9 Best Selfie Drones for 2023

Are you tired of holding up your phone to take selfies?

What if I told you that there’s a new way of taking selfies from a completely different perspective?

That’s right, this article is about the collision of two trending titans, the selfie world, and the drone world. The selfie drone has brought about a new viral sensation known as ‘dronies.’

We’re going to cover not one, but  9 Outstanding Selfie Drones.  If you’re interested, read on and decide for yourself which of these flying sidekicks would be best at helping you take your next dronie.

In a hurry? Here are the TOP 5 Drones for Selfies:

Selfie Drone Model	Price	Our Score	Flight Time	Camera	Selfie Features
DJI Mini 2		Best All-round Selfie Drone 2022	31 min	4K Video 12 MP photo	QuickShot modes like Dronie, Rocket, Circle and Helix. Fits in the palm of your hand. 4x zoom.
SANROCK U52		Best Budget Choice	10-13 min	1080P HD Camera	Gesture Control, Voice Control, Altitude Hold
DJI Mini SE		Best Mid-Range Choice	30 min	2.7K Quad HD Video, 1/2.3" CMOS	Dronie Mode, Circle, Helix, Weight under 249 grams
SYMA X500 4K Selfie Drone			20 min	4K UHD Camera	Gesture Control, Follow Me Mode, Circle Fly
DJI Spark			16 min	12 MP, 2-Axis Gimbal	Tracking Mode, PalmLaunch, Gesture control, Quickshot

Scroll down for more drones that are excellent at taking selfies:

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DJI Mini 2

• Ultralight and foldable 4K drone
• 31 minute flight time
• Weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the palm of your hand

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The Best Selfie Drones 2023

#1 DJI Mavic Mini – Drone Flying Camera Quadcopter UAV

Specs

Flight Time: Up to 30 minutes of flight time
Camera: 12MP aerial photos and 2.7K HD video
Range: 1 ½ mile range

What We Like

• Lightweight option that allows for long flight times
• Can capture photos and videos smoothly
• Doesn’t require you to register drone with government agency
• Ideal option for beginners with simple use

The DJI Mavic Mini is a drone that can capture both great photos and smooth video while in the air. The drone has a range of up to 1 ½ miles so you can take it with you to large open areas and fly it around. The camera is stabilized with a 3-axis motorized gimbal that will make sure all your photos are crystal clear, even when the drone is flying at a higher speed.

Mavic Mini Features

This model weighs only 250 grams, which is around the same weight as a phone, so it allows for a longer flight time of up to 30 minutes without recharging. This also makes it easy to maneuver, so you can take selfies with the camera until you get the perfect shot. The camera is placed on the front of the drone, so it is easy to see, which makes taking pictures easier and lets you see where to face.

The remote control for this drone is simple to use and comes with a screen that allows you to see what the drone is looking at. This makes it easy to take photos from a long distance and makes selfies easier because you have a clear view of what your photo will look like before you snap it.

Also, though it doesn’t come with a carrying bag, the lightweight frame and compact nature make it super easy to carry with you even if you choose to hike a bit before stopping for your photo-shoot. This makes it easy to transport and take with you wherever you want to go.

The long-range of this drone and the ability to have a long flight time makes this model a great choice for photos because you can take selfies from high up or far away until you get the right angle. Plus, with the remote control showing you what the photo will look like, you can adjust however you need to in order to get the shot you want.

The 3-axis motorized gimbal allows your photo to be clear as if you and the drone were both completely still. This makes taking photos with movement much easier and prevents blurriness.

#2 DJI Spark Selfie Drone

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DJI has created in the Spark what might be  the ultimate selfie drone .

It is very small and can even launch from the palm of you hand. You can control it with your hands, your smartphone or get a controller.

When you are done flying, it can land in the palm of you hand.

The DJI Spark has groundbreaking technology like  face recognition and gesture control, where you can take photos and selfies just by gesturing to the drone .

Another cool thing about the DJI Spark, someone who never has used a drone before can fly it straight away. Within minutes of switching on the Spark you will be up and running, and taking dronies (drone selfies) with your hands.

The footage is outstanding for the size of the drone, and it has a built in gimbal at the front.

For a selfie drone, the DJI Spark is priced at the higher end of the spectrum.

Modes and Control

The Spark is is mostly autonomous and features several smart controls, like when the Spark lifts from you hand after it recognizes your face.

Using gestures to take photos is also groundbreaking, and something that today very few drones are capable of.

You can control it with you hands, with a smartphone or you can get a real controller for about $150, if you prefer to control it that way.

