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Why FPS, frames per second, and frame rate matter for Xbox, PlayStation, movies and TV
Why FPS, frames per second, and frame rate matter for Xbox, PlayStation, movies and TV
From the best TVs to game consoles like the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, to cameras like the GoPro Hero 10s and the one on the shiny iPhone 13 Pro, fps matters. But what does fps mean, and why should you care? The short version is that fps stands for "frames per second." In other words, fps is the exact number of individual still images that make up each second of moving video.
Movies, almost exclusively, are 24fps. Live-action TV shows like sports and concerts are typically 30 or 60 fps. Video games vary, but the latest consoles are capable of up to 120fps (as long as you pair them with a TV that can handle it).
But can you even tell the difference? Does fps even matter? Yes, though not always the way you expect. Here's why.
Brett Pearce/CNET
Why does fps matter?
Let's back up slightly and cover some important basics. All video is made up of a series of still images, shown in rapid succession. Show them rapidly enough and your brain is fooled into thinking these still images are actually smooth motion. The speed of that threshold, from series of still images to motion, varies depending on a variety of factors. Generally, though, somewhere in the mid-teens-per-second will appear as "motion" to most observers, where fewer frames per second just look like individual images.
Higher frames per second, also known as frame rates, make the image appear smoother and more realistic. Subjectively, there's a huge jump between 15fps and 30fps. There's less of a noticeable jump between 30 and 60, and even less between 60 and 120. But again, depending on the content, display and other factors, you might notice a difference.
The Xbox Series X can output video up to 120 fps.
Microsoft
With games, higher frame rates can result in smoother, more natural-looking images. Compare that with low frame rates, where the onscreen action will stutter and pause. Because the graphics processing on all consoles is limited, higher frame rates come at a cost. That cost might be fewer polygons, less detail in objects on screen, more basic lighting, less complex textures and so on. With some games, the console might even reduce the game's resolution and then upconvert it at the output to hit the maximum frame rate. The image won't be as detailed, but the motion will be smoother.
A game designer might decide that their game looks and plays better at 60 or 120fps, despite these limitations, but it depends. Not every game supports higher frame rates, though many new games do (and will). Also, both Sony on the PlayStation 5 and Microsoft with FPS Boost have older titles that now run at higher frame rates.
On the PC side, there are gaming monitors capable of 144Hz (more on Hz vs fps in the next section). There are, potentially, some benefits for competitive multiplayer with higher frame rates, with less and less time spent "waiting" for the computer to update an image. That advantage is, at best, very slight. We're talking milliseconds.
The Sony PlayStation 5 is also capable of delivering video at up to 120 fps.
With consoles and PCs, they might not be hitting their maximum theoretical frame rate at all times. If there's a lot going on, a complex boss fight for instance, it might only produce a fraction of that max frame rate -- a feature known as variable refresh rate, or VRR.
With cameras, there's an additional benefit. Recording video at, say 120fps, allows you to play back that video at 60 or 30, greatly slowing down the action. Someone doing a backflip recorded at 120fps and shown at 30 will result in some extremely smooth, epic slo-mo.
FPS vs. Hz
The terms fps and Hz are often used to describe the same thing. Hz, or hertz as you may remember it from high school science class, means "one cycle per second." Generally, TVs and related gear use hertz to describe frame rate, a continuation from the analog CRT days. Content like movies and games use frames per second, a continuation from the old film days.
Technically, these aren't always exactly the same. For some esoteric reasons, 30Hz on a TV is usually 29.97Hz -- again, a holdover from CRT.
Effectively, though, consider them the same thing. A TV that's capable of displaying 120Hz content means it wants 120fps content to look its smoothest.
Or to put it simply, fps is the content, Hz is the device. You might see some companies using one term in place of the other, which is fine. In practice, you can use these terms interchangeably.
Why 60 (or 50)?
If you're in the US, Canada or anywhere in the Americas north of Brazil, TVs are 60Hz or a multiple of 60Hz. In the UK, Europe, and most of Asia, Africa, and Oceana, TVs are generally 50Hz or a multiple of 50Hz. Go into an electronics shop in many parts of the world and you might see TVs advertised with 100Hz, something that might catch the eye of a tech-savvy American tourist.
This is entirely due to the frequency of the mains power in each country. It's always one or the other. OK, almost always. Some newer TVs might ignore this by offering you 60Hz in a country with 50Hz power.
