If you have a checklist of features to look for in a drone, it probably includes battery life, cost, image quality, and portability. And by portability, we refer to drones with morphofunctional folding capabilities.

Why add portability in your checklist, you ask? For one, getting to and from your launch site while bringing a drone can be difficult, especially if you’re bringing bigger machines. As such, if you can fold them down or keep them small while on travel, it can greatly help.

This capability to fold is a recent evolution in the drone industry. The premise is to create a full-featured drone that can neatly fold up into a portable and compact shape. To achieve this, manufacturers usually make the drone arms fold into the body so that it can be easily placed into a drone backpack.

So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned drone pilot looking for a powerful unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with advanced features and top-notch hardware specs that are foldable at the same time, you’ve come to the right place!

UVS-Info.com provides you a list of the best foldable drones to learn everything you need to know before you buy.

Top 5 Best Foldable Drones

Review Roundup

	1.DJI Mavic 2 Pro	2. DJI Mavic Mini	3. DJI Mavic Air 2	4.Parrot ANAFI	5.Potensic D88 FPV Drone
Camera	4k-30 fps	Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS, 12MP	12MP and 48MP photos	4K UHD (3840×2160 24/25/30fps)	4K HD
Range	6.2 miles	4km or 2.5 miles	10km (6.2 miles)	2.5 miles	1.6km
Flight Time	31 minutes	30 minutes	Maximum: 34 minutes	26 minutes	20 minutes
Foldable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Size	3.3 by 3.6 by 8.4 inches	Folded: 140x81x57 mm	Folded: 180×97×74 mm (Length×Width×Height) Unfolded: 183×253×77 mm	Size folded: 218x69x64mm Size unfolded: 242x315x64mm	Length: 45 cm Width: 45 cm Height: 75 cm
Speed	44moh	29 mph	68 kph (42 mph)	horizontal speed: 34mph vertical speed: 4m/s	50kph

 

1. DJI Mavic 2 Pro

Product Description

Ever since the DJI Mavic 2 Pro was introduced in 2018, it quickly became one of the best consumer-class folding drones in the market. It rocks a one-inch camera sensor, allowing you to capture 4k video (approximately 4,000 pixels of horizontal display resolution).

It also features OcuSync 2.0, which improves the connectivity of the Mavic 2 Pro to other accessories as well as its remote control. With such a feature, the drone can already transmit 1080p live stream video even beyond the line of sight.

This drone can likewise flip its camera 90 degrees so it can capture images in portrait format.

Best For:

People who are looking for travel-friendly drones that are easy to fly and can shoot excellent Raw stills.

Pros

• Foldable design 
• Aperture control 
• Large one-inch 20mp sensor
• User-friendly app for camera control
• Easy to fly

Cons

• Can’t shoot 4k video at 60fps
• Limited battery life 
• Noise is a concern above ISO 100
• Camera set in a landscape orientation

Click here if you’d like to buy this foldable drone!

2. DJI Mavic Mini

Product Description

If what you’re looking for is a portable drone with a large array of features, then we believe you won’t be disappointed with DJI Mavic Mini.

Boasting an ultra weight of 249g and a foldable design, the DJI Mavic Mini has a maximum flight speed of 46.8 kph or 29mph and a maximum flight time of half an hour. Because it is lightweight, this foldable drone is easy to transport.

This palm-sized drone also has a  3-axis stabilized gimbal.

Its weakness, though, is that it lacks object tracking or 4k video features. Nevertheless, we cannot question it being featherweight. So far, its pros still soar above the cons.

Best For:

Beginner and drone pilots prefer a lightweight and smaller drone so they’ll have the flexibility to capture moments as quickly as they like.

Pros

•  Maximum flight speed of 29 mph (46.8 kph) 
• Easy to transport
• Lightweight
• no  registration needed
• Good battery life
• Stable video capture

Cons

• Micro USB charging, not USB-C type
• No object tracking

Order this product now while it’s available!

3. DJI Mavic Air 2 

Product Description

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is not just a successor to the Mavic Air. Rather, it is a transformation from its form-factor into a true DJI Mavic drone.

In terms of capability, price, and size, the DJI Mavic Air 2  sits close between the Mavic 2 series and the Mavic Mini drones. It also has an improved camera. Its 1/2-inch sensor can shoot 12MP images or you may also set to use the 48MP sensor.

