11 Best Cheap Drones of 2020

1. DJI Tello

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Ryze Tello is a camera drone and the most exciting drone around for the money. It’s small, easy to fly, and powered by DJI technology with an Intel processor.

• Best feature 1: Powered by DJI technology
• Best feature 2: Programmable with Scratch (see below)
• Plus points: Easy to fly, decent flight time, FPV capable, failsafe features, Tello app
• Minus points: Not good in the wind, no camera stabilization, no return-to-home

The Ryze Tello is a superb choice for a budget-priced quad. It has a feel and quality not found with other camera drones in its class. It’s also an excellent trainer craft for first-time pilots.

Flying the Tello Camera Quadcopter

Anyone with a regular smartphone can take to the sky with the Tello quadcopter. All you do is download the Tello app and throw this little bird into the air – literally. The intuitive controls make flying and filming super easy, even for kids. You can also operate the Tello with a GameSir T1 Bluetooth Game Controller (not included) if you prefer that over a smartphone.

The 5-megapixel 720P camera produces reasonable aerial stills and short videos with EZ Shots. The Tello is also First Person View (FPV) capable. It’s even possible to wear a Virtual Reality (VR) headset for the ultimate FPV experience (not included). The flight time is a decent 13 minutes, and the 100-meter range is more than adequate for a small camera quad.

Fun flight options include Throw & Go, 8D flips (stunts), and a Bounce mode. The beginner-friendly and failsafe features are Auto Takeoff/landing, Low Battery Alert, and Precise Hovering.

The Educational Camera Quadcopter

Tello owners have the option to learn coding basics with a system called Scratch. It’s much easier than it sounds. Scratch lets users get more involved and creative with how their drone flies and functions.

The Conclusion

There’s nothing else out there that offers so much for so little as the Tello camera quad. It’s affordable, small, lightweight, agile, and durable to boot. It’s also educational for those interested in coding. There are only two minor cons. One is the Tello doesn’t fly well outdoors in the wind because of its lightweight. The other is no camera stabilization. That means footage sometimes suffers a little shake.

2. Force1 U49WF Camera Quadcopter w/ Live Video

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

Cheap drones don’t have to be tacky as the Force1 U49WF camera quadcopter shows. It has a plethora of beginner-friendly features usually reserved for higher-end models.

• Best feature 1: Altitude hold function
• Best feature 2: Up to 25 minutes of flight time
• Plus points: Easy to fly, camera, 1-key lift/land, headless mode, 2 batteries, decent range
• Minus points: Average footage, not stable in winds

Flying the Force1 U49WF

Flying the Force1 U49WF is about as easy as it gets. New pilots can launch this puppy into the air using a simple 1-key takeoff. Bringing the bird back down to earth is another one-button action. It also has an altitude hold function that puts the quad into a steady hover. And its headless mode lets new users focus on the flight direction rather than the drone’s orientation.

The U49WF has a small built-in 120°, 720p HD camera, which adds to the fun. The free Flyingsee app installed on a regular smartphone gives you WiFi first-person view (FPV). There are also options to customize flight routes and perform aerial stunts. The quad comes with two flight batteries that double the flight time to around 25+ minutes. And its flight range is about 492ft (150m) in open spaces.

The Not So Good

There are only a couple of minor negatives considering its price. One is the average video quality, and the other is the light weight. It just doesn’t handle too well if the wind picks up.

The Conclusion

The Force1 U49WF is a perfect first drone for anyone who wants to get into aerial videography. It’s so much fun to fly at the beginner level, thanks to all the beginner-friendly controls. Heck, it’s even compatible with VR goggles if you want to try immersive FPV. The extra flight battery is nice to have, as are the spare set of props, charging cables, and the included drone tools.

3. Force1 X5UW Thunderbolt Camera

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

Next up is the Force1 X5UW quadcopter. It’s another cheap RTF camera drone worthy of a place here.

• Best feature 1: Custom Flight Path
• Best feature 2: Feature packed for a drone in its class (see below)
• Plus points: Two bonus batteries, 720P HD camera, FPV, flies using smartphone tilts
• Minus points: Two bonus batteries, 720P HD camera, FPV, flies using smartphone tilts

This little drone might not look much at first glance but it packs a lot of bang in for your buck. Many of the features found on the X5UW Camera Quad are similar to those found on much costlier crafts. The quality is average compared to more expensive quadcopters but then it’s a fraction of the price.