Does this matter? Not really. With older TVs it was more likely you could see flicker with 50Hz TVs. I certainly noticed it during visits to the UK in the '90s. In the modern age where nearly every TV is either LCD or OLED, this is only a concern with people especially susceptible to flicker (though the same is true with 60Hz too, for what it's worth).
FPS to the moon
The race to increase fps doesn't have much of a downside... for the most part. Higher frame rate cameras can record smoother motion, with less motion blur. TVs with higher frame rates themselves produce less motion blur, though potentially with soap opera effect issues. Games with higher frame rates are smoother and can be more realistic, though some other aspect of graphical detail must be reduced on the limited hardware of game consoles.
However, the same isn't true with live-action fictional content, like most TV shows and movies. With decades of conditioning, most people associate the "look" of 24fps content with fiction. Increasing that, something several Hollywood directors have tried, is rife with peril. Yes, a minority of people like it. The majority of people, though, hate it. It completely negates the suspension of disbelief: They're no longer characters in a world, but actors on a set. There's no coming back from that. Thankfully, these experiments in high frame rate, or HFR, have continually been met with derision. Enough so that Hollywood as an industry seems unlikely to adopt something that would so alienate audiences (aka their customers).
And if you do get a TV with 120Hz capability, almost all have the ability to turn off motion smoothing, aka the soap opera effect, so it will look like your old TV. If there's an option for black frame insertion, check that out as an alternative too.
As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more.
You can follow his exploits on Instagram and YouTube about his 10,000 mile road trip. He also has written a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel.
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What Is Home Equity?
Most homeowners now have more equity in their homes than they did two years ago, thanks to surging home values during the pandemic. That means right now is a good time to consider tapping into your home equity if you're looking to borrow money at a lower interest rate than you might get with other types of loans such as personal loans. Home equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the current market value of your home.
You build equity in your home by consistently making mortgage payments over the years. Equity is valuable because it allows you to borrow money against your home at lower interest rates than other types of financing. Once you have enough equity built up in your home, lenders and banks will allow you to borrow against it. Some of the most common reasons to borrow against your equity are to pay for life expenses such as home improvements, higher education costs such as tuition, or to pay off high-interest credit card debt.
Most lenders want to see that you've built up at least 15% to 20% in equity in order to let you borrow money against your house in the form of refinancing or other kinds of home equity loans. One of the simplest ways to ensure you have a good chunk of equity in your home is to make a large down payment if you are able to.
For a typical homeowner with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, building up 15% to 20% usually takes about 5 to 10 years. Even if you paid less for your home when you bought it years ago, your equity is based on the present-day value of your house. If, for example, your home is currently worth $500,000 and you have $400,000 left to pay on your mortgage, you would have $100,000 of equity in your home.
Here's what you need to know about home equity, what it is, how to calculate it and why it's important to homeowners.
How do you calculate home equity?
To calculate your home equity, simply subtract your remaining mortgage balance from the current market value of your home. So if you owe $400,000 on your mortgage and your house is worth $500,000, you have $100,000, or 20% equity in your home. You may need to work with an appraiser or real estate agent in order to get an accurate evaluation of your home's fair market value, especially since home values have risen by record-breaking amounts since the beginning of the pandemic.
Ways to borrow against home equity
There are various ways to access the equity in your home. Some of the most common equity financing options are home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (or HELOCs) and reverse mortgages. It's important, however, to keep in mind that all of these options require you to put up your home as collateral to secure the loan, so it's critical to understand that there's a risk of losing your home to foreclosure if you miss payments or default on your loan for any reason.
Home equity loan
A home equity loan lets you borrow money against the equity you've built in your home and provides you with a lump sum of cash at a fixed interest rate. Lenders typically want to see that you have at least 15% to 20% in your home to approve you for a home equity loan. A home equity loan doesn't replace your mortgage like a refinance, rather, it's an entirely new loan that you'll repay monthly along with your existing mortgage payment. But just like a mortgage, with a home equity loan, your interest rate never changes and your monthly payments are fixed, too.
HELOCs
A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a type of loan that lets you borrow against the equity you've built up in your home and functions like a credit card. It provides you with an open line of credit that you can access for a certain amount of time, typically 10 years, followed by a set repayment period, which is usually 20 years. Lenders also generally want you to have at least 15% to 20% in your home for HELOC approval. With a HELOC, you don't have to take all of your funds out at once, and you can withdraw money repeatedly from your HELOC over the 10-year period, once previously borrowed sums are paid back.
