The 8 Best Selfie Drones in 2021 for Crystal Clear Hands-Free Photos

Last updated: 1st May 2021
DJI Mavic Mini

DJI Mavic Mini

DJI Mini 2

DJI Mini 2

Holy Stone HS160 Shadow

Holy Stone HS160 Shadow

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We have heard about drones ideal for filming the streets, skies, and fields. But, what about your favorite subject, the one you have known the longest? To pick out the best selfie drone you will need to find something you can carry everywhere your face goes.

Thankfully, there are multiple good options on the market. Depending on your specific needs, and your budget, there will undoubtedly be something there for you.

What makes a good selfie drone is not always the same as with regular camera drones. Portability becomes much more important, as well as the clarity of the image produced.

Selfies are meant to be on social media platforms. Selfie drones therefore need to have a good app that can both manage the drone and share the produced content on most, if not all, platforms without a need to land.

Primarily, images made by selfie drones need to be at least approximate to anything produced by a smartphone camera. We need to have a reason to leave the selfie stick at home and carry a drone instead.

Thankfully, with the miniaturization of cameras and huge advancements in battery technology, this became possible in the last few years.

Additionally, a drone meant only for occasional photos of your friends and yourself needs to be very portable. There is no point lugging a drone case with you if you simply plan to take a few snaps on the go.

You have your phone for that.

And last but not least, the drone needs to be easy to use. We want to be relaxed and to focus on making that perfect selfie smile for Instagram. No one wants to share photos of them struggling with a drone, although it might make for a fun post.

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What is the Best Selfie Drone 2021?

One of our number one choices for the best selfie drone is the DJI Mavic Mini, with a rating of 4.9.

DJI Mavic Mini
  • Flight Time: ~28 minutes
  • Charge Time: ~90 minutes
  • Range: 3000m / 9842ft
  • Remote Controller: WiFi 5.4GHz & 2.4Ghz (included in the set)
  • Camera: 3-axis gimbal 2K Camera with 12MP
  • Live Video Transmission Range: 2500m / 8200ft
  • Weight: 249g / 8.78oz
  • Working Temperature: 0°C ~ 40°C
  • Rated for indoor and outdoor use

While made to fulfill multiple roles, the size and weight of the Mavic Mini make this little drone one of the best options for those who want to film themselves and others.

By design, it looks a lot like the original Mavic but reduced to a more manageable frame. And because of this, it can fit any backpack or bag without you even noting it. It’s so small and light that it doesn’t even have to be registered with the FAA in the US or the CAA in the UK.

The camera on the Mavic Mini is impressive and easily comparable to the best flagship phones on the market. The picture is clear, and the colors look warm and real.

When it comes to selfies, the most significant advantage of the Mini is the DJI Fly app used to fly all drones by this manufacturer. With the app, you can fly and command the drone, ordering it to follow you around or even circle the subject while filming.

There is no need for the controller as you can fly the drone with the phone. Using just your smartphone reduces the weight you need to bring and bring all of the UI features to the forefront.

Finally, with extraordinary battery life, this drone can easily take enough selfies that even the most self-conscious find one they can share on social media.

+ Pros

+ Amazing portability
+ Excellent autonomous options
+ Long battery
+ Excellent camera
+ Long range

- Cons

- Narrow field of view
- Low wind resistance

With a perfect rating of 5.0, the DJI Mini 2 is the best selfie drone that money can buy.

DJI Mini 2
  • This drone weighs less than 250g
  • 12MP camera / 4K video, 4x digital zoom
  • 3-axis motorized gimbal for image stability
  • 10km range, max altitude of 4km
  • Battery life: 31 minutes

The DJI Mini 2.0 is deemed as the best mini drone for selfies.

Weighting at just 249g, this mini drone features a built-in 12MP camera with 4K video & up to 4x digital zoom for the perfect, and highest of quality selfies.

Regardless of whether you are up on a windy cliff or on a boat, you can rest assured that the 31 battery life, and 3-axist motorizes image stability gimbal is more than enough for you take the most amazing selfie a drone can take.

As if that isn’t enough, with its weight being under 250g, you can freely fly this drone without having to register it with the FAA or CAA.

