Drones have become an integral part of various industries, from photography and videography to agriculture and surveying.
Whether you’re a professional drone pilot or a hobbyist, enhancing your drone’s performance and capabilities can take your aerial endeavors to new heights.
To help you get the most out of your drone, we’ve compiled a list of the top drone accessories that can significantly improve your flying experience.
Top Drone Accessories for Better Performance
1. High-Quality ND Filters
Neutral Density (ND) filters are essential for controlling exposure and capturing cinematic footage. These filters reduce the amount of light entering the camera lens, allowing you to achieve the desired shutter speed and maintain motion blur even in bright conditions. Investing in a set of ND filters can greatly enhance the quality of your aerial photography and videography.
ND filters are essential for achieving the right shutter speed when shooting cinematic videos. They help reduce the amount of light entering the camera sensor, ensuring smooth video recording. Various ND filter packs are available for different drone models, with options such as ND4, ND8, ND16, ND32, etc.
2. DJI FPV Arm Braces
For DJI FPV drones, arm braces can enhance structural integrity and reduce the risk of arm damage upon collision.
These arms serve as sturdy pillars for supporting the drone and contribute only a minimal amount of additional weight.
3. Landing Pad and Reflective Vest
To ensure safety and awareness when flying your drone in populated areas, consider using a reflective safety vest labeled as a “certified drone pilot.”
Additionally, a landing pad helps protect your drone when taking off and landing, preventing damage from uneven surfaces and grass.
4. DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Pro Propeller Holder
A propeller holder is a handy accessory to keep your drone’s propellers secure during transport. It’s a more efficient solution than using rubber bands and ensures the safety of your drone’s propellers.
5. LED lights for night flights
For those who enjoy flying drones at night for fun rather than recording videos or taking photographs, consider getting a set of LED lights for your drone. These lights are universal and compatible with many drones, but always check local drone laws regarding nighttime flights.
6. Landing Gear
Landing gear is especially useful for drones with flat bottoms like the DJI Mini 3 Pro. It increases the distance between the drone and the ground, preventing damage to the drone’s sensors and camera during landings.
It’s important to keep in mind that adding any form of landing gear to the Mini 3 Pro may result in the drone exceeding the 250-gram weight limit, which could impact its eligibility for more lenient drone regulations.
If you’re comfortable with that, these landing gears can be very useful in safeguarding your drone from scratches or damage during landings.
7. Propeller guards
If you plan to fly your Mini 3 Pro in places with a high risk of collisions, such as forests, propeller guards are essential. While they may not provide as much protection as drones with strong duct guards, they can help protect your drone from low-speed impacts.
8. DJI RC Pro remote controller
The DJI RC Pro is a professional-grade remote controller with enhanced features, making it suitable for advanced users seeking the best transmission and control capabilities for compatible drones.
The DJI RC is a versatile remote controller compatible with various drones. However, the DJI RC Pro is the professional version of the DJI RC, providing distinct advantages and unique benefits that surpass those of any other remote controller.
9. Video Storage
Consider an external hard drive with sufficient storage capacity (1-2 terabytes) for storing drone videos, especially if you capture footage in high resolutions like 4K.
These accessories cater to various drone models and user preferences, so choose the ones that best align with your specific drone and flying needs.
As a drone pilot, there are several considerations to bear in mind:
- Choice of Storage: When deciding on storage options, it’s crucial to choose the right type of hard drive. Traditional disk drives (HDDs) are suitable for long-term storage but are less reliable for frequent transportation and use. Therefore, we recommend opting for solid-state drives (SSDs) for better durability and performance.
- Travel Frequency: If you find yourself traveling frequently with your drone equipment, it’s advisable to invest in a rugged and shockproof external hard drive. This way, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your drive is built to withstand the rigors of travel, including accidental drops, ensuring your data remains safe and accessible.
