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Ever wondered how high can a drone fly? Or what are the highest flying drones? We’ve got an answer for you.
Acquiring and using a drone has become easier than ever before because they are becoming cheaper by the day. The day is close when altitude mode will become a standard feature on every drone because low end drones receive features comparable to high end drones. You have come to the right place if you are looking on purchasing a drone and you want a drone that can reach high altitude.
The urge of drone enthusiasts to know the drone that can reach the maximum altitude is a sure thing. Many people confuse max flying altitude with maximum control range, but these features are not the same at all. To help you, we decided to compile a list, in no particular order, of the top 10 drones that can reach big heights. In the list down below, you’ll find how high you can fly your drone.
The maximum allowable altitude in the US is 400 feet above the ground, higher if your drone remains within 400 feet of a structure.
Many people disobey this regulatory directive but it is good to know if you are breaking laws or not while having fun. If you fly above 120m or 400 feet in the air, then you are on the wrong side of the law, at least in the USA.
You will also find some of the highest flying and max altitude drones currently available on the market.
Here is a quick overview of high altitude drones:
| Name | Camera | Altitude | Flight t. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autel Evo 2 | 8k | 7km | 40 min | See best offer |
| DJI Mavic Air 2 | 4K | 5km | 34 min | See best offer |
| DJI Mini 2 | 4K | 4km | 31 min | See best offer |
| Autel Robotics X-Star Pro | 4K | 2km | 23 min | See best offer |
| DJI Mavic Mini | 2.7K | 3 km | 30 min | See best offer |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 4K | 5km | 27 min | See best offer |
| DJI Phantom 3 Professional | 4K | 6km | 23 min | See best offer |
| DJI Spark | 4K | 4km | 16 min | See best offer |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 4K | 6km | 26 min | See best offer |
| DJI Phantom 4P | 4K | 6km | 25 min | See best offer |
High Altitude Drones and the Law Regulations
Under FAA laws in the USA you can’t fly your drone above 400 feet (about 120 meters) and you don’t need a special permission.
So, make sure to check the current laws and regulations in this regard before you set out to break a record in high drone flying. If you don’t have the permission and you went so high up to lose sight of your drone with a naked eye, you might be in trouble.
DJI Mavic Air 2
This is a brand new DJI drone that was released in April 2020. The drone saw huge improvements over its predecessors, including the increased highest flying altitude of 5km. This machine is a real beast with impressive flight time of 34 minutes, 48 MP photos and HDR capabilities.
The Mavic Air 2 weighs 570g (1.3 pound) and feautres a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor capable of 12MP and 48MP photos (JPEG and RAW). When it comes to video, the Mavic Air 2 can shoot up to 4K 60fps at 120 Mpbs. Mavic Air 2 is also capable to shoot in the H.265 HVEC video codec to improve efficiency without any loss in quality.
It is a bit more expensive but also much more feature rich than the Mavic Mini as you can see in our comparison of Air 2 and Mini.
DJI also introduced some new smart camera features on the new Air 2, called Scene Recognition and Hyperlight.
- Scene Recognition is made for detecting sunsets, blue skies, grass, snow, and trees. It then optimizes images with these objects for a stunning final photo.
- Hyperlight is a feature that is drumming around mobile markets – it aims to increase the quality of night shots by taking multiple photos and merging them to reduce the amount of noise (graininess) that’s common in low-light images.
DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo - Drone Quadcopter UAV with...
- 【UP YOUR GAME】: The Mavic Air 2 camera drone takes power and portability to the next level. It combines a powerful camera with intelligent shooting modes for stunning results. Push your imagination to its limits because aerial photography has never been this easy.
- 【UP YOUR GAME】: The Mavic Air 2 camera drone takes power and portability to the next level. It combines a powerful camera with intelligent shooting modes for stunning results. Push your imagination to its limits because aerial photography has never been this easy.
- 【NEXT-LEVEL CONTENT】: Capture impressive 48MP photos with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor while the 3-axis gimbal provides 4K/60fps video. The secret to incredible HDR video is a high-performance Quad Bayer image sensor. OcuSync 2.0 has a video transmission distance of up to 6.2mi / 10 km and can also deliver 1080p FHD resolution livestream directly from the drone’s camera.
