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Apple MacBook Air (15-inch)

$1,299 at Best Buy

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Like

• Big 15.3-inch screen size
• M2 processor still feels fast
• Costs far less than the Pro laptops

Don’t like

• Very few ports for its size
• No performance boost from the 2022 13-inch Air

Hello, big screen. When I opened the new MacBook Air 15-inch for the first time, it felt weirdly large. I recently bought the MacBook Air 13-inch M2 model, CNET’s pick for the best laptop overall, and I love it. It’s my do-everything computer, and it has the speed and battery life to handle whatever I take on.

No, I don’t need a MacBook Pro, and you probably don’t either. Apple’s M2 processor in the Air already exceeds the requirements of all but the most serious creative pros. And for the first time it’s now available in a roomy 15-inch laptop.

Watch this: 15-Inch MacBook Air Review: Way Cheaper Than a Pro

06:34

Putting a larger screen on the thinner, lighter and more affordable Air line is a no-brainer. Apple does this with iPhones, iPads and even to some extent the Apple Watch. It’s the same proposition here: pay a little more, get a bigger screen.

What the 15-inch Air doesn’t do is push the envelope further. A year after the M2 13-inch model, this is basically the same computer with a few tweaks. There’s a default 10-core GPU on the M2, which is an upgrade on the 13-inch version. There are better speakers (or at least more of them). And of course, more screen space and pixels.

But the screen tech is the same (good, but not mini-LED like the Pro models), configurations are largely similar, and most notably, there are no extra ports on the Air’s larger body. That’s the biggest bummer here: two Thunderbolt USB-C type ports, a MagSafe charger and a headphone jack feels even more minimal on this long-edged machine. Why not one more port on the other side, at least? Or two?

The 15-inch Air starts at $1,299 compared with $1,099 for the 13-inch; a $200 uptick is exactly the price bump I’d expect. This whole package is way, way less expensive than the MacBook Pro equivalents. If I were buying a larger-screened Mac laptop, I’d start here first every time. But serious 4K video editors and graphics pros will likely find the Pro worth it if they can afford it.

I wrote this review on the 15-inch Air. I appreciate the extra screen space, and it’s great to have on my desk. But I don’t regret getting the 13-inch version, either.

Design: Thin and big

This 15-inch Air feels notably thin as you use it, just because it’s a normal MacBook Air thinness over a larger footprint. But it almost makes that display seem more surprising. It’s a big thing when it sits on my lap, and I’m not used to an Air having this width.

Owners of a 16-inch MacBook Pro will just shrug, but using it on my lap does give me a “I’m on a big laptop” vibe. Except, of course, for it being silent because of its fanless design, and basically heat-free. It’s been as quiet as my 13-inch version, and I love that I don’t have to panic about venting airflows or a hot lap.

Apple kept a camera notch on the display, just like the 13-inch M2 Air. I’m used to it. It’s fine. Apple puts its top menu bar around the notch and it kind of makes the display feel normal. I wish the notch weren’t quite so big as it is, especially since, unlike the iPhone Pros, there’s no Face ID camera, but so be it.

Speakers are hidden, as opposed to lining the sides of the keyboard. That leaves a lot of extra room around the keyboard area, and below Apple has put a positively gigantic trackpad that’s as good as all the other models.

Touch ID is on the keyboard, and all the ports (MagSafe, and two Thunderbolt ports) line the left edge. The right edge has a headphone jack. But why not more ports? I’d expect at least one more on a 15-inch laptop, and it feels awfully ridiculous to have so few. At least offer a port upgrade option.

Screen and audio? More than good enough

The 15.3-inch display isn’t mini-LED like the Pro models, but really, I’m fine with how good it is. Apple’s Liquid Retina screens are still colorful and crisp and bright (and have ambient light color adjustment with True Tone), but they probably won’t blow you away. The new speaker upgrade on the 15-inch model is a punchier bass boost experience than the 13-inch model and delivers better audio overall, if you care about that.

A few years ago I’d have called this whole thing a Pro experience, so to me this is a pretty nice Air package overall.

