyists, as it effectively freezes drone technology in place until an American company can enter (or re-enter) the consumer drone market.

China-based drone companies DJI and Autel were already facing a December 23 ban if the companies did not pass a security review. The security review never started, which means a ban on DJI and Autel was widely expected. But what I didn’t expect was for the list to span all foreign-made drones.

Pilots do not need to worry about the drones they already own, and previously announced drones will remain available in stores. But what the addition to the FCC Covered List does is prevent all new drones from being approved by the FCC for sale in the US.

All devices with any sort of communication capabilities, such as built-in Wi-Fi, require FCC authorization to be legally sold in the US. For example, the Leica M EV1 camera was delayed in the US because the government shutdown prevented the camera from receiving the proper authorization in time. (The camera has since launched in the US).

The move effectively means that the drones available for sale in the US will not change until an American company launches a new drone, though the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security does appear to have the power to separately approve a foreign-made drone. Drones that were previously launched will remain available, but all new launches will not reach the US unless made by a US company or separately approved.

The problem is that few – if any – US drone companies make consumer-grade drones. The non-DJI drones that we recommend? None of those are made in the US either. A foreign-made drone ban doesn’t just eliminate options from DJI, it also removes drones from Autel, Potensic, Skyrover, Antigravity, Anzu, and HooverAir.

The US-based Skydio and Parrot previously made consumer drones, but left the market to focus on enterprise drones. Other American-made drone brands, including Freefly, Teal, WISPR, and Hylio, similarly do not produce consumer drones but focus on industrial, agricultural, and public safety sectors.

The foreign-made drone ban effectively pauses consumer drone technology in the US. I’m fully expecting some US drone companies to return to consumer drones in the absence of key competitors like DJI. But, drone development does not happen overnight. I wouldn’t be surprised if some companies began working on consumer models a year ago with the threat of the DJI ban, but I’m expecting a true US-made consumer drone to take some time.

Hopefully, the drone makers that already have experience with consumer drones – like Skydio and Parrot – will return to consumer drones in the absence of competition, and new drones will once again arrive on US shelves.

I’m hoping these new USA-made consumer drones come from companies that already have experience with UAVs. The failed GoPro Karma drone is the perfect example of just how challenging it is to design a drone for the first time.

But, such a change will require time, and the lack of competition may not bode well for prices either. If the only other drone options are ones launched years previously, new USA-made drone launches likely won’t need to be quite as competitive in their pricing.

Don’t get me wrong – I will happily reach for the product with the Made in the USA sticker if I have the option and the budget to do so. The foreign-made drone ban will hopefully lead to additional American manufacturing jobs, in addition to easing security concerns.

But, these changes take time and, in the meantime, American drone photographers and videographers will effectively be using drone technology placed in an indefinite pause.

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Just hours before drone giant DJI was to face an automatic drone ban in the US, the US Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau added all foreign-made drones and components to the FCC Covered list, effectively banning all new non-American drones from being released in the US.

The change does not affect existing drones, but prevents all foreign-made drones announced after December 22 2025, from entering the US. That means that previously released products will continue to be available for sale in the US, but future launches will be unble to obtain the FCC approval required to sell the new models in the US.

The change takes the anticipated ban on DJI and Autel and adds on any “uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in foreign countries.”

The FCC indicates that some new drones may be approved by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

The decision was made following a National Security Determination shared on December 21 that called the risks posed by foreign-made UAS “unacceptable.”

“UAS and UAS critical components must be produced in the United States,” the National Security Determination reads. “This will reduce the risk of direct UAS attacks and disruptions, unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, and other UAS threats to the homeland.

"Furthermore, it will ensure our domestic UAS and UAS critical component manufacturing is resilient and independent, a critical national security imperative. UAS are inherently dual-use: they are both commercial platforms and potentially military or paramilitary sensors and weapons.”

While drones and UAVs previously approved by the FCC will remain available, the change effectively prevents new drone technology from entering the US unless that drone is American-made or approved by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

Few consumer drones are made in the US

While there are a number of US-based companies that create industrial drones, few consumer drones are made by American companies.

Skydio is a US drone manufacturer, but the company stopped producing consumer drones in August 2023, instead focusing on enterprise and public sector drones, such as those used by police departments and the military.

Parrot similarly exited the consumer drone market in 2019, focusing on industrial and professional drones. The Parrot Anafi, a drone with a 4K, 48MP 1/2-inch sensor, is available from photo retailers for $6,383.94.

Freefly crafts American-made drones, but in the high-end cinema and industrial sector, with its most affordable drone starting at $22,995.

There are a handful of other brands, such as Teal, WISPR, and Hylio, but these US-based drone companies similarly focus on industrial, enterprise, agricultural, and public safety drones.

The US-based action camera giant GoPro once launched a drone in 2016, but faced a recall over a battery door latch that caused the drone to lose power mid-flight, and in 2018, GoPro left the drone industry.

DJI says it “remains committed to the US market”

While DJI is not the only company affected by the legislation, the move is another major blow to the China-based drone giant. The manufacturer assured customers that the change does not affect customers who already own a DJI drone.

“As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all US consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so,” DJI told Digital Camera World.

“DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by US government agencies and independent third parties. Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market.”

Despite the challenges, the company remains bullish. “DJI remains committed to the US market. We are deeply grateful to users across the country who spoke up to share how DJI technology supports their work and their communities. We will keep our community informed as more information becomes available.”

New DJI action cameras and accessories are also included in the ban

While the wording of the FCC Covered list adds all foreign-made drones and not just DJI, the list still places a wider restriction on DJI. That's because the update to the list is written as: "Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 118-159)."

The "communications and video surveillance" equipment in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act includes all DJI products, which would also extend to action cameras and gimbals. It also specifically names Autel products.

While the FCC Covered List changed to include all non-American-made drones, using the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act to define the "UAS critical components" means that, as DJI previously warned, the ban does prevent new DJI action cameras, gimbals, and other accessories from launching in the US. Like with drones, previously launched action cameras that were already available in the US will remain.

The Section 1709 that the Covered List references refers only to DJI and Autel and does not include cameras from other brands.

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DJI tends to dominate the drone space – and one of the quadcopter brand’s key competitors just discontinued almost the entire range of consumer drone options. In a blog post last month, Autel discontinued the Evo Nano and Evo Lite series of drones, leaving just a single drone in the brand’s consumer lineup, the Autel Evo II Pro V3.

In a blog post published in mid-July, Autel announced that the Evo Nano Series, which includes the Evo Nano and Evo Nano+, and Evo Lite series, which includes the Evo Lite and Evo Lite+, have been discontinued. Sales to retailers have already ended, but support for the drones will continue through mid-July 2030.

The only consumer drone that remains on Autel’s website is the Evo II Pro V3, which is arguably a prosumer drone with its one-inch sensor and $2,699 / £1,507 price point for the rugged bundle.

Autel has been slowly shifting its focus into enterprise drones and away from the consumer space, as perhaps evidenced by the fact that the mid-July announcement seemed to go largely unnoticed for weeks. The Nano series was announced in 2021 and never saw a successor.

While the series hasn’t been updated in the last few years, the now-discontinued Autel Evo Lite+ still earned a slot among the best drones, thanks to its adjustable aperture. The mid-range drone also impressed with 5.4K video, although its subject following didn’t perform as well in tests as competitors.

Autel’s Nano series, meanwhile, entered into the sub-250g lightweight drone category with a larger sensor and more collision sensors than DJI’s competing drone at the time of the launch, the Mini 2. However, Autel hasn’t updated the series in a few years, and now DJI is on the Mini 4 Pro, which has more collision sensors.

Competition often pushes the pace of tech advancements, and DJI has arguably little competition, especially as Autel shifts away from consumer and more towards enterprise and professional drones.

The lack of competition is especially apparent in the US, where DJI drones haven’t been able to ship due to a “customs misunderstanding.” Autel exiting the consumer drone space, however, will likely have little impact of the availability of US drones, as Autel, like DJI, is also based in China and suspect to the same pending legislation in the US.

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Just days after a proposed China-made drone ban was excluded from defense legislation, the US Commerce Department shared that it is working on potential new rules to restrict or ban the foreign-made UAVs over national security concerns.

On Thursday, January 02, the US Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) posted a notice sharing that new foreign-made drone rules are being considered. The notice asks for public comment to assist “in determining the technologies and market participants that may be appropriate for regulation in order to address undue or unacceptable risks to US national security.”

The move once again casts additional uncertainty over the future of drones from China-based companies, including DJI and Autel, inside the US. The BIS is considering legislation to address national security concerns over UAVs made by foreign adversaries.

The notice mentions Russia as well as China, noting that “both countries have shown a willingness to compromise US infrastructure and security through cyber espionage.” China-made drones currently make up 75 percent of the UAVs sold in the US. The China-based DJI takes up much of that market share.

The department expressed concern over two key risks posed by China-made drones

The BIS mentions two key potential risks that the UAVs could pose. The first is sharing data on US infrastructure with foreign adversaries. The second potential risk is remotely accessing the drones, which could then be used for intentional collisions or to alter data when assessing critical infrastructure.

However, the BIS also notes that drone technology has led to economic growth and improved public safety, citing the impact the technology has made in agriculture, construction, transportation, and energy.

“Over the last decade,” the notice reads, “UAS have evolved to more sophisticated models with improved functionalities, including enhanced connected technologies such as advanced flight controllers, multi-GNSS and GNSS modules, cameras, receivers, and AI software and applications, which have enabled greater autonomy, precision in navigation, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and seamless integration with various applications across industry.

“These new technologies require signal and communication software to collect vast amounts of data, and in turn may increase attack vectors for malicious actors to exploit.”

The public is asked for input on a list of 50 different drone questions

The notice asks the public to address a number of different questions to aid lawmakers. Among those questions, the notice also asks for input on “mechanisms to mitigate the risks,” suggesting that potential legislation may not be a complete ban but could focus on requiring certain protective design elements.

The 50 questions asked in the notice also ask for input on the economic impact the potential legislation could have. The notice also asks questions on how data is stored, governing the use of AI drone software, and mentions the potential for third-party testing and evaluation. The notice also inquires about potentially creating a process to request authorization to use such UAS devices by demonstrating mitigated risk.