Flying the Thunderbolt FPV RTF Camera Quad

Flying the Thunderbolt in First Person View (FPV) is a breeze. The 1-key takeoff and landing is a great selling point but it’s in the air where this baby comes into its own. To fly the craft simply tilt your Android or iOS smartphone for full control. You can perform impressive stunts like 360° flips with one button touches. The flights are smooth and stable thanks to the Altitude Hold and 6-axis gyro.

The Headless Mode means pilots don’t have to worry which way the craft faces to fly it. This lets you concentrate more on flying and filming without worrying about orientation. The 720p HD camera is more than adequate for optics in this class. The videos and stills are clear enough to enjoy and share with others. The maximum flight time is just 8-minutes but this quad comes with three batteries—nice!

The Conclusion

The Thunderbolt is an affordable little quadcopter and a perfect choice for first-time pilots. It comes with lots of smart features, a transmitter, smartphone control, and an FPV experience. And the little camera provides a great introduction to capturing aerial stills and video.

4. SYMA X5C-1 Explorers RC Quad

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

At less than 60 bucks the SYMA X5C-1 Explorers is the cheapest drone here but it’s still a good deal.

• Best feature 1: Newest 6-axis flight control systems
• Best feature 2: Two bonus batteries (3 in total)
• Plus points: Stable, flexible flyer, modular design, blade protectors, LED lights
• Minus points: Instructions should be clearer for beginners, short flight time

Despite its low price the Explorers comes equipped with a 2MP high degree camera. If you’ve never flown a camera drone before—but want to try—add the X5C-1 to your shortlist. It’s a simple quad to operate at the beginner level. It even comes with some bright flashing LEDs so that you can see it clearly against a cloudy sky or fly it in the dark. It’s also easy to assemble and maintain thanks to the modular design. Best of all is that this cheap little drone comes with a bunch of extras.

Flying the SYMA X5C-1 Explorers Quadcopter

The drone is small, light, and safe to fly indoors and out. It’s a great choice for younger first-time pilots but anyone will enjoy it. The craft is fairly wind-resistant and stable despite its specs. The integrated 6-axis gyro stabilization helps with this. The maximum flight time is just 7-8 minutes. That doesn’t sound much but it’s fairly average for a quad at this price. There’s also a bonus battery to extend the fun.

The 90-minute charging time is also average. The flight range is around 154 ft. Again, this is normal for a tiny flying camera quad. The 2.4GHz remote controller or RC uses something called spectrum technology. This latest technology enhances flight range, power-consumption, and anti-interference.

The Conclusion

The SYMA X5C-1 Explorers doesn’t have it all but it certainly has plenty for the price. It flies well, is easy to use, has an inbuilt camera, and is a perfect introduction to aerial photography and filming. You get an extra battery, extra blades, blade protectors, a transmitter, and a 4G MicroSD Card to boot.

5. BEEYEO S30W Affordable 1080p Camera Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The BEEYEO S30W is an affordable entry-level 1080p camera quadcopter. It has a plethora of beginner-friendly features that make flying this drone fun and easy for budding pilots.

• Best feature 1: Affordable, feature-packed entry-level camera quad
• Best feature 2: Full HD 1080p camera
• Plus points: Headless mode, follow me, 1-key return, one-button lift/land, GPS positioning
• Minus points: Poor instructions, exaggerated flight time, long charging

Flying the BEEYEO S30W

Flying the Beeyeo S30W could not be more straightforward. It has one-button takeoff and landing, GPS positioning with altitude hold, and a headless mode. The latter allows new pilots to fly the drone without having to focus on its orientation. And the TapFly feature lets users design flight paths for the S30W to follow. These controls give more time to concentrate on filming and less on flying.

Learners can exploit the GPS function to lock the drone and bring it to a steady hover at any time. That’s invaluable if—for any reason—the novice pilot gets into a panic. And the four Return to Home (RTH) controls ensure the precious quad doesn’t fly away or get lost.

