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Flying a drone is a great pastime activity to enjoy, even more so if it brings you an additional income. That being said, there are a lot of different jobs or activities you can do with your drone, and naturally, with that comes the risk of crashing and losing your drone.
Because of that, drone technology has advanced, and drones today have something called obstacle avoidance, providing you with the necessary help, so you do not lose or damage your drone while doing your job or simply enjoying your free time.
If you are looking for a drone with obstacle avoidance or just simply want to get informed, we recommend you stick around and read the review.
Now, without wasting any more time, let us dive right into the review and go over everything you need to know.
Intro
Drones are becoming more intelligent and more advanced as they evolve at a staggering pace, with quicker processors, top-of-the-line sensors, and even more functionality to analyze real-time information as best as possible.
In today’s time, almost every drone that is professional-grade that you will encounter on the market is equipped with obstacle collision avoidance technology. Obstacle avoidance is important as it provides so much assistance and makes the drone’s navigation in real-time so much better.
With the already integrated vision sensors, drones are much safer to fly as these sensors provide an extra degree of security which is certainly reassuring. This works in a way that involves the scanning of the object, providing the necessary information to the processors, which then subsequently make decisions for the drone automatically.
It is normal and expected that while flying the drone, there will be human errors that can cause a lot of problems. That being said, obstacle avoidance sensors are designed with the sole purpose of reducing these human errors and making operating the drone easier and, most important of all, safer.
Even though these sensors are a great help in general and will most certainly make operating the drone that much easier, it does not mean that you should take no precautions when operating the drone, as even with the help of obstacle avoidance sensors, if you are not careful at all, there is still a possibility that you will make a mistake that can cause additional problems.
With that being said, let’s start the review.
9 Best Drones With Obstacle Avoidance (Price, Flight Time & Range)
Here are the nine best drones with obstacle avoidance, their price, flight time, range, and much more, so you have everything you need to know before buying one for yourself.
Autel Evo 2
With 40 minutes of flight duration, the Autel Evo II, Autel Robotics’ first 6K folding drone, has one of the most extended flying lengths of any prosumer drone on the market.
It contains 19 sensors, including 12 visual sensors, the primary camera, ultrasound, and twin IMUs, as well as Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance, which allows it to create three-dimensional maps and design pathways in real-time through difficult terrain.
The EVO II’s ability to replace the gimbal payload is a standout feature. An 8K sensor, a 6K Pro Sensor, and a Dual sensor, which combines an 8K sensor with a thermal sensor, are among the payload options.
Each of the three cameras has a maximum bandwidth of 120Mbps and a 10-bit color depth. While not all of the Autel EVO II series drones are designed for professionals, the consumer versions (original and Pro) are a great addition to many businesses.
Throughout the airframe, the obstacle avoidance sensors are installed, and when flying at a normal pace, they will prevent the aircraft from colliding with anything, giving you more time to concentrate on your camera work.
The EVO II’s flight battery is also rather substantial, contributing to its best-in-class 40-minute flying time. The battery life varies depending on the model. It’s crucial how you fly the EVO.
Hovering takes more energy than flying, and the battery is only suitable for about 35 minutes of hover time. It also drains faster when you switch to high-speed flying mode.
In normal flying mode, the Autel EVO II can achieve 22 mph and has all-around obstacle detection. It’s especially useful when working closer to the ground, where there may be trees or other obstructions.
Switching to the Ludicrous option adds motion to your film when you’re flying higher, over the woods. The EVO is stabilized using GPS. Thanks to precise satellite positioning and various sensors, it floats in place with no perceptible movement.
If you use the drone with a phone app, you can check its whereabouts on a global map, but if you only use the given control, you won’t be able to. However, because the Autel EVO II remembers its take-off point, automated return-to-home is still feasible.
You can set a distance limit for the drone, but there is no geofencing around airports or other restricted areas. As a result, it is up to you to establish if you are permitted to leave your current location. Use the FAA’s B4UFLY app if you have any doubts.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1495
- Weight: 2.5lbs
- Flight time: 40 minutes
- Range: up to 5.5 miles
- Top speed: 45 mph
Pros ✔️
- Long flight time
- Fast
- Great camera
- Good range
Cons ❌
- A lot of functions require a smartphone
Amazon.com DJI Mavic 3
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro Drone is a top-of-the-line professional drone that outperforms the competition in almost every category. The design of this drone is identical to that of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. It does, however, have a folding design that makes it simple to travel and store when not in use.
