The Best Drones For Beginners: Get Started Shopping Here

The best drones for beginners include the DJI Mini 2, Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini, and the Fimi X8 mini.

By Sofia Yang | Updated

With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching, one of the more popular items that will surely be on Christmas lists will be a drone. Over the past couple of years, drones have become the go-to for getting some of the most amazing aerial footage from filmmakers in Hollywood to novice fliers. For those who are interested but unsure where to start, well you are going to need a drone for beginners, and we can help.

Drones have been in existence for several decades and although they began as military surveillance tools, today, they are widely used in aerial photography, product delivery, agriculture, mapping, drone racing, and other applications. In 2018, the FAA estimated that there would be more than 1.2 million drones. By 2019, the number of drones in the US totaled 1.1 million and of those 1.1 million registered drones, 878,000 were for hobbyists, while 122,000 were commercial drones.

For you hobbyists, the best place to get started flying is with a drone for beginners. They are easy to use, you can be up and flying in no time, and for the most part, they are budget-friendly. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

BEST OVERALL BEGINNER DRONE: DJI MINI 2

There is nothing about the DJI Mini 2 that beginners will not love. The size, first of all, is a major plus, as it is small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. Its revamped controller makes it even easier to control, another huge plus for the DJI Mini 2.

The DJI Mini 2 has a range of 10km. The device comes with improved motors, stabilization, and wind resistance that delivers perfect footage even in the windiest of conditions. The 30-minute battery life is also a major plus.

As far as video capture is concerned, the camera will deliver a sharp 4K at 30fps. The video is easier to edit as the footage comes in a bit underexposed. The only drawback to this amazing DJI Mini 2 drone for beginners is the steep price.

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BEST BEGINNER DRONE FOR KIDS: HOLY STONE MINI DRONE FOR RC KIDS NANO QUADCOPTER

The Holy Stone HS210 Mini Drone is a fantastic choice for kids because of its user-friendly features and fairly robust design at a cost that won’t break the bank account. It’s got one-key takeoff/landing and altitude hold. That allows for easy control and hovering, which makes it a good match for kids who might not have all the ins and outs down yet.

Plus, the propeller guards make it so you aren’t going to damage it too badly on a crash. Additionally, the Holy Stone Mini can wow watchers with 3D flips and high-speed rotations, which should dial things up considerably.

There are three speed modes, catering to different skill levels allowing the user to up their game as they improve their flying abilities. There is 21 minutes of total flight time on the three batteries, ensuring extended play sessions without frequent recharging. Its compact and lightweight so it’s portable too.


BEST BEGINNING DRONE FOR TEENS: HOLY STONE HS175

If you are a teenager and just getting started with a drone, then the The Holy Stone HS175 GPS drone offers a solid choice. This thing is ultralight, has a 2K UHD camera for high-quality images and videos. You’ll be able to pull off some pretty sick aerial photography with this one.

GPS functionality helps with positioning and keeping flight performance stable. There’s also a follow-me mode, which works well for beginners. You get about 22 minutes of flight time on the battery charge, and you can even get a real-time video feed to a smartphone, though you have to be within 1000 feet.

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GREAT SELFIE DRONE FOR BEGINNERS: DJI SPARK

DJI Spark

The DJI Spark is not only one of the best drones for beginners, but it is perfect for taking selfies, too. Equipped with DJI’s signature technologies, the mini drone has intelligent flight control, a mechanical gimbal, and a camera.

Built to empower its users to push creative boundaries, the mini drone is quick to launch. Thanks to FaceAware, users can control the drone without a remote or smartphone. This technology works by recognizing the face of the pilot. As such, the drone can take off and hover for seconds using FaceAware.

The drone pilot can capture amazing aerial photos using hand gestures, too. But for intelligent flight modes, you can download the DJI Go 4 and create cinematic aerial videos with ease. When it comes to flight performance, it has a maximum flight time of 16 minutes and propulsion power of 50 kph.


IDEAL NIGHT FLYING DRONE FOR BEGINNERS: DJI MINI 4 PRO DRONE

We know that not all the drone footage beginners wish to capture comes with full daylight. Some love nothing more than to fly their drones as the sun is setting or even after it has gone down completely. The DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone is the drone for you.

Sure, it’s on the pricier side, starting at over $1000, but when it comes to low-light performance, the DJI Mini 4 Pro gets the job done thanks to its big sensor and bright lens. It also handles very well in those annoying windy conditions. Beginners are going to love the nighttime flying with this drone.

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GETTING STARTED AS A DRONE PILOT WITH THE FAA

As an aspiring drone pilot, we recommend registering with the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s the law. As a certified remote pilot, you will be required to pay $5 per drone. The license is valid for three years and you will be provided with a pilot ID. To register, you must provide your email, credit card, physical address, mailing address, make, and model of your drone.

Happy flying!