8 Best DJI Mavic Clones and Alternatives of 2020

1. Best overall: Autel Robotic Evo

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If there was an ultra-portable drone that posed a serious threat to the Mavic Pro, then it was definitely the Evo from Autel Robotic. This ultra-portable drone boasted of a camera that can record 4K videos at an impressive 60 fps framerate and had an Amberella H2 image processor that provided a wide dynamic range.

With a total flight time of 30 minutes and a remote controller with an integrated LCD screen, the Evo was considered to be better than the original Mavic Pro in several ways. At the time of its release, the Evo’s obstacle avoidance technology was one of the best in the industry.

Looking at the specs, it’s hard to imagine why the Evo was not as successful as it could have been. The answer lies in the timing: the Evo was released more than a year after the Mavic Pro. At the time, it came up against the Mavic Air, which had similar specs but was a few hundred dollars cheaper. The Mavic Air went on to become one of the most popular drones DJI has ever made, overshadowing the Evo.

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2. Best value: Hubsan Zino Pro

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In terms of value for money, the Hubsan Zino Pro deserves to be our pick. For a drone that costs less than $400, the Zino Pro surprisingly comes with a 4K camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal, GPS functions, lots of camera modes, and an ND filter-compatible lens.

The Hubsan Zino Pro is a great camera drone for recreational drone photography. Not only are you assured of high-resolution photos and videos care of its 4K camera, but it also offers a lot of camera modes to play around with. It has the usual waypoint and line fly modes, but what we found more impressive was that it had image tracking, allowing the drone to use its optical sensors to identify a target and track it as it moves.

The inclusion of a Headless Mode makes the Zino Pro a little more beginner-friendly. Using its GPS module, the drone can find its way back to a designated landing point as a low battery failsafe.

The only missing feature in the Zino Pro is an obstacle avoidance system. Although this may have been too much to ask for a drone at this price range, it’s still undeniable how critical this feature is for drones to remain competitive nowadays.

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3. Best budget: SNAPTAIN SP510

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Although the SNAPTAIN SP510 isn’t exactly the cheapest entry in this list, it’s the only one that manages to deliver close to high-end features for less than $200. It’s an excellent ultra-portable drone for those who have a tight budget, as you might not need to replace it in less than a year.

The SP510 has a 2.7K motorized camera. The lack of mechanical stabilization lacks the quality of videos you can capture, especially if you take the drone flying on windy days. The 5GHz Wi-Fi streaming makes it a little easier to frame your shots with its low latency video feed. The voiceover option via your phone’s microphone is also a nice little touch.

The SP510 is an excellent choice if you’re still new to flying drones. It has been designed with a load of beginner-friendly features such as a Headless Mode and a Geofence Mode which limits how far it can fly, in case you’re still learning. Once you’re comfortable with the controls, you can move on to maximizing its camera modes such as Points of Interest, Waypoint, Point of Interest, and Follow Me.

Being a really cheap drone, the SP510 does not have fancy features like an obstacle detection system or a 4K camera. Its battery capacity is also underwhelming, allowing only a maximum of 16 minutes of flight time on a single cycle.

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4. Ruko F11 Pro

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The Ruko 11 Pro is a mid-range drone that comes with an excellent 4K camera. However, it lacks any other premium features, making its price tag a little harder to justify considering how inexpensive similar options are.

The motorized 4K camera takes captivating photos and videos but, unfortunately, is not mounted on a mechanical gimbal. Again, this limits the quality of its output and makes it impossible to capture smooth videos on windy days. What it does offer is a motorized head capable of panning the camera along a wide 120° FOV.

The Headless Mode makes the Ruko 11 Pro a little more attractive to beginner drone pilots. In addition to the usual Waypoint and Point of Interest camera modes, the Ruko 11 Pro has a Gesture Mode that makes it a lot easier to capture drone selfies or “dronies.”