+ Pros

+ Long 31-minute flight time
+ Stunning camera quality
+ Stabilized 4K video recording
+ Price that makes it a suitable gift for loved ones

- Cons

- None

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The Holy Stone HS160 is the most affordable selfie-ready drone on this list. It also offers great value for money at its low price tag.

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Holy Stone HS160 Shadow
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  • Flight Time: ~8 minutes
  • Charge Time: ~120 minutes
  • Range: 70m / 230ft
  • Remote Controller: WiFi 5.8GHz / smartphone (included in the set)
  • Camera: 720p fixed HS camera
  • Live Video Transmission Range: 30m / 100ft
  • Weight: 82g / 2.92oz
  • Working Temperature: ~-5°C to ~40°C
  • Rated for indoor and outdoor use

When it comes to selfie drones, the most important things are quality of image, stability, flight time, and portability.

At just 82g, the HS160 Shadow by Holy Stone really wins when it comes to quality vs portability.

You can virtually fit this miniature drone in your pocket, pull it out, and take a range of amazing selfies with the 720p HS camera for around 8 minutes.

Being approved for both indoor and outdoor usage, it is easily the best entry-level selfie drone for casual users that do not want to overspend.

+ Pros

+ Easy to fly
+ Good motor
+ Large lens
+ Has an FPV setup

- Cons

- On the larger side
- Cheap feel (but is cheaply priced)

The HS270 gets included with a high rating in this list because of the sheer value it offers.

Holy Stone HS270
  • Flight Time: ~16 minutes
  • Charge Time: ~330 minutes
  • Range: 600m / 2000ft
  • Remote Controller: WiFi 2.4GHz & 5.4GHz (included in the set)
  • Camera: 2.7K QHD  with 12MP fixed FPV
  • Live Video Transmission Range: 400m / 1300ft
  • Weight: 595g / 21oz
  • Working Temperature: ~0°C  to ~40°C
  • Rated for indoor and outdoor use

Priced much lower than most of DJI’s offerings, the Holy Stone HS270 is highly portable as it folds up and has an impressive 26-minute battery life too.

It has a variety of flight features that make it suitable for selfies including ‘Follow Me’ and ‘Orbit’, as well as stable hovering, and can record in 2x HD quality.

+ Pros

+ Very easy to fly
+ Extreme range
+ Excellent camera
+ Good flight time

- Cons

- Boxy design
- Long charging time

The Passport self-flying drone is engineered to be an excellent selfie-taking drone.

Passport Self-Flying Drone
  • Flight Time: ~6 minutes
  • Charge Time: ~60 minutes
  • Range: 30m / 100ft
  • Remote Controller: WiFi 5Ghz & 2.4GHz (included in the set)
  • Camera: Sensor1/3.06″ (CMOS); Effective pixels: 13M
  • Live Video Transmission Range: 20m / 65ft
  • Weight: 242g / 8.53oz
  • Working Temperature: ~5°C to ~35°C
  • Rated for indoor and outdoor use 

The Passport self-flying drone is jam-packed with amazing features to help you take the most perfect selfie.

At a weight of 242g, you can use the Passport self-flying drone for selfies for around 6 full minutes at a maximum range of 30m.

Being rated for both indoor and outdoor use, it is one of the best selfie drones for all around usage regardless of whether you are taking a picture of the family on Christmas or if you are exploring a beautiful sight under poor weather conditions.

Simply put, the Passport Self-Flying Drone is one of the top entry-level drones because of its ease of use, amazing camera setup, and portability.

+ Pros

+ Easy to fly
+ Predictive software
+ Very good camera setup
+ Foldable and compact

- Cons

- Slightly heavy
- Low range

Just like a phone, pull out the Phone Case drone out of your pocket, and take an amazing selfie on the go.

Flying Phone Case
  • Flight Time: ~5 minutes
  • Charge Time: ~60 minutes
  • Range: 12m / 40ft
  • Remote Controller: 2.4 GHz WiFi 1st Pilot view Transmission / smartphone
  • Camera: 70° axis gimbal 720p camera with 5MP
  • Live Video Transmission Range: 12m / 40ft
  • Weight: 68g / 2.39oz
  • Working Temperature: ~5°C to ~+35°C
  • Rated for indoor and outdoor use 

The Flying Phone Case was engineered for casual users who want to take a selfie here and there using a stable, high-quality drone.

