Do drones need SD Cards? Can you fly a drone without an SD Card?
The most significant advantage of owning a drone is not only seeing almost anything from above but making videos and pictures about them.
Many memories and sights are worth saving for the future and sharing with others too.
But in many cases, you may be in a hurry while preparing your drone for a trip.
Forgetting the SD card in the laptop is pretty standard.
In many cases similar to this, you might find yourself worrying about simple yet not obvious things.
Drones can fly and function without any problems, even if you are not using an SD card. The majority of drones don’t have internal storage.
So, your videos will be stored differently and of lower quality.
Keep reading so you can find out the majority of situations you don’t need an SD card in your drone.
Also, you can find out the cases when these memory cards are mandatory.
Can you fly a drone without an SD card?
Instead of giving a straightforward answer again:
I would like to present almost every situation you need an SD card for your drone.
On the other hand, mentioning most cases when you can get away without using SD cards can make you less worried about paying attention every time.
You need an SD card in your drone when:
- You are using the drone for working.
Using a drone for taking photos or recording videos at events or using a drone for youtube videos, for example, requires an SD card in your aircraft.
In this case, your photos and videos will require the best possible quality.
Some drones have internal storage, but most are equipped with only 8GB.
This storage capacity can be enough for a 4K video around 30 minutes long.
If the current job does not require a longer video, even this internal storage can solve your problem.
- Travelling or wanting to save a critical moment
Hobby drone pilots are using their aircraft for different reasons.
Recording a sight with an aircraft while travelling is one of its most essential functions.
Flying the drone without an SD card it’s possible, but recording the crucial moments with lousy quality is a waste.
If someone travels 500 – 1000 miles recording good moments with acceptable quality is almost a basic need and expectation.
At this moment, it would be a significant loss to own a drone but not be able to use it at its maximum capacity.
- It does not have internal storage, or you need to record more.
Many quadcopters don’t have internal storage.
If you want to record something of the maximum quality, you need to use an SD Card.
On the other hand:
8GB of internal storage is not too much, and most drone pilots will need to double that amount with an additional SD Card.
Drones don’t need SD cards when:
- They have a large internal storage
Mavic Air 2 has an internal storage of 8GB.
If you are not planning a long trip or only a whole afternoon flying your aircraft, this storage capacity might be enough.
As I already mentioned, approximately 30 minutes of 4K quality video can be stored on 8GB.
This might not be enough if you want to record a lot of material for a more extended clip.
But it is the best and most acceptable solution for capturing some beautiful moments if you forget your SD at home.
- You are not planning to take photos/videos with high quality
When I was buying my first drone, my primary motivation was not recording flights, and I wanted to see everything from above, at least live.
If you take your quadcopter out on a simple flight without any other intention, it does not require an SD card.
- A photo or video with poorer quality is enough
The live feed on your phone will always have worse quality than recording it on an SD card.
But on better drones, the average live feed is 720P, which I consider acceptable.
If you decide to take your quadcopter out without an SD card, but you still would like to take some photos, this 720P might be enough.
You might also want to read my article about Android vs iPhones for drones.
Is an SD card necessary for drones?
As you already know SD card is necessary only in some instances.
You might already suspect, that drones function correctly even without SD cards.
- Drones can fly even without SD Cards
- You will get the same live feed quality on your phone even if an SD card is not used
- The majority of drone applications are capable of recording the live feed. A lot of them can save these videos and pictures in 720P quality (if the camera is good enough)
You might also be interested in reading similar articles like:
- Drones with heat sensors
- Flying the famous mavic mini at night
- How to keep drones off your property?
- Why do birds attack drones?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do DJI drones require an SD card?
Yes, most DJI drones require an SD card to store photos and videos.
The DJI Fly app allows you to store photos and videos on your mobile device.
But you will need an SD card to store larger amounts of data or to transfer photos and videos from the drone to a computer.
To use an SD card with a DJI drone, you will need to insert it into the SD card slot on the drone.
The location of the SD card slot will depend on the specific model of drone you are using.
Consult the user manual or the DJI website for more information on where to find the SD card slot on your particular drone.
Once you have inserted the SD card into the drone:
-> the drone should automatically detect it and you will be able to access the photos and…
-> videos stored on it through the DJI Fly app or by connecting the drone to your computer via USB.