The 30-minute flight time is a pleasant surprise and helps make the price of the F11 Pro a little more palatable. However, the lack of a gimbal or any obstacle detection makes the Ruko F11 Pro a drone that’s mostly geared towards beginners.

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5. Holy Stone HS720 Foldable GPS Drone

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The Holy Stone HS720 looks a lot like the DJI Mavic Pro Platinum with its similar profile and finish. Its features, however, are a lot less spectacular. Despite that observation, the HS720 is a very popular drone likely because of its budget-friendly price.

To start off, the HS720 has a 2K FHD camera built with shock absorption features. This provides a bit of image stabilization in case you’re flying the drone in less than ideal circumstances. The 5 GHz FPV transmission with low latency video feed makes it a lot easier to frame your shots.

Although the battery that comes with the HS720 is nothing exceptional, the use of brushless motors helps increase the drone’s efficiency and give it a flight time of up to 26 minutes. The GPS-aided stabilization helps the drone maintain a stable hover even without pilot intervention. In the absence of a GPS signal, the drone’s optical sensors take over to help keep it stable.

Making up for the lack of a gimbal or obstacle detection systems, the HS720 makes up for it by throwing in a semi-rigid carrying bag for the drone.

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6. EACHINE E58 Quadcopter Drone

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In terms of appearance, the EACHINE E58 looks the most like the Mavic Pro, except it’s significantly smaller and lighter. It has the same shape, color scheme (down to the gold trimmings in the propellers arms), and a similar-looking remote controller. However, this dead ringer costs less than $100, making it one of the cheapest Mavic clones.

What makes the E58 so cheap? It’s not exactly surprising to find that its specs are far from impressive – its camera has a resolution of 720, it does not have a gimbal, and has no obstacle detection technology. To be honest, it would be more apt to think of the E58 as a toy drone with an exceptionally good finish.

Treating the E58 as a toy drone casts it in a more favorable light. It’s easy to fly, has a Headless Mode and Altitude Hold Mode that make it easy to fly even for beginners, and has three speed settings. It can do the one-button 3D flips that we’ve come to expect from all other toy drones. It also has a nice Gravity Sensor Mode that lets you use your phone’s accelerometers to control the drone’s tilt and yaw.

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7. Potensic D88 Foldable Drone

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The Potensic D88 has a slightly different folding mechanism to the Mavic drones, so it barely qualifies as a Mavic clone. As far as ultra-portable drones go, however, the D88 is worth a look. It’s sleek, compact, and even comes with a nice-looking custom-made aluminum case.

The 2K Full HD camera of the D88 is a bit underwhelming, especially considering that it costs just a sliver under $300. The one-axis gimbal somewhat makes up for it, allowing for smooth video recording even in the presence of slight vibrations.

The GPS feature gives the drone a nice RTH feature and augments its camera with several autonomous modes. The GPS also helps the drone maintain a stable hover. Should there be a weak GPS signal, optical sensors on the bottom side will take over to maintain stability.

Another bonus accessory is the two-battery charging hub that comes bundled with the drone. This lets you charge two batteries at a time, augmenting the drone’s 20-minute flight time. However, you will need to buy the extra battery separately.

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8. SIMREX X300C Mini Drone

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If you’re on a really tight budget but want to have the portability of a Mavic clone, then you can hardly find a cheaper model than the SIMREX X300C. This beginner-level toy drone features the same foldable propeller arms of the Mavic drones but has much more beginner-friendly features.

The camera of the X300C is very befitting of a toy drone – at 720p resolution, it’s certainly nothing to get excited about. What it does offer is a bunch of beginner-friendly features that can help new drone pilots become familiar with how flying a drone feels. The drone can be controlled with either the included remote controller or a smartphone via the companion app.

The X300C also has many of the features familiar to beginner-level drones. It has a Headless Mode for easier control, one-button takeoff and landing, 360 flips and rolls, and three speed modes. It even comes with propeller guards to reduce the risk of the propellers causing harm in the hands of a beginner drone pilots.

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