The notice says that the public comments must be submitted on or before March 04. Commentary can be submitted through an online portal or via email, with full instructions available from the full notice.

Outside the potential BIS legislation, DJI as well as Autel also face a potential drone ban in the US if it fails to pass a risk assessment within one year. DJI expressed concern that the National Defense Authorization Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on December 23, 2024, failed to specify who would take on that risk assessment.

If no agency takes on the work of such an assessment, the act would automatically add the company to an FCC list that would ban its import.

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The Countering CCP Drones Act, a measure that aimed to ban the import of DJI and other China-made drones, was not among the measures inside the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that the US Senate passed on Thursday, December 19. The absence of the act that would automatically ban DJI drones from import is likely a sigh of relief for many US drone pilots; however, the China-based drone company didn’t escape completely unscathed from the latest legislative session.

While the NDAA did not include the Countering CCP Drones act that some pilots feared, the legislation effectively gives DJI – as well as Autel – one year to pass a risk study before its import would be automatically banned in the US. The act requires China-manufactured drone companies to pass a risk assessment within one year. The NDAA has now passed through both sides of Congress and now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk, who is expected to sign the bipartisan act into law.

While DJI said it was pleased the legislation didn’t include an immediate ban, the company expressed concern over the NDAA’s drone-related provisions failing to name who would conduct the risk assessment beyond “an appropriate national security agency.”

“If no agency conducts a study to determine risk within one year, the legislation states that DJI and another Chinese manufacturer would automatically be added to the FCC’s Covered List,” the company wrote in a blog post. “This means that DJI would be prevented from launching new products in the US market through no fault of its own, but simply because no agency chose to take on the work of studying our products.”

The company also expressed concern that the legislation didn’t include a way to respond or mitigate any security flaws. “DJI deserves a right of response to any findings and an opportunity to fix any flaws that may be found and to discuss any additional security mitigations the designated agency recommends,” the company wrote.

DJI is asking congress to designate an agency, preferably one that is technology-focused, to handle the risk assessment, as well as giving the company the right to reply to any findings.

The NDAA wording, however, doesn’t specifically name “drones” as restricted if the companies do not pass the assessment in time, but “communications or video surveillance services,” suggesting that DJI’s action cameras and gimbal cameras could be banned from import if it fails to pass a risk assessment in time.

The NDAA also includes subsidiaries, affiliates and partners of DJI and Autel, which would prevent the companies from having a third-party manufacture the drones and cameras for the US.

The act would automatically add the drones and cameras to a list that would prevent the gear from being imported to the US in one year if the risk assessment is not conducted in time. However, the act also states that if the assessment finds “an unacceptable risk” then that ban would happen within 30 days.

As a licensed US Part 107 drone pilot of a DJI drone, the NDAA comes with some relief, yet extends the uncertainty over the company’s future in the US. DJI has a large share of the drone market, and the closest competitor that I’ve personally flown is Autel, who is also named in the same act. I suspect that, if DJI and Autel are banned in one year’s time, that will only drive drone prices up while leaving far fewer pro-grade options to choose from.

Even photographers who don’t fly could be affected, as DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera is also a great tool for vlogging and video. Thankfully, the legislation doesn’t seem to affect current DJI owners but focuses instead on potentially restricting the sales of DJI drones in the future.

Photographers and filmmakers wouldn’t be the only ones affected by a potential DJI Ban. One study from Bard College showed that DJI was the most popular brand for drones used by first responders in the US.

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Not all drones are made equal. Although it’s natural to assume that most models are essentially the same when so many consumer drones blur the line between professional and consumer operation, some models are aimed purely at specialist professionals. The Autel EVO Max 4T is an enterprise drone designed for use by emergency services, search & rescue and mapping/surveying. It looks similar to medium-size consumer models with a folding design and can capture photos and videos using three cameras: a wide-angle, a zoom and a thermal camera alongside a Laser Rangefinder for providing coordinates of a defined point.

I’ve flown and reviewed most of the consumer drones released in the past 10 years, alongside the high-end DJI Inspire 3, but I have to confess that when I had my first test flight with the Max 4T I was a little intimated. Sure, it flies like any other camera drone and getting it up and into the air to capture photos and videos was easy enough, but it was just the sheer amount of options available on the huge smart controller that made it appear much more complicated than it is.

As a professional or enterprise drone, the Max 4T is surprisingly easy to use so Autel has done an incredible job here. But while this point is the case, it’s also not particularly intuitive so there’s no getting around watching a few tutorial videos and reading some of the instruction manual. 30 minutes tops, and you’ll have a firm grasp of how to navigate the impressive features on offer. And if you do happen to work in law enforcement, search & rescue or aerial surveying, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed.

Autel EVO Max 4T: Specs

Autel EVO Max 4T: Price

Being a high-end professional drone, the Max 4T is expensive compared to consumer models but comes in at a competitive price of $8999 / £7959 for an enterprise model. The kit includes the EVO Max 4T, an Autel Smart Controller V3, a smart controller neck strap, a charger for drone batteries and a charger for the controller, a set of propellers, two spare propellers, a rugged case and other accessories.

With only one battery in the kit, additional batteries have to be purchased separately and cost $300 / £309 each. If you’re an aerial surveyor, the Autel Mapper software makes light work of creating stitched images and 3D models. It comes with an initial three-month free trial, but beyond this, a monthly license costs $149, yearly is $1499 while a perpetual license will set you back $3599 and offers the best value for money.

Autel EVO Max 4T: Build and handling

The Max 4T is a beast at 3.57lbs / 1620g with a folded size of 10.1 x 5.71 x 5.16 in / 257 x 145 x 131mm and an unfolded size of 12.52 x 15.75 x 5.79 in / 318 x 400 x 147 mm, excluding propellers. Think of a DJI Mavic 3 Pro or an Autel EVO Lite+ on steroids. Thanks to the folding design, the Max 4T is easy to transport and can be deployed in around 30 seconds making it ideal for time-critical situations and there’s even a built-in strobe for low-light operations.

The battery has an 8070 mAh capacity to provide the power to lift the drone and allow it to achieve speeds of up to 51mph in Ludicrous mode (42 mph in EU regions), with a maximum wind resistance of 27mph. It’s advertised to provide up to 42 minutes of flight, although during testing the Max 4T was flown in wind gusts of well over 20mph and the battery typically lasted around 26 minutes each time in these conditions so longer flight times appear possible in more favourable conditions. The Max 4T also supports battery (and controller) hot swapping.

The most striking aspect of the drone is the camera and gimbal, which is home to a wide-angle camera, a zoom camera, a thermal camera and a Laser Rangefinder. This can be interchanged with the camera and gimbal from the EVO Max 4N, which is the night camera version of the drone. This is to allow pilots to enjoy the benefits of both cameras without having to purchase two separate drone kits and to mix and match as required, which is useful in a professional setting.

The Autel Smart Controller V3 is equally impressive and feature-packed, not to mention provides a stunning 7.9-inch touchscreen with a 2048x1536px resolution and 2000 nits brightness. The screen is home to a huge amount of customisable information and control options, and the high luminance makes it easily viewable in even bright sunlight without the need for a screen shade.

There’s no getting around the fact that the controller is quite large and heavy at 48oz /1361g, but this can be forgiven thanks to the generous screen. Plus, the controller is well-contoured and comfortable to hold with two rear hand grips, so the weight is evenly spread and you don’t notice the overall weight even when held for long periods. Battery life is advertised at up to 4.5 hours on a full charge, which is enough for six drone batteries at the advertised maximum flight time.

Autel EVO Max 4T: Fight performance & features

Flight performance is impressive with plenty of power available and, indeed, agility to perform fast and precise manoeuvres when necessary. The Max 4T was flown in gusts of well over 30mph despite the advertised maximum wind resistance of 27mph, and it showed issues whatsoever. Plus, with IP43 dust and water resistance, the drone can be safely flown in light rain which is incredibly useful for law enforcement and search & rescue.

The Max 4T is packed with high-end technology including advanced obstacle avoidance with front, top, rear and downward-facing binocular vision sensors in combination with millimeter wave radio technology. This provides what Autel calls ‘720° obstacle detection’ which can be set to stop the drone when an obstacle is detected or to bypass it for continuous flight. This works incredibly well to provide confidence in complex environments, and the Max 4T can even perform successfully in locations where a GPS is unavailable thanks to its onboard sensors.

For sensitive operations, the Max 4T features anti-jam and anti-interference technology to counter RFI, EMI and GPS spoofing. Plus there’s encryption of the signal between the drone and controller, as well as the the image data captured and flight logs using AES-256 encryption. This means that even if the drone or controller falls into the wrong hands, sensitive information can be easily kept secure.

Being an enterprise solution, the Max 4T can be flown in multiples using a single controller. In this situation, using Autel’s A-Mesh system, the drones communicate with one another to avoid incursions and can be set to perform large-scale tasks in less time than a single aircraft. With this system, communication nodes can also be deployed to improve coverage over large areas, and drones can be ‘shared’ between controllers and pilots to maintain visual line of sight over long distances or in complex environments.

One of the most impressive features available is the astonishingly easy-to-set-up mission planning/mapping functionality. This, like the drone in general, is simple but not intuitive, so a quick tutorial is all it takes to get up to speed. The beauty of this feature is that missions can be planned in advance or on location using the smart controller, then executed and repeated if necessary.

Once images have been captured, they can be combined in Autel Mapper or other 2D/3D aerial mapping and stitching software. Autel Mapper is software that generates 3D models from drone images captured during automated flight missions and is easy to use, but it comes at a cost once the initial three-month free trial period ends.

Here is what that looks like as a video clip.

Autel EVO Max 4T: Photo & video performance

The Max 4T produces decent-quality photos and videos in a 4:3 ratio. The settings available allow for manual control when required, but when flying mapping missions, for example, the camera works automatically to capture JPEGs for stitching in Autel Mapper or other similar software.

