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Moto G Stylus 5G Review: Great Specs For $500 But Limited Software Updates

Moto G Stylus 5G Review: Great Specs For $500 But Limited Software Updates

Motorola's Moto G Stylus 5G has everything you want from a sub-$500 phone at first glance. At $500 (which roughly converts to £320 and AU$560) it has higher-end features normally found on more expensive phones, including a 6.8-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 50-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. You also get a built-in stylus, a feature that Samsung is now only providing for its luxe $1,200 Galaxy S22 Ultra. The phone has great battery life to boot. It all sounds great for the money, but there are some important details to keep in mind if you go with this phone.

Motorola sells the Stylus 5G unlocked with a roomy 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. It also includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip, which is generally more powerful than the MediaTek one included in the $300 4G-only Moto G Stylus from earlier this year. Its 5G support includes sub-6 and C-band frequencies. A Verizon version will also support millimeter-wave 5G.

All this makes the phone fit right in with midrange rivals such as the $450 Galaxy A53 and last year's $449 Pixel 5A with 5G. But unlike Samsung and Google, which both commit to years of software updates, Motorola only promises one major software update to its G line of phones. This means that while the Stylus 5G is shipping right now with Android 12 and will eventually get Android 13, you'll only receive three years of security updates instead of any additional feature upgrades.

Motorola says this could be a perk, offering stability and consistency with its menus and interface. But even if you buy a cheaper phone, you shouldn't have to sacrifice updates because you probably want it to last as long as possible.

This makes the Moto G Stylus 5G worth considering if you want to hold onto the phone for two or three years, but it's a tougher sell if you want a phone that'll be viable for longer. It has many of the best Android 12 features, including the option to customize menus to your favorite color, and a long-lasting battery. And if a stylus is important to you on top of that, this phone could be the best pick for you.

The Moto G Stylus 5G has a few different apps optimized for the stylus.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Tall phone with a big battery

The Moto G Stylus 5G is a tall and thin phone, making it easy to hold and even text with one hand. I'm normally a fan of phones with screens longer than 6.5 inches because it's easier to watch videos and read. But the shape of the phone leaves its top half exposed, which would make it easier for a thief to snatch if you're not paying attention.

I can alleviate this by using the stylus and the phone's handwriting recognition keyboard instead, which gets me a better grip on the body. Yet that comes at the expense of speed and accuracy compared to touch typing and autocorrect. Putting the phone in a case paired with a PopSocket, or something similar, could also help with that safety concern.

Otherwise the screen is great for watching and reading content, especially since it provides the option to boost the refresh rate up to 120Hz. Motorola also provides options for using a dynamic refresh rate depending on how you're using the phone or a 60Hz option, both of which consume less power on the battery.

The Moto G Stylus 5G has a 5,000-mAh battery.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Yet with a beefy 5,000-mAh battery inside, the phone easily made it through a few full days of heavy usage with 120Hz on at all times. I watch a lot of YouTube, play games, take video calls, capture photos and videos and even on my longest day it still had 30 to 50% capacity when I was ready to go to bed. I averaged just over 3 hours of screen time each day but with less intensive usage patterns I'm sure the phone could easily last well into a second day.

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)

Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)

Note:

Higher scores are better

Geekbench 5 Multicore

Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)

Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Note:

Higher scores are better

While all that extra power is great, it's worth noting that the Stylus 5G does charge more slowly than rival phones. You get a power adapter -- something that's disappearing from most phone boxes lately -- but it's a 10W charger with a USB-A to USB-C cable. Motorola said that you can use a different power adapter with the phone, but the maximum speed it can charge is 15W. By comparison the Galaxy A53 also has a 5,000-mAh battery and can charge at up to 25W, but you need to buy a power adapter separately. When I ran the Stylus 5G down to 0%, it took roughly 2.5 hours to charge it up to 95% using the included charger.

Shockingly, there's a headphone jack included, something that's practically nonexistent for phones in this price range. Motorola includes Dolby Atmos, which can be applied to specific headphones and speakers that you connect.

The stylus inside the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Stylus features are nice, but lack impact

The Moto G Stylus 5G includes a stylus, but the best thing about it is its dedicated slot in the phone. When you remove the stylus, you'll see a menu of shortcuts including an option to take a screenshot to annotate, take a note or open a coloring book app. 