With 5 minutes of flight time, you can pull out this drone on multiple occasions to take stunning selfies at a range of different places ranging from windy cliffs to locations with pretty hot temperatures.

Another benefit is the 12m range of the Phone Case selfie drone. For those that want to take a picture a little further out and capture as much background as possible using the 70 degree axis gimbal 720p camera, then this drone is perfect for you.

Despite it’s affordable price bracket, it is a big favourite as it offers the most value for money when it comes to selfie drones.

+ Pros

+ Very easy to use
+ Gesture control
+ Slim and portable
+ Good UI functions

- Cons

- Low flight time
- No wind resistance

If you are looking for immense stability, incredible camera, and long flight time so you can take the perfect selfie, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro is for you.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro
  • Flight Time: 30 minutes
  • Range: 7 kilometers
  • Camera: 4K resolution at 30 fps; 20 MP stills
  • Weight: 1.64 pounds
  • Gimbal: 3 Axis

This is one of the top rated drones on the whole of Dronesvilla, but it’s so good that it might be overkill for just taking selfies.

If you have a big budget, you can’t go wrong with the Mavic 2 Pro, but you should opt for this if you want to go for more than just selfies.

It’s one thing using your drone to hover in place and take a picture of yourself hands-free, it’s another traversing for miles across landscapes, recording stunning footage the whole way. This UAV is capable of both.

+ Pros

+ Incredible photo and video quality that has to be seen to be believed
+ Tight controls and intelligent flight modes make it a breeze to fly
+ Robust obstacle avoidance system makes it one of the safest drones to fly even for inexperienced pilots

Buyer’s Guide: Selfie Drones

The biggest issue most buyers have when buying a camera drone for selfies is attempting to justify the purchase. We try to tell ourselves that it is not for vanity but some higher purposes.

There is no need for that.

This technology is invented to assist us in capturing moments from our life and the lives of our friends. Regardless if it’s just a relaxing day at home or your best friend’s birthday party, you want to have that saved.

Once we remove this misconception, it becomes evident what we are looking for. We are looking for a smartphone that can fly, and which is as easy to use as the one we have in our other pocket.

The main feature to look for will be the camera and the quality of the picture it can produce. This goes beyond simple megapixels and needs stability and processing to provide clear images of faces.

But, there are others, and having a good camera drones doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have a selfie drone.

Image clarity and stability, as well as pixel density, are all very important. You want to see all faces clearly, and in as good detail as possible.

Finally, because it will eventually find itself on social media, filters and widgets should be available. This can be either directly through the drone app or once you export to social media, but your drone should stay flying while you pick out the right ones.

Selfie Drone vs. Camera Drones

It is obvious that camera drones and selfie drones have a lot of overlap between them. Nothing is stopping you from using a professional cinematography drone to take a picture of your face.

But, it is arguable if you will be able to carry around a 20lbs drone just to take a few pics with your friends. Additionally, flying such drones inside may be quite hazardous for public health and random furniture.

A selfie drone needs to be compact and portable. Ideally, you should be able to place it in your back pocket or carry it around in a purse or a backpack without even noticing the weight.

Also, a dedicated drone photographer might invest a lot of time learning to fly their drones. Different subjects need different lighting and exposure, especially if you are filming.

For selfie drones, you don’t want to be the one focusing on flying them, as you want to be in the picture. You need the AI to do all of the flying for you, as much as possible.

Thankfully, the subject of the picture will always be the portrait, so the AI doesn’t need to be at the Skynet level.

What to Look for in a Selfie Drone

With the information you have so far, you should be able to have a general idea of how a selfie drone should look like. And, the more detailed your needs become, the better choice you will make.

Check your pockets and determine how much can you carry? Do you have a purse or a backpack that you always take with you? Do you take more pictures in the day or by night?

All of these questions will make it more obvious about your ideal choice.

Having a drone should be fun and capture all of the moments you are sharing with your friends, family, and significant others. There is no need to apply any higher purpose, as this is already really important.