10. DJI RC remote controller
If you’ve purchased a Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, or similar drones, that come with the standard DJI RC-N1 controller, you’ll likely appreciate the significant improvement that the DJI RC controller offers.
The DJI RC controller features an integrated screen, eliminating the need to connect your mobile phone to the remote controller for flying the drone. It comes with the DJI Fly app pre-installed, making it easy to use and requiring no additional setup when you’re ready to take your drone for a flight.
Having a single remote controller is fantastic as it eliminates the need to rely on your mobile phone, removing the hassle of dealing with OTG cables and setup procedures. This streamlined experience is a massive improvement for flying the mentioned drones.
Furthermore, if you own multiple drones, you can use the same remote controller with any of them, allowing you to easily switch between your drones. Additionally, the remote controller features a bright display that remains visible even in full sunlight.
11. Drone Sun Hood
If you own the DJI RC-N1 and face challenges with your mobile phone’s screen visibility when flying your drone in bright sunlight, a sun hood can be the perfect solution.
This magnetic sun hood is designed to shield your mobile phone screen and does not interfere with the buttons on your remote controller. It offers ample shade to ensure that you have a clear and visible screen while operating your drone.
This sun hood is compatible with a variety of DJI drone remote controllers, including the N1.
12. Protective Bumper Rings
Protect the duct guards of your DJI Avata drone with rubber bumper rings, preventing damage during impacts without affecting the drone’s flight performance.
13. Carrying Case
Protect your drone during travel with a waterproof and shockproof carrying case. Ensure compatibility with your specific drone model and consider your mode of transportation when choosing a case or backpack.
Here are some of the top carrying cases for well-known drones:
When it comes to securing your drone during travel, the choice of cases and backpacks depends on your method of travel. While certain cases are well-suited for car travel, if you plan on backpacking, you might want to explore alternative storage solutions.
For the DJI Mini series, the following backpack is recommended:
14. Tablet Mount Holder
For a more immersive flying experience, consider a tablet mount holder that allows you to attach a tablet to your remote controller. This is especially beneficial when you want to see more details during your flights.
Tablets are not naturally compatible with all drone controllers. Therefore, it’s essential to explore specific accessories that enable you to mount a tablet instead of a mobile phone on your RC-N1 remote controller.
The Arzroic tablet holder is designed to accommodate most tablets ranging from 7 to 12 inches in size.
It’s important to note that when using this tablet holder, you will need to sit and operate the remote controller. This is because the tablet’s weight can exert downward pressure on the controller, making it challenging to hold comfortably. I can attest to this from my own experience.
15. Drone Charger
Invest in a dedicated drone charger to ensure proper and safe charging of your drone batteries. Make sure it provides the necessary wattage for efficient charging.
In some situations, we may need to resort to improvisation and charge our drone batteries using our phone charger. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that while this may work, it’s not the ideal solution. There could be differences in wattage, lack of quick charging capabilities, and other potential issues.
Baseus 30W Dual Port USB C Charger Block charger provides a power output of 30W, which is more than sufficient for charging mini drone batteries. Most of these batteries are designed to be charged at 30W, making it a suitable option.
This charger is compatible with DJI Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, and Avata drones. If you are traveling by car, consider using this charger.
Please note that the chargers mentioned above are only suitable for drone batteries that can be charged via USB-C and do not require a specialized charger, such as the DJI FPV drone.
16. Avata Camera Protector
To enhance the DJI Avata’s resistance to impacts, consider using a lightweight aluminum camera frame to protect the camera and its surrounding plastic components.
17. Extended Joysticks
Improve control precision for FPV drone flights by using extended joystick sticks on the DJI FPV remote controller. These sticks offer extra circular movement and enhanced accuracy.
18. Head Strap:
Replace the original head strap of your DJI FPV Goggles V2 with a more comfortable and secure option. Some straps also allow you to attach custom Lipo batteries.
19. Signal Booster Antennas:
Enhance your drone’s signal range by using 5.8 GHz signal booster antennas on the remote controller. These can be particularly useful in areas with high interference.