Specs

Selfie Features -PalmLaunch, Gesture control, Quickshot

Flight Time – 16 min

Camera – 12 MP shots, 1/23” sensor, f/2.6 wide angle lens and mechanical gimbal.

Range – 2 km

Speed – 31 mph

GPS – US GPS and Russian GLONASS Satellites

The Good

• Camera –  even though it´s 1080p video , it looks and stabilizes great.
• Groundbreaking gesture based technology – Take photos by gesturing to the camera.
• Palm launch
• Active Track – the Spark is a drone that follows you around and shoots video.

The Bad

• Flight time: Max flight time of 16 minutes could be better. Usually it may be a bit less than that.

The Bottom Line

Check Price in the DJI Shop!

#3 Hover Camera Drone Passport Self-Flying Drone

Specs

Battery Life: 9-minute battery life
Camera: 4K UHD video and 13MP photos

What We Like

• Auto-follow technology stays with you
• No FAA registration required
• Wings are made from carbon fiber
• Owner Mode recognizes the drone owner for photos

The Hover Camera is a drone that has self-flying power that allows the unit to follow you wherever you go so that you can get photos without having to control the movement of the drone yourself. This artificial intelligent technology makes it easy to take pictures so that you are included in the photo without holding a remote control.

This drone doesn’t require you to register with the FAA so you can fly it as soon as you get it without any FAA restrictions. You can use it for personal use in public and private as long as you obey rules of public conduct, and get great selfies as you surf, dance, or even as you drive.

Hover Camera Features

This lightweight and uniquely-designed option has a flat frame that comes with four, three-part blades that keep the unit in the air. The wings can be folded in half so that the drone is the size of a book and can be easily carried.

Although you can easily carry it with you, there is also an auto-follow option that you can use so that the drone will follow you wherever you go without you needing to control it yourself. You can also user Owner Mode so the camera will recognize your face and take photos with you in them. This is an easy way to get multiple photos or recordings without having to control the drone.

This drone is one of the best choices for those who love to take selfies but don’t have to hold the camera out themselves. This drone can follow you by itself and take photos and recordings with you in them so that you can get candid shots without needing to take them yourself. It also allows you to capture you in action while you are running or playing a sport.

#4 EACHINE E50 WIFI FPV Quadcopter

The EACHINE E50 is a portable folding quadcopter . The quadcopters wings collapse inwards alongside the body, making one small unit about the size of a smartphone.

It is  one of the most affordable selfie camera drones on the market  and is very similar to JJRC quadcopter.

The E50 comes in white and is accompanied by a small velvet carrying case which is great for protecting those important propellers when sliding it in and out of your pocket.

Yes,  it will fit into your pocket , meaning you can keep it with you at all times to get that perfect shot.

Control and Features

You will need to download the WiFi FPV or WiFi UFO app to your smartphone, this is freely available on both, Google Play and the App Store and is compatible with Android and Apple devices.

You can choose to fly your quadcopter via virtual joysticks on-screen or by using the G-Sensor control by tilting the phone.

This will give you full control of your E50 as well as the ability to view exactly what the quadcopter is capturing via a real-time video downlink. You can also store the pictures and the videos that you take onto your smartphone.

The camera on the front end can be manually adjusted to face upwards or downwards. This drone also features an altitude hold function and built-in barometer, allowing you to take effortless selfies.

Specs

Selfie Features – Portable Unit, FPV on your Smartphone, Barometer, Altitude Hold, LED strips.

Flight Time – 8 to 15 minutes

Video Quality – 720P

Range – 40m

Charging Time – 120 minutes

GPS – No

Optical Sensors – No

Size – 13.5cm X 6.5cm X 2.5cm (folded arms)

Battery – 3.7V 500mAh 20c

The Good

• Very easy to use.
• Great at close range and selfies (up to 10m optimal control)
• Works well with the WiFi UFO or WiFi FPV app.
• Reasonable flight time.
• Folding arms result in a compact, portable package.
• Very affordable.

The Bad

• Lengthy charging time (100 min +).
• Limited range (max 40m, after 10m there is less control).
• FPV lag and frame drops.

The Bottom Line

#5 DJI Mavic Pro

Check Price in DJI Shop!

The Mavic Pro is the first foldable drone from DJI and while it is far smaller than some of its predecessors, it has retained almost all of their key features.

This is the most expensive selfie drone on our list but is also by far the most advanced and versatile quadcopter of the lot.

It is  fast, stable, has a long flight time, and shoots amazing video, so in my opinion this is easily one of the best drones of 2017 .

Featuring a gray and gold color scheme, this quadcopter has been said to be the “the sports car of the drone world” with enhanced maneuverability and portability.