"A HELOC offers more flexibility than a home equity loan -- you can't withdraw money from a home equity loan like you can with a HELOC, and a HELOC allows you to receive replenished funds as you pay your outstanding balance," said Robert Heck, VP of Mortgage at Morty, an online mortgage marketplace.
HELOCs have variable interest rates however, so it's important to make sure you can afford higher monthly payments if your rate goes up once your introductory interest rate expires, especially in the current economic climate.
Reverse mortgage
You must be 62 years or older to access a reverse mortgage and have either paid off your home or have significant equity accumulated, usually at least 50%. With a reverse mortgage, you do not have to make monthly mortgage payments and the bank or lender actually makes payments to you. You must still pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance and continue to live in the house, however. A reverse mortgage allows you to access the equity in your home and not pay back the funds for an extended period of time while using them for other expenses during retirement. It's important to keep in mind that you are building a mortgage balance back up as you borrow against your equity, and your estate will eventually have to pay off your loan. A common way to repay this loan is to sell your house.
The bottom line
Unlocking the equity in your home can be a valuable way to access financing to cover other life expenses. It's important to understand the differences between the kinds of equity loans available to secure the best one for your particular financial situation. When comparing ways to access equity, always take into account the interest rate, additional lender costs and fees, and the size of the loan and how it will be disbursed to you, as well as the amount of time you have to pay it back, before you enter into an agreement to borrow against the equity in your home.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wields so much power that even one of the social network's co-founders thinks it's both "unprecedented" and "un-American."
Chris Hughes, who co-founded Facebook with Zuckerberg while they were students at Harvard, called for the social network to be broken up in an op-ed published Thursday by The New York Times. "I'm angry that his focus on growth led him to sacrifice security and civility for clicks," Hughes wrote, referring to Facebook's boss and major shareholder. "I'm disappointed in myself and the early Facebook team for not thinking more about how the News Feed algorithm could change our culture, influence elections and empower nationalist leaders."
Facebook's rapid growth has been fueled by acquisitions, including Instagram and WhatsApp, a messaging service. Critics and experts say Facebook simply purchased its competition, rather than innovating to meet the challenges they posed.
"Their whole business model is to identify potential threats and then buy them or beat them in some way," said Stephen Diamond, an associate professor of law at Santa Clara University School of Law.
And Facebook has been called out for not doing enough to combat election meddling, misinformation and hate speech. Its enormous power, critics argue, needs to be kept in check. Facebook doesn't want to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp.
Here's what you need to know:
Who wants Facebook broken up? Why?
Calls to break up Facebook aren't new. But it is startling to hear one of the company's co-founders call for such an extreme measure. Hughes argues that Zuckerberg holds so much power that even the company's board of directors can't keep him accountable. Zuckerberg controls around 60 percent of Facebook's voting shares, which means the board technically can't fire him even if he messes up.
Hughes isn't alone. Advocacy groups, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Color of Change and Common Sense Media, have previously asked the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that enforces antitrust law, to make Instagram and WhatsApp separate companies. A split would also make it easier for other social media companies to compete with Facebook, the organizations argue.
In addition, a group called Freedom from Facebook has called on the FTC to force Facebook to spin off its Messenger service too.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts who's also a presidential candidate, is among the lawmakers who want to break up Facebook, as well as other tech giants, including Google and Amazon.
How would Facebook be broken up?
One way to break up Facebook would be for the federal government to file a lawsuit against the company, arguing it stifles competition. That could prompt a negotiation between the parties that could lead to Facebook agreeing to make itself smaller.
Another alternative would be for Congress to pass a law covering tech monopolies. Warren has proposed such a law, which would require tech platforms that take in $25 billion or more in sales to "structurally separate" their products. Amazon, for example, would have to spin off its house brand Amazon Basics. Warren said that if she won the presidential election her administration would also appoint regulators to unwind the mergers of Instagram and WhatsApp from Facebook.
What does Facebook think about the idea?
Facebook has pushed back, arguing that breaking up the company wouldn't hold the social network more accountable for its actions. Instead, Facebook has called for more internet regulation around harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability.
