Best High Altitude Drone
After dedicating hours to research on 20 different drones, the title of the best high-altitude drone goes to the Autel Robotics EVO. Its long battery life, robust build, and ability to reach altitudes of up to 7km make it stand out. If you prioritize speed over air time, click here. Dive into the details about the EVO and explore the rest of the top 5 high-altitude drones right below.
Best High Altitude Drone: Autel Robotics EVO
- 【Ultralight，Palm Drones】 At only...
- 【Camera Drone 1/1.28″ CMOS】 The 4K...
- 【Track Fast】Moving subjects with...
- 【HDR - Darker Shadows，Brighter...
- 【Drones with Collision Avoidance】The...
Autel Robotics EVO is a genuine drone that may not have the most stable camera quality but surely makes up for its drone distance and long battery life. IF you happen to be a drone user who wants to use a device that can float up to more than 7 km off the ground, the Autel Robotics EVO is your best bet; which makes it great for real estate or roof inspections too. I would have put the DJI Phantom 4 Pro on the first spot if it wasn’t for its expensive price. But with the Autel Robotics EVO, it costs a thousand dollars cheaper than its biggest competition.
Best Value High Altitude Drone: UpAir Two
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UpAir Two has two significant features: a 3-eyed camera and a high altitude - all under a very reasonable price. The UpAir Two is primarily for business use but it doesn’t hurt to use it leisurely. It can fly up to a maximum altitude of around 1km while undergoing a 24-minute battery life. This is especially great for homes too, especially if you want to impress your friends and family with how high it can go up. As for the alluring 3-eyed camera, this is great for when you are checking out an object from a bird’s eye view in multiple angles.
Best High Altitude Drone for Pros: DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- Camera with 1-inch 20MP sensor the...
- Five-directions of obstacle sensing
- Remote controller with built-in screen...
- Mobile App: DJI GO 4. It will not work...
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is a heavy favorite among the high-end crowd because it mainly works best on 3 aspects: battery life, camera controls and altitude. This heavy duty drone can reach up to 8km from the ground and can last up to 30 minutes. The camera comes with a 4K 60 fps fix for those fluid and exuberant camera shots. It is also favored among photographers because of its great options of camera modes and filters. As for the 8 km distance, I’ll leave that up to you as to why you want to go that very far.
Top High-End High Altitude Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
- Equipped with a Hasselblad L1D-20c...
- Up to 31 minutes flight time, 44 mph max...
- Functions include ActiveTrack 2.0,...
- The standard remote controller offers up...
- DJI GO 4 App requires iOS 10.0.2,...
There is no doubt that the DJI Mavic Pro 2 is exceptional in every aspect that makes a drone great. The only reason why I put this on the fourth spot is because this drone is painfully expensive that only the rich can afford it. However if you do have the budget, I highly suggest you buy this since the Mavic Pro 2 can reach an altitude of up to an amazing 8km from the floor. Plus it has 30 minutes worth of battery (plus spare) and a 4K quality camera to sweeten the deal. It is definitely a drone made for the fanatics.
Best High Altitude Stunt Drone: Altair Aerial Blackhawk
The Altair Aerial Blackhawk can reach an altitude of up to 500mm all under a light design including an additional GoPro mount in case you have a GoPro HERO 2, 3 or 4. The Aerial Blackhawk is more about fun rather than serious camera shots and just for the sake of high altitudes. Above all else, this stunt drone can perform amazing aerobatics that you never thought were possible. Of course, you need some good experience of controlling a drone in order to enjoy the Altair. It is also quite cheap too, making it a good budget drone especially if you just want to casually play with a flying saucer.
Conclusion (Why I Would Buy It)
Believe it or not, drones can even go as far as 10km but that would just most likely violate the FAA rules. As such, 7km or below is already fine, which is why I pick the Autel Robotics EVO as the best high altitude drone on this list. The others are good as well, such as the budget camera drone . Meanwhile, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro and DJI Mavic Pro 2 are more about sophistication and hitting altitudes of up to 8km. But of course, if what you seek is cheap thrills, the Altair Aerial Blackhawk should certainly be more than enough.
High Altitude Drone Buying Guide
Minimum Altitude
In order to achieve sky-high, the least altitude is 1000 m or 1 km. However, you will need an FAA permit to do so. Remember that the FAA can only allow up to 121 m in order to be legal without using a license. But if you want to go further than that, you need an ID - a license to pilot a drone or you will just risk yourself violating FAA standards; and you don’t want to pay for the fee, right?
Lightweight or Heavy Duty
The weight depends on what you want to do with your drone. If you prefer a drone that can take beautiful aerial shots, go for a heavy drone. If you plan on doing stunts or races above and beyond (literally), go with lightweight. Either should work. If you want to see some good examples of very agile drones, check our list of stunt drones.
Battery Life
Another crucial part about high altitude drones is the battery. The best battery life is 20 to 30 minutes as these are safe and has enough time for your drone to descend. Any minute lower than 20 is dangerous.
Beginner or Advanced
Beginners should just get a drone that only flies around 121 m and below, especially if you are just casually playing it as a toy. Otherwise, advanced drones can reach for the skies (as long as you have an FAA permit).
The highest record ever was 11,000 feet (4km) by the DJI Phantom Pro 2. Of course, back then it was okay to fly at these heights but now that’s a violation in FAA’s terms. However, that didn’t stop DJI from improving the altitude up to 8km.
Of course, drones can fly at high altitudes - given that you have an FAA permit, that is. For the safest numbers, go fly at just around 121 m or below just so you don’t see the FAA knocking at your door. In the UK, the legal altitude is 152 m.
A DJI can reach up to 8 km above ground. You may say that is ridiculous but for me, that is phenomenal. Of course, it goes without saying that if you are planning to use a drone that high, you should definitely get yourself a permit from the FAA and a license.
Yes, which is how the FAA can pinpoint violators. The fine is high as the DJI’s top altitude but you should be alright if you are carrying an FAA permit. There are also some drone hotspots for you to use the drones without worrying about the government on your tail.
