Best Silent Drones
Our top 3 picks for the best quiet drones that are almost silent:
The Quietest Drones For Sale
Absolutely, "quiet drones" is a more accurate term. While total silence might be a challenge, minimizing noise is a significant consideration. It's great to see manufacturers working on creating drones that are less intrusive acoustically. Noise reduction can be particularly important for various applications, from recreational flying to professional photography or even surveillance.
Best Silent Drone for 2024: DJI Spark
- The compact yet powerful Mavic Mini...
- Weighing less than 0.55lbs by 250 grams,...
- Mavic Mini supports 12MP aerial photos...
- Mavic Mini’s weight allows it to stay...
- DJI Fly App requires iOS v10.0, Android...
NOTE FROM Chris (The Editor): We now recommend the DJI Mavic Mini.
The Spark is a small and portable drone. Surprisingly, it is one of the quietest quad copters you will ever find on the market. But do not not expect the Spark to be completely silent, you will hear some noise when flying indoors. However, when flown outside it is quieter than most other drones due to DJI modifying the propeller blades to minimize air resistance. If you want a quiet drone that is intelligent and ultra-portable, the DJI Spark is highly recommended and you can check out our full DJI Spark review here.
Don't care about sound? See our best drones for 2024 here.
Best Pro Silent Drone for 2024: DJI Mavic Pro Platinum
- 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,...
The Mavic Pro Platinum features a slim design and a compact chassis that is both powerful low noise. The Platinum has an improved flight time of 30 minutes and a noise-power reduction, making it the quietest and most portable DJI drone. Apart from the impressive flight time and noise reduction it is equipped with a 4k camera and a 3-axis gimbal for stability. With this drone, you will enjoy improved endurance and a quieter flight.
Looking for a Profession Drone? See our review of the Best Professional Drones for 2024.
Best Value Silent Drone for 2024: Altair Aerial Outlaw
- 720p HD Camera for amazing aerial photos...
- Easy to fly for all ages! Multiple Skill...
- Flight Modes like Altitude Hole, One...
- Smartphone Ready but Not Required!
- Durably Built for Stable Flights!
Outlaw is another affordable drone that is extremely quiet and easy to fly. Even beginners or those who have no drone flying experience will enjoy flying the Outlaw. The Outlaw drone reduces sound output using its brushless motors and has been designed to minimize air drag resulting in a quiet drone flying experiance.
Do you love Star Wars? See our top Star Wars drone review for 2024.
Silent Drone Buying Guide
Like any other piece of tech, you need to consider a few things before investing in a budget drone. You will need to look at three essential aspects and find the right balance between them to ensure you get the best. These include:
Propeller Construction
Propellers come in various shapes and sizes. Based on multiple rounds of prototypes and acoustic tests, bat-shaped propellers are more effective in reducing the noise of the drone. In addition, the shape looks really cool!
Related: Do you need a drone for your GoPro? See our top GoPro drones for 2024.
Thick Chassis
If the materials are thick, there is less room for the sounds that can come out of the drone and cause interference. Remember, however, that the drone must be light and robust.
Noise Protection Hoods
These are effective in damping the propeller noise output. Usually acoustic damping materials are used to reduce the radiated noise by directing it into the sky.
Large, slow propellers
Drones with large, slower propellers are quieter. When the propellers rotate slowly, they produce less noise and their large size produces a low-frequency sound that is better camouflaged by background noise.
Stability
A quiet drone must have a stable body that can cover all the internal functions of the drone. If the engine, battery and other features are exposed, noise can come out.
Brushless Motors
Unlike brushed motors, these designs are generally quieter. They also tend to be more powerful and energy efficient. They could last longer and require little or no maintenance.
FAQs
If you only want to fly a quad-copter, you might not care about the noise it makes. However, there are certain cases where a quieter drone is more suitable.
Surveillance. The best quiet drones are usually used to monitor an area. Law enforcement agencies, private security companies, private investigators, and large facilities where people work use quiet drones from time to time to monitor activities.
Pick up objects and put them down. Drones can do more than just take pictures and record video. You can also use them to pick up and drop off objects for you
The quietest drones are best suited for making videos or films. A loud drone can disturb your subject, e.g. if you film a flock of birds, they may fly away when they sense your presence. It can also overshadow the important sounds you intend to capture. If you want to capture the natural sound of the forest or the sound of the waterfall, you may not only succeed if your roar is noisy.
A noisy hovering drone can distract workers. Therefore, a quiet drone is preferred for this job.
