5 Best Drones of 2014

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We’ve seen a wide variety of tech trends in 2014. Smartwatches were hot, thanks to Google Inc. (GOOG) and its release of Android Phone, the heroic efforts of Samsung (SSNLF) — who just kept releasing these things, one after another — and Apple (AAPL) who previewed the Apple Watch.

best drones, best drones of 2014 intro
Source: DJI

Fitness trackers, home automation, digital wallets, 4K video, phablets — all hot trends, this year. But few things caught the imagination of the public or made it into the news the way drones did.

Radio controlled quadcopters armed with GoPro (GPRO) cameras were everywhere, and the footage they shot was all over YouTube and the news.

Drones are high on holiday wish lists, but there’s a huge difference between the best drones and rest. A $49 indoor drone quadcopter bears almost no resemblance to the machines used to capture that awesome aerial footage we’re all so enthralled with.

We put together a list of the five best drones of 2014.

Five Best Drones of 2014: DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter

best drones, DJI Phantom 2 Vision
Source: DJI

The DJI Phantom was the go-to model for drone enthusiasts and one of the best drones available for the consumer market.

With the $1369 DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter, the company has significantly upped the ante. It’s also made this drone a truly “out of the box and run” experience by including its own built-in HD camera — a development that action cam leader Go-Pro is more than a little nervous about.

Key features include:

  • Radar positioning and automatic return to takeoff point if the drone leaves control range
  • GPS auto-pilot with position holding, altitude lock and stable hovering
  • 25 minute maximum flight time
  • 1080p stabilized camera with tilt control
  • Maximum control distance 2,625 feet

Five Best Drones of 2014: Parrot AR Drone 2.0

best drones, PArrot Air Drone 2.0
Source: Parrot

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 makes the best drones of 2014 list not just because of its capabilities, but also its price: $299.

For that money, you get a quadcopter that generates its own Wi-Fi network for control using an iPhone or Android smartphone with a 165 foot range. It has a built-in 720p camera that streams live video to the device. With an optional Flight Recorder GPS, it also has a “return home” mode if it flies out of control range.

Parrot includes a beginner flying mode as well as pushbutton acrobatic maneuvers.

Parrot’s QGround Control software also lets drone pilots pre-plan their flight path.

Five Best Drones of 2014: Hubsan X4

best drones, Hubsan X4
Source: Hubsan

Every drone pilot has to start somewhere. Rather than drop hundreds of dollars on a full-sized drone, it might be best to start small. A micro-drone is less likely to smash during a rough landing and far less likely to injure someone or cause damage if things go wrong.

Among these tiny machines, the Hubsan X4 stands out as being one of the best drones on the market. Despite its diminutive size, this drone offers 6-axis flight control, adjustable gyro sensitivity (for more stable flight) and a 0.3MP fixed video camera with microSD card slot.

And at less than $60 on Amazon (AMZN), this easily makes the best drones of 2014 list as an inexpensive introduction to the world of camera-equipped quadcoptors.

Five Best Drones of 2014: Blade 350 QX

best drones, Blade 350 QX
Source: Blade

The Blade 350 QX has a well-deserved reputation as a solid mid-range drone.

At $499.99 for the ready-to fly version, it’s a smaller investment than other entries on our best drones list, yet offers impressive capabilities.

The Blade 350 QX is also an ideal model for intermediate pilots.

While an experienced pilot can push it to the limit, the Blade 350 QX offers a series of modes that help out those with less flight time. For example, Smart Mode keeps this drone a safe distance from the pilot, Stability Mode uses self-levelling for consistent flight, and AP mode keeps flight optimized for use of an optional onboard camera (such as a GoPro).

Five Best Drones of 2014: DJI Inspire

best drones, DJI Aspire
Source: DJI

The latest release from DJI seriously pushes the definition of consumer-level technology. At well over $3,000 it’s a drone only for serious “prosumers” and hobbyists. It’s also one of the best drones ever released outside of commercial models.

But, for an experienced drone pilot who wants to take their piloting to the next level, the DJI Aspire’s hefty price tag is well worth it.

At 6.5 pounds, the DJI Aspire packs four powerful motors that can take it to the lofty height of 14,763 feet. That’s nearly three miles!

It’s equipped with its own gimbal-mounted, rotating 4K camera capable of shooting at 60fps, as well as time lapse and burst mode. The controller has dedicated camera controls and the drone’s carbon fiber arms lift out of the camera’s way for perfect shots. A dual controller option lets one person pilot this drone while the other controls the camera.

For the truly brave (remember, this is 6.5 pounds of spinning blades), the DJI Aspire can use its camera and sonic waves to navigate the dangers of indoor flight.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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Brad Moon has been writing for InvestorPlace.com since 2012. He also writes about stocks for Kiplinger and has been a senior contributor focusing on consumer technology for Forbes since 2015.


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