Organizer
Gadget news
I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing drones, and the Potensic Atom 2 is easily the best DJI alternative I’ve flown
11:00 am | April 2, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Drones Gadgets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Potensic Atom 2: one-minute review

Potensic has carved itself a strong reputation in the sub-250g drone category with the release of the Atom SE and Atom drones in recent years. The Potensic Atom 2 is now available, with this latest model taking the coveted title of best sub-250g DJI alternative. It's not perfect – few drones are – but it's an enticing drone for beginners, enthusiasts and more advanced pilots alike.

Potensic Atom 2 unfolded for flight

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Given the features on offer, and what's to come in firmware updates – more on those later – the Atom 2 will sit somewhere between the DJI Mini 3 and the DJI Mini 4 Pro, which is an impressive achievement, especially when the Standard Kit costs just $330 / £300 / AU$580. This makes it only just a little more expensive than the entry-level DJI Mini 4K, making it a strong contender for our best drones guide.

The Atom 2 lets you capture video up to 4K at up to 30fps, in Normal and HDR color profiles; there's also slow-motion video and timelapse capture. Photos can be captured in raw and JPEG, while the camera offers both automatic and manual control. There are also AI Quickshots and AI Track for subject tracking. These features are just the tip of the iceberg, and with great flight performance to boot the Atom 2 is a solid option for many pilots.

Potensic Atom 2: release date and price

  • Announced February 2025
  • The Standard Kit costs $330 / £300 / AU$580
  • The Fly More Bundle costs $430 / £400 /AU$785

The Potensic Atom 2 was announced in February 2025, and is available to purchase directly from the Potensic website and Amazon. The drone is reasonably priced considering the features and functionality on offer and will compete directly with other sub-250g models including the DJI Mini 4K, DJI Mini 3 and the Holy Stone HS900, although it exceeds all three in some areas.

The Atom 2 is available in two kits, with the Atom 2 Standard Kit costing $330 / £300 / AU$580 and comprising the drone, controller, one battery, two sets of spare propellers, phone cables and other accessories.

The Atom 2 Fly More Combo includes all of the above plus two additional batteries, a fast-charging hub, a shoulder bag and two extra sets of spare propellers for $430 / £400 /AU$785. This kit offers excellent value for money.

  • Price score: 5/5

Potensic Atom 2 unfolded on stone

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Potensic Atom 2: specs

Potensic Atom 2: design and handling

  • Folding sub-250g design
  • Solid build quality
  • Excellent controller

With the exception of the DJI Neo, DJI Flip and the HoverAir X1 models, drone design has remained relatively unchanged for years, which is no bad thing – if it isn’t broken, why fix it? The Potensic Atom 2 makes no bold statements in terms of design with its light gray airframe and folding propeller arms, but it is solidly made. Its dimensions extend from a palm-sized 5.63 x 3.46 x 2.28 inches / 143 x 88 x 58mm when folded to 8.3 x 5.98 x 2.28 inches / 210 x 152 x 58mm unfolded.

The main difference with the Atom 2 design-wise is that Potensic claims the new propellers are 40% quieter, and they undoubtedly appear to be quieter, with a lower pitch hum during flights, rather than the higher-pitch whirr we're used to with smaller drones like this.

There's also a green flashing LED on the rear of the drone that's visible over long distances, so it may be bright enough for night flying. Drone strobes must be visible at three miles in the US for night flights, but this distance couldn’t be legally tested.

The only other notable external aspects of the drone are the 3-axis mechanical gimbal, which can be tilted between -90 and +20 degrees so the camera can look up slightly as well as straight down. Plus, there's a basic downward vision system, although I didn’t notice this doing anything when flying low to the ground with an undulating surface. As you'd expect for the price, there's no collision avoidance.

Image 1 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 folded from above

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 folded bottom view

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 folded with the propeller strap attached

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 4 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 side by side with the controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 5 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 controller with no phone attached

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 6 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 controller top view to show controls

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 7 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 with phone attached

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 8 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 carry bag

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 9 of 9

Potensic Atom 2 fast-charging battery hub

(Image credit: James Abbott)

The controller follows the same design as the controller for the Atom and Atom SE, but has been upgraded and now features a directional antenna that helps maintain a control and video-transmission distance of up to 6.2 miles. During testing, there was occasionally some pixelation and stutter of the video feed, but ensuring the antenna was facing the direction of the drone alleviated this.

Moving back to the design, the controller holds your smartphone between the two comfortable handgrips that extend outwards to insert and then grip the phone. This makes the whole package look more like a smart controller, and the positioning of the phone in the centre between the controllers is much more comfortable than a top-heavy top-mounted phone.

There are six direct-access controls for accessing commonly used functions including the gimbal tilt, digital zoom, a shutter button and a Return to Home button. The two remaining buttons are set to switch the gimbal angle between 0 and -90 degrees and to change the flight mode by default. These two buttons are customizable if you'd like to change them, while the control-stick modes and stick sensitivity are also customizable.

  • Design score: 4/5

Potensic Atom 2: features and performance

  • Level 5 wind resistance
  • AI subject tracking
  • AI Quickshots

The Atom 2 is a fantastic flier, with responsive and smooth controls that facilitate seamless maneuvers when capturing video. GPS provides a stable hover, with no drift detected during testing, alongside providing Return to Home functionality which comes with standard RTH functionality and a new smart version.

Dynamic Home Point, when enabled, brings the drone back to the controller location rather than the take-off point when Return to Home is initiated. This may not sound like much, but it's an incredibly useful feature because it's sometimes useful to walk along behind drones during flight to maintain visual line of sight and to help with the performing of precise maneuvers.

This may be a small and lightweight drone, but the Atom 2 offers Level 5 wind resistance, which equates to speeds of up to 23.6mph. Flight modes include Video, Normal and Sport, with Sport mode offering a top speed of 35.8mph, while Video is for slower and smoother flight. There's also built-in Remote ID, which will be a welcome feature for US-based pilots.

Subject tracking is a feature that's becoming increasingly important and popular. It's been around for a while, but the introduction of AI in drones has made it more effective than ever before. The Atom 2 isn’t a selfie drone by any means, but its AI Track options for subject tracking include AI Spotlight, AI Follow and AI Parallel. These all work incredibly well.

Potensic Atom 2 battery and rear LED light flashing red

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Then there's AI Quickshots, which includes Pull-Away, Spiral, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang and Dolly Zoom. All of these perform well, and most create professional-looking videos.

Dolly Zoom produces a great effect, thanks to combining the digital zoom with flying backwards, but it's not perfect. At the end of the dolly zoom, when the digital zoom is at its maximum, image quality is noticeably reduced, and while it's still a fun feature, it's not for professional use.

All of these effects can be applied to human subjects and inanimate objects simply by drawing around the desired subject in the Potensic Eve app.

Flight times are advertised as being up to 32 minutes per battery, but during testing the batteries typically lasted around 22 minutes before Return to Home was suggested by the drone at 15% battery level. This isn’t too bad, but it does make the Fly More Combo with three batteries and a fast-charging hub an attractive option. The fast-charging hub is claimed to be able to charge three batteries at once in 1.3 hours, and in my experience it was faster with batteries at a 15-30% charge.

Other features pilots will find useful are the Interval Timer for timelapse capture, and Cruise Control. There's also SmartTransfer, which enables you to transfer media files to your phone at speeds of up to 25MB/s. This makes it easier to share photos and videos directly to social media if you like to do this on the go.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Potensic Atom 2: image and video quality

  • 1/2-inch sensor
  • Fixed focus 26mm f/1.8 lens
  • 4K video and 12MP Raw photos

Potensic Atom 2 camera and gimbal close-up

(Image credit: James Abbott)

The Atom 2 camera is an improvement on the Atom with improved image quality and additional features, but before we delve into those, let's take a look at the specs.

