7 Best GPS Drones
Are you looking for the best GPS Drones for your needs, but are overwhelmed with the amount of choice? The GPS drone market is healthy with plenty of different models to select. They differ not only by the implementation of the GPS, but also by a variety of supplementary features.
For instance, if you need GPS and an excellent camera then figuring the drones which provide that will be the first part of your buying process. In this GPS drone guide we will present you with the top drones. We will also explain the main features of each drone and how well the GPS technology has been implemented.
Additionally, we will suggest reasons for why you might want to invest in a GPS drone at all. It’s certainly a cool piece of equipment to have, but do you really need it? By taking a look at our suggested list of applications perhaps you’ll decide if such a drone can add value to you.
Pay attention to the section where we explain the different features of a GPS drone that are worth paying attention to. It’s ideal for beginners, but if you’re a veteran drone pilot read it anyway. It’s always useful to brush up on your drone knowledge. After all, it’s a relatively new technology that’s consistently evolving.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| UPair One |
| 4.0/5.0 |
| Range: 600 m |
| Flight time: 18 minutes |
| Easy to fly and has a GPS enabled return home feature. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| DJI Mavic Pro |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Range: 7 Km |
| Flight time: 27 minutes |
| Portable and has automated flight features. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| DJI Inspire 2 |
| 4.9/5.0 |
| Range: 7 km |
| Flight time: 27 minutes |
| Has a camera which can take 20.8MP photos and 5.2K video. |
| Check Amazon |
Are you looking for the best GPS Drones for your needs, but are overwhelmed with the amount of choice? The GPS drone market is healthy with plenty of different models to select. They differ not only by the implementation of the GPS, but also by a variety of supplementary features.
For instance, if you need GPS and an excellent camera then figuring the drones which provide that will be the first part of your buying process. In this GPS drone guide we will present you with the top drones. We will also explain the main features of each drone and how well the GPS technology has been implemented.
Additionally, we will suggest reasons for why you might want to invest in a GPS drone at all. It’s certainly a cool piece of equipment to have, but do you really need it? By taking a look at our suggested list of applications perhaps you’ll decide if such a drone can add value to you.
Pay attention to the section where we explain the different features of a GPS drone that are worth paying attention to. It’s ideal for beginners, but if you’re a veteran drone pilot read it anyway. It’s always useful to brush up on your drone knowledge. After all, it’s a relatively new technology that’s consistently evolving.
Present for a friend or family member
Emergency services
Industrial use
Content creators
What features to look out for?
Type of GPS
GPS features
Flight time
Camera
Range
Items by price:
GPS Drones Comparison Table
| Make and Model | Control Range | Flight Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Mavic Pro | 7,000 meters | 27 minutes | Check Price |
| Walkera Scout X4 | 1,000 meters | 25 minutes | Check Price |
| UPair One | 600 meters | 18minutes | Check Price |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 7,000 meters | 30 minutes | Check Price |
| Autel Robotics X-Star Premium | 1,900 meters | 25 minutes | Check Price |
| WALKERA VOYAGER 4 | Unlimited via 4G | 25 minutes | Check Price |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 7,000 meters | 27 minutes | Check Price |
Best GPS Drones under $1,000
For the budget orientated consumer there are some excellent options under the $1,000 price point. GPS drones typically come with a number of intelligent flight features. These add to the cost of the drone, which means you’ll need to pay up for those features.
Don’t expect options at the $100-200, but there is one drone we have reviewed for around $300. GPS based features add a lot of value as automated flight features can be used for a more practical experience.
1. DJI Mavic Pro
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
For a drone that is portable, but doesn’t compromise on the quality of features the DJI Mavic Pro is an excellent choice. The GPS here is advanced, and you also have a selection of intelligent flight features to consider.
The DJI Mavic Pro makes use of GLOSNASS and GPS navigational systems, which allows for dual satellite connectivity. Up to 20 satellites are available for the navigational systems to connect. It comes equipped with 2 vision sensors so that the GPS accuracy is improved. Therefore, the return home landing feature can be considerably more accurate.
The FlightAutonomy feature is made up of 7 different components. This includes 5 cameras, 2 ultrasonic rangefinders, dual-band satellite position system, and 24 computing cores. The entire system combines to allow a 3D map to be formed of the surroundings. Therefore, obstacle avoidance is excellent in this unit. This allows the Mavic to return home safely without colliding with objects.
Other GPS aided functions include the Terrain Follow and TapFly features. These allow for even more automation that the user can play around with. In total there are 4 vision sensors to prevent the Mavic from colliding with surroundings objects.
