7 Very Expensive Drones That Are Available On Amazon

Even though most people are looking for good bargains when it comes to purchasing tech gadgets such as drones, there are still those for whom money is not an issue. These people are often looking for the very best drones available, and if that’s the case with you, then there is no doubt you will enjoy this list. Why, you ask? Well, because it will give you an in-depth look at some of the most expensive drones on the market. It’s that simple! So with that in mind, let’s dwell on the list and see which particular models have found their way into it!

Does more money mean better performance?

Well, even though in theory this logic works more often than not, there are certain exceptions. While this is not that common in the high-end most expensive drones market, it surely is when it comes to mid and low tier models. Manufacturers love messing around with potential buyers by pricing their models higher than the competition even though they’re obviously weaker. Still, they make a good profit off them through extensive marketing and beautiful designs.

The above works for the mainstream drone market and not models that are specifically designed for certain usages, for instance, agriculture or thermal inspection. In those departments, the situation looks really different and you should do thorough research if you want to buy one that’s perfect for you.

Since there are lots of industry-specific traits, it is really difficult to say if more money equals to better performance. With that said, I advise you once again to invest a lot of time and effort into examining potential purchases as the difference might seem small at first but could end up being much bigger than you initially thought.

 

Who are these drones meant for?

All drones on this list are primarily targeted to people interested in all forms of aerial photography. Whether they’re simply professional photographers who want to take it up a notch or real estate agents, tech-savvy farmers or anything in between, any of the below-listed drones are going to serve greatly. With advanced 4K cameras and great stabilization systems, there is no doubt all those drones can take great aerial shots. Take FreeFly Alta 8 as an example, this drone (in addition to spectacular cinematography traits) has a couple of well-placed functions that will surely bring shivers down your spine. As a matter of fact, there’s a whole chapter dedicated solely to that topic…

Moving forward, I’d also like to state that there are more people who can enjoy this drone in addition to people interested in aerial photo platforms. Casual users will enjoy them too…. Especially demanding ones who want only the most cutting-edge technology available. YouTubers, vloggers and pretty much all internet celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon and are starting to use drones on a regular basis. They’re obviously still growing in popularity so I’ll dare to say that drones, in general, aren’t limited to certain types of people. Instead, they’re only limited by the willingness of people to look at them as modern-day marvels; which they definitely are!

 

What can FreeFly Alta do that other drones can’t?

First of all, I would like to point out this is not one of those mainstream drones such as DJI Phantom 4, Yuneec Typhoon H or Autel Robotics X-Star Premium. This is a specialized cinematography drone with some serious power underneath the hood. In the description below, you’ll find more detailed technical specifications but here I would like to let you know that it’s brutally powerful and reliable. With special functions such as AW (all weather) flying, 2 quick-release mechanisms, top/bottom camera mounts, and plenty other highly useful ones, it becomes clear FreeFly Alta 8 is something completely different than regular drones.

Needless to say, this little fella (with its enormous price tag and advanced features) is not meant for casual users or even those who are thinking of starting a brand new drone-related business. Not by a long shot! Instead, this beast is aimed towards the big guns… big names in the filmmaking industry who can greatly profit from using these drones, especially in the long time frame. With a unique set of features, it is safe to say FreeFly Alta 8 is on a whole another level in comparison to mainstream drones. The kind of performance it can provide is yet to come close to the mainstream drone industry.

Read more: Drones for real estate / Drones for roof inspection

 

Table: 7 Most Expensive Drones

 

7. Parrot Bebop 2 Adventurer

Parrot Bebop 2 is an awesome drone, but I guess I’m not the first person to tell you that. This little bugger is great on its own, but even better when used with Parrot-made accessories. With that said, if you get Parrot Bebop 2 Adventurer package you’ll be receiving a handful of them, including the most important one – SkyController. Why is it so important? Well, that’s exactly what you will be able to find out if you continue reading…

Specifications

Thanks to SkyController, Parrot Bebop 2 has a massively increased range that goes all the way up to 2 kilometers. This means you get a true exploration drone (AKA scout drone) with excellent aerial photography solution… But more on that later. For now, let’s continue with its performance.