The image quality of photos is best in JPEG format, whereas Raw files in DNG format exhibit vignetting and generally require quite a lot of processing to match the in-camera processed JPEGs. Not to mention white balance behaves strangely in Adobe Lightroom. The video ratio and the processing required for Raw files would be an issue for professional photographers and videographers, but since the Max 4T isn’t aimed at these users it’s unlikely to be problematic; many professional drone pilots aren’t proficient with photo and video editing or simply don’t have the time, so a drone that provides decent straight out of camera image assets is a huge bonus for many.

Looking more closely at the three cameras, the wide-angle camera features a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor with a fixed f/1.9 aperture and an equivalent focal length of 23mm. This can capture 50MP JPEGs and 12MP Raw files or JPEGs. The zoom camera offers up to 160x zoom and uses a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.8-f/4.8 variable aperture. This camera can capture 48MP JPEGs and 12MP Raw files and JPEGs. An optical zoom covers up to a 10x zoom while a digital zoom takes care of the rest of the zoom range at the expense of image quality.

The thermal camera uses an Uncooled VOx Microbolometer thermal imager with a 13mm focal length and a 15x digital zoom. This provides a temperature measurement range of -4 °F to 1022 °F / -20°C to 150°C alongside a 640×512px resolution. The thermal camera feed can be viewed alongside the wide-angle or zoom on the controller depending on the view selected, and photos and videos are captured with both types of cameras at the same time. The Max 4T automatically switches between the wide-angle and zoom depending on the zoom factor.

Finally, on the camera is the Laser Rangefinder, which can provide coordinates and the altitude of a defined point from 0.75 miles away. This is an incredibly useful tool for law enforcement and search & rescue and simply requires the pilot to touch the controller screen to set the point once the Laser Rangefinder has been activated. Another feature that’s not related to the Laser Rangefinder but is equally useful is object identification. This feature can identify subjects such as people and vehicles using AI algorithms, and these can then be tracked by the Max 4T in its Tripod mode.

Autel EVO Max 4T: Verdict

The Autel EVO Max 4T is undoubtedly an impressive drone when viewed within the context of its intended use cases. There’s no doubt that this is an extremely compelling drone for law enforcement, search and rescue and aerial surveyors since it’s smaller and lighter than models typically used for these purposes.

With this in mind, the cost of the drone is reasonable, considering how expensive and time-consuming it is to deploy helicopters in emergencies. What’s perhaps most impressive, aside from the features available, is how easy the Max 4T is to use. Sure, it’s not intuitive, but just 30 minutes of tutorials and manual reading will get you up to speed.

Image quality from the drone is best with JPEGs rather than Raw files, which require more processing in Adobe Lightroom due to the absence of a lens correction profile for the Max 4T. But since this isn’t a drone designed for creative photo and video capture, combined with the fact that many drone pilots aren’t professional image makers, this probably isn’t an issue.

Alternatives

We've covered the politics surrounding Chinese-made drones – especially on a state-by-state-basis – before, but this week the National Security Drone Act of 2023 was passed by Congress and handed to President Biden to sign into law, with potentially devastating effects on the business of DJI and Autel.

Since DJI was added to the American 'Entity List' in 2020 it has found it difficult to sell drones to the US for various government customers, and that is now a very broad definition of government, including regional police stations as well as military operations. This law formalises the blacklist, all on the spurious and unproven ground that data sent from drones is used by the Chinese government for spying.

This is because the Chinese government can ask to access the data belonging to the companies, and of course, drones do tend to share data of flight records etc. unless disabled by the customer as part of the firmware maintenance program. The reality is that US-China relations aren't the best. It is also true that there doesn't seem to be much the major parties can agree on as an election looms, so targeting successful foreign industries is an easy win.

Unlike the Floridian $200m unfunded mandate, in which taxpayers effectively saw drones they bought thrown away for no good reason save to advance the political career of Ron DeSantis, there is some connection between this new law and the $886.3 billion National Defense Authorization Act, so it is possible that some consideration has been made in Washington about 

This doesn't mean DJI users will immediately be grounded, though there is a proposed law doing the rounds in Washington, which threatens exactly that; the Countering CCP Drones Bill. Instead, this law is about procurement. The American lobbying association AUVSI (Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International) which has existed since the Vietnam War – has been very enthusiastic about this: "AUVSI commends Congress for incorporating the American Security Drone Act into the FY 2024 NDAA. Prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing or operating non-secure drones, especially those produced by Chinese firms, is a necessary step in protecting our nation from cyber risks, espionage, and sabotage…"

This will also help out US companies which weren't able to compete on technical quality, meaning American agencies will likely have to use technically inferior drones that don't face a true competitive market. Consumers are, for now, OK as they can still choose DJI but, in the long run, have a real headache since promising American companies like Skydio have ditched consumers but also have no worries about orders for their X10 coming in as plenty of US customers cannot buy from elsewhere even if they wanted to.

The worry for users of DJI and Autel drones must be that AUVSI and its backers don't stop here, and jump on legislation like the Countering CCP Drones Bill. Clearly going that far would impinge on the freedom of individual drone users to choose the best craft and to operate it as they choose. It might even open up some questions about international aviation law. I hope it doesn't come go far, but sometimes you give people – especially politicians – an inch and they'll ban a whole mile.

For now, anyway, here are our suggestions for the best camera drones and – since this is safe for a while – the best beginner drones.

Autel Robotics has announced its new enterprise drone the EVO MAX 4T at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. The drone features a multi-camera hybrid zoom camera with 10x optical and 160x digital, 4K video and a thermal camera. It also includes a laser range finder, autonomous flight tech, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and technology to supress radio interference.

Known for its high-vis color scheme, Autel Robotics has always lent to commercial operations and this drone clearly targets that market. The orange is more subtle in Autel’s latest, but it’s there on the fold-out arms of the 1500g airframe (with an 8070mAh hot-swappable battery inside). It looks like DJI’s new Mavic 3 Enterprise series already has something to worry about.

The Autel EVO MAX 4T's camera array is made up of a 48MP half-inch CMOS sensor, a 50MP wide-angle camera with 1/1.28-inch CMOS, and a 640x512 resolution thermal imaging camera with up to 16x digital zoom on offer. The zoom camera – with up to 10x optical zoom – has an 8K sensor. Images from the cameras can be seen on a multi-channel display, so optical and thermal video appears next to a map view.

Inspectors will be able to use the laser rangefinder to take measurements up to 1.2km (3/4 mile) with an accuracy of ±1m (3ft), and the up-to 160x hybrid zoom to record images. The transmission range is up to 20km (12.4 miles), and it has a flight time of 42 minutes. Autel SkyLink 3.0 offers 1080p 60fps live footage.

The drone heralds new obstacle avoidance (Autel is calling it “720˚”) with re-routing (similar to that we’ve seen on DJI drones) and a return-to-home which doesn’t depend on GPS. As well as binocular vision sensors the autonomy engine can call upon millimetre-wave radar, which works better in low-light and rain. The drone also sports an IP43 rating, meaning it can handle water falling on it.

Master of the airwaves

The Autel EVO 4T Max is also introducing an industry-first – A-Mesh 1.0 – Autel Robotic’s new mesh networking technology. This enables the drone to communicate with others in the vicinity and enables drones to relay data if one should power down unexpectedly. This opens up the possibility of one pilot operating a fleet of drones and (with suitable permissions) uses beyond the line of the pilot’s sight (BVLOS).

As well as on drones, communications nodes could be placed on hills or elevated places to improve the coverage of an area. There is also the option of 4G LTE integration. In fact, Autel also highlighted the Dragonfish and EVO NEST infrastructure; an automated takeoff, landing and charging system for eVTOL which, they tell us, could operate with up to 75 miles between bases. (We recently covered a Skydio announcement in a similar vein). 

The Max 4T also includes new control modules and algorithms specifically designed to counter RFI, EMI and GPS spoofing, which they say “enables the EVO Max 4T to fly confidently near power lines, critical structures, and in complex areas.”

Data security was also a key part of Autel’s announcement, noting the AES 256 encryption on controllers and optional cloud servers and SkyCommand operations software.

New app platform

Commercial mission operators will get access to a newly rebuilt Autel Enterprise App which enables 2D and 3D mapping, waypoint missions, spiral search-and-rescue missions and more. These can be operated from the Autel Smart Controller V3 which has a 2000-nit 7.9-inch display and up to 4.5 hours battery.

Where does this fit?

When we looked ahead with our predictions for drones in 2023 we expected something from Autel at CES. We hand in mind an EVO III, but here we see that Autel is putting enterprise needs first – definitely on trend and a wise move considering DJI’s woes with US government blacklists. Autel has had some delays between CES announcements and availability in the past – we’ll keep you posted.

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The camera drone market is ever-changing, but there are some trends. Since regulations made 250g a limit in many places, we’ve seen a lot of development in the ultra-light category, while premium features have tended to debut at a higher weight; Autel EVO II or the DJI Mavic 3 being obvious examples.

There is, however, a space between what is obviously a consumer market and the high-end pricing – what we might call ‘prosumer.’ This is a drone for customers who value features and quality, and are prepared to push over the 250g. That is where the EVO Lite steps in, but it is not a territory Autel has to itself – the drone is both price and feature-competitive with the DJI Air 2S, which also sports a 1-inch sensor.

Autel EVO Lite vs EVO Lite+

In this review, we look specifically at the EVO Lite+, since that is the Plus model Autel was kind enough to lend us, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that there are two versions with this airframe – a slightly cheaper one with a smaller sensor which doesn’t get the ‘+’ at the end of its name. 

The standard Lite does allow for portrait-format images to suit social media, and even the rotation of your phone/monitor, while the Lite+ is focused on traditional formats.

Build and handling

The Autel EVO Lite+ drone is not a small one; in fact this is where the comparison to the Mavic 3 (which shares similar dimensions) makes more sense. Sat next to DJI’s consumer flagship, the drone is a very similar size, though a little lighter at 820g. That is heavier than the Air 2S though, giving it better wind resistance and – since the weight comes from a 6175 mAh battery (theoretically up to 40 minutes in the air). 

