Are you looking for a VR (Virtual Reality) drone? Do you need assistance to choose the best one in the market?
VR and AR (Augmented Reality) are growing in popularity and their revenues by the year 2021 are estimated to reach up to $120 billion. These technologies have already penetrated the drone market.
There are already various VR drones in the market. If you are looking for one, you are just on the right page.
I have created this page to serve as a buying guide for those looking for the best VR drones. I’ll be giving you a list of my top pic quads that come with VR goggles.
Before I give you my list, I want to warn you, once you try VR drones, there’s no turning back. You are in for a treat that will surely hook you. It offers a distinct experience that can be addicting.
I understand that you are already very excited, so let’s get started!
Best VR Drones
For those who are looking for the best deal VR drones, I highly recommend that you check these quadcopters out. I have tried and tested all of them and they worked! They offer you the best VR experience in the drone world.
1. DJI Spark
Specs
Dimensions: 143×143×55 mm
Flight time/battery life: 16min
Transmission distance: 1.2mi
Speed: Up to 31mph
VPS Range: 98ft
Gimbal: 2 axis
Camera resolution: 12mp
Video resolution: 1080p 30fps
Weight: .66 pounds (SUPER light)
Camera details: 1/2.3 Sensor Powerful Lens, 1080P resolution
Notable attributes: PalmLaunch, Gesture and TapFly Control, Obstacle Sensing, Subject Tracking from Various Angles
DJI Spark is a mini drone that comes with a high-performance camera with amazing images and stabilized video. But the fun doesn’t stop there because this also supports virtual reality.
DJI Goggles are perfect pair with Spark’s intelligent flight mode. By using DJI Goggles you will enjoy an immersive flying experience with Spark.
If you are into photography and videography, Spark will surely satisfy you because it can capture 12mp still photos and record amazing videos at 1080p. It is also equipped with 2-axis stabilized gimbal that help you capture stable footage consistently.
For beginners, this is very easy to use because it is packed with powerful features that make piloting very convenient. It has Gesture and TapFly control and FlightAutonomy with Obstacle Detection.
I’m very happy with the obstacle detection feature because it helps me avoid unexpected crashes. It is also very convenient and fun to use when you record videos of yourself doing your favorite activities because this includes Subject Tracking feature as well as GPS and Vision Position-Based navigation.
You can enjoy Spark’s maximum speed of 31mph in Sport Mode. If you are confident enough to explore this, don’t hesitate to do so. However, I suggest that you wait until you have enough experience to do so. Otherwise, you might just damage your drone.
Overall, I enjoyed my VR experience with Spark. I’m very pleased that this is one of the drones that DJI goggles support. If you want to get a DJI drone that’s less than $600, this is highly recommended. It is one of the best VR Drone.
Read More: 7 Best Drones Under $500: Buying Guide for Beginners
PROS
- Portable
- Gestures controls
- Quickshot modes
- Control, edit and share via DJI GO app
CONS
- Short flight time
- Wi-Fi range is limited
- No controller
2. DJI Mavic Air
Specs
Camera: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 21min
Max Speed: 68.4kph in Sport mode
Notable Attributes: SmartCapture, Gesture Control, Foldable and Portable, 3-axis gimbal for stability, 3-directional environment sensing, 8 GB of internal storage
Mavic Air is one of the most popular and powerful quadcopters from DJI. This is lightweight, compact and has a foldable design which makes it ultraportable. However, this makes into our list because it also supports virtual reality.
If you are always on the go and want to experience VR, then DJI Goggles and Mavic Air are perfect pair! You can conveniently take Mavic Air with you wherever you go because it is foldable. Meanwhile, DJI Goggles have a unique solid headband design and the screen portion can be flipped up to glimpse the real world or detached entirely for easy storage and portability.
Mavic Air supports 4K videos at 30fps and 12pmp still photos with Adobe DNG Raw. It has three-axis gimbal that stabilizes the camera even during high-speed motion so you can capture smooth videos and sharp photos consistently.
This is equipped with the Intelligent Flight lithium battery that provides up to 21 minutes of flight time. It comes with a dedicated remote controller with a low-profile, ergonomic and foldable design for maximum convenience. Its controls sticks are detachable and can be stored inside the remote controller, so you can pack it with ease. It is one of the best VR Drone.