The camera features a 12/48MP Sony 1/2 in CMOS sensor with 4-in-1 pixels, which is claimed to reduce noise and enhance low-light performance, although if I'm honest I wasn't overly impressed with low-light performance.

The camera lens provides a 26mm equivalent focal length with a fixed f/1.8 aperture. The lens is fixed-focus from 4m to infinity, relying on hyperfocal focusing to achieve a large depth of field.

When it comes to image quality, sharpness is greatest in the center of the frame, with fall-off towards the edges. There's also some vignetting, and white balance can be inconsistent when using Auto and Manual settings, but this can be easily fixed in Lightroom when shooting raw.

Videos are consistently better quality and don’t suffer from these issues. Strangely, even white balance is more reliable for video capture. Moving back to photos, JPEG processing is heavy with strong and noticeable sharpening applied, so the best image quality will always come from raw files.

Image 1 of 10

Photo of a river with moored boats taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 10

Photo of solar panels taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 10

Photo of an industrial building taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 4 of 10

Photo of a river at the edge of a town taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 5 of 10

Photo of a football pitch taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 6 of 10

Photo of solar panels taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 7 of 10

Photo of football goal taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 8 of 10

Photo of river taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 9 of 10

Photo of a road bridge taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 10 of 10

Photo of fields and lakes taken with the Potensic Atom 2 drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)

You also have the ability to switch between 12MP and 48MP photo capture, but doing so isn’t a straightforward decision when JPEG processing is as it is.

The caveat with 48MP/8K photo capture is that it's only available in JPEG format, and not in raw. This is an odd omission, and one that will hopefully be fixed in a future firmware update, alongside adding a histogram for aiding exposure. You also have the option of 9:16 vertical photo capture, in JPEG only, with file sizes at 1520 x 2704 pixels.

Video can be captured in 4K at 24/25/30fps, 2.7K at 24/25/30fps, FHD at 24/25/30fps, and slow motion FHD at 2/3/4/5x. The maximum video bit rate is 80Mbps, while color profiles currently include Normal and HDR. In a future firmware update, a flat P-Log color profile will be delivered to the Atom 2 for more advanced video capture.

A digital zoom is available at 4K up to 2x, 2.7K up to 3x, and FHD up to 4x. Photos can be zoomed in up to 2x. Image quality reduces but the feature can be useful. Additional photo features include Bracketing, Burst Shooting and Panorama.

The Panorama mode includes Wide Angle, 180 Degree and Vertical options, with Sphere set to be delivered in a future firmware update. Panoramas are stitched in-camera, and saved as JPEGs alongside the constituent images in JPEG format. There's also a Defog mode for shooting in hazy conditions, and an AI Night mode for capturing video at night. The latter reveals more shadow detail at night, but image quality is questionable.

  • Image and video quality score: 4/5

Main example video

AI Night video

Potensic Atom 2: testing scorecard

Should I buy the Potensic Atom 2?

Buy it if...

You're on a budget
The Atom 2 is one of the most feature-packed 'mini' drones available for such a competitive price, so you can get a lot of bang for your buck with this drone.

You’re a drone beginner
This is a great drone for beginners, but also one that will meet your needs for years to come. In a nutshell, the Atom 2 won’t require an upgrade any time soon.

You'd like log footage
The P-Log color profile will be delivered in a firmware update, making the Atom 2 one of the least-expensive drones to be able to capture video in a flat Log color profile.

Don't buy it if...

You'd like 48MP raw files
Despite the 48MP sensor, 48MP photos can only be captured in JPEG format, with raw capture available at 12MP. If you want higher-resolution raw files you'll have to look elsewhere.

You'd like a telephoto camera
If you'd like a dual-camera drone with a wide-angle and medium telephoto lens the DJI Air 3S is a great option, albeit much more expensive. The Atom 2 does, however, have a digital zoom.

You need collision avoidance
If you'd like collision avoidance for flying confidently in complex environments, the DJI Min 4 Pro is going to be a much better option for you.

Potensic Atom 2: also consider

DJI Mini 4K

The DJI Mini 4K is slightly less expensive than the Potensic Atom 2, and offers similar features at a basic level. It doesn't offer the same subject-tracking, or more advanced features such as an interval timer for capturing timelapse videos, but if you'd like an inexpensive DJI drone capable of capturing 4K video and photos in raw and JPEG formats, it's a great budget option.

Read our in-depth DJI Mini 4K review

How I tested the Potensic Atom 2

  • I tested all flight features
  • I flew the drone in a range of conditions
  • I tested all the camera functions

I tested the Potensic Atom 2 over several days of flying in a range of locations, environments and weather conditions (excluding rain) to test flight performance, flight features, overall handling, and image quality for both photo and video capture. All testing is conducted in a way that meets local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights are safe and legal.

Drones are always tested using manual flight patterns for videos that are typical of professional aerial video techniques for capturing visually interesting footage. This also provides the opportunity to test variables such as the connection between the drone and controller, latency between the two, and the accuracy of the controls and flight accuracy in general.

First reviewed March 2025

I tested the Saramonic Ultra, and it’s a wireless mic with pro audio features that undercuts DJI and Rode
5:24 pm | February 5, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Camera Accessories Cameras Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Saramonic Ultra: one-minute review

The Saramonic Ultra is a portable wireless mic system in the same vein as the popular DJI Mic and Mic 2. Aimed primarily at people who need to create audio and video content on the go – vloggers, podcasters and journalists – the Ultra is available as a package containing two wearable transmitters, one receiver and a portable charging case to keep everything together.

This kit allows for single and dual-channel audio, and the receiver can be connected to a variety of devices for adding high-quality 24-bit sound to recordings. Adapters are included for iPhones, iPads, USB-C smartphones and computers, 3.5mm camera inputs and even for Sony’s Multi Interface Shoe, but the transmitters can also record audio on their own thanks to 8GB of on-board space. When recording directly onto this memory, users can even record 32-bit float audio – a data-rich, high dynamic range format prized by audio professionals.

Saramonic’s build quality doesn’t feel quite as rock-solid as some of the alternatives, but the fact that the transmitter is waterproof to IPX5 levels suggests that the company is doing something right. And, despite the noise cancelling being far from the most effective I’ve encountered with wireless mics, the audio quality is generally excellent in a variety of environments.

Saramonic Ultra microphone main components

The whole kit includes two transmitters, one receiver and a charging case (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Saramonic Ultra: Price and release date

  • $249 / £259 / AU$449 for 2-Channel Set with receiver, two transmitters and charging case
  • Also available with lavalier mics included
  • Available now in black and white colour finishes

The Saramonic Ultra is available to purchase in a set that includes two transmitters, one receiver, a charging case, adapters for Lightning, USB-C and Sony Multi Interface, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, two windscreens and a drawstring bag to hold everything. This package is available in a black or white finish and costs around $249 / £259 / AU$449. For a little more money, you can purchase the same package with two cabled lavalier mics included ($299 / £289).

As far as I can see it isn’t possible to buy the individual components separately, or just a transmitter and receiver package (as is available for those who want to save money on a DJI Mic 2, for instance).

That being said, at a price that falls quite a bit below that of premium rivals like the DJI Mic 2 and Rode Wireless Pro, and even below the relatively affordable Sennheiser Profile Wireless, the Saramonic can lay claim to being one of the most affordable higher end wireless mic sets around.