Motorola is also launching a Live Message feature, which lets you create an animated drawing and send it out through a favorite messaging app. I was easily able to make these, and send them to friends the way I'd send a GIF. My friends found the animations amusing but this isn't something I'd do every day.

The stylus is neat, but it's hard for me to imagine using it on a regular basis. If you need to sign a digital document, it's now easy to get that done with a service like DocuSign, Microsoft Office or Google Docs. Unless you absolutely need a stylus, you'd be better off considering the sub-$500 phones that don't include one. 

The Moto G Stylus 5G has a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor camera.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Stable photography

The biggest improvement on the Moto G Stylus 5G over last year's version is with the inclusion of optical image stabilization. This reduces hand shake while taking photos, helping prevent motion blur.

The main 50-megapixel camera on the back of the phone is accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel depth sensor camera. On the front is a 16-megapixel selfie camera.

I took the phone to a dog park, where I needed to move quickly to get photos of the puppies. I shot plenty of great dog photos, including of my friend's dog Mel who got particularly aggressive with a football toy.

Photo taken on the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Mel, the dog pictured here, wouldn't let any other dog near this football. Photo taken on the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

I also took the phone to a Korean barbecue restaurant as well as to a karaoke night, where I used the phone's Night mode to help capture more detail in darker indoor settings. It captured all of the details of the meal, but at the theater the results were more saturated. There's a noticeable blur on objects that were farther away.

Night mode on the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Night mode on the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Photo taken on the Moto G Stylus 5G's front-facing camera.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

The front-facing camera also captured a lot of detail while I made faces at the camera.

Video isn't the phone's strong suit. You can choose between 30 and 60 frames per second, but otherwise it's limited to 1080p for capture. Last year's Stylus 5G includes 4K video recording, so I was surprised that feature didn't stick around. 

The footage I took at the dog park was OK, but wasn't particularly detailed even in good lighting. I wouldn't expect to capture anything more than short video clips that could be shared with friends or family.

Limited software support hurts an otherwise good phone

Even though the phone's stylus, good photography, larger screen and higher refresh rate all recommend it, it's hard for me to ignore Motorola's commitment to just one major Android update.

I used a Moto Z2 Play as my personal phone back in 2018. When it developed bugs, the slower software updates meant I couldn't be confident those issues would be resolved.

Motorola pledges security updates for three years, which will at least make sure the Stylus 5G isn't vulnerable to most malicious threats. But Samsung pledged to support Galaxy A phones for four years while Google gave the Pixel 6 three years of software updates and five years of security updates. Motorola is woefully behind in comparison.

Unless you crave the stylus and want a phone for $500 or less, I suggest waiting a few more weeks until after Google I/O. It's rumored Google will announce a cheaper Pixel 6A, possibly in the $450 to $500 price range. Motorola's $400 Moto G 5G, sans stylus, will also launch in the coming weeks. Once those phones are released, we'll have a better overall idea which is the best phone in this price range. 

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, Google Pixel 5A with 5G, Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)

	Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)	Samsung Galaxy A53 5G	Google Pixel 5A with 5G	Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)
Display size, resolution	6.8-inch LTPS LCD FHD Plus; 2,460 x1,080 pixels; 120Hz	6.5-inch AMOLED 2,400x1,080 pixels; 120Hz	6.34-inch OLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels; 60Hz	6.8-inch LCD FHD Plus; 2,400x1,080 pixels; 60Hz
Pixel density	TBD	405ppi	413ppi	386ppi
Dimensions (Inches)	6.65x2.98x0.37 in	6.28x2.94x0.32 in	6.1x2.9x0.3 in	6.67x3.05x0.39 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)	168.9x75.8x9.3 mm	159.6x74.8x8.1 mm	156.2x73.2x8.8 mm	169.54x77.48x9.35 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	7.58 oz; 215 grams	6.67 oz; 189 grams	6.45 oz; 183 grams	7.67 oz; 217.5 grams
Mobile software	Android 12	Android 12	Android 11	Android 11
Camera	50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide/macro), 2-megapixel (depth)	64-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth)	12-megapixel (wide), 16-megapixel (ultrawide)	48-megapixel (wide-angle), 5-megapixel (macro), 8-megapixel (ultra-wide angle), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)
Front-facing camera	16-megapixel	32-megapixel	8-megapixel	16-megapixel
Video capture	1,080p	4K	4K	4K
Processor	Snapdragon 695 5G	Exynos 1280	Snapdragon 765G	Snapdragon 480 5G
Storage	256GB	128GB	128GB	256GB
RAM	8GB	6GB	6GB	6GB
Expandable storage	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	None	Up to 1TB
Battery	5,000 mAh (10W wired charger included)	5,000 mAh (charger not included)	4,680 mAh (18W wired charger included)	5,000 mAh (10W wired charger included)
Fingerprint sensor	Side	In-display	Back	Back
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	Yes	None	Yes	Yes
Special features	5G-enabled; OIS for main camera; NFC for Google Pay, Stylus	5G-enabled; IP67 rating; supports 25W wired fast charging, Samsung Pay	5G-enabled, IP67 water rating, Dual Sim	5G-enabled, Stylus,
Price off-contract (USD)	$500	$450	$449	$400
Price (GBP)	Converts to £320	£399	Converts to £345	Converts to £285
Price (AUD)	Converts to AU$560	AU$699	Converts to AU$620	Converts to AU$515