Live Video Feed to a Smartphone

The S30W can show you what its camera sees. Just attach a smartphone to the controller and enjoy the First Person View (FPV) live feed. There’s even an option to get into the virtual pilot’s seat by wearing VR goggles (not included). The lens has a 120° FOV or field of view, and an adjustable angle of 75°. The drone saves all aerial photos and videos to an onboard SD card (not included).

The Not So Good

The negatives are unlikely to be deal-breakers. One is the instructions that use the tiniest font. That makes following the guide a real eye-squinter. Those who have problems reading the guide should head straight to a video tutorial instead. The 18+ minute flight time is a tad exaggerated, with 12–15 minutes being more realistic. Charging takes a couple of hours, so spare batteries are a must-have.

The Conclusion

There’s a lot to like with this well-made camera drone considering its affordable price. It has all the novice-friendly features you could wish for. The generous control range of 984ft is also impressive for a toy-grade camera quad, as is its high-average flight time.

6. Holy Stone F181W Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

Holy Stone sell a lot of affordable consumer drones. The company has a good reputation for providing feature-packed quadcopters that are fun and easy to fly. Their F181W WiFi FPV Drone is no exception.

• Best feature 1: HD WiFi Camera w/ 120° Field of View (FOV)
• Best feature 2: Powerful motors
• Plus points: Altitude hold, 1-key return, headless mode, LED lights, bonus battery
• Minus points: Short flight time, restrictive phone mount, hard to see warning light

The Holy Stone F181W drone has a 720P HD WiFi camera with a 120° wide-angle lens. The video and stills are more than acceptable for a cheap drone but they won’t win any prizes for quality. The built-in WiFi feature is cool and provides pilots with First person View (FPV) Real-time Transmission. In other words, you can see exactly what the flying camera sees on your smartphone screen.

Operating the Holy Stone F181W

Flying the Holy Stone F181W is easy to grasp and great fun. The Headless Mode means the quad flies forward or back as you use the controller. It doesn’t matter what direction its nose points. This one thing alone makes flying much easier but it’s not something all drones have—yet. The quads 6-axis gyro system helps to keep the craft steady in flight so it has a real benefit for filming.

Every drone pilot loves to perform a few fancy moves and the F181W has you covered. One-key 3D flips and rolls make complicated moves easy to do yet impressive to watch. This capable little quad even comes with a one-key Return-To-Home function despite its low price tag. The flight time is only 9-minutes but you do get a bonus battery. The charging time is an average of 1.5 hours.

Final Thoughts

You can’t really go wrong with the popular Holy Stone affordable drones and that includes the F181W. You’ve got a camera for video, stills, and WiFi First Person View capability. There are also functions like Altitude Hold, Gravity Sensor, Speed Controls, and others, that make it a great first drone for all ages.

7. Force 1 U49W Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

This is another Amazon’s Choice flying camera drone from Force1. The U49W Blue Heron looks similar to the Red Heron above (#1) but it costs around 50 bucks more. Let’s find out why.

• Best feature 1: Mobile app controlled
• Best feature 2: Intelligent flight modes
• Plus points: Amazon’s Choice product, bonus battery, beginner-friendly, popular craft
• Minus points: Average camera, long charging

Many of the U49W BLUE Heron specs are inline to the U49C RED Heron. The reason for the price difference is because of the Blue Heron’s First Person View (FPV) capability. You can enjoy FPV on a smartphone screen with the free Android or iOS app. The Blue Heron controller also has a clamp to accommodate most popular smartphones. The HD camera quality is on the high side of acceptable.

This consumer drone is a fantastic little flying camera quad for any experience level. It has flight-stabilizing technology but it’s a far cry from a mechanical gimbal. Even so, it does a pretty good job at steadying the craft which is important for shake-free footage. Drone stabilization is not something that all cheaper camera quads offer.

Flying the Force1 U49W Blue Heron

Flying this quad is easy and enjoyable thanks to the Headless Mode for trouble-free orientation. The Custom Route Mode, Altitude Hold function, and 1-key Lift & Land also check the ‘easy to fly’ boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O4oR5SJkjo
The flight time is 15 minutes or 30 minutes if you include the bonus battery. It’s always wise to let this drone cool down for 20 minutes after a battery change. The battery charging time is a disappointing 120 minutes or 2+ hours. Overall, though, there’s very little to complain about.