Saramonic Ultra microphone components in open charging case

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Saramonic Ultra: Specs

Saramonic Ultra microphone receiver attached to Apple iPhone 13

The Saramonic Ultra receiver comes with USB-C and Lightning adapters for direct smartphone connection. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Saramonic Ultra: Design

  • Most elements slot into charging case for transport
  • Entire package weighs 210.5g / 7.4oz
  • Adapters for USB-C, Lightning and Sony Multi Interface Shoe included

Like most wireless mic setups, the Saramonic Ultra is centered around two main elements: a small wearable transmitter and an almost as small wearable receiver. The transmitter (of which two are supplied here) has a clip and a strong magnet allowing it to be attached to clothing, with the magnet being best suited to thin garments like t-shirts. It has a USB-C port for charging and data transfer purposes, and a 3.5mm jack for attaching a wired lavalier mic if desired. The transmitters are IPX5 certified too, making them waterproof against rain – something I’ve not seen with rival mics.

The receiver, which links wirelessly to either one or two transmitters, also has a clip, which doubles as a mounting option for sliding into camera cold shoes. It also comes with adapters for Lightning and USB-C devices, and something I haven’t seen on its competitors: an optional antenna to boost its wireless range to 300m (Saramonic claims the range without the add-on is 250m). The receiver also features an OLED touchscreen accompanied by a pressable dial for adjusting settings and viewing gain levels which, while both are small, I had few problems using. Those of a larger fingered persuasion may find them a tad fiddly, however.

Saramonic Ultra microphone receiver and transmitter in hand

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The supplied charging case has room for both transmitters, the receiver and the Lightning and USB-C adapters for the latter. Unfortunately, there’s no space inside for extras like the transmitter’s windshields or any of the cables. Still, the case, which has a leather-effect texture and a nice light-up logo on top to indicate remaining battery life, is a neat way to carry (and recharge) the core elements of this setup. Its construction is a little creaky compared to that of the DJI Mic 2’s case, but not to the degree I’d be concerned about it falling apart.

Saramonic Ultra microphone receiver with antenna attached to Panasonic GH6 camera

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Saramonic Ultra: Performance

  • Choice of 16, 24 and 32-bit recording
  • Transmitters can be used solo
  • Noise reduction, Vocal Boost and Low Cut modes

Like the DJI Mic 2 and Rode Wireless Pro, the Saramonic Ultra has an option to record high-quality 32-bit float audio directly onto the 8GB on-board memory of the transmitters. 32-bit float is to standard 16 or 24-bit audio what RAW photographs are to JPEGs – a much larger file size with much more data, allowing for more post-production manipulation of the sound. In my opinion, while it’s a useful option to have, particularly for professional users, the smaller file sizes of the 24-bit audio, and the fact that it can be transmitted wirelessly, means I’d be using 24-bit audio nine times out of ten.

It’s not like the 24-bit audio is bad, either. In fact, it’s nice and crisp, and turning on the Vocal Boost mode lends speech some real heft and body. If you want your voice to sound deeper and more authoritative, it’s probably going to be switched on most of the time. The mic can also be set to record 16-bit audio, which is presumably included as a space-saving option.

Another optional mode is Low Cut, which removes some of the lower frequency noise from recordings, and the three-level noise cancelling mode does reduce background sounds – albeit not to the extent of the highly effective noise cancelling employed by the DJI Mic 2. For example, traffic noise was still very loud in my test recordings, even with Saramonic’s noise cancelling dialled up to its top level.

Saramonic Ultra microphone with windshield attached

The attachable furry windshield is a must for outdoor recordings. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Wind noise is also noticeable on my outdoor recordings, even in relatively calm conditions, which is why the furry windshields should rarely leave the transmitters if you’re using them outside – they do a good job of reducing it.

Gain can be set manually, with the receiver’s screen providing both a live indication of levels and a means for adjustment, but the Auto Gain setting can also be used in trickier, changeable environments. It’ll adjust gain on the fly to compensate for changes in background noise or subject distance from the mic, so it’s ideal for non-studio settings.

There’s no backup recording mode here, so no protection against signal drops. That being said, with the antenna attached you should get a consistently strong wireless signal. I wouldn’t rely it to work perfectly over the 300m maximum range claimed by Saramonic (and I take all manufacturers’ range claims as best-case scenarios) but for the vast majority of users that’s never going to be put to the test. I had no signal issues myself using the microphone while walking around my home, despite walls and floors potentially getting in the way.

Another pro-friendly feature you’ll find here is timecode support, allowing users of multi-camera shoots to easily sync their mics and cameras in post-production. It’s something few people will use, but very handy to have – and of the recent wireless mic launches, this and the Rode Wireless Pro are the only two models that offer it.

Battery life is decent, with around 6 hours of operating time on each transmitter and the receiver, plus an addition 12 or so hours (or two charging cycles) in the charging case. In theory, you can record for around 18 hours in total before needing to find a power socket to recharge.

Should I buy the Saramonic Ultra?

Buy it if…

You want an affordable pro-friendly wireless mic

The Saramonic Ultra is packed with useful and often premium features, such as 32-bit float recording, despite being one of the more affordable wireless mic packages around.

You need a waterproof solution

With IPX5-rated water resistance, you could use the Saramonic Ultra’s transmitters in a rainstorm (or even during your morning shower) without fear of damage.

Don’t buy it if…

You want to buy the components separately

The Ultra is only available as a two-transmitter kit supplied with a charging case. So if you need just one transmitter and one receiver and are hoping to save money, you’re out of luck.

You often record in very noisy places

With the on-board noise cancellation tech far from the best around, recording in noisy environments like busy roads can be risky.

Saramonic Ultra: also consider

DJI Mic 2
Packed with pro-friendly features like 32-bit float recording and AI-assisted adaptive noise cancelling, DJI’s second-gen wireless mic is well-built, well-designed, easy to use and more than capable of levelling up your vlogs, interviews, podcasts and other recordings. It also plays nicely with DJI’s camera drones, eliminating propeller noise automatically.

Read our DJI Mic 2 review

Sennheiser Profile Wireless
More affordable than the DJI and Rode alternatives and similarly priced to the Saramonic Ultra, Sennheiser’s wireless microphone set is a great (if slightly lacking in features) one-stop solution for improving vlog audio. Its innovative charging bar even doubles as a handheld mic for interviews.

Read our Sennheiser Profile Wireless review

Saramonic Ultra microphone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

How I tested the Saramonic Ultra

  • Used regularly for a week in both quiet and noisy environments
  • Paired with iPhone 13 and Panasonic Lumix GH6

I tested the Saramonic Ultra mic both inside and outdoors, and with its receiver physically connected to devices (my Apple iPhone 13 smartphone and Panasonic Lumix GH6 camera) and in solo mode. I made sure to record in a variety of environments in order to see how the microphone handled different background noises and weather conditions.

DJI announces Mic Mini wireless microphone for smartphones and cameras
6:37 am | November 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

DJI has announced the newest member of its wireless lavalier Mic series, the Mic Mini (not to be confused with the Mac mini. This new model is smaller than the Mic and the Mic 2 models while having a few new features and better battery life. The Mic Mini set includes two wireless transmitters that can be attached to your clothing using the magnetic or clip-on attachment. The design is meant to be not just small and light but also discreet so as to not attract too much attention. You also get windscreens, which can be attached in windy situations. Pairing with the transmitters is...

DJI Mini 4K review: your best first drone
5:08 pm | October 2, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Drones Gadgets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

DJI Mini 4K: one-minute review

Considering that the DJI Mini 4K is the best budget drone for beginners, it made an understated entrance. There were no bells and whistles, just a quiet appearance on Amazon, and I can see why: it's essentially the same drone as DJI's previous entry-level model, the Mini 2 SE, only with higher-resolution 4K video, which also enables a 2x digital zoom.

Video quality is further bolstered by a higher 100Mbps bitrate, but otherwise this is almost an identical drone to the Mini 2 SE. That's no bad thing – DJI has addressed the former's single weakness – 'just' 2.7K video – and priced its successor aggressively. In one fell swoop, DJI outgunned the growing competition, which includes capable rivals such as the Potensic Atom.