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Best Drones For 2022

Best Drones for 2022

If you've never flown a drone before, you've got lots of fun in store. Learning how to fly a drone is an exhilarating experience. But it's even more fun when you can use a drone camera to take beautiful videos and photos from the sky. The best drone cameras can bring you views that you'd never be able to shoot from the ground, which will wow your family, friends and TikTok fans. And these days, you can get a great drone with a camera for less than $500.

There are plenty of affordable options for drone owners that offer various combinations of features, video quality and prices to suit every drone enthusiast. So, whether you're looking to get into drone photography or just want to enjoy the thrill of the flight, we've got some recommendations. Here are the best drones for both beginner and intermediate drones.

We've outlined our top picks for the best drones for beginners, intermediate users and "prosumer" enthusiasts, as well as an introductory drone for folks interested in racing, which is a whole scene unto itself. We'll update this list periodically. We've also included a more in-depth buying guide and FAQ on the best drones below, with more information about the key things to consider before you buy. 

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

With its large 1-inch image sensor, the DJI Air 2S is able to take great-looking photos and videos from the sky. It'll shoot video at up to 5.4k resolution, while still images can be taken in DNG raw format at up to 20 megapixels. The drone has a variety of intelligent flight modes too that makes it particularly easy to capture cinematic footage even when you're out hiking by yourself, including a mode that follows you as you walk through the hills and a mode that automatically circles a point of interest. 

One thing it doesn't do is flip the camera over to let you shoot in portrait orientation. That's a shame, as it means that capturing vertical video for TikTok or Instagram Reels is more difficult as you'll need to crop your video down the middle, losing a lot of resolution in the process. If that's a priority for you, look towards DJI's Mini 3 Pro.

It's as easy to fly as others in the DJI range and it has a range of obstacle sensors to help keep it in the air and avoid it plouwing headlong into a tree or a wall. Its maximum flight time of up to 31 minutes is solid for a drone of this size but it can be bought with a bundle of extra batteries for those of you that want to capture more footage from the sky. 

Its folding design makes it quite easy to fit into a photography backpack, but it's physically larger and heavier than DJI's 'Mini' range, so keep that in mind if you're after the lightest model to take on your travels. But its combination of flight time, automated flying modes and excellent image quality make it a superb all-rounder that's well worth considering.

Read our DJI Air 2S review.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

The DJI Mini may have launched back in 2020, but it's still available to buy today and it's still a superb option for those of you looking to take your first steps into the world of aerial photography. Its compact, folding size means it's super easy to chuck in a bag and carry anywhere while its 249g weight means you don't need to register it with the FAA (in the US). 

It uses the same control scheme as other DJI drones, which we've found to be easy for beginners learning the ropes while allowing more advanced flyers the flexibility to test their skills. It can fly for up to 31 minutes on a single charge and has a flying range of up to 6.2 miles (10 kilometers). 

Its small camera unit is stabilized for smoother footage and it can shoot video at 4K at up to 30 frames per second. Still images are captured at 12 megapixels. 

One of the reasons that the foldable drone is so light is that it has no sensors for obstacle avoidance. That means there will be a learning curve and potentially some crashing. So while it is an affordable beginner options, those of you with no existing flying skills should start out practicing in wide-open spaces until you get the hang of things. Once you do get more confident, the Mini 2 is stable, nimble, safe to fly and quieter than other DJI models.

