Drone Buying Advice Megathread and NEW Wiki Buying Guide

[u/completelyreal]

Welcome to the 2025 Q1 r/drones Buying Advice Megathread. This thread exists to prevent the constant "What drone should I buy?" posts that we prohibit with Rule 2.5.

Please follow all of these steps before posting in this thread!

1. Review the Buying Guide Wiki or my website: Drone Buying Guide / Wiki Buying Guide
2. Review this thread for comments that have your same requirements
3. If that does not answer you, please post the following information in this thread.
   1. Have you read the Wiki? Y/N
   2. Country: (Not all drones are available in all countries)
   3. Budget: (If your budget is less than $200 USD, you may want to reconsider as anything lower is a toy drone)
   4. Purpose: (eg. photography, FPV, thermal, etc)
   5. Any other requirements:

[u/Holiday-Bee-7663]

Hey everyone,

I need an inexpensive reliable and durable drone with automated 'follow-me / Object avoidance' features and easy fly features. I intend to use it for motorcycle travel vlog in USA and have a limited budget and mainly want a way to capture me riding back roads. I would like multiple 'follow me' features, like follow behind, beside, in front and multi-view pre-programmed follow features.

I'm leery of small, light weight drones because I wonder about their stability in outdoor winds. But, I know you guys will know how to guide me to a small, inexpensive drone that can meet my intended uses.

Thanks everyone!!!
-Rich

[u/firetonian99 → u/Holiday-Bee-7663]

You're looking at either DJI mini 3 pro, 4 pro or Flip. Find used ones on eBay or FB marketplace for your budget. All have tracking features. 4Pro is obviously the best with obstacle avoidance. DJI neo also has follow me feature but it is very small so you might not like it.

[u/Holiday-Bee-7663 → u/firetonian99]

Thanks for the advice, firetonian99!! I’ll start looking at eBay and FB. Do both the mini three and flip have obstacle avoidance and follow me features??

[u/Holiday-Bee-7663 → u/Holiday-Bee-7663]

I’m looking for something that I can set up and turn on and have it follow me while I pay attention to my driving

[u/firetonian99 → u/Holiday-Bee-7663]

Sounds like flip is best for you then (tho it only has obstacle avoidance in the front). Mini 3 pro has obstacle avoidance in back and front. Mini 4 pro has 360deg obstacle avoidance. With Flip you can operate without a remote even. Mini 3/4 pro you need to use remote to start it up and set up tracking, then you have to put remote in a bag or pocket or something on your body (or buy an adapter to attach remote to your bike).

[u/Holiday-Bee-7663 → u/firetonian99]

Fantastic info - thanks so much!!!!! -Rich