This best professional drone also has a long flight time and range, which sets it apart from other drones in its price range.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro’s HD sensors enable this Professional Drone to capture high-quality images and video with sharpness and clarity. It also takes shake-free videos even when taking aerial views from a moving drone, due to Optical Image Stabilization technology and electrical image stabilization.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro camera’s 20MP Hasselblad lens is a fantastic addition to this professional drone’s camera. It has the ability to capture clean and clear high-definition films and images. It can also record 4K video at 30 frames per second and slow-motion 1080p footage at 120 frames per second.
With a flight range of 18.6 miles, it has one of the most incredible flight ranges among budget airlines.
The 5000mAh battery in the drone allows it to fly for 46 minutes, making it one of the best in its price range.
The obstacle avoidance on the DJI Mavic 3 is no less than amazing. You can probably just set down the controller as it is that good; however, for obvious safety reasons, we recommend you do not do that.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $2200
- Weight: 2lbs
- Flight time: 46 minutes
- Range: up to 18.6 miles
- Top speed: 27 mph
Pros ✔️
- Long flight time
- Amazing rage
- Light
- Great camera
Cons ❌
- Pricey
DJI Inspire 2
DJI Inspire 2 is considered to be one of if not the best obstacle avoidance drone out there. This is not without reason; it comes with a lot of features that are no less than amazing.
The DJI INSPIRE 2’s obstacle avoidance technology employs stereo vision, infrared, and ultrasonic sensors. 2x stereo vision and 2x ultrasonic sensors are used at the front and bottom of the device.
They can identify hazards up to 30 meters away, allowing them to move at a safe speed of 34mph. There are additional upward-facing infrared sensors capable of detecting things up to 5 meters away. When it comes to indoor places, the sensor works without a problem.
During the regular flight and when automatic flying features are enabled, the obstacle avoidance systems are operational.
The drone can achieve a whopping top speed of 67mph, which makes operating the drone from the 4.3-mile range extremely fast. In addition, DJI Lightbridge technology allows for quick and dependable communication with the drone across long distances.
The interface is simply wonderful, and on top of that, the controller is very easy to use. When it comes to the navigation of the drone, you have an option to utilize GPS as well as an FPV video stream that is available both in 720p and 1080p resolution.
Additionally, you have the option of using a smartphone app that will assist you in the piloting of the drone. Furthermore, the controller operates at the 2.4GHz frequency, but you have an option if you wish to do so, to switch to the 5.8GHz frequency. If you opt to switch to the 5.8GHz frequency, it may lessen how much interference you might experience.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $3300
- Weight: 7.5lbs
- Flight time: 27 minutes
- Range: up to 4.3 miles
- Top speed: 58 mph
Pros ✔️
- Great camera
- Solid flight time
- Amazing range
- Very fast
Cons ❌
- Expensive
Walkera VITUS
The Walkera VITUS is an affordable drone meant for everyone, and it offers great features as well as professional-grade standards at a reasonable price point. Given the circumstances that there are a lot of similar drones on the market that do not bring any additional features that can outshine the Walkera VITUS and are even more expensive makes Walkera an amazing choice.
When it comes to the obstacle avoidance feature, Walkera VITUS provides an infrared sensor that can detect obstacles that are in front, to the left, and to the right of the drone. It is capable of identifying its surroundings up to 25 feet away, and accordingly, it brakes as it is necessary, stopping the drone as it approaches the object preventing the possible crash.
Keep in mind that the clear surfaces do not reflect IR, and because of this, infrared technology comes up short when compared to optical technology in the use of obstacle avoidance.