This drone is also equipped with powerful features that you will surely love like ActiveTrack, QuickShots, SmartCapture, FlightAutonomy 2.0 and more. This quad is fun, simple and intuitive. So, I highly recommend this.
PROS
- Foldable
- Portable
- Stable
- Compact and small
- Better build quality
- Won’t struggle to fly back home even with strong headwind conditions
CONS
- Video crop
- Short battery life
- Doesn’t support D-Log
- Poor range and radio signal quality
- Only slim smartphones fit in the controller
3. DJI Mavic Pro
Specs
Camera Resolution: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 27min
Max Speed: 40mph
Notable Attributes: Portability, Battery Life
All the drones in the Mavic series are foldable, so as Mavic Pro. This quad is small but powerful that it can turn the sky into a creative canvas. That’s not all; you can maximize your flying experience because this VR drone is compatible with DJI Goggles – a clever VR headset especially created for the DJI drones.
When paired together with DJI’s new Intelligent Flight Mode, the Head Tracking Mode, you can control Mavic Pro using your head for a fully enchanting and realistic experience. Don’t worry, the drone doesn’t turn left or right, it just flies forward with enough rotational movement for realistic flight simulation.
Also, it has an AR trajectory prediction feature in Fixed-Wing Mode that makes using this mode in complex environments safer. This also includes the following Intelligent Flight Modes – Terrain Follow, ActiveTrack, TapFly, Cinematic Mode and Tripod Mode.
Beneath its compact size is a high degree of complexity that makes this one of DJI’s most sophisticated flying cameras ever. Mavic Pro is one of the most advanced drones from the DJI.
This comes with many features that beginners will love because they make the flying experience easier and more enjoyable. It is also equipped with an all-new transmission system, 5 vision sensors and 3-axis mechanical gimbal that you can turn on with just a push of your thumb or a tap of your finger.
Overall, Mavic Pro is very impressive on its own, especially when you pair it with DJI Goggles. Flying this quad with VR glasses brings fun to the next level. So, if you want to experience it, don’t hesitate because it is worth it.
PROS
- Portable
- Crash-resistant
- Obstacle avoidance
- Quieter than other drone models
- Can be controlled via hand gestures
- Has built-in Active track feature mode
- Has excellent flight time compared to other DJI models
CONS
- Camera doesn’t offer a wide view
- Not for beginners due to its complex models
- The bad light may have blue color interferences
4. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Specs
Camera Resolution: 20mp
Video Resolution: 4K 10-bit HDR Video
Max flight time: 31min
Max speed: 45mph
Notable attributes: OcuSync 2.0 Digital Video Transmission System, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, ActiveTrack, Trajectory prediction, High-speed Tracking, Avoiding Obstacles, Hyperlapse, Hasselblad camera, 1-inch CMOS Sensor
DJI Mavic 2 Pro is another great drone from the same brand. Mavic 2 comes with a Hasselblad L1D-20 c camera with 20mp 1-inch CMOS sensor for stunning aerial shots and gorgeous color details. But aside from its impressive camera, this is compatible with VR goggles.
When connecting the Mavic 2 with white goggles make sure that your firmware is 01.04.0500 and 01.00.0600 for the RE goggles.
The main difference between the two goggles aside from the colors is that RE Goggles support both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz as well as analog transmission commonly used in most FPV system. The analog transmission has lower latency which is desirable in high-speed FPV racing.
Also, Mavic 2 Pro comes with tons of smart features that you will surely love once you pilot the drone. It has omnidirectional obstacle sensing that keeps the aircraft safe from obstacles in all of its sides. It is also equipped with Precise Recognition, Trajectory Prediction, High-Speed Tracking and more.
Overall, this quad won’t disappoint you. It can fly faster, longer and quieter compared to the other quads even with those from DJI, too. So, I highly recommend this! It is one of the best VR Dron with VR goggles.
