Drone photography is everywhere these days. If you haven’t gotten into the drone game yet, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. If you’re ready to buy your first drone but you have no idea what to look for and you feel a bit overwhelmed, here are the best drones for beginners.
Are you looking to level up your drone photography and videography, but don’t know where to begin? With the multitude of amazing drones to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the best drone for your needs. We’ve compiled a list of the best drones for beginners that can help make your decision a little bit easier.
We’ll cover what to look for in a beginner drone, from automatic flight modes and safety features to on-board camera quality for aerial photography. We also made sure that each drone in this list prioritizes the user flying experience. You’ll get the hang of piloting your drone without the worry of damaging your new gear.
As you explore these recommendations, pay attention to special features, safety considerations, range, and battery life, as well as how each drone fits into your budget.
Before long you’ll be flying drones, practicing complex maneuvers, and exploring the world from a bird’s-eye view!
What to Look for in a Beginner Drone
Over the past several years, drone technology has advanced significantly. What was once an emerging field is now a major industry, not only for beginners but for professional photographers, videographers, fire and rescue squads, law enforcement, agriculture, construction, real estate industries, and more. Drones are now a must-have tool for many professionals.
But when choosing your first drone, there are important features to consider depending on the type of drone you want. As you’re picking your first drone, make sure you’re looking at the top specs and features for your flight.
Camera
For top quality photos and video footage, you’ll need to look at the imaging capabilities of your drone. Depending on the power of the drone’s built-in camera, you’ll be able to capture high-quality 4K footage and high-resolution stills.
Flight time
The battery of your drone will determine how much flight time you can get from one charge. Many beginner drones offer a flight time of up to 30 minutes, so you’ll want to purchase an additional battery to fly for extended periods.
3-Axis Gimbal
Steady drone footage is possible thanks to a built-in gimbal that stabilizes the unit. Many drones, including drones for beginners, have a 3-axis stabilizer gimbal that will help to keep the drone level as you’re capturing photos and videos.
Weight
The weight of your drone will determine how fast and long it can fly, and it also impacts whether or not you need to register your drone. In the United States, drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds or 250 grams need to be registered.
Drones for beginners: Best balance of budget and features
DJI Mini 2 Drone
The DJI Mini 2 drone offers an amazing set of high-end features in a small and compact form factor. It weighs a mere 249 grams, has a 10km video transmission range, offers 31 minutes of flight time per battery, captures stunning 4K video, and captures 12 megapixel DNG RAW photos. The DJI Mini 2 may be small, but its very mighty, offering professional level features in an affordable package that is lightweight and easy to carry everywhere.
Beginners will love its auto take-off and return-to-home functions, and can easily take advantage of the included tutorials and quick-shot modes.
DJI Mini 2 Key Features:
- 4K/30fps video resolution, with 4x zoom at 1080p
- 12MP camera
- 3-axis motorized gimbal
- Video transmission of up to 10km (drone must remain within line of sight)
- Weight: 249 grams (Does not require registration in most countries and regions)
- Wind resistance: Up to 8.5-10.5 m/s
- Maximum flight time: 31 minutes
- Maximum flight speed: 16 m/s
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
The smarter a drone is, the easier it is to fly and retrieve. And the DJI Mini 2 is quite intelligent. It comes with plenty of automatic flight features so you can feel confident flying right away. Return to Home, automatic takeoff, and precise hovering features make this one of the easier drones for beginner fliers.
RYZE Tello Intelligent Drone
Coming in at a much lower price point, this minimalist camera drone is a great choice for first-time users who aren’t quite ready to invest in a more robust option. Designed as an easy and safe drone for kids and adults alike, the Tello Intelligent Drone weighs only 80 grams and features a 5MP camera.
You can remote control it from any cell phone and only need minimal accessories for your first take off, so this is a great choice for portability.
RYZE Tello Intelligent Key Features:
- HD 720p/30 fps video
- 5MP camera
- Video transmission of up to 100m
- Weight: 80 grams (2.82 oz)
- Maximum flight time: 13 minutes
- Maximum flight speed: 8 m/s
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
With a low price tag and a compact weight, the RYZE Tello is as far from intimidating as a drone can get. Because you operate it with a user-friendly cell phone app, you don’t have to worry about learning to use controller joysticks. You can select tricks and maneuvers with a quick screen tap.
Emax Tinyhawk II
If you’re looking for a completely different experience — drone racing — this is the beginner drone for you. We couldn’t compile this list without adding a top racing drone to the roundup.
The Emax Tinyhawk II Ready-To-Fly kit is an all-in-one beginner solution for drone pilots who are looking for their first FPV flight experience at an affordable price. Packed with everything needed to start flying FPV right away, the Tinyhawk II comes equipped with the drone, controller, props, goggles, and batteries. It also offers two convenient modes for new FPV pilots who are just learning to fly FPV.
