11 The Most Expensive Drones in the World in 2024

The drone market is growing bigger every year, so it can be quite challenging to find a quadcopter that meets all your requirements for capturing stunning aerial views. Expensive drones will be the best solution if you want to get great picture quality.

The drone market is growing bigger every year, so it can be quite challenging to find a quadcopter that meets all your requirements for capturing stunning aerial views. If you’ve decided to treat yourself with a powerful drone, look no further. Check out our selection of the best drones out there. Almost all of them are aimed at serious filmmakers and professionals engaged in drone photography and videography. In this selection, you will even find the most expensive drone in the world.

A Little Bonus for Drone Photography Enthusiasts

Before we get to the list of drones, let me introduce you to Luminar Neo, an AI photo editor that will significantly improve your aerial shots. One of its best features is Panorama Stitching. This tool is ideal for creating stunning drone footage by seamlessly stitching together multiple photos taken from different angles. The built-in AI analyzes and merges your images, ensuring a perfect panorama. Additionally, with Luminar Neo, you can further edit your photos to enhance their quality and appeal.

1. Freefly Systems Alta X

What is the most expensive drone? It looks like this exact model. The Freefly Systems Alta X is a fantastic drone for serious videographers and those who want to record an action. It comes folded up in a case that fits all the accessories you need to fly. The Alta was designed to hold heavy equipment and will support payloads of up to 15 pounds, making it a versatile tool that can accommodate almost any camera, including some compact cinema ones. Apart from traditional bottom mounting, the Alta supports mounting a gimbal on top, enabling you to capture stunning aerial shots from distinct angles. The Freefly Synapse flight control system combines calibrated sensors with patented control algorithms, allowing users to effortlessly execute even the most complex flight patterns. This drone provides impressive image stability with a vibration isolation system, making the Alta one of the best drones on the market for high-end aerial shooting. Many people consider it the most expensive drone in the world.

Specifications

• Maximum Gross for Takeoff: 34.86 kg / 76.85 lb ;

• Maximum Payload: 15.06 kg / 33.20 lb;

• Typical Standard Empty weight: 10.86 kg / 23.94 lb;

• Autopilot Name: Custom PX4 flight control stack;

• Flight Modes: Manual, altitude, position, mission, loiter, orbit, return;

• Minimum Radio Controller Channels Required: 5 (roll, pitch, yaw, throttle, mode);

• Supported GNSS: GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo;

• Default Data Logging Rate: Varies, 25hz for main flight data.

Price

The cost of this device is about $18,200, so it is considered one of the most expensive drones in the world.

2. DJI PHANTOM 4 RTK

The PHANTOM 4 RTK was DJI’s first heavy lifter, aimed at serious cinematographers who need a trusted assistant for shooting another film masterpiece. This quadcopter is equipped with six rotors for extra balance and redundancy and six batteries for prolonged time and safety in the air. With the Zenmuse X5 or XT camera, the PHANTOM 4 RTK can fly for about 35 minutes, and it can fly for about 18 minutes with a heavier payload such as the Ronin-MX. The maximum payload of the Matrice 600 Pro is 33 pounds, and it’s compatible with DJI’s Zenmuse cameras and gimbals. The PHANTOM 4 RTK is bundled with an A3 controller and the Lightbridge 2 system, which can stream 1080p live footage and support dual video insight and dual operator setups, with one X for air travel and one for camera control. The drone can fly at a maximum speed of 40 mph in quiet conditions and a maximum altitude of 8,200 feet above sea level. The PHANTOM 4 RTK is a really good tool for professionals who want to spec a powerful quadcopter according to their shooting needs.

Specifications

• Takeoff Weight: 1391 g;

• Diagonal Distance: 350 mm;

• Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 19685 ft (6000 m);

• Max Ascent Speed: 6 m/s (automatic flight); 5 m/s (manual control);

• Max Descent Speed: 3 m/s;

• Max Speed: 31 mph (50 kph)(P-mode); 36 mph (58 kph)(A-mode);

• Max Flight Time: Approx. 30 minutes;

• Operating Temperature Range: 32° to 104° F (0° to 40℃).

Price

Here the price is in the range of $ 6,500, so the model is clearly not a cheap option. It is one of the high-priced drones that fully justifies its cost.