"Accountability of tech companies can only be achieved through the painstaking introduction of new rules for the internet," Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, said in a statement Thursday. The social network also said that having Instagram and WhatsApp under Facebook helps them fight spam, election meddling and crime. Facebook says it has plenty of competition, pointing to YouTube, Snapchat, iMessage and WeChat, among others.
Clegg touched on all those points in a Saturday editorial in The New York Times.
Have tech companies been broken up in the past?
Yes, but it's unusual. In 1974, the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T but the matter wasn't settled until eight years later. The telephone company was required to spin off two-thirds of its assets into separate companies, according to a 1982 article from The Washington Post. The government has also tried to break up Microsoft and in 2000 a US federal judge ordered that the tech giant split into two companies. Microsoft appealed and the decision was reversed.
What would this mean for users of Facebook?
Facebook is trying to integrate its messaging services so users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp can send messages to one another without switching apps. Splitting up the companies might prevent that from happening.
Those who want the government to break Facebook up argue the move would fuel more competition among social media companies, which could mean more options for consumers. About 2.7 billion people use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger every month.
Diamond said that breaking up Facebook could also lead to the company stepping up its privacy efforts to match its social media competitors.
What are the chances this happens?
The FTC declined to comment on whether it's looking to break up Facebook. But if history is any indication, it would be a rare move.
"I doubt there is sufficient political momentum to break up Facebook," Diamond said. "I'm skeptical, even though I think there might be good reasons to do it."
Originally published May 10, 5:40 a.m. PT. Update, May 11: Adds mention of Facebook VP Nick Clegg's Saturday editorial in the Times.
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Can Facebook be broken up? What you need to know
Can Facebook be broken up? What you need to know
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wields so much power that even one of the social network's co-founders thinks it's both "unprecedented" and "un-American."
Chris Hughes, who co-founded Facebook with Zuckerberg while they were students at Harvard, called for the social network to be broken up in an op-ed published Thursday by The New York Times. "I'm angry that his focus on growth led him to sacrifice security and civility for clicks," Hughes wrote, referring to Facebook's boss and major shareholder. "I'm disappointed in myself and the early Facebook team for not thinking more about how the News Feed algorithm could change our culture, influence elections and empower nationalist leaders."
Facebook's rapid growth has been fueled by acquisitions, including Instagram and WhatsApp, a messaging service. Critics and experts say Facebook simply purchased its competition, rather than innovating to meet the challenges they posed.
"Their whole business model is to identify potential threats and then buy them or beat them in some way," said Stephen Diamond, an associate professor of law at Santa Clara University School of Law.
And Facebook has been called out for not doing enough to combat election meddling, misinformation and hate speech. Its enormous power, critics argue, needs to be kept in check. Facebook doesn't want to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp.
Here's what you need to know:
Who wants Facebook broken up? Why?
Calls to break up Facebook aren't new. But it is startling to hear one of the company's co-founders call for such an extreme measure. Hughes argues that Zuckerberg holds so much power that even the company's board of directors can't keep him accountable. Zuckerberg controls around 60 percent of Facebook's voting shares, which means the board technically can't fire him even if he messes up.
Hughes isn't alone. Advocacy groups, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Color of Change and Common Sense Media, have previously asked the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that enforces antitrust law, to make Instagram and WhatsApp separate companies. A split would also make it easier for other social media companies to compete with Facebook, the organizations argue.
In addition, a group called Freedom from Facebook has called on the FTC to force Facebook to spin off its Messenger service too.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts who's also a presidential candidate, is among the lawmakers who want to break up Facebook, as well as other tech giants, including Google and Amazon.
How would Facebook be broken up?
One way to break up Facebook would be for the federal government to file a lawsuit against the company, arguing it stifles competition. That could prompt a negotiation between the parties that could lead to Facebook agreeing to make itself smaller.
Another alternative would be for Congress to pass a law covering tech monopolies. Warren has proposed such a law, which would require tech platforms that take in $25 billion or more in sales to "structurally separate" their products. Amazon, for example, would have to spin off its house brand Amazon Basics. Warren said that if she won the presidential election her administration would also appoint regulators to unwind the mergers of Instagram and WhatsApp from Facebook.
What does Facebook think about the idea?
Facebook has pushed back, arguing that breaking up the company wouldn't hold the social network more accountable for its actions. Instead, Facebook has called for more internet regulation around harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability.