- 【IMPROVED FLIGHT】: An impressive flight time of up to 34 minutes allows you to pull off epic, fast-paced shots. Obstacle sensing in three directions makes it extra convenient for beginners and improves safety for your Mavic Air 2.
- 【INTELLIGENT TRACKING】: Mavic Air 2 features intuitive shooting functions that make aerial photography easier than ever. Spotlight 2.0 keeps the camera locked on a subject while you fly freely. ActiveTrack 3.0 keeps subjects centered. POI 3.0 tracks moving subjects like people and vehicles.
- 【APP COMPATIBILITY】: The DJI Fly app requires iOS v10.0, Android v6.0, or above. Compatible devices include: iPhone (11 Pro Max, 11 Pro, 11, XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6s Plus, 6s, 6 Plus, 6), iPad Pro (9.7’’), iPad Air 2 (9.7’’), iPad mini 4 (8’’), iPad Pro (10.5’’), iPad Pro 2018 11’’, iPad Pro 12.9’’, Samsung Galaxy (S20, S10+, S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 edge, S7, S6, Note10+, Note9, Note8), Huawei (P30 Pro, P30, P20, P10, Mate 30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 10, nova 5, nova 4, nova 3e, nova 2, Honor 8X, 10, 9, 20 Pro, Magic 2, Mi 8, MIX 2S, MIX 2, Redmi Note 5, Oppo Find X, R15, Vivo NEX, X27, X21, X20A, OnePlus 7, 6T, 5, Pixel 3 XL, 2 XL, 2, LG V20, LG G6, Sony Xpeial 1.
- 【WHAT YOU GET】: Mavic Air 2 Aircraft, Remote Controller, 3x Intelligent Flight Battery, 6x Low-Noise Propellers (Pair), RC Cables (USB Type-C, Lightning, Standard Micro-USB), Control Stick, Gimbal Protector, Battery Charger, Battery Charging Hub, Battery to Power Bank Adapter, Shoulder Bag, ND Filters Set (ND16/64/256), Manuals, AC Power Cable, Type-C Cable.
- 【VIDEO CAPTURE RESOLUTION】: 4K HD
DJI Mini 2
New favorite in the drone circles – Mini 2. The drone easily reaches high altitudes even though it struggles to fly as high as DJI claims on paper – 4km.
This is another cracking little quad from DJI that is under the mandatory license weight, just like its older sibling Mini.
Mini 2 comes with a 12MP camera that can, impressively enough, do a 4k video at 30 fps while also featuring a 4x digital zoom so you can safely fly it above the trees and potential dangerous objects and still catch excellent panoramic shots. This is the biggest improvement over its predecessor Mavic Mini. Granted, if you up your rate, the quality drops from 4k to 1920p. Still, good enough for a huge majority of pilots. Just like all DJI drones, it has a 3-axis gimbal and an impressive video transmission distance of 10km.
Sadly, it lacks any obstacle detection sensors so you will need to be more careful while flying it, or letting it follow you in crowded places like forests. Bear that in mind while you are in your adventure. It can almost match Mavic Air 2 when it comes to flying time though, as the mini bird can do a 31-minute flight with a single battery charge. And it is also almost two times cheaper than Air 2 so that is another plus, especially if you are strapped for cash.
DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo – Ultralight Foldable Drone, 3-Axis Gimbal...
- PACK LIGHT, FLY FREE: at less than 249 g, it weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the palm of your hand. compact and convenient, this small drone is your ideal travel companion, transforming how you capture your favorite memories.Max Wind Speed Resistance : 8.5-10.5 m/s (Scale 5).Operating Temperature : 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F), Operating Frequency [2] : 2.400-2.4835 GHz, 5.725-5.850 GHz..Max Control Speed (tilt) : 100°/s. Shutter Speed : Electronic Shutter: 4-1/8000 s.
- PACK LIGHT, FLY FREE: at less than 249 g, it weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the palm of your hand. compact and convenient, this small drone is your ideal travel companion, transforming how you capture your favorite memories.Max Wind Speed Resistance : 8.5-10.5 m/s (Scale 5).Operating Temperature : 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F), Operating Frequency [2] : 2.400-2.4835 GHz, 5.725-5.850 GHz..Max Control Speed (tilt) : 100°/s. Shutter Speed : Electronic Shutter: 4-1/8000 s.