3. DJI Mavic Air 2

The Mavic Air 2 was the first portable quadcopter introduced by DJI, and it looks like a real transformer from the future! When folded, this quadcopter is no bigger than a bottle of water, making it easy to carry around anywhere you go. The Mavic Air 2 can reach speeds of up to 40 mph and fly steadily even in the face of 24 mph winds. You’ll be able to stay connected to the quadcopter for up to 4.3 miles, and one charge gives you up to 27 minutes of flight time. With built-in obstacle avoidance technology, the Mavic Air 2 is able to detect and avoid obstacles up to 49 feet away. The camera is stabilized by a three-axis mechanical gimbal and produces impressive footage with its 1/2.3-inch sensor that can shoot 12MP photos as well as 4K video at 30fps or 1080p at up to 96fps. The bundle comes with a pocket-sized controller that can be connected to your smartphone with a built-in cable, allowing you to view 1080p footage directly on your phone. The Mavic Air 2 pack also includes two additional batteries and one battery for bank adapter, two additional propellers, a charging hub, a car charger, a 16GB memory card with adapter, a cleaning cloth, and a shoulder bag.

Specifications

• Weight: 570 g;

• Size (Length×Width×Height): folded 180×97×84 mm; unfolded 183×253×77 mm;

• Diagonal Distance: 302 mm;

• Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 5000 m;

• Max Flight Time (without wind): 34 minutes;

• Max Hover Time (without wind): 33 minutes;

• Max Flight Distance: 18.5 km;

• Propellers: quick release, low noise, folding

• Satellite Systems: GPS+GLONASS

• Compass: Single Compass;

• Propellers: Quick release, low noise, folding;

• Satellite Systems: GPS+GLONASS;

• Compass: Single compass;

• IMU: Single IMU.

Price

Although this model is considered an expensive drone, it is much cheaper than previous models and costs in the range of $ 1,100. This is a great option if you want a good device, but at the same time are not willing to pay several thousand dollars.

4. DJI Matrice 600 Pro

The Matrice 600 Pro was designed for professional cinematographers looking for a high-end and powerful quadcopter for industrial applications. This drone has a six-rotor setup; if you lose a propeller, motor, or ESC during flight, it will still be able to fly on five of the six motors. The Matrice 600 Pro also runs on six separate batteries, so if one of them turns out to be damaged during flight, you can be sure that it’s still going to fly. The drone supports the full DJI Zenmuse line of cameras and gimbals, so you can customize it to suit your needs. The lightweight design and six-battery capacity allows up to 35 minutes of flight time with the Zenmuse X5 or XT camera and up to 16 minutes with a heavier payload. The Matrice 600 Pro can lift up to 34 pounds while still maintaining stability and redundancy. It can fly at a maximum altitude of 1.5 miles above sea level at a maximum speed of 40 mph in no-wind conditions. The drone is bundled with the A3 Pro flight controller and the Lightbridge 2 system. This gives the hexacopter triple redundancy and algorithms that provide the operator with accurate diagnostic information in real time. The Matrice 600 Pro is a worthy and super powerful aircraft that can be customized with any cameras, gimbals, and accessories to bring the pictures you envision to life.

Specifications

• Diagonal Wheelbase: 1133 mm;

• Dimensions: 1668 mm × 1518 mm × 727 mm with propellers frame arms, and GPS mount unfolded (including landing gear);

• Weight (with six TB48S batteries): 10 kg;

• Max Takeoff Weight Recommended: 15.5 kg;

• Max Angular Velocity Pitch: 300°/s, Yaw: 150°/s;

• Max Pitch Angle: 25°;

• Max Wind Resistance: 8 m/s;

• Max Ascent Speed: 5 m/s;

• Max Descent Speed: 3 m/s;

• Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 2170R propellers - 2500 m; 2195 propellers - 4500 m.

Price

This device can really be considered one of the really expensive drones, as its price is about $6,999.95.

5. DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0

The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is one of the best and most popular drones on the market. It’s perfect for capturing beautiful landscapes from a bird’s-eye view with its 1-inch sensor on a camera that’s capable of shooting 4K Ultra HD video at 60 fps and capturing still photos at 20MP. The camera is also enhanced with a mechanical shutter, which helps reduce distortion. Probably the coolest thing about this drone is that DJI made it crash-proof by packing it with obstacle avoidance sensors that survey the surroundings and stop the drone if it’s about to hit a tree, a wall, or even a person. Gimbal stabilization technology, along with a hover function, provides smooth and clear images even in the strongest winds. The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 comes with a remote controller with a built-in 5.5-inch 1080p screen that offers 1000 cd/m2 of brightness, more than twice that of conventional devices. The drone has a 5,870 mAh battery, which gives it 30 minutes of flight time per charge, and it comes with a charger for both the battery and controller. The bundle also includes a carrying case that fits everything you need to fly.

