Best Beginner Drones of 2020

UDI 818A HD+

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

FAA Registration: No

This is a fun drone to fly at any level, but the makers built it with the beginner firmly in mind. It has good elasticated plastic blade guards to help protect against those inevitable beginner crashes.

The crash-resistant design stands up to collisions with walls, trees, and other objects, as well as hard landings. It’s a perfect first drone for anyone who wants to learn how to pilot a UAV.

All you do is unpack this drone, charge the battery, and then take to the skies. It’s going to give you a memorable first time flying experience. Seriously, this little UAV has “EASY” written all over it.

You won’t suffer from boredom flying this simple-to-maneuver robot either. You have options to flip it 360 degrees in any direction, take photos, and record video with sound. Let’s look at the little camera.

The UDI 818A HD+ comes with a small 2MP, forward facing camera already attached. The quality of the optics is superb for a drone in this price range. I’d say it’s one of the best in its class.

There’s a decent remote control with two joysticks and a roll button for performing those instant 360˚rolls. There’s also a nice LCD screen that shows your current flight status.

The four channel function ensures stable flying and simple operation: Left/Right, Up/Down, Forward/Backward, and 360° flips. There’s nothing confusing about the controller at all.

One annoying flaw with this drone is its user manual. For a beginner drone, I feel they could have written the guide better. Other than that, there’s not much to gripe about, not at around $90. This is the perfect starter quadcopter.

Hubsan X4 H107 C

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

FAA Registration: No

The Hubsan X4 H107 C takes second place. At less than 30 bucks, beginner drones don’t get much cheaper than this. The instruction manual that comes with this craft is also very easy to follow.

The X4 flies amazingly well. It’s quick too. The controller has all the basic flight settings you’d expect with no extras to confuse a newbie pilot (controller batteries not included).

The thing that’ll most likely spoil your fun is the short 9 minute flying time. I always suggest ordering a spare battery or two. It’s the only way to prolong your fun and get more practice in.

The X4 has warning indicators that let you know when the battery’s getting low. And the transmitter offers a safety feature that warns you when the drone is getting out of range.

This is a great drone to practice piloting skills, but that’s about all. It’s small and light and handles crashes pretty well. The camera quality is not great at 0.3 MP, but at least it’s there to play around with.

It’s a great little drone to practice your flying skills indoors and out, but take heed! It sounds like a large swarm of feisty bees. You may want to make sure you’re home alone for indoor practice 😉

A bonus of the Hubsan X4 is its Advanced Flying Mode. Still, you won’t have to worry about advanced flying in those early days. But it’s useful to have once you’ve perfected your flying skills in Basic Mode.

Unlike the UDI 818A HD+ above, there are no blade guards with the X4. This makes the props a bit vulnerable. Then again, it’s easy to buy replacement parts if you do break something on the craft.

A lot of drone enthusiasts are getting into racing quadcopters these days. The X4 H107 C is the perfect mini quadcopter to develop your speed skills if racing drones interests you.

The low cost and tiny size of this quad will probably result in a fairly short lifespan of its motors. If you want to fly it long after you’ve perfected your skills, well… you can always buy new motors.

Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

FAA Registration: Yes

Compared to the first two picks, the Syma X5SW-V3 has a few extra features. It’s still a great beginner’s drone at an affordable cost. Keep reading to see if these extra characteristics appeal to you.

Note that this drone is not quite ready to fly out of the box. Don’t worry. The assembly process is quick and easy for anyone—even if you’ve never put a drone together before.

Consider this UAV if you want to hone in on aerial photography and videography skills as well as flying. The WIFI-enabled camera sends photos and live video straight to an Android or iPhone.

The FPV (First Person View) lets you see what the camera sees in flight. First, you need the app. There’s a handy QR code on the side of the box that you simply scan to download the application.

This drone comes with protective propeller guards. Anything that helps to protect against collisions and crash landings has to be a good thing, especially on a beginner’s craft.

You need a special smartphone holder to attach your mobile device to the transmitter (included). Once fixed, start the WiFi and open the Syma FPV app. That’s about it. You’re now ready to take to the sky.

The X5SW-V3 is still incredibly light albeit much bigger than my earlier picks. There’s a lot more for the wind to get hold of, though. That means it’s not the best flyer in breezy conditions.

This is a nice stable flyer that’s easy to get to grips with in calm conditions. Keep the craft at lower altitudes if you want to fly outdoors in a breeze. This way it’ll be much easier to handle.