Autel’s drone offers a very different look from the DJI competitors too, and Autel even offers a degree of choice. We tested the white version, but the Lite and Lite+ can also be had in Autel Orange or a dark grey. In all cases, the build is a bit more industrial than you’d expect from DJI, especially the slightly taller legs which are better for landing in grass and fit in the bag no problem but might seem less streamlined than some would want. We’d opt for the extra height every time though.

The arms are firmly sprung into place, resulting in a generous size of 427 x 384 x 95mm when open. Above the gimbal, there are two ‘eyes’ – collision sensors – and similar ones built into the rear and base of the drone. There are no side or top sensors, though, so you aren’t protected all round.

We also noted that a round mount allows for screw-on lens filters – something which seems to have gone out of fashion with certain other brands. The charging hub, on the other hand, could stand a bit of modernizing – the batteries don’t clip in and stay easily. 

The controller

Autel’s controller, which we’ve met before with the lightweight Nano, looks very like a game controller; so much so we can see old-school professionals grumbling and muttering about kids and their newgfangled ways. In practice, it fits very comfortably in the hands – and stays there thanks to a textured grip. The extendable phone holder can comfortably grip even the largest phones. We got an iPhone Pro Max in a case in with no problems.

The Autel radio system also manages an impressive 12km (7.46 miles) in the right conditions, so no concerns there. Moreover, we didn’t encounter a single drop out during our testing; the live stream can reach 2.7K where the signal is strong enough, which affords an excellent preview. We have to acknowledge that DJI claims 15km for their Mavic 3, but in practice, these drones are in the same territory in terms of range.

While the very console-like controller shape is good to hold and operate, it seems to have less space for power than some competitors. We found it’d likely need charging every three or four flights. That’s fine if you don’t buy over 4 batteries and charge at the same time as the rest (and we’re still looking at nearly 2 hours), but some others do last longer.

The other oddity about the controller is that, like DJI devices, it features removable sticks but – once unscrewed – there is nowhere to store them. If you have the Premium bundle with the bag, you can use the pocket at the top, but this doesn’t feel as solid as a dedicated slot in the controller (something we must acknowledge DJI do score on).

Flight characteristics

There isn’t much to be said about the flight performance that you can’t already deduce from the hefty battery, save to say it does the job solidly. We were able to get comfortably past 30 minutes, verging on 35 minutes of useful flight and the drone seemed unaffected by crosswind.

We have no reason to doubt the theoretical resistance to Force 7 (35mph / 56kph) winds since, in “ludicrous mode” it can reach 40mph. Standard and Smooth modes are likely more useful for most videography though.

The collision avoidance is clear and detects objects at a good distance – about 8m/26ft. To be honest this is a bit more than needed and you’ll likely want to turn it off.

Autel Evo Lite+: Photos

For a serious workflow there is no doubt that the Lite+ produces excellent images. The Lite+ which we tested has a ƒ/2.8 – 11 aperture. The cheaper Lite has a 50MP camera with ƒ/1.9 aperture and 1/1.28-inch sensor which it can rotate on a 4-axis gimbal, so might be of interest to social media creators. The Lite+’s camera captures 20MP but from significantly larger 2.44µm photosites.

If you’re comparing against DJI’s offerings, the Lite+’s adjustable aperture is something the Air 2S isn’t able to offer, but the Mavic 3 does. The other camera specs – both megapixels and microns – are re-tellings of the same figures as the Air 2S. Finally the field of view, at 29mm EFL, is narrower than the Air 2S’s 22mm EFL or the Mavic 3’s 24mm. The relative benefit is a matter of personal perspective (sorry); we found the Air 2S felt a bit too wide when reviewing it – no such issues with the Lite+.

The standard Lite also packs phase and contrast-detection focus, while the Lite+ is only contrast based. Focusing isn’t as quick as we’d like, either, and with the 1-inch sensor on the Lite+ there is the potential, in low light, to end up losing focus as you travel. On the plus side the adjustable aperture gives you an option here lacking in the cheaper model.

Just as when we tested the Mavic 3 – in similar conditions and the same location (see review) – we ended up preferring to tweak RAW images ourselves rather than using the default JPEG settings. It’s not that the NANO Lite+ didn’t give real-feeling images, but RAW made it possible to draw a bit more out in terms of contrast.

Autel EVO Lite+: Video

Autel describes the Lite Plus’s video as “6K” which, in truth, is a bit of an exaggeration – 5472 x 3076 pixels is same as that DJI call “5.4K” on the Air 2S. It is still more than the 5.1K (5120 x 2700) on the Mavic 3, and at 16.8 MP, twice the pixel count of 4K video with is jaw dropping when watched on a monitor up to the job.

The digital zoom – with 2x and 4x options on screen – provides the opportunity for a different field of view. While the 2x does lack some of the sharpness of the standard output, it seems adequate for output. You will spot some sharp aliasing on crisp lines at this scale, but the footage is still good. 4x, however, is another matter. What amounts to 4 megapixels of data becomes a softer image, only really suitable for viewing in a smaller window (like an embedded YouTube player).

Video sample; There is no question that the drone’s “6K” video is gorgeous, as these clips reveals; detail is sharp.

The data rate for video is 120Mbps, slightly less than the 150Mbps of the DJI Air 2S, though it’s not easy to see the difference. HDR is now available (a feature missing at launch) but there is no option to record 10-bit video. It is possible, however, to record a flat profile at 8-bit for later editing, similar to DJI’s D-Log (a feature which was added later, but is there, we assure you).

The practical upshot of this is you’ll probably see some spikes in the histogram when grading video but you’ve still got a good couple of stops of flexibility. It’s a shame there is no 10-bit recording, but you do have 1.3x lossless scaling available in 4K which means video editors still have plenty of ways to ensure excellent finished output.

Video sample: Caught in low light the video shows little noise except in areas of similar tone (tree leaves especially).

Flying and features

Flying the drone is a breeze as you’d expect given the grip-friendly controller and annexation of your phone as a live view monitor. As with competing products, you need to download Autel’s free app and connect it to the controller.

A feature we liked on the Autel Nano is added here; the ability to narrate your flight to the video’s audio via the phone microphone. While it does tend to pick up movement noise, this makes adding notes easy and you can listen back when you play videos in the app.

Video sample: Subject tracking worked even in low light (notice we’re shooting with the shutter at 1/30 and ƒ/2.8). 

While Autel provide some tracking and smart shots, they feel like less able equivalents of those DJI offer with the Air 2S and Mavic 3. How often a professional user would actually benefit from these features is open to doubt anyway, so for most it won’t be an issue, but attempting to use the subject tracking can be frustrating. The drone is distinctly hit and miss in the subjects it offers (highlights with a blue cross) for you to track, and even if it works at first it might well lose them soon. With higher contrast, things worked better, and it was able to orbit areas on the ground like buildings or even a dock.

On the plus side, the app offers a good range of photographer-friendly features.

Autel also earn many operators’ love by deliberately not building in geofencing restrictions. It is up to the user to ensure they’re flying safely rather than requiring pre-flight bureaucracy and unlocking. The drone also doesn’t include ADS-B which warns you about nearby aircraft; this could be more useful though again isn’t really missed.

Software tools

Since the drone’s initial launch, the EVO Lite+ has gained a few features (not least of which was HDR and Log profiles, mentioned above). Autel hasn’t restricted themselves to photographic improvements though. Both Lite drones also gained Wi-Fi fast downloading which can transfer files to your phone quickly in a similar manner to recent DJI drones. Another addition is the ability to order a service online..

The camera did well in the dark, but also offers a distinct ‘night mode’ for long exposure effects. We’ve got to admit we weren’t able to see the benefit, though we did appreciate the fog and rain mitigation options.

The “Portrait” mode is also somewhat odd. It seems to produce a very slightly softened background – as iPhone users might expect – but doesn’t do a great job of selecting the subject from the background. Nor, in truth, does it seem very useful from a wide-angled lens in an aerial position, but it’s there if you want it.

Autel EVO Lite Plus: Verdict

If you’re looking at the EVO Lite, then we’re guessing you’re already prepared to step past the 250g limit and deal with the bureaucracy (registration or perhaps a qualification like the A2CofC). Given that, the EVO Lite+ is clearly a contender against the Air 2S and Mavic 3 – perhaps, especially, the later. 

The size, near-900g weight, and variable aperture, puts the drone nearer the Mavic 3, while the price is significantly more attractive. It might lack the additional zoom camera of the Mavic 3, and the larger 4:3 sensor, but 1-inch is still very impressive and the long flight time is very useful in the field which puts both a step above the Air 2S.

The visual output is excellent, and the camera options good, with the only real loss being that video is caught at 8-bit (16.8 million colors) rather than 10-bit (1 billion). There is still room to edit with the log profile, though, which will be enough for most pros. For our money we’d rather have the adjustable aperture.

Which brings us to the ultimate point – value. The Autel EVO Lite+ Premium bundle (with three batteries, UV filters and a bag) costs around $1,800 / £1,500, while the Mavic 3 Fly More bundle is $2,849 / £2,399. Given that, the Autel EVO Lite + seems to represent much better value than either of DJI’s contenders – assuming you can live without a few tracking features.

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Autel Robotics has taken the opportunity of the IFA technology show in Berlin to announce six new versions of its EVO II drone, as well as a new Live Deck 2 video streaming accessory. There will also be two new controllers – Smart Controller V3 and Smart Controller SE – to accompany the EVO II V3 series.

The EVO II series is Autel Robotic’s key professional folding drone, a similar size to DJI’s Mavic 2 or 3. Ever since its release in 2020 (see our Evo II review), the drone has received alternative cameras and additional accessories for the professional market. It offers optional support for RTK positioning (map-level detail) and thermal imaging.

The V3 promises higher resolution imaging (Autel gave no specific resolution yet), better low-light performance, better thermal camera performance and additional accessories.

Promised improvements to the EVO II include better heat dissipation so the drone lasts longer, the use of multiple global navigation satellite systems for better positioning accuracy and improvements to long-range transmission.