Price equation: Worth getting the 15 if you’re spending up for extras

It turns out that the step-up 8GB RAM/512GB storage version of the 15-inch Air is $1,499, while the 13-inch Air’s equivalent is $1,399. Only spending an extra $100 for the larger screen seems like a logical bet for anyone wanting more room to work or something easier on the eyes.

The price gap is $200 for the base model, which also isn’t huge, but I do prefer the 13-inch Air for its portability. I love its compact lap feel and good-enough screen size for my needs. But, putting it next to the 15-inch Air, it’s clear that you can put apps side-by-side more easily on the 15-inch model. My wife looked at both on a table and said she’d prefer the 15 if she were at a desk a lot doing work.

But either way, these laptops are over $1,000 less than the 16-inch-screen MacBook Pro. These are the easiest way to get a great larger-screened MacBook now, and they’re worth it. One note: the 15 now has a year-old M2 processor. Apple’s M2 was only a moderate increase in performance over the breakthrough advance of the M1 before it when it arrived last summer. Will a future M3 take another leap? Maybe you shouldn’t worry. Apple’s speed gains on the M-series chips over the Intel models have been so good that they still feel fantastic.

MacBook Air 15 or 13? Take your pick, either’s fine. At this point in 2023, these MacBook Airs feel like the safest bet in Apple’s laptop lineup.

Final Fantasy 16, the latest entry in the long-running RPG franchise, is coming out later this month. The game makes some big changes to the popular series’ formula, creating a game that’s unlike any others that carry the Final Fantasy name.

Whether these adjustments will win over fans of the series will be the big question when the game comes out.

Here’s everything you need to know about the next Final Fantasy.

When does Final Fantasy 16 come out?

Final Fantasy 16 comes out on June 22 and will cost $70 for the standard edition and $100 for the deluxe edition.

Pre-order Final Fantasy XVI

What platforms will get Final Fantasy 16?

Final Fantasy 16 is a PlayStation 5 timed exclusive. Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy 16 producer, told ASCII last month that there are plans for a PC version of the game.

Will there be any DLC for Final Fantasy 16?

Yoshida told Game Informer last month that there are currently no plans for downloadable content for the game.

Is there a Final Fantasy 16 demo?

Yes, it’s currently available for download in the PSN Store.

What’s the story of Final Fantasy 16?

Final Fantasy 16 takes place in the world of Vallsthea where nations battle each other over magical Mothercrystals, which provide magic energy to the people of the nation. A powerful force in the nations are magical creatures called Eikons who are controlled by human hosts called Dominants.

Players control Clive, the son of the Archduke of Rosaria and the First Shield of Rosaria. His role is to protect his younger brother Joshua, who is the Dominant of Phoenix. The game explores the turmoil Clive goes through following an attack on his home nation.

What’s different in this Final Fantasy?

Each mainline Final Fantasy game is unique in its own way, and Final Fantasy 16 makes some big changes to the series formula by making the combat more of an action RPG rather than a turn-based party game. This means players will only control Clive, and they’ll be able to dodge and parry attacks if timed right. They’ll also have physical and magic attacks at their disposal to take down enemies. Other characters will join Clive in the fight, but they’ll act on their own. The exception to this is Torgal, Clive’s four-legged companion that can attack and heal via quick commands.

Another big change in Final Fantasy 16 is the mature rating. The Entertainment Software Rating Board gave the game an M-rating due to its depictions of violence, partial nudity, blood and strong language, which is the first time a game in the franchise received this adult rating.

The adult themes and medieval setting led to comparisons to HBO series Game of Thrones, which members of the development team confirmed they were fans of and noted some similarities.

One of the hassles of using Lightroom, Adobe’s software for editing and cataloging your photos, is getting them into the app’s catalog. On Tuesday, Adobe made that process a step easier, and more steps are coming.

Previously, to edit photos in Lightroom, you first had to import them from your phone’s camera roll. It’s not exactly hard, but it’s a barrier that stands in the way of trying out the software. Now the Lightroom app for Android and iOS has a “device” tab on the lower left that shows your familiar camera roll. Tap an image, and Lightroom will let you start editing it even as it’s imported into its catalog.