Make sure you stay in Low-Speed Mode until you’re more competent. It’s easy to get impatient but take heed. Flying too fast too soon will only end in collisions and crash landings.

One complaint is the low battery life, so make sure you order a spare. By the way, you’ll get a little extra flight time without the camera attached. It’s something to think about when you’re not shooting.

This is still a worthy quadcopter despite its few flaws. At around $55 you really can’t go wrong.

Parrot Rolling Spider

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Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5.0

FAA Registration: No

The Parrot Rolling Spider is a palm-sized micro quadcopter. It’s actually quite sophisticated despite its simplistic appeal. Unlike many other drones, there’s no traditional remote control with this one.

You need a low energy Bluetooth connection to fly this tiny craft via Parrot’s smartphone app. No beginner should have any trouble flying the Spider at its most basic settings.

New pilots get to enjoy some simple tap-and-fly modes, like tap to takeoff and tap to land. The drone then does as you command it. These automation features give you a stable, obedient, fun-to-fly craft.

There are plenty of more advanced features to explore once you’ve got some flying time behind you. You can, for example, control acceleration, climbing & turning rates, and height limits.

I like this drone because it’s a very capable independent flyer and hoverer. The odd-looking snap-on wheels help to protect the spinning props. Propeller protection is always a good newbie feature.

The wheels do more than just guard the blades. They protect furniture and vulnerable objects when flying indoors. They also roll the drone across ceilings and up walls. You have to see it to believe it.

When you don’t need the wheels on, keep them off. Anything you can do to lighten the load will increase your flight time—currently around eight minutes per charge.

The Bluetooth connection affects how the Parrot Rolling Spider performs. The nearer you are to the outer limits of the flight range, the more chance there is of a sluggish experience.

If flying was more predictable this UAV would have been further up the list. The secret here is to keep to within around 20 meters. This way you’ll get a more consistent flying experience.

When you become a proficient flyer there’s plenty of opportunity to raise your game. Moreover, the Rolling Spider is surprisingly fast and acrobatic when you customize its flight modes.

Although this drone is equipped with a downward facing camera, it won’t win you any photography or video awards. It’s better than nothing, but its main purpose is for motion detection, not imagery.

Some may argue that this drone is too easy to fly. Don’t be deterred. Remember, there are plenty of customizable options to challenge you, but first you have to develop your flying skills.

Holy Stone F181 RC

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5.0

FAA Registration: Yes

At just over 100 bucks this is yet another affordable drone built from durable elastic plastic. The material’s an important consideration as it helps to protect the craft from all those beginner crashes.

The F181 quadcopter comes with a set of blade guards. Be sure to attach these before you fly. You’ll be grateful for the protection they can provide during a crash.

New users hate the short flight times that plague beginner drones. At around eight minutes the F181 is no exception. The good news is this drone comes with a bonus battery. That’s unusual.

Drones can get quite hot with continuous flying. It’s a good idea to allow 10 minutes of cooling down time before you take off with a replacement battery. This helps to prolong the life of the motors.

The Holy Stone F181 also comes equipped with a 2MP detachable camera. Leave the camera off until you’ve mastered flying the drone. The reduced weight will give you a bit more flight time as well.

The camera resolution is 1280×720. You can take still photos and record reasonable video. The image quality is nothing to get excited about. Still, it’s more than acceptable for a drone at this price.

What sets the Holy Stone F181 apart from some of the cheaper models is the steady performance and great design. It’s easy to fly and has a bunch of great extras like the camera and headless mode.

It’s almost impossible to lose the F181. This is thanks to its headless security and key return features. All you do is flick a button to bring the craft back if it gets out of view or out of range.

These safety features are important considering there’s no GPS. All things considered, this drone is a step up from the cheaper micro options. It’s a great beginner craft for both teenagers and adults. This is the one for you if you are looking for a starter drone with more features than a basic model.

Altair AA818 Hornet (Best Budget)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5.0

FAA Registration: Yes

Anyone at any skill level can enjoy the Altair AA818 Hornet Plus Drone. It’s an excellent choice for beginners who want to explore aerial photography and videography.

• Best feature 1: Durable build
• Best feature 2: Smartphone ready for FPV experience
• Plus points: 720p HD camera, 3 skill settings, flight modes, extra props, customer service
• Minus points: Long charging time, no Return Home, no GPS feature

Not all entry-level users want a toy grade drone. The Altair 818 Hornet is an excellent mid-range quadcopter for enthusiastic beginners. The construction uses durable plastics and rubber to make it as crash-resistant as possible. The landing gear has rubber damping that cushions the impact on touchdown. That alone is significant when you consider most damage occurs from hard landings.