- OCUSYNC 2.0 VIDEO TRANSMISSION: mini 2 supports up to 10km of hd video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, giving you the ability to fly farther and see clearer
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: with a max battery life of 31 minutes, dji mini 2 grants more than enough time to compose the perfect shot. mini 2 can resist level 5 winds and take off at a max altitude of 4,000 meters, so your footage is stable even when flying along a windy coastline or high above an alpine forest
- 4X ZOOM: there’s no need to get so close for your dream shot. 4x digital zoom makes it safer and more convenient when transitioning between shots of varying distance and composition
- QUICKSHOTS: with just a few taps, dji mini 2 automatically records and shoots professional-level videos to share directly on social media. whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced flyer, the dji fly app helps you produce impressive results complete with soundtracks and filters
Autel Evo 2
On paper, Evo 2 sounds impressive with the max altitude of 7km and incredible 8k and 6k cameras. A lot of people are still getting used to 4k and barely anyone has hardware to support 8k so releasing a drone with such camera capabilities is a real eyebrow raiser.
The three user-changeable gimbal modules for the Autel Evo 2 are:
- 586 gimbal: provides an 8K video camera that will take still photos of up to 48MP and records 8K video at 25 fps, 6K at 30 fps, or 4K at 30 or 60 fps with a bit rate of up to 120 Mbps.
- 383 gimbal: features an Ultra-HD camera with a 1-inch sensor for 6K video and still photos of up to 20MP. It will record video up to 5.5K at 60fps or 4K video at 120 fps and has an adjustable lens aperture from f/2.8 to f/11.
- Dual-sensor gimbal: provides an infrared camera that takes infrared images of 640 x 512 or 320 x 256 and records video at 720p at 30 fps in dual image mode. It has the same 8K video camera as described above.
- it features 8GB internal storage and 256 GB of external memory via microSD card.
The camera is swapable – one of a kind feature among premium drones. They made a removable payload so if you buy one frame, you can buy what ever camera you want to add to it later on. If you start off with the Evo 2 and you want upgrade to the 1 inch sensor for the Evo Pro, you buy the camera and mount it on your 8k model and you essentially have the Evo 2 6k model now.
All three camera modules on the New Autel Evo 2 support:
- Single shot
- Burts shooting
- Auto exposure bracketing (AEB)
- Time-lapse
- High-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging
- NIGHTBEAT (high signal-to-noise ratio
Photos can be saved as DNG or JPG formats, and video footage can be recorded either MOV or MP4 formats on the Autel Evo 2.
The films made with EVO 2 look very natural, not overly saturated, good dynamic range, solid pixel density making it a pleasing shot overall.
DJI Spark, Fly More Combo, Alpine White
- Intelligent Flight ModesSmart, reliable, and incredibly intuitiveQuickShotVideos with a Tap
- High-Performance CameraAmazing images and stabilized videoMechanical Gimbal StabilizationShake-Free Shots
- Flight PerformanceAwesome potential, immersive experiencesPowerful Propulsion Speed and Precision Control
- Intelligent Flight ModesSmart, reliable, and incredibly intuitiveQuickShotVideos with a Tap
- High-Performance CameraAmazing images and stabilized videoMechanical Gimbal StabilizationShake-Free Shots
- Flight PerformanceAwesome potential, immersive experiencesPowerful Propulsion Speed and Precision Control
- Flight SafetyWorry-free flight in the palm of your hand ; Propeller guards are recommended when using these functions.
- 2-Axis Stabilized Gimbal Camera. Voltage - 100-240 V
- Requirement = Windows 10 64bit, Windows 7 64bit
DJI Spark
Spark is a powerful mini camera drone from DJI that reaches a max drone height of 4km.
Although it is a small drone in terms of dimensions, it is a real behemoth when it comes to performance. It can be flown at high altitudes with ease. One drone fan hacked Spark and sent the drone in the sky, way above its maximum altitude at 4,400 meters.
