2026年のベストドローン6選、ポピュラー・メカニクスによるテスト

The 6 Best Drones of 2026, Tested by Popular Mechanics Skip to Content Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? The Best Drones How We Selected and Tested Best Overall Best for Videographers Best Camera for the Price Best Budget What to Consider FAQs Editor's Note, May 4, 2026: We’ve made some changes to our drone recommendations. Our drone expert, Tom Price, recommends the Hoverair X1 Promax , a powerful but affordable camera drone, as our “best portable” drone for its lightweight, foldable design. It replaces the standard Hoverair X1 , which is lighter but offers fewer control- and camera-related features. We still love that little guy, though; the Hoverair X1 is now our “best budget” pick, replacing the Potensic Atom SE . Flying devices have evolved rapidly since the days of remote control helicopters and paper airplanes. Drones offer more than a way to revive your sense of childlike whimsy . Equal parts high-tech toy and commercial tool, they often feature powerful cameras that capture high-quality video, making them a very helpful tool for filmmaking, land surveying, and a variety of other industries—anything where a lofty perspective and/or quick-moving camera could be useful. Their cultural impact has ascended fast as technical improvements have made them more useful and fun to fly, especially among cheaper models that don’t require a license or registration to operate. Entry-level drones are easy to pick up and fly well, while offering exceptional safety and accident-preventing features. Tom Price The best drones stay stable in crosswinds, maintain strong connectivity with their controller, and—thanks to onboard GPS—return to where you launched them and safely land if that connection is broken. Obstacle-sensing technology reduces the likelihood of accidentally flying into trees and other objects that can cause crash landings. The best of the best can shoot pro-grade video in 4K, or even 8K resolution, matching the quality of $1,000-plus DSLR cameras . With such a wide variety of drones available, you may not know where to begin your journey into flight. Luckily, we’ve talked to plenty of experts and tested out our own selection of drones to help you figure it out. The Best Drones Best Overall: DJI Mini 4K Drone ​ Best Value: Hoverair X1 Drone ​ Best for Videographers: DJI Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo ​ Most Portable: Hoverair X1 Promax Drone ​ Great Camera for the Price: Potensic Atom 2 Drone ​ How We Selected and Tested Our resident drone expert, Matt Crisara, knows what separates the good, the bad, and the ugly regarding quadcopters. His journey as a drone pilot started in 2018 with an indoor first-person-view (FPV) racing drone. After flying (and occasionally crashing) it for roughly a year, he started building his own drones from a collection of cherry-picked components. Throughout his time piloting FPV models—better suited for acrobatic maneuvers and racing—he’s also had the chance to fly several aerial photography drones. We also tested out the DJI Neo , Hoverair X1 , and Potensic Atom 2 . Each drone was tested based on its general maneuverability, camera quality, ease of use, and compatibility with smartphones and controllers. All three of these drones were also flown for close to the length of the battery, tested for any special features they boast, and were flown through basic obstacles like trees, windows, and sharp corners. Considering my own lack of skill operating flying devices, I also tested how well they handle minor bumps and crashes. In addition to leaning on personal experience and knowledge, we recruited other drone pros to help with the selection process, as they spend thousands of hours a year flying and testing whatever drone they can get their hands on. Tom Price “Knowing what’s coming next is really part of my job,” says Matt Sloane, CEO of Skyfire Consulting in Atlanta. Sloane began his company to help firefighters and emergency ops use drones as tools to get more “eyes on the situation.” He himself not only has commercial drone licensing, but he also has his commercial license to fly manned aircraft. We also tapped Billy Kyle, founder of landscape surveying firm Atmos Aerial in Philadelphia, for his knowledge of piloting drones. Kyle also reviews drones and offers quick guidance through instructional videos on YouTube . Our choices are based on the expertise of Sloane and Kyle, as well as our own hands-on experience testing out different models from DJI and Potensic. For any drones on this list that were not specifically tested for this article, our selection process took into account our general familiarity with these brands, and the key listed features. You’re sure to find a drone that suits you whether you’re just getting into flying or want to add to your existing fleet. Tom Price All that said, the future of the consumer drone industry is currently in flux. On December 22, 2025, the FCC added all foreign-made drones to its "covered" list