You can fly your DJI drone without an SD card, and you won’t experience any difference in flying experience or capacity.
The main downside of not using an SD card in your DJI drone is:
-> that you can’t record videos or
-> take pictures with the maximum capacity of the drone camera.
Does Mavic mini require an SD card?
All DJI drones and Mavic Mini, too, can fly without an SD card.
The Mavic Mini does not have internal storage, and everything you record will be saved on your tablet/phone.
You can take photos and videos without an SD card with a maximum resolution of 1280×720.
Can I fly my DJI Mini 2 without an SD card?
If you want to record videos or take pictures with the maximum capacity of your DJI Mini 2, you need to buy an SD card of at least 16GB for the minimum video quality of 1080p.
The DJI Mini 2 can function and fly perfectly without an SD card, but anything you record will be saved on your mobile phone with a maximum video quality of 720p.
How much storage do I need for a drone?
The amount of storage you will need for a drone depends on the resolution and frame rate of the video you are recording.
It also depends on the number of photos you plan to take.
As a general rule, the higher the resolution and frame rate of the video, the more storage you will need.
For example:
At the highest video quality setting (4K at 60 frames per second), a 32GB SD card can hold about 1 hour of video, while a 64GB SD card can hold about 2 hours of video.
If you are recording at a lower resolution or frame rate, you will be able to store more video on the same size SD card.
I personally advise having some extra storage capacity available.
So it’s a good idea to choose an SD card with a larger capacity if you are planning on taking a lot of photos or recording a lot of high-resolution videos.
For example, a 128GB or 256GB SD card would be a good choice for heavy users.
Keep in mind that the amount of storage you will need will also depend on the specific drone you are using, as different drones may have different storage requirements.
The size and the quality of the best SD card for a drone depend on different factors.
For recording a video with a quality of 1080p, even an 8GB memory card is a decent choice.
If you plan to use your drone at its maximum capacity, SD cards with a memory of at least 32GB or even 64GB are the surest options.
Is 32GB enough for a drone?
A memory card with a 32GB storage capacity is enough for almost every drone user.
Hours of videos can be stored on 32GB, even with a video quality of 4K.
A 32GB SD card can be sufficient for a drone:
- depending on the resolution and frame rate of the video you are recording
- as well as the number of photos you plan to take.
For example, at the highest video quality setting (4K at 60 frames per second), a 32GB SD card can hold about 1 hour of video.
If you are recording at a lower resolution or frame rate, you will be able to store more video on the same size SD card.
It’s always a good idea to have some extra storage capacity available, so a 32GB SD card may be sufficient for some users.
However, if you are planning on taking a lot of photos or recording a lot of high-resolution videos:
- you may want to consider using a larger SD card, such as a 64GB or 128GB card.
- This will give you more storage capacity and allow you to store more videos and photos on the card.
Is 64GB enough for a drone?
A 64GB SD card is generally sufficient for most drones, including the DJI Mini 2.
The amount of storage you will need depends on the resolution and frame rate of the video you are recording, as well as the number of photos you plan to take.
For example:
-> at the highest video quality setting (4K at 60 frames per second), a 64GB SD card can hold about 2 hours of video.
If you are recording at a lower resolution or frame rate, you will be able to store more video on the same size SD card.
It’s always a good idea to have some extra storage capacity available, so a 64GB SD card should be more than enough for most users.
If you are planning on taking a lot of photos or recording a lot of high-resolution videos, you may want to consider using a larger SD card, such as a 128GB or 256GB card.
If you plan longer trips or work a lot in a single day with your drone, buying an SD card of 64GB might be a better solution than using only 32GB.
It won’t cost you too much, but the peace of mind it can offer will be worth every penny.
Where can I find the SD card slot in a DJI Mini 2?
The SD card goes in a slot on the side of the DJI Mini 2 drone. To insert the SD card:
- Locate the SD card slot on the side of the drone. It is a small, rectangular opening with a spring-loaded door that you can slide open.
- Carefully slide the SD card into the slot with the metal contacts facing down. Make sure the card is fully seated in the slot.
- Close the spring-loaded door to secure the SD card in place.
- The drone should automatically detect the SD card and you will be able to access the photos and videos stored on it through the DJI Fly app or by connecting the drone to your computer via USB.
Relevant article: Do DJI drones record audio?