“This is the beginning of our journey to make the mobile app more friendly for folks that aren’t power users,” Maria Yap, Adobe’s vice president of digital imaging, said in an exclusive interview ahead of the launch.

Another change, still in the works, will elevate editing presets that you can apply to your photos, she said. Presets previously made it easier to apply styles to photos, like warm color tones or an artsy black-and-white look, but they’re getting more powerful with artificial intelligence technology Adobe has begun building into Photoshop, Lightroom and other apps.

Phones come with built-in tools like Apple Photos and Google Photos to manage your shots, but Lightroom is a top contender for those who want to venture further. It’s got powerful editing tools, including new AI-powered abilities to select faces, skies and other specific parts of an image. It’s free, though paying $10 per month unlocks premium features and gets you the ability to synchronize photos across multiple devices, including personal computers whose big screens and computing horsepower are good for photo editing.

Another feature arriving in Lightroom on Tuesday, edit replay, lets you create a quick video that animates the steps from original photo to finished version, letting you share how you edited a shot.

Adobe gears Lightroom toward anybody who wants to take even one step beyond the original photo, like cropping to frame the subject better. The company isn’t neglecting the enthusiasts, pros and power users, though Yap said.

“For us, it’s always been about people that genuinely have a passion and interest for photography,” Yap said. “We also understand that we’re bringing in a lot of more casual users, and so we want to make sure that they get the benefit of the product really quickly and easily.”

And phones are no longer a photography joke.

Companies like Apple, Samsung and Google now spotlight camera upgrades as the top new feature on the latest flagship phone. Better low-light performance, higher resolution sensors and ever-wider zoom range means smartphones are ever more capable.

“We really want to empower every photographer, whether you shoot on mobile to big cameras with long telephoto lenses,” Yap said. Even if you have serious equipment, your smartphone might be the only device you have at some moment. “So that becomes your best camera,” Yap said.

If you store all of your important documents, photos and other files on your computer’s storage drive, you could end up losing everything in the event of a crash. For true security and peace of mind, you’ll want backup all of your most important files on a cloud storage service. And right now, you can get a whopping 10TB of storage with a lifetime Degoo Premium subscription for just $80 at StackSocial, which saves you hundreds compared to the usual price. This offer is only available through June 18, so be sure to get signed up before then if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Clearing space on your drive after every big project can be a hassle, and getting to the office only to find you’ve left your external storage or USB drive at home can be a nightmare if you have an important meeting or presentation. That’s why investing in a cloud storage service is so convenient. Degoo lets you upload everything from images, videos and music to software, files and other data, keeping your information safe and secure with 256-bit AES encryption.

With Degoo, you can access your data via your phone, tablet or web browser. And secure file sharing with friends or colleagues is easy, too. Now, one thing to note is that this base plan does have a 1GB file size limit, but there are additional features available through in-app purchases, including a 50GB file size limit upgrade — which might be worth it if you have large files to keep up. Just keep in mind that those add-ons are at additional cost. Still, whether you’re working from home, the office or on the go, you won’t have to worry about losing files just because your hardware fails, and that peace of mind is well worth the investment.

Read more: The Best Home Office Essentials for 2023

From the Apple Watch to Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and everything in between, there are plenty of smartwatches to choose from. But finding the right one depends on what type of phone you have, your budget and the health and fitness tracking features that matter most to you.

In addition to basic exercise tracking, most smartwatches should include extras such as heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, GPS tracking and the ability to show phone notifications on your wrist. Many of the best smartwatches also support contactless payments and others have LTE or cellular connectivity, so you really can leave your phone at home.

We’ve rounded up the top smartwatches you can buy in 2023 based on function, price and compatibility to help you decide which is the best smartwatch for you. It’s also worth considering the best time of year to buy a new smartwatch. Apple and Samsung typically release new models in the late summer and fall time frame. You can also usually find compelling smartwatch deals around shopping events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.