Specifications

• Weight (Battery & Propellers Included): 1375 g;
• Diagonal Size (Propellers Excluded): 350 mm;
• Max Speed: 31-45 mph (50-72 kph);
• Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 19685 ft (6000 m);
• Max Wind Speed Resistance: 10 m/s;
• Max Flight Time: Approx. 30 minutes;
• Operating Temperature Range: 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C);
• Satellite Positioning Systems: GPS/GLONASS.

Price

This device costs about $1,599. Expensive, so it is one of the most expensive drones with great image quality.

6. DJI Inspire 2

The Inspire 2 is a powerful cinematic filming tool for professionals. This edition of the Inspire 2 comes with CinemaDNG RAW and Apple ProRes codec licenses preinstalled, allowing you to record 4K and 5.2K video in these low-compression, post-processing friendly formats. The drone is not afraid of any bumps and crashes thanks to an obstacle avoidance system and metal composite bodywork. A dual battery system boosts the flight time to about 25 minutes. The quadcopter can reach a maximum speed of 58 mph and has a control range of 4.3 miles, and can fly in temperatures as low as -4°F using self-heating Intelligent Flight Batteries. The Inspire 2 is controlled with a bundled remote that can be connected to your smartphone or tablet with DJI’s GO 4 app. It has a number of intelligent shooting modes such as ActiveTrack, QuickSpin, and TapFly, which make challenging shots easier to capture. A wide range of DJI Zenmuse cameras can be attached to the drone depending on your preference, while the two-axis onboard FPV camera separates the flight view from the main camera view, simplifying shooting for one operator. This drone can be a great choice for experienced photographers and video creators.

Specifications

• Weight: 7.58 lbs (3440 g, including propellers and two batteries, without gimbal and camera)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 9.37lbs (4250 g)

• Max Ascent Speed: 5-6 m/s;

• Max Descent Speed: 4-9 m/s;

• Max Wind Speed Resistance: 10 m/s

• Max Flight Time: Approx. 23-27 min;

• Indoor Hovering: Enabled by default;

• Operating Temperature: -4° to 104° F (-20° to 40° C).

Price

The price of this device is $3,299, so it is also one of the world's most expensive drones.

7. Walkera Voyager 3

The Voyager 3 is the perfect solution for both enthusiasts and professionals. It gives you the ultimate flying experience and allows you to capture stunning HD aerial videos and stills. The camera is one of this drone’s strong points: it’s able to record 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps and provides insane quality, vibrant shades, and sharp images. The Voyager 3 has retractable landing gear and a 3D stabilization gimbal, making it possible to shoot stable and smooth 360-degree footage with no dead angles. The flight time is pretty impressive as well. It’s packed with a 3000mAh large-capacity lithium polymer battery that allows for up to 25 minutes in the air. It can be controlled with two types of controllers: your tablet or smartphone or the bundled controller. If you choose to control the drone with your smart device, the controller that comes with the drone establishes the connection between the drone and your device. The Voyager 3 is capable of flight planning, automatic cruise, and intelligent take-offs, returns, and landings. The Voyager 3 is easy to navigate, making it a great unit for capturing professional-looking aerial footage even if you’re an amateur photographer.

Specifications

• Weight: 3000 g;
• Battery: 2 pcs 8S LiPo battery (3000 mAh, 29.6V);
• Camera: 4K video output at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps;
• Flight Time: 20-25 mins;
• Control Range Pitch rotation: -120° ~+60°; horizontal ±360°;
• Flight Speed: 22 m/s;
• Motor: Brushless motors.

Price

The price of one of the most expensive drones is about $1,838.

8. DJI PHANTOM 4PRO

The PHANTOM 4PRO gives you everything you need for aerial filmmaking and photography. It’s integrated into a sophisticated system with a smart, full-black design. The quadcopter’s 5700mAh battery gives you a maximum flight time of up to 18 minutes. It comes with a Zenmuse X5 camera with a powerful 1/2.3-inch sensor that’s capable of shooting  4K video at up to 30 fps and capturing still images at 16MP. The camera is equipped with a removable lens and a fixed three-axis gimbal. With the DJI GO app, you can manually adjust the focus, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The controller that comes with the PHANTOM 4PRO was designed for aerial cinematographers, so it’s user-friendly and works exactly how you would expect it to. You can connect it to your smartphone or tablet to be able to see exactly what the drone’s camera is seeing, the altitude at which your drone is flying, how much battery life is remaining, and a map to help you locate the drone. The controller has buttons for photo and video capture and dials for gimbal tilt. It also has HDMI and USB ports, so you can connect it to a larger display like a TV to be able to enjoy your drone’s adventures on the big screen. With all these high-end features, the PHANTOM 4PRO takes aerial photography to new heights. This is one of the most expensive camera drones that will allow you to go to the next level.