Control and Modes for Selfies

In terms of still photography and selfies, the Mavic can perform single shots and burst shooting at 3/5/7 frames. This quadcopter also features Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) with 3/5 frames at 0.7, EV Bias and Interval Still Photography Modes.

For Video Recording Modes, the camera can shoot C4K, 4K, 2.7K, FULL HD and HD.

The remote controller is also completely new. It is entirely foldable and therefore follows suit in terms of portability.

The arms extend outward and can then support your mobile device. Your device’s screen will give you the real-time video downlink from the quadcopter while the smaller built–in screen on the controller will give you flight-critical data such as altitudes and wind speeds.

The controller and video transmission can operate effectively up to a maximum distance of 4.3 miles (7km) from the drone, placing it well ahead of the other selfie drones featured here.

With the Mavic, you could perform a ‘dronie’ that zooms out to a distance of 4.3 miles while still receiving a 720P real-time video on your device.

Specs

Selfie Features – Indoor Flight, 1080P close-proximity video downlink, WiFi hands-free mode for selfies, ‘Active Track’ and ‘Spotlight’ feature keeps you in the frame at all times, ‘Gesture Control’ to instruct the quad to take a dronie using your hand movements. “Tripod” mode for indoor stills.

Flight Time – 27 minutes

Video Quality – Up to C4K (HD, UHD, 4K, C4K)

Photo Quality – 12.7MP

Range – 8 Miles (13km)

Charging Time – 70 minutes

GPS – US GPS and Russian GLONASS Satellites

Optical Sensors – Yes (5 Vision Position Sensors)

Obstacle Avoidance – Yes

Size – 83mm X 83mm X 198mm (folded)

Battery – 3830 mAh 11.4V 43.6 Wh (Lipo 3S)

The Good

• Excellent image and video quality.
• Compact and portable.
• Has a physical remote controller.
• Multiple Flight Modes making all types of dronies possible.
• “Tripod” mode is made specifically for indoor still photography while the drone hovers.
• Brilliant flight time and range.
• Obstacle avoidance is a plus.

The Bad

• The most expensive of our selfie drones.
• Extra batteries are expensive.
• Not as small as some of the cheaper alternatives (will not fit in your pocket).

The Bottom Line

The Mavic Pro is an excellent drone for selfies. It is definitely the most qualified to take all sorts of selfies and to take them in the  best quality of all the selfie drones listed in this review .

It won’t, however, fit into your pocket and is, therefore, less portable than some of the smaller challengers. It has a hefty price tag and this means increased risk when flying.

If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful quad to play around with and take a few dronies, then this isn’t the drone for you.

Check Price in DJI Shop!

#6 ZEROTECH Dobby Pocket Selfie Drone

 Check Price on Amazon!

The Dobby pocket selfie drone is white in color, featuring a sleek, minimalist design.

It looks like something out of a science fiction movie and packs a major punch for its size.

This quadcopter  hasn’t been designed for lengthy expeditions, instead, it is a perfect solution for those who wish to quickly capture high-quality photos and videos of themselves, their families and activities. 

The Dobby quadcopter is in a price bracket above the JJRC and the EACHINE selfie drones but offers more features and higher image quality.

Control and Selfie Features

The entire pocket drone weighs in at less than half a pound and is fully controllable from your smartphone via the ‘do.fun’ app which is Android and iOS compatible.

This quadcopter has 9GB of internal storage with no SD card, this means that the photos and videos are recorded and stored internally and do not have to be stored on your smartphone. A micro-USB port allows you to easily download your content from the drone to your laptop or another device.

An optical sensor allows the quadcopter to track its position for safe flight indoors.

An acoustic sensor aids the quadcopter in performing gentle landings.

Dobby incorporates advanced features such as tracking the user and keeping them in the shot while recording.

The selfie drone also has a “short video” mode in which it will take a 10-second dronie of you while zooming out from your location.

Specs

Selfie Features – Facial Recognition, 13 MP camera, Indoor Flight, ‘Short Video’ selfie mode.

Flight Time – 9 minutes

Video Quality – 1080P

Photo Quality – HD Standard 4K resolution

Range – 100m

Charging Time – 45 minutes

GPS – US GPS and Russian GLONASS Satellites

Optical Sensors – Yes (1)

Acoustic Sensor – Yes (1)

Size – 135mm X 67mm X 36.8mm (folded)

Battery – Proprietary 7.6V 970mAh LiPo 2S

The Good

• Folding arms for easy storage and portability.
• Automatic take-off and landing from the palm of your hand or the ground.
• 1080p digitally stabilized camera.
• No SD card needed.
• Optical sensor for indoor positioning.
• An acoustic sensor for gentle landings.
• Controllable via virtual joystick, g sensor, fly and swipe.
• Several video options (continuous shooting, follow me, fly out and in, face tracking, circle me)
• Swivel camera which can be rotated around a large angle, allowing shots directly below.
• Doesn’t require FAA registration.
• Uses US GPS as well as Russian GLONASS satellites for positioning.