Smartphone Control

You can use the drone with a smartphone, though it’s not required. So why bother? Well, once you mount the 720p HD Camera (included), you can use a smartphone to receive live video. The camera becomes your eye in the sky, and your smart device screen gives you a birds-eye view. Flying in First Person View (FPV) is not something a total beginner should attempt.

Flying the Altair 818 Hornet

One of the main attractions as a beginner drone are the three skill modes. These are Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The different levels allow new pilots to develop their skills with one quad instead of upgrading each time they improve. That’s certainly worth consideration.
There are other impressive features too, including:

• Headless mode
• One-touch takeoff/landing
• Out of range and battery warning alarms
• Altitude Hold mode

You can expect around 15 minutes of flight time with the AA818 Hornet. That’s on the high side of average. There’s also a bonus battery that effectively doubles the flight time to 30 minutes. The battery charging time is nothing special (see below). The operational range is about 490+ feet (150m), and that’s far enough for a beginner drone. The video range is good for about 197 ft. (60m).

Altair’s Customer Care & Service

Altair includes an extra set of props in the box too. Extras like the bonus battery and spare blades show real attention to customer needs. The AA818 Hornet is an outstanding quadcopter that’s fun and easy to fly at any level. It’s responsive, durable, flexible, and offers a smooth learning curve for newbie pilots. Best of all is Altair’s excellent customer service—should you ever need them.

The Not So Good

There’s no such thing as the perfect beginner drone. However, the 818 Hornet is as close to perfect as you can get for the price category. Still, there are a few negatives that may deter some folks. The 100 minute (1:40) charging time is long. That means gaps between flying times even with the bonus battery unless you buy extras. There’s no GPS or Return to Home safety functions either.

DJI Mavic Mini Camera Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

It’s arrived, but has the all-new DJI Mavic Mini been worth the wait? It’s too early to say. My guess is that DJI fans—both old and new—are going to love it, and this review looks at the reasons why.

Small in Size, Big on Features

There are plenty of portable, take-it-anywhere foldable drones, so what makes the Mavic Mini so unique? Well, it’s small in size but huge on details. You don’t have to register this 8.8 oz. (249g) quad with the FAA, either. Seriously, this thing is not much heavier than a regular smartphone. The Mini set also includes a remote controller, flight battery, spare props, various cables, and a few other bits.

A Novice Pilot’s Dream Quad

The Mavic Mini is an ultra-smooth, stable flying quad that’s easy to control at any level. That’s thanks to the new DJI Fly app, which has an intuitive interface that’s a simple to navigate. Even raw beginners can produce aerial footage of cinematic quality. Users get to activate QuickShot filming modes using simple tap-tap controls. They include Hollywood style Circle, Dronie, Rocket, and Helix effects.

This puppy takes 12MP stills and shoots tack-sharp 2.7K video with its 3-axis gimbal-stabilized camera. Best of all is that DJI’s Mini can stay airborne for up to 30 minutes on a single charge. Another standout feature is to view what the Mini’s camera sees in real-time on a smartphone screen. There’s much to explore with this incredible little quad, all of which has a very gentle learning curve.

The Perfect Portable Quadcopter?

There are no “perfect” camera quadcopters, not yet anyway. As for negatives, well, it’s too early to say. There are bound to be some disgruntled users; there always are. I’ll update this guide later, once we’ve all had more time to put it through stringent consumer tests. My gut says the DJI Mavic Mini is going to be a huge hit, though, and for all the right reasons.

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Parrot Anafi PF728000 4K Foldable Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The Parrot Anafi is a high-quality, ultra-compact, and foldable 4K camera drone. It’s a feature-packed, easy-to-fly quadcopter that unfolds in only 3 seconds. Let’s take a closer look.

The Travel-Friendly Camera Quad

This 4K camera quadcopter is perfect for folks on the move. Its ultra-portable design, foldable arms, and 11.3 oz., lightweight make it the ideal travel companion. USB-C charging adds further to its portable appeal. You can palm-launch this beautiful quad using a smartphone or the Skycontroller.

Flying and Filming with the Parrot Anafi

Flying and filming with the Anafi 4K camera drone is straightforward, even at the entry-level. That’s all thanks to the intuitive FreeFlight 6 app, simple controls, and 25 minutes flying time. The 4K HDR video and 22MP aerial stills produce the kind of footage once reserved for Hollywood. And the 180° tilting gimbal along with a 2.8x lossless zoom gives pilots plenty of creative control.