Since the Mini 4K was launched, DJI announced an all-new drone, the DJI Neo, which is even cheaper than the Mini 4K and shoots 4K video. However, the half-size selfie drone is an altogether different proposition. If you want the traditional drone-flying experience, complete with a 3-axis mechanical gimbal and sturdier flight performance including level 5 wind resistance, the Mini series, in which the Mini 4K is the new entry-level model, remains your best bet. If you want even simpler operation, and smart AI-subject tracking features, the Neo is a fun alternative.

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone folded away and in the hand

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Mini 4K offers decent battery life of up to 31 minutes on a single charge, and if you opt for the pricier Fly More Combo bundle you'll get an extra couple of batteries and charging hub thrown in for good measure.

DJI offers perhaps the most rounded experience for beginner pilots, with clear tutorials on the DJI Fly app, through which you control the Mini 4K's flights, complete with a scaled-back selection of DJI Quickshots flight moves, including dynamic movements such as Helix, Circle and Boomerang that will quickly elevate the quality of your aerial videos.

If money is no object, the DJI Mini 4 Pro remains the most accomplished sub-250g choice, with its clever subject tracking and industry-leading flight safety features like omnidirectional object sensing. But if you simply want to see what all the fuss is about with drones without risking a huge amount of money, you can't go wrong with the DJI Mini 4K. It's excellent value, and the most capable sub-$300 / £300 drone on the market, even if the Neo has more flight options.

DJI Mini 4K: release date and price

  • Released April 29 2024
  • Not available from the DJI store in Australia
  • The base kit costs just $299 / £269
  • Fly More Combo bundle costs $449 / £399

The DJI Mini 4K was announced in April 2024, and is aggressively priced at $299 / £269 for the base kit, which made it DJI's cheapest 4K drone until the DJI Neo was launched in September 2024 (though as mentioned the Neo is a different kind of drone). That launch price was 10% cheaper than that of the DJI Mini 2SE, which is practically the same drone as the Mini 4K, although the former only shoots 2.7K video, making the Mini 4K excellent value by comparison.

Should you want the Fly More Combo bundle, which includes an additional two batteries, a charging hub and a shoulder bag, the price jumps up to $449 / £399. The Mini 4K is currently not directly available from DJI in Australia.

  • Price score: 4.5/5

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone in flight with soft-focus foliage in the background

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

DJI Mini 4K: specs

DJI Mini 4K: design and handling

  • Weighs less than 250g
  • Level 5 wind resistance provides reasonably stable flight
  • Three-axis gimbal for smooth video footage
  • Downward-facing sensors only, no other obstacle avoidance

The DJI Mini 4K is practically a carbon copy of the Mini 2 SE. That means it remains under 250g, and within the regulator-friendly category for most regions (there are no registration or ID requirements for recreational use in the US). Given that it has a camera though, users in the UK will need to register with the CAA for a flyer ID before taking flight.

The Fly More Combo bundle I tested includes replacement propellors and a screwdriver for when you need to swap out old or damaged propellors for new ones, two spare batteries and a charging hub, plus the RC-N1C remote controller. The controller connects to your phone, with a clamp that extends to hold just about any size of phone, plus it comes with USB-C / Lightning cables for a direct connection to your Android phone or older iPhone.

There's a single camera, capable of shooting 12MP photos in JPEG or raw (DNG) format (the latter provides more editing flexibility) and video up to 4K. The camera is supported by a three-axis mechanical gimbal to ensure that your video footage is as smooth as possible.

Image 1 of 4

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 4

Close up of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone's arm, on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 4

Close up of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone's weight markings, on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 4

Closeup of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone's USB-C and memory card ports

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Once you have the DJI's Fly app installed and your phone connected to the controller, it takes little to no time to get airborne: press and hold the take-off button and the Mini 4K will rise to a height of 1.2m, and hover while you get yourself in the zone for flying.

Wind resistance is rated for up to level 5 – that's up to 19-24mph / 29-38kph, which is slightly more robust than the DJI Neo, which is only rated up to level 4. I found the Mini 4K was able to withstand a moderate breeze, although of course you can hear and see it fighting to remain stable in such conditions, and I'd advise against attempting to fly in properly windy conditions.

The Fly app, together with the controller, offer several functions: Return to Home (RTH), QuickShots flight moves, and a variety of camera modes, including photo and video capture (with a button on the controller to switch between the two), panorama, and Timed Shot (interval shooting).

If you're getting started with drones, the Mini 4K has plenty for you to sink your teeth into. One notable omission, though, which you won't find on a drone at this price point, is obstacle avoidance. There are two downward-facing sensors that assist the drone for landing and can detect objects, with a precision range of 0.5-10m, but you're not getting the sophisticated omnidirectional obstacle avoidance of the pricier Mini 4 Pro.

I've been using the Mini 4K with the RC-N1C controller for months, and naturally, without obstacle avoidance crashes are almost inevitable. However, I've found that the Mini 4K has withstood minor collisions with tree branches and so on, and the consequent tumbling to the ground, admirably. It might be plastic, but the Mini 4K can take a few knocks.

You can register for DJI Care Refresh within 48 hours of activating the Mini 4K, which covers you for two replacements, water damage and flyaway, and which is probably a good idea if you tend to be more gung-ho rather than overly cautious. Prices for this start at $59 / £35.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

DJI Min 4K: features and performance

  • Quickshots for easy flight moves
  • Normal, Sport and Cine flight modes
  • Decent battery life of up to 31 minutes
  • Maximum transmission 10km (FCC) / 6km (CE/SRRC/MIC)

DJI lists the Mini 4K's flight time as up to 31 minutes, but that's measured in a controlled setting. What you actually get in real-world use is almost certainly less, and will be influenced by factors including wind speed and the flight maneuvers you're performing, and overall it's better to keep your expectations on the lower side. That said, with typical use in moderate wind I was averaging over 20 minutes, and I'm not sure that you'll find a better battery performance in another drone at this level.

I was also armed with the two additional batteries included in the Fly More Combo, effectively tripling flight times on any given outing, and the charging hub can be topped up on-the-go via USB-C.

The maximum transmission range is up to 10km, depending on what region you're flying in and what level of interference there is where you're flying. Users in Europe, for example, are restricted to 6km. In any case, beginners are unlikely to get anywhere near those kinds of distances on a single flight, and you'll need to make sure that Return to Home is set up for your take-off point in the likely event you get disorientated as to the drone's position.

You can configure the Mini 4K's max possible altitude and flight distances, and the height at which it rises to when Return to Home is initiated. There's a 500m altitude cap, although if you're playing it safe as a beginner you should stick to 150m or lower, which will likely be the legal limit in your region anyway if you don't have a certificate of competency. Again, max distance can be set up to 5000m or the limit removed entirely, but when you're starting out it's probably a good idea to stick to much closer. The Mini 4K is fed all of this data through GPS + GLONASS + Galileo satellite systems.

Image 1 of 4

DJI Mini 4K's RC controller on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 4

Top of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 4

Underside of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 4

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone folded away and in the hand

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

On the controller you'll find three flight modes: Cine, Normal and Sport, each with a different max speed and responsiveness. Cine mode is the slowest of the three, designed to get you the smoothest possible aerial videos, while of course Sport is the niftiest to unleash piloting fun.

Flight speeds in Sport mode top out at 35.79mph and are no match for FPV drones in manual mode such as the DJI Avata 2, but are plenty quick enough while you find your feet and build your piloting skills. Cine mode is significantly slower than that.

And then there's DJI QuickShots flight moves, which include Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle, and Boomerang. Circle performs a lateral 360-degree move around your chosen subject – you simply select suggested subjects or draw a box around the chosen subject, and off the drone goes into action. Boomerang does a similar move while gradually gaining height.