There is one more thing that we forgot to mention regarding Parrot Bebop 2’s performance. That’s, of course, it’s flight time. It runs on a 2700mAh LiPo battery (it’s a 3-cell pack) which is not bad considering the size of this little bugger. When it comes to the actual numbers, Parrot Bebop 2 can fly around for roughly 25 minutes. A bit less than that if you are thinking of recording during the entire flight duration. All in all, nothing but a stellar array of specifications surrounding this excellent drone, don’t you agree!?

Features and Camera

Let’s start off with the camera and then move our way onto the packaging and features. Parrot Bebop 2 houses a built-in 14MPX camera which has integrated EIS (electronic image stabilization). Due to this, it possesses incredible footage stability worthy of drones equipped with 3-axis gimbals. There’s no stuttering, shakiness or jello – I am sure you will enjoy each piece of aerial footage captured by Parrot Bebop 2.

As for the features, Parrot Bebop 2 comes with the standard GPS and altitude hold combination. Furthermore, it also sports follow me and FPV which works great with Parrot’s Cockpitglasses. Don’t worry, they’re included in the package as well as a dedicated backpack and previously mentioned SkyController. Luckily, you’ll enjoy nothing but stable flight and responsive controls. That’s what Parrot Bebop 2, one of most expensive drones on our list is all about!

 

 

6. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium

The folks over at Autel Robotics labs have really done their best while creating their flagship model, the X-Star Premium. It sports an absolutely beautiful design with top build quality and great manufacturing standards all around. It’s basically a massively improved X-Star model that goes for a slightly increased price tag. But is it worth the money? Let’s find out!

Camera and features

I should start off by saying that the included camera is no joke. It is mounted on the 3-axis gimbal stabilization system which helps it take breathtaking aerial shots every time. dIn addition to that, it is also worth mentioning that we are talking about a fully-fledged 4K camera that supports FPV.

Even if the latter does happen, Autel Robotics implemented both GPS and GLONASS navigation systems in this little fella, allowing it to be precisely positioned no matter the latitude. All things considered, the X-Star Premium is definitely a drone well worth its price, and there is no reason why you should not try it out for yourself.

Specifications

What’s even better, X-Star Premium has quite the FPV range… 2 kilometers of it, to be more precise. This will allow you to have awesome flight sessions without having to worry about losing connection or the drone itself. Talking about flight sessions, each will last for approximately 25 minutes which is absolutely praiseworthy. It’s all thanks to the included 4S 4900mAh LiPo battery which does a terrific job. All things considered, Autel Robotics X-Star Premium is one mighty drone with exceptional performance and a price tag following in the same fashion.

 

 

5. DJI Mavic Pro

Mavic Pro is another very interesting looking drone coming straight from DJI’s labs. It has one simple catch though – it is foldable. I am sure most of you have heard about the new micro-niche that has started appearing in the drones market. It goes by the name of “selfie drones” and believe it or not, lately, it has been getting more popular than ever.

Specifications

The sudden rise in popularity has resulted in several industry-leading manufacturers to release their selfie drone models… including DJI. So what we are basically saying is that Mavic Pro can be considered as a selfie drone since its main characteristics are the foldable design, exceptional camera and solid flight time. More precisely, Mavic Pro can brag with up to 26 minutes of flight time, 40mph top speed and roughly 7 kilometers of maximum range.

Camera and features

The camera is no joke either – we are talking about a fully-fledged 4K camera which will surely amaze you with the picture quality it can produce. The world’s smallest 3-axis gimbal is present as well, providing buttery smooth aerial footage whenever you need it. Features are to be respected too – TapFly, ActiveTrack, Altitude Hold, Return to Home are just some of many GPS powered features that DJI Mavic Pro stores in its arsenal. And finally, after stating everything there is to state about this drone, I am sure you realize that selfie drones could be the next big thing in the industry and that Mavic Pro is a darn fine example of just that!