The Anafi’s other standout features include Geofence, Return to Home (RTH), and fast speeds. The quad comes with a smart and durable protective case to store and carry the precious drone. The biggest drawback is that the Anafi doesn’t have obstacle avoidance. The battery charging time is also quite long at around 3 hours. That means most owners will want to invest in at least one spare.

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DJI Mavic Air (Top Pick)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

FAA Registration: Yes

The Mavic Air sits between the DJI Mavic Pro and the DJI Spark drones. It’s portable, powerful, and a great choice for beginners serious about piloting drones. It’s also a feature-packed quadcopter despite its small size and user-friendly appeal.

Enthusiasts best suited to this incredible flying camera have much in common. They’re outdoorsy types and demand portability, easy functions, flight safety, and quality footage.

Meet the Mavic Air’s Quality Camera

The onboard camera boasts a 12-megapixel 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor. It has a wide-angle lens to capture high-quality 12MP aerial stills. The camera can shoot stunning 4K video at 30fps (frames per second). Ariel photos and vids are free from blur and shake thanks to the effective 3-axis mechanical gimbal.

Another handy feature is the Air’s 8GB internal storage. That means users can save video footage and still images directly to the quad. And if live streaming is your thing, well, you’ve got that too. Many beginner pilots like to stream their footage in real time and upload it to social media.

Ultra-Portable and Feature Packed

The standout feature of the Mavic Air is its ability to fold down to the size of a regular smartphone. That makes it the perfect travel quad for folks on the move. And getting this puppy in the air is quick and easy even for entry-level pilots. Here are its three easy-to-use smart flight features:

• ActiveTrack (follows moving targets)
• 6 QuickShots choices; one-tap filming options for epic selfie vids
• SmartCapture (hand controls)

These things and others are what make complex flights and professional filming easy for beginners. Is it a perfect camera quad? No (see cons below), but it’s near perfect for a drone in its class.

DJI Mavic Pro

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

FAA Registration: Yes

A few beginners won’t mind spending $1000 on their first drone. My one pick in this higher priced category has to be the DJI Mavic Pro (consider the ‘Fly More Bundle’ for an even better deal).

New pilots want to get as much flying time as possible. Well, the ‘Fly More Bundle‘ gives you two extra batteries and a charging hub. There’re more goodies, but the batteries alone are worth the extra.

The small, high-quality Mavic Pro controller is awesome. It does a lot despite its simple design. It feels as good as it looks too. You just attach your phone or tablet to the controller and you’re good to go.

It won’t take you long to figure out the DJI GO App. As a new flyer, and especially considering the price of the drone, you may want to find a nice wide open space for your maiden flight.

DJI Mavic Pro is very easy to fly despite its high quality and sophistication. My advice is to stay well away from the Sport Mode until you’re comfortable and familiar with all the drone’s basic features.

The makers have designed the Beginner Mode specifically for novice pilots. It has restrictions on how high and how far you can fly. This means you don’t have to worry about losing sight or control.

Once comfortable with Beginner Mode, familiarize yourself with Tripod Mode. Although this drone flies well indoors, my advice is to learn outside first—in windless conditions. After that, the sky’s the limit.

Let’s not forget the portability of the Mavic Pro. This is thanks to its clever retractable legs. With the drone and phone in your bag and a fully-charged battery, you’re always ready to take to the sky.

This is a wonderful drone to pilot, but it’s more than just a capable flyer. It’s also an excellent aerial camera. These impressive optics and recording capabilities contribute to the high price tag.

The camera offers a sharp 4K/24 fps imaging system. It can shoot JPG photos and DNG RAW. Heck, there’s even an option for live streaming to YouTube and Facebook if that’s your thing.

Ideally, the DJI Mavic Pro is a prosumer level UAV. It still works well as a beginner drone for those who don’t want to step-stone through the cheaper models on their way to better things.

Some of the more novice-friendly features include the Beginner Mode, Obstacle Avoidance, and the Return to Home feature, but there’s so much more to explore.

As this is a beginner’s review, I won’t complicate things by looking into the DJI Mavic Pro’s full range of impressive capabilities. Just know that there’s a lot to marvel at once you’ve learned to fly.

At the time of writing, the Mavic Pro is perhaps one of the best small sized drone performers in its class. And its numerous smart features make it one of the top quadcopters on the market today.

As a new flyer, you’ll only run into problems if you become impatient and try to run before you can walk. Don’t attempt to master the more complex features before you’ve had time to grasp the basics.