28 American Entities Added to Restricted List, Including Major Aerospace and Defense Firms On January 2, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced the addition of 28 US entities to its export control list. This move aims to protect China’s national security and interests, targeting several major American aerospace and defense companies. This escalation comes amidst […]
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New Features Address Customer Feedback and Advance Operational Efficiency Arcsky has announced the launch of the X55 V2, an upgraded version of its X55 industrial drone. The company developed the new model based on two years of operational feedback and technological advances, aiming to meet the complex needs of industrial applications. “The X55 V2 represents […]
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Women DRONERESPONDERS to Host Second Official Meeting at National Public Safety UAS Conference The Women DRONERESPONDERS (WDR) Sub-Alliance will hold its second official meeting on March 11, 2025, during the National Public Safety UAS Conference. The meeting will take place at the Festhaus in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA, and will highlight the contributions of women […]
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When you’re packing for your next adventure, a travel drone might just be your ultimate travel companion. Whether it’s for capturing cinematic landscapes or just upping your Instagram game, travel drones are often the key to leveling up how you document your travels.
Now many of you know me as a drone expert. And yes, I’ve been documenting the drone industry closely since the beginning of 2013. But I’m also a drone expert. Yes, my real job is literally “travel expert” for NerdWallet. Therefore, I know a lot about what goes into traveling like a pro.
Sure, you want a portable drone that packs well (avoid those checked bag fees)! You also want a drone that has as much built-in as possible to reduce odds of you forgetting something. I’m talking about built-in internal storage, or built-in screens. That way you don’t have to mess around with remembering to pack microSD cards or cords, or having a charged phone. Speaking of a full charge, you want a drone with a long battery life. Traveling often means minimal access to power outlets, but a long battery life reduces that need. And finally, you want a drone that holds up in somewhat tough conditions (and won’t get carried away in the wind). Often when traveling, you’re only in a location for one day. If the weather is too windy to fly, you’ll miss your shot (unless you have a drone that holds up well in the wind, of course).
So with that, here are my picks for the best travel drones of 2025:
The DJI Air 3S is my top travel drone pick, delivering a perfect balance of portability, durability and exceptional image quality.
Related read: DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Pro: is the Air 3S actually better?
Who it’s for: The DJI Air 3S is perfect for travelers who want a reliable drone capable of handling diverse conditions while delivering professional-grade results.
It costs $1,099, but that’s the starting price — and it’s the version without the built-in screen in the controller. $1,099 gets you the DJI RC-N3. However, I recommend you upgrade to the version with the DJI RC 2, which is $1,599 in Fly More Combo Form. The RC 2 is the version has a built-in screen, which means you won’t have to connect a separate device, like an iPhone. It’s way less headache, and it is definitely worth the extra $500 over the course of all your drone flights.
For travelers prioritizing portability without sacrificing too much capability, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is an excellent alternative. I actually consider this my best drone overall for most people. But given the specific niche of this guide for travel drones (which prioritizes extra features like longer flight times and built-in memory), it comes in as something of a runner-up. (The best drones overall guide gives more weight to factors such as price.)
Clearly, the DJI Mini 4 Pro drone is still great.
Who it’s for: Travelers who need a lightweight, packable drone that’s easy to use and still delivers quality footage.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro technically starts at $759, but — like the DJI Air 3S starts with a lower base price — that’s for the version with the DJI RC-N2. If you want one with a better screen (which is a far better flying experience), you’ll owe at least $959 to get the DJI RC 2 instead. Or, upgrade to the Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2 for $1,099.
For those looking to explore beyond DJI, the Autel EVO Nano+ is a worthy competitor. Both are Chinese drone companies, but some prefer Autel for reasons including preventing a DJI monopoly, or its fewer built-in piloting restrictions.
Who it’s for: Travelers who want a portable drone with great low-light performance and fewer restrictions on where they can fly.
Plus, at just $679 for its starting price, this drone is quite affordable (as long as you can find it). It is currently sold out on the Autel website, but it’s available on other retailers such as Amazon and B&H Photo.
Here’s how my picks for the best travel drones compare against each other:
| Feature | DJI Air 3S | DJI Mini 4 Pro | Autel EVO Nano+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1,099 | $759 | $679 |
| Weight | 724g | 249g | 249g |
| Camera | 1-inch sensor | 1/1.3-inch sensor | 50MP Camera |
| Wind Resistance | 12 m/s | 10.7 m/s | 10 m/s |
| Battery Life | ~45 minutes | ~34 minutes (or 45 minutes with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) | ~28 minutes |
| Storage | 42 GB Built-In | 2 GB | MicroSD Only |
| Best For | All-around performance | Ultra-portability | Unrestricted flying (and a general DJI alternative) |
Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot or just starting out, the right drone can elevate your travel experience. The DJI Air 3S stands out for its performance and reliability, while the DJI Mini 4 Pro and Autel EVO Nano+ cater to specific traveler needs.
No matter what drone you fly, though, here are some tips to consider when traveling with drones:
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Last year, Matt Sloane of SkyfireAI gave us his predictions for the drone industry… and he wasn’t wrong. We’ve asked for the 2025 update! Here – Matt’s take on BVLOS rule, Chinese drone tech, and who ends up as a major player in the industry. DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for guest posts. 2025 Drone […]
The post SkyfireAI’s 2025 Drone Industry Forecast: What Last Year’s Predictions Got Right – and What’s Next appeared first on DRONELIFE.
