droning

A small town in Virginia will the site of the newest program to use drones for a delivery service. The town of Christiansburg Virginia is the site of program which is being put on by a partnership between Walgreens, the Aviation Tech company Wing, and Fedex. Through it residents will be able to have all their essentials from the drugstore as well as other items from local shops delivered directly to their doors in a matter of minutes.

The program will initially launch with over 100 products available, including many popular medical products like cold and flu medication. They also plan to offer specialty “packs” in certain categories like snacks or pain relief.

Walgreens might not seem like the first company you think of when talking about drone delivery^[1], but from a business standpoint it makes sense. According to Vish Sankaran, chief innovation officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc, “approximately 78 percent of the U.S. population living within five miles of a Walgreens store…”. That’s a very sizeable part of the population, and puts them in a great position to benefit from the advancement of drone delivery technology. Having drones operating out of each store would give them a huge advantage over their competition for the convenience factor alone.

This also looks to be a smart move for a drugstore, as many of the products they sell are for people who probably don’t really want to be leaving the house. Imagine having a bad flu and needing medication, but instead of having to drive to the store a drone delivers it shorty after ordering. Drone delivery technology looks to be a smart move for consumers as well as business.

Walgreen’s partner, Wing^[2], has also been involved with other businesses in the area. The local business Sugar Magnolia has also been working with Wing in order to provide delivery services with drones. This is interesting as Sugar Magnolia is not a huge, household name company, but a smaller on likely only known in the area. This shows that drone delivery technology is advancing to the point that even smaller businesses are able to get involved.

Looking at Wing, we see they’ve been busy for the last couple years building up to this. They’ve built out speciality drone and navigation software to achieve their goal of making delivery, quicker, easier, and cheaper. Backed by Alphabet, the company is in good hands and looks poised to continue their research and development towards their goals.

In terms of customer logistics, everything is controlled through their app. Customers simply make a few taps to select their products, and a drone is dispatched to pick up the products and then deliver to the customer. It really couldn’t be easier, and promises to be the most convenient way to shop if adopted on a larger scale.

The city of Christiansburg itself was chosen due to its proximity to Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech has already been in collaboration with Wing for over 3 years as part of a Department of Transportation pilot integration program. If all goes well, though, the obvious next step is to expand to other markets. Hopefully, some larger cities will begin to see the service in the next few years, although there are a myriad of legal issues in terms of drone operation that need to be settled first.

While completely autonomous delivery is still likely a few years off, it’s exciting to see the advancements in the field. With lots of big players looking to make it a reality, the future looks bright for delivery drones. Let’s hope that business keep looking to fund these types of projects, and hopefully one day soon your next package might be delivered by drone.

Last month we wrote about a ban from the FAA on attaching weapons to drones^[1]. With that in mind, it would seem crazy to attach a nail gun to a drone, something that could pretty easily be argued falls into their definition of a weapon. Before we start shielding ourselves from the onslaught of weaponized drones let’s take a look at exactly what’s going on here, and why it’s important.

The drone in question is actually part of a research project out of the University of Michigan^[2]. In it, they attached a nail gun to a drone, and then have the drone nail shingles to a roof. Using a ground based systems they are able to track the position and movement of the drone. Then, using cameras on the drone are able to pinpoint the exact location where the nail needs to be driven through.

This allows the drone to work as a roofer, and actually shingle a roof. There’s still some problems to solve before it starts replacing humans, but it looks to an interesting take of autonomous drone work that promises to make a very dangerous job safer. Using drones to help with dangerous jobs and keep people safe is always a plus in our book.

They’ve also dealt with some difficult problems like keeping the drone from recoiling and getting the nail in exactly the right spot. These can be particularly difficult, especially considering the drone is hovering in the air; even the smallest movements could throw the whole process off. It really is a feat of engineering that something like this is even possible at all.

The big draw here for continued research is safety. Roofing can be a dangerous job, and only more so when you’re lugging a nail gun up two or three stories. Replacing this type of work with drones will make the whole process safer for all involved. This is really the appeal of a lot of this drone technology, making work safer and taking over more dangerous jobs. This is a particularly interesting case as it’s one of the first instances where manual work has been taken over by a drone. In many other cases we saw drones being used for things like their camera or with attached sensors, so seeing a new take on autonomous work is always interesting.

It’s not all good news though, in terms of real roofing work there’s two main problems facing the drone. The first is battery life. As of right now, the drone used in the experiments only has a 10 minute flight time. There’s some ideas about a ground tethered generator to provide more power, but this idea hasn’t been tested yet. With only a 10 minute flight time there’s a very limited amount of work the drone can do before it needs to recharge.

The next is simply the speed; the drone is significantly slower than a professional roofer. Using a fleet of drones might be an option, but then there’s still the concern of battery life and powering all those drones. As of right now, the drone is only able to handle small sections of a roof before needing to recharge which is not practical for actual work at this point.

These pose a bit of a problem together, and show that we’re still a bit far off from drones taking all of the roofer jobs, that’s also not considering all the new jobs created for operating and managing the drones.

Overall, while the idea is still far from practical, the work being done is certainly exciting. While drones have been used a lot for simple tasks, this is one of the first instances where drones are taking on more skilled tasks. A few more years of development on this technology and who knows where drones will be!

Updated: September 25, 2019

Looking for the best beginner drones? You’re in the right place. Lots of people want to get into the drone hobby but don’t know where to start. Thanks to the recent explosion of the consumer drone market, there’s thousands of options out there and each one claims to be the best drones for beginners. How can you find the drone for beginners that’s truly right for you?

That’s where we come in. Since 2012, Dronethusiast has been the premier site for drone news, reviews, and buyer’s guides. We’re staffed by qualified drone experts who know the industry inside and out. And we’ve gotten together to put together a list of the top 5 best beginner drones of 2019. Whether you’re buying a beginner camera drone for yourself or looking for the perfect gift to get a friend to start flying quadcopters, there’s sure to be something here for everyone.
 

Beginner Drones Table of Contents

1. Altair Falcon Drone with AHP^[1]
2. 818 Hornet Plus Beginner Quadcopter^[2]
3. AA300 GPS Drone^[3]
4. The Blackhawk Drone^[4]
5. Holy Stone HS170 Drone^[5]
6. Syma X5C-1 Drone^[6]
7. Outlaw SE Drone^[7]
8. DJI Spark^[8]
9. Parrot Bebop 2^[9]
10. Parrot Anafi^[10]
11. DJI Mavic Pro^[11]
12. Yuneec Typhoon H Pro^[12]
13. Frequently Asked Questions^[13]

If you’re a first-time flier, you’ll no doubt have many questions. What’s the best drone for filming? What do drones do? What are the benefits of drones? You may wonder how you can start flying a drone if you don’t have any experience doing so before. We cover all of this in a handy FAQ, located at the bottom of this article just below the reviews.

For those who already have some idea of what they’re looking for, read on to find the best beginner drones of 2019!

Our List of the Best Beginner Drones

The following drones have been selected for their durability, feature set, and other factors described in each individual review. Take a look around and see if you can find the best drone for beginners that suits your needs!

#1. Altair Falcon with AHP – Easy to Fly Beginner Drone

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[14][15]

Why we recommend the Falcon as a great beginner drone, take a look at this video showing the Autonomous Hover & Positioning system called AHP by Altair Aerial:

At Dronethusiast, we have reviewed many products from Altair Aerial in the past (in fact, they just release a new RC Truck you can read about here^[16]). The reason we keep coming back is their exceptional customer service and high-quality products, it’s what makes them stand out amongst their competitors. Located in the United States, Altair is always available to answer our questions via email or phone. We love that you are able to talk to a real person on the other end.

That’s why we were excited when Altair released a new drone, the Falcon. This is a standout beginner drone for many reasons that you won’t want to miss out on. Straight away, we love that the Falcon comes with two batteries. As a beginner pilot, this is especially beneficial as it gives you double the flying time to learn and enjoy the drone.

Another amazing feature that we were impressed with is the Autonomous Hover and Positioning System. The AHP system is unique to Altair and keeps the drone in place while hovering. Beginner drone pilots will appreciate this feature because even if you remove your fingers from the controls, the drone will still remain in place. Speaking of controls, the controller on the Falcon is small and compact. We liked this aspect because as a beginner, a larger controller can be intimidating, but the Falcon’s smaller size can really help someone who’s just learning.

This drone is one of our top picks for beginners who are just learning the skill of flying.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[17]

#2. 818 Hornet Plus – #1 Beginner Drone

Read reviews and shop for the AA818 Hornet^[18]

The Hornet is one of the easiest entry level drone with camera to fly, a quadcopter specifically aimed at beginner drone pilots who have an interest in aerial photography.

And on that note, this beginner drone is a complete success! The long battery life (15 minutes off of a single charge) and more stable design give you plenty of room to line up the perfect shot, and the longer range of 150 feet allows you to get up to those hard-to-reach places other beginner cameras can’t cover.

Click Here for Best Price!^[19]

#3. AA300 Drone – Best Beginner GPS Drone

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[20][21]

If you’re a beginner and are looking for a drone with some great GPS features, you are sure to love the AA300. Another new drone from Altair, it’s GPS flight mode keeps the drone stable at all times, which is great for beginners who are still learning the functions of flying a drone.

Other great features for beginners that are included with the AA300 are altitude hold and one-touch takeoff and landing. Altitude hold will make sure that any new pilot can remain in control of their drone while one-touch takeoff and landing makes one of the more difficult aspects of flying a lot easier. It can be stressful launching and landing your drone, but on the AA300 one button will do that for you.

One of my favorite things about Altair over the years is the how-to vidoes they create for their products. Take a look at the AA300 videos (click here^[22]) if you run into any problems or I’ve found that they are very responsive at help@altairaerial.com.

Costing just $169.80, this is a great GPS drone for beginners under $200.

Click Here for Best Price!^[23]

#4. The Blackhawk

For only $119 you’re getting an amazingly good starter drone at an amazing price! Get super fast and free shipping when you order the Blackhawk from AltairAerial.com^[24], or you can also see Best Price at Amazon^[25].

The Blackhawk is a more advanced level quad with 15-17 Minutes of Flight time and 300-500 Meter Range!

If you’ve been looking for a beginner drone that knocks it out of the park when it comes to durability and speed, you really need to check out the Altair Aerial Blackhawk^[26].

This drone is super fast, has a flight time of up to 15 minutes, and it can go a long way for a drone in this price range (300 Meters).

Customers looking to move up from the Altair Falcon and 818 Hornet will love this heavy duty drone for its stability and speed. The Blackhawk doesn’t utilize altitude hold^[27] which unlocks the potential for extreme control! The ability to go vertical and descend super fast will give you that racing feel while you’re flying!

While a camera does not come with the Blackhawk, it is equipped to handle a GoPro or similar video drone camera when you’re ready to capture the action.

Click Here for Best Price!^[28]

#5. Holy Stone HS170 Predator

Read reviews and shop for the HS170 Predator^[29]

What is the best drone for under $100? Different reviewers will have different answers to that question, naturally, but to our mind the Holy Stone HS170 Predator is one of the best drones for under 100. At less than $40 USD you’re getting a good range and performance as well as three flight modes that are specifically designed to help train new pilots. Plus, it has a very unique and stylish design that kids and adults will love!

Click Here for Best Price!^[30]

#6. Syma X5C-1 Explorers

Read reviews and shop for the Syma X5C-1 Explorers^[31]

You read that right – this drone is called the “Explorers”, not the “Explorer.” If your number 1 concern with buying a new drone is durability, this is the choice for you. Don’t be fooled by the smaller prop guards – every piece of this drone is made with a tough, anti-collision design that can really take a beating under most conditions. It’s a shame the other features aren’t quite as impressive as the design itself, but for only $70 this is still a good drone for beginners and another beginner drone under 100.

Click Here for Best Price!^[32]

#7. Altair Outlaw SE – Best Mid-Range Beginner Drone

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[33][34]

The Outlaw SE is one of Altair Aerial’s most technologically advanced beginner drones. This GPS-enabled drone practically flies itself, taking gorgeous pictures as it does so. Check out our review video below or read the full review here^[35]!

In GPS Flight Mode, the drone will hold itself stable in a point in space, requiring only that you steer it to whatever position you want it to stay in. Advanced stabilization features also make the Outlaw SE extremely easy for anyone to fly.

Throw in one of the best cameras in its price range and a good flight time and range, and you’ve got a solid mid-range beginner drone that most people can afford and anyone can fly.

Also, there’s no need to be intimidated if you’re bumping up to this mid-range GPS drone. Altair has step-by-step videos on their website (click here^[36]) that help you with any troubleshooting you may need.

#8. DJI Spark

Read reviews and shop for the DJI Spark^[38]

So, here’s the thing about the DJI Spark. This is a good rc drone for beginners if two things are true about you: 1) you have a lot of money to spare and 2) you don’t actually want to learn to fly. With advanced Gesture Mode features and other automated flight modes, this drone truly flies itself and takes great photos and video while it does so. But it may not be the best choice for pilots who actually want to learn to fly for themselves.

Click Here for Best Price!^[39]

#9. Parrot Bebop 2

Read reviews and shop for the Parrot Bebop 2^[40]

The Parrot Bebop 2 is an advanced consumer quadcopter designed for FPV photography and videography, but it’s easy enough for any beginner pilot to pick up and fly without much difficulty. Its intelligent flight assistance means that, to a certain extent, the drone flies itself and doesn’t require much input from the user. If you want to start your drone journey with one of the best mid-range rc drones for beginners on the market, look no further!