Final Thoughts

For around $150 you get a great entry-level WiFi FPV camera quadcopter. It has plenty of beginner and failsafe features which make it suitable for younger first-time pilots in particular. Both the RED and BLUE Heron come with large effective fixed blade guards. These do a pretty good job at keeping the propellers out of harm’s way.

8. Contixo F18 Camera Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

The Contixo F18 costs around 100 bucks more than the previous pick but is it worth the extra?

• Best feature 1: Advanced GPS system
• Best feature 2: HD 1080P live 5G Band WiFi FPV
• Plus points: Smart features, brushless motors, nice backpack, good range, 4-speed modes
• Minus points: Long 4-hour charging, pixelated footage at higher speeds

The F18 is a good-looking FPV GPS WiFi video camera quadcopter. It even comes with its own smart carry case made specifically to house the drone and its accessories. The craft is so cute it’s almost like a flying pet once you get used to all the impressive features and functions. And you can view what the drone’s built-in camera sees on a smartphone screen with the HD FPV camera.

Flying the Contixo F18 Camera Drone

The mobile flight app is easy to understand and available for both Android and iOS devices. You can take to the skies and be in complete control of both flying and filming within a few minutes. The brushless motors ensure minimal friction on the running engines and thus help to reduce overheating. Even so, it’s always a good practice to allow engines to cool down between flights for any drone.

New pilots can take advantage of the four throttle control modes. These are useful while you get accustomed to the craft and work at developing your skills. The bright LED lights help with orientation and instill confidence when flying at night. There’s no chance of losing this puppy either thanks to the Advanced GPS Mode. Here are the four ways the craft can respond when you need to get it back:

• Auto Return to Home
• Smart Return to Home
• Failsafe Return to Home
• Low Voltage Return to Home

Major Dislikes for the Contixo F18

Being happy with any consumer drone depends on individual wants and expectations. However, all pilots share a few demands in common. The usual gripes are with brief flight times (battery life), long charging time, and short range. At 1.2 miles the Contixo F18 has an impressive range. The shortish 16 minutes flight time and even less impressive 4 hr. charging time are its biggest letdowns.

Final Thoughts

If you can look past the battery life (flight time) and long charging time there’s not much else to fault. This really is a nice looking, capable, feature-packed, RC quadcopter for around 300 bucks.

9. Traxxas Aton Action Camera Quad

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

If you want an aerobatic, fast, and fun quadcopter, the Traxxas Aton could be right up your alley.

• Best feature 1: Long flight time (see review)
• Best feature 2: Customizable design
• Plus points: Fixed action camera mount, stunt aerobatics, fast, dual-mode GPS, air brakes
• Minus points: toy-like (appearance only), doesn’t have FPV, camera not included

The Benefits of a Camera Drone without a Camera

There’s no camera included with the Aton but it does come with a gimbal to mount an action camera like GoPro. A lot of people like the idea of being able to choose their own camera. It gives you more flexibility in filming and quality options. And when you want to just fly for fun you can remove the camera to lighten the payload.

Flexible Flying Choices

The Traxxas Aton has an impressive top speed of 50 mph in Sport Mode though speed is not a priority for most drone pilots. Those who need it tend to compete in races or fly long distances. But this is more than just a fast craft with athletic flying ability. There are different modes that allow you to focus on other things like filming. There’s also an Expert Mode that really puts the operator in full control.

This is a decent UAV for any skill level. Experienced pilots can take to the skies and unleash their flying potential to the full. Likewise, novice pilots can also enjoy this drone thanks to its beginner-friendly features. There’s the Return to Home control, dual-mode GPS, and effective air brakes. The Ultra-bright LEDs also come in handy for night flying as well as look great.

The flight time is an impressive 25 minutes on a single charge. The 90-minute recharge time is average so you may want to invest in at least one spare battery. The flight range isn’t the most impressive at just 500 ft. but then this is a drone you really want to keep in the line of sight (LOS).

Final Thoughts

The Traxxas Aton performs a lot better than its toy-like appearance would have you believe. It has an incredibly strong composite frame, long flight time, and lots of impressive features to explore. It’s a racer, a stable camera drone, and an acrobatic pilot’s dream craft. It’s not for everyone, but those who choose it are happy campers going by its high star rating and glowing reviews.