Because of the number of variants of the EVO II V2 currently available, and the fact some of the changes will be internal, the new V3 will effectively be six different products. These are:

We don’t know the exact specifications for the V3 yet, but the existing EVO II pro weighs in at 1191g (42oz) and has 40 minutes battery life and a 6K/30fps camera already. The Enterprise editions allow swappable accessories including a search light and a loudspeaker. The drone is also offered as ‘Dual 640T’ which sports a thermal imaging camera. Given we’re not expecting the external appearance to change dramatically, we’d expect weights to remain the same.

The improvements to the drone’s range likely explain the need to introduce new controllers. Autel also already offer a Live Deck, so the EVO II Live Deck 2 will likely be compatible with an improved radio system. All the EVO II V3 drones will be compatible with the new Live Deck 2.

The original battery-powered Live Deck featured an antenna and allowed the connection of up to three live outputs. With HDMI, Ethernet and USB 1080p video at 60fps could be viewed on a monitor or fed to a broadcasting server, and we don’t expect these features to be removed.

Autel is exhibiting at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas starting today until the September 8, 2022, so if you’re in Sin City you’ll be able to ask about the EVO II V3 in person.

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If you're in the market for quality 4K drone that is also more than capable of capturing stunning aerial images at 50 megapixels, then these latest price cuts in the Autel Robotics Summer Sale are just the thing to save you money and have you launching into the sky.

First up is the Autel Evo Nano+. This mighty drone comes in two packages, the Standard and Premium bundle, receiving a jaw-dropping 15% or 20% reduction respectively.  

The Autel Nano+ is a lightweight drone weighing in at justly 239 grams and to able to produce stunning 50MP images and 4K video with great noise control in all lighting situations, due to its large f/1.9 aperture. At just this really is a great option for those looking to up their game and offer clients 4K drone footage and stunning aerial images.

Also on offer and receiving an incredible 20% off is the Evo Lite+, which is now priced $1,479. The Evo Lite+ offers HDR camera modes, more flight and battery range, less interference, and Ultra Wide Angle Obstacle Avoidance. 

Flex your creativity with the adjustable aperture, from f/2.8 to f/11, helping you adjust exposure and depth of field to show off your own artistic style. Also show the world your cinematic skill by moonlight with the 1-inch CMOS image sensor and intelligent moonlight algorithm that enables the Evo Lite+ to capture crisp, vibrant details at night.

If you are in the market for a top quality 4K drone that's lightweight, or one that offers HDR support to make your visual pop, these two offering with price reductions are tempting offers to steer away from DJI, in fact the also offer added features that the DJI rivals, so you can really show off about the specs and the load of cash you saved too! 

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Late in 2021, around the time DJI was hoping to keep the limelight on their Mavic 3 launch, oft-overlooked competitor Autel announced their Nano series, an ultra-light drone with collision sensors. DJI’s then top-tier ultra-light, the Mini 2, had no such technology – just a couple of painted vents which served to highlight the relative feature weakness.

That said, while the Autel Evo Nano Plus impressed on a technical level, it also raised the stakes budget-wise too; it was the most expensive drone in the weight category by some distance. It wasn’t long before DJI spied the opportunity and arrived with their own offering for the new category we can think of as professional ultra-light: the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Until it came out, some DJI loyalists were expecting a Mini 3 at a similar price but with more features – for now, at least, that isn’t the case (though the ‘Pro’ tag implies the Mini 3 airframe may yet arrive with a more modest camera).

• See also: DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 2

Now, though, if you are looking to invest in a professional ultra-light – to get the most features with the minimum in legal restriction – you must choose between these aircraft, and it’s not an easy decision. 

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano+: Design

Autel has long gone with a striking orange for their aircraft, offering a workman-like impression in much the same way high-vis jackets do. The Nano, however, is also offered in three other tones; a rather more chic grey+yellow fuselage, a lighter grey with graphite trim, or a pure red. Our favorite is the grey and yellow (but the test model we tried out and photographed was orange!).

DJI’s Mini 3 Pro looks like an aggressively compressed version of its Air 2S, and it sits on the ground using only nub-like legs in its fuselage, while the EVO Nano is similar to the Mini 2 in that, when opened, the front arms have legs to level the ‘copter until take off. Both are much happier taking off from a drone landing mat. That also means it’s essential to open the legs on the Autel in order, while the Mini 3 Pro is a little more forgiving.

DJI’s design places the front and back vision sensors in protrusions at the top which look a little like frog’s eyes, while the Nano’s design seems to make more sense when flat, with rear sensors at the back and front ones in the front. In practice rear-facing sensors are needed as the drone reverses. The faster it goes backward, the closer to horizontal its rearwards sensors will see. Autel manage to tuck them into hinges for the rear arms, so they appear to have a good view at any speed. 

While both drones do look quite different, the essentials are the same – charging connector and battery accessed at the rear, camera gimbal at the front (we’ll cover this in detail below). Style preference is not for us to judge and, given the weight category, both feel light but solid where it counts – specifically the hinges and arms.

One little extra score for the Autel is that the company includes a strap to protect the propellors by holding them close to the fuselage as well as a gimbal cover, while DJI only include a (pretty flddly) gimbal cover. 

Another plus for Autel is that the batteries themselves include the 4-LED test circuit, so you can check them even when they’re not in the drone. DJI’s Mini series batteries can only share this info when plugged into the aircraft, which will slow you down if you’re checking which battery to use next on location.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano+: Speed and maneuverability

By perhaps the most practical measure – the level of wind force they may be flown in – this category is (on paper) a tie. DJI and Autel advertise their aircraft as being able to operate in up to Force 5 on the Beaufort scale, which is also known as a “Fresh Breeze.” In practice, the Mini 3 looked happier in the air as the wind reached this kind of speed – the Autel seems to dance a little more, which doesn’t inspire confidence.

In our tests the Mini 3 Pro was pretty agile, and can ascend and decend at 5 m/s, which speaks highly to stability. The machine didn’t seem to actually manage this when moving forward too, but perhaps a tweak to the control settings may be in order.

Both drones offer three different speed modes; DJI call them Cine, Normal and Sport while Autel brand them Smooth, Standard and Ludicrous, but in practice it is similar. Soon after your first flight, the lower setting is still useful for controlling speed when capturing video, while at the highest the collision sensors aren’t guaranteed (or are simply turned off on the Mini 3). A plus for DJI is a slider switch between speed modes on the remote (though the Autel remote has a user definable key).

Where collision sensing is enabled, both drones have the ability to circumnavigate obstacles and it has to be said that – clever though this is – both also do so rather more slowly than a human might, throttling back while the AI does its thing. 

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano+: Battery life

Because drones are at their most efficient when travelling forward, the theoretical maximum flight time is rarely a measure of the actual time you’ll get in the air. You’ll need to take a few minutes off for hover, approximately 20% off for the return-to-home time (both drones will be pretty clear about this via their apps or displays). Tricky conditions or aggressive piloting will also draw more current.

We like that – in some places at least – it’ll be possible to get the Intelligent Battery Plus – for the Mini 3, offering the extended times above but pushing the take-off weight over 249g. Because of the wording of the law in the UK and Europe, DJI won’t sell the extended battery in those markets as even the potential to carry more weight would move every Mini 3 into the more regulated C1 category. Irritating, but it means Europeans shouldn’t let the potential extra battery influence their decision. 

So, if you’re working with the standard battery, you can expect about 24 minutes (in decent weather – less in the cold) of useful flight time with both aircraft; perhaps two minutes more with the Mini 3. On the flip side, the Autel batteries do have the convenience of built-in testers, which we found useful.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel Evo Nano+: Gimbal & camera

While both drones mount their camera on a 3-axis gimbal, the Mini 3 Pro does have a crucial additional trick on the Roll axis: the power to rotate the camera 90˚ to portrait mode. That’s a significant boon for social-focused creatives, and not something the Nano + can do, meaning images need to be cropped and lose definition – there is, however, a ‘Portrait’ mode in the menu so you can capture stills or video in this format for quick sharing, but at the expense of pixel resolution.

Atop that, the extra room around the DJI gimbal means it has a good deal more ability to compensate for roll pitch and roll. The EVO Nano’s gimbal is mounted on rubber dampers and shielded from above (a bit like the DJI Mini 2), and the result is that aggressive flying will push it to the edge more easily than on the Mini 3 Pro. Admittedly we’re not convinced by the practical benefits of the Mini 3 Pro’s ability to ‘look up’ (higher positive tilt range), but better to have it than not.

In practice, then, the Mini 3 Pro is a clear winner in this category, but most of the time – unless you’re looking for portrait shots – there isn’t as much in it as you might think.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano+: Controller & range

When it comes to communication tech there is little practical difference between these drones; 12km and 10km range are both well over the legal limit (0.5km in the UK) you’ll typically be allowed to operate at.

The Autel does have the edge when it comes to the live view video though, which streams at 2.7K where the signal quality permits, even better than the DJI’s 1080P – though many operators of older drones will remember when 720P transmission sufficed (e.g. the DJI Mini 2) and may think this isn’t a feature to place excessive weight on.

The controller itself is a more interesting battle. The Nano Plus has Autel’s newer very comfortable to hold game-pad shaped controller, while DJI offer both their standard RC-N1 – chunkier, heavier, but effective – or a new controller with built-in 700-nit display. The later, of course, adds to the price, but not as excessively as previous DJI remotes with screens. It’s also very convenient, though the display isn’t as bright as an iPhone.

If you’re mounting a phone, the Autel controller might look less sophisticated than the DJI, but it is also a tad lighter (and given the weight of a high-end modern phone that is a factor). On the flip side, DJI include a handy holder for your leads and unscrewed control sticks in their RC-N1 whereas Autel trust you not to lose the essential and tiny components yourself. 

The DJI also has a longer battery life, even when it’s connected to your phone and sharing its power. This is only really a factor if you’ve got more than 6 batteries with your drone, however, given their flight time. In short, DJI win here by offering more choice – the new DJI RC – but if you’re content to user your phone there isn’t a lot in it.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano +: Still Photos

With little to distinguish the sensor size or megapixel count, both drones have impressive cameras, though the Mini 3 has the edge when it comes to aperture. Looking at the images we see sharper stills but generally more noise in the DJI shots when shooting at 48 or 50 Megapixels. Both brands seem to nudge users toward 12-megapixel shooting though; on the DJI the High Res is a separate mode with some features unavailable, while on the Nano+ you can only capture JPEG at the full 9192x6144 pixels. 