This list is updated periodically with new reviews of the best smartwatch options. For more buying advice, check out our guide to how to buy a smartwatch.

Read more: Best Budget Smartwatches Under $100

Apple Watch Ultra

Best big smartwatch for iPhone owners

The Apple Watch Ultra is a souped-up Apple Watch Series 8, but comes with a tough titanium construction, larger 49mm case size and new Action button to quickly start workouts or launch apps. It has an incredibly bright screen, able to reach a maximum of 2,000 nits which makes it incredibly easy to see when adventuring in the great outdoors. It also has a built-in siren for safety and dual-band GPS for accurately tracking your route. LTE is also onboard so you can venture out without a phone and still stay connected.

While many of its key hardware and software features are aimed towards adventurers and athletes, it’s still a fantastic all-round smartwatch. The microphones help reduce wind noise during calls and you get all the same health and fitness tracking features found on other Apple Watches, including a blood oxygen sensor, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app, fall detection and emergency SOS. The battery also lasts at least twice as long as all other Apple Watch models. But it’s only compatible with the iPhone, so if you have an Android phone, you’ll want to look at another option on this list.

Read our Apple Watch Ultra review.

$749 at Amazon

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Apple Watch Series 8

An update to the winning Apple Watch formula

The Apple Watch Series 8 might not be as adventure-focused as the Apple Watch Ultra, but it still features a dust- and crack-resistant design, a blood oxygen and ECG sensor and comes in 41 and 45mm sizes. You can also choose a cellular or LTE model that lets you take calls and answer messages from your wrist without your phone, although that does cost extra.

It also has a new temperature sensor that can be used for applications like ovulation tracking. But battery life generally lasts 18 hours with typical use, less than many of its competitors.

Read our Apple Watch Series 8 review.

$359 at Amazon$429 at Crutchfield$359 at Best Buy

Garmin Venu 2

Great fitness companion for Android and iOS

The Garmin name has long been synonymous with fitness tracking, but many of the company’s earlier watches haven’t exactly looked or felt that “smart.” The Venu 2 has a sleek, round design with a bright screen that’s easy to see in direct sunlight. It’s also compatible with Android and iOS, has great in-depth fitness features like comprehensive workout tracking, a body battery that tells you if you should push yourself to workout or take a rest day, plus women’s health tracking. It can also take blood oxygen levels and the battery will last several days with moderate use.

The downside is that it doesn’t have as many smart features as other watches on this list, including no LTE or cellular connectivity. If you want a speaker and mic onboard to talk to your voice assistant or answer quick calls on your wrist while your phone is in range, take a look at the newer $450 Garmin Venu 2 Plus. It only comes in one 43mm size but shares all the same features with the original Venu 2 and 2S.

Read our Garmin Venu 2 review.

$280 at Amazon$400 at Crutchfield$300 at Best Buy

Google Pixel Watch

Android’s answer to the Apple Watch

Google’s first Pixel Watch wants to tackle the Apple Watch head-on. For the most part, it succeeds thanks to a sleek, curved design and a range of health sensors including an ECG app and blood oxygen tracking. It has a suite of fitness tracking features and analysis through the Fitbit app and accurate heart rate tracking. Google also updates the watch with new software features over time.

Beware that the battery isn’t as strong as with the other options on this list, and you will likely find yourself charging this watch every day, especially if you like to do outdoor GPS workouts and track your sleep. It’s also only available in one 41mm size.

Read our Google Pixel Watch review.

$300 at Crutchfield$300 at Best Buy$350 at Target

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

One of the best Android watches

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are among the best Wear OS watches you can get right now. They have longer-lasting batteries than last year’s Galaxy Watch 4 models and plenty of great fitness tracking features. Google apps including YouTube Music, the Google Assistant and Google Maps are available, with many more apps accessible through the Play Store. Samsung is also bringing cycle tracking to the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro by partnering with Natural Cycles.

You do, however, need a Galaxy phone to use the ECG, but all the other features work seamlessly with other Android phones. Both watches miss out on the classic physical rotating bezel, one of the signature features of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Gear watches from years past.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review.

