With over 90% market share in the consumer drone space, DJI is undoubtedly the king of drones especially in the under $500-$2500 price range.

They have a wide range of options available starting with the cheap Mini SE all the way up to the Mavic 3 Cine.

And even with newcomers like Skydio and Autel robotics making inroads in key areas, DJI still maintains an Apple-esque grip on the industry because their products just work.

So here’s a simple breakdown of the best DJI drone to get in 2022 no matter what your budget is.

Best Overall: DJI Air 2S

When DJI first put a 1” sensor in its Phantom line of drones (with the Phantom 4 Pro) the drone community was amazed.

Now, just 5 years later, DJI has managed to squeeze the same size sensor into its ultra‑portable “Air” line with the Air 2S for $500 less.

Starting at $999 (but quickly going over $1500 if you add in the Fly‑More‑Combo, DJI Care Refresh & taxes) the DJI Air 2S improves on the Mavic Air 2 with additional upward facing sensors in the front, 12km range with Ocusync 3.0, and 5.4k HLG 10‑bit recording.

While it doesn’t feature a Hasselblad branded camera or any mention of “professional” on its marketing page, make no mistake that the Air 2S is a seriously capable drone — perfect for everyone from enthusiasts to aspringing aerial entrepreneurs.

Best For Beginners: DJI Mini 2

Weighing under 250g, the Mini 2 is the smallest drone DJI offers making it great for beginners and travellers alike.

For a starting price of $450 it packs in 4K/30 video, a 31min flight time and 10km range.

However, since it does lack the obstacle avoidance capabilities of more expensive drones like the Mavic Air 2, Air 2S Mavic 3 & etc, it is a good idea to get the DJI Care Refresh extended warranty for easier/cheaper repairs should you crash.

Best For Professionals: DJI Mavic 3 & Mavic 3 Cine

As of writing, the Mavic 3 is both the best and most expensive prosumer drone that DJI makes.

Starting at $2200, the Mavic 3 packs a micro 4/3” sensor (the largest DJI has ever put in a Mavic drone) capable of recording 5.1K video and 20mp stills.

The drone also has an insane advertised flight time of 43min (which in practice is still an impressive 34min), omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and an extra 7X telephoto camera for fun.

Oh, and if the Mavic 3 isn’t “pro” enough for you — take a look at the Mavic 3 Cine combo.

It’s identical to the regular combo but offers ProRes recording capabilities and an internal 1TB SSD.

Cheapest: DJI Mini SE or Mavic Mini

The Mavic Mini/Mini SE is the cheapest drone that DJI currently offers.

While the 2.7K video and 4km range might be limiting, this drone is still a great option for those looking for an inexpensive travel drone or a way to get into the DJI ecosystem on a budget.

Mavic Mini vs Mini SE: What’s the difference?

In July 2021, DJI released the even cheaper Mini SE which is functionally identical to the original Mavic Mini but starts at just $299.

For Under $1000: Mavic Air 2

Released in May 2020, the Mavic Air 2 was the first DJI drone to feature an ADS-B receiver to give drone pilots increased awareness of the full-size aircraft in the area.

Starting at $799, the Mavic Air 2 punches well above its price tag — besting many of the features in the more expensive Mavic 2 Zoom/Pro and Phantom 4 Pro which preceded it.

And while it might lack the larger sensor used by the newer (more expensive) Air 2S, the Mavic Air 2 still brings many advanced features such as front/back obstacle avoidance, 48mp stills, 8K hyperlapses, and the aforementioned ADS‑B receiver.

Plus, it has the 2nd longest advertised battery life of any DJI drone at 34min.

Conclusion

It’s really hard to go wrong with a DJI drone, but getting the right one for your budget and intended use is still very important.

As of writing this in January 2022, the only new DJI drones on the horizon are the Mini 3 (Q3-Q4 2022?) and Air 3 (likely not until 2023) so it looks like this current lineup is the one we’ll have for a bit.

If you wanted a different way to help you decide which drone to get, perhaps check out this rap battle I made between several of the DJI drones mentioned in this article for a little comedic relief.

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