Without further ado, here’s the cream of the quadcopter crop.

DJI’s mini combo drone is a must-have if you are looking to capture impressive HD videos shot at bird’s eye view. This unit is equipped with a 12MP camera capable of shooting 2.7K Quad HD videos as well as a three-axis mechanical gimbal to achieve smooth, stable footage. The drone is lightweight, too, so carrying it with you during travels will not pose any hassle.

Why we love it:

— Compact size perfect for backpacking — Stays in the air longer — Features impressive pre-set motions

This value drone by SIMREX makes your life easier, as you can control the unit not only with a remote, but also with your Android or iOS phones. It’s also equipped with the latest six-axis Gyro flight control systems, allowing for a better and safer experience for its users. The drone’s 110° wide-angle FPV camera also enables you to capture high-resolution aerial images and videos.

Why we love it:

— Features three modes of speed — Headless mode prevents confusion — Equipped with propeller protection rings

SIMREX’s drone has flexible blades that you can fold to make the unit compact and easier to pack inside your bag. Despite its space-saving features, though, this drone does not hold back on its functions as it’s equipped with a 1080P HD camera, features multiple stunts, and is packed with easy-to-understand controls. You can also control this unit through the accompanying app on your phone, where you can also see the live video feed.

Why we love it:

— Versatile flight stunts and speed modes — Better control through gravity and sensor mode — Enables real-time video transmission

Potensic’s mini drone is so easy to control and is packed with safety features that your kids will find it easy handling the unit while enjoying doing so. The drone, after all, is stable thanks to its six-axis gyroscope flight control system and easy to use because of its headless mode, adjustable speeds, and altitude hold. This unit can last up to 18 minutes up the air when fully charged.

Why we love it:

— Safe, stable, and durable — Enables emergency stop — Great for all ages

The first thing we do when we get a new drone is beat it up a little bit. We don’t kick it down the stairs or anything, but we’ll give it a few knocks, twists, and shallow drops to assess the build quality and durability. Does it feel flimsy, or does it feel like it could survive a crash landing in the park? We give each unit a light beating (and usually a couple unintentional crash landings) before we give you a definitive answer on how durable it is.

To gauge flight performance, we put the drone through a number of tests to see how the manufacturer’s claims hold up. First we take it to a local football field and see how fast it can clear 100 yards, then do some calculations to get an objective reading on speed in miles per hour. After that, we do a similar test to assess ascent and descent speeds, and all the while, we’re also taking notes on how responsive the controls are, how stable the craft is, how far it can go before it’s out of range, and what the overall piloting experience is like compared to other drones.

After we’ve taken the drone out to play for a while and jotted down a few notes about how long the battery lasts, we put it on the charger and grab a stopwatch to determine recharge time. Then we take it back out and do a hover test. By flying the drone in the least demanding conditions, we can get a sense of what the maximum flight time is. And finally, we take it out a few more good, hard flights to find out how long the battery lasts (on average) under normal conditions.

If the drone we’re testing happens to have a camera capable of recording, we capture as much footage as we possibly can. We’ll shoot in dark places, light places, and places with lots of colour and contrast. This footage is then compared to all the highlight reels that we filmed with other drones, which helps us get a sense of the camera’s strengths and weaknesses. We also test any accessories that accompany the camera, like lenses, filters, gimbals, or FPV goggles. Finally, we’ll also let you know if the camera setup is upgradable, so you won’t be stuck with an outdated shooter in two years.