Crash-avoidance sensors: Sensors in drones have come a long way, and there are now some models that can sense obstacles approaching in any direction and adjust their flight path to avoid a crash.

A quadcopter shape (or alternatives, like hexacopters, that add more arms) make for the most stable photo and video because they can steadily hold their position in the air.

A quadcopter design: Drones shaped like planes do exist, but they’re not as easy to fly as quadcopter models shaped like an X.

And the Mavic Air 2 can go with you almost anywhere: At 7 by 3.8 by 3.3 inches folded and 1.3 pounds, it fits exceptionally well in our top pick for drone backpacks.

Its 34-minute battery life means you don’t have to land for a battery swap as often as you would with the competition. This model also features DJI smart-flight modes such as ActiveTrack, which directs the drone to autonomously follow and film a subject while also avoiding obstacles. So you can focus on your cinematography instead of having to worry about keeping the drone steady. The Mavic Air 2 can sense and avoid obstacles approaching from the front, back, and below, as well as steadily hold its position, even in moderate winds (DJI says it’s safe to fly in winds up to 23.6 mph). For less than $1,000, the DJI Mavic Air 2 package combines ease of flight with long battery life and a camera that can shoot 4K video (we recommend buying the Fly More Combo option, which, among other things, includes three rechargeable drone batteries).

Drones with video controller