In terms of visual difference, Autel and DJI have strikingly different algorithmic approaches; the DJI seems to let more unprocessed information though, resulting in softer edges and more noise. Greens definitely seem to get a boost, and perhaps blue skies. Autel, on the other hand seem to soften out much of the digital noise while at the same time applying a stronger sharpening effect to edges, and less picture-postcard saturation. As a result the Autel images look crisper when viewed at a sensible size, but a very close crop can look unnatural, almost illustrated; blowing up the DJI image just exaggerates grain. It’s a matter of taste. Both, inevitably, have slight evidence of perspective correction but handle it well.

Both drones allow manual modes, though Autel’s terminology – a shutter priority option – feels a little more welcoming to photographers. Bracketing and interval shooting are on both too, while the Nano+ also has an ‘HDR Imaging’ function (but working only at 3840x2160 it seems more like a ‘frame from video mode’). Both drones also have essentially the same panoramas available.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano+: Video

Here the spec sheet would seem to favor the Mini 3 Pro, but shooting at 4K60fps surrenders the HDR effect of the drone’s dual-native ISO, so in practice you’ll likely prefer to shoot in the 4K/30fps mode on both drones. 

DJI offers a flat color profile, D-Cinelike, while the Autel Nano Plus has Log, so those who prefer to grade their own video will be happy wither way. Neither drone, sadly, can provide an unflattened preview image to shoot with.

Just like the stills, when you look at the video taken from each drone, you’ll see they have slightly different approaches to their processing; the Nano+’s video looks sharper owing to more aggressive software processing, which looks good when viewed normally but doesn’t stand up to close inspection (you wouldn’t want to crop on it too far in editing). Autel does offer up to 16x digital zoom compared to DJI’s 4x, but arguably that’s just self-restraint.

You can see sample videos in our full reviews:

DJI Mini 3 Pro Review

Autel Nano Plus Review

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano +: Software features

More exciting for many is AI subject tracking, in which the drone plots its own path to keep the subject in camera, while avoiding obstacles. Both drones are capable of this, and both can avoid obstacles, to an extent. The Nano’s Dynamic Track software is, however, still in beta and we’ve seen that it prefers following a subject from behind, while DJI’s tracking tools are already in place and can also orbit a moving subject or and track from the side. Admittedly the last two will highlight the lack of collision sensors on the side in an environment with obstacles (like trees), but in an open space they’re great features to have.

In both cases the aircraft will slow down as it plots a course avoiding obstacles, and there is the risk of losing the subject, so it’s not a technology to rely upon, but it is exciting and DJI so seem to have the edge.  

Both drone offer Hyperlapse functionality, and both also feature pre-programmed ‘QuickShots’ (automatic flight paths to capture a shareable video). The Nano has four, while DJI offer six, though orbit and rocket are there for both brands (probably the most useful). This might sound like a win for DJI, but Autel’s Quickshots can be captured at 4K, while the DJI drone drops back to 1080p.

The Nano+ has an interesting extra feature; the ability to record from your phone’s microphone to the video you’re capturing – effectively to narrate (or keep audio notes). For some, it could be very useful. It also has an infuriating voice alert, which is much less handy!

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel EVO Nano +: Verdict

Ask people who have flown many drones which is better and you’ll often find their answer leans toward the brand they’re most familiar with. More people are familiar with DJI, and that definitely affects even some “impartial” assessments, not least when it comes to one brand or another’s default color and sharpening, but also default control “feel.”

We actually found the Autel’s photographic approach often seemed more engaging; the approach to sharpening looks great and viewed at normal resolution looked ‘right.’ Most photographers will probably want to process their images, however, and DJI offers more possibilities here with the high res .dng option.

Again, in terms of video, not only does the DJI slightly edge things thanks to having the option of 60fps at 4K, but it does also feel a little more comfortable in the breeze. Equally the wider gimbal movement meant we didn’t hit the limits in the same way the Nano+ can, and we felt there was just a bit more power to draw on, whether flying in the high speed mode or standard.

Despite this being a very close battle, the extra battery time, slightly more reliable airframe (especially in windy conditions) and the variety of controller choice all add up to make this a victory for the DJI Mini 3 Pro, at least while the pricing also slightly favors the Mini 3. 

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Testing the Autel EVO Nano+ was exciting. Waiting for the weather to let us, not so much, but that’s life. This machine is so significant because – while we’ve seen others chip at DJI’s undoubted “big boy” status – this is the first time in a while a drone has stepped out and appeared to claim market leader status in its category. Not only that, but the category in question – sub 250g aircraft – is probably the most important one in the world of camera drones right now.

How can that have happened? DJI have been laying claim to this ground for some time now, with the DJI Mini 2 and Mini SE offering 4K and 1080P options depending just how much customers are prepared to part with for the camera. Unlike Autel, however, they’ve not managed to (or chosen to) fit vision sensor pairs (collision sensors) on their lightweight aircraft (base excepted). Nor does the Mini 2’s image sensor have anything like the size, with a pretty pedestrian 1 / 2.3” (7.66mm) compared to the Nano+.

That isn’t to say that the Autel Robotics EVO Nano series is flawless, but they do address a lot of areas which a photographer or creator would prioritize while still managing to fit in tech which is becoming increasingly expected on modern drones. The EVO Nano is sold in two flavors: Nano and Nano+. The former is not yet available as we write, but will be sold with a 48-megapixel half-inch camera, while the Nano+ (which we’re trying) has a 1/1.28-inch RYYB sensor. Both offer 4K at 30fps. 

Oh, and if comparing these sensor size measurements makes your brain itch, try the ever more logical metric: the Nano+’s sensor measures 19.8mm diagonally, compared to 12.7mm for the Nano.

The Drone

Knocking DJI’s Mini 2 aside in terms of technical achievement and becoming the best specified drone in the regulator-friendly sub-250g category is no mean achievement, and we can’t say another word about the Evo Nano+ (and the rest of the Nano series) without drawing attention to that straight away.

The Evo Nano is available in four shades. If we were buying for ourselves, we might have picked the ‘Deep Space Gray’ model with the cool yellow accent, but as you can see we’re testing the ‘Autel Orange’ model which is certainly very striking, though it does rather highlight some of the design similarities the Nano shares with the older Autel EVO II (orange body, black legs and a black bar joining the front vision sensors). There is no crime in following a and developing style, though, and it is impressive it has been achieved here at such a low weight.

The camera-and-gimbal unit is protected by a removable plastic cover which could be easier to get on but does a fine job once in place. Behind that a rubber strap is provided to prevent the propellors roaming free and this does a surprisingly good job. Once these are off, the legs can be unfolded and the full Nano revealed.

The base includes an ultrasonic sensor and two vision sensors as well as the vents for a fan which is likely what nudges the flight times slightly below the DJI Mini drones but also handles the compute power needed to handle collision avoidance and other on-board processing. The front and rear also sport a pair of vision sensors meaning the drone can ‘see’ forward, downward and backward – to around 8m (over 25ft) in our testing. Also at front and back are LED status indicators, and the back has a USB-C port which can be used for charging or data transfer, and a microSD card socket (more of which later).

Overall we have no complaints about the construction; it is remarkable that so much can fit into the weight limit set by aviation authorities. Admittedly it’d be nice to have longer legs – the camera isn’t 10mm (0.4in) above the ground when landed, so even rough asphalt is asking a bit much – but this is not a design issue unique to Autel, and a simple cheap landing mat can solve this issue.  

See our list of drone landing mats

We did have a recurring issue with the gimbal, or “jim-ball” as the excessively chatty voice alert insisted on calling it. Every time we were ready to take off, the aircraft seemed to need to spend some time checking itself (not a bad thing in of itself, but the self-checks could be faster). Over time, especially thanks to the voice alerts, this got pretty infuriating (as you can see from the screenshot, the Gimbal is important to the self-check process). We can see how the alerts might be modeled on the “Pull up, Pull up” alert you hear in airline disaster movies, but the option to minimize alerts would be useful.

It is also worth noting the device struggled to find a GPS signal in places where other devices didn’t. In general there just seemed to be slightly more off-and-on, resetting, calibrating and software fiddling than I’d like, but most of this comes under the potential for software improvements and things got palpably better with the firmware during our review, so presumably this will happen again.

The Controller

The controller didn’t fill us with excitement at first glance. It looks a lot like a plasticky off-brand game controller you might buy for a kid’s tablet, but as soon as it is in hand it has an impressive heft to it, and the texture of the hand grips are just right. The control sticks feel great too – well sprung but useable – and it charges from the same USB-C which adds a little convenience (though sadly there is no adapter for it on the battery multi-charger (charging hub) which is included in the “On The Go” bundle.

It’s not flawless, though. The controller is supplied with a choice of connector cables for iPhone, USB-C phone or micro-USB phone, but the connector at the controller end is a bit too long to leave in the handset when you remove the phone and push down the phone clamp. It’s OK so long as you’re cautious. There are also no recesses to put the control sticks into when they’re not screwed into the controller (and they need somewhere to go when the controller is in the Autel travel bag). To be fair, there is a zipped compartment inside said bag, or you can risk using the rubber phone clamps themselves (the clamp is happier with a phone though). It’d also be nice if the controller could top up the phone’s charge, but this is a long way from essential, especially if you have a recent iPhone.

Returning to the positive, looking like a game controller means it handles as well as one too. That’s a good thing. The button layout is straightforward too, with a standard push-wheel on the left shoulder and a programmable function button on each shoulder (the one on the right is shutter by default). None of this will make it hard to either start from scratch or, we’ll bet Autel are thinking, make the move from other brands of drone.

First Flight

Flying a drone is a markedly different experience the first few times as you acquaint yourself with the device – or flying in general –  and the extra effort that a manufacturer goes toward welcoming inexperienced pilots tends to speak a lot toward to the extra effort applied to more subtle aspects of R&D. We found a lot to be thankful for here from Autel, with the creation of a ‘Novice’ mode which has good on-screen guidance. 