Sparks features an impressive 12MP camera with 2-axis gimbal for shake-free shots.
With Spark’s 1/2.3 inch sensor to shoot stabilized video at 1080p and still photos at 12mp, you will surely love its output.
Spark is smart, reliable and intuitive. It is very easy to use and comes with intelligent flight modes making it easy for everyone both pros and beginners to pilot this. So, I highly recommend this.
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Aircraft, 3-Axis Gimbal & 4K UHD Video...
- Camera offers 4k UHD video recording with fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal.
- Quadcopter camera drone features 720p HD app-based monitoring with gimbal controls on transmitter.
- Drone package includes 2 flight batteries and a rechargeable remote control.
- Camera offers 4k UHD video recording with fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal.
- Quadcopter camera drone features 720p HD app-based monitoring with gimbal controls on transmitter.
- Drone package includes 2 flight batteries and a rechargeable remote control.
- Features a vision sensor for indoor flight and offers up to 23 minutes flying time.
- Kit Includes Quadcopter Drone, Radio Controller, Flight Battery, Charger, aluminum case.
DJI Phantom 3 Professional
Product Specs
- Maximum Altitude: 6000 meters (19685 feet)
- Dimensions: 350 x 350 x 203 mm (13.8 x 13.8 x 8 inches)
- Weight: 1280 grams (2.8 pounds)
- Wingspan: 590 mm (23.2 inches)
- Battery: 100V 4480mAh Li-Po 4S
- Flight time: 23 minutes
- Controller Frequency: 2.4GHz
- Operating Range: 2000 meters (6652 feet)
- Payload Capacity: 300 grams (0.66 pounds)
- Maximum Speed: 16 m/s (36 mph)
- Camera: 12MP 4K
The DJI Phantom 3 can go up to 6000 meters in the air and it is considered to be one of the best highest flying drones.
However, it is important to note that distance is determined by the operating range, which is 2,000 meters for this drone so this isn’t the actual height above the ground you can fly. Also, the Phantom 3 has been software restricted to only 500 meters, but there are people who are able to bypass these restrictions.
But flying over 500 meters is considered extremely dangerous because the drone could crash into a plane or your drone could fall down and hurt or kill someone.
The package includes the drone, controller, 4K camera, spare battery and Hard-Shell Backpack.
The Phantom 3 sports a large battery capacity (4480mAh) and has a flight time of about 23 minutes. The built-in 12MP camera on the Phantom 3 Professional is able to shoot very high quality photos and the 4K resolution is perfect for recording professional-level video.
This drone is above average in size and weight and as far as color goes, it is only available in white.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 - Drone Quadcopter UAV with 20MP Camera...
- The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 camera drone comes equipped with a 3-axis motorized gimbal and a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor with a mechanical shutter that eliminates rolling shutter distortion.
- The standard controller features a smartphone holder. You will need to install the DJI GO 4 App on your phone to fly your drone.
- The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 camera drone comes equipped with a 3-axis motorized gimbal and a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor with a mechanical shutter that eliminates rolling shutter distortion.
- The standard controller features a smartphone holder. You will need to install the DJI GO 4 App on your phone to fly your drone.
- The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is a beast when it comes to flight performance. It has a maximum flight speed of 72 kph and an 8km transmission range with 1080p livestreaming and automatic frequency switching thanks to OcuSync 2.0.
- The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 offers Intelligent Flight Modes such as TapFly, ActiveTrack, Draw mode, Gesture mode, and more. Draw lets you control the flight path with a fixed altitude simply by creating a route on the screen.
- DJI GO 4 App requires iOS 10.0.2, Android 5.0 or above. Compatible devices include: iPhone 11 Pro Max, 11 Pro, 11, XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6s Plus, 6s, 6 Plus, 6, SE, iPad Pro, iPad, Air 2, mini 4. Samsung Galaxy S10+, S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, Note 8, Huawei P30 Pro, P30, P20 Pro, P20, P10 Plus, P10, Mate 10 Pro, Mate 10, Mate 9 Pro, Mate 9, Mate 8, Honor 8X, 10, 9, 20 Pro, Magic 2, Vivo X20, X9, NEX, X27, X21, X20A, Oppo Find X, R15, R11, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, 2, 8, 6, Redmi Note 5, OnePlus 7, 6T, 5, Pixel 3 XL, 2 XL, 2, Google Pixel 2XL, OnePlus 6, 5T.