Click Here for Best Price!^[41]

#10. Parrot Anafi – Best High-End Beginner Drone

Read reviews and shop for the Parrot Anafi^[42]

If you’re looking to get into the world of professional drone photography, or simply have the money to spend on the highest end of the prosumer market, this quadcopter is for you. Though the Parrot Anafi is a somewhat easy drone to fly, we do not recommend it for all beginners, particularly those who feel they might regret the hefty price tag after the fact.

Still, this is a great beginner drones for adults, as opposed to the cheaper options which (other than the Altair models) are generally designed to work as beginner drones for kids.

When looking for high-end drones, there really is no better choice than the 2018 Parrot Anafi. This great drone comes with everything you could want from a professional camera drone at a relatively inexpensive price of $700 USD, and it’s extremely easy to fly (especially since they patched the software bugs that were present at launch.) Plus, for our money, the Anafi still has the best HDR features on the market.

Read our full review of the Parrot Anafi here!^[43]

Click Here for Best Price!^[44]

#11. DJI Mavic Pro

Read reviews and shop for the DJI Mavic Pro^[45]

You may have already heard of the DJI Mavic 2, widely considered the best flying camera on the consumer market. But if the Mavic 2 is such a remarkable piece of hardware (and it is), why are we recommending the older DJI Mavic Pro 1?

Well, the Mavic 2 is designed for truly advanced fliers, overwhelming users with dozens of settings and features to choose from. The Mavic Pro is a simpler, more elegant design that was actually created (in part) to appeal to beginners, and is overall much easier to fly.

This is the best choice for beginner drone pilots who are looking for the best high-end model available!

Click Here for Best Price!^[46]

#12. Yuneec Typhoon H Pro

Read reviews and shop for the Yuneec Typhoon H Pro^[47]

Most high-end new pilot drones tend to be of the portable, foldable variety we’ve shown you above. But if you’re looking for something bigger, consider the Yuneec Typhoon H, a Phantom competitor (and in many ways, superior) that’s carried through the air by 8 powerful propellers. Yuneec’s emphasis on usability and 8 autonomous flight modes make the Typhoon H extremely easy for anyone to fly, including those looking for a good beginner drone.

Click Here for Best Price!^[48]

How do you fly a drone? Frequently Asked Questions for Beginner Drone Pilots

The number one question beginners ask us is how to fly drones. The good news is that many of the drones on this list will practically fly themselves thanks to a number of automatic stabilization modes like heading and altitude hold. All you have to worry about is the analog sticks.

If you’ve ever played a videogame using a controller, you’ll feel right at home with a drone. In a similar fashion, the left stick generally lets you turn in the air and move up and down, while the right stick is what you actually use to move horizontally. Any drone will come with a manual telling you how to use it, and if you have an open field to practice in you’ll be able to figure out the basics fairly quickly without having to worry about crashes.

The best beginner drones also come with ease-of-use features that let you only have to worry about a few aspects of flying at a time, such as Headless mode.

How high can a drone fly?

The maximum legal height to fly a drone in the United States (and most other countries that have regulations in place) is 400 feet. Most drones fly somewhere between 100 to 400 feet in the air in compliance with this rule.

How long can a drone fly?

Because of the weight requirements for the battery, most drones can only fly for 8 to 25 minutes. Many beginner drone pilots are surprised at the fact that most drones don’t fly very long. This is why most of us seasoned drone enthusiasts buy extra batteries whenever we pick up a new drone!

How far can a drone go?

Most drones have an effective flight range of 100 to 4000 meters. High-end drones can have a much farther range – the Yuneec Typhoon H Pro, for example, boasts a 10 kilometer flight range!

Do drones have cameras?

The best starter drones – now come with cameras as a standard feature. This camera is usually controlled with a seperate app on a mobile device, but some drones (like the Altair Aerial Outlaw) let you take pictures and video with a button on the controller itself.

What is an FPV camera?

“FPV” stands for “first person view” or “first-person video.” This means that a camera on a drone is mounted in such a way that it can stream live video footage that makes it look like you’re seeing from the drone’s perspective. This stream is usually viewed on a seperate mobile device and makes it much easier to line up photography and videography shots.

What is a good drone for beginners?

When buying an intro drone, you want to look for the following specifications:

High durability. As a beginner, YOU ARE GOING TO CRASH. This is a natural and normal part of the learning process – we’d be lying if we said there was a single member of our team that didn’t crash their first drone dozens of times. With that in mind, you need a drone that can withstand those first few crashes and last long enough for you to figure out how to fly properly.

User-friendly controls. Features like altitude hold mode, heading hold, and slower flight speeds will make the drone easier to control and therefore better for learning. The best drones for beginners let you turn these features off, one by one, so that you can work your way up to more advanced piloting techniques.

Safety features. A good beginner drone will land itself when the battery’s running out, for example.

Price. This one is obvious. Don’t spend thousands of dollars on a drone you might not be able to fly properly!

Battery life and range. These are good things to look for with any drone. Remember that the battery life is probably going to be shorter than you’d expect – 15 minutes is considered very good for a beginner drone, while 20+ minutes is all but unheard-of.

Where can I find entry level drones with cameras for sale?

Most people either buy drones on Amazon or directly from the manufacturer. Sometimes entry level drone manufacturers’ websites will offer special benefits for buying through them – Altair Aerial, for example, offers free shipping. Some of the best beginner drones can also be found at physical storefronts that sell consumer electronics.

We are partnered with the Amazon affiliate program, so we get a little bit of money each time you buy a drone using one of our links. If you like our writing and think this article was valuable to you, consider buying through the buttons above to help support our site at no extra cost to yourself!

How much does a decent drone cost? How much is a drone with a camera?

In the modern age, you can find good drones for under $100 USD – sometimes as low as $40 to $60. But these drones may have limited functionality and are often made of cheaper parts. A good, long-lasting beginner drone typically costs between $100-$300. Mid-range drones can go up to $600, while high-end consumer drones will often cost $1000 or more.

Cameras are now standard on almost all beginner drones, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra for that feature.

Do you need a license to fly a drone?

Typically, you will not need a license to fly a beginner drone. In America, you usually only need to register a drone if you’re using it for a commercial purpose or if it weighs over 55 pounds. However, laws vary by state and even more by country, so we strongly recommend you look up the laws in your area to see if you need a license to fly a drone.

What are the best starter drones for photography?

The AA818 Hornet is probably the best entry level drone for photography on the market, but you can’t go wrong with basically anything that has a 720p HD camera or better.

Can I find beginner drones with an HD camera?

As a matter of fact, most rc drones now come with HD cameras – even those designed to be beginner drones for kids! Every vehicle we’ve mentioned on this list has an HD camera of at least 720p resolution, and the high-end models now come with 4K video and 12 Megapixel still image capability as standard.

Are there good beginner drones with GPS?

Actually, yes! It didn’t quite make our final top 5, but the Outlaw is a great new drone that’s really easy for beginners to fly and which has advanced GPS features. It lacks the durability of some of the other drones on this list and has to be calibrated each time you fly, but if what you really want in your first drone is some innovative GPS-based functionality it’s an excellent choice.

What’s the best drone for children who haven’t flown before?

Kids will probably get the most out of one of the cheap models listed in the first section of the article – an Altair Falcon or AA818 Hornet would be best, or possibly the Holy Stone Predator. Note that even the easiest to fly drones for kids are generally not recommended for those under the age of 14.

What’s the best entry level drone with camera for adults?

If you’re looking for a budget option, the best introductory drone for adults is most likely the Altair Aerial Tomahawk, which is easy to fly but still comes with many high-quality features, especially if you choose to upgrade the HD camera.

For the VERY best beginner drones for adults, of course, you’ll have to look to the high-end models like the Parrot Anafi or the Yuneec Typhoon. These come with many high-tech features, but are often too expensive for even adult beginners to justify buying.

Finding The Best Drones For Beginners – Which Drone Is Best?

We hope this article has helped you find some of the best drones for beginners 2019. If you have a question about one of our reviews, or think you know of a best beginner drone that we missed, be sure to let us know in the comments! Your feedback helps us to keep our articles regularly updated with the best and most accurate information we can.

Further Reading on Beginner Drones

Top Drones under $500 by Dronethusiast^[49]
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys^[50]
Indoor Drones with Cameras^[51] – by Dronethusiast

When I first learned that Altair Aerial had released an RC truck, I was ecstatic. While I spend the majority of my days testing and inspecting drones, I don’t get to try out other RC products as often, but I always love when I do. Altair is known for their affordable products that come with amazing features and I had a feeling that their Power Pro 4×4 RC truck would be no different. My main question was if their RC truck could match up to their impressive line up of drones.

Ready to purchase? Click here to check the best price available on Amazon.com, or you can find more information on the Altair Aerial website by clicking here!^[1][2]

Right out of the box I couldn’t wait to connect the battery and get to driving. I was excited to learn everything I could about the Power Pro. Keep reading to learn my complete thoughts on this RC truck and decide if you want to try it yourself.

Unboxing the Power Pro RC Truck

When I first opened up the Power Pro the truck was completely assembled. This made me happy because I wasn’t going to have to spend time figuring out how to put the pieces together and could quickly get to driving.

Here’s everything that comes with the Power Pro 4×4.

The truck and transmitter batteries were the only things that needed to be installed, and that didn’t take too long. Also, the transmitter requires 3 AA batteries which do not come included with the package. Luckily, I had some on hand.

To install the Li-Po battery^[3] into the truck I had to remove the plastic cover and pull off the battery cap in the middle of the RC truck body. Once it was connected, I just replaced the cover and switched the truck on and was ready to roll. It was an easy, simple process which I enjoyed. The faster I could get racing, the better.

Driving the Power Pro 4×4

Power Pro 4×4: Faster Than Expected

When it comes to RC trucks^[4], of course, the first thing on my mind is always the speed. I was really interested in seeing how fast the Power Pro 4×4 could go because I always enjoy RC trucks that pack a punch when it comes to speed.

After I first turned on the Power Pro and set it on the pavement, I prepared to pull back on the throttle. I was amazed at how quickly the truck sped up while it still remained easy to control. Altair makes the claim that the Power Pro can run at 30 mph which I wouldn’t doubt for a second.

The Power Pro does come equipped with two speed modes, one that’s faster and one that is slower. After driving the truck in both speed modes, I can tell you that both the fast and slow mode are fairly easy to control. In my opinion, the slower speed mode would be best for kids or beginners but I personally enjoyed driving the Power Pro in the faster speed mode.

I also had to test the speed across different terrains, not just flat cement. I found some sandy and rocky areas to test the speed of the Power Pro and while it still zoomed quite fast through the rocks and sand, I wouldn’t say it traveled quite up to 30 mph. However, this didn’t bother me much because I was able to stay in control of the RC truck at all times. It was really easy to handle this truck even as I was riding on rougher terrain. This independent suspension and simple controls on the transmitter helped me a lot while I was driving.

Along with testing the speed of the Power Pro, I was keen to test what the range of this RC truck was. It’s claimed that the truck can travel at a range of about 250 meters, which to me seems far.

There aren’t any out-of-range alarms for this RC truck, so I didn’t find myself driving the truck nearly that far because I didn’t want to lose control of it or accidentally drive it out of range. However, I did take it out far enough to the point that I could barely see which way it was going and don’t think it was nearly at 250 feet. This range seems like plenty of distance to be able to really enjoy using this truck.

A Truck That Can Rock Crawl

This RC Monster Truck^[5] has large, rubber wheels and 4-wheel independent suspension so it’s safe to assume that it will have some amount of rock crawling capabilities. I wanted to test this for myself so I found an area that had some larger rocks and took the Power Pro for a spin to see how it held up.

It rode really great and I was impressed with the way it was easily able to climb and stay upright. It had no trouble crawling through the rocks and didn’t get stuck to the point I had to step in and re-route it. I love RC trucks that can ride through rocks and harder terrains because I think it adds dimension to someone’s RC experience. If you’re looking to do a little bit of off-roading, I think you’ll love the Power Pro 4×4.

Battery Lasted Me A While!

With any RC product, a drone, boat, car, or truck the battery life is one of the most important things to me. I want something that’s going to last for a while and not give out after a few minutes. With the Power Pro 4×4, I was able to drive it for about 15 minutes before the battery ran out and I had to recharge. While this isn’t the shortest battery life, it’s not the longest either. There are other RC trucks available at similar prices whose battery life is a fair bit longer. I will probably be picking up another battery for myself so I can get some longer use out of it.

With that being said, If you’re not looking to take your RC truck out for that long and just want something to casually drive around the neighborhood, park, or wherever, I think 15 minutes will give you what you’re looking for. It’s still a lot of time to race, do tricks, or whatever it is you’re wanting. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the Power Pro and its battery life did not change the experience that much for me.

Final Thoughts on the Power Pro 4×4 RC Truck from Altair

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the Power Pro 4×4. It’s a well made RC truck that comes with many great features. Also, it’s so versatile and I believe it can fit many different driver’s needs and give them various driving experiences like racing and rock crawling. Costing just under $130, this is an affordable price for an RC truck of this size.

Its standout features would definitely be its speed and rock crawling capabilities. Plus, it is really easy to control which makes it great for anyone who is just starting this hobby, including kids. The two speed modes will be extremely helpful to any beginner as they can start off slow and learn the controls before moving on to the faster speed mode.