Specifications

• Weight (Battery & Propellers Included): 1388 g;

• Diagonal Size (Propellers Excluded): 350 mm;

• Max Speed: 31-45 mph (50-72 kph);

• Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 19685 feet (6000 m);

• Max Wind Speed Resistance: 10 m/s;

• Max Flight Time: Approx. 30 minutes;

• Operating Temperature Range: 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C);

• Satellite Positioning Systems: GPS/GLONASS.

Price

The manufacturer was selling these drones for $3,329.

9. Yuneec Typhoon H

The Typhoon H is a powerful drone stuffed with a bunch of professional features that was created for drone enthusiasts. It has a slightly unusual design compared to other popular flagships. The Typhoon H is a hexacopter: it has six rotors, but needs only five to fly. So if one rotor or prop gets damaged for some reason, the drone will still be able to return. It comes with its own all-in-one ground station, so you don’t need to connect it to a tablet or a smartphone to use the drone to its fullest. The drone is packed with a built-in front-facing sonar for close-range object detection and visual collision avoidance, so you can be sure it will be safe. Other high-end features of the Typhoon H include GPS-stabilized flight control, eight smart flight modes, auto-return, auto-takeoff, and auto-landing. The hexacopter is equipped with a 360-degree camera capable of recording 4K video at 30fps or 1080p video at 60fps, and can capture 12MP still shots. The 5400mAh battery gives the Typhoon H a generous flight time of about 25 minutes. The Typhoon H is ready out-of-box to fly and capture beautiful videos and stills.

Specifications

• Flight Time: Up to 28 Minutes (With C23);
• Diagonal Length: 520mm (20.5in);
• Takeoff Weight (W/O Cam): 1645g / 1995g (With C23);
• Battery: 4S 5250 mAh LiPo 79.8 Wh;
• Maximum Rate of Ascent: 4 m/s;
• Maximum Rate of Descent: 2.5 m/s;
• Maximum Flight Speed: 13.5 m/s;
• Maximum Flying Altitude: 500 m.

Price

You can order this drone for about $450.

10. Power Vision PowerEgg X Explorer AI Camera & Drone

This Power Vision drone is one of the best underwater drones on the market. It’s a great unit for exploring underwater, recording impressive high-definition videos with 1080p real-time streaming and capturing astonishing 12MP photos of marine wildlife. The drone features built-in LED front lights, making it possible to capture perfect images even in the deepest, darkest parts of the underwater world. The PowerEgg works perfectly in fresh, salty, and chlorinated water, meaning that you can use it in oceans, seas, rivers, and even pools. It’s capable of diving up to 98 feet while staying submerged for four hours. It comes with a 210-foot tether, a PowerSeeker Fishfinder that can detect fish up to 230 feet below the surface, and a remotely operated bait drop line, making this unit your best fishing buddy. On top of that, the PowerEgg Wizard edition includes a pair of Zeiss VR One Plus Goggles to enjoy an immersive first-person view . This edition includes a base station, a carry-on case, a wireless controller, an intelligent charger, and a 64GB memory card.

Specifications

• Operating Temperature: 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C;

• Diagonal Size: 16.8" / 42.67 cm;

• Overall Dimensions: 25.0 x 19.0 x 5.0" / 63.5 x 48.3 x 12.7 cm;

• Weight: 1.9 lb / 0.86 kg (Including Propellers, Battery, Gimbal, Camera);

• Maximum Wind Resistance: 24.2 mph / 39 km/h;

• Flight Ceiling: 2.5 Miles / 4.02 km;

• Maximum Flight Time: 30 Minutes.

Price

At $899, this device is less expensive than many of the models on this list.

11. Lockheed Martin Indago 3

This advanced Martin Indago 3 drone weighs 4.9 pounds and can carry only 0.44 pounds, which is an average smartphone weight, but has a maximum flight time of 45 minutes, and can fly up to 500 feet at 45 miles per hour, within a 1.2-mile range. It also has a decent built-in camera. It is intended for civilian or even military use. Because of the high, but nevertheless justified price, this device belongs to the category of expensive drones with cameras.

Specifications

• Tactically quiet. A low acoustic signature, undetectable above 300' AGL;

• Rugged, all-weather capability: IP 54 (pursuing IP 67);

• Endurance: 50-70 minutes of endurance with payload;

• Aircraft Data Link Range – 10-12 km (expandable to radio range of 20-30 km);

• MANET MESH network capable.

Price

Sold for about $25,000.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many expensive drones with great cameras and they fully justify their price. With these devices, you will be able to shoot amazing photos and videos.