Drones used to be expensive and limited their attraction to a small group of people. In the last few years, drones have become extremely affordable. Now every budding pilot can fly into the air and control his own flying robot. You can really get a lot of fun and functions for very little money. You can also immediately dive in and learn with a higher quality craft with more functions. Best Beginner Drones can be cheap as chips, but they don’t have to be. We have included a number of very affordable drones here, although affordability is not the only focus. Ease of use and pleasure flying have the highest priority.
UDI 818A HD+
This is a nice drone to fly at any level, but the makers built it firmly with the beginner in mind. It has good elastic-plastic blade protectors to help protect against those inevitable accident accidents. The crash-resistant design is resistant to collisions with walls, trees, and other objects, as well as hard landings. It is a perfect first drone for anyone who wants to learn how to control a UAV. All you do is to unpack this drone, charge the battery and then into the air. It’s going to give you an unforgettable flying experience for the first time. Seriously, this little UAV is “EASY” written everywhere.
You will also not suffer from boredom when flying with this easy to maneuver robot. You have options to rotate it 360 degrees in any direction, take photos and record video with sound. Let’s look at the small camera. The UDI 818A HD + comes with a small 2MP, a forward-facing camera that is already attached. The quality of the optics is excellent for a drone in this price range. I’d say it’s one of the best in its class. There is a decent remote control with two joysticks and a roll button for performing those immediate 360 ° roles.
There is also a nice LCD screen that shows your current flight status. The four-channel function ensures stable flying and easy operation: left/right, up/down, forward/backward and 360 ° flips. There is nothing confusing about the controller. The user manual is a nasty mistake with this drone. For a beginner drone, I think they could have written the guide better. Other than that, there’s not much to gripe about. But still, this is one of the best beginner drones that you can go for.
Hubsan X4 H107 C
The Hubsan X4 H107 C is in second place. With less than 30 dollars, the best beginner drones don’t get much cheaper than this. The manual that comes with this vessel is also very easy to follow. The X4 flies amazingly well. It is also fast. The controller has all the basic flight settings that you would expect without extras to confuse a newbie pilot (controller batteries not included). The thing that will most likely spoil your pleasure is the short flight time of 9 minutes. I always suggest ordering a spare battery or two. It is the only way to extend your pleasure and practice more.
The X4 has warning lights that let you know when the battery is low. And the transmitter offers a safety function that alerts you when the drone gets out of range. This is a great drone to practice pilot skills, but that’s all. It is small and light and handles crash fairly well. The quality of the camera is not great with 0.3 MP, but at least it is there to play with. It is a great little drone to practice your flying skills indoors and outdoors, but beware! It sounds like a big swarm of bright bees. Maybe you want to make sure that you are home alone for indoor exercises.
A bonus of the Hubsan X4 is the advanced flight mode. Yet in those early days, you won’t have to worry about advanced flying. But it is handy to have if you have perfected your flying skills in basic mode. In contrast to the UDI 818A HD + above, there are no knife guards with the X4. This makes the props a bit vulnerable. And again, it is easy to buy replacement parts if you break something. Many drone enthusiasts nowadays touch racing quadcopters. The X4 H107 C is the perfect mini quadcopter to develop your speed skills if you are interested in racing drones.
Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3
Compared to the first two picks, the Syma X5SW-V3 has a few extra functions. It is still one of the best beginner drones at an affordable price. Keep reading to see if these extra features appeal to you. Note that this drone is not completely ready to fly out of the box. Do not worry. The assembly process is quick and easy for everyone, even if you have never merged a drone before. Consider this unmanned version if you want to focus on aerial photography and videography skills and flight experience. The WIFI-compatible camera sends photos and video directly to an Android or iPhone.
