Best auto-follow drone

Which auto-follow drone is best?

Capturing magnificent scenes with a high-flying drone is a common method used by videographers to create content. The drones are steered with a flight stick or controller and go wherever the pilot directs them.

Read more Most Florida colleges fall in new U.S. News rankings. One shows a huge gain.

But sometimes, you want the drone to capture you in action. If there is nobody else to control the drone, you’re going to have a problem. That is where an auto-follow drone comes in, and as the name implies, it will automatically follow you as you run, bike or ski. One of the best auto-follow drones is the DCX Volo X EZ AI Drone.

In this article: DCX Volo X EZ AI Drone, DJI Neo and DJI Flip

What to know before you buy an auto-follow drone

Know the difference between auto-follow and tracking

The two terms might sound the same, and some companies use them interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. An auto-follow drone doesn’t need a camera and can follow a signal. On the other hand, a tracking drone can memorize a face or object and track it. It will stay a certain distance away and continuously keep the object in the frame.

The size of the drone matters

Not all drones are built the same, and generally larger ones will have bigger batteries and more features. But that’s not to say that smaller, more affordable drones aren’t up to the task. Consider what kind of footage you want to capture and where you’ll be flying, and determine which size drone will be best for your needs.

Preferred method of control

You can operate drones through different control mechanisms. While professional drones use remote controllers and a screen, others operate easily with a mobile phone or a tablet. Consider which controlling method will be the easiest for you, as you can always upgrade to a headset when you get more comfortable.

What to look for in a quality auto-follow drone

Gimballed camera for stability

Under normal circumstances, you operate the drone through remote control. The pilot can steady the drone and capture any footage. But when it follows you, it is doing so automatically. Some stability is built into the flight, but a good-quality drone will have a gimballed camera. This prevents the camera from excessive shaking and will smoothly track the subject.

Obstacle sensing to prevent crashing

You don’t have any control over an auto-follow drone when it is in flight. To prevent the gadget from crashing into trees or buildings, a good-quality drone includes obstacle-sensing technology. This allows it to fly around or over anything that could block its flight path. It also allows the drone to keep track of you without breaking the line of sight.

Great camera for the best footage

If you use an auto-follow drone to capture images while running or going horse riding, you’ll want the footage to be as good as possible. A good-quality drone will capture 4K footage at 60 frames per second and take still photos with at least a 20-megapixel camera. Just bear in mind that you’ll need a suitable data storage device and enough battery power to fly some distance while recording.

How much you can expect to spend on an auto-follow drone

The average cost of an auto-follow drone will largely depend on the capabilities and functions of the device. An entry-level drone that can follow you retails for $150-$200, while professional drones can retail for $800-$1,500.

Auto-follow drone FAQ

How long is the flight time of a drone?

A. That will depend on the drone’s capabilities and the weather condition. On a sky, windless day, a typical drone can fly for around 35 minutes. Having to contend with wind can reduce the flying time to approximately 25 to 35 minutes.

What happens when the drone loses sight of you?

A. Most drones have a return-to-home function where they will fly back to their base station if they lose connectivity to the controller. Some drones go through several processes to re-establish a connection by themselves, like retracing their steps.

Read more Miss Manners: We’re dreading our vacation with this loud, angry man

What’s the best auto-follow drone to buy?

Top auto-follow drone

DCX Volo X EZ AI Drone

What you need to know: Excellent for cinematography, this drone will follow you wherever you go.

What you’ll love: It has two lenses, one is a medium telescoping lens that’s equivalent to a 70-millimeter format with a 2.8 aperture, and the other is a wide-angle lens that’s equivalent to a 24-millimeter format. Features omnidirectional obstacle sensing to keep it flying even in narrow areas.

What you should consider: It doesn’t come with a wall charger.

Top auto-follow drone for the money

DJI Neo

What you need to know: This affordable drone can record high-quality video and record your movements as it follows you.

What you’ll love: Its lightweight design makes it one of the easiest drones to take off and land. AI Subject Tracking makes it easy to stay focused on moving targets. You can control it in four ways: Fly the Neo controller-free, voice control, mobile app or with a remote control.

What you should consider: The camera is mediocre compared to other drones.

Worth checking out

DJI Flip

What you need to know: This drone is resonably priced and perfect for shooting 4K content.

What you’ll love:  It gets up to 31 minutes of flight on a single charge, and it can transmit 1080p video for up to eight miles. The camera captures 48-megapixel photos and 4K video at 60 frames per second. It also features a gimbal and Level-5 wind resistance to get the best possible footage.

What you should consider: Some users had trouble connecting it to their smartphones.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Read more Showers and storms are expected along with ‘frequent’ lightning and wind gusts

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.