This is the drone that changed everything. Released in January 2013, the DJI Phantom 1 was the first "Ready-to-Fly" quadcopter that made aerial photography accessible to the general public. Unlike modern drones, the original Phantom did not have a built-in camera or a motorized gimbal; it featured a fixed plastic mount on the bottom designed specifically for a GoPro Hero. It relied on GPS for "Position Hold," allowing it to hover in place even in light wind—a revolutionary feature at the time.