While the battery life is not as long as some of the Power Pro’s competitors, it still lasts you quite a while and gives you plenty of time to have some fun.

I’m glad to see Altair is branching out into other products and I really enjoyed trying out the Power Pro 4×4 RC truck. I think anyone will be able to find something they enjoy from this RC truck whether it’s racing or off-roading, you will never get bored with the Power Pro!

Filming roller coasters with drones is nothing new, but this isn’t just any footage. Recently, an all star flyer managed to capture video with their drone racing alongside the cars of a roller coaster. The pilot, who is clearly skilled, pulled off some crazy maneuvers while getting the footage, and races along with the roller coaster cars for the length of the track.

The video follows the coaster as it travels along the track, and mirrors its movements as it takes turns and goes upside down. The drone follows closely behind, weaving in and out of the track and support beams to create an awe inspiring video. The footage does an excellent job of making you feel almost like you’re there on track flying along at high speeds with it..

The footage was taken by Viggo Koch, who I think we can all agree has some serious flying skills. He got the footage at Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden following their HELIX coaster. Fun fact, the HELIX coaster is the longest in Scandinavia, which only further shows off Viggo’s skills behind the controls.

What you’ll also immediately notice when watching the video is just how smooth the footage is. There’s no choppy or jerky movements, everything is very flowing and smooth. Every move of the drone looks planned, and Viggo is in complete control the entire video.

In terms of equipment, the footage was shot on a GoPro Hero 6 camera that was attached to a custom built racing drone. The drone also had a Foxeer Falkor FPV attached to it as well. In filming he also used Fatshark HD3 Goggles paired with the ImmersionRC RapidFIRE 5.8 GHz Module and VAS 3-turn Helical Antennas. He piloted the drone using an FrSky Q X7 Controller with a TBS Crossfire Micro TX long-range R/C link.

It’s also important to mention that Viggo had explicit permission from the park to fly. The video was taken before the park was open so it didn’t endanger any riders. Viggo also has the skill to back up the attempt; don’t try this trick at home kids.

The footage is great, but it’s also interesting to take a look at the evolving tech making flights like this possible. In particular, the rise of first person view googles. Koch used the Fatshark HD3 goggles, but there are tons of other ones out there on the market.

Technology like this is what makes these types of videos possible. Being able to be right there in the action makes taking those tight turns smooth, and avoiding obstacles at the last possible second achievable. This type of technology has come a long way in the past couple of years, and we’re even starting to see it become available for more hobby purposes.

As mentioned, Viggo also used a custom built drone to film the video. If you check out the video for yourself on Youtube you can get a break down of all the parts and pieces he used. For those looking for the challenge of building their own racing drone, maybe this can give you some ideas to start from.

In the end, this serves as an excellent demonstration of Koch’s skills as well as a great promotional video for the park itself. You can see more videos like this on Koch’s YouTube page, including similar ones he’s shot for other parks. Viggo also lists out all his equipment on his page, so check it out if you’re interested in learning more about his setup.

RC boats and drone flying, both incredibly fun and exciting hobbies. Wouldn’t it be great if you could combine the two into a super remote control hybrid vehicle? Up until now that dream may have seemed like an impossibility, but recently new developments have made it seem a bit closer. Thanks to Imperial College London’s Aerial Robotics Lab^[1] that reality may be one step closer as their research is promising to do just that. Their AquaMAV robot is able to propel itself out of the water, and fly through the air up to 26 meters. This is one of the first of it’s kind type robots that can go from water bound to flying through the air in a nearly seamless transition much like the “flying fish”.

Using a combustible powder, the robot mixes it with water to generate gas which propels it. It does so with so much force, that it can even leap out of choppy water and small waves. This is all very exciting, and bodes well for the future of water to drone hybrid vehicles.

The big problem for researchers, is that the amount of power needed to go from water to air is significant. This is made further difficult when trying to pack that much power into a small package like drones typically are. On one hand the drone needs to be light enough to fly, but on the other it also needs the capabilities to create enough power to get out of the water. This is the problem that is inherit in these water to air based crafts. Figuring out how to provide enough power while keeping it light enough to fly is key.

The craft in question only uses 0.2 grams of powder in order to take off, limiting the amount of weight it needs to carry. It also only uses one pump to mix the water in order to initiate take off. This is the only moving piece on this vehicle. This means it has less weight on board that make up its internals. With a light weight construction, it gets even more flight time in a smaller package.

The researchers say this could have big uses in water based monitoring. Many water areas are difficult to monitor, and the use of this drone could make this easier. Taking samples from a natural disaster, or monitoring radiation levels around power plants are both real use applications of this type of technology. The applications of the technology are interesting, and promise to give us a better way to monitor water sources and potentially protect our environment.

As of right now, the robot has been tested in the lab, a small lake, and a wave tank. The goal is to expose it to more testing environments to see what type of capabilities it has and where its current use cases stand. As mentioned, it does have the power to fly out of choppy water, so it will be interesting to see how extreme conditions can get and still have it operational.

While the technology is still a bit off from a boat to drone craft, it certainly is looking to get a bit closer to that reality. With work being done to solve the energy problem, it’s possible we’ll see drones like this in the not too distant future. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see entry level, toy and hobby drones that incorporate this kind of technology.

Drones are a great way to pass the time and can be used for both recreational and professional purpose. I was super excited when Altair Aerial released the Falcon. Dronethusiast has many reviews of their products so it’s always nice to come back and review new items that they’ve released.

Ready to purchase? Click Here to check the best price available on Amazon.com, or you can find more information on the Altair Aerial website by clicking here^[1][2]

Today I will be taking a deep-dive into Altair Aerial’s new Falcon drone. Altair is known for its high-quality and affordable drones that they offer and I wanted to test out and see just what the Altair Aerial Falcon is capable of. One thing I was especially excited for with this drone is that Altair Aerial has rolled out a new feature unique to their brand. An Autonomous Hovering & Positioning System. I will be getting more into detail about this feature later, but for now, let’s get started by unboxing the drone.

Unboxing the Altair Aerial Falcon Drone

Straight away, when I first opened the box, I saw that the drone comes preassembled with an all-black design and compact size. The fact that it comes assembled in the box is great because it means you can get to flying much faster. You will want to make sure your batteries are charged and insert them into your controller and drone. Then it will be time to calibrate it, and you can start flying.

After I took all of the parts out of the box, I needed to insert batteries into the controller. The controller takes 4 AA batteries which are not included with the drone. I needed to use a screwdriver to screw off the cap to put the batteries into the controller, so be sure you have one on hand if you buy this drone. It was easy for me to install the drone’s battery, which I was happy about. There is an open cavity in the front of the drone and all you have to do is insert the battery from there. One thing that I really loved about the Falcon that you don’t get with many other drones is that it comes with 2 batteries. This means double the flying time for you which in my opinion, leads to that much more fun!

Click Here to See Best Price!^[3]

Flying the Falcon

Before I started flying the Altair Falcon, I wanted to read the user manual carefully so I could learn more about everything that comes with the Falcon drone. I highly recommend that any pilot read through the manuals before they begin flying. You can tell how much effort goes into Altair Aerial’s manuals because they are super easy to read and understand. I enjoyed how straightforward the manual is because it made me feel knowledgable and comfortable to get flying. With that being said, let’s talk about what it was like getting the Falcon in the air.

Something interesting about the Falcon is it has AHP – autonomoous hover & positioning, which I haven’t seen on any other drones I’ve flown. Here’s a video from the founder of Altair explaining AHP.

Using the Controller

If you’re worried about using the autonomous hovering system or the flight modes, there’s no need. The Falcon actually comes with detailed instructions, right on the controller. It labels what every button does and how to use it. This is a really helpful aspect in my opnion. To me it shows that Altair Aerial goes above and beyond for its customers, especially beginners^[4].

Let’s get into these unique flight modes.

Autonomous Hovering & Positioning System

I was excited about this autonomous hovering & positioning system that’s unique to Altair. Since this is a seemingly advanced feature on an extremely affordable drone, I wanted to test just how well it worked and if it would be useful to beginner pilots. As I began flying the drone, it stayed in a hovering position fairly well.

Now, Altair claims that with this system, the drone will stay hovering in its position even if the pilot took their hands off the controller.

I decided to test this out for myself and take my own hands off the controller to see if it really did stay hovering. And wow, was I impressed! Flying the Falcon was so easy. I was able to remain in control during the entire fligh. One thing I noticed was that I could put the drone in full throttle going on direction and then take my hands off the control sticks and the drone would hover in the same spot I left it. I think this is such a cool feature, and I started thinking of how easy it would be for kids to fly this drone, and love it. If you’re ever unsure of what to do just let go and the drone will hover in place. The autonomous hovering & and positioning system is a standout feature in my opinion, and I couldn’t wait to see what else the Falcon could do.

Flight Modes

When drones have multiple flight modes, I personally am always impressed. This means that they can be used by a range of pilots with different skill levels. The Falcon comes with three different flight modes that offer a range of different speeds for all types of pilots. It’s very easy to toggle between these flight modes as well. You just have to press down on the right stick of the controller and listen for beeps.

I wanted to try out each of these modes myself to see their differences in speed. One beep indicates that you’re in the slowest mode. This speed is slow, and incredibly easy to control. I think any child would really enjoy flying at this nice and easy speed without feeling overwhelemed. If you press the stick again, you will hear two beeps. This means you’re in an intermediate mode with a little faster speed. Flying in this mode was really enjoyable for me.

The second speed is an intermediate speed. While I do have experience flying drones, I am not an expert by any means. However, I felt comfortable at this intermediate speed. To me it’s a perfect in-between setting that isn’t too slow, and isn’t too fast.

Finally, if you press the stick a third time there will be three beeps and you’re in the most advanced mode. The third mode is the fastest mode and boy does it pick up some serious speed. It was fun for me to try out but I would definietly only recommend using this mode if you’re a more seasoned drone pilot.

Flying Without the Propeller Guards

As you saw above, the drone comes preassembled with propeller guards. These add a great deal of durability and for me, they add peace of mind when flying because they help protect your drone from becoming damaged.

However, if you are a more experienced pilot and feel comfortable flying you can remove these propeller guards if you’d like. And it’s pretty easy too. There are four latches by each propeller that you just gently pull the guards out of.

And here’s what the Falcon without the propeller’s guards. As you can see, it looks much smaller so be sure to keep a close eye on it when flying.

If you decide that you do prefer flying with the propeller guards, they are easy to reattach as well. Just find those for latches again, and firmly stick the propeller guards back in. One is for the left side of the drone, and the other if for the right side. You should hear a small click when it’s back in place.

Flight Time and Range

Flight time and range are a huge part of flying a drone, and I always pay close attention to these when I’m testing drones. You want to make sure that whichever drone you purchase can give you ample flying time and can fly around large areas. I was really excited when I saw that the Falcon comes with two batteries. One battery on the Falcon gives you about 8-10 minutes of flying time, but with both batteries you get about 20 minutes. This is comporable to the average amount of flying time you get on more professional grade drones, which I really love becuase you don’t have to recharge as often.

When I took the Falcon out to fly for the first time, I never really approached the 50 meter flight range. With a drone this small I found it hard to know which way was forward when it approached a little over half that distance. This really isn’t a long range drone, but it’s really a lot of fun to fly in a small space. More expensive drones can fly much further, but 50 meters is an impressive range for what you’re paying for. This range is good for beginners as well who may not be confident flying as far of distances just yet.

When I was flying the Falcon I really took the flight time and range into consideration. While a professional drone pilot may find these features limiting, I just knew that a small flight range and average flight time would be perfect for kids for a couple of reasons. One, with the Altair Falcon only being able to fly around 50 meters, it would never fly out of sight from a younger pilot and they would be able to easily stay in control at all times. Second, a 10-20 minute flight time would give a child ample practice time to really learn how to fly but not so long that they would lose focus. It made me want to take my drone over to my nephew’s house so he could get a hand at trying to fly!

Charging the Battery

I’ve already mentioned how I really appreciate that the Falcon comes with two batteries, but I think it’s important to note how to charge them. It’s not difficult by any means, you just have to plug the USB port into a computer or charging block and the battery has a port on the side to plug in the other end of the cable.

You should always be near your battery when it’s charging, and never leave it plugged in overnight. This can ruin it’s battery health.

Final thoughts on the Falcon – Should you buy it?

Once again, I was impressed with this new drone from Altair. The A200 drone comes at an incredibly affordable price costing only $129.80. With all the features you receive with the Falcon, you really are receiving a great deal paying less than $200!

My favorite feature is, of course, the autonomous hovering & positioning system that Altair has rolled out with this new drone. I believe it will be great for any beginner or child who may be somewhat overwhelmed with learning how to fly. There is an outstanding amount of control that comes with flying this drone which is why it’s so perfect for any new pilot. Plus, both the drone and controller come at a perfect size which again is why I think kids will really enjoy it. With the Falcon, they don’t have to use a large overwhelming controller or an intimidating sized drone. The Falcon controller can easily fit in their hands and the drone itself is small too.

Overall, this drone is great for pilots of all skill levels but I can definitely see that it’s catered to kid pilots or someone who is just learning. I could see how a more experienced pilot could get bored with this drone as it’s not the most challenging. However, if you do have experience flying drones and are just looking for a new and affordable drone to add to your collection, I think you’ll really enjoy the Altair Aerial Falcon.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[5]

You can’t beat its price or Altair Aerial’s amazing customer service. Altair Aerial is located in the United States and makes themselves readily available to customers. I had a question about charging the drone battery and spoke directly to the owner of the company who was happy to help me. If you have any questions you can email help@altairaerial.com at anytime and a real person will respond to help you through any questions you have. This is just another thing that makes the Altair Aerial Falcon worth trying.