Read our DJI Mini 2 review.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

While DJI's Air 2s and Mavic 3 offer superb image quality from the air, they lack the ability to flip the camera over and shoot video and photos in portrait orientation. As a result, those of you wanting to use your footage for your TikTok page or Instagram Reels will need to crop the video right down the middle, losing a lot of resolution in the process and making it harder to compose your shots when you're out on location. 

The Mini 3 Pro has no such problem, as with a simple tap of an on-screen button its camera flips over into portrait orientation, allowing you to capture social content using the full view and maximum 4K resolution of the sensor. Videos can be shot at up to 60 frames per second, while still images can be captured in DNG at an impressive 48 megapixels.

Its folding design allows it to shrink down to something little bigger than a standard can of coke but it still packs a variety of sensors that help stop you crashing it into trees. Keep in mind though that its tiny size and 249g weight does mean that it's susceptible to strong winds and in blustery conditions will have to fight harder to remain airborne -- reducing your flight times. 

Read our DJI Mini 3 Pro review.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

If you've been on Instagram or TikTok recently then you'll almost certainly have seen exhilarating videos of similar FPV drones flying through bowling alleys, factories or doing other incredible aerial maneuvers. To achieve that, FPV pilots wear headsets that let them see through the eyes of the drone, navigating those twisting turns and zooming through tight gaps as if they're behind the controls and up in the air. 

And that's exactly how you'll fly the Avata; with a set of DJI FPV goggles that give you a view directly from the drone's perspective. It's an exhilarating way of flying as it really feels like you're up in the air controlling the drone from behind a steering wheel. It's a more extreme way of flying than you'll get from more typical drones like the Air 2S, with more instant controls and faster speeds. 

The upside is that you get fast and exciting footage of your drone speeding through forests or through impossibly-small obstacles which you simply can't achieve with other drones on this list. The downside is that the first-person perspective can make you quite nauseous, particularly if you suffer at all from motion sickness. I found I could manage 5-10 minutes of flying at a time before needing an extended break. 

The nature of wearing the goggles also means you're unable to see around you -- which makes it more difficult to spot any incoming dangers, such as rescue helicopters. As such, you're legally obliged in many areas (including the UK) to have a spotter next to you keeping an eye out on your behalf as you race your drone around the sky. 

The Avata is smaller and lighter than DJI's first FPV drone and has built-in guards around its propellers which allow it to bump into walls, trees or other obstacles without necessarily being taken out of the air. 

Its 4K, 60 frames-per-second video looks great and it's easy to fly using the DJI Motion Controller, which lets you simply maneuver the drone based on your hand movements. You'll see a crosshair in your view that moves around when you move the controller -- wherever you point the crosshair, the drone will follow. It's a simple 'point-and-click' way of flying that I really enjoyed.

Read our DJI Avata review.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The DJI Mavic 3's relatively high starting price of $2,000 makes it significantly more expensive than others on this list, but if you're a professional or enthusiastic photographer wanting superb photos and videos from the sky then it's an investment that might be worth making.

The Mavic 3 packs a 4/3rd-size image sensor which is physically larger than any other image sensor you'll get from other drones on this page. That bigger sensor allows it to capture more light and offer better dynamic range. As a result, its 5.1k video looks superb, with tons of detail for cropping into and excellent exposures, even in high-contrast scenarios. 

It's got sensors all-round too, keeping it safe from smashing into obstacles, while its huge 46-minute maximum flight time is better than almost any other drone around. It folds down to the size of a large camera lens, so it's relatively easy to get into a photography backpack, but those of you wanting a tiny drone for travelling should still look to the DJI Mini 3 Pro. 

Read our DJI Mavic 3 review.

Drew Evans/CNET

The DJI FPV was the company's original first-person drone, offering a beginner-friendly entrance into the exhilarating world of FPV drone flying. We loved its lighting-fast 97mph top speed and its solid 4K video quality. And while the DJI FPV has been somewhat usurped by the new DJI Avata which is smaller, lighter and safer (thanks to built-in propeller guards), the original DJI FPV is still worth considering. 

That's largely down to its price, which is now around $1,000 for a full kit with everything you need to fly, from the drone itself, to the controller and the original FPV headset. The DJI Avata comes in at $1,170 for the similar 'Fly Smart' combo which I personally think is worth paying (as it includes the motion controller which makes FPV flying much easier) but if you want an FPV experience at the lowest cost then the cheaper DJI FPV might be the better option.