Additionally, if you are flying your drone when there is a lot of sunlight, it might show some interference with the sensors causing the obstacle avoidance to not work as designed.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1290
- Weight: 1.96lbs
- Flight time: 25 minutes
- Range: up to 1 mile
- Top speed: 37 mph
Pros ✔️
- Light
- On the cheaper side
- Fast
- Good flight time
Cons ❌
- Short-range
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
When it comes to obstacle avoidance, the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom comes with forward, backward, upward, downward, and sideways obstacle detecting sensors. With this amazing setup, there is no better in the DJI lineup when it comes to obstacle avoidance. The APAS, also known as the Advanced Pilot Assistant Software, receives all of the sensor data from the drone.
The drone itself comes with a 12MP 24-48mm optical zoom camera that will provide you with some great shots. Furthermore, the zoom-in option is one of a kind feature, and it provides photographers as well as videographers with the possibility to make some great and unique shots with variable lens lengths.
Additionally, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is very fast, going up to 44mph without an issue; also, it will provide you with more than enough time as it can stay in the air for more than 30 minutes. Lastly, what is also impressive is the range which goes up to an amazing 5 miles.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1100
- Weight: 2lbs
- Flight time: 30 minutes
- Range: up to 5 miles
- Top speed: 44 mph
Pros ✔️
- Light
- Solid flight time
- Very fast
- Great camera
- Amazing range
Cons ❌
- No gesture control
Yuneec Typhoon H
The Yuneec Typhoon H is a six-rotor drone that comes with sensors in the front of the drone that serve as obstacle detection and avoidance. The drone itself possesses a detachable 360-degree rotating gimbal camera as well as landing gear that is retractable, which is quite convenient.
The shape of the drone itself, according to some people, represents that of a flying insect that can maybe be off-putting to some people.
The drone itself is available for $1300, with the addition of the Pro version that is a bit more expensive, coming up to $1500. The range on the drone is lacking a bit compared to other models, with just around a 1-mile range.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1300
- Weight: 0.55lbs
- Flight time: 28 minutes
- Range: up to 1 miles
- Top speed: 43 mph
Pros ✔️
- Extremely light
- Solid flight time
- Very fast
- Solid camera
Cons ❌
- Short-range
DJI Mavic 2
The DJI Mavic 2 comes with a professional-grade, one-of-a-kind Hasselblad camera. The camera has a 5.6K resolution with a 20MP sensor as well as a 1-inch CMOS sensor giving you the best possible quality you can hope for.
The Mavic 2 Pro has a lot of new features that improve the quality of life. Some of these features are ActiveTrack 2.0 and OcuSync 2.0. As you can probably tell, the ActiveTrack 2.0 is an updated version that comes with enhanced real-time mapping giving accurate trajectory and targeting.
Furthermore, the new updated version of OcuSync provides better signal frequency, allowing you to operate the drone from much further away, up to 3.7 miles, to be exact.
The body of the drone is quite small and rectangular. When it comes to the camera and the gimbal, they are placed at the bottom of the drone in the front. Both the camera and the gimbal benefit greatly from being raised, even more so when the drone is not in the air, so you will not have to worry about the camera.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1700
- Weight: 2lbs
- Flight time: 31 minutes
- Range: up to 3.7 miles
- Top speed: 44 mph
Pros ✔️
- Very fast
- Light
- Solid flight time
- Solid camera
- Great range
Cons ❌
- Pricey
Phantom 4 Pro
The obstacle avoidance technology on the Phantom 4 Pro is still among the finest on the market. It has a wide range of sensors that are both diversified and effective. Stereo vision sensors, located in the front and reverse directions, can detect obstructions up to 98 feet away.
Both sides of the drone contain infrared sensors with a range of up to 23 feet. Finally, it features an infrared sensor on its belly to prevent it from landing on rough ground.
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is regarded as one of the most user-friendly drones. The controls are basic yet straightforward, giving you a thorough understanding of how to operate a drone.
In addition, you can have access to extra features such as intelligent flight modes if you use your smartphone or tablet. These capabilities let you to fly in preset flying modes as well as follow me mode.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1450
- Weight: 3lbs
- Flight time: 30 minutes
- Range: up to 4.3 miles
- Top speed: 45 mph
Pros ✔️
- Great camera
- Long flight time
- Very fast
- Solid range
Cons ❌
- Pricey
Skydio 2
First, we will talk about Skydio 2. It is one of the best drones out there that have obstacle avoidance. It is a highly intelligent drone with many great features to its name. It possesses a whopping six 200-degree color cameras that, as you can probably already tell, provide the drone with a complete view of its surroundings, ensuring that the drone does not crash and stays safe.