These simple flight moves can improve the quality of your aerial videos as you center on points of interest around you. Other DJI drones have additional QuickShots moves in Spotlight and Follow. The Mini 4K does not offer Follow, and it lacks Follow Me subject tracking, which you get with pricier models and even the new Neo selfie drone.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

DJI Mini 4K: image and video quality

  • 1/2.3-inch sensor
  • Up to 4K 30fps video, 2.7K up to 60fps
  • 12MP JPEG + RAW photos

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Mini 4K's 1/2.3-inch sensor is larger than the sensor found in the Neo, and smaller than the one in the Mini 3 and Mini 4 Pro drones. As such, its 4K video image quality sits somewhere in the middle in terms of color depth, dynamic range and low-light clarity.

That sensor size is roughly equivalent to what you'd find in a standard smartphone, only you don't have the computational photography modes and HDR settings afforded to today's handsets; if the sun is directly in your shot, expect blown-out highlights. However, I still found detail to be very sharp at first light before the sun lapped over the landscape.

Video resolution tops out at 4K 30fps, while cinematic half-speed 60fps videos can be shot in 2.7K and Full HD resolutions. Photos are up to 12MP (in 4:3 aspect, with a 16:9 cropped format also available) and can be shot in either JPEG or raw, with the latter offer more editing flexibility. Files are recorded onto microSD card, with compatibility for cards up to 256GB.

DJI has upped the maximum video bitrate to 100Mbps (it was 40Mbps in the Mini 2 SE). So not only does the Mini 4K offer higher-resolution video than the Mini 2 SE, but its 2.7K video is also less compressed.

Image 1 of 2

Aerial view of lake at dawn, shot on DJI Mini 4K

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 2

Aerial view of fields at golden hour, shot on DJI Mini 4K

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

There's a standard color profile for photo and video – what you see is what you get. However, you can easily edit the colors in raw DNG format photos in your choice of photo editor. If you're a keen editor, you'll probably want to shoot photos in both raw and JPEG, just in case the JPEG photos aren't to your taste. However, there's no flat color profile for video, which is pretty normal for a beginner drone, so there's not much scope for color-grading videos.

What's unusual for a drone at this price point is that you can switch from the Mini 4K's Auto setting to a Pro mode for manual control over exposure settings for photo and video, including the 1/30 to 1/8000 shutter speed and ISO 100 to 3200 ranges. That's an excellent feature for discerning image makers, though I suspect most people will keep the Mini 4K in Auto and be pleased with the results.

The three-axis gimbal offer a -110° to 35° tilt range, -35° to 35° of roll and -20° to 20° pan, and works in tandem with image stabilization to give you smooth video footage. Unless you're fighting high winds or making jerky movements on the controller – which requires significant finesse – then you can expect super-smooth video footage, especially in Cine mode.

  • Image quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Mini 4K sample video 4K

DJI Mini 4K Quickshots

DJI Mini 4K: testing scorecard

DJI Mini 4K beginner drone in flight with soft focus tree foliage in the background

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Should I buy the DJI Mini 4K?

Buy it if...

You want the best 4K drone under $300
Putting the DJI Neo aside, which is a different proposition, the Mini 4K is the best drone money can buy for under $300.

You’re buying your first drone
The Mini 4K is a superb first drone, with decent flight performance and video quality, plus manual control over camera settings.

You want decent battery life
Up to 31 minutes from a fully charged battery is very impressive, and you'll get triple that with the Fly More Combo kit.

Don't buy it if...

You want the very best sub-250g drone no matter the cost
If money is no object, your best first drone is the DJI Mini 4 Pro.

You're more interested in aerial selfies than flying
DJI's Neo is smaller, cheaper and even easier to use, with intelligent subject tracking making selfies on the move an autonomous doddle.

You'd be better off with obstacle avoidance
The Mini 4K only has downward-facing sensors primarily designed to aid landing, whereas the Mini 4 Pro has omnidirectional obstacle avoidance that'll help you avoid crashes.

DJI Mini 4K: also consider

Potensic Atom

Not to be confused with the Potensic Atom SE, this accomplished drone for beginners finally gave DJI firm competition at this point of the market, thanks to its 4K video, intelligent flight features and manual camera control. DJI then went and priced the Mini 4K aggressively and it's a slightly more rounded drone overall, but the Atom can be found on sale for less.

Read our in-depth Potensic Atom review

DJI Mini 4K Pro

If money is no object, then the Mini 4K Pro is the best beginner drone available. Around 3x the cost, it still falls below 250g and therefore within the same category of drone as the Mini 4K, with very few restrictions, plus it's an easier drone to test your wings thanks to omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and smart subject tracking. If however, it's out of your budget, then the older Mini 3 is the next model up from the Mini 4K in DJI's range of beginner drones.

Read our in-depth DJI Mini 4K Pro review

How I tested the DJI Mini 4K

Close up of the DJI Mini 4K beginner drone's arm, on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
  • Long term use
  • Flown with the DJI RC-N1C Controller and Fly app
  • Videos and photos made with all available file formats

I've had the DJI Mini 4K for months, and during this time have become very familiar with it. The Fly More Combo was bundled with the charging hub, two extra batteries and the DJI RC-N1C controller, through which I have controlled the drone, via the DJI Fly app for Android.

The tiny drone has been flown in all kinds of weather, even inclement, showing it's able to withstand light rain and reasonably brisk wind. It's taken a few knocks into tree branches and has so far withstood this rough treatment.

I've made photos and videos with all of the available settings, which includes 4K, 2.7K, Full HD videos, plus 12MP JPEG and RAW photos, in good light and low light at dusk.

First reviewed September 2024

Holy Stone HS900 review: should DJI be looking over its shoulder?
12:00 pm | May 19, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Drones Gadgets | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Holy Stone HS900: one-minute review

I’ve reviewed almost every Holy Stone drone available and its latest model, the Holy Stone HS900, represents a significant improvement across the board which makes it the Chinese drone manufacturer’s best drone to date. So much so, that what’s on offer competes directly with the DJI Mini 3 and the Potensic Atom – two impressive mid-range sub-250g drones that come in at two price points.

In terms of price, the HS900 single battery kit costs $330 making it marginally more expensive than the Potensic Atom and significantly less expensive than the DJI Mini 3. Is it better than the Mini 3? No, but if you’re on a budget, it offers an enticing alternative to the Potensic Atom and also provides additional features that could be a deciding factor on which drone to choose, and firmly cements it as one of the best beginner drones available.

Holy Stone HS900 specs

Camera: Sony 1/2.3 in 48MP CMOS sensor / fixed focus f/2.6 lens
Video resolution: Up to 4K
Frame rates: 4K 30 fps / 1080p up to 60 fpsVideo transmission range: 1.86 miles / 3 kmFlight modes: Stable, Normal, Sport
Battery: 2250 mAh Li-ion / up to 30 minutes
Charger type: USB-C cable
Weight: 8.7oz / 249g
Dimensions: 5.63x3.26x2.44in / 143×82.8×62mm folded / 6.59x 8.57x2.44in / 167.4x217.8x62mm unfolded

We’ll go into much more detail later, but some of the features and functionality you can enjoy with the HS900 include a camera with a Sony 1/2.3 in 48MP CMOS sensor and a fixed focus f/2.6 lens, up to 4K 30fps video, subject tracking, time-lapse capture, cruise control, automated flight patterns and much more. Image quality is also very good, not perfect, but the minor issues here could be resolved with a future firmware update.

All-in-all, the HS900 slips into a burgeoning sub-250g drone category which is fiercely competitive, where less expensive options are now hacking at the heels of the DJI. It’s unlikely that they’ll succeed in catching up or overtaking the market leader – although DJI is facing a potential ban in the US – but with the trickle-down of features and improvements in flight performance and image quality with budget drones, it’s pilots who are ultimately benefitting from greater choice.

