The DJI Phantom 4 is not quite a drone for the non-enthusiast, then, but it's closer than ever before to that ideal, and it's the safety features – the collision-detection and tracking features, not to mention the safety net of the automatic fly-me-home feature – that take it there.

At ￡1229, the Phantom 4 is more expensive than last year's model, but the autonomous modes make it the clear choice for anyone looking to make their first flight as a drone pilot.

Obstacle detection and automatic modes means it practically flies itself; Still the easiest drone to use; even in Sport mode; Fantastic camera and an even better gimbal

Low light still a challenge; Lack of model choice

Defintely worth the price I bought this back in March 2017 when newegg ran a sale on it. I have been wanting a drone that I could fly to replace my udi 818a drone. I live in an area of tornado alley that it is always windy the little udi drone struggled in the wind.

Easy to fly

5380mah battery

One of the best quad copters out there. I would consider this an entry level professional drone, but is is by no means entry level quality. This is top of the line.

I will tell people to buy it because it's really good to take picture and see a lot of things and it's fun for your family.

With its new collision-avoidance system and upgrades all round, this is the top-end, all-in-one drone to buy

The drone takes off, hovering a few feet off the ground. I guide it up to about 12 feet with the throttle on the remote control. Then my three year old son takes over. He taps the screen on an iPad running our piloting app.

Great autonomous features; Reliable and powerful flight; Terrific camera and connectivity

Expensive; Only comes with one battery

There's a lot to like in the Phantom 4. It shoots very-high-quality video that looks significantly sharper than what you get from the Phantom 3 and as good as the video from a 3DR Solo using a GoPro 4. The Phantom 4 is very easy to fly, even for novice users.

Longer battery life; Faster flight; Excellent image quality; App is straightforward and easy to use

Collision avoidance is not foolproof; Some modes disable collision avoidance; Flight modes are confusing; Occasionally catches sight of itself in video; Expensive

The Phantom 4 is a beautifully designed camera drone. Its smooth curves and crisp white exterior make it a natural fit for Apple stores, where its being sold exclusively for the first few weeks. The last thing you want to do with a ￡1,299 drone with a top speed of 45mph is crash it.

Excellent quality footage; intuitive app and controls; sleek and polished design

Only shipped with one battery; propellers obscure footage at high speeds; object tracking isn't always accurate

DJI has been a major innovator in the drone market with its ready-to-go Phantom series. Since the Phantom 2 Vision this line has been equipped with a high-quality camera alongside 'smart' flight controls that make it possible for anyone to fly one with no prior experience, making it popular with...