 

 

4. Yuneec Typhoon H

Just by taking a glance at this hexacopter you will immediately notice that it’s a powerful one, you’ll soon come to the conclusion that it’s one of the most expensive drones on Amazon too. With the uniformed design, powerful hardware and enthusiast-grade transmitter, there’s no doubt in Yuneec Typhoon H’s quality. The price is, obviously, a proper reflection of exactly that; meaning you’ll end up spending quite a bit of money on this one. But is it worth it? It sure is…

Camera and features

If there is one thing worth putting in the spotlight when it comes to Yuneec Typhoon H, it’s reliability. This birdie incorporates a whole bunch of safety features making it the most reliable drone out there. Thanks to 5-motor failsafe and Intel RealSense (obstacle avoidance) technology, you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong while operating with this birdie. Of course, standard features such as GPS, autonomous flight modes and return to home are here, but they fall to the second place behind safety features.

We shouldn’t forget about the transmitter. It is called ST16 and it’s basically an all-in-one ground station with included Android OS and 7-inch touchscreen display. Wicked! 4K camera is here as well, with a 12MPX sensor and 3-axis gimbal providing smooth aerial footage. Nothing to add or deduct when it comes to imaging solutions.

Specifications

Like I stated above, Yuneec Typhoon H sports some seriously powerful hardware inside. Take its battery as the perfect example. It’s a 4S 5400mAh LiPo that can dash out juice for up to 25 minutes. Both operating and video transmission ranges are great, coming in at 1.5 kilometers. Nowhere near DJI’s flagships, I know… but still great nevertheless.

Last but not least, you should also know that you get a 1-year warranty period straight from Yuneec. You can even extend this period with one of their warranty programs which will further ensure your expensive investment.

 

 

3. DJI Phantom 4 Pro

The Professional version of this drone comes with a much higher price tag but definitely has those well-placed upgrades to justify it. First off, if you already own the standard version of Phantom 4, it might be worth double checking before upgrading.

Specifications and camera

I guess it’s only logical to start off with the camera. You see, DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a brand new one. We’re talking about a 1-inch CMOS sensor with 20MPX. Of course, it has retained that brilliant 3-axis gimbal which allows buttery smooth aerial footage time and time again. Say goodbye to jello, vibrations and all other forms of video shakiness. The operating range has remained the same – 7 kilometers seems to be the maximum range of DJI’s current state of OcuSync technology.

Differences between DJI P4 and DJI P4 Pro

Even though it has certain upgraded parts such as max flight speed, camera sensor, max bitrate, dual obstacle avoidance systems and more, it’s still pretty similar to the standard version. Sure, you have those extra 3 minutes of flight time (around 27 minutes give or take) and bigger memory capacity, but are those things you really need that much that you are willing to pay so much extra money for them?

Well, that’s a question you will have to answer on your own since there is no point in us trying to do so. With that being said, I believe there is nothing more to be said about the Pro version of Phantom 4.

 

 

2. DJI Inspire 2

DJI Inspire 2 is the upgraded version of another brilliant aerial-photography oriented drone (Inspire 1, who would’ve guessed eh?). No doubt this is one of the most expensive drones and it costs a bit more money than its predecessor but justifies it accordingly with several improvements. What exactly are they? Well, pretty much every aspect has been (more or less) improved… to the point of making DJI Inspire 2 the best aerial photography drone available on the market. Let’s check out why exactly is that so…

Specifications

First off, Inspire 2 has much higher flight speeds and more importantly – its battery can endure much more time spent in the air. If we are to be more precise here, Inspire 2 can fly up to 27 minutes on a single charge while Inspire 1 pro can only do just more than half of that. Moving forward to the operating range, you will be happy to know that DJI implemented its OcuSync technology into this one. It basically allows its tremendous transmission distance. Up to 7 kilometers, for those looking for exact numbers.

Camera and features

It sports a better camera as well, which is certainly going to be a selling point for some of its potential buyers. In addition to that, it also sports the popular Zenmuse gimbals, X4S, and X5S with better ISO and angular vibration range. Without going further into details, I believe you already know more than enough to determine that the Inspire 2 is a much better model than its predecessor.