$280 at Amazon$230 at Crutchfield

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Apple Watch SE

Best value Apple Watch

If you’ve never owned an Apple Watch, this is the one to get. The second-generation Apple Watch SE is a cheaper alternative to the Series 8 but has plenty of the same great features including crash detection, heart rate monitoring and water resistance. It misses out on health sensors like ECG, blood oxygen and temperature sensing like the Series 8, but the most notable difference between the two is that the SE doesn’t have an always-on display. But you might not miss it if you’ve never had this smartwatch feature.

Read our Apple Watch SE review.

$219 at Amazon$219 at Best Buy$249 at Apple

Fitbit Versa 3

Best cross-platform Apple Watch alternative

The Versa 3 is compatible with both iOS and Android phones and lets you choose between Alexa or Google Assistant as your go-to voice assistant. It doesn’t offer all the apps and smart features as some of its competitors, but it’s a well-rounded smartwatch with plenty of health and fitness features to keep you on track like onboard GPS and live heart rate zone notifications. It has the best sleep tracking feature on this list and even gives you health features including a breakout of your SpO2 and body temperature data overnight (Fitbit Premium users). There’s a newer version, the Fitbit Versa 4, but we haven’t fully reviewed that watch yet so stay tuned.

Read our Fitbit Versa 3 review.

$195 at Amazon$221 at Walmart$200 at Lenovo

Garmin Epix 2

Perfect for adventurers and athletes

The second-generation Garmin Epix features a tough titanium construction and a laundry list of features athletes want, including extensive mapping capabilities. It also has a bright AMOLED display which sets it apart from a multitude of other sports watches, including Garmin’s own Fenix line, that often use transflective displays. The Epix 2 also has great battery life considering its size and feature set, lasting almost a week under regular conditions.

But it doesn’t have LTE capabilities or an ECG app. Considering this is the most expensive watch on this list at $1,000, that might be a big drawback.

Read our Garmin Epix review.

$790 at Amazon$800 at Crutchfield$800 at Best Buy

Polar Grit X Pro

Rugged adventure watch with great battery

Polar’s Grit X Pro is an outdoor watch for adventure seekers. The rugged design can withstand the elements as it’s water-resistant to 100 meters and has a sapphire glass watch face that’s scratch-resistant. With onboard maps, turn-by-turn navigation and overnight recovery tools, you can determine if you’re ready to take on that workout. This is much more a sports watch than a smartwatch, but it can still get notifications from your phone, control music playback and has 24/7 heart rate monitoring.

The touchscreen is less responsive than other watches on this list — it’s transflective rather than AMOLED — but you can get away with using button controls.

More fitness trackers and clocks

• 5 Years Ago, I Thought Apple Watch Was Very ‘Meh.’ Here’s Why I Changed My Mind
• Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 7
• 13 Apple Watch Bands to Get on Amazon
• Best Apple Watch Series 7 Cases

• How to Buy a Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker
• Best Fitness Trackers for 2023
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• Best Peloton Alternatives: 5 Great Indoor Exercise Bikes That Cost Less

While there are plenty of deals available on the Samsung’s latest Galaxy S23 phones, the best offers will require a trade-in and lock you into a multi-year service plan. If you’re looking for a straightforward discount on an unlocked model, then you may be better off with a previous-gen model, and right now, you can snag last year’s S22 Ultra at a serious discount. Amazon currently offering $500 off nealy all configurations, which drops the starting price of the 128GB model down to just $700 — a new all-time low. There’s no set expiration for these deals, so we suggest getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

The S22 Ultra won a CNET Editors’ Choice Award last year and remains a great phone for most people — especially when you can snag it at this price. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and has a large 6.8-inch display. It also comes equipped with an S Pen so you can write, draw and more, directly on the screen. The camera is solid, too — the S22 Ultra supports 8K recording and has a better low-light camera than its predecessor. And the battery should last all day with average use. One of the main drawbacks of this particular phone was the expensive price tag, but this discount makes it a lot easier to recommend for just about anyone looking for a larger device.

