We all have probably noticed in recent years that drones are getting more and more popular.
We have recognized that these unique pieces of technology are being used more and more often, and are becoming more useful as well.
A nice byproduct of this is that drones are also starting to become more accessible as well with some brands of drones becoming cheaper as more manufacturers are able to produce drones with less cost.
Because of this more people are now getting interested in drones and investing in one themselves.
However, drones are still expensive, and one of the worst things you can do with a piece of technology like a drone is to pay too much and end up with something that you do not know how to use.
Because of this we have put this guide together to ensure that you have all the information you need on which drones are best for beginners.
By the end of this guide we hope that you know which beginner drone will be the best option for you!
Best Beginner Drones
While it would be easy to arbitrarily label one of these drones as the best choice, we recognize that for different consumers, the best product will be different.
All of these drones have a chance at being the best drone for different people.
Because of this make sure you closely refer to each description for the drones we list so you can understand if it might be the best option for you or not!
TL;DR Recommendations
This list is in no particular order. Any of the following are great choices for beginners. If budget is a concern, please check our other article for a similar list but with far more affordable options.
| Name | Dry Weight (g) | Camera | Cost (USD) |
| DJI Mini 2 Quadcopter Drone | 249 | 12MP | ~$500 |
| DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone | 249 | 48MP | ~$759 |
| DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone | 80 | 5MP | ~$79.90 |
| Potensic Atom SE Drone | 249 | 12MP | $249.99 |
| Fimi X8SE 2022 V2 Drone | 770 | 48MP | $579.00 |
| DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo Drone | 1000 | 48MP | $999.00 |
DJI Mini 2 Quadcopter Drone
When it comes to the best overall drones for being easy to operate and reliable we have to highlight the DJI Mini 2.
This drone also has quite a lot of features for the price you get it for. It is small so it can fit in your hand and can hold up making it easy to store as well.
On top of this it has a high quality camera and since it is small it does not require registration either. It flies for 31 minutes.
Pros Of DJI Mini 2 Quadcopter Drone
- Controls – Easy to control and has a dedicated controller
- Camera – For an affordable drone it has a great quality camera
- Size – Since the drone is smaller it is easy to carry and does not require any registration either
Cons Of DJI Mini 2 Quadcopter Drone
- Smaller – If you are looking for a bigger drone then this is not the one
DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone
While we think the DJI mini 2 is a great starter point, it is worth pointing out that the DJI Mini 3 Pro is great if you want something a little more new, with better functionality, but for a slightly higher price.
As you can imagine this comes with a lot of extra features when compared to its predecessor like more safety features like rear and downward avoidance of obstacles which use sensors.
It also has an automatic return to home feature if there is an emergency as well.
There is also an included app which helps you with capturing your videos as well as editing them. This has a slightly better camera and flies for slightly longer at 34 minutes.
Pros Of DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone
- Safety features – Has some great safety features especially when it comes to avoiding obstacles automatically
- Camera – The camera quality is even better than its predecessor, and while you are paying more, the camera quality proves this is worth it
- Ease of use – This is still one of the easiest to use drones which you do not need registration for, and also comes with its own controller too
Cons Of DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone
- Cost – This drone is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, and since it shares a lot of features some people think the upgrade is not worth it
DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone
Now, if you want a way more affordable drone which is a good choice for kids who want to try using a drone as well, then we have to recommend the Tello Mini from DJI.
This one is incredibly easy to operate which makes it a good choice for younger users and it is also very lightweight as well.
You can also get this one to perform aerial tricks with just a push of a button which makes it fun for those who care more about flying than recording.
And even though the camera quality is nowhere near as good as the adult versions of the drone, it still has a very stable camera which can record footage.
Pros Of DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone
- Cost – This drone is one of the cheapest available and you are getting a great quality product for how much you are paying
- Tricks – This drone performs some pretty impressive tricks automatically which can be triggered by just pressing a button
- Controls – This is a drone which will be super easy for kids to control, and you can even pair it with common video game controllers as well
Cons Of DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone
- Flight time – This drone can not fly for nearly as long as other options at a little over 10 minutes on a full charge
- Camera – Even though the camera works, it is not as high quality as other more expensive drones
Potensic Atom SE Drone
If you want a drone which is great value for what you are getting, then we have to choose this offering from Potensic.
This has plenty of extra features which are amazing for the price point, but it is a lot cheaper than similar drones from DJI.
In its carrying case you get an extra battery which means with both batteries you will get a little over an hour of flight time, however keep in mind the battery will still need to be changed.
There is a 4K camera and some great stabilization technology as well.
There are also different control modes which prioritize the flying or the filming. There is also the GPS base return to home button as well.
Pros Of Potensic Atom SE Drone
- Features – There are a lot of features that help with tracking and recording videos
- Controls – This drone uses a smartphone compatible controller
- Battery – This drone has an extra battery included giving it a great flight time
Cons Of Potensic Atom SE Drone
- Some missing features – There are some features which this drone is missing compared to it’s DJI competitors
Fimi X8SE 2022 V2 Drone
This is another great quality alternative drone brand to DJI and this is another drone which has similar features for a similar price. It is actually comparable to the DJI Mini 3 and it costs a lot less.