Read More: 5 Best Waterproof Drones: Buying Guide for Beginners
PROS
- Low noise
- Better design than Mavic Pro
- Higher dynamic range
- Bigger image size
- Longer flight time
- Increased speed in Sport mode
- Delivers rich-colorful images and videos
- Omnidirectional obstacle sensing (via the 6 sensors located around the drone)
CONS
- Expensive
- Slightly heavier than Mavic Pro
5. Parrot Bebop 2
*This line has been discontinued, but you can click here for a selection of used models*
Specs
Camera: 14mp with fish-eye lens
Video: 3-axis full HD 1080p
Stabilization: Digital stabilization (Parrot system)
Flight Time: 25 minutes
GPS: Yes
Processor: Dual core processor with quad-core GPU
Storage: 8 GB flash storage system
Parrot Bebop 2 is a lightweight, compact HD video drone. This is your ideal flight companion due to its ultraportable design. However, aside from that, you can take your flying experience with Bebop 2 to the maximum level by pairing this with Cockpitglasses 2 goggles.
To use this goggles to Bebop 2 FPV, you have to download the FreeFlight Prop app first and use the Parrot Skycontroller 2 controller to fly the drone. It is very easy to connect Parrot Cockpitglasses to Parrot Skycontroller 2.
Once you do it successfully, you can set the eye spacing while wearing the goggles for a more comfortable experience. I must say that these two make a great pair, especially in the FPV section.
Parrot Bebop 2 is designed to be a leisure drone with 25 minutes of autonomous flight time. Its high-performance performance specs enable it to fly, film and take photographs brilliantly whether you are indoors or outdoors.
To make your experience more fun and beautiful, Bebop 2 films in 1080p full HD. The photos are incredibly sharp even if they are captured in low light conditions, thanks to its wide-angle 14mp lens.
However, the best part is flying this quad with FPV goggles because it will give you a totally immersive experience. It will also enable you to explore previously inaccessible places like never before and capture HD photos perfectly.
Overall, I’m very impressed with Bebop 2 especially when I tried flying it with FPV goggles. The experience is incomparable! It feels so real and it multiplies the level of fun 10 folds. So, I highly suggest that you seriously consider this quad if you want a great VR drone.
PROS
- Extremely lightweight
- Extended range
- Decent camera for its price
- Doesn’t need a gimbal
- Can capture 14MP shots with relatively stable movement
- Long flight time up to 25 minutes
CONS
- Image distortions
- Lack of clear instruction
- Control sticks are sometimes unresponsive
What is a VR Drone?
VR drones refer to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that are designed to be compatible with VR headsets. These quads combine the beauty of virtual reality and drones for a more immersive flying experience that pilots long to experience.
Drones with VR headsets are the fastest-growing combination in the consumer drone market. Drone races are becoming more and more popular and racers use VR goggles for drone racing for better control and real life-like experience when they pilot the drone.
When to Use VR Drones?
VR drones offer a list of benefits that will surely impress you. Here’s a short list where these quads prove to be helpful in the industry.
Inspection
VR drones can now be used to inspect facilities from more angles than manually possible. This eliminates the need to travel all over the facility, which makes the experience very convenient.
Real estate tour
VR drones can be used to help potential customers explore the properties. These quadcopters give them a real life-like experience that would enable them to feel the place and experience it leading to faster and easier decisions. Also, drones can give you a bird’s eye view of the location which would help customers gauge the neighborhood.
Filmmaking
One of the main challenges that traditional VR filmmakers face is keeping the crew and equipment like microphones out of the shot because when they are displayed, they take the reality out of VR.
This can be easily solved with VR drone by simply adding first person view cameras so that the pilot is invisible. Also, filming with drones doesn’t require as much equipment as traditional filmmaking.
VR drones are usually beneficial in sports entertainment. They enhance the way the audience watch games because the viewers can feel the energy of the stadium even when inside their own home as VR drones can capture actions up close and in real-time.
Conclusion
VR drones offer you real life-like experience which makes your flying experience more fun and exciting. The drones mentioned above are all designed with compatible VR headsets, so if you want to up your game in the drone world, you should buy a compatible goggle for your drone.
For readers who have tried flying a VR drone, please feel free to share your experience with us. If you have any recommendations, don’t hesitate to write it down below in the comment section, we would love to hear from you.