Check out the Altair Aerial Website^[6] or Facebook page^[7].

Updated: September 17, 2019

RC boats are becoming one of the most popular categories of remote control vehicle. From serious professional racers to hobbyists, everyone with access to water can enjoy a radio controlled boat for sale. The gear available today is nothing like the old-fashioned versions that you saw at amusement parks during yesteryear, and the designs are very sleek.

But with so many awesome RC boat models on the market today, and so few reliable sources of reviews out there, how can you seperate the best from the rest? Well, we at Dronethusiast are experts in autonomous remote control vehicles, and we’ve decided to write remote control boat reviews for the best RC boats of 2019. Big and small, fast and leisurely, stylish and practical – there’s something here for everyone, and we’ve broken out the most fun RC boat reviews down by category as you can see below:

Best RC Boat for the Money – Dronethusiast #1 RC Boat

When you’re looking for the best RC boat for the money, you really need to look no further than the Altair AA Aqua! This boat is super easy to manuever out on the water and can hit speeds of up to 20 mph! That’s the perfect speed for someone that’s new to RC boating, but will still give someone looking to go fast! Check out our video review of the AA Aqua below!

Best RC Boats Table of Contents

1. Altair AA Aqua RC Speed Boat^[1]
2. The Wave RC Boat for Kids^[2]
3. Traxxas Spartan RC Boat^[3]
4. UDIRC Venom Boat^[4]
5. Force1 H102 Velocity^[5]
6. Pro Boat Recoil RC Boat^[6]
7. SOWOFA FT011 Ultimate Racing Boat^[7]
8. Cheerwing RC Racing Boat^[8]
9. Babrit F1 Speed Boat^[9]
10. Traxxas DCB M41 Catamaran Racing RC Boat^[10]
11. Proboat Blackjack^[11]
12. Flytec 3 Fishing Bait RC Boat^[12]
13. HuntGold Electric Bait Fishing Ship^[13]
14. Aquacraft Mini Alligator Tours RC Swamp Boat^[14]
15. Mirarobot GV160 Amphibious Whoover RC Boat with Camera^[15]
16. RC Boat FAQs^[16]

Top 5 Best RC Boats For Sale

Not sure what kind of boat you’re looking for? Don’t know the difference between a remote control pontoon boat and a drag boat? Not to worry – this section is dedicated to our top 5 overall picks for the best RC boats for sale. These new remote control boats are great for adults^[17] and kids alike, and are a great choice for anyone looking to find the best RC boat for the money and get into the radio control hobby.

#1. Altair AA Aqua – Best Remote Control Boat

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at AltairAerial.com^[18][19]

They even have an Altair Video Tutorials page that helps you get started. Email Altair Inc at help@altairaerial.com^[20]

The AA Aqua is a fantastic looking RC boat that really has some performance numbers to go with it. This release from Altair can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h at a range of up to 100 meters which is fantastic when you think about the price ($80). The boat comes loaded with features that include an Anti-Capsize Hull System that ensures if your boat flips over it will right itself in the water for you. There also is a low battery alarm and an out of range alarm just in case you lose track of how much fun you’re having.

The one drawback that I found on this boat is that the battery life isn’t what I would want it to be (only 7 minutes), but they do include 2 batteries in the package so you do get almost 15 minutes of runtime before you need to re-charge both batteries.

Pair that kind of performance and top notch features with the Altair brand that is known for releasing high quality products and you have a rc boat that is one of the best bang for your buck remote control boats on the market today!

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[21]

#2. The Wave – Great Budget RC Boat

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at AltairAerial.com^[22][23]

The AA Wave is Altair’s other boat to release this year and it stands a close second on our list the the AA Aqua though it’s tough to go wrong with either boat. Just like the AA Aqua, the Altair Wave features an Anti-Capsize Hull System that can self correct any time your boat flips upside down in the water.

While this boat does go slightly slower (25 km/h) than the AA Aqua, the features on the two boats remain practically identical. Again, we wish that the battery life on this product was slightly longer, but they do send an extra battery with the product and at $70 you really are going to have a hard time finding a better buy.

They even have an Altair Video Tutorials page that helps you get started. Email Altair Inc at help@altairaerial.com^[24]

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[25]

These boats are super easy to pilot and great for the whole family, you can see them in action here in this video from Altair.

#3. Traxxas Spartan – Best Professional Racing RC Boat

Read reviews and shop for the Traxxas Spartan Here^[26]

Traxxas is one of the most well-respected RC boat and car manufacturers working today. They’ve knocked it out of the park once again with their 57076 Spartan, which is one of the fastest remote control boats for sale thanks to an incredible top speed of 50 miles per hour!

How does it move so fast? Well, this is one of the new wave of brushless RC boats. Brushless motors operate more efficiently and can give the boat more power, and Traxxas’ Velineon motor is one of the best models around. Innovative design is the hallmark of every piece of this large RC speedboat, which also includes Traxxas stability management and a much better wireless connection than most other remote control boats.

There’s no denying that this is the most advanced and overall best RC boat we’ve reviewed, especially for rough waters. However, some of our readers will be turned away by the price, which is $421 before batteries and charger (which have to be purchased separately.) Still, if you have the money for it, this is a perfect boat for beginners and advanced pilots alike.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[27]

#4. UDIRC Venom

Read reviews and shop for the UDIRC Venom Here^[28]

This is a faster RC speedboat model that is really made for those that want to experience higher speeds and a lot of excitement. This cool RC boat is about a foot long and represents what people usually want most out of a modern, sleek remote control boat in the cheap price range. Some even consider it the best remote control speedboat for sale, although it’s only #2 on our list.

Users really love the low-battery alarm, which makes it so that you don’t have to worry about getting stranded way out in the middle of the body of water. It’s not recommended for use in an area that has huge waves, but the hull is overall very durable. And it controls very well, especially considering that most electric RC boats under $50…well, to put it politely, do NOT control very well.

One of the Venom’s unique features is the fact that it automatically cools its motor and prevents it from overheating using the water it sails on. This helps the boat last longer and also improves its battery life, which is among the best in its price range.

All-around, this is one of the best RC boats under $100.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[29]

#5. Force1 H102 Velocity – Best Remote Control Boat for Lakes

Read reviews and shop for the Force1 H102 Velocity Here^[30]

The Force1 H102 Velocity is a very popular remote control boat for sale – a regular Amazon best-seller with good reviews to back it up. So it’s probably no surprise that the Velocity ended up so high on our list. There’s a lot to love with this new remote control boat – it’s easy to sail, costs less than 100 dollars, and moves at a fast 20 MPH top speed.

One of the best features of the Velocity is that it’s one of the new self-righting remote control boats that are becoming more popular. This means that if it capsizes, it can automatically right itself in most circumstances. This is a great feature for beginners who are more likely to capsize, and it’s also a great RC boat for lakes! A lot of experts like this sort of feature too, because it makes it easier to recover your property and means you can use it outside of shallow water.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[31]

#6. Pro Boat Recoil

Read reviews and shop for the Pro Boat Recoil Here^[32]

The Recoil is another self-righting remote control boat for sale by Pro Boat, a company with a good reputation for customer service. It combines a lot of things we liked about other boats higher up on this list: it’s a fast boat, it’s large, and it’s a self righting RC boat. In fact, many would consider it the best beginner boat for sale. It also uses a 2950Kv brushless motor.

So what’s the catch? Well, first is the price. $180 isn’t beyond the pale, but it’s not exactly cheap, and some of these features are available in RC boats under 100. The second problem is the battery life – the Recoil only lasts 10 minutes on a single battery charge and doesn’t come with a spare.

Still, if you don’t mind springing for a few extra batteries, this is a great radio controlled boat for somebody who wants all of the latest features in a single, somewhat cheap package.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[33]

#7. SOWOFA FT011 Ultimate Racing Boat

Read reviews and shop for the SOWOFA FT011 Here^[34]

The SOWOFA FT011, also known as the Ultimate Racing Boat, doesn’t quite live up to its name. In particular, it wouldn’t be right to mention this boat without explaining that the company behind it is a little less than ethical – the top image of this product on their Amazon page, for example, is blatantly misleading.

However, there’s still a lot to love about the FT011, which is one of the fastest and most fun remote control boats for sale. It has an incredible top speed, especially considering its large hull size. It operates on powerful brushless motors that don’t need cleaning and can self-right itself after a capsize. It also has a solid internal cooling mechanism that keeps the electronics running longer, and it’s a good thing too, because the battery life is only about 10-15 minutes. However, you can pay for a better battery and charger to upgrade this boat for not too much extra money.

In all, this is an excellent large RC boat for sale that will please hobbyists and experienced racers alike with its speed and ability. Just don’t expect a lot of post-sale customer support.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[35]

#8. Cheerwing RC Racing Boat

Read reviews and shop for the Cheerwing RC Racing Boat Here^[36]

The Cheerwing RC Racing Boat is a popular radio controlled boat because of its small size and excellent controls. Its streamlined hull and compact shape are actually specifically designed for use in smaller bodies of water such as a pond or lake.

And despite the Cheerwing’s low price it actually has decent specs, with a top speed of 15 MPH and a sailing time of 8 minutes off of only 80 minutes of charge. You might want to buy a couple spare batteries, but at least you won’t have to wait long to sail again after they’ve been spent.

This awesome RC boat for lakes is especially good for beginners, because it has self-righting capsize recovery features built right into the hull, auto-corrects its own tilt, is water-cooled, and has built-in alarms for low battery or weak signal connection. So if you’re looking for a great small RC boat that can be used in any conditions, the Cheerwing RC Racing Boat is an excellent choice.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[37]

#9. Babrit F1

Read reviews and shop for the Babrit F1 Here^[38]

The Babrit F1 is a small boat that can move in any direction: forward, left, right, and reverse. Not many boats can move in reverse, and that advanced versatility makes the F1 one of the best remote control boats for lakes, because it’s easy to back away from the edge if you find yourself getting into a dangerous situation. Precise port position and self balancing sailing also keep this boat stable and upright in any condition.

The Babrit F1 is also just a good boat all around – it moves fast (but not so fast that it’s unusable in a smaller space), has a decent battery life, doesn’t cost too much and never loses signal connection. The only downside is that the transmitter range is a little short, but that really doesn’t matter in a small lake or pond. All in all, this is a great RC boat for beginners and experts (though it may find more favor with the former.)

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[39]

#10. Traxxas DCB M41 Catamaran – Fastest RC Motor Boat

Read reviews and shop for the Traxxas DCB M41 Catamaran Here^[40]

Now, someone’s almost certainly going to point out that technically ALL the boats we’ve reviewed so far have been remote control motor boats. That’s because all remote control boats (and remote control vehicles in general) require a motor to operate.

The Traxxas DCB M41 Catamaran, however, is the fastest RC motor boat for sale today. This is the kind of boat that you can actually use for racing, if you feel so inclined!

When you’re looking for cool RC motor boats with pure speed, there’s just no beating Traxxas. The DCB M41 twin-hull Catamaran (a term which refers to the boat’s unique shape) can go faster than 50 miles per hour thanks to a water-cooled, waterproof VXL-6s marine ESC with low-voltage protection and a Velineon 540XL brushless rc boat motor.

If that sounds like gibberish to you, here’s what you need to know: it’s fast, it’s tough (with an aluminum and stainless steel body), it has fine-tuned controls, and it moves great across smooth water. The only downside with this boat is that it’s fairly expensive and doesn’t come with batteries. But for anyone looking for one of the fastest RC motor boats around, money should be no object.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[41]

#11. Proboat Blackjack

Read reviews and shop for the Proboat Blackjack Here^[42]

If you’re interested in fast remote control motor boats but can’t afford any of the best Traxxas models, the Proboat Blackjack is a great $200 substitute. It still moves at a good speed of 30+ miles per hour thanks to a powerful brushless 2000Kv water-cooled motor and 30A Li-Po compatible ESC. An off-set rudder system provides decent stability, and the red and black design just looks great cruising along a lake or pond.

A strongly recommended motor boat for the intermediate RC boat user.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[43]

#12. Flytec 3 Fishing Bait RC Boat – Best RC Pontoon Boat

Read reviews and shop for the Flytec 3 Fishing Bait RC Boat Here^[44]

An RC pontoon boat is a flattish catamaran boat that floats on cylindrical tubes called “pontoons.” Pontoons are good RC boats for lakes and are mostly used for fishing because they can run longer on less battery.

This classical pontoon boat works well as a tool for bait fishing. It has about 20 hours of battery life according to the manufacturer, and though you can’t always trust those claims, we can tell you from experience that this RC pontoon boat lasts about as long as you could possibly want it to. It also moves at a steady 1.5 miles per hour, which is typical of this kind of vehicle.

It also has a solid motor, two large bait containers, a quiet operation, and good durability, all for less than 150 dollars. This is one of the most consistently well-reviewed radio controlled pontoon boats for sale, and we think you’ll love it too.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[45]

#13. HuntGold Electric Bait Fishing Ship

Read reviews and shop for the HuntGold Electric Bait Fishing Ship Here^[46]

This is definitely not what you think of when you think of a typical RC pontoon boat, because it only has a single large buoyancy pontoon instead of two smaller ones. However, the HuntGold Electric Bait Fishing Ship is one of the very best RC boats for lakes in its class.