When using a traditional GPS drone like the DJI Mini 3 Pro or Mavic 3, you might encounter challenges when flying in urban or suburban areas due to high interference. In such cases, it’s worth considering a signal booster to enhance your drone’s range.
One effective solution is a 5.8 GHz antenna that can be attached to your DJI RC-N1 remote controller, aiming to improve signal strength and range. While DJI drones typically have the capability to fly considerable distances from your location, certain areas may experience interference that affects normal drone operations.
It’s important to note that these antennas won’t completely resolve all interference issues or dramatically multiply your flight range. However, according to the manufacturer, they can enhance your DJI drone’s flying range by approximately 30 to 50 percent.
These antennas are compatible with the DJI RC-N1 remote controller and are designed to work with the following drone models: DJI Mini 2, Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, Air 2, and Mavic 3.
20. Battery Cover
Protect the battery on the DJI FPV drone, which is exposed during landings. This battery cover offers shock absorption and prevents potential damage.
That’s precisely why we suggest using this battery cover. It doesn’t significantly increase the drone’s weight and provides excellent shock absorption when landing your DJI FPV.
For FPV pilots who prefer manual landings (similar to my own approach at times), this battery cover becomes an essential accessory.
21. Neck Strap
Use a neck strap for your remote controller to free your hands and make flying more comfortable. These straps are typically compatible with the DJI RC-N1 remote controller.
22. Lipo Fireproof Bag:
Lipo fires can be extremely dangerous and can lead to fires in no time. Therefore, it’s crucial to take precautions to protect your Lipo drone batteries, from storage to transport. We highly recommend using a Lipo fireproof bag, especially if you don’t have a hard carrying case specifically designed for battery safety.
In today’s world, standard GPS drone batteries are generally safe to charge and store due to built-in safety features and intelligent functions. However, even with these safety measures in place, it’s essential to store them securely.
On the other hand, if you have custom Lipo or Li-ion batteries for FPV drones, it’s vital to follow strict safety procedures when it comes to charging, storing, and transporting them. Safety should always be a top priority in these cases.
23. Memory Cards
Less expensive memory cards can often encounter difficulties when attempting to record videos smoothly, especially when the video’s bitrate surpasses the maximum writing speed of the memory card.
Drone manufacturers like DJI typically provide lists of the most recommended memory cards, tailored to specific drone models. However, I’ve had success with the following memory cards that consistently perform well:
Most drones are compatible with MicroSD cards up to 256GB in capacity. Nevertheless, it’s essential to consult your drone’s manual or specifications to determine whether it can support 512GB memory cards.
For example, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is capable of accommodating a 512GB V30 microSD card.
Our preferred choice is SanDisk due to their industry-leading reputation for reliable microSD cards suitable for GoPro cameras and drones. Nonetheless, various other manufacturers also offer compatible MicroSD cards that can meet your needs.
24. Analog mod adapter
If you’re an FPV drone pilot with both digital and analog drones or planning to get the DJI FPV Goggles v2, this analog adapter is a great solution. It can receive analog video and convert digital to analog images, making it ideal for use with the DJI FPV Goggles v2.
25. Protective pad
If you find the original DJI face pad for your DJI FPV Goggles v2 or DJI Goggles 2 uncomfortable or prone to getting sweaty, you can improve your headset experience by changing the pads.
There are options available for both DJI Goggles 2 and FPV Goggles v2.
26. DJI RC Motion 2
DJI has recently released the DJI RC Motion 2, which is an improved version of the old Motion Controller. The most significant improvement is its broad-range compatibility, making it a great choice for beginners or those who want to experience flying a drone without a traditional remote controller. It’s compatible with various DJI Goggles and drone models.
27. protective silicon case and screen protector
To keep your DJI RC remote controller safe from scratches, you can use a protective silicon case. Additionally, it’s a good idea to install a screen cover to protect the screen from scratches.