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Find the best thermal drones in 2023. For hunters and hunting enthusiasts, drones with thermal cameras are the best buys. This guide will help you find the best thermal drones for hunting. Thermal drones have many advantages over handheld thermal cameras, and they are quickly becoming a popular tool for search and rescue, hunting, security, and surveillance.
The infrared (IR) sensor in thermal drone cameras can pick up heat from things like people, animals, and buildings. This is helpful because smoke, trees, or a lack of light can make it hard to see what a drone picture or video shows. If you already know what thermal drones are and what they can do, you might want to go straight to the review article about the best drones with thermal cameras.
Best Thermal Drones Comparison Table
| Product Name | Video Capture Resolution | Control Type | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autel EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise | 640 x 512 Thermal & 8K RGB video | Remote controller with built-in screen | 10.5 x 9.8 x 4.8 inches | 2.6 lbs | $9,998 |
| DJI Mavic 3T | 5.3K video | Remote controller with built-in screen | 13.4 x 8.4 x 3.6 inches | 2.8 lbs | $3,499 |
| DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise | 4K video | Remote controller with mobile device holder | 8.4 x 3.6 x 3.3 inches (folded) | 2 lbs | $1,999 |
| Parrot Anafi Thermal | 4K HDR video & FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal sensor | Remote controller with mobile device holder | 9.6 x 2.6 x 2.5 inches (folded) | 0.7 lbs | $1,900 |
| Yuneec H520 | 4K video | ST16S Ground Station controller | 20.5 x 18.5 x 13.7 inches | 4.3 lbs | $1,999 |
| Parrot PF728000 ANAFI Drone | 4K HDR video | Remote controller with mobile device holder | 9.4 x 2.6 x 2.5 inches (folded) | 0.7 lbs | $699 |
Autel EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 640 x 512 radiometric thermal sensor with 48MP 1/2″ CMOS sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 40 minutes |
| Max speed | 45 mph |
| Range | Up to 5.5 miles |
| Obstacle avoidance | 12 Omnidirectional Computer Vision sensors |
| Remote controller | 3.3-inch OLED screen with a 7km transmission range and built-in screen recorder |
In Autel orange, this aircraft looks like it is ready to go to work, and it is. The visible camera on the 640T Enterprise is the same 8K camera as its standard sibling, so it also has 16x zoom. The IR camera also uses FLIR’s well-known method, and a crop of the wider visible spectrum can be shown on the “Smart Controller,” which is a lot bigger than you might think.
It has a huge 9-inch screen, HDMI-out, and the option to start automatic mapping. Even better, there is no Autel geofencing, so there is no threat of more paperwork. A loud speaker, spotlight, or night-flight beacon that come with the drone can be attached to a point above the camera.
The Good
- High-quality radiometric thermal sensor Amazing flight time and range
- Advanced obstacle avoidance system
- Easy-to-use remote control with a screen recorder built in
The Bad
- Compared to some other options on the market, it is expensive.
- A little bit big and may need extra equipment to move.
DJI Mavic 3T
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 4K HDR camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 46 minutes |
| Max speed | 50 mph |
| Range | Up to 7.5 miles |
| Obstacle avoidance | 8 vision sensors and Time of Flight sensors |
| Remote controller | 7.7-inch OLED screen with a 15km transmission range and built-in speaker |
The Mavic 3 Enterprise came out almost a year after the standard version. It has everything we liked about the standard version in a tough hard case. More importantly, it has a new beacon light that is built in and mounts for mapping-level accuracy accessories like RTK.
It has the same 640×512 resolution as its predecessor for thermal photography, but this is just one of three cameras. DJI manages to fit in a 56x hybrid zoom with a half-inch main sensor, which is smaller than the Mavic 3’s but can still record 4K video.
The Good
- With 4K HDR and a 1-inch CMOS sensor, the camera is very good.
- Flights that take a long time and go a long way
- Time of Flight sensors are part of an advanced system for avoiding obstacles.
- The remote is big and of good quality, and it has a speaker built in.
The Bad
- Compared to some other options on the market, it’s pricey.
- May need some extra accessories to work at its best.
DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 4K camera with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 31 minutes |
| Max speed | 45 mph |
| Range | Up to 8km |
| Obstacle avoidance | Forward, backward, and downward vision sensors |
| Remote controller | 5.5-inch 1080p screen with a 10km transmission range and built-in speaker |
The Mavic 2 Enterprise series is based on one of DJI’s best drones right now, the Mavic 2. With the newly installed OcuSync 2.0, the drone can fly for 31 minutes and send signals up to 10 km away. Lepton is easy to put into mobile devices and other electronics as an IR sensor or thermal imager. It uses focal plane arrays with either 160120 or 8060 active pixels.
