basically title. im looking at getting into drones and everyone i ask just says DJI DJI DJI and im wondering if thats actually true or if people just say it because its the brand they know. like is there something else worth looking at or is DJI genuinely that much better for a first buy. i was also looking at Autel but i can't really find many people talking about it compared to DJI. budget isnt a huge concern i guess, willing to spend what makes sense but i dont need something for professional work or anything

your friend is right lol, at least for a first drone. the DJI app and the way their stuff just works out of the box is really hard to beat when you're starting. i messed around with a cheaper off brand thing for a few months and then got a mini 3 pro and it was like night and day, the obstacle avoidance alone saved it probably four times in the first week. Autel is fine but the software feels a bit clunky compared to DJI fly and the community is way smaller so when you have questions its harder to find ansers

i mean i get the DJI fatigue, feels like everyone's just a fan boy sometimes. but genuinely having flown a few different brands the return to home feature on DJI stuff is just more reliable and for a beginner that matters a lot. lost a Hubsan once because the RTH just kinda... didnt. anyway yeah DJI mini SE or mini 2 SE is probably where id start if budget is flexible enough, you can usually find them refurbished too