Nano or Lite, which is right for you? 

Autel’s EVO Lite and Nano series are the latest in our line of consumer camera drones. Both are compact, folding-arm quadcopters with powerful cameras, best-in-class flight times, and a suite of cinematic options to make it a breeze to capture helicopter-quality photos and videos. 

But which one is right for you? Read on so you can get the best drone for your needs. 

Light and Superlight 

The EVO Lite and Lite+ weigh 835g, almost 30 percent less than its predecessor the EVO II. The Nano and Nano+ weigh even less, at a feather-light 249g. That’s an important number because it’s under the FAA’s minimum weight requirement for recreational drones, making the Nano the easiest EVO-series drone to fly legally. 

Both the Lite and Nano series feature obstacle-avoidance sensors on the front, back, and belly to avoid collisions mid-flight. The Lite’s sensors are designed to be the widest angle possible for maximum coverage with a minimal amount of sensors. 

Easy Flying with Sky App 

The Nano and Lite series are both easy to fly via the Autel Sky App. Download the app onto your smartphone, pair it with the drones’ included remote controller, and you’re set to fly. It’s convenient to fly and, paired with the controller’s tri-band operating frequency, it’s easy to fly even in urban environments with high signal interference. 

Once you’re done flying, the Sky App also has a collection of video-editing options, including editing templates in MovieMaster, or recording voice and ambient sound through your smartphone while flying in the SoundRecord mode. 

You can also download photos and videos from your drone’s SD card or internal storage (Lite series only) by placing it next to your smartphone. Images download via Sky App at 160Mbps.

Cinematic Modes

Both the Nano and Lite series come preprogrammed with a host of cinematic modes that make photos and videos a breeze. They’re both able to orbit, zoom out, fly over, and ascend above subjects for helicopter-worthy shots. Both also feature Dynamic Track 2.0, which allows the drones to lock onto and track moving subjects. 

• Orbit: The drone will circle a specified point for a dramatic establishing shot. 

• Fade out: The drone flies backward, zooming out on you and displaying your surrounding area. 

• Flick: The drone does a flyover of a specified location like a plane going overhead. 

• Rocket: The drone ascends straight up for an ever-expanding top-down perspective. 

• Rotate (Lite only): The drone pans in a circle for a 360-degree panoramic shot. 

What’s the Difference? 

The Nano and Lite series share many similarities that make them powerful, convenient, and user-friendly. The differences are important, though, and get into the most important part of the drone: its camera payload. 

Nano

The Nano series is Autel’s smallest drone to date and is ideal for beginners or hobbyists looking to transition from “toy” drones to “tool” drones. It’s the smallest drone of its class to include obstacle-avoidance sensors, and its camera, while not as impressive as the other drones on this list, is more than capable. 

• Weight: 249g 

• Flight time: 28 min. 

• Payload: 

• ½ in. CMOS sensor

• RGGB filter 

• Fixed focus

• 48MP photo

• 4K/30FPS video 

• Built-in storage: none

• Gimbal: 3-axis

• Flight modes: 

• Rocket

• Orbit

• Flick

• Fadeaway 

Nano+

The Nano+ shares the same airframe as the Nano, the difference is in its camera. The Nano+ has a professional-grade camera on the smallest frame possible, making it great for well-established photographers or content creators looking to get aerial photography in an ultralight platform. 

• Weight: 249g 

• Flight time: 28 min. 

• Payload: 

• 1/1.28in. CMOS sensor

• RYYB filter 

• Phase and Contrast Detection Autofocus

• 50MP photo

• 4K/30FPS video 

• Gimbal: 3-axis

• Built-in storage: none

• Flight modes: 

• Rocket

• Orbit

• Flick

• Fadeaway 

Lite 

The Lite has the same camera sensor as the Nano+ but pairs it with a bigger, more powerful aircraft that offers longer flight time, better processing power, and higher FPS on its video camera. The Lite also has a 4-axis gimbal that allows for full-resolution vertical portraits. 

The Lite is ideal for experienced photographers or high-end influencers who want a powerful, long-lasting drone for vertical and horizontal shots. 

• Weight: 835g 

• Flight time: 40 min.

• Payload: 

• 1/1.28in. CMOS sensor

• RYYB filter 

• Phase and Contrast Detection Autofocus

• 50MP photo

• 4K/60FPS video 

• Gimbal: 4-axis

• Built-in storage: 6GB

• Flight modes: 

• Rocket

• Orbit

• Flick

• Fadeaway 

• Rotate

Lite+

The Lite and Lite+ have the same drone platform; like the Nano series, the difference is in the camera. The difference here might not be as cut-and-dry as the Nano and Nano+. The standout feature on the Lite+ is its 1-inch CMOS camera. This is the gold standard for compact cameras, and lets in the maximum amount of light to create the best quality pictures. The Lite+ also features a moonlight algorithm to reduce noise in low-light photos, even when shooting with high ISO. 

The Lite+ is the definitive camera drone of its size class. While the Lite’s camera is loaded with special features to make it comparable to the Lite+, the Lite+ naturally performs at the highest level. 

• Weight: 835g 

• Flight time: 40 min.

• Payload: 

• 1in. CMOS sensor

• RGGB filter 

• Contrast Detection Autofocus

• 20MP photo

• 6K/30FPS video 

• Gimbal: 3-axis

• Built-in storage: 6GB

• Flight modes: 

• Rocket

• Orbit

• Flick

• Fadeaway 

Conclusion

The EVO Nano and Lite Series are compact, powerful drones with a host of cinematic and user-friendly features. What you decide on depends on your skill level and photography needs, but rest assured that whatever you decide on, you’re getting the best drone available. 

For more information, check out our feature guides for the Nano and Lite, or go to our website for product information, technical specifications, and a side-by-side comparison.