Holy Stone HS900: Release date and price

  • Released May 2024
  • Only available in the US at launch
  • Available in other regions soon

At launch in May 2024, the Holy Stone HS900 was initially only available in the US. The drone will become available in the UK and other regions shortly. At the time of writing, US residents can purchase the HS900 single battery kit from Amazon for $369.99 after applying a $100 voucher, although the price regularly fluctuates. For UK-based and Australian pilots, this converts to £280 / AU$550 respectively, but official pricing for these regions is yet to be announced so this price could vary.

The single-battery HS900 kit includes the HS900 drone, a controller, one smart battery, phone connection cables, a USB-C charging cable, a set of spare propellers, spare screws, a screwdriver and a carry bag. 

Dual and triple battery kits are suggested on the Holy Stone website, so we could see additional battery kits becoming available in the future. We have been told that a battery charging hub is also due to be released, allowing multiple batteries to be charged at once rather than one at a time in the drone via USB-C.

We'll update this page with any price and availability updates. 

Image 1 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 unfolded viewed from above

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 folded showing the top of the airframe

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 folded showing the bottom of the airframe

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 4 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 battery being slotted into the battery bay

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 5 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 battery

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 6 of 6

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 carry case

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Holy Stone HS900: Design and controller

  • Lightweight folding design
  • New controller
  • Great build quality

Most drones these days feature a folding design to reduce size for transportation and storage, and the HS900 is no exception in this regard. It’s a tried, tested and ultimately successful approach to drone design, so it makes perfect sense in every way. The dark gray drone is just 5.63x3.26x2.44in / 143×82.8×62mm when folded, with an unfolded size of 6.59x8.57x2.44in / 167.4x217.8x62mm and a weight of 8.7oz / 249g. So, all pretty standard for a drone of this type.

Build quality is very good, and there’s nothing to indicate the relatively low cost of the HS900. In fact, it looks more expensive than it actually is, even if looks don't ultimately impact performance. The drone is made of lightweight plastic so it doesn’t feel substantial in the hand, but to be fair this is the case with even the most expensive sub-250g models – it’s just a way of keeping weight down. Durability certainly isn’t an issue.

Flight times are respectable, averaging around 22 minutes in moderate to gusty wind before Return to Home was initiated at 20% battery, as opposed to the advertised flight times of up to 30 minutes. However in reality, with lower winds and warmer temperatures, flight times would likely increase. The 2250mAh battery takes just over an hour to charge in the drone via USB-C, which is quite fast, and you can also charge batteries this way using a USB power bank when out in the field.

Image 1 of 3

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 P2 controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 3

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 P2 controller with smartphone attached

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 3

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 P2 controller stick storage

(Image credit: James Abbott)

The HS900 uses a new P2 controller which sports a simple yet functional design with all of the direct access controls you need to control the drone, the camera and the gimbal. This includes a small joystick for adjusting specific camera settings and a dual-function Fn button that can be customized with two different functions.

For the review, I set the button to tilt the gimbal between 0-degrees and 90-degrees with a single press, and to initiate Cruise Control with a double press. The build quality of the controller can’t be faulted, and although the bottom-mounted folding phone holder arms have a slightly flimsy feel to them, they securely accommodate smartphones of all sizes, so no worries here.

Holy Stone HS900: Features and flight

  • Smooth flight controls
  • Includes subject tracking
  • Multiple flight modes

Holy Stone drones have always been pretty good flyers, but they have also lacked the finesse of more expensive drones. With the HS900, this has all changed and the flight performance on offer is greatly improved and puts the drone comfortably among its rivals. Flight controls are also smooth and responsive, so it’s possible to perform positive maneuvers when capturing video.

What’s more, the gimbal tilt, which has a range of 30 to -90-degrees, allows you to shoot upwards slightly as well as straight down, and has a smooth so you can confidently incorporate it into maneuvers for more dynamic video shots. Image stabilization is highly effective, using a combination of the 3-axis mechanical gimbal and Electronic Image Stabilization to produce shake-free video footage.

With GPS positioning, provided by GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou systems, hovering is generally stable with drift mostly noticeable at higher altitudes. With GPS, pilots can also take advantage of Return to Home functionality which can be initiated manually by the pilot, or automatically when the battery reaches 20% charge / when the connection between the drone and controller is lost. It can also be cancelled when the battery reaches 20% if you want to increase flight time slightly.

Despite being a small and lightweight drone, the HS900 offers level 5 wind resistance, which equates to wind speeds up to 24 mph. The HS900 was flown in wind gusts of 22mph during testing and showed no signs of struggling in any of the three main flight modes/speeds, so this claim appears to be correct. The flight modes include Stable with a top speed of 11mph, Normal with a top speed of 22mph and Sport which offers the maximum flight speed of 31mph.

Being a mid-range sub-250g drone, like its direct competitors, the HS900 doesn’t offer obstacle avoidance, so you do have to take care when flying close to obstacles and when using automated flight patterns. It does, however, have a downward vision system that’s used to determine the ground in situations when a GPS signal is unavailable, such as when flying indoors.

Holy Stone HS900 Time-lapse

The automated flight patterns on offer include Point of Interest, Spiral up, Tap Fly (waypoints), Gesture Selfie, One-key Ascension and Catapult, which work as intended. Plus, there’s subject tracking where you draw a box around the subject to be followed and the drone will do just that. This works well for the most part, but there are times when the HS900 loses the subject so it’s not perfect.

A fun and easy to use feature is Time-lapse, with manual control over the interval and video length, plus exposure and shutter speed to maintain consistency in your videos. Unlike DJI's Time-lapse feature, the HS900's version works independently from flight and you simply hover instead. If you wish to create a moving sequence, also known as a hyper-lapse, you have to judge flight distance and speed yourself, which is extremely tricky. It’s much easier to simply select a composition and shoot with the drone in a hover.

Cruise Control is another useful feature and one that, as the name suggests, allows you to set the drone on a course and maintain it without having to hold the control sticks. This provides greater consistency for videos thanks to a consistent speed. I did try to use Cruise Control when shooting a Time-lapse, but each time it adjusted the gimbal tilt making it unusable in this situation, unfortunately.

Holy Stone HS900: image quality

  • Sony 1/2.3 in CMOS sensor
  • Up to 48MP photos
  • 4K 30 fps & 1080p 60 fps video

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 close-up of the camera and gimbal

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Once again, like overall performance, the image quality produced by the HS900 beats all other Holy Stone drones hands down. The camera features a Sony 1/2.3-inch 48MP CMOS sensor with a fixed focus f/2.6 lens providing a 100-degree field of view, and sharp video and photo quality. 

Fixed focus may sound like a step down from autofocus, which it is in a way, but it uses the principle of hyperfocal distance to provide the maximum depth-of-field possible for the combination of focal length and aperture – meaning much of the scene will be in sharp focus.

Overall image quality is very good for both photos and videos, which can be captured with the camera set to auto or manual exposure. Image quality is best in brighter conditions, like all drones with a small image sensor, but white balance is a little quirky and could benefit from adjustments in a future firmware update. The white balance presets are a little off what you would expect, with Auto providing the best, yet not always perfect results.

Image 1 of 9

Photo of a pier taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 9

Photo of a coastal town taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 9

Photo of a beach and groyne from above taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 4 of 9

Photo of a circus from above taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 5 of 9

Photo of a cirus tent in a field taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 6 of 9

Photo of a bridge from above taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 7 of 9

Photo of an industrial area taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 8 of 9

Photo of a town taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 9 of 9

Photo of a water treatment facility taken with the Holy Stone Sirius HS900

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Photos can be captured in 4K resolution  (3840x2160 pixels) and 48MP with image dimensions of 8192x4608 pixels – these are in 16:9 format rather than the more common 4:3 format used for drone photos. 