Beginner mode is tuned for pilots who are getting comfortable with flying an FPV drone for the first time, and Acro mode enables all of the acrobatic maneuvers that make flying FPV so much fun.
Emax Tinyhawk II Key Features:
- RunCam Nano 2 1/3″ 700TVL CMOS smart-audio connected camera
- Unique first-person flying experience with virtual reality goggle
- Video transmission settings of 25mw, 100mw, and 200mw
- Weight: 43.5 grams (1.53 oz) with battery
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
When operating at higher speeds, accidents are bound to happen, especially if you’re a new pilot. Fortunately, the frame in the Tinyhawk II by Emax was completely redesigned for maximum durability. When you’re learning to fly, it’s nice to know your drone can handle a few crashes!
Autel Robotics EVO Nano+
The Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ is a terrific quadcopter drone for pilots of all experience levels, from beginners to enthusiasts. Flying this drone is safe and easy thanks to a well-designed obstacle avoidance system. Plus, with the three-way binocular vision, the EVO Nano+ can see obstructions in front, below, and behind, and brake to avoid crashes.
Once you have this drone up and flying, you’re bound to appreciate it for its strongest attributes: the camera and automatic recording settings.
With a 50MP CMOS sensor, the onboard camera easily captures high-resolution photographs and videos. HDR mode helps you get the best imagery out of extreme contrast settings while the f/1.9 maximum aperture makes it possible to shoot great footage even in low light.
Dynamic Track 2.1 is an innovative subject-tracking feature, helping you keep subjects in frame. The SkyPortrait setting even lets you use the drone as your own private selfie photographer.
Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Key Features:
- 1/1.28″ CMOS 50MP
- Aperture f/1.9
- 4K/30fps Video
- 28-Min max flight time
- 10km 2.7K transmission
- Forward + backward + downward sensors
- Flight time (up To): 27 min.
- Camera still resolution: 48 MP
- Weight: 8.7 oz (249g)
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
When you’re focusing on getting your shot, it’s nice to know that the EVO Nano+ has a collection of built-in safety and piloting features. Multi-directional sensors add peace of mind that your drone is aware of its surroundings while you focus on filming epic footage and taking high-resolution photos.
DJI Mini 3
The DJI Mini 3 is the ideal beginner drone for vacations and road trips. One of the most compact yet fully functional mini-drones on the market, the Mini 3 can handle just about any weather condition you encounter, from blustery winds to high-altitude takeoffs.
Improvements to battery life over prior models will keep this drone up in the skies for longer. In fact, the DJI Mini 3 contains the Intelligent Flight Battery, so you can fly for up to 38 minutes while tracking your battery life. And if you upgrade to the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, your flights will last up to 51 minutes.
Photographers will appreciate the maximum f/1.7 aperture for capturing details no matter how much available light there is, while videographers will love the 4K HDR capabilities. With 4x zoom, you can compose tight shots more selectively, and when you want to shoot wide, you’ll love the 180-degree view and panorama capabilities.
DJ Mini 3 Key Features:
- Foldable design and weighing under 249g
- Extended battery life
- 4K HDR video resolution
- True vertical shooting
- 38 kph (Level 5) wind resistance
- Flight time (up to): 38 min.
- Camera still resolution: 12 MP
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
DJI packs plenty of intelligent features into the Mini 3, so even beginners can start flying right away. The onboard Return to Home feature calls your drone back to you when it senses a low battery, dropped signal, or poor flying conditions. The auto-takeoff function makes launches easier than ever no matter where you fly.
Potensic P4 Foldable FPV RC Drone
The Potensic P4 is one of the best budget small drones for beginners. If you’re new to flying, you’ll appreciate its slower automatic flight speeds. As you get more comfortable at the controls, you can pick up the pace with intermediate and advanced speeds.
Headless mode simplifies directional control. Just point the control stick in the direction you want to go and the P4 follows suit. Its one-key take-off and landing feature is similarly designed for simplified flight. With the push of a single button, you can begin or end any flight session.
The onboard camera features HD 1080 resolution, so it’s not quite as advanced as other drones on this list. However, if you’re recording for social media, personal use, and getting the hang of capturing aerial footage without spending a lot of money, you’ll find that this drone is more than sufficient.
The max flight time is a generous 40 minutes per charge.
Potensic P4 Key Features
- Real-time transmission
- 1080P HD camera
- Hovering in AirGravity Control
- Remote control distance of 100 meters
- 40 mins flight time
- 3 adjustable speeds
- Headless mode
- Weight: 4.65 oz (132g)
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
Many new drone pilots prefer to get the hang of flying with an inexpensive drone. Not only does the P4 have a beginner-friendly price tag, but it includes several advanced features like Headless Mode to help you start flying successfully right away.