of consumer electronics, which prevents all of the brands we currently recommend from releasing new models in the United States. The vast majority of drones for casual and hobbyist users are made by Chinese companies, none of which will be allowed to do so going forward. Exemptions have been made for a handful of prosumer brands, but we expect it will take time for new brands to come in and fill the demand for kinds of drones that we like flying. We're paying close attention to all new drones being sold in the United States and will make sure to test out any that we think are worth including for personal fliers. That said, we have tested out several options over the last couple years that still stand out as some of the best in their class and are still widely available for purchase. Best Deal DJI Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo $389 $269 NOW 31% OFF JUMP TO REVIEW 1 Best Overall DJI Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo Now 31% Off $389 $269 Amazon Pros Excellent camera Robust stability features Cons No smartphone control (remote only) With a 4k ultra HD camera and a three-axis gimbal, the DJI Mini 4 shoots high-resolution video that won’t shake or rattle as you fly. It pairs that gimbal with improved wind resistance, so even if you're shooting video on a blustery day, your footage will be clear and steady. Alongside its robust stability features, the drone has a powerful motor to propel the drone to over 35 miles per hour at top speed. This makes it perfect for recording extreme sports or high-speed video. It also allows for takeoff at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. The Mini 4 holds two batteries, extending its range beyond many similar models. It can fly continuously for over an hour before coming down for a charge. The only potential drawback is that the remote is the sole means of controlling the drone versus additionally being able to use your smartphone. If this isn't a dealbreaker, this is still the drone to buy based on camera quality and other features for the price. Key Specs Camera 4K/60 fps (48-MP photos) Flight Time 31 minutes (62 total with extra battery) Top Speed 35 mph Range 3.7 miles 2 Best Value Hoverair X1 Drone $299 Amazon Credit: Tom Price Pros Foldable design fits in your pocket Multiple flight modes made it easy to shoot tons of different types of video Basic obstacle avoidance features Cons Lacks the camera capability or handheld maneuverability of other models Although some question whether it’s an actual drone, Redditors who have experience with DJI and Potensic say the Hoverair X1 is undeniably convenient and fun—and we agree. It’s easy to use, and has a camera that’s on-par with a standard iPhone. Plus, it’s so compact. (In fact, it was our best compact pick for some time!) Folded up, it fit in the pocket of Editor Tom Price’s jeans. Download the user-friendly app and it’s up and flying in minutes. It has seven autonomous flight modes that follow you, and one manual mode that you control from your phone. It has obstacle avoidance but it’s limited to only objects in front or below it. During testing, we found the autonomous flight mode impressive and surprisingly reliable. The camera locks onto the user and then follows the flight mode you choose. It automatically stops if it loses sight of you and emergency lands if it comes in contact with anything. And it works. In fact, the X1 kept up with us easily, even when we were running and actively trying to evade it. That makes it a perfect action camera buddy, orbiting around you as you ride a bike or even while snowboarding. It won’t be doing barrel rolls or shooting cinematic footage, but it’s going to keep up. I wouldn’t use it for a professional project, the X1 is a really fun way to start learning your way around a drone, making photos and videos, and just generally having a good time. Key Specs Camera 2.7K at 30 fps (12-MP photos) Flight Time 11 min Top Speed 15 mph Range 3.1 miles Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 3 Best Portable Hoverair X1 Promax Drone $699 Amazon Pros 15 programmed flight patterns Body is made of a durable highly elastic material Foldable design makes it easy to carry Cons Short battery life Frame rate limited to 30 frames per second A more powerful version of our “Best Budget” pick, the Hoverair X1 Promax impressed me for three key reasons: its programmed flight patterns, durable exterior, and a highly compact foldable design. Many drones have some pre-recorded flight patterns, but the Promax has a whopping 15 options, which go a long way to helping you do advanced camera work, even if you aren’t a pro operator. I was able to use it for far more dynamic shots as well as put it in bike mode to follow me while I rode. Made from a proprietary material called HEM (short for “highly elastic material”), the cages protecting the rotors on the X1 Promax feel like plastic but have remarkable give. They bend but don’t break. I put a good twist on the left wing and it sprung back