As well as connection issues mentioned above, the other issue we encountered was partly our fault – the software seemed to default to ‘FPV’ (the gimbal didn’t counterbalance the drone’s lean, so the horizon was well off). The gimbal did seem to vibrate more than on a DJI Mini 2. After a software update [sigh] we still found that this problem developed again after 2 flights – a land, off, and on corrected it. The memory card, however, seemed OK after this point. 

On which note, if you’re in the northern hemisphere in February, one thing to learn not to do is agree when your drone suggests a 15-minute software update in a windy field. It is our duty to you to be as up to date as possible when testing, so we tried, but perhaps somewhere warmer would have been wise, especially as the update failed first time! The other problem with midwinter is, of course, that we won’t have seen the batteries at their best, but the 27-minute claim isn’t far off the mark, and while that may be a few minutes behind the DJI Mini, it doesn’t make an appreciable difference if you work sensibly, and the multi-charger works great.

Camera

The Autel EVO Nano is sold in two flavors, Nano and Nano+; the former has the smaller 12.7mm image sensor diagonal, while the later increases that to just shy of 20mm. This has a significant increase in sensor area, affording those who opt for the pricier camera 2.44μm pixels on an RYYB sensor. 

Video sample – side light. 4K 30fps.

An RYYB sensor allows more light through than a traditional RGGB array, which should make for better low-light images. On that score, the camera also has a ƒ/1.9 aperture and 6,400 maximum ISO (one stop more than the Mini 2). The Nano+ also produces what Autel’s marketing material calls 50-megapixel images, but Adobe Camera Raw 14.1 saw as 4096 x 3072 (12.6 megapixels). What’s happening, in other words, is all four parts of those RYYB pixels count as one, just as is frequently the case with quad-Bayer. What the debatable megapixels do seem to help with is digital zoom, certainly at 2x and perhaps even 4x (the on-screen options), though you can dial it up to 16x if you can tolerate the inevitable blur.

Come evening time, the Nano+ definitely does achieve the improvements you’d expect against the Mini 2; in terms of shadow detail there is a lot more available even when shooting with the ISO stop down (i.e. 1,600 ISO on the Nano+ will do as well or better than the maximum 3,200 ISO on the Mini 2). Images can be captured in JPEG and or RAW, and with intervals, Hyperlapse and so on too. There were fewer choices of frame rate than we’d like – just 30fps at 4K and 1080P at 60fps – no 24fps variants.  

The AI tracking did make a fine job of handling other objects when the light was less directly oppositional, and my favorite of the Quickshots was ‘Flick’ – a sort of swoop-and-track which would come in very handy for all sorts of reasons, perhaps an estate agent photographer? 

The tracking AI definitely didn’t appreciate the sinking sunlight, but it did nevertheless capture this image of an overweight technology writer before a subtly out of focus background, so we feel obliged to share. 

Other options include a full sphere. Something we did learn was not to do this toward the end of the flight as the aircraft doesn’t seem to be as quick at repositioning as we’d like, but is very insistent about returning to home once it becomes worried about the battery (on two occasions we attempted to cancel RTH during a panorama, and both times the shooting was stopped, though the drone stopped returning).

Though it undoubtedly has a few more quirks than others, Autel’s app is easy to use and creators will appreciate that when they’re operating at anything below 1km, the live preview is a luscious 2.7K, dropping to 720P beyond. The theoretical range is 10km but of course laws typically state otherwise. One nice feature is the ability to take advantage of your phone’s microphone to dictate your videos as you shoot them; this is a really nice touch.

Features we’d like to see include waypoints (something Autel are generally very good at, but seem to have left out here). We’re also hoping that future software updates will ensure a more stable connection to the microSD card – we had to land, power down, jiggle the card and take off again more than once but the fact problems didn’t arise while recording, only between, put the firmware further up the suspicion list than it might otherwise have been.

Is this the best lightweight drone on the market? We think so. Could it be better? Undoubtedly (and it probably will be). But if nothing changed you wouldn’t be disappointed.

Autel EVO Nano+ Verdict

This is the best camera that you’ll get in the air below 250g, plain and simple, which is enough to earn it best lightweight drone status. The 4K video looks good and offers a good  The positive column is bolstered still further by the remote and collision detection (though it’d be nice if it could plot a path around objects rather than just stop). That said, it’s not a winner by as clear a margin as perhaps you’d expect given the specification. The starting price of $799 for a Nano+ is a big part of that (at the moment we don’t know enough about the $649 Autel Nano’s camera to say anything). Secondly the chatty software is in dire need of some further refinement, but progress there is highly promising. The automated tracking functions, especially Flick, produce engaging shots easily and even as-is, this machine is an ideal choice for someone looking to produce high-end images without tackling weight restrictions.

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Autel Robotic’s Chinese parent company has finally announced its entry into the lightweight drone space with the new Autel Nano, after a rapidly accelerating rumor mill spilled many of the beans.

Coming in under the 250g limit set by the FAA and European agencies for registration makes selling drones to enthusiasts and professionals easier (no one likes red tape), and they’re safer to operate. 

• Read more: Best camera drones

DJI has had its Mini series in this space since October 2019, and it looks like Autel is going straight against the higher end DJI Mini 2 with its new Autel Nano by giving it a matching 4K camera and 12MP sensor. The drone has a 10Km (6.2m) transmission range, like the Mini 2. Autel has also offered the chance of more collision sensors than DJI offers – forward, down and rear, whereas DJI just has the downward-facing landing sensors on its Mini series.

That said, Autel has opted to split the new product line into two right from launch, as customers will be able to choose between the regular Nano and the Autel Nano Plus. Only the Nano has all three obstacle avoidance sensors, plus a larger half-inch sensor and HDR. This seems to logically echo DJI’s creation of the DJI Mini SE, and it’ll be interesting to see if Autel restricts certain product tiers to certain regions as DJI has done.

The new Nano series is being offered in striking color combinations, including the well-known Autel Orange, Arctic White, Deep Space Gray and Blazing Red. The launch price is $649 (approximately £470 / AU$ 880) while the Nano Plus comes in at $799 (£580 / AU$ 1100).

Autel Evo Lite

Not forgetting content creators, the manufacturer also took the opportunity to announce the Autel Evo Lite. 

The slightly larger drone, coming in at 820g, sports up to a 1-inch sensor, with its 50MP power capable of capturing HDR (which isn't a dissimilar similar camera to that of the Autel Evo II, which weighed 1,150g). The Evo Lite has no pixel binning from its RYYB color filter array (rather than the usual RGGB).

Like the Nano, the Evo Lite also has active tracking, programmed flight modes and can stay aloft for up to 30 minutes. The drone also seems to have the same forward/backward / downward sensing capabilities, though in this instance – where the competitor seems to be the 5.4K resolution DJI Air 2S – that is actually one less than DJI’s equivalent, which also has upward sensing.

Again Autel is offering two versions of the Evo Lite model; this time both feature the obstacle avoidance systems, but the choice is between a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor and the 1-inch, which is the Lite+, with a 20MP sensor and 6K 30fps but an adjustable aperture (f/2.8-11) and a defog mode that is designed to reduce haze.

The Evo Lite+ is being offered for $1,249 (£ 925 / AU$ 1,725).

With the DJI Mavic 2 now being listed as discontinued and rumors of the DJI Mavic 3 being discussed everywhere drone pilots gather, it’s a great time for Autel to steal the show. One drone would have done that, but the company has gone all out with two (well, four if you count the different flavors). The commercial logic of the Nano series can’t be argued with the holiday season coming up, and the gift potential of a smaller drone. 

Read more: 

DJI Mini 2 review
DJI Mini SE review
DJI Air 2S review

If you're looking for a way to get a fresh perspective with your photography or videography, then drones are the perfect answer. Not only will they take your content to new heights (literally), but you'll also see a whole new world of compositions open up to you. High end drones can be a little pricey, but luckily the Autel Robotics EVO II 8K drone is currently on sale for a fantastic price – and it comes in a bundle with lots of useful accessories too. 

Autel Robotics EVO II drone deal

This bundle from Autel Robotics features the EVO II 8K drone, a travel shoulder bag, an extra flight battery (two in total) and three extra pairs of propeller blades (five pairs in total). 

The EVO II quadcopter is capable of capturing video at up to 7680 x 4320 resolution and 8000 x 6000 stills. Meanwhile, it also features a 7100mAh battery that enables it to fly up to 40 minutes at a time – plus, the motors can fly in Ludicrous Speed to reach speeds of up to 44.8 mph. You can even transmit HD footage back to the controller's 3.3" screen from up to 5.6 mils away. 

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Black Friday may be over, but the Green Monday camera deals have now started to take off  – but we have just spotted what we think is a pretty impressive deal on one of our favorite enthusiast drones available right now.

The Autel Robotics EVO II was launched right at the start of the year - just before the global pandemic struck. With its capability of shooting 8K video and shooting 48 megapixel stills this was always going to be one the best camera drones ever made. But as Covid started to create chaos, it took us some time to actually see and test out this exciting quadcopter for ourselves.

When we reviewed the EVO II in July we were mightily impressed by both the video quality and the collision avoidance system of this drone. And because it has proved such a popular model, it has often been hard to find in stock – and impossible to find at any type of discount.

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The Autel EVO II builds strongly on its predcessor. The original Autel EVO, the company’s first folding camera drone, was an able competitor for DJI’s Mavic Pro series. On the spec sheet, it was arguably the winner, boasting 4K at 60fps. It also included a ground-breaking controller with a built-in color display which meant your phone wasn’t (always) needed. There were some issues though; the orange shell didn’t quite have the finesse of DJI’s consumer styling, the software lacked the emphasis on shareability and usability, and some felt the machine was a bit skittish in the air. The Autel EVO II doesn’t discard the high-vis orange, and it definitely places the emphasis on specs again, but can it beat the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom?