Photo capture is currently only available in JPEG format, but raw capture will be added in a future firmware update. Video can be captured in 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at 60 fps in a Normal/Standard color profile for straight-out-of-camera use, and is saved in MP4 format. A flat color profile for increased dynamic range and color grading is, unsurprisingly, unavailable.

My short wish list for a firmware update would be to build on the well-featured camera control by including a histogram and Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB). The former is invaluable for assessing exposure, while the latter makes shooting in high-contrast situations, such as around sunrise and sunset, much easier because you can capture bracketed exposures for HDR photography.

Holy Stone HS900 video in 4K / 30 fps

Should I buy the Holy Stone HS900?

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 unfolded on concrete

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Holy Stone HS900

  • Several days and flights
  • Used in mixed weather, including moderate wind
  • Various flight modes and video and photo settings

The Holy Stone HS900 was tested over several days of flying in a range of locations, environments and weather conditions (excluding rain) to test flight performance, flight features, overall handling and image quality for both photo and video capture. All testing is conducted in a way that meets local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights are safe and legal.

Drones are always tested using manual flight patterns for video that are typical of professional aerial video capture to shoot visually interesting footage. This also provides the opportunity to test aspects such as the connection between the drone and controller, latency between the two and the accuracy of the controls and flight in general.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering drones in terms of shooting and editing techniques, alongside writing drone reviews for a number of years. As well as flying most consumer and prosumer models, I’ve previously held a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK, and now fly under an A2 CofC (A2 Certificate of Competency).

First reviewed May 2024

DJI launches Osmo Action 4 camera with larger sensor and better stabilization
3:19 pm | August 3, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Less than a year after the DJI Osmo Action 3 was unveiled comes version 4. This action camera promises improved performance in low light, better stabilization options and more durability. The DJI Osmo Action 4 arrives with a significantly larger sensor – 1/1.3”, up from 1/1.7” on version 3. This increases the pixel size from 1.6µm to 2.4µm. The lens is the same as before, 155° FoV and an f/2.8 aperture. Like its predecessor, the Action 4 can record 4K video at 120fps and up to 130Mbps. To get the best quality out of it, you can shoot in 10-bit D-Log M format. The camera supports...

DJI Air 3 review: a nifty dual-camera drone
4:00 pm | July 25, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

Thanks to its dual cameras the DJI Air 3 has the potential to open up new creative avenues, making it an exciting drone to play with. While the 3x zoom may not be obviously useful at first – after all why not just fly closer? – what it offers is the ability to shoot or film what a drone this size can’t get close to, such as people and crowds. It could therefore be useful to event photographers as a way to shoot safely and  legally. I can see it being a useful for landscape photographers, too – perhaps even to shoot active volcanos without your drone being turned into a lump of melted plastic.

Both cameras shoot 12MP or 48MP JPEG and/or raw files on two 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensors, the same sensor used on the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Video is up to 100fps at 4K with the ability to shoot 2.7K at 60fps in vertical mode, a feature that's very useful if you share videos on social media. Video can be recorded with both cameras offering 10-bit D-Log M and 10-bit HLG color modes; 10-bit D-Log M mode offers more flexibility in post production with respect to detail available in highlights and shadows, as well as color grading.

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with arms and propellors in flight position

(Image credit: Future)

The 24mm equivalent lens has a fixed aperture of f/1.7, while the 70mm equivalent is an f/2.8 lens. 

The DJI Air 3 also offers excellent flight and safety features which never fail to impress – it makes total sense for DJI to focus on drone safety if it's to continue existing in a world of increasingly tough, varied and inconsistent drone regulations. Safety features include Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, APAS 5.0 anti-collision, and Advanced Return to Home, all of which, when enabled, combine to make it pretty difficult to crash.

Deciding if this is the right drone for you ultimately boils down to your needs as a pilot and as a photographer/filmmaker. The Air 3 is positioned between the more affordable and feature-packed Mini 3 Pro, and the much more expensive but highly capable C2-category Mavic 3 Pro. Although the Air 3 is missing the 'Pro' moniker, its size, features and dual cameras provide a good middle ground for those struggling to make a decision. It's a perfectly suitable drone for beginners wanting to push their creative potential, while equally appealing to more professional pilots on a budget.

The DJI Air 3 is also a more versatile offering than the DJI Air 2S and a shoo-in for our best drones guide. 

DJI Air 3: release date and price

  • Available from July 25 2023
  • Starts at $1,099 / £962 / AU$1,699
  • Two controller options

The much anticipated DJI Air 3 was available immediately after being announced on July 25 2023. Positioned between the Mini 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro, it's available either as a standard package (drone and remote) or as the Fly More Combo with additional batteries, a bag, and other accessories. There's a choice of two controllers: the DJI RC-N2 (which replaces the DJI RC-N1) and the DJI RC 2, an upgrade from the DJI RC that sports two antennas to improve its range and performance.

Price-wise, the Air 3 drone with the RC-N2 remote and a battery will cost $1,099 / £962 / AU$1,699. That's an increase over the Air 2S, which was priced at $999 / £899 / AU$1,549 with battery and remote when it launched in 2021, but arguably a modest one given that you’re getting lots more features and upgraded remote.

Kit options include the Air 3 with the DJI RC-N2 for $1,099 / £962 / $1,099, the DJI RC-N2 Fly More Combo for $1,349 / £1,199 / AU$2,049, and the DJI RC 2 Fly More Bundle for $1,549 / £1,379 / AU$ 2,349. The DJI RC 2 will retail for $369 / £323 / AU$549 and a single additional battery will cost $159 / £129 / AU$359. Fly More combos come with two additional batteries, a carry bag, a charging hub and other useful accessories, and offer value if you see yourself requiring extra batteries anyway.

DJI Air 3: Design and controller

  • In line with recent foldable DJI designs
  • Imposing dual camera
  • 720g – European C1 rating

The Air 3 sports a look very much in line with other foldable DJI products, in particular previous Mavics with their folding arms. What makes it stand out is its dual camera, which is large in size and protrudes from the main body. Without propellers the drone measures folded: 207 x 100.5 x 91.1mm and unfolded: 258.8 x 326 x 105.8mm.

Weighing 720g, in the UK the DJI Air 3 is classed as a C1 category drone (up to 900g), meaning it's considered a lower risk to third parties than drones like its heavier brother, the Mavic 3 Pro. This classification allows for more freedom in how and where you can fly; refer to the CAA website and our own UK drone laws explainer for more information on drone laws.

The Air 3 uses a 4,241mAh battery which is responsible for a third of the drone’s weight at 267g. It takes 60 minutes to charge, and provides a very generous 46 minutes of advertised flight time, 48% more than its predecessor, the DJI Air 2S. During my testing that figure has proven to be fairly accurate, provided you're cruising slowly on a windless day. A more 'sporty' flight or windy day will increase battery use, therefore shortening your flights. You might ask who, at this point,  needs more than that sort of flight time, although with longer batteries come new applications.

Image 1 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump packed away in carry case with remote controller

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with arms and propellors folded away

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with arms and propellors folded away and seen directly from above

(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump arms folded away

(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with arms and propellors folded away

(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with closeup of its dual cameras

(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with arms and propellors in flight position

(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 8

DJI Air 3 drone remote controller with built-in screen, on a tree stump

(Image credit: Future)

The two controllers available are the DJI RC 2 and DJI RC-N2, both upgrades of their respective predecessors, the DJI RC and the DJI RC-N1.  

