(Credit: Jim Fisher)
Many of PCMag's product reviews are heavily reliant on tests performed within the walls of PC Labs, but those walls are too small for flying drones. So to test them, we do the same thing you'd do with drones at home—take them out into the real world to fly, record video, and snap images from the sky.
There are a lot of drones out there, ranging from ultra-fast, maneuverable racers to big, pro birds that are used to monitor crops and inspect bridges. The drones we look at are somewhere in the middle—ready-to-fly models that are primarily for photo and video capture. Their onboard cameras provide video capture that's in line with smartphone and action cams at the entry level, and more expensive options compete with interchangeable lens cameras.
As PCMag's lead camera analyst, I pay special attention to the photo and video capabilities of the drones we test, but I also evaluate how they handle in the air. I hold an FAA sUAS Remote Pilot (Part 107) certification and am knowledgeable about flying drones safely and within the confines of federal regulations. I take picture quality into account, but I also put a strong emphasis on safety features and reliability when testing drones.
Flight Tests
Getting a drone up into the air is the first step. For shakedown flights we typically fly at a local athletic field or a privately owned farm in a rural area. They aren't the most exotic locales, but before we take a drone somewhere more picturesque we want to rule out any major issues.
We look at several factors when flying. The first is handling: Is the drone responsive to controls and does it hover in place without too much drift? Safety features are also important. We make sure the drone can lock onto GPS quickly, and check to make sure its return-to-home function works. If the aircraft has obstacle sensors, we see if they work and run drones with automatic navigation through some obstacles to see how they maneuver.
Next up is the operating range. Drone manufacturers cite theoretical communication range, but those numbers can vary greatly in the real world. We see how far a drone can fly while still responding to controls and delivering a smooth, clear video feed. We test drones in both rural and suburban environments. FAA rules call for a drone to be kept within line of sight when operating, and we want you to know if you can safely control it within that distance.
We also test battery life. Manufacturers typically list expected battery life, but there is no formal standard for testing. DJI's numbers are based on hovering in place, which is not a typical use case, and we've seen drones that claim much longer battery life than they get in reality. We perform at least three test flights and average the flight times to determine a realistic battery life estimate.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)Finally, we look at any special features that a drone has. These may include obstacle detection and avoidance, automated flight modes, or unique imaging capabilities. If a drone does something to set itself apart from competing models, we check it out to make sure it works as advertised.
Video and Imaging
We record video during all of our testing, typically at the highest resolution available. But if there are other options—such as slow-motion at lower resolutions—we'll check them out, too. Video is evaluated for clarity, color fidelity, and stabilization on a calibrated display. We edit clips together using Final Cut Pro and export them at a bit rate at least as high as the original before uploading to YouTube to embed in our reviews. YouTube applies its own compression, so all of our evaluations of video quality are made based on original, unedited clips.
For imaging, we look at photo quality, both for JPG images and, if a drone supports it, Raw capture. Sharpness, dynamic range, color fidelity, and image distortion are all evaluated. And if a drone has special imaging capabilities—panoramic stitching, HDR, a flat profile, shallow depth of field simulation, or the like—we check those out, too.
Once all the testing is wrapped up we look at the overall package—size, camera quality, price, and, most importantly, how safe a drone is to fly—and give the drone a rating. The best model in every category earns our Editors' Choice designation.
To see all the drones we've reviewed, check out our drone product guide. Or for a quick look at those that have excelled in field testing, read up on the best drones.