Emax

Though mainstream drones like the DJI Mini can fly fast, racing drones fly even faster, capable of hitting speeds above 100 mph. They're also much more agile, built for acrobatic maneuvers with you at a set of manual controls. That means there's a learning curve that usually involves some crashes. 

Getting started will be neither quick nor easy, but for a racing drone, the Emax Tinyhawk 2 keeps things relatively simple. You'll still need to learn how to pilot the thing, but the process will be less expensive and less frustrating than other entry-level systems. For one thing, you don't need to worry about getting all of the individual pieces to work together -- or soldering anything, which is required for many DIY models. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do drones cost?

The prices for drones varies depending on what kind of features you want or the quality you need from the camera. As with most areas of tech, price lines up with performance, with the more expensive models offering higher-resolution video with bigger image sensors and longer flight times. 

DJI's range currently starts at only $450 for the Mini 2, which offers decent 4K video and strong flight times but lacks obstacle sensors or any kind of intelligent flight modes. At the higher end, the DJI Mavic 3 shoots 5.1k video with a large image sensor for pristine quality, its 40-minute flight times are class-leading and its range of obstacle sensors means it can fly autonomously to capture cinematic footage of you with minimal effort. At $2,000 though, you pay a lot for these kinds of features.

How far can drones fly?

Many drones in DJI's range can fly in huge areas, with the Mavic 3 being able to fly up to 9.3 miles (15km) away from you. That's in ideal conditions however, and sometimes you may find you get interference from other sources and the drone will advise a closer proximity. 

Keep in mind too that while the drone may technically be able to fly a long way away, your local laws may not be so forgiving. In the UK, for example, your drone always has to remain in eyesight of the pilot, and the small size of these drones means they're likely going to be impossible to see once they get too far away. 

How fast can drones fly?

The top speed of drones varies depending on their use for the most part. More typical camera-focused drones like the Mini 3 Pro can achieve up to 37 mph in its fastest "sport" mode, while the DJI FPV can hit a whopping 97 mph. FPV drones are designed for faster, more extreme flights so you'll typically find these drones have much higher top speeds. Some drones designed for racing can even achieve speeds of 170 mph.

What's the best DJI drone?

"Best" is of course a subjective word and what might suit your needs most may not suit someone else. If you're looking for the best image quality for beautiful landscape images, the big sensor of the DJI Mavic 3 is the one for you. Looking for the best small drone for travelling? The Mini 3 Pro's tiny design will suit you well. 

If you want a generally solid all-round drone then look towards the DJI Air 2S. Its combination of travel-friendly size, excellent image quality and decent flight times means it ticks most boxes and could be the best drone for most people. 

Which drones shoot vertical video for TikTok and Instagram?

While you may have seen lots of vertical videos from drones on your TikTok or Instagram feeds, the reality is that very few drones can actually shoot this video natively. Even camera-focused drones like the DJI Mavic 3 can't shoot video in portrait orientation, so drone users will have to crop their footage down the middle before uploading it to their social accounts.

The recent DJI Mini 3 Pro is one of the few drones currently able to flip its camera over and shoot vertically. It means you can take advantage of the full 4K resolution of the sensor, and have a much easier time in composing your shots as you don't need to imagine what it would like after the crop -- what you see as you fly is what you'll post to TikTok later. 

How do you connect a drone camera to a phone?

Most drones -- including most of the DJI models featured here -- require you to connect your phone at some stage to act as the viewfinder and control screen for the drone. Usually that'll involve you connecting the phone physically to the controller using either a Lightning cable (for iPhones) or a USB-C cable (for Android phones) and using apps like DJI FLY. The controller then connects to the drone, showing the feed from your drone's camera right on your phone screen. 

Which drones are waterproof?

In short, almost none of them. Complete waterproofing is tricky for drones as the propellers need to be able to generate downforce (so can't be fully enclosed) and short of fitting wiper blades from a car, the camera will always be susceptible to raindrops. None of the drones on this list are sold with any kind of "waterproof" promise and while you can certainly get away with flying in a few spots of rain -- or even through clouds -- if it really starts to pour then you should land immediately. 