10. DJI Spark Quad Fly More Combo

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

My last pick of the best cheap drones is the popular DJI Spark. The review here is for the affordable Fly More Combo which offers a convenient package presented as an impressive bundle.

• Best feature 1: Hand gesture control (more than just a novelty)
• Best feature 2: Intelligent flight modes
• Plus points: Reliable, easy to fly, gimbal stabilization, powerful propulsion speed, GPS
• Minus points: No 4k version, short flight time for a drone in its class, buggy with Android

If you’re searching for a quality quadcopter that’s small, luggable, and easy to fly, then search no more. Thanks to the Spark’s Gesture Mode you don’t even need a smartphone or remote controller to fly it. The Fly More Combo comes with a DJI remote controller so it’s there when you need to fly further and expand options.

Flying the DJI Spark

This is the fun part. Gesture control is practical as well as being a novel feature. You can take amazing aerial photos and close–range video simply by using hand gestures. How cool is that? You can also launch it from the palm of your hand which is another neat feature. The FaceAware technology recognizes your mug and hovers in front of your eyes just moments after powering the craft on.

The DJI Spark has a bunch of intuitive controls and intelligent flight modes. Using simple tap controls on a mobile device will create wonderful cinematic aerial footage that’s guaranteed to impress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf8g35dohDo

The Perfect Drone — for Some

This sounds like the perfect traveling UAV and it is for a lot of people. Yet the popular DJI Spark—like all drones—has a few minus points that will sway some people’s decision making.

The three most bothersome downsides to the DJI Spark include:

• DJI GO 4 app buggy with some Android devices
• Short flight time (battery life) for a drone in this price range
• No 4K option available (at the time of writing)

The first and second points are the most troublesome. There’s no 4K video available—yet. Despite this, you won’t find many complaints about the 1080P video quality or 12MP stills. The short flight time is more of an issue not least because the DJI Spark only uses DJI batteries. They are good, but extra DJI batteries are also expensive. The good news is that the Fly More Combo includes an extra battery.

The reports that some Android devices don’t work well with this craft is more of a serious issue. It would be wise to check the current updates if you own an Android device while considering this drone.

Final Thoughts

The DJI Spark has a lot going for it. The Fly More Combo puts everything together so that you don’t have to. It includes the drone, remote controller, an extra battery, and propeller guards. There’s also a battery charging hub that accommodates three batteries for faster charging than USB.

11. Hubsan H501S X4 Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

My seventh pick in this cheap drone guide is the Hubsan H501S X4. This is an attractive HD camera quadcopter that has a lot to offer for a drone at around $200.

• Best feature 1: 5.8G real-time FPV capability
• Best feature 2: GPS Altitude Mode
• Plus points: 1080P HD camera, intelligent battery, decent flight time, hover function
• Minus points: Potentially spotty FPV transmission, noisy for brushless motors

The Hubsan H501S X4 is a feature-packed selfie drone with some impressive features. You get real-time video transmission with this complete FPV package. You don’t even need a mobile device. The drone transmits live video feed directly to the built-in monitor on the 4-channel remote controller (RC). The 1080P HD camera captures pretty good video and still shots which it saves to a Micro-SD card.

Flying the Hubsan H501S X4 Camera Quadcopter

The brushless motors are more durable and powerful than the brushed ones found on a lot of cheaper drones. Keeping control of the quad is easy thanks to the controller’s built-in monitor aka on-screen display or OSD. The display lets you know the quads position, speed, altitude, battery level, and a few other things. All the drone’s features empower pilots and include:

• GPS in both the drone and RC
• Follow Me mode
• Headless Mode
• Barometer Altitude Hold
• OSD Live data
• One-Key Return Landing

There’s a lot going on with this craft and flying it can be as simple or as complex as you like. There’s the impressive 20-minute maximum flight time but a less impressive 2.5 hrs. charging time. You may want to invest in at least one extra battery. The distance range is a good average at 984 ft. or 30m.

Final Thoughts

The Hubsan H501S X4 is the most feature-packed drone in this guide so far. For around 200 bucks you get a 4-channel GPS, FPV, Ready-to-Fly (RTF) camera quadcopter. If you want even more than what this drone offers then keep reading. I’m now about to review three drones over $200.