And if you’re in the market for a different model, you can check out our roundup of all the best phone deals you can shop right now.

The next version of the Nothing phone, Phone 2, is coming soon. The Nothing Phone 2 will launch on July 11, the phone company said in a teaser posted Tuesday on Twitter. The teaser invites people to “come to the bright side” and points to the company’s website.

The Nothing Phone 2 is expected to be a more high-end phone than the first version. Nothing has already confirmed it’ll include Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

Unlike its predecessor, the Phone 2 will also launch in the US, alongside its release in the UK and Europe.

The phone brand, which was launched by OnePlus founder Carl Pei in 2020, is relatively new to the market but has already gained attention for its affordable price and design. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon admired the Nothing 1’s “unique, flashy design” of the 5G phone with its back lights and “solid processor and camera performance.”

On the Nothing 1’s 399 price point, Lanxon says, “It’s a low price, but what you get is a phone that feels like a premium product.”

People in the US can get their hands on a beta of the Nothing 1 for $299, but CNET’s Mike Sorrentino said that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. The phone mainly supports 4G, limiting carrier compatibility, and some apps may not function properly with the beta.

For more mobile news, here’s the best phones you should buy right now and the best Android phones of 2023 to get your hands on.

Mint Mobile, the prepaid wireless carrierpartly owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, announced on Monday that for a limited time, you can sign up for any of the company’s plans for just $15 per month as a new customer.

The company already charges that price for its cheapest 5GB plan. But now, new customers (or former customers who haven’t had the service for at least 90 days) can choose plans that offer 15GB, 20GB or unlimited data and still pay just $15 a month. Like Cinderella’s coach at midnight, the price reverts back to each plan’s usual cost after three months: $20 for 15GB, $25 for 20GB, and $30 a month for the unlimited data plan.

The unlimited plan includes unlimited nationwide talk and text, a 10GB mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling and text, and free international calls to Mexico and Canada. Data speeds reduce after 40GB, but data is unlimited. If you want to sign up, you can bring your own unlocked eligible phone and keep your current phone number.

Of course, it’s a limited-time offer, good for only a few months.

Read more: Switching Phone Carriers in 2023: What to Know Before Changing Providers

Wireless carrier T-Mobile announced in March that it would buy Mint Mobile in a dealpotentially valued at $1.35 billion. T-Mobile will acquire Ka’ena Corporation, the parent company of Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, as well as wireless wholesaler Plum. T-Mobile says it expects the deal to close later this year.

Reynolds, who purchased an ownership stake in Mint Mobile in November 2019, is still appearing in Mint Mobile’s commercials for now. He posted a short video on social media on Monday in which a “reverse auctioneer” lowers the unlimited-plan price.

“What brand of coffee do you drink?” Reynolds jokes to the fast-talking auctioneer.

If you’re looking for a new mobile plan, check out CNET’s list of the best prepaid phone plans and best unlimited data phone plans available — and if you’re in the market for a new phone, here’s a list of the best phones of 2023.

One of the coolest gadgets that you can get your hands on is a drone. There are many reasons you might want to operate one, and piloting a small flying robot is awesome. Firstly, it’s incredibly fun to steer them. Secondly, if you’re a passionate photographer, it can be a great tool to frame landscape shots. Drone cameras can give you a new perspective that is amazing.

The best drones in 2023 can capture the most majestic views that few have seen before, especially if you live in a rural or suburban area. You’re sure to wow your friends and family. And these days, you can get a great drone with a camera for less than $500.

There are plenty of affordable options for drone owners that offer various combinations of features, video quality and prices to suit every drone enthusiast. So, whether you’re looking to get into drone photography or just want to enjoy the thrill of the flight, we’ve got some recommendations.

We’ve outlined our top picks for the best drones for beginners, intermediate users and “prosumer” enthusiasts, as well as an introductory drone for folks interested in racing, which is a whole scene unto itself. We’ll update this list periodically. We’ve also included a more in-depth buying guide and FAQ on the best drones below, with more information about the key things to consider before you buy.