In a word, yes. Just like the Mavic 2 series, the Autel EVO 2 airframe is offered with different cameras. The 8K EVO 2 is the lower priced model while the EVO 2 Pro maxes out at 6K video but from a 1-inch sensor. There is also an EVO Thermal (the 8K camera paired with a 640 x 512 FLIR thermal camera) on offer, for more specialist roles. 

The model tested here is the “standard” model, and although 8K video (7680*4320 pixels at 24 or 25fps video) might sound more impressive, the image sensor has a quarter the surface area of the EVO 2 Pro. In fact it is the same Sony IMX586 stacked CMOS 48-megapixel sensor as the Mavic Air 2, with a ƒ/1.8 lens giving 25.6mm effective focal length.

As a customer, then, Autel Robotics give you the choice between biggest sensor or another exciting feature in 8K video. This feels very similar to the choice between a Zoom lens over an even smaller sensor, or a 1-inch sensor with no zoom that DJI’s Mavic 2 series presents customers with, although Autel says that users will be able to swap their cameras (though you need to be confident with tiny screws and ribbon connectors).

Autel EVO II: The Airframe

The EVO 2 airframe definitely feels the part, and while we can’t say we are completely smitten by the color or styling, there is nothing to complain about. While the packaging would be at home in the Apple Store, the aircraft feels a notch closer to professional than consumer, and the slightly hump-back design makes sense when you realize it’s built around a giant 7,100mAh battery. 

In practice that battery gave us about 33 minutes useful flight, rather than the quoted 40, but we did need to tweak the return-to-home warnings in the settings – by default they come a bit early.

When folded, it’s not a lot bigger than a Mavic 2, but when open it is 53mm wider at 397mm across. It’s also a noticeably taller, partly by the inclusion of legs on all four arms, providing a useful 22m ground clearance. If the Mavic is a sports car, the Autel is a rugged 4x4 which can take off from a worse surface. 

The ruggedness doesn’t come at the expense of features – the aircraft houses the 12 camera sensors necessary for true omnidirectional collision sensors, it needs two cameras on either side and the top. In addition there are ultrasonic landing sensors, and downward facing LED lights. This thrashes the Mavic 2’s half-hearted equivalent: the DJI drone can only use its side sensors in some automated modes, while the EVO 2 will detect and avoid objects should you be about to hit them sideways. 

This feature is always available (so long as you don’t select the 45mph ‘Ludicrous Mode’) and it worked in our tests, and made us feel safer flying, especially when tracking a subject from the side. Not that it’s essential to do this manually; the drone is also equipped with a host of subject tracking modes. These include Dynamic track (follow), Tripod Track (hovers while camera follows subject), Parallel Track (follows subject and moves with it, like a dolly), Orbit (around a fixed point), Smart Orbit (around an object). 

Videographers will also appreciate Viewpoint, in which you can set the drone’s speed and just tap on the screen where it should go – great for slow approach shots as the drone controls the speed perfectly. Also handy are Precision Flight – a bit like DJI’s tripod mode – and Dual Stability, which stops gently for smoother shots. During all these modes it seems possible to influence the drone’s choices with the control sticks, which is great.

Video and photo are recorded to a MicroSD card accessible via a flap on the left, while a USB-C port is available on the right to download from the card and the drone’s built in memory (a very limited 6.68GB according to our Mac).

Autel EVO II: The controller

The controller is quite light, and feels a little like the weak link, design wise. The phone grip, a simple arm, was no problem to use with my iPhone 11 Pro Max in its case. Indeed the phone is positioned above the controller, as I prefer it, and the fold our arms make holding the controller comfortable, so from a practical perspective all is good, and the 9km range is more than sufficient. 

Where things fall down is the connectors; there are no perfectly tucked-in cables to connect phones as there are with DJI’s controllers – just a Micro USB connector for charging (not USB-C like the drone) and a large USB socket for connecting to your phone. I had to actually track down my own iPhone Lightning cable, which dangles rather awkwardly if you’ve been used to a Mavic.

That lack of design polish continues into the built-in display. Of course it’s brilliant that it can be used as a monitor, dispensing with the need for the phone at all for basic video and photo operation, but the layout of the instrument data could be a little more beautiful (it’s perfectly functional) and on a bright day the screen isn’t as bright as you’d like (the same can be said of a phone though). Complaints aside, you’re getting most of the way toward the optional DJI Smart Controller, without spending nearly half the price of the drone again!

Autel have also tried to give you extra options as a pilot with the addition of Gesture Control and voice command. The former will recognize you if you hold your arms above your head for a few seconds, then take a photo if you hold them straight out or a video if you hold one arm up. After your gesture, the drone winks its lights in acknowledgement, giving you a moment to pose (so you don’t have to be photographed in the gesture). It works fine, but feels a bit gimmicky, and we are not sure we like giving a drone a one-armed salute!

Similarly Voice command is fine – when enabled a microphone icon appears bottom left of the screen and you can make commands like ‘start recording’ or ‘take off’, but these are much easier to do with the control sticks. Hopefully it’ll eventually add commands that let you set video resolution or which would actually save time menu hunting – then it might actually be useful.

Autel EVO II: The camera

The results from the EVO II 8K are striking, and the camera is not short of functionality, with one notable exception. There are no panorama modes which rotate the drone automatically and produce stitched panoramas. This seems an odd omission, especially since the drone is capable of quickly plotting and executing automated survey missions for mapping – DJI drones don’t do by default. You can, of course, stitch yourself in Photoshop, but that seems a little clumsy.

Outside mapping, as a stills camera the EVO II is impressive. The JPEGs it produces have a subtle but effective HDR effect. There is some clear geometric distortion, however, especially toward the edges, which isn’t unsurprising in in the Raw files from a wide lens, but one would expect to be processed out in the JPEGs. On the other hand, it seems that the 48-megapixels, at least in decent light, do provide a lot of detail, as can be seen in the tower example. This shot also gives an idea of the limited dynamic range when the image has been exposed for the ground rather than the sky but it’s impressive that details of the crane can be made out at all.

Turning to video, it’s hard to know how useful whopping 8K video files are just yet, since so few devices can actually play them at full speed. Much of the time, if you’re composing correctly, you might find shooting at 4K the better option, not least as it can get you to 60fps (and subtle but effective HDR) but also because most devices can play it without stuttering. Where the high-res modes come into their own is for cropping in post-production, since a 2x zoom is effectively lossless at 4K. But shooting at 4K produces great video which is sharp without being overly crisp. The only area of significant disappointment was the digital zoom, which looked far worse than the equivalent feature on the Parrot Anafi.

Which brings us to switching between things, and the Autel Explorer app in general. I was, for the most part, pleasantly surprised by the tool. Camera settings are accessed by a bar along the bottom of the screen which slides left or right to allow you to select resolution, frame rate, recording format, auto or manual exposure and so on, each button producing a menu. The flight modes are easily invoked via a drop down page on the top bar, and the record functions and video/still swap are as obvious as a phone camera app. The only irritation – one I’m sure will be fixed at some point – was that any warning messages were hard to dismiss.

At no point did we experience any issues with the preview video when flying within the 500m line-of-sight limit which the UK mandates, and our test locations were not short of electromagnetic interference none of which seemed to pose a problem. 

Sample 8K videos

8K footage in sunny flying conditions

8K footage in cloudy flying conditions

Verdict

The EVO2 is undoubtedly a brilliant aircraft, and pairing it with the very half-inch sensor that helps the DJI Mavic Air 2 beat its older brothers doesn’t hurt, but the digital zoom is no substitute for an optical one, nor as polished as the equivalents in most modern phones. If you don’t need panoramas, and can keep your fingers from the digital zoom option, this is a class-leading aircraft and a good camera. Assured in the air, confidence-inspiring in terms of safety equipment (so long as you don’t feel the need for geo-fencing) and with mapping tools built in, this should be the first choice for many. 

The 6K Pro version, with 10-bit video and a 1-inch sensor offers more where quality rather than pixel count is the key factor – that’s a decision for your wallet and objectives but, for now (panoramas aside) the EVO 2 succeeds in making the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic Air Zoom look distinctly out of date.

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There has been plenty of amazing camera tech on show at CES 2020 so far, but Autel Robotics unveiled a family of drones that really made our jaws drop. The Autel EVO II is the first collapsible drone that can shoot 8K video, and take 48 megapixel stills – and a fitting announcement to coincide with the 10th birthday ready-to-fly drones. 

Weighing 1127g, the Autel EVO II quadcopter has an impressive flight time of 40 minutes, 8GB of internal storage (as well as an SD card slot). It has 12 sensors to aid with navigation and obstacle avoidance - and it comes with a controller that has a built in display.

But although the shooting specs of the Autel Evo II may look impressive, and a serious rival to DJI as the best camera drone, serious filmmakers and photographers may be be even more tempted by the Autel Evo II Pro - which boasts a larger one inch sensor (four times larger than the 1/2 in sensor in the standard model). 

This reduces your resolution to 6K video shooting and 20 megapixel stills, but the larger photosites should ensure better overall image quality with less noise and improved lowlight capability. The Pro version also adds HDR video shooting, and an adjustable aperture.

A third drone in the family will be the Autel EVO II Dual – which provides a thermal imaging camera, alongside the standard 8K 48mp camera, to appeal to industrial users and emergency services. 

Specifications

Takeoff weight: 1127g (EVO II), 1174g (EVO II Pro), 1192g (EVO II Dual)
Max speed: 20m/s
Max flight time: 40 minutes (no wind)
Max hovering time: 35 minutes
Internal storage: 8GB, plus SD card slot
Camera sensor: 1/2in 48MP CMOS (EVO II), 1in 20MP CMOS (EVO II Pro), 1/2in 48MP CMOS + FLIR LWR thermal camera (EVO II Dual)
ISO range: 100-3200 (EVO II & EVO II Dual), 100-12,800 (EVO II Pro)
Bitrate: 120mbps
Bit depth: 10 bit

Pricing & availability

US-based Autel Robotics tells us that the new family drones are now in production, and that the Evo II should be available at the end of January for $1,495. The Pro version will follow a month later, and will cost $1,795. Availability and pricing for the Dual version have not yet been announced.

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