Included is a 4K camera that’s capable of recording footage at 30fps, or you can use the 1080p resolution to record at 120fps. The camera uses a 1/2.3 inch CMOS image sensor. For photos the resolution is at 12MP.
The range of this drone is an impressive 7,000 meters, which allows the GPS functionality to be used to full advantage. Also the flight time is at 27 minutes – a competitive number when compared to other similar drones.
The Conclusion
The DJI Mavic Pro is an excellent portable drone that has advanced GPS navigational systems. The range of 7km allows all the features to be explored and used in a creative way. Also the number of automated flight features is competitive.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 1.64 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium metal |
| Charging Time: 60 minutes |
| Control range: 7,000 meters |
| Flight time: 27 minutes |
| GPS: USA and Russian |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 4K video capture |
| Portable |
| Long range |
| Automated flight features |
| Competitive price |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Motor not powerful |
| Images not perfect in low light |
2. Walkera Scout X4
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5
For a GPS drone that comes at a competitive price point and uses a variety of flight features the Walkera Scout X4 is an excellent choice. It uses the USA GPS system to provide the pilot with a lot of options at an incredibly accurate level of detail. If you’ve never had a GPS drone before, then you’ll be amazed at the level of functionality here.
Using the GPS system you can set up to 128 waypoints for a truly automated flight experience. This allows you to capture footage without having to fly the drone manually. Also you can select the follow me mode so that it sticks close by wherever you go.
In this model the GPS system is more accurate, which means it will fly over the intended coordinates with less margin of error. It can be set to hover over a specific coordinate if you need to get footage of a specific area.
The failsafe return home feature is an excellent way of retrieving a lost drone. Using the GPS it can find the way back to the starting location. Another useful feature is the object round flight. This instructs the drone to orbit a specific GPs waypoint.
The camera of the Walkera Scout X4 captures footage via the 1080p, which is somewhat of a disadvantage. The competitors in the marketplace can shoot footage at 4K. The camera is fixed on a 3-axis gimbal allowing it to be kept t securely in place during fast flight.
The drone allows for 25 minutes of flight time and can be altered from the 4 rotor setup to have 8 rotors. This increases the flight power of the unit so that it can carry more weight.
The Conclusion
The Walkera Scout X4 is an excellent GPS drone because of the various flight features. The use of 128 waypoints allows the pilot to fully plot an automated flight for a hands-off approach. Also the flight time and agility of the drone allows for a great overall experience.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 18.9 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium polymer |
| Charging Time: 60-80 minutes |
| Control range: 1,000 meters |
| Flight time: 25 minutes |
| GPS: USA |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Excellent number of flight features |
| Flight time is competitive |
| Can be upgraded to 8 rotor design |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Camera not competitive |
| Control range could be improved |
3. UPair One
Editor’s Rating: 4/5
For a budget option that has a well-implemented GPS system and 2.7K HD camera, the UPair One is an excellent choice. The price of around $300 allows beginner drone users to get familiarized with a bunch of advanced features.
The GPS system here can connect with up to 9 satellites to achieve GPS lock. It takes around 3-10 minutes to achieve GPS lock, which might result in a frustrating wait for some. However, the system can make use of excellent features like the automatic return. By executing this feature the drone will return to the starting location.
However, do not expect as many intelligent flight features as in the more expensive drones on this list. The drone is aimed at beginners and the comprehensiveness of the features reflects this.
Charging the drone takes 90 minutes, which you must do before flying the drone for the first time. You’ll receive 18 minutes worth of flight time, which is on the small side. However, at the budget price point it is to be expected.
The FPV range is 600m, which should be ideal for causal users looking to shoot footage in the local area. The other GPS drones on this list have much high range limits.
The camera for a budget drone is decent: video recording is excellent, but the photo quality is lacking. The maximum video recording resolution is 2.7K at 30fps, or you can switch to 1080p at 60fps. Furthermore, the maximum photo resolution is at 8MP, which is below the expected minimum of 12MP that comes with other drones.
The Conclusion
The UPair One offers decent value at the price of around $300. The GPS system can be used to return the drone to the starting location. Also the camera is capable of recording 2.7K footage, which will is great for the casual users.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 9.8 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium metal |
| Charging Time: 90 minutes |
| Control range: 600 meters |
| Flight time: 18 minutes |
| GPS: USA |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Budget price |
| GPS enabled return home feature |
| Easy to fly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Short flight time |
| Photos only at 8MP |
Best GPS Drones under $2,000
For those of you that are interested in something a little more refined that budget options, might find something suitable here. The drones in this section come with a number of automated flight features that allows the pilot to concentrate on the content creation.
