The Phantom 4 is unquestionably DJI's best drone yet. It shoots decent quality 4K video and is easier to control than ever before. Batteries are very expensive, though, and the intelligent modes still don't quite match those you'll get with a 3DR Solo which, in our opinion, is still the better...

We've written about the very popular DJI Phantom 3 drone and the company has just stepped up their game with the release of the all-new DJI Phantom 4 drone . This drone is just as amazing as the Phantom 3 and then improved in many aspects.

The drone takes off, hovering a few feet off the ground. I guide it up to about 12 feet with the throttle on the remote control. Then my three year old son takes over. He taps the screen on an iPad running our piloting app.

Great autonomous features; Reliable and powerful flight; Terrific camera and connectivity

Expensive; Only comes with one battery

DJI maintains its dominance as the class leader in the consumer drone market. The new Phantom 4 ($1,399) refines the iconic design of its predecessors with a glossier, more streamlined chassis.

Easy to fly; Extremely stable; Obstacle avoidance; Incredible operating range with 720p Live View; Return-to-home and other safety features; Automated flight modes; High-speed Sport mode; Smooth 4K video capture; 20mm wide-angle lens; Subject recognition and tracking; Raw and JPG still capture

Pricey; True mission planning requires third-party app

At ￡1229, the Phantom 4 is more expensive than last year's model, but the autonomous modes make it the clear choice for anyone looking to make their first flight as a drone pilot.

Obstacle detection and automatic modes means it practically flies itself; Still the easiest drone to use; even in Sport mode; Fantastic camera and an even better gimbal

Low light still a challenge; Lack of model choice

The DJI Phantom 4 is not quite a drone for the non-enthusiast, then, but it's closer than ever before to that ideal, and it's the safety features – the collision-detection and tracking features, not to mention the safety net of the automatic fly-me-home feature – that take it there.

The DJI Phantom 4 is a slick, feature-packed drone. People say it's the drone that anybody can fly, the quadcopter that you just can't crash. Let me be painfully clear about two things: 1) Not everyone can fly the Phantom 4, and 2) It's pretty damn easy to crash.

The Phantom 4 is a beautifully designed camera drone. Its smooth curves and crisp white exterior make it a natural fit for Apple stores, where its being sold exclusively for the first few weeks. The last thing you want to do with a ￡1,299 drone with a top speed of 45mph is crash it.

Excellent quality footage; intuitive app and controls; sleek and polished design

Only shipped with one battery; propellers obscure footage at high speeds; object tracking isn't always accurate

With its new collision-avoidance system and upgrades all round, this is the top-end, all-in-one drone to buy