The Bad

• Short flight time of approximately 7 minutes.
• Doesn’t have obstacle avoidance.
• Still awaiting an update for 4K video.
• 3 Tap Take-off sometimes works intermittently.
• May require re-calibration with satellites for optimal positioning.

The Bottom Line

The ZEROTECH Dobby Pocket Selfie Drone is  definitely one of the best pocket selfie quadcopter available on the market . The video quality might not be 4K but is none the less, very good, especially compared to some of the slightly less expensive quadcopters.

The flight time is quite short and this is probably the biggest downfall. The portability, included sensors and versatile features are a plus.

Check Price on Amazon!

#7 JJRC Pocket Selfie Quadcopter

Check Price on Amazon

The JJRC H37 “Elfie” Drone is extremely similar to the EACHINE E50 Drone. Many of the features are exactly the same and this quadcopter also uses the WiFi UFO app discussed above.

This is a black quadcopter that comes with white propellers and is accompanied by a small carry bag for easy insertion and extraction from your pocket.

The JJRC Elfie seems to be a toy version of the Zerotech Dobby,  but because it is so much cheaper, it may well be the perfect solution for those simply looking to take some aerial selfies. 

Modes and Features

The Elfie drone features a headless mode, a G-Sensor mode, a one key take-off function as well as a one key return function. These different functions allow you to control Elfie according to your preferences, move him around using the virtual joysticks on-screen or even by simply tilting your phone in the direction you wish to send him.

The quadcopter has LED lights on either side of the camera for low-light conditions, this also makes the quadcopter more visible for safety reasons. The JJRC Pocket Drone  weighs in at less than 1 pound, making it extremely easy to take along with you and capture those selfies .

Specs

Selfie Features – Portable Unit (folding arms), FPV on your Smartphone, Altitude Hold, LEDs near the camera.

Flight Time – 8 to 15 minutes

Video Quality – 720P @25 Fps (NOT HD)

Range – 40m – 100m (closer = more control)

Charging Time – 45 minutes

GPS – No

Optical Sensors – No

Size – 13.5cm X 6.5cm X 2.5cm (folded arms)

Battery – 3.7V 500mAh 20c

The Good

• Extremely portable, weighing less than a pound and easily fitting into a pocket.
• Altitude hold with Gravity Sense Control.
• The camera angle is manually adjustable.
• Spare parts are easily available.
• Intuitive propeller replacement.

The Bad

• No physical remote controller.
• Long charging time.
• Limited range.

The Bottom Line

#8 Wingsland S6 RC Drone for Selfies

The Wingsland S6 is the thinnest 4K drone available and is advertised as “the most powerful selfie drone on the market.”

It carries a 4K-capable camera, can be operated by Gesture Control and even features Obstacle Avoidance.

The quadcopter is priced similarly to the ZEROTECH Dobby and also comes in a compact package, with its four limbs folded up against the body.

It is available in orange, yellow, blue or camouflage, giving it a  unique feel compared to the other white and black quadcopters in the ‘selfie pocket drone’ category .

Wingsland S6 App

The S6 can be controlled from your smartphone, using the Wingsland Fly app. The app gives you access to four different flying modes and also offers a simulator so that you can practice flying and getting used to the controls before really taking off with your S6.

Once you have downloaded the app from either Google Play or the App Store, you will have access to various features. On the screen you will be able to see your drone’s battery life, the number of satellite connections and strength of the signal. You will also be able to use the auto take-off and landing function or access settings, joystick control options and the smart functions.

Physical Features and Selfie Capabilities

It features 4 brushless motors capable of propelling the quadcopter at a speed of 8m/second. Beneath each limb, you will find a rubberized pad which acts as a shock absorber during landing.

You can also customize your S6 by adding expression boards (words and symbols), search lights or mini cannons to the top of the quadcopter body.

This is one of the more advanced selfie drones in terms of its selfie-taking ability. It has a camera capable of recording 4K video and on the side of the lens, you will find a LED light which can be activated via the app, making low-light selfies possible.

The quadcopter also houses a precision barometer which allows stable flight and hovering, keeping the camera still and reducing vibrations for clear dronies. There is also a “follow-me” feature whereby you don’t even need to be holding a controller to capture the shot.