More dronestock Photos and Videos from Winter available to license for all your audiovisual projects
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A proof-of-concept project in Okinawa, Japan involving blood delivery by drone is setting the stage for a new era in drone logistics.
In what was a test project between delivery drone maker Wingcopter, international trade service ITOCHU Corporation, and ANA Holdings (an aviation group primarily known for its airline of the same name), the team conducted blood deliveries by drone in Okinawa, Japan. There, they transported blood between Urasoe and Nago using Wingcopter’s delivery drones in a proof-of-concept (POC) experiment. The test demonstrated the potential for drones to address labor shortages and ensure critical medical supplies reach isolated or disaster-stricken regions.
Related read: Why this Asian airline is betting big on drones
Though we’ve seen plenty of instances of drones transporting blood in the past (e.g. UPS uses Matternet drones to fly blood samples in the U.S., and Zipline has long been delivering blood to hospitals primarily in developing countries in Africa), this test has its own merits. That’s largely given the unique geography of Okinawa.
With Okinawa’s 48 inhabited islands posing logistical challenges for traditional transportation, drones offer a faster, more flexible alternative. Besides that, Okinawa stands out for its heat. Located in the southernmost part of Japan, Okinawa is known for its high temperatures in the summer — posing an additional challenge for drones to keep blood cool.
Drones transported both red blood cell fluid and whole blood. Both types of blood are likely to be used in disasters and emergencies and require strict temperature control of 2 to 6 degrees Celsius. In this trial, Wingcopter drones transported blood along a 53-kilometer route in just 32 minutes, maintaining that necessary constant temperature of 2 to 6 degrees Celsius to ensure the blood’s quality.
Experts, including Dr. Hiroshi Fujita, Director of Transfusion Medicine at Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, confirmed the blood’s integrity, stating it was comparable to samples transported by ground vehicles.
“The results of this verification therefore show that drones may be useful as a means of transporting blood appropriately to where it is needed,” Fujita said. “We hope to see (further) testing of blood transport by drones in the future.”
Given Wingcopter’s participation, the team used Wingcopter’s flagship delivery drone, the Wingcopter 198. The Wingcopter 198 stands out for its patented tilt-rotor mechanism and proprietary software algorithms. With it the Wingcopter 198 can take off and land vertically like a multicopter. Meanwhile, it can fly long distances as efficiently and quickly as a fixed-wing aircraft, even in rain and wind.
Wingcopter, which is a German company, has major partnerships including package delivery giant UPS. It also had a partnership with U.S.-based medical service provider Air Methods, running medical drone deliveries in Kansas.
But in recent years, it has found especial success in Japan. For example, In March 2024, Wingcopter applied for type certification in Japan for its flagship drone. It became the first foreign company to gain acceptance for the type certification process by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
With Wingcopter’s ongoing pursuit of type certification in Japan — allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights over populated areas — the delivery drone maker would cement its position as a leader in the sector.
Wingcopter has about 150 employees and has investors including the European Investment Bank, REWE Group, Salvia, XAI technologies and Xplorer Capital. Much of that was raised through Wingcopter’s $22 million Series A in early 2021, which was followed up with a Series B extension in June 2022 that brought its funding to $42 million.
The project demonstrated its ability to handle real-world conditions, including strict temperature controls and vibration management. That all provides a strong case for scaling up operations. With labor shortages and emergencies posing significant challenges particularly in Japan (but even worldwide), this trial serves as a blueprint for integrating drones into conventional logistics networks.
For the drone industry, the significance extends beyond medical applications. Rather, it paves the way for broader adoption of drones in commercial and humanitarian efforts.
As ITOCHU explores integrating multiple drones into traditional supply networks, the industry inches closer to realizing sustainable, scalable drone logistics.
Looking ahead, the Wingcopter 198 could become a staple in Japan’s healthcare and logistics landscape. Exepct deliveries of not only medical supplies but also pharmaceuticals and high-priority goods. The ongoing certification process — coupled with successful trials like this one —— signals a shift toward widespread commercial drone use. That’s particularly true in regions where traditional methods fall short.
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Collaboration combines drone imagery and mapping technology in a unified platform Aerologix, an Australian drone technology company, has partnered with digital mapping platform Soar to create what they describe as the world’s largest library of high-quality drone imagery and maps. This collaboration aims to combine Aerologix’s network of over 36,000 professional drone pilots with Soar’s […]
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3,548.46 Hectares Covered with Precision Spraying Technology Terra Drone Agri, a subsidiary of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, has implemented an advanced pest control initiative across 3,548.46 hectares of oil palm plantations in Malaysia. The program, launched under the company’s Terra Agri service, focuses on combating bagworm infestations—a significant threat to plantation health and yield. This […]
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Study Highlights Energy Demands and Declining Reproduction in North Pacific Humpback Whales Using Drones to Monitor Humpback Whale Health Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology have used drones to analyze the health of nursing humpback whale mothers and their calves during their migration across the Pacific Ocean. The […]
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