🛩️ What to Consider When Buying a Drone? (Up-to-Date and Detailed Guide)

There are many technical and legal details to consider before purchasing a drone. This guide clearly explains the most important criteria for both beginners and experienced users.

⚖️ 1. Weight and Registration Requirement

Drones are classified according to their weight.

  • The most preferred category for hobby and amateur use are models under 250g (Class C0)**.
  • Registration processes for drones in this class are easier, and flight rules are more flexible.
  • Permit and registration procedures may be more comprehensive for heavier models.

📱 2. Vertical Video Recording

Not every drone model supports vertical recording.

Vertical video offers a great advantage for Instagram Reels and TikTok.

🧭 3. Sensors and Obstacle Avoidance Systems

Sensors are a critical factor in drone safety.

  • Top, bottom, front, and side sensors → the safest models
  • Cheaper models with only bottom sensors → only detect the ground
  • More sensors = safer and more autonomous flight

🤖 4. Software and Intelligent Flight Features

  • Return-to-Home (RTH): Automatically returns upon signal loss.
  • Follow Me: Tracks while avoiding obstacles.
  • Cinematic Modes: Allows for one-tap, self-executing professional shots.

📏 5. Flight Altitude Limit

The maximum altitude in Turkey and Europe is **120 meters**.

Some models only give a warning, while others completely prevent you from exceeding this height. Permission is required to fly higher, and the maximum altitude they can reach varies by device.

🎥 6. Camera Quality

Current ideal minimums:

  • 4K video
  • 12 MP photos
  • 3-axis gimbal

🚨 For high-quality videos, an appropriate memory card (SD card) must be inserted; recordings made only on the phone may not be high-quality.

  • 4K 30fps → U3 / V30
  • 4K 60fps+ → V60 / V90

Inserting a low-specification card can cause video stuttering and recording errors.

🔋 7. Flight Time (Battery)

Average maximum flight time per single battery: 20–34 minutes

Caution: Sellers sometimes include a spare battery and state the total flight time with the spare battery included.

For example: 1 battery → 20 minutes + 1 spare battery → Total flight time 40 minutes.

It is more accurate to compare flight times based on the **single battery** duration.

🌬️ 8. Wind Resistance

Wind Resistance Level 3–5 is generally considered good.

In windy weather:

  • Control may become difficult
  • It may issue a warning for forced landing
  • Lighter models may drift away

🔧 9. Spare Parts and Accessories

The advantage of major brands like DJI → every part is available.

Inexpensive and unknown brands where parts are unavailable → the device becomes junk.

Some brands have accessories specific to their models, such as propeller guards or microphones.

📡 10. GPS Quality and Signal Strength

Connection Frequency

  • 5 GHz → fast data, short range
  • 2.4 GHz → long range, lower speed

Advanced models automatically switch bands to reduce signal drops.

🛠️ 11. Manufacturer Support and Software Updates

Models that receive regular updates are safer and last longer.

With unknown brands, the device may become unusable because the mobile application is not updated for new phone makes and models.