With the FPV (First Person View) you can see what the camera sees during the flight. First, you need the app. There is a handy QR code on the side of the box that you can easily scan to download the application. This drone is supplied with protective propeller guards. Anything that helps to protect against crashes and landings from crashing should be a good thing, especially for beginners. You need a special smartphone holder to attach your mobile device to the transmitter (included). Once resolved, start WiFi and open the Syma FPV app. That’s about it. You are now ready to go up in the air.
The X5SW-V3 is still incredibly light, albeit much larger than my previous choices. However, there is much more to catch the wind. That means it is not the best kite in airy conditions. This is a nice stable flyer that is easy to handle in calm conditions. Keep the vessel at lower altitudes if you want to fly outside in a breeze. This way it is much easier to handle. Make sure you stay in Low-Speed mode until you are more competent. It is easy to become impatient, but watch out. Flying too fast will only end with collisions and crash landings.
Parrot Rolling Spider
The Parrot Rolling Spider is a micro-quadcopter of palm size. It is actually quite advanced despite its simplistic appeal. Unlike many other drones, there is no traditional remote control with this. You need a low energy Bluetooth connection to fly with this small vessel via the Parrot smartphone app. No beginner needs to experience problems when flying the Spider in the most basic settings. New pilots can enjoy some simple tap and fly modes, such as tapping to take off and tapping to land. The drone will do what you say. These automation functions offer you a stable, obedient and enjoyable aircraft.
There are many more advanced features to explore as soon as you have some flying time. For example, you can control acceleration, climbing and turning speeds, and altitude limits. I like this drone because it is a very capable independent flyer and hoverer. The strange-looking click wheels help protect the rotating props. Propeller protection is always a good newbie function. The wheels do more than just monitor the blades. They protect furniture and delicate objects when they fly indoors. They also roll the drone over ceilings and walls. You have to see it to believe it.
If you do not need the wheels, you must switch them off. Everything you can do to ease the load increases your flight time – currently around 8 minutes per charge. The Bluetooth connection influences how the Parrot Rolling Spider performs. The closer you are to the outer limits of the flight range, the greater the chance of a slow experience. If flying were more predictable, this UAV would be further on the list. The secret here is to stay within a distance of about 20 meters. This way you get a more consistent flight experience.
When you become a skilled flyer, there is ample opportunity to improve your game. In addition, the Rolling Spider is surprisingly fast and acrobatic when you adjust its flight modes. Overall, this is one of the best beginner drones that you can buy right now.
Sky Viper Video Drone
The Sky Viper Video Drone V950HD is yet another beginner-friendly UAV for anyone aged 12 and older. It is also a pretty fast drone. But if you are a novice racer in the making, consider other options. You will crash while you learn to fly. Believe me; you will be grateful for the propeller protection. This vessel also has a polypropylene body, which contributes to durability and crashes resistance. The adjustable sensitivity option gives you control over experience levels. That means that you have a versatile UAV that allows you to develop your flying skills beyond the entry-level.
This is a semi-assembled drone, so you must attach a few parts to the body before you can fly it. It is also quite large, but that makes it easier to keep an eye on the outside. Some reviewers report that this is not that easy to fly at the beginner level. If we look deeper into these complaints, it seems that impatience and not reading the instructions are the cause of most complaints. For example, you want to attach the blade protectors. You also need to calibrate the Sky Viper Video Drone on a FLAT surface. These are simple things, but cause a problem if they are overlooked.
You get a camera with the Sky Viper Video Drone. It is not bad, but not great either. On the other hand, for around $ 83 you have a great UAV to practice your flying and shooting skills. That’s pretty good. What is impressive about the camera is that it can take 360 ° panoramic images. You control this with a simple push of a button. Okay, so the optics might not be surprising, but there is a lot to play with. The 4 GB microSD card (included) saves around 20 minutes of video material. Upgrade to a 32 GB card if you need more storage space. There is a micro USB cable to upload videos and photos to a computer.