In terms of features, DJI Inspire 2 has everything its predecessor had and then some. We’re talking about a ton of autonomous flight modes including aerial-photography ones. Even professionals will be impressed at what DJI Inspire 2 has to offer.

 

1. Freefly Systems ALTA 8

Now I’m proud to present you with an extremely expensive drone that will most likely make you get a loan in order to purchase it. I kid you not – this beast of a drone costs as much as a solid car. Truth be told, it has every right to be so pricey since it is not your regular drone. What’s so special about Freefly Systems ALTA 8 drone? Well, it’s an industrial hexacopter that can really make a difference across a wide variety of tasks. Want to know what exactly it excels at? Keep on reading then…

Features

It is a special type of drone that is mainly used for lifting and transporting heavy objects from point A to point B. It has a unique looking folding design that helps it easily fit into the pelican case (you’ll get it with the package, of course). Its inverted landing gear enables it to have things mounted on top of it which is crucial for proper weightlifting in the long flight scenarios. While we are discussing weight lifting, you will be happy to find out that Alta 8 is capable of lifting up to 20lbs of payload.

Specifications

The battery is pretty solid too, which is quite surprising since we are aware that heavy lifting drones usually last up to 5-10 minutes at full load. Well, Alta 8 takes it one step further and can last up to 20 minutes with 5lbs payload and roughly 10 minutes with 15lbs of payload. That should be more than enough for you to spend your whole month’s paycheck and get this little devil… it’s definitely worth it! What’s your opinion about most expensive drone on Amazon – FreeFly Alta 8?

 

 

Why is Amazon the best place to buy expensive drones from

best-seller-amazonAs the biggest online marketplace in the world, Amazon is surely the number one place for buying expensive things. Drones included! There’s not only an extensive selection of drones available from all major brands but also plenty of up and coming ones. The prices are fair, as always, and you should not forget about their lightning fast delivery if you’re located in the USA. Buyer protection is something you should cherish since it adds to the worry-free online shopping from the comfort of your home. Last but not least, you are free to return your purchase for a brief period of time if you are not happy with how it performs. So yeah, there are plenty of reasons why I warmly recommend getting your drones from Amazon.

Most Expensive drones vs Cheap Drones

 

Range

Considering the operating range is one of the most important traits of every drone, it comes as no surprise to see massive differences between cheap and expensive models. With that in mind, the former will give you 100 to 300 meters tops while the latter will make 1 kilometer at the very minimum.

 

Flight time

Flight time goes head to head with a range in terms of importance. However, you can always cheat your way out by purchasing extra batteries and chargers. However, with 1-battery-only flight times, cheap drones usually go up to 15 minutes while expensive make it all the way to 25. Even more in some cases.

 

Camera

If you’re buying a cheap drone you will have to come to terms with having a lot of jello in your footage due to a lack of stabilization. That and HD resolution are the biggest traits of cheap drone cameras. Expensive ones, on the other hand, offer hardware/software stabilization and resolutions up to 4K.

 

Features

I’m sure most of you know that cheap drones don’t come with GPS. Well, at least the majority of them. This means they don’t have access to autonomous flight features. Expensive drones not only come with GPS but GLONASS too (in most cases) which allows for pinpoint precision and supporting features.

 

Reliability

In addition to features, expensive drones also have failsafe functions allowing them to land safely in case something goes wrong (low battery, out of range). Most cheap drones either don’t have these functions or they are terribly inaccurate. So, if reliability is your concern, aim at the high-end market.

 

Conclusion

So now you have a clearer picture of what to expect from the most expensive drone currently available on the market. As you had the chance to see for yourself, these are all top-notch drones with fancy features, exceptional build quality and above all – great performance. None of them agrees to any compromises which means you will be up for an amazing drone flight experience no matter which one of the drones listed above you choose… And with that being said, I believe there is nothing more to be said about the ultra expensive drones on the market, which is why I will cut this article here and let you enjoy the rest of your evening!

Larry Haller