How we test drones

Like all products on CNET, any items that feature on our best lists are tested by us to make sure that they perform as well as the manufacturers claim. Nothing is taken at face value and nothing is recommended to buy based on marketing promises or specs alone.  If they don't perform, they simply don't make the list.

For drones, we take them out of the city to a safe flying spot. We set them up and connect them to the controllers and our phones, just as you would. We then send them into the sky, checking out how easy they are to fly, how responsive they are and whether there are any issues with signal transmissions or physical problems such as obstacle avoidance not working properly. 

We test the flight times and battery capacity in different conditions. Most manufacturer's claims of battery life are done under perfect, wind-free conditions which isn't realistic for most of us. As such, we fly them in real-world scenarios and give an indication of what actual battery life you can expect.

And we of course shoot plenty of videos and photos, looking at the image quality, at the colors and the contrast. We pay attention to the dynamic range as this will determine how well a drone can balance a bright blue sky against the darker ground. If a drone offers DNG raw photos, we use this too, and we see how well the images can be artistically edited in software like Adobe Lightroom.

Things to consider before you buy a drone

New to the world of modern drones? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's a quick overview of what any beginner needs to know to find the best drones for their money.

The price of the drone is only the beginning

Depending on the aircraft, extra batteries can run you from $5 for toys to more than $100 each for camera drones.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

You're going to want a couple extra batteries, some spare propellers, maybe some prop guards and perhaps a quick charger, so you're not waiting hours to fly again. You're more than likely going to crash, which could lead to repair costs -- either for replacement parts or shipping it back to the manufacturer for repairs. (This is exactly why DJI offers crash insurance for new drones.)

Before you buy a drone, it's worth spending a little time researching the price and availability of replacement parts, batteries and other accessories. And be cautious of third-party parts -- especially batteries and chargers -- which may be inferior to those made by the drone manufacturer.

Everyone will assume you're invading their privacy

When you're out flying in a public space, or even in your own backyard, anyone who sees you doing it will think you're spying on them or someone else. You could be standing in the middle of a 20-acre field with no one in sight and your drone no more than 50 feet directly overhead and you might end up answering questions about being a peeping Tom. It's happened to us. Repeatedly.

And along those same lines....

Everyone but you thinks they're dangerous

It doesn't matter if you're the safest drone pilot around or that you could do more damage hitting someone with a baseball than a drone -- onlookers may feel threatened. After all, nothing about plastic blades spinning at high speeds screams "safety." 

Parrot's Bebop 2 has some nice safety features including propellers that stop instantly if they hit anything.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

As such, US-based pilots may benefit from an Academy of Model Aeronautics membership. Along with a whole host of benefits including access to AMA-member flying sites, the $75 annual membership protects you with $2,500,000 of comprehensive general liability insurance as well as $25,000 in accident or medical coverage, $10,000 maximum accidental death coverage and $1,000 fire, theft and vandalism coverage. 

Finding places to fly can be a challenge

In population-dense places like cities and metropolitan areas, it can be difficult to find places to safely and legally fly. US national parks are off-limits. Regulations differ among state, county and municipal parks. And then there are the no-fly zones, which puts many metropolitan areas out of bounds as well as just dangerous, because of buildings, people and cars.

Before you buy a drone -- even a toy one, if you plan to fly outside -- you'll want to visit AirMap or download the FAA's B4UFly app to check for no-fly zones. These don't cover state or local ordinances, though, so you'll need to do additional research on your chosen environs before you fly.

The EU and UK's drone rules are based mostly on how heavy a drone weighs and no longer differentiate between people flying for fun, or people flying for professional purposes. Europeans among you with new drones should make sure to fully familiarize yourself with the 2022 drone regulations and ensure both you and your drones are registered before taking flight.

Any remote control aircraft except 'toys' need an FAA registration in the US

Screenshot by Sean Hollister/CNET

The US Federal Aviation Administration is requiring anyone who wants to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle that weighs between 0.55-pound (250 grams) and 55 pounds (approximately 25 kilograms) for recreation or hobby to register with the agency. Civil penalties for not registering such an unmanned aircraft may include fines up to $27,500. Criminal penalties may include fines up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to three years or both.

Most sub-$100 UAS drones fall under this weight. A kitchen or postal scale can be used to weigh your drone or you can check with the manufacturer. Also, this applies to both store-bought and homemade aircraft.