DJI Air 2S

Best all-round drone

With its large 1-inch image sensor, the DJI Air 2S is able to take great-looking photos and videos from the sky. It’ll shoot video at up to 5.4k resolution, while still images can be taken in DNG raw format at up to 20 megapixels. The drone has a variety of intelligent flight modes too that makes it particularly easy to capture cinematic footage even when you’re out hiking by yourself, including a mode that follows you as you walk through the hills and a mode that automatically circles a point of interest.

One thing it doesn’t do is flip the camera over to let you shoot in portrait orientation. That’s a shame, as it means that capturing vertical video for TikTok or Instagram Reels is more difficult as you’ll need to crop your video down the middle, losing a lot of resolution in the process. If that’s a priority for you, look towards DJI’s Mini 3 Pro.

It’s as easy to fly as others in the DJI range and it has a range of obstacle sensors to help keep it in the air and avoid it plouwing headlong into a tree or a wall. Its maximum flight time of up to 31 minutes is solid for a drone of this size but it can be bought with a bundle of extra batteries for those of you that want to capture more footage from the sky.

Its folding design makes it quite easy to fit into a photography backpack, but it’s physically larger and heavier than DJI’s ‘Mini’ range, so keep that in mind if you’re after the lightest model to take on your travels. But its combination of flight time, automated flying modes and excellent image quality make it a superb all-rounder that’s well worth considering.

Read our DJI Air 2S review.

DJI Mini 2

Best beginner drone

The DJI Mini may have launched back in 2020, but it’s still available to buy today and it’s still a superb option for those of you looking to take your first steps into the world of aerial photography. Its compact, folding size means it’s super easy to chuck in a bag and carry anywhere while its 249g weight means you don’t need to register it with the FAA (in the US).

It uses the same control scheme as other DJI drones, which we’ve found to be easy for beginners learning the ropes while allowing more advanced flyers the flexibility to test their skills. It can fly for up to 31 minutes on a single charge and has a flying range of up to 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

Its small camera unit is stabilized for smoother footage and it can shoot video at 4K at up to 30 frames per second. Still images are captured at 12 megapixels.

One of the reasons that the foldable drone is so light is that it has no sensors for obstacle avoidance. That means there will be a learning curve and potentially some crashing. So while it is an affordable beginner options, those of you with no existing flying skills should start out practicing in wide-open spaces until you get the hang of things. Once you do get more confident, the Mini 2 is stable, nimble, safe to fly and quieter than other DJI models.

Read our DJI Mini 2 review.

$526 at Walmart$399 at Amazon

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DJI Mini 3 Pro

Best drone for TikTok videos and Instagram Reels

While DJI’s Air 2s and Mavic 3 offer superb image quality from the air, they lack the ability to flip the camera over and shoot video and photos in portrait orientation. As a result, those of you wanting to use your footage for your TikTok page or Instagram Reels will need to crop the video right down the middle, losing a lot of resolution in the process and making it harder to compose your shots when you’re out on location.

The Mini 3 Pro has no such problem, as with a simple tap of an on-screen button its camera flips over into portrait orientation, allowing you to capture social content using the full view and maximum 4K resolution of the sensor. Videos can be shot at up to 60 frames per second, while still images can be captured in DNG at an impressive 48 megapixels.

Its folding design allows it to shrink down to something little bigger than a standard can of coke but it still packs a variety of sensors that help stop you crashing it into trees. Keep in mind though that its tiny size and 249g weight does mean that it’s susceptible to strong winds and in blustery conditions will have to fight harder to remain airborne — reducing your flight times.

Read our DJI Mini 3 Pro review.

$909 at Amazon$909 at Crutchfield$910 at Best Buy

DJI Avata

Best FPV drone for exhilarating first-person flying

If you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok recently then you’ll almost certainly have seen exhilarating videos of similar FPV drones flying through bowling alleys, factories or doing other incredible aerial maneuvers. To achieve that, FPV pilots wear headsets that let them see through the eyes of the drone, navigating those twisting turns and zooming through tight gaps as if they’re behind the controls and up in the air.