The obstacle avoidance technology is, in general, used selectively by most of the drones that are on the market, while only a handful of models possess sensors that have coverage of all directions.
One of those few is the Skydio 2. It is most certainly admirable how much effort was put into this drone. The non-stop, every direction obstacle avoidance system is possible due to the six cameras mounted on the drone. With these six cameras, the drone is as secure as it gets; crashing the drone is almost impossible.
It is important to keep in mind that branches without leaves and some thin wires can go undetected, proving quite dangerous even with the six-camera obstacle avoidance. This does limit, to some extent, where you can fly the drone safely.
Do remember that the drone will not fly in the majority of indoor places. This proves to be quite a good safety measure as it prevents dangerous situations from occurring. Furthermore, the drone needs a high enough light level to fly as it will not be able to take pictures before dawn or after dusk.
Feature overview ✍️
- Price: $1099
- Weight: 1.7lbs
- Flight time: 23 minutes
- Range: up to 3.7 miles
- Top speed: 36 mph
Pros ✔️
- Obstacle avoidance
- Automatic video recording
- Compatible with Android and IOS
- Portable
Cons ❌
- Short battery life
Best cheap drones with obstacle avoidance for beginners
Here we have some of the best cheap drones with obstacle avoidance if you are a beginner.
Ryze Tello
Ryze Tello is a drone that is more than similar to the DJI ones. This is because the Ryze Tello uses DJI parts, technology and is even sold on the official DJI website. That being said, it is not a DJI drone, even though some people do think that.
Ryze Tello comes with a 720p camera which will give you some amazing shots considering that the drone itself costs $99.
Furthermore, you can expect a flight time of around 13 minutes which might not seem like much, but again with this price range, there are not many options that are as good as this one.
Even though many features have been cut in order to bring down the cost as much as possible, the drone does possess obstacle avoidance, making it a great choice for beginners.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 720p
- Flight time: 13 minutes
- Obstacle avoidance
Pros ✔️
- Cheap
- Good for beginners
Cons ❌
- Not meant for anything special
HOLY STONE HS100
Next up, we have Holy Stone HS100. Following the theme of cheap beginner drones, this one is definitely a solid option to consider. Possessing both take-off and landing features greatly helps new pilots.
Additionally, apart from obstacle avoidance, the best feature that this drone has, which greatly assists beginners, is the return home feature.
Holy Stone HS100 comes with a 2K HD camera, which is amazing when you consider the price of the drone. Furthermore, it also has a 1-axis gimbal for stable footage.
When it comes to the flight time, you can expect about 18 minutes. With all that being said, this drone will cost you around $150.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 2K HD
- Flight time: 18 minutes
- Return home feature
Pros ✔️
- Cheap
- Solid flight time
- Many great features for the price
Cons ❌
- Long charging time
DJI SPARK
DJI Spark is a drone you can take with you no matter where you go. The drone is no bigger than your phone. Due to its size, it is very easy to fly, making it very friendly to beginners.
The drone is controllable either with your smartphone or with a controller. The sole design of this drone is focused on the beginners and to make their experience as pleasant as possible.
Even though it is small, you can still expect a flight time of 15 minutes. The camera is nothing to forget about. It comes with a 12MP camera that is capable of recording 1080p in 30fps. With the 2-axis gimbal, you can rest assured your shots will be stable.
The price for this one is $350.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 12MP 1080p 30fps
- Flight time: 15 minutes
- Intelligent flight control
Pros ✔️
- Cheap
- Beginner friendly
- Great camera
- Very small
- Portable
Cons ❌
- Low wind resistance
HUBSAN X4 H502S
Hubsan X4 H502S is another great choice when it comes to the cheap drones for beginners. The drone possesses full GPS, which also allows for features such as follow me that can greatly help a beginner.
