Best Budget Drones With GPS and Return-to-Home Features

In the early days of the consumer drone industry, drones were far less reliable than they are today.

Many of the drones I flew around 2015 felt like they were fighting your commands every step of the way. Additionally, a significant number of these UAVs lacked safety features to prevent them from flying into buildings, trees, or people. It wasn’t uncommon to crash a drone, and sometimes your drone would have a mind of its own and take off in a direction you never commanded it to.

As technology improved, many drone manufacturers started integrating GPS into their drones. With this addition, drones were able to accurately position themselves and, in doing so, became more reliable. The shaky flight mechanics that previously existed turned into the smooth flying seen in most modern consumer drones.

When GPS for consumer drones first emerged, it was initially expensive and only available in higher-end models. Thankfully, things have changed, and now there are many drones under $1,500 that come standard with GPS and other safety features, such as return-to-home (RTH) functions.

In this article, FLYING will provide more information about these features and offer our recommendations for GPS-enabled drones that won’t break the bank.

Why GPS and RTH Matter

We are all familiar with GPS. The technology originated in the military but is now well integrated into our daily lives.

From the navigation systems in our cars to smartphones and even watches, GPS is here to stay. GPS has helped improve drones’ design and performance in numerous ways.

When a drone is equipped with a GPS receiver, it connects to the GPS satellite network, allowing it to maintain a stable hover, use programmed flight paths and waypoints, as well as record accurate data about its location in internal flight logs. That all adds up to smoother aerial footage, and intelligent flight modes like orbits, follow-me, and RTH.

So what exactly is RTH? RTH is essentially a great safety feature made possible by GPS. In the event your drone loses signal with the remote or runs out of battery life, it will return to its takeoff point at a preset height in the most efficient direction.

So, if everything goes right, the drone safely returns to the takeoff point without any interaction from the pilot. Having GPS and RTH makes UAVs more efficient, allows for greater creative possibilities, and makes flying them much safer.

Things to Consider When Buying a Drone

Finding a drone under $1,500 with GPS and RTH is pretty easy these days. That being said, there are a lot of duds out there.

There are several factors to consider when buying a budget drone that will help you avoid the clunkers. FLYING’s list takes these features into account, so rest assured, if you buy one, it’s a good purchase.

Things to consider include the following:

GPS and RTH
Camera and 3-axis gimbal
Flight time
Safety features
Quality build

We have already covered the benefits of GPS and RTH. When it comes to most consumer drones, they are essentially flying cameras.

Look for a camera that has a decent megapixel count (12 MP minimum), a reasonably sized sensor (1-inch CMOS is a good starting point), and a 3-axis gimbal.

Flight times refer to how long the drone can fly on a single battery charge. A flight time of 20 minutes is a reasonable minimum to look for.

Keep in mind that when drone manufacturers calculate flight times, they do so in perfect conditions. You will hardly ever be able to get the whole time, nor would you want to, as you need a buffer for landing the UAV before the battery dies. As an example, if a drone has a flight time of 30 minutes, you will probably get closer to 25 minutes in the air.

One of the best safety features to look for in a drone is obstacle avoidance. This feature is made possible using a collection of sensors that detect when it is getting too close to an object or person. The drone will automatically stop or change course to avoid a crash. This is different from collision avoidance systems that just tell you a collision is coming but don’t prevent it.

Finally, you want a drone with a quality build. Some manufacturers use very cheap plastic, which lowers performance and makes it easier for the drone to crash. Be sure to check reviews from other users or stick with top brands like DJI and Autel Robotics.

Top 5 Drones With GPS and RTH

Each of the five drones we have selected is a great blend of all the factors we have previously mentioned to look for. Here is FLYING’s list:

DJI Air 3

Our pick for the best overall drone is the DJI Air 3. This drone is a high-quality build and features a dual camera system, making it great for people just having fun or professionals.

The drone features GPS and RTH, enabling it to come with a wide range of intelligent flight modes. I have this drone in my fleet for my drone services company and highly recommend it. It is the best option for pilots who want to capture cinematic shots with ease without breaking the bank on enterprise-level drones.

Pros:

Dual-camera
Great safety features like obstacle avoidance
Long transmission range

Cons:

A little bulky if you want a pocket sized drone

Autel Robotics EVO Lite+

For drone pilots looking to shoot in low-light conditions while enjoying the benefits of GPS and RTH, our pick is the Autel Robotics EVO Lite+.

This drone comes with a 1-inch CMOS sensor, can shoot 6K video, and create rich HDR stills. It also has an impressive 40-minute flight time, allowing you to capture shots, even in low-light conditions. It’s the perfect drone if you plan to shoot in the golden or blue hours.

Pros:

Great low-light performance
Forty-minute flight time
Very reliable GPS and RTH

Cons:

Lacks features seen on high-end models like those from DJI
A little bulky if you need a small drone

DJI Mini 4 Pro

If you are looking for a drone on this list that is lightweight and portable, your best option is the DJI Mini 4 Pro.

With a 4K/60 fps video capability, this little drone is just powerful enough to start being used for professional photography gigs, like real estate photography. It is the perfect drone for maneuvering in tight spaces and is ideal for vloggers, content creators, and those just looking to fly for fun.

Pros:

Very small and powerful
Comes with intelligent flight modes
Vertical video perfect for social media content

Cons:

Sensor size the best in complex lighting situations
Light weight makes it more susceptible to wind

DJI Air 3S

After the success of the Air 3, DJI released an upgraded model with even more pro-level features, the DJI Air 3S. This drone can capture 5.4K videos and high-quality stills.

Many pilots fly the flagship DJI Mavic 3 Pro, but it comes at a cost. With the Air 3S, you get close to the quality of the Mavic 3 Pro without breaking the bank. It is an ideal drone for the prosumer market spanning from hobbyists to professional commercial drone pilots.

Pros:

Great camera and video resolution
Solid safety features
Responds well at long range

Cons:

Lack of compatibility with third-party software

Autel EVO Nano+

The final drone to make our list is another great UAV from Autel Robotics. The Autel EVO Nano+ is the best choice for pilots just starting out. It has a 28 minute flight time, and with its 1/1.28-inch (0.8-inch) CMOS sensor, can capture 50 MP stills.