"Accountability of tech companies can only be achieved through the painstaking introduction of new rules for the internet," Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, said in a statement Thursday. The social network also said that having Instagram and WhatsApp under Facebook helps them fight spam, election meddling and crime. Facebook says it has plenty of competition, pointing to YouTube, Snapchat, iMessage and WeChat, among others.
Clegg touched on all those points in a Saturday editorial in The New York Times.
Have tech companies been broken up in the past?
Yes, but it's unusual. In 1974, the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T but the matter wasn't settled until eight years later. The telephone company was required to spin off two-thirds of its assets into separate companies, according to a 1982 article from The Washington Post. The government has also tried to break up Microsoft and in 2000 a US federal judge ordered that the tech giant split into two companies. Microsoft appealed and the decision was reversed.
What would this mean for users of Facebook?
Facebook is trying to integrate its messaging services so users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp can send messages to one another without switching apps. Splitting up the companies might prevent that from happening.
Those who want the government to break Facebook up argue the move would fuel more competition among social media companies, which could mean more options for consumers. About 2.7 billion people use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger every month.
Diamond said that breaking up Facebook could also lead to the company stepping up its privacy efforts to match its social media competitors.
What are the chances this happens?
The FTC declined to comment on whether it's looking to break up Facebook. But if history is any indication, it would be a rare move.
"I doubt there is sufficient political momentum to break up Facebook," Diamond said. "I'm skeptical, even though I think there might be good reasons to do it."
Originally published May 10, 5:40 a.m. PT. Update, May 11: Adds mention of Facebook VP Nick Clegg's Saturday editorial in the Times.
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What are Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync and which do I need?
What are Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync and which do I need?
There are many ways to compensate for the disconnect between screen updates and gameplay frame rate, ranging from the brute force method of simply capping your game's frame rate to match your monitor's refresh rate to the more intelligent realm of variable refresh rate. VRR enables the two to sync to prevent artifacts like tearing (where it looks like parts of different screens are mixed together) and stutter (where the screen updates at perceptibly irregular intervals). These efforts range from basic in-game frame rate control to pricey hardware-based implementations like Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate and AMD FreeSync Premium.
Which do you want?
When picking a monitor, which VRR system to look for comes down to which graphics card you own -- especially now when you can't really buy a new GPU -- and which games you play, plus the monitor specs and choices available. G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate and FreeSync Premium and Pro are mutually exclusive; you'll rarely (if ever) see variations of the same monitor with options for both. In other words, every other decision you make pretty much determines which VRR scheme you get.
Basic VRR
Basic VRR enables games to use their own methods of syncing the two rates, which on the PC frequently means the game just caps the frame rate it will allow. One step up from that is generic adaptive refresh rate, which uses extended system-level technologies to vary the screen update rate based on the frame rate coming out of the game. This can deliver a better result than plain VRR as long as your frame rates aren't all over the place within a short span of time.
G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync
In the bottom tier of Nvidia and AMD's VRR technologies you'll find improved versions of adaptive refresh, branded G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync. They use the GPU's hardware to improve VRR performance, but they're hardware technologies that are common to both Nvidia and AMD GPUs, which means you can use either supported by the monitor, provided one manufacturer's graphics card driver allows you to enable it for the other manufacturer's cards. Unlike FreeSync, though, G-Sync Compatible implies Nvidia has tested the monitor for an "approved" level of artifact reduction.
G-Sync and FreeSync Premium
The first serious levels of hardware-based adaptive refresh are G-Sync and FreeSync Premium. They both require manufacturer-specific hardware in the monitor that works in conjunction with their respective GPUs in order to apply more advanced algorithms, such as low-frame rate compensation (AMD) or variable overdrive (Nvidia) for better results with less performance overhead. They also have base thresholds for monitor specs that meet appropriate criteria. G-Sync still only works over a DisplayPort connection for monitors because it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive Sync, however, which is frustrating because it does work over HDMI for some TVs.
At CES 2022, Nvidia launched its next-generation 1440p G-sync Esports standard with Reflex Latency Analyzer (Nvidia's technology for minimizing lag of the combined keyboard, mouse and display) and a 25-inch mode that can simulate that size display on a larger monitor. Normalizing high-quality 1440p 27-inch displays for esports is a great step up from 1080p and 25 inches. The initial monitors which will be supporting it (the ViewSonic Elite XG271QG, AOC Agon Pro AG274QGM, MSI MEG 271Q, all with a 300Hz refresh rate, and the Asus ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN) haven't shipped yet.
