DJI wants everyone to be able to fly a drone. At least, that's the message it seems to be sending with the Spark ($499), the company's smallest aircraft yet. It's a selfie drone you can interact with just by waving your hand. It's also a short-range quadcopter that can be controlled with your smartphone, complete with forward obstacle avoidance and subject tracking capabilities. Add an accessory remote and you've got a very capable bird, with a 31mph top speed and a robust operating range. Can it be all things to all people? Not really. It works well for selfies and quick shots, but battery life is short, the video editing process isn't as easy as promised, and flying with your smartphone is kludgy. If you want a drone, but don't want to have to worry about learning to fly one like a pro, the Spark is worth a look. But if you want a more versatile quadcopter in a small form factor, and are interested in learning to fly it manually, the DJI Mavic Pro is a stronger, albeit more exp...

The DJI Spark is a $500 palm-size gesture-controlled selfie drone for the masses, but it's hampered by short flying time and an app that could be easier to use.

Small; Supports gesture controls; Smartphone-controlled flight; Automated shots; Subject tracking; Forward obstacle avoidance; GPS stabilization; Safety features, including return-to-home

Battery nets about 12 minutes of flight time; Limited range and speed when controlling with phone; Video limited to 1080p; No support for 24fps or high frame rate capture; App and video editing features could be easier to use; Dedicated remote control is a pricey add-on

The way the drone handles it is really easy for a beginner like me to take great video footage.

Easy to fly

Not to easy to connect with remote

Awesome little drone, but set-up is pretty complicated and instructions, like most Chinese products, aren't great. Heck, they aren't even good. Plan on watching several YouTube videos to get this set up. But hey, at least the videos are there, and once you get flying it will all be worth it.

Update: We're still waiting for news on a sequel to the DJI Spark, but a recent leaked image and catalog ad have given us a sneak preview of the upcoming DJI Mavic 2. The new drone was originally due to launch on July 18, but DJI has now pushed that date back.

Controller-free gesture controls; Absolutely tiny; Automatic Quickshot modes

Spotty Wi-Fi connection with smartphones; Short flight time; Easily swayed by the wind

DJI's compact, follow-me drone is packed with tech, but it's not all about the gimmicks

*This review has been updated to include new information that has surfaced since the original date of publication. Last month, DJI pulled the curtain back on its newest drone — a pint-sized powerhouse called the Spark — during a press event in New York City. It’s the company’s most compact drone yet, so we stuffed one in a backpack, brought it back to Portland, and have been flying it nonstop for the past two weeks. Here’s how it went: If there’s one thing DJI is good at, it’s stuffing a ton of features and functionality into increasingly small drones — and nothing showcases this talent more than the Spark. Despite the fact that the drone’s hull is roughly the size of a Twinkie, DJI somehow managed to cram in many of the same goodies you’d find under the hood of the Spark’s bigger, bulkier, and more expensive brothers. Aside from its tiny and hyper-portable design, the Spark’s biggest feature is arguably its plethora of intelligent flying modes. In addition to DJI’s standard stuff, the...

Tons of intelligent flight modes; Obstacle avoidance; Two-axis gimbal stabilization; Ultracompact form factor; Excellent flight performance;

No 4K camera; Average flight time;

Drones are still considered by many a rather niche and specialist piece of technology. The thought of flying an expensive gadget that, it can often seem, is only used to create fancy shots for TV shows and movies. With its Spark, DJI is "democratising the market and simplifying complex technology".

Small; lightweight build; Intelligent flight modes; Easy to fly; Good image quality

Expensive in the UK; Gesture mode is a little unreliable; Battery life is short and extras are pricey

DJI's Spark is, hands down, one of the best compact drones you can buy.

Tons of intelligent flight modes; Obstacle avoidance; Two-axis gimbal stabilization; Ultracompact form factor; Excellent flight performance

No 4K camera; Average flight time

DJI Spark compact selfie quadcopter. A small drone packed with big functions, including new Quickshot autonomous flying modes. Enjoy our DJI Spark review.

Well what a surprise once you are through the registration phase it's a breeze, if you are not sure of your skill level put it into beginners mode. This mode helps understand the handling of the drone and its potential at a sedate pace.