Specs

Selfie Features – High Precision Barometer, Follow-Me mode, 13MP Camera + 3-axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)

Flight Time – 7 – 10 minutes

Video Quality – 4K (ULTRA HD @ 30 FPS), 1080P (FULL HD @ 60 FPS), 720P (HD @ 60 FPS)

Photo Quality – 13MP

Range – 100m

Charging Time – 120 minutes

Obstacle Avoidance – Yes (Omnidirectional Acoustic-Based)

Return To Home – Yes

GPS – GPS and GLONASS Dual Satellite Navigation

Ultrasonic Sensors – Yes (2)

Size – 13.8cm X 7.9cm X 2.7cm (folded arms)

Battery – 1400 mAh 7.6V 10.64Wh (2S Lipo)

The Good

• 4K Ultra HD video quality @ 30 Fps and 13MP photographs.
• Auto Take-off and Landing.
• Precision Barometer and Electronic Image Stabilization.
• Strong Satellite Signal Connection and Precise Positioning.
• Obstacle Avoidance and Propeller Guards.
• Auto Return Function when the battery gets low or when it gets lost.
• Attachable Accessories and Propeller Guards.

The Bad

• The flight time of 7 minutes is quite short.
• Quite loud when flying.
• Reports that this isn’t the full model but a pre-production model.

The Bottom Line

The Wingsland S6 RC selfie drone is a great option for those looking for a small drone for selfies with an excellent camera and some low-light capabilities.

How Does a Drone Take a Selfie?

The  selfie drone seem to be the next big thing , marketed as “throw away those lame selfie sticks and up your selfie game.” But, how does it take a selfie?

The answer to this depends entirely on the flying machine used and the type of selfie desired. Some wish to simply have an aerial still selfie, while the most popular drone selfies or “dronies” involve it focusing on you or your group and then backing out to reveal your location.

In some instances, you will have to operate the UAV, take it up to a suitable height, aim it at yourself or the group you are with and then take the selfie or fly the drone backward and upwards.

Other drones are more autonomous and have the ability to actively track you once you have selected yourself as the subject. It will then follow and record you or focus on you and then fly upwards and outwards, revealing where you are.

Here is a helpful video from DJI on how the DJI Mini 2 takes dronies:

Advanced Selfie Drone Features

Some UAVs have facial recognition features which afford them the ability to focus on your face or the face of another for a very clear selfie image.

We will use a mid-priced drone as an example. While flying the ZEROTECH Dobby drone, you can point the camera towards yourself and take a standard selfie or you can select “short video” mode.

Then you hold the record button and Dobby will automatically pull up and away while recording a pull away selfie video for 10 seconds before automatically returning to you. With this quadcopter, you can also set timer shots and sequence photos so that it takes shots every so often. The  Dobby selfie drone also has facial and target tracking  so that you can select a target for the drone to focus on.

More expensive drones, like the Mavic Pro, have more advanced features. With the Mavic Pro, you can select the WiFi mode and put your controller away. Then you can use the ‘Gesture Sense’ feature to instruct your drone to perform certain activities. To  instruct the Mavic to take a selfie, simply create a picture frame with your hands, it will recognize this shape and take a photo of you.  This is about as autonomous as it gets with selfie drones.

Sale

DJI Mini 2

• Ultralight and foldable 4K drone
• 31 minute flight time
• Weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the palm of your hand

Check Today's Price on Amazon

Tips for Shooting Dronies with your Selfie Drone

When taking a ‘dronie‘ realize that you will only be the focal point for a short period of time as the drone zoom out and away, revealing your surroundings. For this reason, it is important to select an interesting or beautiful location.

Start by raising the selfie drone between 5 and 10 feet off of the ground. Then face the camera towards yourself and ensure the desired background is behind you. If your drone has an advanced gimbal, it is recommended to set this at a level angle so that when it backs out it captures the horizon rather than the ground.

Then start to pitch the drone away from yourself for a few seconds and elevate slowly, keeping the pitch and elevation equal. Some selfie drones have built-in features that will perform this movement for you. This should result in a smooth, professional-looking capture of yourself and your intriguing surroundings. Time to share your first ‘dronie.’

Summing Up

The best value you are going to get right now, in my opinion, is the DJI Mini 2 or the Mini SE. The have tons of features, you can find great instruction on YouTube on how to fly them, and they are really fun to fly around with.

If you want more than “just” a dronie, you might be interested in a drone that follows you as your move, drive, surf or ski.

Also check out our list of the top drones for beginners 2023 if you want an easy to use drone for your first selfie.

• Author
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Jesse Young

When he´s not writing about tech, you may find Jesse flying his Mavic Mini, re-watching Battlestar Galactica or enjoying a cup of java.

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