(Mini rant: This name scheme would make a monitor "G-Sync Compatible-compatible," so you'll see the base capability referred to as a "G-Sync Compatible monitor." That's seriously misleading, because that means you're frequently called on to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase: G-Sync Compatible is not the same as G-Sync-compatible.)
G-Sync Ultimate and FreeSync Premium Pro
At the top of the VRR food chain are G-Sync Ultimate and FreeSync Premium Pro. They both require a complete ecosystem of support -- game and monitor in addition to the GPU -- and primarily add HDR optimization in addition to further VRR-based compensation algorithms.
The hardware-based options tend to add to the price of a monitor, and whether or not you need or want them really depends upon the games you play -- if your games don't support these technologies it's kind of pointless to pay extra for them -- how sensitive you are to artifacts and how bad the disconnect is between your display and the gameplay.
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.
Should i get mortgage preapproval what is preapproval for a mortgage how to pre approved for mortgage how to get a mortgage preapproval should i get mortgage preapproval need pre approval mortgage requirements for mortgage preapproval get preapproval online mortgage is preapproval for a mortgage required mortgage preapproval means
Mortgage preapproval: Everything you need to know to get preapproved
Mortgage preapproval: Everything you need to know to get preapproved
Buying a home -- especially for the first time -- is a complicated process. One of the first and most significant steps of buying a home is getting your mortgage preapproval. It's proof that you've lined up the financing you need to close on the home. Without a preapproval letter, most sellers aren't going to take your offer seriously.
Although some lenders have tightened their standards due to the pandemic, it's usually not too difficult or complicated to get a home-loan preapproval. Let's look at how it works.
What does it mean to be preapproved for a mortgage?
A mortgage preapproval is a letter from a lender indicating that you are tentatively approved for a loan. It typically includes a maximum loan amount, interest rate and any other relevant terms or information.
Significantly, getting preapproved for a mortgage doesn't guarantee you will actually get a loan -- or the specific rate and terms on offer. Rather, it's a statement from the lender stating its intention to lend and the terms involved, assuming the information you've provided about your income, employment and financial situation is accurate. It also assumes that there will be no significant changes to your financial situation or credit score -- losing your job or taking out another loan, for instance -- as these could impact the terms or even disqualify you.
"Many housing markets across the country are struggling with inventory, increasing demand substantially," said Jefferson Watters, a loan originator for AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation. "A preapproval demonstrates a commitment from the buyer and tells sellers that the buyer is completely qualified to purchase their home. In most cases, if a seller has two equal offers on the table, with the only difference being that one buyer is preapproved, the seller will almost always choose the preapproved offer."
Preapproval vs. prequalification: What's the difference?
When you start looking for a mortgage, another term you might come across is "prequalification." Though home loan preapproval and prequalification are often used interchangeably, the process and terminology varies among lenders.
In some cases, prequalification is based on your answers to a few initial questions and a soft credit check (where a lender checks your score but doesn't pull a full report that could impact your credit). It usually doesn't include details about loan amount, interest rate or terms. As such, it's less authoritative than a preapproval -- but it's a good way to get an initial idea of whether you're in good enough financial shape to qualify for a mortgage.
"A true preapproval will verify assets, income and the ability to repay the loan," Watters said. "Some lenders will offer a preliminary prequalification letter, but this only shows a borrower qualifying based off of the information they submitted in their application."
When you're ready to make an offer on a home, you'll want to have an official statement from a lender -- or, better yet, multiple lenders -- that you can get the financing and terms you need to close on the deal. Whichever term your lender uses, make sure you have it before you make an offer.
When should you get preapproved?
When you apply for preapproval, your lender will first gather some basic financial information from you and pull your credit report. In most cases, that means a hard inquiry on your credit, which could affect your credit score. Given this, you shouldn't apply for preapproval until you're serious about buying a home. This will both protect you from impairing your credit score unnecessarily and ensure that your preapproval is valid when you're ready to make an offer; a home-loan preapproval letter is typically only good for 30 to 60 days.
Having multiple preapproval letters from a few different lenders will only strengthen your hand. And if you get multiple inquiries for the same type of credit within a short period of time, the credit bureaus will usually treat those as one inquiry and avoid knocking your credit score.
How to get preapproved for a mortgage
The process for getting a mortgage preapproval is fairly straightforward, and the better prepared you are, the more smoothly and quickly it will go.
