There are quite a few long-range drones on the market today, all sporting impressive feature sets. Choosing the right long-range drone to suit your needs can be a daunting task. In addition to highlighting key facts about long-range drones, this article also provides an overview of the best long-range drones that are currently available on the market.
How Far Can a Drone Fly?
Various factors determine how far a drone can fly: the drone’s battery life, the strength of its transmission system, the amount of lift it can generate, as well as weather conditions along its flight path. Generally speaking, the more expensive a drone is, the farther it can tend to fly. Novelty toy drones typically have a flight range of fewer than 100 yards, while higher-end consumer and commercial drones currently available on the market have significantly longer flight ranges of between 4 to over 9 miles.
Features to Consider in a Long Range Drone
When shopping for a long-range drone, be sure to consider the following three criteria:
Extended Battery Life & Flight Time
A drone’s battery life directly affects how long it can stay in flight. The larger the battery, the longer it can keep a drone in the air.
Robust Transmission Capability
A drone’s ability to reliably communicate with its controller is paramount especially when they are being flown long distance. The last thing any operator will want is for their drone to lose connectivity with the controller, leading to it getting lost or damaged in the process.
Obstacle Avoidance
It is practically impossible for operators to discern the direction that their drone is flying towards when flown at long distances (and when the drone is out of the operator’s line of sight). Drones with advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities will greatly improve their odds of survival if there are dangerous obstacles in their immediate vicinity.
Best Long Range Drones in 2022
DJI Mavic 3
Range: 9.3 miles (14.97 kilometers)
Equipped with both a 24mm Hasselblad camera and a 162mm telephoto camera, the DJI Mavic 3 is an aerial imaging powerhouse that can capture up to 5.1K/50fps and 4K/120fps footage. With a flight time of up to 46 minutes and its OcuSync 3+ transmission system making video transmission possible from up to 9.3 miles away, the Mavic 3 is the long-range drone to beat.
See a look into the DJI Mavic 3 with drone pilot Dirk Dallas.
DJI Air 2S
Range: 7.5 miles (12.07 kilometers)
DJI Air 2S 4K Drone
(64)
$995$995
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The DJI Air 2S is the evolution of the popular Air 2 drone, upgraded with a larger 1-inch CMOS sensor camera capable of capturing 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps video, improved APAS 4.0 obstacle avoidance system, and the MasterShots feature that captures cinematic footage autonomously with just a single tap, all while keeping the weight under 600 g.
See our hands-on review of the DJI Air 2S with Women Who Drones.
DJI Mini 2
Range: 6.2 miles (9.98 kilometers)
The DJI Mini 2 may be light in weight (less than 249 grams), but it’s certainly not short on features. It boasts a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, comes equipped with auto flight features like take-off and return-to-home, capable of capturing 4K videos and RAW images, all without the need to be registered.
Autel Robotics EVO 2
Range: 5.6 miles (9.01 kilometers)
The Autel Robotics EVO 2 is the only folding drone currently available on the market capable of capturing 6K footage. It comes equipped with a 7100mAh rechargeable battery, giving it up to 40 minutes of flight time, while the 12 onboard computer vision sensors give it 360° obstacle avoidance and AI-enhanced dynamic subject tracking capabilities.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ V2.0
Range: 4.3 miles (6.92 kilometers)
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ V2.0 is the latest version of the much-loved Phantom 4, featuring enhanced connectivity, reduced propeller noise, and a 3-axis-stabilized gimbal mechanical-shutter-equipped camera with a 20MP 1″ CMOS sensor capable of capturing 4K/60fps video. The included remote controller also features an integrated 5.5” monitor, removing the need to connect your smartphone.
Parrot ANAFI
Range: 4.3 miles (6.92 kilometers)
Parrot ANAFI USA Thermal Drone
(1)
$7000$7000
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Designed with first responders and enterprise professionals in mind, the Parrot ANAFI comes equipped with a FLIR Boson 320 longwave infrared (LWIR) thermal camera as well as a dual optical 4K camera system that is 3-axis hybrid stabilized and capable of 32x zoom. The Parrot ANAFI is also IP53 rated, allowing it to fly even in rainy conditions.
Long Range Drone Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Fly My Drone Out of Sight?
FAA regulations require drone operators to maintain a visual line of sight of their drone during flight. Operators looking to fly their drones at long range (and beyond the operator’s visual line of sight) will need to obtain a BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) waiver from the FAA, which is typically only granted for approved commercial drone operations.
What Happens if My Drone Goes Out of Range?
In the event that your drone goes out of range, it will typically behave in one of the following ways: return to home, hover in place, land at the closest available landing zone, or simply continue flying into the distance. Most consumer drones are designed to return home automatically in the event of signal loss or if their battery level falls below a certain threshold.
How Can I Increase My Drone Range?
There are a few ways that can help increase your drone’s range. These range from first-party and aftermarket upgrades such as dedicated remote controllers, high-gain transmission antennas, range extenders, and other modifications that are beyond the scope of this article. A simpler (not to mention free) way that you can help increase your drone’s range is by simply flying from locations with little to no environmental interference (such as buildings, trees, power lines, cell towers, etc.).
Pauleth Ip is a photographer, consultant, and educator based in New York City. He currently serves on the board of American Photographic Artists's New York chapter and was previously the Reviews Editor for The Phoblographer. When not creating client work, developing content for industry outlets, or teaching private photography seminars, Paul can be seen photographing personal projects around NYC or traveling the world with his cameras in tow. He's overjoyed to be able to catch up on all the frequent flyer miles that he missed out on during this past year. You can find Paul’s latest work on his website or Instagram.
