6 Solid, Affordable DJI Drones

DJI is the world's leading drone manufacturer, and for a good reason—year after year, they continue to produce the best drones on the market. Their first consumer drone (the DJI Phantom 1) came out in 2013, and in the years since, they have released more than 20+ innovative new models.

With that said, their state-of-the-art technology also makes DJI drones relatively expensive compared to the competition. Don’t worry, though. Because even if you are on a budget, they have a handful of amazing, affordable drones currently on sale for under $1,000, and some are even sub $500. Those are the ones we’ll focus on in this article.

Every DJI drone under $1,000 shouts the hallmark features of all DJI products: premium build quality, high-resolution cameras, industry-leading software, and easy-to-use controls. This means you can shop confidently, knowing that every drone on our list will help you take your aerial photography and videography skills to the next level.

We also included affordable options for everyone from experienced drone operators to total beginners, so regardless of your experience level or budget, there’s a DJI drone for you below. Now, let’s explore our six favorite cheap DJI drones.

1. DJI Air 2S

Best For: Professional drone pilots who want an affordable DJI drone for photography, videography, and filmmaking.

As the only budget-friendly DJI drone capable of capturing 5.4K video, the DJI Air 2S was an easy choice for the top spot on our list. At 595 grams, it’s slightly bigger and heavier than most of the other drones you’ll see below, but that extra weight makes it more stable, especially when the wind starts picking up.

Thanks to the incredible OcuSync 3.0 image transmission technology, it maintains a clear and reliable live feed to your controller at distances up to 12km away. Additionally, the focus tracking, smart flying modes, and solid battery life make it a dream drone for on-the-go adventurers.

Get the DJI Air 2S drone alone or save money by bundling it with the DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo.

Large Sensor

The Air 2S is the only DJI drone under $1,000 with a 1-inch image sensor and 2.4µm pixels. The 20-megapixel sensor works hand-in-hand with the built-in 22mm camera and 3-axis gimbal to deliver sharp photos and smooth videos with vibrant, natural-looking colors.

Ultra-High-Resolution Video

Want to know what’s better than a drone with 4K? One with 5.4K! The DJI Air 2S records stunning 5.4K/30p Ultra HD video that is ideal for professional filmmakers and videographers. It also captures 4K/60p video and 1080p/120p Full HD slow-motion movies.

Advanced Post-Processing Control

A 10-bit D-Log color profile makes color-correcting video footage quicker and easier than ever, meaning you can spend more time flying and less time sitting in front of the computer. 20MP RAW Photos have 12.6 stops of dynamic range, providing more editing flexibility, especially in images shot during low-light conditions (sunrise, sunset, nighttime, etc.).

2. DJI Mini 4 Pro

Best For: Drone lovers who want the most powerful ultra-light DJI drone for traveling and everyday use.

MINI TO THE MAX! That’s the slogan of the new DJI Mini 4 Pro, and it perfectly sums up this advanced ultralight drone. It takes all the best aspects of older DJI mini drones and adds revolutionary features like out-sized image performance, 1.07 billion colors, and RAW photos, to name a few.

All of that in a body weighing only 249 grams, meaning you don’t need a drone license or special permission to fly it when traveling abroad. Beginners will find flying easy because of features like Waypoint Flight, Cruise control, and Advanced RTH (Route to Home). New OcuSync 4.0 image transmission provides 1080p/60p video transmission from up to 20km away.

Get the DJI Mini 4 with the RC-NC controller, RC 2 Controller, Fly More Combo, or as part of the Fly More Combo Plus.

Next-Level Safety Features

Fly the Mini 4 Pro safely and confidently with all-in-one omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. Four wide-angle and two downward vision sensors ensure it detects oncoming obstacles from every angle. Turn on APAS (Advanced Pilot Assistance Sytems) to enable extra safety features like automatic braking and in-flight bypassing.

Innovative New Controller

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is one of only two drones (the other being the DJI Air 3) compatible with the all-new DJI RC 2 Controller. The updated controller features improved GPU and CPU performance, four antennas, and a beautiful 5.5-inch 1920x1080 Full HD screen with 700-nit brightness.

4K Slow-Motion Video

While not the first DJI Mini to offer slow-motion video capture, it is the first to do it in 4K! Record breathtaking 4K/100p slow-motion clips for YouTube videos, documentary films, and social media posts.

3. DJI Mini 2 SE

Best For: First-time drone flyers and people who want the cheapest DJI drone currently on the market.

A sibling of the DJI Mini 2, DJI purposefully designed the budget-friendly Mini 2 SE for people brand new to the magical world of drones. It has a one-touch take-off/landing button, stable hovering (in winds up to 38 kph), and an ingenious return-to-home (RTH) feature. You can even set the drone to automatically RTH when the battery level drops below a certain percentage.

If that wasn’t enough, the free DJI Fly mobile app is available for both Apple and Android devices, provides clear-cut instructions on how to set up your drone, and has easy-to-follow flying tutorials. Honestly, there’s not much more first-time drone pilots or beginners on a tight budget could ask for!

Unbeatable Price

With a price of only $339 with the controller, the DJI Mini 2 SE is far and away the cheapest DJI drone on sale today. If you opt for the Fly More Combo instead, the price bumps up to a still affordable $489. The Fly More Combo includes a remote, three batteries, three spare propellers, and more!

Intelligent Features

The DJI Mini 2 SE has five intelligent shooting modes—Helix, Dronie, Rocket, Circle, and Boomerang. Each one records a unique short film with a single push of a button. In addition, you can create three types of panoramas (wide-angle, 180°, sphere) and gorgeous time-lapse movies.