It lasts for 8 hours of continuous usage (according to the manufacturer, at least – we’ve never had cause to use it for quite that long) and the large pontoon helps keep it stable in the water and gives it better wind resistance than some of its competitors. Plus, it can be used at night thanks to LED lights, and it’s nearly silent, which is ideal for when you’re chumming the water with bait.

This RC boat may not be the most exciting looking, but it’s a great choice for serious fishing enthusiasts.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[47]

#14. Aquacraft Mini Alligator Tours RC Swamp Boat Review – Best Remote Control Swamp Boat

Read reviews and shop for the Aquacraft Mini Alligator Tours Swamp Boat Here^[48]

RC swamp boats are becoming more popular, as they’re more equipped to traverse stagnant waters and more rough natural areas. Most RC swamp boats are also RC airboats – some consider the terms interchangeable.

This popular remote control swamp boat emphasizes safety and stabilitly over everything else, which is often what you want from a swamp boat. It has a very impressive 500 foot range, a sailing time of up to 14 minutes, and a decent speed. It’s modeled after real-life swamp boats, only scaled down, giving it a unique look that fans of aesthetics are sure to appreciate.

All in all there’s not much to say – this is just an incredibly solid, consistently well-reviewed RC swamp boat and easily one of the best for sale.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[49]

#15. Mirarobot GV160 Amphibious Whoover – RC Boat with Camera

Read reviews and shop for the Mirarobot GV160 Amphibious Whoover Here^[50]

This boat is something truly special. The first thing you’ll notice is the unique four-propeller design and the amphibious undercarriage that allows this swamp boat to travel on land or water. The second thing you’ll notice is how small it is – only 8 inches in length!

But one of the best things about the Mirarobot GV160 Amphibious Whoover is that it’s the only rc boat with a camera on this entire list. That’s right – there’s a 600TVL camera built right into the boat itself, allowing you to stream FPV video to the controller or even record it to share later. If you’re an amateur photographer who’s also interested in RC swamp boats, this isn’t just your best choice – it’s basically your ONLY choice.

All that, plus good specs, for less than $70. A clear winner in its category.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[51]

Types of RC Boats

There are many types of RC boats available and all come with different features and specs depending on what you’re looking for. Whether you’re searching for an RC boat for you, your outdoorsy brother or your young child, there is definitely a boat out there that’s perfect.

RC boats with Camera

One type of RC boat are those that come with built in or attachable cameras. These boats are great for anyone who wants to capture some great first-person view action shots with their boat while racing across the water.

Remote Control Pontoon Boats

If you’re looking for a toy to take along with you on relaxing days at the lake, an RC pontoon boat might be great for you. These slower moving boats are a ton fun

Saltwater RC boats

Not all boats can be driven in saltwater, but if you’re hoping to take an RC boat with you to the beach you can luckily find some great and exciting ones to take along. When searching just make sure the package is safe for saltwater so you can assure no damage will be done as you’re busy racing through the waves.

Miniature RC Boat

Miniature RC boats are smaller than your standard boat and are great for kids. Since they aren’t too big, kids can easily control them on pools, ponds, and lakes and have a blast while driving them. Plus, they are great for traveling because they don’t take up nearly as much space and are a great toy to have on weekend getaways and vacations.

Radio Controlled Boat FAQs

What’s the best RC boat to buy?

We consider the Traxxas Spartan the best remote control boat of 2019. However, there’s really no objective answer to this question. While the Spartan is the most powerful boat and easily one of the fastest, it’s also very expensive and may not have as much appeal to beginners, who may want a boat with self-righting capsize recovery technology.

That’s why we have broken this list of best electric RC boats into several categories – it lets you, the reader, find the boat that works best for you specifically.

How do RC boats work?

The transmitter or mobile device being used to control the boat sends a radio signal to a receiver on the boat itself. The receiver then interprets the signal and uses the boat’s motor to go forward, turn, or reverse. RC boats have been around for several years now and are a very popular. There are even a selection of RC boats for kids^[52] that make a great gift

Can RC boats go in saltwater?

Most remote control boats should not be used in saltwater. Unlike freshwater, saltwater can cause rust and other forms of damage to the delicate electronic parts inside your vehicle. However, RC boats that are designed to be used in saltwater do exist – so as long as you make sure to buy something that says it’s “saltwater safe”, you should be able to use it anywhere.

What’s the fastest RC boat?

The fastest RC boat ever recorded is the Munich SAW, which was recorded at speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour (a little under 200 mph.) However, this world record setter was a custom build and is not available for commercial sale.

The fastest RC boat that you can buy is probably the Traxxas DCB M41 Catamaran. It regularly moves at speeds of 50-60 miles per hour, and with the right battery it can even go much faster than that.

What is the best RC boat for rough water?

The Force1 Velocity, UDIRC Venom, and anything made by Traxxas are great RC boats for rough water.

Where to buy RC boats?

RC boats can sometimes be found in a store, but are most commonly purchased from Amazon or directly from a manufacturer’s website in the modern age. We’ve included Amazon links to every product on this list to make finding the perfect RC boat more convenient for our readers.

Finding the Best RC Boat for You

RC racing is one way to get some great enjoyment out of your day off, time spent with kids, and learning the ropes of a new hobby. These days it’s exciting that there are submarines popping up on the market, as many will love to explore under the surface instead of racing on top of it.

The best RC boats are only going to become more exciting and more technologically advanced as we head into 2019 and beyond. We hope this article has helped you find something that’s perfect for you. And if you’ve got a great RC boat we missed, be sure to let us (and our readers) know all about it in the comments below!

Updated: September 16, 2019

Personal drones under 500 have become really popular in the market these days and you can get yourself a pretty good deal within a reasonable budget but which one of these drones should you go for? Due to the advent of good battery-timing quadcopters and their excellent stability, people generally tend to go for these four-engined drones instead of the plane or chopper-type models that were so popular during the early days of the RC Drone era. According to the recent statistics, more than 2.5 million personal drones were sold in 2016 and the figure is expected to rise exponentially in the coming years.

Best Drones Under 500 Table of Contents

1. Altair Outlaw SE Drone^[1]
2. 818 Hornet Plus Drone^[2]
3. DJI Spark Mini Drone^[3]
4. DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter^[4]
5. Force1 UDI U818A FPV Drone^[5]
6. 3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter^[6]
7. Parrot Bebop 2 Drone^[7]
8. Force1 F100 Ghost Quadcopter^[8]
9. UPair One Drone with 4K Camera Bundle^[9]
10. Yuneec Breeze^[10]
11. Yuneec Typhoon G Quadcopter^[11]
12. Force1 DYS XDR220 Carbon Fiber Racing Kit^[12]
13. Walkera F210 3D Racing Drone^[13]
14. Walkera QR X350 PRO^[14]
15. ARRIS X-Speed 250B Quadcopter^[15]
16. EACHINE Wizard X220S^[16]
17. FAQs About Drones Under $500^[17]
18. Verdict About Drones Under $500^[18]

Best Drones Under 500

Back To Top^[19]

Now for the best drones under 500^[20], you need to have some kind of comparison and trade-offs to study before you can get the best deal and we are here to help you do that.

Instead of comparing just a few of these products, we have gone for a whole range of these UAVs including First Person View (FPV)^[21] as well as simple video drones that people use to record video logs.

Let’s take a look at our list of the Best Drones Under $500

1. The Outlaw SE Drone – Our #1 Drone Under 500

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[22][23]

The Outlaw SE Drone is an excellent quadcopter which is available for under $500. Its GPS-assisted flight features include an automatic return-to-home feature that activates whenever it runs out of power, loses connection, or flies out of range of the transmitter. You can also set GPS waypoints in your drone app and have the Outlaw SE fly to your set points.

Plus, The Outlaw SE has follow me mode which allows your drone to follow you wherever you move. This drone gets great range, too at 600 feet.

The camera is a definite step up from the default that comes with the Tomahawk (although both drones are compatible with most GoPro and action camera models.) Not only is it a higher resolution at 1080p, but it has a 110 degree panoramic field of view that allows you to take extra-wide shots if you so use. This feature is great for recreational drone photography and even better for any task involving serious surveillance or photo-taking.

We gave this drone our #1 position because it’s a great choice for first-time fliers AND more advanced pilots. Take, for example, the GPS flight mode feature, in which the drone keeps itself hovering completely stable in the air even without additional input. This is obviously useful for beginners^[24], as it lets them ease their way into taking full control of the aircraft. But it also lets more advanced aerial photographers take the time they need to line up the perfect shot.

For a great drone at a great price, consider buying the Outlaw today!

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[26]

2. 818 Plus Hornet Plus – Best Budget Drone Under 500

Read Reviews About Altair Aerial AA818 Plus Hornet^[27]

The AA818 Plus Hornet is included here as our best budget recreational drone under 500 dollars. Like the HS700 and the Tomahawk, this is a great choice for a beginner or a first-time flier. This is especially true for anyone who wants to get into aerial photography. The AA818 Plus is easy to control, impressively durable, and comes with a lot of ease-of-use features. These include Headless Mode (which makes it much more intuitive to control), Altitude Hold Mode (which keeps it steady in the air), multiple speed settings for different levels of user experience, one-touch take-off and landing, and the ability to control it either from a mobile device or from a videogame-style controller – whatever works best for you.

The most impressive feature here is the 15-minute flight time per battery. With two batteries included in the box, you can fly for 30 minutes at a time, which is perfect if you need practice, if you’re flying for fun, or if you want to practice some aerial photography. In fact, this is a great drone for that specifically thanks to its shape and stable hover (not to mention the high-definition built-in camera.)

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[28]

3. DJI Spark Portable Mini Drone – Best Professional Drone Under $500

Read Reviews About DJI Spark Portable Mini Drone^[29]

That’s right – we’re putting the Spark about the Phantom 3. Why? Well, you can read our full review^[30] for more detail. But mostly, it comes down once again to the fact that the Phantom 3 is the best 500 drone for videographers and budding professionals, while the Spark is a great drone for everyone.

The Spark is newer, which means that it will likely receive support for longer and that it has a newer camera that produces better colors and has more advanced processing algorithms. It also has a longer range and a forward obstacle avoidance system, which makes it a lot more beginner-friendly. It’s also easier to use – DJI brags that you can take it from the box to the air in less than a minute, while the Phantom 3 requires you to install the props, connect the remote to a mobile device, and spend multiple minutes waiting for it to pair with the drone.

So, yeah, if you’re a hardcore dronethusiast, you’re probably gonna stick with the Phantom. But if you’re looking for an extremely high-quality option that works for everyone from beginners to advanced pilots, the Spark is an excellent choice at a reasonable price.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[31]

Take a look at our Best Drones for Adults review article here^[32].

4. DJI Phantom 3 STANDARD Quadcopter Drone with 2.5 K Camera

Read Reviews About DJI Phantom 3 STANDARD^[33]

All right, here’s the drone you probably expected to see in the number one spot. The DJI Phantom 3 only costs about $440, but it’s still as impressive an achievement as the day it was first revealed. The quality of the product is evident from a noticeable difference in its performance as compared to its competitors.

For instance its maximum range is close to the 1 Km mark that many other drones in this list won’t come close to getting. The camera quality is great as well with the option to upgrade to 4K if you have couple of hundred bucks more on the budget. The battery timing of 23-25 minutes is an industry high and you will be hard pushed to find a drone that offers more. So, it is definitely among our best picks in this range. Let’s have a more detailed look at it specs-wise and also list down some pros and cons for you so you can make it easier for yourself.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[34]  

5. Force1 UDI U818A WiFi FPV Drone in Black

Read Reviews About Force1 UDI U818A WiFi FPV^[35]

Force1 has a way of pushing out powerful drones for insane price tags that almost don’t seem fair. The UDI 818A WiFi FPV Drone in Black is set at only $150 and comes with a VR headset and power bank.

This is a great drone for anyone who wants some great features, a decent build, and the VR aspect all wrapped up into one. You get some of the more traditional features, such as Altitude Hold, paired with some of the features that aren’t usually present in drones under 500, such as Custom Route Mode.

6. 3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter

Read Reviews About 3DR Solo Drone^[37]

Now everyone doesn’t have the deep pockets to purchase a $450 drone and that is where our budget pick comes into play. The 3DR Solo is a decent drone that comes at half the price of our top drone under 500. Let’s see what it is capable of.

The first thing you will like about the quadcopter is its gaming-style controls that feels as if you are playing a video game. As a result most of the users were able to adapt to the new drone very easily so it is a big plus point if you are buying a drone for the very first time. Rest of the features are pretty ominous as compared to the drone market like the camera is adjustable, you can pause flight in the mid-air and an HDMI port in the controller that you can use to stream the video on virtually any screen possible. It is a fairly simple drone and it has mostly garnered good reviews on Amazon.

Let’s have a closer look at it vis-a-vis specs and pros/cons.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[38]  

7. Parrot Bebop 2 Drone

Read Reviews About Parrot Bebop 2^[39]

The Parrot Bebop 2 drone is a good drone under 500 that escapes that radar generally, but it is a really nice product if you look at it overall. Costing a bordering $480, the drone has some exceptionally strong motors that allows it to fly higher altitudes with ease as well as a few other great features.