The flight time for the Sky Viper is a meager 5-7 minutes. It is always a good idea to have a spare battery or two with you. Expect approximately 90 minutes to fully charge the batteries. Such things make it one of the best beginner drones on the market.
Holy Stone F181 RC
This is yet another affordable drone built from durable elastic plastic. The material is an important consideration because it helps to protect the vessel against all those novice accidents. The F181 quadcopter comes with a set of blade guards. Make sure you attach this before you fly. You will be grateful for the protection they can offer during a crash. New users hate the short flight times that ravage novice drones. The F181 is no exception at around eight minutes. The good news is that this drone comes with a bonus battery. That is unusual.
Drones can get quite hot with continuous flying. It is a good idea to allow 10 minutes of cooling time before you take off with a replacement battery. This helps to extend the life of the engines. The Holy Stone F181 is also equipped with a 2MP removable camera. Leave the camera until you have mastered the flying of the drone. The lower weight also gives you more flight time. The camera resolution is 1280 × 720. You can take photos and record a reasonable video.
The image quality is nothing to get excited about. Yet for this price, it is more than acceptable for a drone. What distinguishes the Holy Stone F181 from some of the cheaper models is the steady performance and great design. It is easy to fly and has a lot of great extras such as the camera and headless mode. It is almost impossible to lose F181. This is thanks to the headless protection and the most important return functions. You only need to press a button to return the vessel if it is out of view or out of range. Such things make it one of the best beginner drones on the market right now.
Ionic Stratus
The Ionic Stratus medium-sized drone is packed with features and is one of the best beginner drones. It is also a good choice for advanced beginners. It does not have a camera, but it does have a camera mount. What we have here is a great beginner’s UAV thanks to the lightweight and easy handling. It comes with some handy flight functions, some of which you will not explore until you have more experience. The frame of the Ionic Stratus is sturdy and shock-resistant. The overall construction is solid and the screws of the screw appear durable. However, the thin landing gear is a bit of a letdown, otherwise, it’s all good.
If you break something – and you could be a newbie pilot – it’s not the end of the world. Replacement parts are easy enough to find online. They are also cheap. Some starting drones do not have cameras and do not have the ability to confirm one. Others come with built-in or removable cameras of average quality. The Ionic Stratus only has a camera mount. With this camera mount, you can attach any GoPro Hero to the front of the vessel. Now you have an affordable drone that is capable of taking professional-looking photos and HD video.
Some negative feedback was given about the insufficient shock absorption. Apparently, it can move and interfere with the GoPro. I have noticed how some users repair a simple wedge to keep the camera more stable. The intuitive remote control gives you a flight range of around 150 m. This is more than enough for beginners. I could not find anything difficult about one of the basic controls. The pre-programmed flight modes offer pilots a lot of fun while keeping the flight experience simple. More experienced pilots can adjust the gas to make things more interesting.
Altair AA818 Hornet
Everyone on every level can enjoy the Altair AA818 Hornet Plus Drone. It is an excellent choice for those who are looking for best beginner drones to explore aerial photography and videography. Not all users at the entry-level want a quality drone. The Altair 818 Hornet is an excellent mid-range quadcopter for enthusiastic beginners. The construction uses sustainable plastics and rubber to make it as impact-resistant as possible. The landing gear has a rubber damping that dampens the impact on the landing. That alone is important when you consider that the most damage is caused by hard landings.
You can use the drone with a smartphone, although it is not mandatory. So why bother? Well, once you have connected the 720p HD camera (included), you can use a smartphone to receive live video. The camera becomes your eye in the sky and your smart device screen gives you a bird’s eye view. Flying in First Person View (FPV) is not something that a complete beginner should try. One of the main attractions as a beginner drone are the three skill modes. These are Beginner, Average and Advanced. The different levels allow new pilots to develop their skills with one quad instead of upgrading every time they improve.