The DJI RC 2 is a particularly welcome upgrade for anyone who's used the DJI RC, specifically in terms of range and signal. The DJI RC 2 features external antennas, which vastly improves the poor signal range DJI RC users have reported across many online drone forums. I flew the Air 3 with the DJI RC 2 in thick woodland with far better signal and range than I’d normally experience with the DJI RC.

DJI Air 3: Features and flight

  • Omnidirectional collision avoidance
  • ActiveTrack 5.0 subject tracking
  • Advanced Return to Home

If you're used to DJI drones, you'll be instantly at home with the DJI Air 3. It flies very well straight out of the box, and if you're concerned about drawing unwanted attention, while it's understandably noisier than the Mini 3 Pro due to its size, the Air 3 does not produce unreasonable noise levels. As usual, to the untrained ear it may sound like a swarm of bees, but it's in no way screeching, as perhaps the DJI FPV is.

As with previous DJI drones, three flight modes are available: Sport mode provides a top speed of 42.5mph with collision avoidance switched off, which is useful if you're chasing a fast-moving subject; Normal mode is slower, with collision avoidance on, while Cine mode provides the slowest flight speed with reduced control sensitivity, for more precise maneuvering and capturing less hectic and more cinematic footage. 

The Air 3's wind-speed resistance is impressive. It's advertised at just under 27mph, and I've flown it in 35mph winds and captured stable footage, although I did get a warning telling me that due to high wind speeds Return to Home may not function as expected. This is possibly its greatest advantage over a cheaper sub-250g drone such as the Mini 3 Pro, which itself offers impressive wind resistance for such a small drone.

As is now the case with all DJI drones, GPS positioning linked to nearly two dozen satellites enables precise hovering. Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing (a first in the Air series) combined with DJI’s Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 5.0 makes flying in tricky environments worry-free. With collision avoidance turned on, the Air 3 can either brake or bypass obstacles when they’re detected. The bypass setting offers a 'Nifty' option designed to provide smoother flight when obstacles are detected in more complex environments; however the downside of this smoother setting is a greater risk of collision.

Image 1 of 3

Close up of DJI Air 3 drone arm with model name

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump next to battery charger pack

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump view of the back

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Air 3 in thick woodland, and made my way through branches and treetops without collision, greatly helped by the large screen on the RC 2 remote offering a much clearer image than a smartphone.

For extra safety the Air 3’s Advanced Return to Home scans up to 200m to calculate the safest route to its take-off point, while AirSense ADS-B provides notifications of nearby planes and helicopters. The Air 3 uses the next-generation DJI 04 transmission system, which can transmit a 1080p/60fps live feed at a distance up to 20km (in the US, up to 10km in other regions including Europe). For European users a 5.1Ghz frequency band has been added to improve transmission performance; does this hint at the release later this year of an O4 Air Unit for FPV quadcopters to replace the current O3 Air Unit? 

Flight features include Focus Track for both cameras, which keeps the subject at the centre of the frame, Quickshots (a set of creative camera movements), while video modes include 2.7K vertical shooting convenient for social media, Mastershots (generates fast effortless cinematic footage), Night Mode for low-light environments, Hyperlapse (4K horizontal / 2.7K vertical), Slow Motion up to 100fps at 4K, Smartphoto 3.0, QuickTransfer, Lightcut (one-tap video editing), and Waypoint Flights, available on the Air series for the first time.

DJI Air 3: Image and video quality

  • Dual camera (wide-angle and medium tele)
  • Two 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensors
  • Up to 4K 100fps video

The DJI Air 3 sports two cameras, each based on a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor. One is a wide-angle 24mm equivalent, and the other is a medium-telephoto 70mm equivalent, essentially offering 3x zoom. To some this may seem of little use; after all, why would you need a zoom lens if you can simply fly the drone closer to the subject? This is a valid question for which there are a couple of simple answers.

First of all, it gives you the ability to shoot events where crowds gather. It's illegal to fly over crowds (defined as a group of people unable to disperse quickly in case of an accident), and therefore a zoom lens could offer the ability to capture events (festivals, weddings, and so on) without having to get too close, and without posing a risk. Another benefit is when you need to capture anything at sea, perhaps a yacht, the zoom lens allows you to stay a little higher above the waves and still get the close-up footage you need.

A zoom lens also offers the potential to compress the perspective of a scene by bringing elements at different distances closer together, opening up new creative possibilities.

Image 1 of 10

DJI Air 3 photo of a field on a sunny day with the 24mm wide camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 10

DJI Air 3 photo of a field on a sunny day with the 70mm telephoto camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of rural farmland on a sunny day with the 24mm wide camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of rural farmland on a sunny day with the 70mm telephoto camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of a rural home on a sunny day with the 24mm wide camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of a rural home on a sunny day with the 70mm telephoto camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of village houses on a sunny day with the 24mm wide camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 10

DJI Air 3 aerial photo of village houses on a sunny day with the 70mm telephoto camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 9 of 10

DJI Air 3 photo of a large garden and allotment on a sunny day with the 24mm wide camera

(Image credit: Future)
Image 10 of 10

DJI Air 3 photo of a large garden and allotment on a sunny day with the 70mm telephoto camera

(Image credit: Future)

I really like the ability to tilt the camera from 90 degrees downwards to 60 degrees upwards; it's another great tool for capturing footage that stands out, and a feature that Mini 3 Pro users will be familiar with.

One important consideration is that both lenses have a fixed aperture: f/1.7 in the case of the wide-angle, and f/2.8 for the medium telephoto. If you only take photos, it’ll be just fine; but if your focus is videography, because you have no option to adjust your aperture you'll need to be prepared to change ND filters as often as the light changes, and landing more often than necessary can very quickly become annoying, and negates the usefulness of a 46-minute battery life.

As an example, I often shoot videos at sunrise. With a fixed aperture, the fast-increasing light levels mean I take off with no ND filter, then five minutes later as the sun rises I have to land to add an ND8, then another 10 minutes later I have to change to ND16.

The sensors are the same as on the Mini 3 Pro, so expect similarly good image quality. Both cameras capture 12MP or 48MP photos in raw and/or JPEG, and offer all the standard photography modes, including Single Shot, Burst Shooting, AEB and Timed. In terms of video both cameras can capture video in 4K up to 100fps, FHD up to 200fps, 2.7K vertical up to 60fps and FHD vertical up to 60fps.

Should I buy the DJI Air 3?

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with closeup of its dual cameras

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the DJI Mavic 3 Pro

I tested the DJI AIR 3 over the course of a couple of weeks. It was very windy with up to 35mph winds, except for one calmer day. This allowed me to test its performance with high wind both in terms of flying and the stills and video I was able to capture in these less than ideal conditions.

I flew it with and without obstacle avoidance, in a multitude of environments, from open fields to thick woodland. Wooded areas are a great environment in which to test a drone and its remote. How does the drone perform sensing and avoiding those trees? How good is the camera’s dynamic range; i.e. how does it deal with the contrast between dark shaded areas and bright light-wells, and how well does it perform in these sometimes low-light conditions. And how well does the signal penetrate through thick vegetation?

DJI Air 3 drone on a tree stump with closeup of its dual cameras

(Image credit: Future)

I tend to fly drones manually, with minimal assistance from either collision sensors or automatic flight features. This allows me to test their responsiveness and overall latency drops between the drone and the remote, depending on the surroundings.

All testing is carried out on private property, away from people and buildings, and in accordance with local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights are safe and legal.

I've been flying camera drones since 2014, and in the past year I've been flying FPV quadcopters, which has been both exciting and very challenging. I fly a multitude of different drones, from tinywhoops to carbon fiber freestyle drones and camera drones, for the variety of creative avenues they offer. I fly four different leading brands of drones, and have no affiliation to any of them.

First reviewed July 2023

« Previous Page