While the range is its main feature, its flight timing is pretty impressive at all, clocking 25% more than average drones in this price range to the level that take it to 23-25 minutes worth of it. The flight time averages more or less than the DJI Phantom 3. Another great feature is its bright LED light in the rear that allows much improved visibility compared to other drones especially in low-lighting conditions.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[40]  

8. Force1 F100 Ghost GoPro-Compatible Quadcopter

Read Reviews About Force1 F100 Ghost GoPro-Compatible Quadcopter^[41]

The F100 Ghost GoPro-Compatible Quadcopter by Force1 sits in the category of standard drones that are capable of incorporating a GoPro, yet it differs in some very cool ways that make it stand out. With a $200 price tag, it’s worth its weight in gold and so much more.

It’s an ideal GoPro-compatible drone for those interested in aerial photography and videos, thanks to the quiet High and Low speed settings and the brushless motors. Audio and images are both clear as day even speed control settings are set to High.

Interestingly enough, most camera-compatible drones have a large drop in battery power when a camera is mounted. Although, in this case, without a GoPro you can expect up to 15 minutes of flight time, and only up to 12 minutes of flight with a mounted GoPro.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[42]

9. UPair One Drone with 4K Camera Bundle

Read Reviews About UPair One Drone^[43]

4K camera drone!? Now that we have your attention, this is easily one of the best drones under 500 yet! Costing $349 at the moment, it is a mid-range drone price-wise and promises to be a really good one. One of the very noticeable things you will like about the drone is its huge LED screen controller. It is almost like a portable console and feels really good in the hands. It comes bundled with over 11 items in the packaging and it seems really good to see it all together.

While the battery accompanied with the drone is bigger than most, the flight time per charge is not that impressive at all with a maximum 18 minutes time being touted by the supplier which will likely mean around 15 minutes in practice. It has U-shape design that forms its fuselage that is linked to better video shooting capability and GPS features.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[44]  

10. Yuneec Breeze Flying Camera with 4K video – Best Video Drone Under 500

Read Reviews About Yuneec Breeze^[45]

Now the quadcopters under this heading are specifically designed for the best video experience in this price range. While the drone’s performance markers could be down in this category of video drones under 500^[46], you will be hard-pushed to find better video quality than these two.Now Yuneec promises a lot of good stuff in its product description.

We are immediately introduced to its stunning 13 MP 4K video recording capability that can shoot some incredible videos and capture some amazing pictures for you as well. This drone has been designed for novice users and thus special focus has been done for the ease of the media capture process. It has several modes for this purpose including automated flying modes like selfie, pilot, orbit, follow me and Journey. So, you can just do your thing and the quadcopter will just go around its business. There is also a nice indoor positioning system as well so that it won’t crash into the ceiling or nearby objects while filming or capturing shots. With its companion app, you can share the snaps and videos in one tap as well.

11. Yuneec Typhoon G Quadcopter with Go Pro Gimbal and a Steady Grip

Read Reviews About Yuneec Typhoon G^[48]

This drone’s price is currently quoted at a whopping $780 but it also includes a GoPro Hero and a few other extra items that you might be able to knock off from the price. There is also the condition of its delivery that it can’t be delivered anywhere else in the world except the mainland states which shows how much advanced its technology is.

Now it is from the same company as the previous drone in this category and this one too can be classified as a video drone. It comes with a 3-axis gimbal that stabilizes the camera and allows you to get the best snaps and videos. It comes with a familiar watch me and follow me features. There is also a live feed option and the drone’s battery lasts around 18 minutes maximum so while it is better than the previous drone by Yuneec, it is still pretty average compared to the best drones in the business.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[49]  

If you have limited knowledge of drones and don’t know what an FPC drone is, you can see a detailed explanation in the FAQs we presented at the very start of this list. To summarize it, an FPV drone is a quadcopter with the ability to stream live video to the user below to the user’s FPV goggles or VR. This gives a first person feeling to the guy piloting the drone and is considered a revolutionary technology when it comes to the development of drones. Now RC drones under the price of $500 may not offer the best FPV experience but we were able to find some decent ones on Amazon. Lets us have a look at them now.

12. Force1 DYS XDR220 FPV Carbon Fiber Racing Drone Kit – Best FPV Drone Under $500

Read Reviews About Force1 DYS XDR220 FPV Carbon Fiber Racing Drone Kit^[50]

The Force1 DYS XDR220 FPV Racing Drone goes for approximately $500, if not somewhat less, on the market these days and is one of the best kits to start with if you have an interest in racing drones.

For one, the brushless SE2205-2300K motors are paired with premium propellers to ensure that the overall system is a seriously powerful one. Speed tricks, such as donuts, for example, are incredibly easy. Overall, the speed pairs with the high precision for a fast performance without crashing.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[51]  

13. Walkera F210 3D Edition Racing Drone With Devo 7

Read Reviews About Walkera F210 3D^[52]

Currently costing $399, this FPV drone is a good place to start if you are looking for a worthy drone under $500. Normally FPV drones are also associated with drone racing so this one is also designed in part keeping that in mind and also named accordingly. It is a tough little RC plane and it can withstand a considerable number of crashes and failures and still live to tell the tale. Since it is meant for racing purposes, it is very fast as well and accelerates amazingly well.

It goes with many of the famous racing accessories like Headplay goggles and you can experiment with a GoPro slot as well. You can control and alter many of its perimeters with the help of your smartphone and it comes with a Devo 7 controller as well for high speed chase.
Here are its various specs

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[53]  

14. Walkera QR X350 PRO With Devo 7

Read Reviews About Walkera QR X350^[54]

The Walkera QR X350 PRO is pricier than $500 but we have considered it if you don’t mind raising another $60 or so extra for your RC drone. It also comes with a Devo 7 controller for your FPV experience its camera has iLook capability. With a 5200- mAh battery that can provide between 20-25 minutes of flying, and advanced gimbal support, this one shapes up to be a great drone.

In some instances it doesn’t live up to its price as it is not pre-programmed with no-fly zones like the DJI copters are that don’t allow it to take-off in unsuitable places like cramped quarters. But, its range is considerable with the wireless experience ranging 1-2 Km outside and near flawless transmission of signals for big chunks of time.
Here are its specs

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[55]  

15. ARRIS X-Speed 250B 250mm Quadcopter Racer FPV 250

Read Reviews About ARRIS X-Speed 250B^[56]

One thing that visibly annoys me is the length of the name some companies have the audacity to associate with their products. We aren’t going to use this long name under any circumstances so let’s just call it ARRIS drone. It is a ready-to-fly drone that costs around $309 at the moment and comes with an FPV ability, and has a long-range AT9 transmitter and RD9 at the receiving end. You can adjust the angle of the FPV camera as well from 0-30 degrees so it is pretty cool to use and feels like a realy battle drone while we are using it.

Just like other quadcopters in the category, its flight perimeters can be adjusted with the help of a smartphone. It uses a vibration damping plate that according to the manufacturers can provide better media capture performance, stabilize the drone and prolong the life of the electronic parts as well. Plus, this is a very fast drone.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[57]  

16. EACHINE Wizard X220S

Read Reviews About EACHINE Wizard X220S^[58]

The EACHINE Wizard X220S is one of the best racing drones under 500 you’ll ever hope to find. This is the ARF version of the racing drone, which is an FPV racing drone that is paired with the Omnibus F4 5.8G 72CH 200mw/600mw Switchable VTX 30A Dshot600. In short, you’re looking at an incredible amount of power and speed for a price you can’t turn down.

The Omnibus F4 V3 flight controller gives you a powerful processor that allows for faster PID loops when compared to the previous board the EACHINE Wizard X220S used. You are able to customize a number of aspects any which way you like. For example, a rubber HD camera mount is included if you want to add a Runcam 3 or even a GoPro Session. You can also add your own propellers if you’d like, as well.

It’s recommended that you use a 1500mAh 4S 14.8V 75C LiPo battery, but depending on the way that you customize it yourself if you choose to do so, it’ll generally be up to you. Either way, if you want a customized racing drone that gives you the ultimate amount of power for under 500, this is definitely the one you want.

Click To Shop or Read Reviews^[59]  

Verdict About Drones Under 500

Back To Top^[60]

Now the verdict part can be tricky as we had to cover such a large number of drone from various categories but it is fair to say that the DJI Phantom 3 drone is among the best in the business and has some serious background research and practical implications on the back of it. Its price is competitive and simply put there is no better balanced, “well-behaved” drone out in the market than the DJI Phantom one. Other notable picks include Walkera F210 for FPV drone and racing experience while in the video drone category, Yuneec Typhoon G really seems to be the better one.

FAQs About the Best Quadcopters Under $500

What is a drone?

A drone, also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV, is an RC aircraft designed to fly without a human pilot on board. They are flown using a ground-based controller, or transmitter, but they can also be autonomous, as well.

What is a video drone?

Video drones are exactly what they sound like – drones that are able to record videos! There are a lot of best drone under 500 that are able to record high quality, crystal clear videos that put even some of the more expensive drones to shame.

What is an FPV drone?

An FPV drone is capable of First-Person-View, which gives you a direct seat into the drone without actually being in it. This means that, through a live transmission feed to the transmitter or smart device, you can see exactly what the drone is seeing in real-time!

How long can a drone fly for?

Flight times range based on the LiPo batteries used. The average amount of time a drone can fly is typically around 10 to 15 minutes, so you may want to invest in some extra batteries before you hit the skies.

How far can a drone go?

Every drone has a different range span. Some are only able to go up to 150 meters away, while others can reach a maximum distance of up to 500 meters. The perfect range for you all depends on what you plan on doing with the drone. For example, using FPV transmissions or taking some photos.

What is the average life expectancy of these drones?

This is a complicated question that doesn’t really have a straight answer. The life expectancy of your drone depends on whether or not it’s crashed, how well you take care of it when you’re not flying it, how you fly the drone, etc. Basically, as long as you take care of your drone, you’ll be able to get hundreds of flight hours in.

What is a quadcopter gimbal?

The gimbal on a quadcopter is designed as a support system, which is used to stabilize the onboard camera. Having a drone with a gimbal is the best way to ensure your shots come out perfectly. With this in mind, if you’re in the market for a new camera drone under 500, we suggest it has a gimbal. You’ll thank us later!

What is a 4K drone?

A 4K drone is exactly as it sounds – it’s a drone with 4K video quality, which makes it the best of the best.

Is 4K under 500 possible?

Absolutely! The possibilities when it comes to the quality of drones has improved so much these days. You don’t have to have thousands of dollars to get the best quality possible, being 4K, anymore.

What is the nominal range and battery timing of the drones under 500?

The range and battery timing of drones vary according to their functionality and the quality of battery present. At maximum, you can get twenty minutes of flying time on your drone and that is more than enough for a good video log and taking breathtaking overhead snaps from a distance. The range of these drones also varies significantly. The maximum range we are looking at is around 400-500 meters.

Are there any other things I need to consider?

One thing that freaks some people out is the kind of assembly required before a drone can take-off in the air. So, if you are wary of any assembly, always buy drone that are marked RTF or Ready-To-Fly. If you enjoy assembling stuff, go for BNF or Bind-and-Fly drones and if you want even more tinkering, opt for a ARF or Almost-Ready to-Fly. These drones come equipped with drone kits and you can modify your drone according to the manual. There may or may not be a standard remote control with the ARF ones so you need to make plans accordingly. This nomenclature is easily available as labels on the packaging of these drones.

Also, not all drones are easy to fly. While quadcopters seem easy, what makes them so simple to fly is their onboard flight controller that stabilizes it. So, you need to look for a drone that customers have termed easy to fly in their reviews.

Tell us what you think and which other drones need to be included on our Best quadcopters under $500 list.

Further Reading

Our rankings of the Best Drones under $100^[61]

Updated: September 16, 2019

We get a lot of comments here at Dronethusiast of people who are looking for cheap drones. Before you upgrade to a professional level drone that captures amazing footage and performs professional maneuvers, it can be a good idea to practice with one of these budget beginner drones^[1] that did not cost you nearly as much.

Now that we’re into the last few months of the year, many consumers are searching for the affordable drones, and the offerings as of late are much more plentiful then they were just a year or two ago. Check out our top list below!

Our top recommendations are from a small company out of Nebraska called Altair Aerial^[2]. We like to recommend their products because they give the best customer service of any quadcopter company. The last thing you want to do when you’re having trouble learning your new drone is call someone in China, and with Altair that never happens!

Affordable Drones Table of Contents

1. 818 Hornet Plus Drone^[3]
2. Altair Aerial AA108 Drone^[4]
3. Falcon with AHP Stability Drone^[5]
4. Blackhawk Drone^[6]
5. Hubsan X4 H107L Drone^[7]
6. Holy Stone HS170 Predator Quadcopter^[8]
7. Yizhan Golden X4 RC Quad^[9]
8. Holy Stone F181C Drone with HD Camera^[10]
9. UDI U818A HD+ Quadcopter^[11]
10. X5C RC Drone^[12]
11. DBPOWER MJX X400W^[13]
12. H6 Quadcopter RC Helicopter^[14]
13. U28W FPV Drone^[15]
14. JJRC H11WH Quadcopter^[16]
15. The Hubsan X4 Quadcopter^[17]
16. Syma X5C-1 Quad^[18]
17. U818A Wifi FPV Quadcopter Drone^[19]
18. Focus FPV Drone^[20]
19. U818A Wifi FPV Drone^[21]
20. Force1 U45 Blue Jay Quadcopter Drone^[22]
21. Eachine X6 RC Hexacopter^[23]
22. FQ FQ777-124 Pocket Drone^[24]
23. Hover-Way 6-axis Aerial Micro Drone^[25]
24. JJRC H20C Drone^[26]
25. The Hubsan H111 Q4 Nano Drone Quadcopter^[27]
26. Cheap Photo And Video Drones^[28]
27. Cheap FPV Drones^[29]
28. Best Cheap Smaller Drones^[30]
29. Best Budget Drones^[31]
30. FAQ’s For Budget Drones^[32]

Looking for cheap quadcopters for Christmas? Read our buyer’s guide to find the best drones for Christmas this year^[33].

