Here are camera drones and remote-controlled planes that are ideal for kids and beginners
Thanks to the technological innovation of the major drone brands, even the cheapest models are now packed with features and are much easier for beginners to fly. Good camera stabilization, GPS, and intelligent flight control are just three of the most common features of products that fall within the price range selected on this list.
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Drones are, on the whole, much more advanced than they were a few years ago, which means that even the cheapest ones have higher quality – that’s why you can find more than decent 4K and 1080p drones without having to spend a fortune: with about two hundred euros you can buy real gems.
These affordable drones are a perfect choice to familiarize yourself with the product before moving on to more advanced models and are also ideal for learning how to take amazing aerial videos and take photos in flight. These days “affordability” is not synonymous with “small and out of control drone that dashes from side to side and then crashes into a wall”. Cheap drones are a great way for beginners to learn how to fly.
All of the drones featured in this buying guide are a great way to learn essential flying skills and master flight control before moving on to a larger model with more advanced features. So whether you’re just starting out or looking to hone your skills before moving on to a bigger and better model, you’ll find the model that’s right for you in this guide.
Choose the cheapest drone that’s right for you
Cheap drones cost a fraction of those DJI and Parrot, which are at the top of the range. But what do you get for a low price? In the price range that does not exceed 50-60 euros, you will have limited functions, a basic model, and basic flight control. This means flying may be a bit difficult due to the lack of stabilization.
In the range from 50-60 euros to 100-120 euros, the features make a decent leap in quality. These drones most of the time come without a controller, which is replaced by a mobile application, and the camera will definitely not record in cinematic quality, but the flight capabilities should be flawless.
Coming in for 120-150 euros, you’ll have access to a higher resolution camera and a dedicated controller to help you familiarize yourself with essential piloting skills. The engines are also improved, which are usually designed more appropriately for outdoor flights.
Are you ready to find the best budget drone based on your skills and budget? These are our current top picks!
1. RYZE TELLO
The best economic drone on the market, thanks to DJI flight mechanics
Best For: Beginners | Type: Mini Drone / For Educational Purpose | Weight: 80 g
Pros: DJI-designed flight technology; programmable; light.
There are no drones in this price range that can come close to Tello’s specifications and flexibility. Designed by Ryze and equipped with DJI’s flight technology, the comparison with the brand’s most famous and expensive model is evident.
If you own a DJI Mavic and are looking for a drone to practice, look no further. The Tello is also fully programmable, so you can program code in Scratch and then load your own flight modes and preferences, making it an ideal teaching tool. The programming level of the code is, in theory, geared towards teaching children, but it is great for any age, flying skill, or programming ability.
2. HOLY STONE HS100 GPS FPV
The best economic drone for those taking their first steps in aerial photography
Best For: High Definition Movies | Type: Camera Drone | Weight: 700 g
Pros: 1080p HD camera; flight autonomy of 15 minutes; control distance up to 500 meters.
This model is designed to introduce aerial photography newbies to this amazing world. In fact, in the front of the Holy Stone HS100 GPS FPV we find an optimized 1080p Wi-Fi camera, with a 120-degree field of view and 90-degree adjustable angle, which guarantees the possibility of shooting movies or taking pictures of the highest quality and experimenting, at the same time, with shots from multiple perspectives. The drone is also suitable for use with augmented reality (VR) glasses or remote piloting devices.
The “Follow Me” mode is useful for further improving the dynamics of your shots: it allows the drone to automatically follow a subject and always keep it in the frame; It is ideal for taking breathtaking selfies or for shooting involving activities on the go.
The Holy Stone HS100 is also equipped with GPS positioning, which ensures a smooth flight and the ability to return the device to the take-off point with a simple button, or as a safety measure in case the battery runs out or there are signals problems. The “Headless Mode” and the “Altitude Hold” function eliminate the “stress” of flying to allow the drone pilot to think only about how to take the best photo.
3. POTENSIC A20 MINI DRONE
The best choice for children
Best For: Beginners | Type: Toy | Weight: 191 g
Pros: an economical choice suitable for children; manufactured by one of the best drone manufacturers in the world.
Cons: there is no possibility to take pictures or make videos.
The Potensic A20 is a great option for little ones who are testing their drone skills for the first time. Beautiful are the 5 five different colors of the product, which also includes an option reminiscent of the American flag. As a beginner drone, it does what you’d expect, with all the appropriate features: well-protected propellers for the inevitable bumps and scratches of the novice, an emergency stop button for those times your child decides to fly a little too close to the dog/oven/other children and a low battery alarm hard to ignore.
Flying the drone is also child’s play: the altitude hold function helps to keep the drone stable (both indoors and outdoors) and the one-touch controls for takeoff and landing allow children to learn the basic knowledge to fly a drone in record time. We also appreciate the fact that it comes with two additional rechargeable batteries, minimizing the risk of anger when the battery in use runs out.
4. EACHINE E520S
Travel drone equipped with GPS and 4K camera at a reasonable price
Best for: Value for money | Type: equipped with GPS and 5G | Weight: 780 g
Pros: 5G and GPS video streaming; great price; easy to use.
This affordable, foldable drone from Shenzhen, China is proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune on a drone with GPS, high-speed WiFi technology, and autonomous flight mode. The E520S comes as a mini version of the DJI Mavic, while the manual controller (equipped with a spring-loaded holder for Android or iOS phones) is almost identical to that of the Mavic Air. It is a great budget mid-range product, perfect for those still in the learning phase and aspiring to a DJI model.
