What's the best DJI drone for your use-case

DJI sells a range of drones for an ever-increasing list of applications. And while you may think DJI is all about consumer drones, commercial operators will no doubt know the Chinese brand for their range of enterprise drones. This is, after all a company that tries to hit every niche.

But if you're looking for your next DJI drone, which one is right for you, your budget and your use-case?

The answer largely depends on what you intend to use the drone for. Whether photography, video, roof inspections, asset inspection, mapping, 3D modeling, search and rescue... DJI probably has a drone for you.

The Best DJI Drone for Photography

DJI Mini 4 Pro

RRP: From £689

They say the best camera is the one you have in your pocket and as such we think the best DJI Drone for photography is the Mini 4 Pro. That answer might surprise you, as the Mini 4 Pro only sports a measly 12 MP camera, but its tiny size and light weight make it ridiculously easy to carry with you. And despite the tiny sensor only packing 12 MP you can still get fantastic images from the Mini 4 Pro, especially if you use the built-in exposure bracketing mode.

The Mini 4 Pro camera has a fixed aperture of f1.7 but can be fully manually operated otherwise, and has a decent auto mode if you're just learning photography. The Mini 4 Pro has omnidirectional obstacle sensing making it particularly safe to fly, and therefore great for beginners. It also comes under the magic 250 g weight so it's possible to use the DJI Mini 4 Pro in a wider range of situations than you would otherwise with a heavier drone.

The need for only a very basic Operator ID to get out flying legally makes the Mini 4 Pro a compelling entry into the world of drones and drone photography.

The Best DJI Drone for Video

DJI Mavic 3 Pro

RRP: From £1,879

Many of DJI's drones are suitable for video and photography making them versatile choices. One of their drones in particular though has taken the market by storm for video capture, whether you are a hobbyist or filmmaker.

And that drone is the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, with its Micro 4/3, 20MP sensor, up to 5K footage capture, and 120fps (at 4K).

The image quality out of the main sensor is fantastic and there's the option to buy a Cine version of the drone giving you access to Apple ProRes 422 HQ, a high-quality codec much loved by the film industry.

Aside from the main sensor, the Mavic 3 Pro has a hugely innovative system, packing another two sensors into the payload enabling different focal lengths.

A departure from more traditional cameras, where you would swap lenses to achieve different focal lengths, this allows you to adjust focal lengths while in the air, giving you amazing compression from the 70mm (3x) and 166mm (7x) cameras. The only downside is these sensors don't offer the same image quality as the main 4/3 sensor, but in our testing, the results are still pretty awesome, especially from the 3x.

The Mavic 3 Pro has all of the additional features you might expect from a prosumer-level drone, including omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and smart features such as active track.

The Best DJI Drone for Mapping and Inspection

DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise

RRP: From £3,080

Another entry for the Mavic 3, just in a slightly different flavour. The Mavic 3 Enterprise, or M3E is based around the same body and basic sensor details as the Mavic 3 Pro but adds a global mechanical shutter, a feature preferred by those carrying out mapping and 3D modelling.

A mechanical shutter reduces motion blur while taking photos therefore allowing for more efficient data capture. In addition to the Micro 4/3 main sensor, the Mavic 3 Enterprise gets a 162mm tele camera with 56x hybrid zoom. This gives the Mavic 3 Enterprise versatility as a general inspection and mapping drone for commercial use. An optional RTK module adds centimeter-level positioning for precise mapping.

But that's not all, because another two options of the Mavic 3 Enterprise are available. The Mavic 3 Thermal, or Mavic 3T has a wide 24mm camera and the same tele camera as the Mavic 3 Enterprise but with the addition of a 640 x 512 thermal sensor.

The Mavic 3 multispectral or Mavic 3M has an RGB camera with a multispectral camera to scan and analyse crop growth.

Excellent battery life and folding portability make the Mavic 3 Enterprise series hard to beat for everyday commercial use.

The Best DJI Drone for Agriculture

DJI Agras T40

RRP: From £9,600

You may have seen DJI's Agras drone in videos across social media lifting people clean off the ground. Although not designed to lift people, these behemoth drones have a massive 50 kg carrying capacity via their integrated hoppers.

These hoppers can be loaded with liquids, grains, or seeds to be spread with precision when integrated into agricultural tech systems.

DJI has listened to farmers' needs and incorporated dual atomization spraying systems for even spraying, allowing for a spray rate of 12 litres per minute. They also utilise a dual atomised centrifugal sprinkler ensuring even droplets and efficient use.

The Agras T40 is not just a one-trick pony though, it's designed for tech-savvy farmers, supporting multiple missions from surveying to mapping, spraying, and spreading.

The Best DJI Drone for Deliveries

DJI FlyCart 30

RRP: From £??,??? (prices not yet released)

Never one to stand still, DJI is jumping on the drone delivery bandwagon with their new FlyCart 30. It isn't a stretch to imagine they've applied what they've learnt from agricultural drones to develop a safe and efficient delivery drone.

With a 30 kg max payload and a massive 16 km flight distance, the FlyCart 30 is set to be the next big innovator in drone delivery. DJI claims the max altitude for the FlyCart 30 is a massive 6,000 m, hinting at the nature of the FlyCart 30's use as being way beyond the usual drone distance and altitude limits.

Safety is clearly a top priority with the FlyCart 30. IP55 protection, radars, binocular vision, intelligent obstacle sensing, and multiple redundancies including a parachute should help settle the nerves of those worried about drones buzzing around our skies.

DJI has developed fully automatic operations for the FlyCart 30 incorporating DJI Delivery Hub and the excellent Pilot 2 system. The Flycart 30 is available in cargo mode or winch mode, allowing you to lower packages from the drone, automatically releasing them when they touch the ground.

The Best DJI Drone for Industrial Use

DJI M350 RTK

RRP: From £10,959

Although the Mavic 3 Enterprise has chipped away at the market share of the larger industrial drones, there is still a place for the hefty Matrice 350, or M350 RTK.

One of the biggest benefits of this drone is the massive range of payloads available. The M350 RTK also has one of the longest battery lives of any DJI drone, with a 55-minute maximum flight time. This means more efficient operations, and in the commercial world, time is money.

The DJI RC Plus controller is optimised for commercial and industrial missions, and the IP55 rating of the M350 keeps it working in adverse conditions. Another plus afor the M350 RTK versus the Mavic 3 Enterprise is the increased range of operating temperatures from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius.

The range of payloads available for the M350 RTK includes a Zenmuse L2 lidar unit, the Zenmuse P1 40 MP mapping beast, and the handy H20 four-sensor payload, with zoom, wide, thermal, and laser rangefinder. If you're a serious industrial drone user then the Matrice 350 RTK is well worth considering.

Whatever you're looking for in your next drone, you can be sure that DJI has a product for you, and if not, they're developing one! They continue to innovate and surprise, making them the clear leader in consumer and professional drone technology.

Here's a recap

• The Best DJI Drone for Industrial Use: DJI M350 RTK
• The Best DJI Drone for Deliveries: DJI FlyCart 30
• The Best DJI Drone for Agriculture: DJI Agras T40
• The Best DJI Drone for Mapping and Inspection: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise
• The Best DJI Drone for Video: DJI Mavic 3 Pro
• The Best DJI Drone for Photography: DJI Mini 4 Pro