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a best budget drone: on many models, you may not be getting that sturdy of a craft, but could still be having your hands on one that will be just fine if you begin your flight path inside. What makes a great drone might just be that you like the look: most have flight of around 7 minutes, and are just a super cool way of learning how to fly, and exploring which types of craft work best for them.

Even though some people would lament over and over that “You get what you pay for”, some of the cheap drones with camera on the market are excellent ways to immerse yourself in the hobby of piloting, and having a less expensive drone on hand is a good way to just get out and fly, and not worry about the possibility of damaging an expensive investment.

If you have children or nieces and nephews that seem interested in electronics and engineering, this is one of the coolest things you could ever present as a gift. When you do learn to use a low cost drone with a camera, your skill set could grow as you graduate into more advanced drones, and you could pursue careers such as pipeline surveying and delivery. There are also many other great affordable hobby toys such as remote control cars and boats. Check out Dronehtusiast’s pick for the best RC car for the money^[34] and our other reccommendations.

Let Dronethusiast guide you if you’re looking for a kids quadcopters as well, read our drones for kids guide^[35]!

Best Budget Drones

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Anyone on the hunt for a drone will enjoy an item that is ready to fly, and provides a solid opportunity to check out what it’s like to get a drone in the air, land it, and see what type of models they prefer.

Being on the lookout for the cheapest quad possible is not necessarily the worst thing you can do as a drone enthusiast: as long as you keep your expectations just a bit low, you may come out alright and have something to fly around that you’ll enjoy. The key is to go slow when you first get one out of the box, and not to let it be a speed race; if you are testing low cost drones over and over to see how they will handle crashes, you may not get your wish of having a long-lasting possession!

#1 818 Hornet Plus Drone – Long Flight (15 mins)

Get super fast shipping and amazing customer service by purchasing at Altairaerial.com (click here)^[37]. Or you can shop for the 818 Hornet on Amazon^[38].

This is a fantastic choice for a cheap FPV quadcopter that won’t break the bank but which nonetheless comes with a wide array of video features. The A818 Plus is an updated version of the U818a that’s especially good for new pilots, and sold by Altair Aerial, a company that provides top tier customer service. This version of the drone has a new shape that balances the weight evenly, allowing for an incredibly stable hover (further improved by the new inclusion of a hovering mode feature.) It also has longer landing gear and thicker prop guards, which means that it’s very durable. This is something that’s incredibly important for beginners and often overlooked – you’re all but guaranteed to crash the aircraft a few times when you’re learning how to fly it, so it’s important to choose a drone that can take a hit or two.

But one of the best features of the A818 Plus is the extra-long battery life – up to 15 minutes off a single battery. Sure – that may not sound too impressive to fans of the DJI line, but for less than $200 it’s practically unheard of. It’s a really great feature and shows why the A818 Plus deserves such a high spot on this list.

Additionally this quad is made by Altair Aerial, a company that provides fantastic customer service, you can read more about them at their website^[39].

Read our full review of the 818 Hornet here^[40].

Click To See Best Price^[41]

#2 Altair Aerial AA108 Drone – Budget Indoor Drone

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[42][43]

They even have an Altair Video Tutorials page that helps you get started. Email Altair Inc at help@altairaerial.com^[44]

The Altair Aerial AA108^[45] is a drone that covers all the bases and comes in at a great sub $119.00 price tag. This drone is very easy to fly due to the Altitude Hold and Headless mode^[46] functions, which are great for people on a budget and kids. If you’re looking for a multirotor that is an easy way to get started as a drone pilot, this is the drone for you.

The AA108 is made with high durability manufacturing, meaning it’s not going to break easily if you have an accident. It’s also very stable in the air and you can switch between three flight modes, 1 for beginners, 2 intermediate and 3 for advanced flyers. For the $129.00 price you’re also getting great value because of the long 10 minute flight and 100 meter range. It really is a very solid drone for all ages.

The Altair company is based in Lincoln, NE. We actually did a full review of this drone and you can read about it here^[47]. The founder Matt Cookson and I spoke on the phone and he explained his plan to offer excellent customer service as one of the primary perks for the Altair quad copter. It seems like they’re doing a good job because when I called their customer service number he was the one who actually answered the phone, not some rep over in China!

Click to See Best Price^[48]

Alltogether the Altaier Aerial AA108 is the best affordable quadcopter you can buy at this price point. It checks all the boxes as far as tech specs and flight time goes, and with an added bonus of having an American based headquarters and customer service.

#3 Falcon with AHP Stability Drone – Cheap Beginner Drone

See the best price on Amazon.com or get Fast & Free Shipping from their Website at Altairaerial.com^[49][50]

One of Altair Aerial’s newer drones, the Falcon, is one of the best beginner drones we’ve seen in a while. One great thing about the Falcon is that it is relatively low cost yet comes with amazing features that will help any beginner learn to fly.

If you’re on a budget but are interested in learning how to pilot a drone, the Falcon will be great for you.

One stand out feature of the Falcon is its Autonomous Hovering & Positioning System which is a function unique to the Altair Aerial brand. This feature helps keep your drone stabilized by hovering in its position at all times, even if your hands were to come off of the controller. Beginners don’t have to worry about losing control of their drone with this system.

Take a look at this video by Altair, explaining and showing you the AHP system that no other drone has in this price point.

You also get a free extra battery with this drone, which is a great addition. It allows for double the flying time which allows beginner pilots to get all the practice time in that they could possibly need. With both batteries you’ll get about 20 minutes of flying time.

Altair’s commitment to their customers is always impressive, if you have any questions they can be reached at help@altairaerial.com

For such an affordable price, you get so many great features with this drone that you won’t want to miss out on.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[51]

#4 The Blackhawk Drone

For only $119 you’re getting an amazing drone at an amazing price! Get super fast and free shipping when you order the Blackhawk from AltairAerial.com^[52], or you can also see Best Price at Amazon^[53]. The Blackhawk is a more advanced level quad with 15-17 Minutes of Flight time and 300-500 Meter Range!

If you’ve been looking for a drone that knocks it out of the park when it comes to durability and speed, you really need to check out the affordable Altair Aerial Blackhawk^[54]. We’re big fans of other offerings from Altair Aerial and the Blackhawk is their most advanced quadcopter yet. This drone is super fast, has a flight time of up to 15 minutes, and it can go a long way for a drone in this price range (300 Meters).

Customers looking to move up from the Altair Aerial AA108 and 818 Hornet will love this heavy duty drone for its stability and speed. The Blackhawk doesn’t utilize altitude hold^[55] which unlocks the potential for extreme control! The ability to go vertical and descend super fast will give you that racing feel while you’re flying! While a camera does not come with the Blackhawk, it is equipped to handle a GoPro or similar video quad copter camera when you’re ready to capture the action.

Click for Best Price^[56]

#5 The Hubsan X4 H107L – 4 channel 2.4ghz RC Quadcopter

Click here to see the best price.^[57]

This is a fun palm-sized affordable drone that you can have a blast with indoors or out. This very popular remote control drone is often considered one of the best.

This drone comes with a USB connector to charge it, and it is ready to fly out of the box with everything needed except the batteries for the remote controller. This one is known to be fast and agile, and picking up extra batteries right away is a great idea to get a bit more flight out of it. Generally in the “Toy quad” category, this is actually pretty stable for the price, and fun to fly all-around.

Click to See Best Price at Amazon.com^[58]

#6 The Holy Stone HS170 Predator Rc

Click here to see the best price.^[59]

This is a sleek and powerful option for affordable quadcopters: many customers are calling it one of the best low priced drones for the price. This one is actually fairly fast and is a real blast to fly around at top speed.

The HS170 Predator’s remote control uses a pretty standard Xbox-style format, and the drone itself can fly for around 8 minutes on one charge. You can fly more than one of these at once because of the built in anti-interference system, and there are 6 aa batteries required. One word of caution is that there are more than 1 reviews stating that it just stopped working suddenly: when this happens with any electronics product, it is hard to say if it will happen in large numbers or not.

Think you might be interested in getting this RC drone cheap? Here are some stats on the HS170 that will allow you to decide whether or not you want to purchase.

Click to See Best Price at Amazon.com^[60]  

#7 The Yizhan Golden X4 4CH 2.4G 6 Axis RC drone

Click here to see the best price.^[61]

This is another entry in the cheap quadcopter category. This model has throw-in-the-air startup capabilities, and a pretty cool searching light for flying in the dark. When it arrives it’s ready to fly after a full charge and getting the batteries ready, and the flight time is around 7 minutes after an hour-long charge.

Of the 3 flight modes offered, the highest is pretty challenging for the lower-priced multirotor category, and while it looks pretty large in the photos, still is situated in the much smaller side of this group. The Hubsan X4 is quite possibly one of the most popular drones on the market, and this is one of the models that is compared quite closely to it.

Here are some of the technical specs on the Golden X4, which is priced incredibly low on Amazon, and is a great starter drone to get anyone accustomed to the fun of flying.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[62]  

Cheap Photo And Video Drones

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As consumers look for options for the best camera drone under $100, 2019 looks to be a pretty good year. Some manufacturers have taken cues from DJI as to how users may want the remote control to look, and some have went off on their own tangents a bit as far as sleek, game-controller looking designs.

Cheap quadcopters with cameras are a great way to get used to traversing over different types of land, and using the features that allow you to see what higher-grade models offer. Here’s some of the best, cheapest FPV quadcopters around!

#8 Holy Stone F181C With HD Camera

Click Here to See Best Price!^[64]

You don’t always have to invest in an expensive quadcopter if you’re looking for an affordable drone with camera. This one is actually one of many that give the professional video drones a run for their money. The camera is already a wonder in itself, never mind all of the great features and specs that come with it.

Right off the bat, you get One Key 360-Degree 4-Way Flips, Continuous Roll, Altitude Hold, One Key Return to Home, One Key Engine Start, One Key Landing and even the Headless Security System for features. All of the included features make it easy for someone who’s entirely new to the world to drones to get the hang of the more complicated features at their own pace.

The Altitude Hold feature is actually an upgraded version from the same model, yet it’s an inexpensive budget drone with an HD camera, that will make you feel like you’re investing in a super high-quality quadcopter without paying a fortune.

Unfortunately, this is not an FPV quadcopter and cannot be connected with your smartphone or other smart device, but it’s still an awesome drone with an HD camera!

Click Here to See Best Price!^[65]

#9 The UDI U818A HD+Quadcopter

This cheap FPV drone is a great choice for the budget drone with camera category: It has features such as a return home function, HD camera, and the standard 6-axis gyro stability that helps many cheap drones^[66] fly with ease.

At this time, this is NOT a drone that requires FAA registration, and there are also 2 lipo batteries included as a bonus. The charging time is around 90-120 minutes, and the flight duration is 7-9 minutes.

Known as a very light remote control drone, this quadcopter may start to drift with winds that are even in the 7 MPH range. Begin the video recorder before you take off to make things more simple, and enjoy flying one of the best drone options out there.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[67]

#10 The X5C RC Drone with Camera

This is a great way of taking pictures outside from above in 720p video, and enjoying the high-resolution pictures you can glean of landscapes, real estate, seasons changing, and any other sites that strike your interest.

This is a good contender for a best value quad copter because it definitely does not have to be registered with the FAA, and it even has a microphone too. You definitely will want to start in beginner flight mode, as this will allow you a bit of leeway to get used to its movement.

It does not have a “return to home” function, but for the price, has a decent camera, and high ranking reviews from many users. The transmitter will warn you of low battery, and the weight of this inexpensive drone is around 3.8 ounces. Here are some of the key features that will allow you to make the best purchasing decision:

The DBPOWER MJX X400W FPV Drone With WiFi Camera

This is a fun drone^[69] in the this category that is in the higher end of the low-priced element. What’s pretty cool about this one is that it is where you begin to be introduced to the awesome things you can do with a partner app, and see what the inexpensive drone sees on the mobile device of your choice.

With a 3D Split Screen Display, you can use the VR headset to see the world in a completely modern way, and this just adds to the excitement you get from this device. This best budget quadcopter does not need to be registered with the FAA, and its weight is under 1.6 lbs. It has been said to be able to take a beating during many reviews, and has a pretty awesome white underwater-stealth looking appearance.

The H6 Quadcopter RC Helicopter

This is a very cool drone under $100 that is equipped with a camera, and does a great job of being wind resistant for a drone in this price point. We always like to see quadcopters in the inexpensive category be able to hand launch in the air, and this is one that is deemed definitely pretty easy to fly.

This is a pretty compact-sized drone, sitting at 5.25” by 5.25”. There are crash guards installed, and it records to SD card, so the video is not really able to be viewed during flight. This may prevent many pilots from wanting it, but it is still known for it’s sturdy handling, and is a good model to learn the basics of flight with.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[71]  

The U28W FPV Best Value Drone with altitude hold and HD camera

This is an example of a ready to fly quad that you can purchase in the lower priced category that is a great one to use with a tablet or smartphone. Absolutely one of best drones that still has many of the latest features that you see on higher-end models.

