The sub-250g drone for people who'd rather not buy DJI

Autel EVO Nano+

Name: Autel EVO Nano+
SKU: PG15DRN004
Price: 679 USD
Rating: 8.7 (1 reviews)

8.7/10high confidenceLast checked Jun 19, 2026

Reviewed by

Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade

The best non-DJI compact, and a privacy pick. The Nano+ stays under 249g, packs a slightly larger sensor than DJI's Mini, and uniquely needs no account or geofencing. It costs more than a Mini and the app is rougher, but as a DJI alternative it's the one.

For anyone who wants a sub-250g camera drone but would rather not live in DJI's ecosystem. The Nano+ matches the regulation-friendly formula, palm-sized, folding, under 249 grams so no US registration, and actually one-ups the DJI Mini with a slightly larger 50MP sensor and notably good low-light. It was also the first sub-250g drone with obstacle avoidance, and it has a genuine privacy edge: no account required to fly and no geofencing lockout. The trade-offs are real, it usually costs more than the equivalent Mini, the app is less polished, video tops out at 4K/30, and it's light in wind, but as the leading DJI alternative, it's the pick.

$679

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Last reviewed Jun 9, 2026

AI grade·Refined by real owners

What we like

✓Compact and portable
✓Good low-light camera potential
✓Useful alternative ecosystem

Trade-offs

−Generally pricier than the equivalent DJI Mini, which offers more polish
−Autel app/software less refined; subject tracking arrived late
−Video tops out at 4K/30 (slow-motion only at 1080p)
−Light in stronger wind; build feels a bit fragile

Best for

Buyers who want a compact DJI alternative with strong camera features and travel-friendly size.

Avoid if

You want the widest accessory ecosystem, the most polished app experience, or DJI's strongest obstacle and tracking stack.

The three lenses

How we grade →

Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
8.7/10

Score breakdown

fit8.7/10
value8.7/10
quality8.5/10
ease8.3/10

Specs

price: ~$679
video: 4K/30; D-Log profile; slow-mo at 1080p/60
camera: 1/1.28-inch 50MP sensor; fixed f/1.9; strong low-light
colors: Multiple color options
safety: 3-way obstacle avoidance (first in sub-250g class)
weight: 249g (no US registration)
privacy: No account needed to fly; no geofencing lockout
flight time: Up to 28 minutes

How we know

High confidenceLast checked Jun 19, 2026

The Autel EVO Nano+ is the budget and DJI-alternative pick — widely regarded as the best compact camera drone not made by DJI. It nails the same regulation-friendly formula: a folding, palm-sized body that stays under 249g, so no FAA registration is needed in the US. Its standout is the camera — a relatively large 1/1.28-inch 50MP sensor with a bright fixed f/1.9 lens that's actually a touch bigger than the sensor in DJI's Mini line, giving it strong detail and notably good low-light performance, plus 4K/30 video and a D-Log profile. It was the first sub-250g drone to offer obstacle avoidance, with three-way (forward, backward, downward) sensing, and it flies for about 28 minutes. A real differentiator is privacy: you don't need to create an account to fly it, and there's no geofencing lockout. The honest caveats reviewers raise: it generally costs more than the equivalent DJI Mini while DJI offers more polish for the money; Autel's app and software are less refined, and subject tracking arrived late; video tops out at 4K/30, with slow-motion only at 1080p; it's light and struggles in stronger wind; and the build feels a bit fragile. If you specifically want a capable sub-250g drone outside the DJI ecosystem, it's the pick.