Step 1: Review your financial situation
Before you apply for preapproval, it's a good idea to assess your current financial situation.
Pull your credit report: Under normal circumstances, you're entitled to one free report from each bureau every 12 months, but you can now get a free credit report every week through April 2021. (Note that pulling your own report doesn't impact your score.) Review your credit history to make sure everything is accurate; you can reach out to lenders and the credit bureaus to make corrections if need be.
Calculate your debt-to-income ratio: A key factor in getting prequalified for a mortgage, your DTI ratio represents your total monthly debt payments as a percentage of your monthly income. Most lenders won't offer a loan that will put your DTI above 43%. So, if you currently have an auto payment of $300, monthly minimum credit card payments of $65 and a monthly income of $5,000, your lender will only approve you for a mortgage with a monthly payment of $1,785.
Step 2: Submit your documents
For an official prequalification, lenders won't simply take your word for it when it comes to your income and liabilities. You need to show proof. Each lender may have different requirements, but here are some documents and information you will usually need to submit for yourself and anyone else on the loan application:
Your employment history (and contacts for verification)
Pay stubs from the last 30 days
Bank statements from the last two months
W-2s and possibly tax returns from the last two years
Insurance agent contact information and declarations
Outstanding debt information (your lender can usually just pull this from your credit report)
Business financial statements and tax returns (if you're self-employed)
Expected down payment (this affects your loan terms, interest rate and potential private mortgage insurance)
Self-employed individuals may have to provide additional paperwork to demonstrate proof of long-term income. Additional documents required often include:
Profit and loss statements
Business licenses
Tax returns and bank statements from the past two years
Balance statements
Not all lenders will require all of this information for preapproval, but you'll need to provide it at some point before your loan becomes official. And having all of it prepared may speed up the process.
Step 3: Lender review of credit and documentation
Next, your lender will review all of your documents, pull your credit report and seek to verify all of your information. This may include calling current and previous employers to verify your employment and wages, confirming outstanding loan amounts and investigating unusual transactions on your bank statements. Normally, this process should take no more than a few days.
Step 4: Get your home loan preapproval (or rejection) letter
Once your lender has completed its review, you'll receive the verdict. If there are no serious issues, you'll receive a preapproval letter indicating your maximum loan amount, estimated interest rate, loan type and terms. You'll want to give this letter to your real estate agent so they'll have it ready to submit with any offer.
What to do if you're declined for a preapproval
There's always a chance you won't get preapproved for a mortgage. But don't be disheartened. One rejection doesn't mean you can never get a mortgage. Especially during the pandemic, some lenders have tightened their standards for credit scores, down payments and more. But that won't last forever.
"We've been seeing these restrictions starting to soften as the market starts to recover and the economy becomes more accustomed to a completely virtual way of life," Watters said.
If you do get rejected, be sure you try applying with another lender. If one lender denied you for a credit score of 690, you can probably find a lender that's still qualifying borrowers for a conventional loan at 620 and above.
If you apply with a few lenders and still can't get preapproved, don't lose heart. Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (PDF), your lender has to tell you why your application was denied. It may have been your credit score, or it may be that you haven't been at your current job long enough. Whatever the reason is, now you know what to work on so you can get preapproved in the future.
What are the pitfalls?
Getting approved is usually pretty straightforward, but there are opportunities for things to go sideways. Here are a few things to avoid.
Applying when you're not really ready: If you already know your credit isn't great or you have too much debt, don't waste time applying for preapproval (and hurting your credit even more in the process). Make a plan to rebuild your credit to enhance your chances in six to 12 months from now.
Assuming your terms are final: Again, getting preapproved for a mortgage is not the same as officially having your loan underwritten and secured. Your terms can change. For instance, unless your rate is locked for 30 or 60 days, your final rate may vary, albeit slightly. If any information you provided wasn't accurate, that could change your final terms, too.
Taking on new debt between preapproval and underwriting: For that matter, your own financial choices can change your loan terms or derail the loan altogether. Once you're preapproved, it's time to wait on any big financial changes. That means no changing jobs, no new credit cards, no major purchases such as a new car.
Waiting too long after preapproval: Your loan preapproval is usually only good for 30 to 60 days. Once you have a letter, it's time to start house hunting and getting ready to make an offer. Otherwise, you may have to restart the process.