Having an altitude hold function is one of the things about this one that makes it very easy to fly: beginners can use this to their advantage, and not have to fret about the drone continuously dipping up and down. It also has features such as one-touch takeoff and landing, and you can even program a custom route to have it follow. These features alone are usually found on models that are much higher-end, and this is why we have no choice but to heartily recommend this one.

JJRC H11WH

Not only are you getting a 2.0MP HD camera, but you’re also getting the full 720p FPV experience along with it. It comes with a bountiful amount of features and a wide variety of specs that we think you’ll find are all incredibly impressive.

This low cost quadcopter with HD camera features FPV, Altitude Hold, One Key to Reset, One Key Return to Home, Ascend and Descend, Left and Right Side-Fly, 360-Degree Roll and Emergency Stop. The overall high-quality construction and design is one that is dressed to impress and go the extra mile.

It’s a little unclear as to whether or not the 1100mAh LiPo is actually included or not, one section says that it is while another says it’s not, but picking up one, even if it’s an extra if it’s actually included, is never a bad idea!

Click Here to See Best Price!^[73]

Cheap FPV Drones

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The race has been on for the past year to find the ultimate FPV quad under $100: many pilots know how awesome and feature-filled drones such as the Dji Phantom 4^[75] are, but they are in a completely different price range. For these types of drones, the craft is driven or piloted remotely from a first-person perspective, and video is fed to a video monitor, tablet, or goggles.

When consumer drones first began popular about 3 years ago, there were next to no options in this category. Low cost FPV drones were not necessarily the rage, because many brands were just beginning to release drones in the under 100$ category that had just 8 minute flight time, but no camera. Here are a few that we recommend, that will get you into the swing of gleaning video, but not break the bank.

The Hubsan X4 Quadcopter with FPV Camera Toy

This is a drone at a very reasonable price that does a great job of offering FPV technology. It is lightweight, and offers the standard 7 minute flight time with around 45 min. charging time. We like how the transmitter has a built-in 4.3” screen, and that alone for this price almost softens the blow of the quad rotor only having a 480p camera.

Make sure you install the rotor shield, as this will help you greatly when it comes to crashes. Some users claim that the way the drone handles and sturdiness for its size are great for the price, but the video is not even worth glancing at. Still, its a solid product from a well-trusted brand that allows you the ability to do some great maneuvers, and not spend a fortune.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[76]
 

Syma Toys X5C-1

This is an upgraded version of the original X5C-1, which has a sleek, sophisticated look that’s made better by the awesome HD camera. This inexpensive drone with HD camera has the right specs, the perfect amount of features, and a look that will have anyone who sees it asking questions and looking to learn more about it.

Because it’s an upgraded version, it has new, enhanced Anti-Collision and Anti-Fall Performance features. It also able to perform aerial rolls and automatic stabilization due to the enhanced, upgraded gyro stabilization system.

The upgraded version is an enhanced masterpiece that you can’t go wrong with investing in.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[77]

U818A Wifi FPV Quadcopter Drone

This is an FPV drone with a bit of a different look: The quadcopters have circular guards above them, and it does give the budget drone an entirely unique appearance. It has features such as headless mode, and you can capture 720p video with the built-in camera.

You can mount your smart device on top of the controller, and this drone is also VR headset compatible. The 4 GB of micro SD storage is a definite bonus, and this drone’s weight will make it a bit more stable in wind. If you are ok with the look, (which probably can grow on any pilot), this is a pretty good example of what’s available in the inexpensive drones category for FPV.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[78]  

The Focus FPV

This drone gets a few extra points for one thing in our book: it has a very unique controller design. Instead of having the typical flattened-out bottom end, it is rounded further out than usual, and there is still the ability to watch 5.8 Ghz FPV right on the controller’s screen.

The drone itself has a pretty interesting shape: the frame has four jutted-out supporters for the props that make it kind of resemble a spider or watercraft. It comes with an extra battery, and functions such as return home allow you to retrieve the drone without fear of loss. The camera even has a fish eye lens, and this is a pretty sturdy craft.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[79]  

The U818A Wifi FPV with Altitude Hold, HD live Camera, Remote Control, and VR Headset

This has a few upper-end features that make it differ just slightly from the U818A defined earlier in this article. The drone is pretty much the same model, but this package includes a power bank along with the extra battery, which is quintessential for charging on the go.

You still get features such as altitude hold, custom route mode, and a bonus VR headset included. If you were a fan of the slightly different design and appearance of the U818A, you can simply just consider this package an upgrade. You still are capturing 720 p aerial photos, and there are great features such as one button take off, one button landing, and custom route mode.

The Force 1 U45 Blue Jay WiFi FPV Quadcopter Drone

This is a neat and fun to use number that is cloaked in black, with a cool looking black and blue transmitter that mounts a smartphone on top for viewing. This drone has a lot of the same functions as the one we just reviewed, but the look is honestly quite a bit more modern.

You still get to enjoy features such as 360 flips and tricks, 6-axis gyro for stability, wind resistance, and easy maneuverability. This drone also comes with a 4 GB ScanDisk Micro SD Card, and the camera is manually adjustable for the ability to capture the best picture possible. The controller design and overall packaging of this number make it one of the best we’ve seen in this price category, and we applaud the modern design.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[81]  

Best Cheap Smaller Drones

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A cheap mini quad^[83] can be a super fun way to get kids interested in engineering, have fun indoors during the winter months, and learn the controls before you take charge of a much bigger drone. Finding a cheap micro drone on the market will take you a bit of research, and reading reviews beyond this one can help you analyze if there are some that just don’t cut it in terms of how well they are built.

The fun you can have with a cheap quadcopter^[84] is endless: some of our other features have spotlighted how you can play numerous pranks, scare and surprise those around you, and sneak up on unsuspecting family members on the couch. One of the most fun things about them is that you get a peek at a smaller version of quads that rule the skies can do, and you get to learn your maneuvers to build up your skills before purchasing a larger one.

Looking for a small rc car to pair with your micro drone? Read our Best Small RC Cars Reviews^[85] article!

Eachine X6 2.4G 4CH 6 Axis RC Hexacopter

Read reviews and show for the Eachine X6 Here^[86]

This hexacopter has a 2MP camera with a micro SD slot, and is known for having a bit longer of a flight time than others in the good drones category, at about 11 minutes in the air. It’s a little bit bigger than many common nanoquads on the market, and the look is not one that has an exposed-board feel: the arms light up to give it a unique flair.

The prop guards serve their purpose very well: we took this little guy up to about 30 feet in the air where we encountered a tree limb, and it fell down to the ground but still was able to fly again right away. The controller may seem a bit small to some, but it has a snugness to it that some of the rectangular models do not, and will seem a bit like a bit smaller of a Super Nintendo remote version.

The transmitter uses the same battery as the quad, so some pilots appreciate the fact that you get both, others like just buying disposable batteries for the controller and using the rechargeables for this cheap good drone. Because of the extended flight time and cool shape, many pilots out there will be making this purchase this summer.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[87]

FQ FQ777-124 Pocket Drone

This drone is absolutely of the tiniest type you can imagine, and it is literally one of the cheapest drone options on the market. Having the one-touch return is awesome for such a little machine, because even if you are trying to navigate indoors, there’s a lot that can happen in even the most open of quarters.

Since the designers knew that all ages and skill levels may be using this drone, the rotor protector is a big plus, and helps bystanders not get stung suddenly by it as well. There are pretty cool LED lights on this tiny quadcopters, and the fact that it has landing skids bodes well for it because its just the kind of small starter drone that WILL be abused heavily sooner or later.

One thing that’s great about this drone is that it’s really only double the price of what some retailers would sell for just a high-quality USB charging device. It’s really all about pure fun in a small package, and is perfect for those in cold climates that want something to fly around a gym or basement.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[88]  

The Hover-Way 6-axis 2.4 Ghz Aerial Micro Drone

This is one of the smallest that exists on the market, and will be a bundle of fun for you and the entire family. You get about a 6 minute flight time with a 35 minute recharging time, and there is sync-lock technology that allows you to fly more than one of these little numbers at a time in the same room.

You do receive replacement blades with the kit, which you may put to use immediately, since it can take just a bit to get used to the way that these handle. This would be a fun one for an experienced pilot to use that just wanted to blow some steam off indoors, or a great first purchase for someone who wants to really get into drones full-force during the future.

JJRC H20C

With WiFi FPV, a 2MP HD camera, and a price that’s more than a bargain, you can’t go wrong investing in this affordable drone with an HD camera. Though the price isn’t a large one, the HD camera has impressive specs.

It features One Key Return to Home, 3D Flips & Rolls, Hover, WiFi FPV and Headless Mode. Compared to the others on our list, the amount of features it has a little short, but fear not – it comes with impressive specs that make it an awesome little drone.

This hidden gem is one that shouldn’t be ignored if you’re looking for a simple drone with HD camera. This little pocket drone is a lot more powerful than you’d think.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[90]

Sky Viper m500

Nano drones are great for indoor and outdoor flight, especially if they come with an onboard HD camera and have a great price to go with it. Though there are a few nano drones that don’t fare that well in outdoor environments, especially if it’s a windy day, this one is still able to hold it down and fly perfectly.

It features One Touch Stunts, One Touch Flips, Auto Flight, Auto Hover and Auto Land. It has a total size of less than 2”, minus the blades, and weighs less than 9 ounces – no FAA registration required!

Interestingly enough, it was nominated for Toy of the Year during 2016, which proves how much of a quality inexpensive drone with camera it is.

Click Here to See Best Price!^[91]

The Hubsan H111 Q4 Nano Drone Quadcopter

This is a very small bundle of fun. This is a blue and white smaller model that we rank high for it’s toughness in design: for the size, it may be about the most durable on the market. There is also a built-in gyroscope for stability, and the flight time is right at 5 minutes.

It is 4-channel, very user-friendly quad with a stealth appearance, that is most likely the sturdiest micro quad on the market. The crash guard will help make sure that you won’t have any misfortune, and extra propellers and motor are pretty easy to find in case you need replacements.

FAQ’s For Low Cost Drones

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What are drones?

A drone is any flying vehicle that is not controlled by an onboard pilot. Their use has grown exponentially over the last few years, and many have enjoyed the hobby they have discovered including those that have begun taking their love of drones to RC boating! This rapidly expanding hobby has many options available at cheap prices as well as some remote control boats for kids^[94].

What are quadcopters?

The quadcopter is a type of drone that has four propellers. This is by far the most common type of drone, and many people think the two terms are interchangable, but it is also possible to find cheap hexacopters (6 propellers), octocopters (8 propellers), and other kinds of drones for sale.

Is it possible to find cheap drones for sale?

You can absolutely find good drones and quadcopters for a low price. Though the most popular prosumer models can still cost over a thousand dollars, thanks to the recent explosion of the market you can find some of the best budget drones for sale at prices as low as 50-150 USD.

Is it possible to find a cheap video drone?

One of the most exciting thing about the modern budget drone market is that higher-quality photo and video cameras have become small enough and inexpensive enough to find in low price drones. We have lots of cheap video drones and FPV quadcopters listed for sale above, so if you’re looking for an inexpensive drone that still comes with a great camera, you’re in luck.

What kinds of low priced drones are on the market?

Anyone who is on the hunt for the best value priced drone they can find will be glad to see that there are numerous options for low price quadcopters.

Micro drones are one common example of an affordable drone. Many inexpensive drones are designed to be flown indoors and used around the house, as their small size means that they can completely blow away in strong winds.

In the slightly more expensive category^[95], you can find cheap video drones that have 720p or even 1080p photo and video cameras, which give you some good practice hours for image gathering from above.

What is the cheapest drone?

You may be able to find a few that get a bit lower than this, but the JJRC 2.4ghz RC Quadcopter pictured here is just $9.95. It is a very tiny quad that gives you about 5 minutes of flight time, and has a control distance of about 30m.

Where can I find an RC drone cheap?

The best prices on remote control drones are usually found on Amazon, but some drone manufacturers sell directly from their own website. They may offer special benefits if you do so, like free shipping and handling.

Where are cheap drones manufactured?

The majority of the quadcopter options you locate on websites such as Ebay and Amazon are manufactured in Taiwan, and China. Hubsan, which is one of the manufacturers who have a pretty broad range of drones for beginners, are made in China. However, if buying semi-locally is important to you, Altair Aerial is an American company known for making cheap FPV drones based in Lincoln, Nebraska.

What are the return policies on drones?

Return policies on these drone options out there tend to seem strict, but you simply need to abide by protocol, and act quickly. One good plan is to purchase buying protection plans directly from the manufacturer, since many of the retailers such as Wal-mart and Best Buy only provide options such as a 15-day return window, even if the equipment is damaged.

What happens if I buy an inexpensive drone and it breaks?

Some portals such as Tmart.com will allow you to return products for up to 180 days: what the manufacturer is going to check for most commonly is if the damage was caused in any way by the user. Generally speaking, if you order a product from Amazon.com, they will take returns within 30 days, and will ship a replacement item if you receive one that is damaged or defective. Sometimes it’s just the transmitter or batteries, and sometimes it may be the drone itself.

Further Reading

Best Remote Control Cars^[96] – Dronethusiast.com
Best Remote Control Trucks^[97] – Dronethusiast.com