And that’s exactly how you’ll fly the Avata; with a set of DJI FPV goggles that give you a view directly from the drone’s perspective. It’s an exhilarating way of flying as it really feels like you’re up in the air controlling the drone from behind a steering wheel. It’s a more extreme way of flying than you’ll get from more typical drones like the Air 2S, with more instant controls and faster speeds.

The upside is that you get fast and exciting footage of your drone speeding through forests or through impossibly-small obstacles which you simply can’t achieve with other drones on this list. The downside is that the first-person perspective can make you quite nauseous, particularly if you suffer at all from motion sickness. I found I could manage 5-10 minutes of flying at a time before needing an extended break.

The nature of wearing the goggles also means you’re unable to see around you — which makes it more difficult to spot any incoming dangers, such as rescue helicopters. As such, you’re legally obliged in many areas (including the UK) to have a spotter next to you keeping an eye out on your behalf as you race your drone around the sky.

The Avata is smaller and lighter than DJI’s first FPV drone and has built-in guards around its propellers which allow it to bump into walls, trees or other obstacles without necessarily being taken out of the air.

Its 4K, 60 frames-per-second video looks great and it’s easy to fly using the DJI Motion Controller, which lets you simply maneuver the drone based on your hand movements. You’ll see a crosshair in your view that moves around when you move the controller — wherever you point the crosshair, the drone will follow. It’s a simple ‘point-and-click’ way of flying that I really enjoyed.

Read our DJI Avata review.

$999 at Amazon$999 at Crutchfield$999 at B&H Photo-Video

DJI Mavic 3

Best drone for serious photographers

The DJI Mavic 3’s relatively high starting price of $2,000 makes it significantly more expensive than others on this list, but if you’re a professional or enthusiastic photographer wanting superb photos and videos from the sky then it’s an investment that might be worth making.

The Mavic 3 packs a 4/3rd-size image sensor which is physically larger than any other image sensor you’ll get from other drones on this page. That bigger sensor allows it to capture more light and offer better dynamic range. As a result, its 5.1K-resolution video looks superb, with tons of detail for cropping into and excellent exposures, even in high-contrast scenarios.

It’s got sensors all-round too, keeping it safe from smashing into obstacles, while its huge 46-minute maximum flight time is better than almost any other drone around. It folds down to the size of a large camera lens, so it’s relatively easy to get into a photography backpack, but those of you wanting a tiny drone for travelling should still look to the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

Read our DJI Mavic 3 review.

$1,799 at Amazon

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DJI FPV

Best full FPV flying kit for less

The DJI FPV was the company’s original first-person drone, offering a beginner-friendly entrance into the exhilarating world of FPV drone flying. We loved its lighting-fast 97mph top speed and its solid 4K video quality. And while the DJI FPV has been somewhat usurped by the new DJI Avata which is smaller, lighter and safer (thanks to built-in propeller guards), the original DJI FPV is still worth considering.

That’s largely down to its price, which is now around $1,000 for a full kit with everything you need to fly, from the drone itself, to the controller and the original FPV headset. The DJI Avata comes in at $1,170 for the similar ‘Fly Smart’ combo which I personally think is worth paying (as it includes the motion controller which makes FPV flying much easier) but if you want an FPV experience at the lowest cost then the cheaper DJI FPV might be the better option.

$899 at Walmart$899 at Amazon$900 at Best Buy

Emax Tinyhawk 2

Best racing drone for beginners

Though mainstream drones like the DJI Mini can fly fast, racing drones fly even faster, capable of hitting speeds above 100 mph. They’re also much more agile, built for acrobatic maneuvers with you at a set of manual controls. That means there’s a learning curve that usually involves some crashes.

Getting started will be neither quick nor easy, but for a racing drone, the Emax Tinyhawk 2 keeps things relatively simple. You’ll still need to learn how to pilot the thing, but the process will be less expensive and less frustrating than with other entry-level systems. For one thing, you don’t need to worry about getting all of the individual pieces to work together — or soldering anything, which is required for many DIY models.

$209 at B&H$142 at Amazon

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