The E520S is roughly the size of a DJI Spark and features GPS, WiFi, and 5G streaming up to a range of 250 meters, and a USB rechargeable battery that lasts around 15 minutes. It also comes with a number of automatic features including “homecoming”, automatic takeoff and landing, Waypoints, Follow Me, and Orbit – all great features for a drone at this price point.
Many users have expressed their opinion on the quality of the front camera which, in theory, should be in 4K: it is true, the image quality is not terrible, but it is certainly not on the same level as the 4K footage of DJI and Parrot drones. More importantly, the camera is not attached to a gimbal, which means that any video you shoot will be quite choppy and unstable. It is possible, however, to tilt the camera by hand before taking off.
Despite being really loud, the E520S flies incredibly well for a budget drone: it’s stable in most environments – except in strong winds – and it’s a lot of fun to fly. If you can’t afford a DJI model or don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that could eventually crash or get stuck in a tree forever, then we recommend you buy this one!
5. POTENSIC D85
The drone to start using the FPV
Best For: HD Video | Type: Camera Drone | Weight: 600g
Pros: 20-minute flight time; dual GPS sensors; Complete flight modes.
The D85 drone is suitable for those who are approaching FPV flight for the first time (literally “first-person view”), or in high-speed flight. It is easy to use for beginners and offers a ton of features despite its low price. There are various flight options including Point of Interest, Return Home, and Follow Me.
The futuristic design immediately makes the Potensic D85 stand out among the many others on our list. It features dual GPS and is really easy to use; in addition, it has an in-flight range of 20 minutes per battery charge. You can replace the 1080p camera with your own GoPro, making the D85 a viable option for anyone looking to get high-quality aerial shots with their action camera.
6. DJI SPARK
The best drone for selfies
Best for: Selfie and autonomous flight | Type: Camera Drone | Weight: 699 g
Pros: Takes great selfies and 1080p videos; it flies incredibly well; DJI is a guarantee in terms of reliability.
Cons: propeller arms cannot be folded; the “gesture” mode (of gesture recognition) is not always successful.
DJI’s cute little Spark is a little dated now, but it’s still a very respectable drone, especially since it’s made by DJI, the Chinese company that knows drones better than anyone. The Spark is roughly the size of the DJI Mavic Mini’s “cousin” but, not having foldable propeller arms, it won’t fit into a jacket pocket, unlike the Mini when folded. Despite this, this drone is still incredibly portable and is one of the smartest selfie drones in existence, available in five great colors.
The Spark is equipped with a frontal obstacle avoidance device and is stable both when flying indoors and outdoors. Its camera shoots 1080p videos and takes 12-megapixel photos; in addition, it is equipped with a two-axis mechanical stabilizer for relatively smooth video shooting. The battery provides around 16 minutes of flight time, which is a pretty good time for a drone of this size.
The Spark can be controlled in three ways: with hand gestures, with a mobile device (a smartphone for example), or, for a longer range (up to 2 km), with a dedicated controller. Even though it was not designed to make high-quality videos, it still records excellent videos.
It is also incredibly robust, as demonstrated at a DJI event where a drone was accidentally flown at full speed – that is, at 50 km / h – against a tree: the only thing damaged was a propeller; everything else, including the camera, still worked perfectly. Another great reason to consider buying it.
7. HUBSAN X4 H501S
Best budget drone with GPS and stable flight
Best for: Portability | Type: Outdoor Flight / FPV | Weight: 155 g
Pros: ultra-compact drone; GPS allows for more stable flight.
The original Husban X4 changed the microdrone market and now, a few generations later, the compact X4 H501S is still a formidable product. It features full GPS that allows for a smooth flight more like that of a larger drone than one of this size.
GPS makes the H501S X4 incredibly easy to control outdoors and also allows advanced features such as “Follow Me”, which will make your drone follow you autonomously. What sets this beginner drone apart is that it has an automatic return-to-base function, so if something goes wrong and you lose sight of your device, just press a button and the H501S will return to the take-off point.
8. PARROT SWING MINIDRONE PLANE
Have fun doing rolls and loops with this little stunt drone
Best For: Aerobatics | Type: Stunt Drone | Weight: 1,5 kg
Pros: Easy to use controller; it is a very beautiful model aesthetically
Click HERE now to see it on DroneNerds
Although no longer officially sold by Parrot, the Minidrone Swing Aereo proves to be eternally popular with novice and young drone pilots. And well, not being sold by Parrot anymore also means that, often, it can be found for sale at a rather low price.
The Parrot Swing is among the coolest picks on this beginner’s list and looks a bit like something from the Star Wars franchise, and it’s just as thrilling in flight too! This drone is made for aerial acrobatics, and there is nothing quite like performing a few loops, half loops, and tonneaus. It is also capable of taking off and landing vertically.
The control of this drone for beginners is made easier thanks to the presence of a Parrot Flypad, which extends the flight range of the drone up to 60 meters. Remember, however, that it is necessary to keep the drone in sight at all times, in order to fly in compliance with the regulations of some places.
As for top speed, the Parrot Swing can reach up to 30 kilometers per hour in good weather. Basically: If you want a fun cheap drone to whiz through open fields and do some crazy aerial stunts, this little Parrot will blow your mind!