The registration cost is $5 and it can all be done online in a matter of minutes. You don't have to register each aircraft you own -- just yourself; you'll be given a number to attach to what you're flying. That's it. Essentially, it's the FAA's way of getting you to agree that you've read its safety guidelines including staying more than five miles away from airports and below 400 feet.

The UK has its own registration requirements. Essentially, owners of drones that weigh more than 250 grams must register as a drone operator, which costs £9 annually. And pilots of drones that weigh more than 250 grams must pass a free online education course every three years. Australia has promised that new rules are "on their way," but for now there are no official requirements.

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Tags:

• Best Drones For Beginners 2022
• Best Drones For The Money 2022
• Best Drones For Beginners
• Best Drones For Photography
• Best Drones For Beginners
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S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout

S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout

The standout feature of last year's Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was its camera, a five-lens setup that could shoot at a crazy 100x magnification. A year later, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's newest flagship. It improves on its predecessor in numerous ways: A gorgeous matte back, an even more gorgeous 3,200x1,440-pixel display that lets you scroll in QHD and 120Hz for the first time, and a customary processor upgrade.

But just like last year, those looking into buying Samsung's new crown jewel are mostly doing so for the camera. Updates this year include dual telephoto lenses, 4K video60 frames per second from all rear cameras, and better zoom-stabilization software. So just how much more Ultra is the S21's photography?

Standard

It'll come as little surprise that there's minimal difference between the two cameras when you're shooting in optimal lighting conditions.

In this shot you'll see the colors on the beer can are similarly vibrant, and the same level of detail is captured. The only difference is in the aperture: The background looks a little more blurred in the S20 Ultra as compared to the S21 Ultra. I personally prefer the latter shot, but that's very much a taste thing.

What about less conducive lighting conditions? I shot these flowers under my living room light, which typically makes for some ugly yellow tinting. The S21 Ultra dealt with this lighting far better, neutralizing the yellow shade and producing a shot with better white balance. It also captured better detail on the flower itself.

One issue I found with the S20 Ultra was that, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, it struggled with extreme close-up shots. It often couldn't focus properly, and other times colors would be overwhelming.

I recruited yet another flower for help here, and found the S21 Ultra a slight improvement. The red in the S20 Ultra shot is just completely overpowering, whereas it's bearable -- but still strong -- on the S21 Ultra. More data was shot too, as you'll see from the details on the flower's petals.

As for ultrawide-angle shots, I found the cameras to be largely comparable. The S20 Ultra sometimes suffered from blown highlights at times when the S21 Ultra wouldn't. That said, the S20 Ultra's ultrawide shots also looked more vibrant. 

See how the colors pop more here on the S21 Ultra. But the processing around the building's edges results in harsher lighting.

That difference is more evident here, with that harsh sun in the top right being better handled by the S21 Ultra's ultrawide-angle sensor.

Portrait

If the S21 Ultra regresses anywhere, it's in Portrait shots. (Which are now called Portraits, as opposed to Samsung's previous "Live Focus" branding.)

In my testing, the S21 Ultra tended to cool the tone down and capture more detail. It's bokeh, which mimics the depth-of-field effects found in DSLR cameras, is more blurred and creamy. This isn't always bad: See these shots below of CNET Science Editor Jackson Ryan. I much prefer the S20 Ultra shot, as it looks softer and less artificial. But the S21 Ultra has captured more of Jackson's facial features, like his freckles, and more detail in his beard.

This is a nice change. In the past, critics (myself included) have marked down Samsung's Portraits due to their skin-smoothing software, which can result in fake, brushed Portraits.

But more often than not, I found the S21 Ultra's Portraits to be more unsightly than the S20 Ultra's. Look how artificially blue my friend Dan's skin looks here, and note the sunny glow in the S20 Ultra that's absent in the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra is a little sharper, but just looks flat compared to the S20 Ultra.

It's less of a problem with selfie Portraits. In the below comparison I look softer in the S20 Ultra shot, and the S21 Ultra's sharpness brings out my monobrow. You love to see it. But assuming you have less facial hair than me, this won't be an issue. Here it's a matter of taste, since the unsightly blue tint isn't as much of a problem.

Zoom

Let's move on to why we're really here. Samsung has been investing big design and marketing dollars into its phones' zoom function over the last year, and that's the case with the S21 Ultra too. Like last year's S20 Ultra, it has 100x Space Zoom. Improvements come with a 3x optical zoom, and a lock feature that makes taking pictures at high zoom much easier.