You can expect about 15 minutes of flight time with the AA818 Hornet. That is on the high side of the average. There is also a bonus battery that effectively doubles the flight time to 30 minutes. The charging time of the battery is nothing special (see below). The operational range is approximately 490+ feet (150m), and that is far enough for a starting drone. The video range is good for around 197 ft. (60 m). Altair also contains an extra set of props in the box. Extras such as the bonus battery and spare sheets show real attention to the needs of the customer. The AA818 Hornet is an excellent quadcopter that is fun and easy to fly on any level. It is responsive, durable, flexible and offers a smooth learning curve for beginners.
Parrot Bebop 2
The Parrot BeBop 2 is one of the best beginner drones to advanced flyers. The battery lasts 25 minutes in impressive conditions. This rewards new pilots with a lot of valuable flight time. You must confirm a few parts when you take it out of the box. Do not worry; assembly is easy for everyone at every level. The props have a color code and simply rotate in position. The BeBop 2 does not come with its own controller. You have to fly it with your smartphone and the flight app. You may want to skip this review or pay extra if you prefer to use a physical controller.
You can always invest in a bundle. This usually includes an FPV kit. It has the Parrot Skycontroller 2 and a set of cockpit goggles for that ultimate flying experience. However, these are not beginners tools. Compared to the first version, the new BeBop 2 has an improved camera and is a stronger vessel. It is also windproof. This is a particularly useful feature if you live in an airy part of the country. The integrated camera has a 180 ° fisheye lens. It costs 14 MP photos and makes full HD 1080p video. Having a built-in camera is a fun feature for beginners because there is less to think about.
This is a really nice drone to fly. It will certainly help you improve your piloting skills in no time. It looks more like an aerodynamic aircraft and less like a spacecraft, although I think that appearance is subjective. The follow-you function means that the drone is flying while filming you, or whatever you have to follow. I have come across a few complaints where users say it is sometimes slow to respond. It would be even more portable if they gave it retractable legs. However, it is still easy to put a bag in, despite the fixed design.
DJI Mavic Pro
A few beginners will not mind spending $1000 on their first drone. My choice in this category with higher prices must be the DJI Mavic Pro (think of the ‘Fly More bundle’ for an even better deal). New pilots want to get as much flight time as possible. Well, the ‘Fly More Bundle’ gives you two extra batteries and a charging point. There are more goodies, but the batteries alone are worth the extra. The small, high-quality Mavic Pro controller is great. It does a lot despite its simple design. It feels as good as it looks. You simply attach your phone or tablet to the controller and you are ready to go.
It doesn’t take long before you discover the DJI GO app. As a new pilot, and especially considering the price of the drone, you may want to find a nice open space for your first flight. DJI Mavic Pro is very easy to control despite its high quality and refinement. My advice is to stay far away from Sport mode until you are familiar with and familiar with all the basic functions of the drone. The makers have specifically designed the Beginners Mode for starting pilots. It has limitations on how high and how far you can fly. This means that you do not have to worry about visibility or losing control.
Once you are familiar with Beginner mode, familiarize yourself with the tripod mode. Although this drone flies well indoors, my advice is to first learn outside – in windless conditions. After that, the sky is the limit. Let us not forget the portability of the Mavic Pro. This is thanks to its smart retractable legs. With the drone and the phone in your bag and a fully charged battery, you are always ready to go up in the air. This is a beautiful drone to control, but it is more than just a capable kite. It is also an excellent aerial camera. These impressive optics and recording options contribute to the high price tag.
The camera offers a sharp 4K / 24fps imaging system. It can take JPG photos and DNG RAW. There is even an option to stream live to YouTube and Facebook if that’s your thing. Ideally, the DJI Mavic Pro is a provable UAV. It still works well as a starting drone for those who don’t want to step through the cheaper models on their way to better things. Some of the more novice-friendly functions are the Beginner mode, Obstacle avoidance and the Return to Home function, but there is so much more to discover. If you can afford it, then this is one of the best beginner drones and also for professionals.
