6 Best High-Altitude Drones of 2019

1. Hubsan X4 H502S 5.8G FPV Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The Hubsan FPV X4 Desire is an affordable quadcopter that’s fast fun and easy to fly. It comes with some simple set-up instructions that help you to get this puppy unboxed and airborne in no time.

• Best feature 1: Maximum altitude 492 feet (150meters)
• Best feature 2: GPS auto-positioning system
• Plus points: Built-in 720P HD camera, Altitude Hold, Return to Home & Failsafe, fast charging
• Minus points: Transmitter batteries not included, average flight time, average image quality

The design of the Hubsan X4 H502S 5.8G FPV is pretty cool and the build is not bad for a drone in its class. The multi-function FPV transmitter feels a bit plasticky but it’s robust and functional.

This little quad can easily reach the FAA altitude restriction with its maximum height of around 492 feet. It may be an entry-level drone but it has lots going for it with a plethora of advanced features.

The GPS auto-positioning system gives you the much sought after Follow Me feature. The craft’s 720P HD built-in camera won’t blow you away on the quality front but it’s still perfectly adequate.

The Failsafe Features

The drone’s failsafe features are well worth a mention. It automatically returns to base (home) if the battery power gets too low or the quadcopter loses connection with the transmitter.

There’s also the one-key return for a stress-free return of the craft. This is particularly useful when a pilot feels they’re losing control or that something’s not quite right.

The Not So Good

Before you buy the X4 make sure you get four AA transmitter batteries in advance as they’re not included. And the maximum flight time is just 12 minutes so you may want to invest in an extra drone battery or two as well.

2. Traxxas Aton Quadcopter Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Traxxas Aton appears cute to some but looks can be deceptive. This powerful little quadcopter is a beast with a tame side. The three flight modes let any pilot—at any level—learn to tame the beast.

• Best feature 1: Maximum altitude 394 feet (120 meters)
• Best feature 2: Super-fast top speed (ideal for racing)
• Plus points: Durable, 20-minute flight time, dual-mode GPS, air brakes, return to home
• Minus points: Upgrades made it incompatible with Mac OS, vibration issues

There’s the film mode for entry-level pilots(recommended). For advanced and experienced flyers you have the Sport and Expert modes to choose from. It’s fast, fun, and furious too. The 200-meter operating range is not the most impressive feature. Even so, it can still climb almost to the FAA’s maximum altitude restriction of 122m. This flight range and altitude are ideal for drone racers.

Fast and Furious

This quadcopter can reach a maximum speed of around 50mph which is manic. Only quad racers would want to push it to such limits. It’s nice to have the extra power all the same. It’s a bit like road vehicles in that regard. To reach these top speeds you have to fly the quad in Sport Mode. If things start to run away with you, there are always the air brakes to fall back on.

The craft will stand up to a few moderate knocks and crash landings thanks to its durable build. A few other points worth a mention are the 20-minute maximum flight time, dual-mode GPS, and the return to home feature. It also has high-visibility colorful LED lights that users can customize.

The Not So Good

Recent upgrades rendered the Traxxas Aton defunct with Mac OS. If this is important to you, then check the current status before you make a buying decision. Another drawback is with vibration as it can sometimes interfere with video transmission and image quality. Flying styles and speeds will obviously play a part here.

3. Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon Quadcopter is a quality product that enjoys a lot of positive feedback. Its high altitude ability is mind-boggling, not that you can legally exploit this or course.

• Best feature 1: Maximum altitude 3281 feet (1000 meters)
• Best feature 2: 4K/30fps UHD video
• Plus points: Built-in touchscreen, integrated 3-axis gimbal, 12MP stills
• Minus points: Slow flyer, long charging time, not travel-friendly

You’re going to either love or loathe this high-altitude quadcopter. It soars effortlessly to the FAA’s maximum height limit enabling pilots to capture some amazing aerial footage. The flight range isn’t bad either though it’s not as good as some other drones in this class. It’s a slow flyer too, so you wouldn’t want it to travel too far in case there wasn’t enough power to bring it back to base.

Filming and Photography with the Yuneec Q500 Typhoon

This drone is a lot of fun to fly. It’s also a professional quality tool for videography and aerial photography up to 12MP. The sky really is the limit with the integrated 3-axis gimbal camera and 4k video at 30fps. It’s easy to operate and adjust the settings with a little practice. The Q500 4K Typhoon looks and performs beautifully… but it’s not all good news.

The Not So Good

The Q500 4K Typhoon might be one of the high altitude superstars but it falls short in other areas. The operating range is okay but nothing to write home about. Where it really falls short is with its maximum speed of just 18 mph or 8 m/s. That will be slow for some pilots to the point of frustration. It’s not the slowest drone out there but it’s among the slowest in its class.

The maximum flight time is not too bad at 25 minutes. This is just as well considering the battery can take up to 2-hours to fully recharge. It would be a good idea to invest in one or two spare batteries. The final gripe is with the size. It’s not the weight that’s a problem but the construction. It’s neither compact nor foldable so the Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon is not what you might call ‘travel-friendly’.

4. The DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

If you thought the previous pick could fly high then think again. The DJI Phantom 4 is a popular quadcopter with a 350mm (13.8″) wingspan. It offers a lot more than just its altitude capability.