Once you get interested in drone flying itself and other purposes a bird’s eye view might have, you can investigate if you can find a drone for that purpose.

High Resolution

It is often stated that resolution alone is not enough to make a good picture. This is true, but because of the proximity of the subject (a.k. your face), you will need to have a detailed picture.

While stability is important, it is not as big of an issue as with aerial photography drones. You simply need the drone to stay on the mark from a couple of feet away. Selfie drones are rarely used more than ten feet into the air because you want your face to be seen as clearly as possible.

For posting on social media, 4MP would be enough to make a good picture. This would be more than the average image uploaded to websites like Instagram or Facebook.

The best selfie drones today usually have more than 12MP, so any type of social media posting shouldn’t be an issue.

But, you don’t want to go overboard as increased resolution usually lowers the shutter speed. As you want everyone to be seen as clearly as possible, this is also an issue. Balancing quality and clarity is essential.

Additionally, you will want to have as big of a lens as possible. In a portable model, this will never be too big, but you want to be able to take in as much light as possible with your flying camera.

Finally, some of the best selfie drones will be aware of their purpose and carry an LED flash. As many parties and gatherings happen by night, this feature will improve your experience significantly.

Autonomous Features

When discussing any type of photo produced by the drone, we tend to focus just on the final product, and not on the process. Flying the drone to get the image you want is as much a part of the experience as clicking the shutter in the end.

If you are an experienced drone pilot that can do everything with their smartphone with one hand, you might pass without any AI assistance. But, most of us can’t, especially when it comes to taking a selfie.

If you need your focus to pose for a good selfie, you will want for the drone to basically fly itself. Best selfie drones should at least hover in the desired position while you smile for the photo.

Advanced models will recognize your face and fly around on a predetermined pattern, depending on your instructions. Recognizing gestures and following simple commands is also needed.

Finally, you will want the drone to fly to and from your palm without any maneuvering from your side. You don’t need your drone flying around because your finger slipped, especially if there are a lot of people around.

Portability

You should be able to carry your selfie drone everywhere. The weight should not burden you in any way, and you should be able even to forget you have it until the opportune time.

Thankfully, modern selfie drones can be quite petite and easy to store. Depending on the design, they can easily fit in most places an average smartphone could.

Additionally, there is no need to always carry a controller with you. As most drones will have the aforementioned AI assistance, they will also have an app capable of flying and controlling the drone.

This is also the best way to take and review pictures made by the drone.

If you know how you will be carrying the drone around, you can decide on the design that best suits your needs. In some cases, it might be as flat as a phone, while in others, you will be looking for something foldable that can fit a purse or a bag.

Durability

Because selfie drones are usually small and compact, there is not that much discussion when it comes to their durability.

True, few of these drones will break if they fall or crash, both because of their size and the height they are flown at. But that is not the most amount of stress they usually take.

When searching for the best selfie drones, we need to find those that will survive the tumbling and scratching while we carry them. As they can often go unnoticed, we mustn’t crack them while they’re not even in flight.

Ideally, the drone should survive the owner sitting on it while it is in the back pocket. On the lower end of the durability spectrum, it should come with a small and easy to carry casing that will serve this purpose instead.

Conclusion

All drones are fun, and we need a drone that will take the best selfies, which easily capture all of the faces of our friends and family, we should find the best one.

Thankfully, selfie drones are generally affordable compared to larger models. Also, the best selfie drones usually don’t require any drone piloting experience before you take them out and start snapping pictures.

If you follow just a few straightforward rules and take into consideration how you will be using the drone, it will be easy to pick out the model. That way will last you for a long time and take thousands upon thousands of selfies, out of which six will be posted to social media.

DJI Mavic Mini

DJI Mavic Mini

The Mavic Mini has replaced the hugely popular Spark model and will become one of the most popular drones of all time.

DJI Mini 2

DJI Mini 2

Our top rated mini drone with huge performance in a tiny body. Perfect for...everyone!

Holy Stone HS160 Shadow

Holy Stone HS160 Shadow

The HS160 Shadow is an ideal selfie drone for those who want a bit more power but don’t want to overspend.

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