High-Resolution Video (2.7K Video)

2.7K video is the perfect resolution for new aerial videographers because it's sharp enough to impress your friends and family but, at the same time, doesn’t take up so much space that you’ll need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on external hard drives. The Mini 2 SE also takes 12-megapixel still photos.

4. DJI Mini 3 Pro

Best For: Digital content creators such as social media influencers, travel vloggers, and YouTubers.

For people trying to monetize their photos and videos on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, one of the best DJI drones is the Mini 3 Pro. It’s portable, packed with professional features, and still super affordable. Moreover, it’s small enough to fit in your pocket and has an extended battery life of up to 47 minutes.

One thing you will love about the Mini 3 Pro is its low-light performance. The camera's f/1.7 aperture and Dual Native ISO make it possible to film high-quality footage even at night. 48-megapixel still photos are ideal for sharing online and even look good when enlarged for printing.

Get the DJI Mini 3 Pro alone, with the RC-N1 Controller, with the RC Smart Controller, or as part of the DJI Mini 3 Pro Ultimate Bundle.

International Travel Friendly

Like every model of the DJI Mini lineup, the Mini 3 Pro is shockingly compact and weighs only 249 grams. This makes it easy to carry in suitcases and carry-on luggage. Additionally, it meets all FAA and international flying regulations.

Editing Made Easy

Activating the remarkable D-Cinelike color mode makes photos and videos brighter, bolder, and more natural. It also saves tons of color data, giving you more control when color-correcting video footage in post-production.

Straight From the Drone to Your Social Media Feed

Not confident you can capture share-worthy content? Don’t worry! Let the DJI Mini 2 SE do it for you! Intelligent shooting modes like QuickShots and Panorama allow the drone to fly itself and record impeccably smooth, professional-level video clips. Don’t want to edit those clips together? LightCut can automatically make a movie for you with transitions, effects, and music!

5. DJI Mini 3

Best For: Drone enthusiasts looking for the cheapest 4K DJI drone and unmatched battery life.

As the little brother of the Mini 3 Pro, the DJI Mini 3 packs a powerful punch (but at a lower cost). It can’t match all the advanced specs and features of the Pro, but it still has 4K video capabilities and 48-megapixel still images. On top of that, its best-in-class battery life is in a league of its own!

Other notable features include 4x optical zoom for capturing detailed shots of far-away subjects like wildlife, a 10km video transmission range, and level 5 wind resistance to help combat winds up to 38 kph.

Get the DJI Mini 3 with the RC-N1 Remote, RC Remote, or as part of the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo.

Amazing Value

If you want a great deal on a 4K drone, the DJI Mini 3 is the way to go! It has a starting price of only $469 and can help you turn those images in your imagination into spectacular photos and videos you’ll remember forever.

Industry-Leading Flight Time

Thanks to the upgraded “intelligent battery," the Mini 3 boasts a 51-minute maximum flight time no other drone today can compete with. For you, that means more uninterrupted flying and less time worrying about changing and charging batteries.

True Vertical Shooting

Vertical video is all the rage these days because of trending platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X. Well, guess what? On the Mini 3, you can instantly switch from horizontal to vertical video to optimize your content for social media.

6. DJI FPV

Best For: Adrenaline junkies searching for a futuristic DJI drone like nothing you’ve ever flown before.

FPV stands for “First Person View,” and that’s exactly what you get when flying the first-of-its-kind DJI FPV drone. It’s a sleek and aerodynamic drone that’s redefined what we thought was possible when flying a drone and lets you zip through the sky as if you were truly there.

Combining the high-resolution camera found on other DJI drones with the design and speed of racing drones provides a thrilling experience like none other. It has a 150° field of view, can record 4K/60p video, and take photos.

Immersive Flying Experience

For all of you who have dreamed of flying through the sky like a bird, the DJI FPV might be as close as you’ll ever get. Using either the DJI Integra or DJI 2 goggles, you’ll see exactly what your drone sees in real-time. Think of it as a one-of-a-kind virtual reality game where everything you are watching is 100% real!

A Real-Life Video Game

Video game fans constantly rave about the two controller options compatible with the DJI FPV. The Remote Control 2 resembles an Xbox controller and provides a traditional video game-like feel. Meanwhile, the DJI Motion Controller is shaped like a joystick and is operated by natural hand movements, making you feel like a true pilot.

Intuitive Flight Modes (3)

Depending on your experience level, you can fly the FPV in three different modes. “N Mode,” which uses traditional drone controls and turns on safety features, is perfect for beginners. “S Mode” is a semi-automatic hybrid mode ideal for intermediate users. Finally, “M Mode” is for experts and gives you complete manual control over the drone.

Not seeing what you're looking for?

DJI sets the bar for its consumer-level drone offerings. Anything from mini pocket-sized flying machines to full-blown filmmaking rigs made for larger productions. We compiled the top 6 affordable drones for creators needing something that is high-quality and reliable, but if you're looking for a step up beyond a tool that grants just eh basics, here are a few more from DJI that you should check out in the meantime:

1. DJI Air 3

2. DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

3. DJI Mavic 3 Classic

4. DJI Mavic 3

5. DJI Mavic 3 Pro

6. DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0

7. DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ V2.0

8. DJI Inspire 3

9. DJI Inspire 2

10. DJI Inspire 2 X5S

11. DJI Inspire 2 X7

12. DJI Avata