• Best feature 1: Maximum altitude 19685 feet (6000 meters)
• Best feature 2: Operating range: 16404 feet (5000 meters)
• Plus points: Long battery life, fast top speed, 12MP 4K camera, stabilization technology
• Minus points: Heavy, price tag, high cost of spare batteries, long setup time

A regular user has never reached the maximum altitude as far as I know. The Phantom 4 has the capability, in theory, but DJI uses special software to restrict these illegal limits. You can, however, soar to the FAA’s legal altitude with ease and take full advantage of the height allowed by law. The operating or transmitter range is equally as impressive.

Not Cheap But…

The DJI Phantom 4 is not cheap but it does offer incredible value. It can cost around 400 bucks less than it used to thanks to newer models coming out and special promotions. The flight time is not the longest of consumer drones but its 28-minute maximum flying time is a lot more than most. If you need extra time—and most of us do—then you’ll want spare batteries but they’re expensive.

The Phantom 4 is fast considering it’s not a purpose racing drone. Its top speed of 45mph and long battery life will get you to where you need to be—and back—a lot faster than most of the competition. And the 12MP 4K stabilized camera ensures your footage will be sharp, smooth, and clean every time.

The simple tap control and front obstacle avoidance are other key features. There’s also the Follow Me mode and lots of other high-tech extras to explore.

The Not So Good

This is not the lightest drone on the market (see table below). And it comes with a heavy price tag as well as physical heft. The cost of a spare high-capacity Phantom 4 intelligent flight battery is also pricey. You can expect to pay 150+ bucks for a new one (DJI drones don’t accept third-party batteries). The final gripe is that the initial setup time can take a while and the instructions are poor.

5. The DJI Phantom 3 Professional

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

Staying with DJI is the Phantom 3 Professional quadcopter. It also has an unbelievable, though restricted, altitude range. Its operating range is also good but not as far as the Phantom 4 above.

• Best feature 1: 19685 feet (6000 meters)
• Best feature 2: Professional f/2.8 lens with a 94-degree field of view (FOV)
• Plus points: Good battery life, 4K Ultra-HD video, 12MP stills, intuitive app
• Minus points: No collision detection feature, No subject tracking, costly batteries

DJI Phantom 3 has a 23-minute maximum flight time in ideal conditions. The long battery life is especially welcome for those serious about aerial photography and videography. And being able to fly high and far means you get to capture footage that a lot of competitor drones can’t reach. The professional wide-angle f/2.8 lens covers a large area without making too many maneuvers.

There’s the crisp clear 12MP stills as well as the pro-level 4K UHD video up to 30fps. DJI’s gimbal stabilization technology adds yet another quality layer that ensures expert-level footage. This isn’t a cheap drone but you do get excellent value for money in all areas. It’s a cinch to fly too.

The Not So Good

The Phantom 3 doesn’t have any obstacle avoidance like the DJI Phantom 4. It there’s a good side to this it will probably make you a better more cautious pilot. There’s not any subject tracking with the Phantom-3 either. That’s a disappointment considering the high price tag of this quadcopter. And finally, there’s the high extra battery cost. DJI Intelligent batteries are good but pricey.

6. Autel Robotics X-Star Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

The last pick is Autel Robotics X-Star Premium. It’s another quality camera drone that can look down on earth from afar. It’s almost as popular as DJI Phantoms 3 & 4. Some say it’s a clone but it’s not.

• Best feature 1: Maximum altitude3281 feet(1000 meters)
• Best feature 2: Long flight time
• Plus points: 4K Camera and removable gimbal, Starpoint Positioning System, Starlinkapp
• Minus points: No lens cover for camera, no collision avoidance, advanced calibration tricky

A lot of people compare the Autel Robotics X-Star Premium to the DJI Phantom 4. I think a better comparison would be the Phantom 3 Pro. I also think it’s a capable quadcopter in its own right and folks should review it as such. It has an impressive 1000 meters altitude and isn’t restricted like the Phantoms. It’s the responsibility of the user to keep within the legal limits of course. The 2000 meter control range is also impressive for this competitive quadcopter.

Other Reasons to Consider the Autel Robotics X-Star

The 25 minute flight time is another good reason to consider the Autel Robotics X-Star drone. It’s not the longest out there but it’s a lot longer than many other drones in its class. Another noteworthy feature is that you can remove the camera and its gimbal. This is useful if you need to make replacements. It also means you can change things around with future upgrades.

Autel Robotics has gone to great lengths to make this drone safe and stable. This applies whether flying at low altitudes or indoors. It has an intelligent flight control system, something called GLONASS satellite navigation, and dual GPS—all helped by their Starpoint Positioning System.

The Starpoint Positioning System (SPS) measures the drone’s flying height. It then optically tracks its position. It’s very clever stuff and so much more than a gimmick.

And finally, there’s the free and intuitive Starlink App. This lets you view HD video feeds from the 4K camera to a compatible mobile device. You can also adjust camera settings; configure flight controls, and much more besides.

The Not So Good

This quadcopter comes with its own beautiful protective hard case. It would have been nice to see a lens cover to protect the glass element outside the case. Another negative is the absence of collision avoidance. And some users, especially novice pilots, complain that the advanced calibration is tricky.