The range, build quality, and camera are also better in this category than what you can find in the previous under $1,000 category. For the more serious drone pilot these improvements will be much appreciated.
4. DJI Phantom 4 Pro
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5
One of the best value for money drones on the market for the serious buyer is the Phantom 4 Pro. It comes equipped with an array of impressive features, and the GPS technology is excellent. It’s great for professionals who are into content creation, or want to create 3D photogrammetry imagery.
Just like with the DJI Mavic Pro, the Phantom 4 Pro uses a mix of GPS and GLONASS. Therefore, it has a pool of 24 satellites to connect to during flight. This ensures that regardless of where it’s located on the planet it can use the available navigational systems.
The GPS system means the Phantom 4 Pro is always aware of where it is located, and what the starting position is. Therefore, you can use the return home feature and it will return to the starting position with great accuracy. You can even set your actual home as a waypoint so that the drone meets you at home.
Ten components are used to take advantage of the GPS technology and flight modes. This includes dual-band satellite positioning, infrared sensors, 7 cameras, a compass, computing cores, redundant IMU’s, and downward facing ultrasonic rangefinders.
These components combine to allow for a number of automated flight features, which includes, course lock, home lock, TapFly, terrain follow me, tripod mode, and gesture mode. The end result is a drone that is highly sophisticated and presents the pilot with a number of automated flying options. You can use this drone for years, and still learn new techniques or more efficient ways of piloting.
However, the impressive features do not stop there. The equipped camera is one of the best options on the market. The camera comes with a 1-inch CMOS sensor and a photo resolution of 20MP. This is a highly competitive number that most other drones cannot compete with.
The video recording resolution can be switched between 4K, 2.7K, 1080p, and 720p. 4K is available at 60fps, which is also not the norm because most other 4K drones can only provide 30fps at this resolution.
The obstacle avoidance detects objects at 30 meters away. This feature reduces the chances of a collision greatly, and therefore might eliminate costly repairs.
The Conclusion
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro comes equipped with one of the best drone cameras and a myriad of intelligent flight features. The accurate GPS features of the unit allow you to position the drone exactly where you need it.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 10 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium polymer |
| Charging Time: 90 minutes |
| Control range: 7,000 meters |
| Flight time: 30 minutes |
| GPS: USA and Russian |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Advanced obstacle avoidance technology |
| Long control range |
| 4K video capture |
| 20MP photo |
| Great flying time |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Must pay extra for touchscreen controller |
5. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5
The Autel Robotics X-Star brings a lot to the table, and has an uncommon orange color if you choose that version. It’s a nice alternative to the DJI brand, which has dominated the GPS drone market for years.
This drone uses both the USA and Russian GLONASS satellite network. This allows the unit to connect to many satellites, which leads to accurate GPS positioning. Even when the drone is flying in a low signal area the dual GPS connectivity ensures all smart-flight features to be accurately executed.
The smart-flight features that use GPS include waypoints, orbit, and follow me mode. These modes allow for a high level of automation. For instance, if you want the drone to fly through an area via specific points then the waypoints feature can be used. This gives you the freedom to focus on the camera controls rather than piloting the drone.
The camera is capable of recording video at 4K with a 108 degree FOV. For the video capture professional the selection of different resolution is a huge bonus. Here are the options: 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps, and 720p at 240fps. High fps is desirable when the drone is moving faster and a lower level of blurring is required.
Furthermore, the camera offers a resolution of 12MP. The camera is held securely via a 3-axis gimbal system. It’s an effective way of eliminating unwanted shaking of the camera during flight.
The flight time of the unit is 25 minutes, which is competitive when compared to the other drones out there. A charging time of 90 minutes is needed for the 14.8V LiPo battery.
The Conclusion
The Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone is an impressive option for those who are seeking a feature-rich drone. The excellent implementation of the GPS means you can navigate it in an automated fashion. Furthermore, the camera is impressive and will be useful for those demanding content creators among you.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 3.2 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium polymer |
| Charging Time: 90 minutes |
| Control range: 1,900 meters |
| Flight time: 25 minutes |
| GPS: USA and Russian |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 4 resolution modes, including 4K |
| Great GPS |
| User friendly controller |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Unsteady during take-off and landing |
| Drifts during turns |
Best GPS Drones under $5,000
Are you a professional that’s looking for the best GPS drones out there? Then this category is the one for you. The drones here represent some of the best features that current technology has to offer. The control range of the drone here is excellent, which means the GPS automated features can be used to full effect.