In every pixel of each image, the radiometric Lepton gets accurate, calibrated, and non-contact temperature data. Isotherm helps you get accurate heat measurements on a wide range of objects and situations, giving you a clearer picture of all the data you’ve collected. You can change the predefined Isotherm settings to meet your operational needs.
The Good
- It has a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and a high-quality 4K camera. It has a good flight time and range for how small and light it is.
- Vision sensors make up a basic system for avoiding obstacles.
- A portable remote control with a built-in speaker that is easy to use.
The Bad
- The size of the camera sensor may not be ideal for some professional uses.
- Compared to other options on the market, it has less ability to avoid obstacles.
Parrot Anafi Thermal
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 4K camera with a FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 26 minutes |
| Max speed | 34 mph |
| Range | Up to 2.5 miles |
| Obstacle avoidance | Forward, backward, and downward vision sensors |
| Remote controller | Compatible with most smartphones and tablets |
The Parrot Anafi is always close behind somewhere, and for good reason, it often shows up in lists of the best drones. Even though it’s not very popular, the Anafi isn’t as good as the Enterprise 2 or Evo II. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about it. The Anafi does put up a good fight, and here’s why:
The Anafi is one of the quietest drones on the market and the lightest of the three, making it one of the best thermal drones for hunting. But the French company has a unique trick up its sleeve: the gimbal can be turned 180 degrees. The camera can both look up and look down. This is a cool feature that could help with inspections and even search and rescue missions.
The Good
- Combining a 4K camera and a thermal sensor in a unique way to see through heat
- For its size and weight, it has a good flight time and range. It also has a basic obstacle avoidance system with vision sensors.
- With a phone or tablet as the remote, it is portable and easy to use.
The Bad
- Not many options
Yuneec H520
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 4K camera with a 20MP 1-inch CMOS sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 28 minutes |
| Max speed | 38 mph |
| Range | Up to 1 mile |
| Obstacle avoidance | Front and downward vision sensors |
| Remote controller | ST16S ground station with a 7-inch touch screen and a 1-mile transmission range |
When hunting, the Yuneec H520 is a great professional drone for thermal imaging. It has a lot of parts. You can attach different payloads to it based on what you want to do. If you attach the E10T thermal imager camera, you can do a very good job of scouting the area. Also, the modules you can add to it can be changed on the fly.
It also has an advantage because it has six propellers. This makes the drone safer if one of the propellers stops working while it’s in the air. The ST16E all-in-one controller is also on the Yuneec H520. This controller can both send and receive signals. You can both take pictures and record videos.
The Good
- With a 1-inch CMOS sensor, this 4K camera is of high quality.
- Good flight time and speed Basic system with sensors to avoid obstacles
- This remote has a touch screen and a long transmission range.
The Bad
- Compared to some other options on the market, it has a small range.
Parrot PF728000 ANAFI Drone
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Camera | 4K HDR camera with a 21MP Sony CMOS sensor |
| Flight time | Up to 25 minutes |
| Max speed | 33 mph |
| Range | Up to 2.5 miles |
| Obstacle avoidance | No obstacle avoidance system |
| Remote controller | Compatible with most smartphones and tablets |
The thermal drone from Parrot, called the Anafi, comes with a FLIR Lepton sensor. FLIR is without a doubt the standard when it comes to thermal imaging. Compared to other drones with thermal cameras, it is cheap. Even though the thermal camera’s resolution is only 160 x 120 pixels, the thermogram can always be added to the 4K video.
This Anafi thermal is also light, which makes it easier to bring with you. The Parrot Anafi thermal drone has a thermal camera, which most other high-tech thermal imaging drones don’t have. This means you don’t need to buy a thermal camera for hunting separately. You can also watch the live stream on the 720p screen of your phone.
The Good
- High-quality 21MP Sony CMOS sensor 4K HDR camera.
- For its size and weight, it has a good flight time and range.
- With a phone or tablet as the remote, it is portable and easy to use.
The Bad
- No obstacle avoidance system
- Compared to some other options on the market, it has a small range.
FAQs
What is the most affordable drone with thermal camera?
The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual is the least expensive thermal drone (and Advanced) The Zoom, Dual, and Advanced are the three drones in the Mavic 2 Enterprise series. The only ones with thermal imaging are the Dual and Advanced versions.
Do any DJI drones have thermal imaging?
There are three platforms for DJI Enterprise drones that can take thermal images: The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is small and easy to set up (M2EA) The Matrice 30 Series is strong and small (M30T) The Matrice 300 RTK is a heavy-duty and versatile drone (M300 RTK).
What drone can see heat?
The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone is a great choice if you want a good first-time drone with a thermal camera. This drone has two cameras: an optical camera with a 4K resolution and a thermal sensor with a low resolution of 160120.
What kind of drones do the CIA use?
One of the best-known military drones is the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, which is also known as the Predator B. The MQ-9 Reaper is mostly used by the U.S. Air Force, but the Navy, the CIA, and NASA also use it.