Compared to other foldable drones, the DJI Mavic Air 2 has ideal size and weight. It also has a 10km (6.2 miles) flight distance range, although we don’t recommend you to push your Mavic Air 2 to the limit of its flight range as it quickly drains the battery or affects the video transmission range.

Best For:

Having a long flight time, the DJI Mavic Air 2 is best for people who are into real estate photography. Since it is a versatile piece of hardware, it is also ideal for beginners who are just starting into the drone hobby.

Pros

• Big one-inch camera sensor
• Great for experts and beginners
• Usable digital zoom
• HDR video and panorama
• Feature-packed and compact
• With scene recognition mode

Cons

• significant crop in the 4K 60fps
• More expensive than other foldable drones
• No HDR or D-Log when zoomed in
• APAS safety settings still need improvement

Don’t miss out! Buy this product here before it’s gone!

4. Parrot ANAFI

Product Description

This folding drone has a small airframe but comes with gimbal stabilization and 4k video camera features. Its profile is lightweight and slim due to its plastic and carbon fiber construction.

From the top view, you’ll notice that the Parrot Anafi has its arm extended during the flight. During travel, though, you can remove the battery of this drone and that is where you’ll see the slot for microSD memory.

On the bottom of this foldable drone, there’s a positioning sensor although we observed that this foldable drone does not have an obstacle avoidance system.

Best For:

Aerial photographers and videographers who are looking for a foldable drone with excellent cameras in different light conditions.

Pros

• Skinny and long body in a folded position
• Comes with a beautiful carrying case
• With phone clip to secure a phone to the remote
• The camera shoots  Raw images and 4K video
• USB-C charging
• Upward gimbal tilt
• One-touch to switch between two-speed modes: Sport and Film

Cons

• No obstacle avoidance system

Like what you see? Buy this product here today!

5. Potensic D88 FPV Drone

Product Description

The Potensic D88 FPV Drone is another excellent performer in its own right! With its 5G WiFi high-speed image transmission of 820ft-984ft, you can enjoy real-time images without delay.

It also has a built-in one-axis gimbal that allows you to shoot a more stable video and image and reduces vibration, which affects the accuracy of gyroscopes and accelerometers (in short, flight stability) in drones.

Best For:

Drone hobbyists who are looking for a mid to entry-level drone that is very easy to fly and does well in light to medium wind.

Pros

• Easy to store and carry
• GPS intelligent return 
• Follow me mode
• With ultrasonic altitude setting and optical flow positioning for safe flight
• Features way-point flight
• Flights clockwise around when a certain point of interest is set
• 5G WiFi transmission

Cons

• You may have a hard time finding where to purchase an extra battery for this drone model
• The controller may start beeping at 75 yards, just as very few users experienced it, indicating signal loss

Click here to buy this product today!

What to Look for in the Best Foldable Drone

Before you take your foldable to the skies, here are some features you’ll need to look for:

1. Range of Device

It is better if foldable drones can fly further from the transmitter, without losing contact. That way, you can capture better images and the foldable drones can reach areas that are not easy for humans to go into.

2. Built-in GPS Navigation

GPS navigation helps your drone to find its way around in different areas. Some foldable drones allow users to pre-program routes so that the drones can navigate themselves when already in the field.

3. Flying Time

About 20 to 30 minutes flying time is practical. So, choose a foldable drone with good battery life so it can stay in the air longer.

4. Availability of Spare Parts

It will lessen the cost of ownership if foldable drones also have spare parts that are easy to purchase or readily available. Some important spare parts of foldable drones are controllers, motors, batteries, landing gear, and propellers.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

So much for the features and list. We love all drones we listed above, but the best foldable drone for us would be the DJI Mavic Air 2.

Its maximum transmission distance already allows you to receive a decent video stream and you have that peace of mind while flying long-distance knowing that you are still in full control of your UAV.

The model allows you to fly safer and smarter. Thanks to its APAS 3.0 Obstacle Avoidance feature. And you can see clearly even in long-distance, OcuSync 2.0 feature enables 10km 1080p/30fps video transmission.

The unit likewise offers one of the most advanced panorama modes in vivid colors.

So, there you go. It was a pleasure giving you these 5 foldable drones. Until then, happy piloting!

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