6. Walkera Voyager 4
Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5
For professionals that can afford the premium price point the Walkera Voyager 4 is one of the best drones on the market. The implementation of the GPS is excellent here, and a number of the other features too.
The GPS system here uses both the USA and the Russian GLONASS system. Dual navigation ensures the Voyager is able to have connectivity access to more than 20 satellites. This is beneficial because it ensures a GPS connection can be maintained regardless of where it’s located.
The different flight features that make use of GPS or the sensors include altitude hold mode, circle flight mode, one-key back to base, one-key take off and landing, destination planning waypoint, and flying around object. All of these features combine for an automated experience allowing the pilot to focus on the content capture.
The camera of the Walkera Voyager 4 is one of the big highlights. With an impressive 18x optical zoom you can get images that are unmatched by most other drones in the industry. The camera can capture footage at 4K for capturing those amazing landscapes and moments.
A unique aspect of the Walkera Voyager 4 is the ability to have unlimited range. Using the 4G network the drone can communicate with the controller over the network. This allows it to travel anywhere the 4G network is available. The only limiting factor would be the battery, which provides up to 25 minutes of flight time.
The Conclusion
The Walkera Voyager 4 is an outstanding drone that uses the GPS technology to provide a variety of automated flight features. The industry leading camera and unlimited range over the 4G network means the Walkera Voyager 4 is a drone that’s highlight competitive. The only downside is the premium price tag.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 33.07 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium metal |
| Charging Time: 60 minutes |
| Control range: Unlimited via 4G |
| Flight time: 25 minutes |
| GPS: USA and Russian |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 18x zoom |
| Advanced shock absorption |
| Limitless range |
| Variety of automated features |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Expensive |
7. DJI Inspire 2
Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5
One of the best professional grade GPS drones you need to pay attention to is the DJI Inspire 2. The implementation of all the features is done extremely well, which offers tremendous value for the expensive price tag.
The Inspire 2 uses a combination of GLONASS and GPS to navigate the skies. This setup allows 24 satellites to provide coordination for the drone. Therefore, the Inspire 2 is connected around the globe regardless of the location.
The ceiling height of this drone is 5,000m, but make sure you abide by the height laws in your local area. In some instances this might be as low as 300 meters. The GPS enables a number of features to be executed with a high degree of accuracy. For instance, the return home function allows the drone to return to the exact location is took off from. Also the waypoint feature can be used to instruct the drone to fly to a specific location.
Another highlight of the DJI Inspire 2 is the camera, which is of an industry leading standard. It’s the X5S, which can record video at an amazing 5.2K-30fps. Furthermore, the 4K resolution video capture can handle 60fps, which is also impressive. Most other drones are only able to handle 30fps at this high resolution.
For photo capture the resolution is 20.8MP, which is also highly competitive. For content professionals that cannot sacrifice on the quality of images will love the detail of this camera. The top speed of this drone used to be 67mph, but it has been reduced to 58mph to ensure that video quality is not sacrificed.
With a range of 7km the DJI Inspire 2 can put each of the GPS based features to the test. This GPS drone is one for the professional that has the budget for the premium price tag.
The Conclusion
The strong and agile build of the drone means it’s one of the best ways to transport a high-end camera through the skies.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 24.2 pounds |
| Battery: Lithium polymer |
| Charging Time: 120 minutes |
| Control range: 7,000 meters |
| Flight time: 27 minutes |
| GPS: USA and Russian |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Industry leading camera |
| Top speed of 58mph |
| Long control range |
| Great build |
| 20.8MP photos and 5.2K video |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Costly |
| Need a fast computer to process data |
Contents
- Present for a friend or family member
- Emergency services
- Industrial use
- Content creators
- What features to look out for?
- Type of GPS
- GPS features
- Flight time
- Camera
- Range
- Items by price:
- GPS Drones Comparison Table
- Best GPS Drones under $1,000
- 1. DJI Mavic Pro
- The Conclusion
- 2. Walkera Scout X4
- The Conclusion
- 3. UPair One
- The Conclusion
- Best GPS Drones under $2,000
- 4. DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- The Conclusion
- 5. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone
- The Conclusion
- Best GPS Drones under $5,000
- 6. Walkera Voyager 4
- The Conclusion
- 7. DJI Inspire 2
- The Conclusion