The first-person camera view with Wi-Fi transmission is an added bonus.
AirSelfie AIR NEO Selfie Pocket Drone
Content creators who are used to flying solo will love the AirSelfie AIR NEO. Capable of 12MP still photos and 1080p video quality at 30fps, this compact drone can help you gather B-roll, take stunning selfies, and capture your adventures wherever you travel.
Internal AI technology provides reliable subject tracking, so you can hike, bike, surf, and skate with your own dedicated eye-in-the sky camera.
You can fly the AIR NEO with or without a controller. Automatic, controller-free modes include zoom mode and video mode. When using the AirSelfie app, you can also unlock Orbit mode and 360 mode for additional functionality.
Keep in mind that the AIR NEO is a fully automatic, low height, slow-speed drone. So, it’s better suited for capturing memories than for sweeping, high-altitude footage. That said, it’s one of the simplest and easiest-to-use drones on the market.
AirSelfie AIR NEO Selfie Pocket Drone Key Features
- Pocket-sized, ultra-light aerial camera
- 12 megapixel photos 1080p/30 fps video
- AI-powered Autofly flight mode
- Instant sharing on social media
- 16GB of memory
- Flight time (up To): 6 min.
- 1.86 oz (53g)
What makes this a great drone for beginners?
Flying doesn’t get any simpler than the AIR NEO. You don’t have to worry about controllers, flight range, obstacles, or flight maneuvers. If you’re looking for a drone with zero learning curve so you can start recording quality content right out of the box, you should consider the AIR NEO.
Best drones for beginners comparison chart
Can’t decide which beginner drone to purchase? Check out our comparison chart below to help you pick the best drone for you needs:
|
Photo |
12MP |
12MP |
21MP |
5MP |
|
Video |
2.7K/30fps |
4K/30fps |
4K/30fps |
720p/30fps |
|
Weight |
242 grams |
249 grams |
315 grams |
80 grams |
|
Max Flight Time |
30 minutes |
31 minutes |
26 minutes |
13 minutes |
|
Max Flight Speed |
13 m/s |
16 m/s |
15 m/s |
8 m/s |
|
Video Transmission |
Up to 4km |
Up to 10km |
Up to 4km |
Up to 100m |
|
Price |
$299.00 |
$449.00 |
$799.00 |
$99.00 |
Things to Know Before Flying a Drone
Before you power on your drone and initiate take off, make sure you’re knowledgeable and informed about the basic rules of drone flying. Flying a drone responsibility is critical to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
Drone Registration
If your drone weighs more than 250 grams or you plan on flying for commercial purposes (or want to get a drone job), you will need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and may need a drone license.
No Fly Zones
The FAA has designated “no fly zones” where pilots cannot operate a drone. For example, these include the airspace around airports, hospitals, military bases, and other locations. Make sure to learn the no fly zones in your area or your travel destination before flying your drone.
Learn Your Drone
Read your drone’s instruction manual, watch YouTube videos, get familiar with controls, and understand the unit. Once you’ve chosen your drone and are ready to take to the skies, follow our Beginner’s Guide to Flying a Drone to get started.
Still not sure which drone is right for you? Get in touch with our customer service team or compare drone models on Adorama.com.
FAQ for Purchasing Your First Drone
What safety features does the drone have?
It’s important to select a drone with a few key safety features for control and monitoring. For example, your drone should make it easy to track its battery life so you can avoid crashes from power loss. You’ll also want to choose a drone with obstacle avoidance technology.
What type of battery does the drone use?
Keeping track of battery type helps you buy the right replacements, monitor the health of your battery, and know how long your battery will take to recharge. Common drone battery types include Lithium-Polymer (LiPo), Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), and Lithium High Voltage (LiHv). It’s always a good idea to follow your drone manufacturer’s recommendations for replacement batteries.
How long does the battery last on a full charge?
Most drones provide a battery life range, because your battery will drain at different speeds depending on the type of flying you do and the current flight conditions. High winds, extreme temperatures, and more complex maneuvers will drain your battery faster. Keep an eye on your battery life as you fly.
Does the drone come with a remote control?
While most drones come with a remote control, some models operate using a smartphone app instead. Some brands like DJI sell the drone by itself, so if you replace the drone but your controller still works, you can use your old controller with the new drone.
What kind of range does the drone have?
Drone range generally relates directly to how expensive a drone is, but if you’re deciding between two similarly priced drones, it may help sway your decision. Remember that a drone’s maximum range relates to wind, weather, drone weight, and battery life. You won’t get the same range out of every flight if the conditions are vastly different.
Feature photo by Josué Soto on Unsplash