- What you get: DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Remote Controller, Intelligent Flight, Battery, Charger, Power Cable, 4x Propellers (pair), Gimbal Clamp, microSD Card (32GB), Micro USB Cable, Carrying Case
- Video capture resolution: 4K UHD 2160p
DJI Phantom 4
Product Specs
- Maximum Altitude: 6000 meters (19685 feet)
- Dimensions: 660 x 508 x 457 mm (26 x 20 x 18 inches)
- Weight: 1380 grams (3 pounds)
- Wingspan: 350 mm (13.8 inches)
- Battery: 15.2V 5350mAh Li-Po 4S
- Flight Time: 28 minutes
- Controller frequency: 2.4GHz
- Operating Range: 5000 meters (16404 feet)
- Camera: 12MP 4K
- Payload Capacity: 462 grams (1 pound)
- Maximum Speed: 20 m/s (45 mph)
The DJI Phantom 4 can fly up to 6,000 meters above sea level. However, that distance is determined by the operating range, which is 5,000 meters for this drone so this isn’t the actual height above the ground you can fly.
The Phantom 4 also has the software restriction that disables it from flying higher than 500 meters above sea level. In theory, these restrictions are possible to bypass. However, so far no one was able to do so.
The Phantom 4 is equipped with an amazing 4K UHD camera that is mounted on top of motorized gimbal. This feature allows you to get a perfectly smooth and stabilized aerial video and very high quality images.
The drone uses a powerful 15.2V 5350mAh Li-Po battery. The flight time is about 28 minutes per charging. The drone weighs 1380 grams and it is one of the heavier drones on the market. The Phantom 4 is also above average in size, with a wingspan of 350 mm.
The Phantom 4 is also one of the more expensive drones available on the market today and it is the most expensive drone on this list. As far as color goes, this drone is only available in white.
DJI Mavic Pro 4K Quadcopter with Remote Controller, 2 Batteries, with 1-Year...
- Mavic Pro + 1 Extra New Battery
- Offers up to 4.3 miles (7km) of transmission range - Fly at up to 40mph (64kmh) or for as long as 27-minutes - True 4K, fully stabilized ensures smooth footage - Fly by Phone over Wi-Fi for even easier flight
- Mavic Pro + 1 Extra New Battery
- Offers up to 4.3 miles (7km) of transmission range - Fly at up to 40mph (64kmh) or for as long as 27-minutes - True 4K, fully stabilized ensures smooth footage - Fly by Phone over Wi-Fi for even easier flight
- Gimbal-Stabilized 12MP / 4K Camera
- OcuSync Transmission Technology
- See description below for a list of included accessories
Mavic Pro
Mavic Pro is the OG of the Mavic production line and it set the new standards for the industry back then. Its performances are still impressive to this day. How high can this drone go? A proud height of 6km.
This was the first folding drone that really took the world by storm and completely changed drones as we know it.
Prior to this, most people had the really large phantom drones which required a bowpack all of their own. This was the first drone the size of a bottle of water and nearly 2 years later, it’s still a fantastic drone. It shoots 4k video and 12 megapixel RAW photographs. It’s got 25 minutes flight time and OcuSync transmission so you get really clear image to the
Controller and your phone. Mavic Pro also has built-in obstacle avoidance so you’re not gonna crash it. You can get it second hand for less money than Mini, especially if you consider that Mini bundle version would cost you $500 (regular version is $400).
Here is a full review of Mavic Pro drone. Additionally, if you are interested how this drone stocks up against its competition, check out our Mavic Pro vs Phantom 4 comparison.
Summary
You have come to the end of this Top 10 Drones That Can Reach High Altitudes List and I hope that it helped you make up your mind. I truly hope that this article was interesting and informative and that you got yourself a nice drone for those sky-high flights.
It is very important to note that if you don’t want to end up paying a huge fine due to flying your drone on dangerous heights, you should check your country’s UAV regulations.