The drone has a 720p camera which provides solid results. Flight time of this drone is about 12 minutes, and the range comes up to 66 feet from the controller.
All of this comes at the price of $33, which is amazing.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 720p
- Flight time: 12 minutes
- Follow me feature
Pros ✔️
- Extremely cheap
- Solid camera
- Good flight time
- Nice range
Cons ❌
- Low fps
Potensic A20
The Potensic A20 is a great beginner drone for new pilots or even younger kids. The drone has propeller guards in case of an unfortunate event of it crashing. That being said, crashing this drone is easier said than done.
It comes with exceptional obstacle avoidance. In general, the drone is quite simple to operate and does not prove challenging at all.
It has a 2.4G camera with 6 Axis Headless Mode. Furthermore, the price of this drone is $30, which is a steal. You can expect 13 minutes of flight time with this drone.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 2.4G
- Flight time: 13 minutes
Pros ✔️
- Extremely cheap
- Made even for the kids
- Propeller guards
Cons ❌
- Not many features
YUNEEC BREEZE
Yuneec Breeze is one of the older drones. Nonetheless, it still offers a great service to its users. It comes with many great features such as Follow Me, Selfie, and Orbit.
You also have an option to program the drone yourself through the app and set your own route that the drone will follow with the help of its integrated GPS system.
The camera on this drone is certainly amazing. It comes with a 4K Ultra HD camera. Now, compared to the previous drones, this one is a bit more expensive, coming up to $500.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: 4K Ultra HD
- Flight time: 10 minutes
- Follow Me, Orbit and Selfie features
Pros ✔️
- Amazing camera
- Good flight time
- Great features
Cons ❌
- Pricey
Eachine E58
Each E58 is another one of the cheaper beginner drones that provide great results compared to its price. The drone is extremely mobile; it can move very fast and can change direction accordingly without any problems. What greatly helps this maneuverability is obstacle avoidance, which keeps the drone safe from crashing.
The drone comes with an HD camera, as well as a 3D VR mode that is paired with the VR kit, which helps you control the drone better.
When it comes to the price, for this drone, you will need to pay $80.
Feature overview ✍️
- Camera: HD
- Flight time: around 8 minutes
- 3D VR
Pros ✔️
- Cheap
- Solid footage
- Fast
Cons ❌
- Plastic parts
Benefits Of Collision Avoidance Drones
Safer Drones With Obstacle Detection
Everyone who has a drone and actively flies it can agree that the fewer the crashes, the better. That being said, just a second is enough for you to lose your focus and fly your drone into something. This is only one of many reasons that obstacle detection is a necessity for drones.
Flying Indoors
Flying indoors is quite a tricky task. Even with GPS and GLONASS satellite tracking, it is quite difficult. That is where obstacle avoidance comes in. With it, the drones are able to autonomously fly indoors and navigate around.
Insurance Costs
Insurance costs can be quite high. With obstacle avoidance drones, these costs can be cut down significantly.
How Does Collision Avoidance Work?
It works in a way that it detects the speed of the drone, its surroundings, the distance from the objects around it, adjusting the drone accordingly.
Types of Collision Avoidance Sensors:
Ultrasonic Sensors For Detecting Objects (Sonar)
An ultrasonic sensor works in a way that it sends out a high-frequency sound pulse and it measures how long it takes to come back. It has 2 openings; one transmits, and the other receives ultrasonic waves.
Proximity Sensors for Obstacle Avoidance (Basic)
Proximity sensors are mostly used for toy-grade drones. They are not as good as ultrasonic or stereo vision sensors. The only thing they do is that they detect the object and stop the drone from crashing.
FAQs
No, but it certainly helps and keeps you and your drone safe.
Skydio 2 and Mavic Pro 2 are considered to be the best.
No, it does not possess obstacle avoidance.
Yes, it does possess obstacle avoidance.
Yes, it does possess obstacle avoidance.
There are several different sensors used for obstacle avoidance in drones, such as infrared, stereo vision, and more.
No, the DJI Mini 2 does not come with obstacle avoidance.
No, the DJI Mavic Mini does not have obstacle avoidance.