That 3x optical zoom actually makes a big difference, although it's a qualified one. As you can see, not all 3x magnifications are created equal. The S21 Ultra's 3x zoom is actually less magnified than the S20 Ultra's: These shots of my old and ill-kept Game of Thrones books were taken from the same distance at 3x zoom, yet they look far closer on the S20 Ultra. But they also look clearer and less blurred on the S21 Ultra.

Extending out to 10x zoom, the difference actually shrinks. Both phones do a crazy good job here. The below photo was taken at the standard magnification.

Now zooming in 10x, you'll quickly notice how much more dynamic the S21 Ultra's shot is. You may not be able to tell on site here, but looking at the raw files I noticed the S20 Ultra is also more grainy than the S21 Ultra. Again though, both Samsung phones do well at 10x zoom.

However, the chasm widens once again when you begin to zoom further than 10x. See that blue building in the background of this shot? Let's zoom in a big ol' 30x.

The building is adorned with artwork of an Australian kookaburra bird. Apologies for the weird angle, but taking identical shots at 30x zoom is hard! In any case, the S21 Ultra's software is working overtime here and it shows. Both are impressive -- most phones can't zoom this far -- but the S21 Ultra's shot is sharper and with better colors.

Below is another 30x comparison. You'll see that the S20 Ultra's shot is more blurry, has less contrast and captured less detail.

And finally, the ultimate flex: 100x zoom. Of all the 100x-zoom shots I took, this one exemplifies the difference the best. First, here's the scene I was working with:

Now zooming as far as both phones can go, we see both do frankly insane jobs at capturing the moon. The S21 Ultra, though, did better. It's more luminescent and impressive.

Night time

The S21 Ultra performs better at night than its predecessor, but it's not without flaws. Generally speaking, it'll capture more light in its low-light photos -- but at a cost.

This shot illuminates the issue. It was taken with Night Mode off. The S21 Ultra took the better photo, capturing more light and more detail, which you can see in the clouds and on the fencing behind the umbrella. But along with that comes some ugly noise, which is particularly bad in the top left of the photo.

Now let's turn Night Mode on. Here I can say the S21 Ultra is an unqualified winner. There are noise issues, particularly on the wall on the right of the photo, but it's worth it for the extra illumination and sharpness.

But there are times where Night Mode can overdo it. Below is a scene with minimal natural light.

With Night Mode turned on, the S21 Ultra technically does a better job at flooding the scene with light. But it goes too far, resulting in a harsh shot. The S20 Ultra's Night Mode added less light, but produced a more natural-looking photo.

Still, generally speaking the S21 Ultra was a minor improvement over its predecessor. The comparison below is illustrative of what you'll mostly find: The S21 Ultra is a bit sharper, brighter and better at night.

Small improvements

Samsung made some improvements to the S21 Ultra's video camera, too. Both can shoot video in 8K, but now the S21 Ultra can shoot 4K 60 frames-per-second video from all of its rear cameras, notably including its ultrawide angle shooter.

We'd need a whole new article -- or video rather -- to compare the video capabilities of the two phones. I'll just say in my (more limited) testing of the video capabilities, the S21 Ultra's cameras did better at night, with improved low-light autofocus and also better processing of highlights, which can get blown out on the S20 Ultra at times.

All in all, the S21 Ultra is a solid bump up from its predecessor in most photographic ways, especially zoom, though you may personally prefer the S20 Ultra's take on Portrait modes. This is particularly impressive considering the S21 Ultra ($1,200, £1,149, AU$1,849) actually launched at a lower price than the S20 Ultra ($1,400, £1,199, $1,999).

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's flagship 2021 phone, its biggest and best of the 2021 Galaxy S21 line that was originally released in the first quarter of that year. We loved its two telephoto cameras, spectacular 6.8-inch screen and support for Samsung's S-Pen stylus (though you'll need to buy that separately). While it's comparatively heavy and lacks a MicroSD expansion slot, you can find it marked down from its original $1,200 base price. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Galaxy S20 Ultra was Samsung's top phone until the Note 20 Ultra was released later in 2020. We liked its 5x optical zoom camera and S Pen support, but felt it was a bit too heavy and expensive compared to other models in the 2020 Galaxy S line. 

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