How far can DJI drones really go?

I have a DJI Mini 2, and the farthest I’ve flown it is around 13,000 feet. I’m looking for a newer DJI drone that can go 3 miles or more. I keep hearing that the advertised 6 miles of range on some drones isn’t true. I was considering the DJI Mini 4 Pro, but it seems like it doesn’t actually reach 6 miles either. Any recommendations for drones with good range?

You might want to check the line-of-sight requirements for drone flying.

FAA rules say you need to keep your drone within your line of sight.

Jaden said:
FAA rules say you need to keep your drone within your line of sight.

Haha, good point.

Indigo said:

Jaden said:
FAA rules say you need to keep your drone within your line of sight.

Haha, good point.

If you ignore line-of-sight rules, you probably don’t care much about the safety of others in the sky.

Can you really spot a Mavic Mini from 2 miles away with just your eyes?

The range depends on obstacles. If you’re in an open area with no trees, buildings, or interference, you might get close to the advertised range. Flying higher usually helps extend the range too.

Hope you’re not flying in the USA…

Kim said:
Hope you’re not flying in the USA…

Actually, I am. I’m in Southern California.

Hart said:

Kim said:
Hope you’re not flying in the USA…

Actually, I am. I’m in Southern California.

It’s illegal to fly that high because your drone would be invisible to the naked eye.

@Kim
I can still see it at 1,640 feet up.

Hart said:
@Kim
I can still see it at 1,640 feet up.

But you said earlier that you flew 13,000 feet (about 2.4 miles), and now you’re asking about 6 miles. If it’s out of sight, you’re not supposed to fly it.

I fly in Baja Mexico too. I just like seeing what’s out there beyond the horizon. Obviously, I can’t see the drone that far.

If you want great range, check out the Mavic 3E. For extreme range, the M350 is a beast.

If you want to stick to legal flying, pretty much any current DJI drone will work well within the legal visual line-of-sight limits.

But if you’re flying beyond visual range, you won’t know what’s out there. You can’t see your drone or hear anything else in the area, and that makes it really dangerous. Visual awareness is key for safe drone flying.

@Finley
Thanks, I appreciate the advice.

13,000 feet? You must have incredible eyesight.

Zephyr said:
13,000 feet? You must have incredible eyesight.

That’s just what the DJI app shows on my phone screen.

Hart said:

Zephyr said:
13,000 feet? You must have incredible eyesight.

That’s just what the DJI app shows on my phone screen.

Well, there’s your issue then.

I’ve gotten just over 2 miles with my Mavic Mini using Yagi antennas. Does yours have OcuSync? If it does, you should be getting more range.

Reeve said:
I’ve gotten just over 2 miles with my Mavic Mini using Yagi antennas. Does yours have OcuSync? If it does, you should be getting more range.

Yes, it does.