Its best selling point however is how well this drone can adapt to the elements with it being a drone you can fly in winds which are up to 46 miles an hour.
You also get some great quality camera footage. Some people do not like that it only has an adaptable controller which you have to attach to a smartphone instead of something dedicated.
There are also some great safety features included as well as simple return to home features and a no fly zone protection as well.
Pros Of Fimi X8SE 2022 V2 Drone
- Camera – You get some great camera quality with this drone compared to similar costing drones
- Stability – You can use this drone in conditions others would not be able to fly in like wind, rain and snow
- Safety – This drone has a bunch of safety features which give you some reassurance when flying it
Cons Of Fimi X8SE 2022 V2 Drone
- Controls – This drone does not come with a dedicated controller and can drain your phone battery
- Registration – Since this drone weighs a certain amount it requires registration to fly
Fimi X8 Mini Drone
This is just a smaller foldable quadcopter but it is a great quality drone which we recommend you consider.
In spite of its size it can fly for a little over half an hour and it is also able to capture 4K footage at 30fps.
There is also a variety of filming modes which are fun to play with like the smart tracking which lets it track a target, even though there have been some issues with this, as well as a time lapse option as well.
Pros Of Fimi X8 Mini Drone
- Battery life – This drone as an amazing battery life for how small it is
- Weight – This is a lighter weight drone which makes it easy to store and travel with and means you can fly it without needing any registration
- Camera – Has a great quality camera as well as some great film features too
Cons Of Fimi X8 Mini Drone
- Camera tracking – Some users have complained that the camera tracking has issues
DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo Drone
It is worth pointing out that this is the only VR option on the list.
This means that a lot of people can find flying this pretty nauseating since VR can make some people feel that way, but if this is not something that you experience, then this is something you might want to invest in.
You get a live HD feed when piloting this, and it also has some pretty intuitive controls with a motion controller which is comparable to a Nintendo Wii.
You can also record video in 4K at 60fps too. Its main drawback is how expensive it is and how it has a pretty short flight time.
Pros Of DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo Drone
- VR – This is the only VR option that we have included and it makes flying this a very unique experience
- Video – This also has some amazing video quality too
- Controls – You can pilot this drone incredibly easily using the motion controller
Cons Of DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo Drone
- Cost – This is the most expensive drone on the list making it quite exclusive
- Flight time – It can only fly for 18 minutes
Buyer’s Guide
Now that we have gone through all the different products on the list it is important to give you the information you need to ensure you will not struggle to choose which drone is the best option for you!
If you are struggling to pick between a couple of drones, then it is useful to know what factors you should consider when buying a drone.
Certain people will prioritize different features, because of this we will go over some of these most important features in this section!
Regulation
We have already mentioned it a few times, but it is important to know the local regulations of your area before you invest in a drone.
In certain areas you will need to get a certification to be able to fly a drone, while other areas have specific laws about how far you can fly a drone.
There is no point investing masses into a drone which you are barely able to take advantage of.
Safety Features
This is something which is more important for drones designed for beginners. Certain drones will have specific safety features which will make piloting them as simple as possible.
For example, there is geo-fencing that will stop your drone from being able to leave a specific perimeter you can set.
This is useful if you are living in an area which has specific regulations about how far you can fly your drone.
There are also drones which have a return to pilot function that will work automatically or with a simple button press if your drone has a low battery.
You can even get drones which are able to avoid obstacles too.
Budget
This may seem obvious but it is of course worth keeping in mind. Some drones can be massively expensive, especially drones which have a lot of features which are designed for beginners.
There is also a massive range in prices when it comes to drones, you can only spend about $100 or a little more, or you could end up spending well over $1000.
Keep in mind what features you are prioritizing when it comes to buying a drone, and ensure that you are not paying extra for features that you do not plan to use.
Brands
When it comes to different manufacturers for drones, especially those which are good for beginners, then you will see a lot of offerings from DJI in particular.
This is because they have made an active effort to market their drones to a wide audience.
However, this does not mean that they are the only options with other options like Fimi and Potensic also having some great value options as well.
If you are buying a drone from a brand name you do not recognize, ensure that you have researched enough that you can be sure the drone will be of good quality!
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot of drones, even beginner drones, have a massive fly radius and can go pretty far. Even some of these beginner drones can go miles away from you and still work.
However, this all depends on the conditions, and if you are getting interference from any sources, then this will limit the range your drone will be able to fly at.
You will also want to keep in mind the local laws and regulations in the area where you are flying the drone.
Some areas require that you have to be flying the drone within the range of your natural eyesight.
The price of the drone you want to get will depend on how many features you want and what specifications you are looking for.
You can now find some drones being sold for around $100, but as you can imagine, these have quite limited capabilities and are usually intended for younger users.
If you are looking for high speeds, a wide range, and good camera quality, the price of the drone can easily go over $1000 and into the multi-thousands range.
For some more accurate numbers on professional drones, check out this article.
As we have already mentioned, different drones have different speeds, and for a lot of camera focused drones, this can be around 30mph.
However, for some other drones, the speed can get incredibly quick with drones that are designed for racing being able to move at 170mph.
