In the past few years, cheap drones have become more popular as the technology that powers them has been cheaper. Hobbyists now have more options to fly their drones and test them out without having to spend a lot of money on expensive hardware. You can also fly with them for less thanks to the many drone deals that are available.
Some of the world’s most popular drone brands have created their own budget lines to make high-quality devices affordable to everyone. This includes DJI, which is featured several times in this roundup of the best drone deals at a low price. It offers a variety of devices that were previously unimaginable just a few decades ago.
These drones are usually cheaper and offer ease of take-off and landing controls, 4K and 720p photography, GPS-enabled flight modes such as Follow Me, and flight times between 7 and 30 minutes. Each model has its own set of specifications, features and control styles, so it is important to do some research before you find the right cheap drone.
We’ve made it easy for you by compiling a list of the top cheap drone deals so that you can get the features you want at the lowest possible price. You can also find our guide to the best action cameras today.
These are the best drone deals
1. DJI Mavic Mini
The best drone for photography
Flight time: 30 minutes
Powerful and portable
Regulations may not apply to lower weights
Mini 2 only has 4K
Although the DJI Mavic Mini may be an older model, it is still a great place for beginners who want to get into drone photography professionally without spending a lot of money. With all the great features, you get a lightweight copter. You can also fly to more places, which allows you to avoid certain regulations.
The footage can be recorded at 1080p at 60fps, or 2.7K at 30-fps. This is a great compromise to the 4K Mini 2’s most expensive model and still yields some amazing shots, especially when you use the Rocket, Circle, Dronie, and Circle quick shot options. These presets guide your drone in smooth motion, making it easy to capture a sweeping shot.
The DJI app makes flying easy. However, there are 360-degree propeller guards and boosted sensors that can be used to protect your equipment in case you have any problems in the air.
Upgrade to:
DJI Mini 2
Mini 2 is DJI’s latest budget-friendly drone model. The Mini 2 offers 4K footage at 30fps, 4x digital zoom, RAW mode, 10km video transmission, and additional Boomerang and Panorama quick shots presets. If you have the extra money, this model is still a great value at $100/PS100.
The best 4K drones on the market
Flight time: 14 – 16 minutes
4K resolution
Mode of flight Waypoint
One key lift off landing
Follow me and GPS positioning
The Eachine E520S is a 4K option that’s more affordable than the DJI Mini 2. It costs $400 / PS400. Although you will lose some features to get Ultra-HD resolution, it is an excellent choice to keep the costs down.
However, this does not mean you should sacrifice some of the extra features. The price is still very affordable, but you’ll still get plenty of functionality. Altitude Hold and GPS positioning allow you to capture the perfect shot with less effort. Follow Me and GPS positioning modes are also available.
Waypoint Flight mode is a handy and unique feature that allows users to create a route for their drone using their smartphone. This is a great option for people who are looking for a smooth shot, but don’t know how to control more complicated patterns. You can also learn the landing and return home key steps if you’re still learning.
Overall, the drone is a great value for money. Although you might miss out on certain DJI-specific features such as quick shots or long video transmission distances and high quality video transmission, there are plenty of other flight modes and a 4K camera at your helm.
The best drones for beginners
Flight time: 13 minutes
Simple app interface
Easy landing with downward sensors
It is safe to fly indoors
Wind resistance
DJI and Ryze have teamed up to create the Tello drone, which is a great way to get into aerial photography. Although the camera quality isn’t as good as some more expensive models, the Ryze is focused on getting you started with a safe and controlled copter that you can control easily.
These sensors and rotor guards play an important role in ensuring that your drone is secure and safe. They also protect your surroundings from harm. You can practice indoor shots before you move onto outdoor shots.
The Tello can be a bit unstable in windy conditions so it is worth checking the weather before you go outside. The calmer weather makes for a much more enjoyable and easy flight experience. This is made even easier by the simplified user interface of the accompanying app.
The forward-facing camera is more suited for selfies or small frames rather than large landscapes. However, the downward sensors provide extra stability and can be used to make the Tello land in your hand.
4. Holy Stone Shadow HS160
Best budget drone
Flight time: 8 minutes
compatible with FPV
Amazingly low prices
Easy landing and takeoff
It is possible to transmit real-time video in real time.
The Holy Stone HS160 Shadow drone is a great choice for those on a tight budget or who don’t need to worry too much about flying. The real-time image transmission is a bit slower than with the more expensive models. All the essentials are covered with one press takeoff and landing, headless mode to orient your drone’s course easily, and even a first-person view mode.
Although the camera won’t win you any photography awards and there are better built drones, this is a great option for anyone looking to get into weekend flying.
Flight time: 9 minutes
Protective guards
Voice control
Mode of headless
Drones are heavier than others
There are many reasons to choose a cheaper drone over the more expensive models if you plan on giving the controls to your children. This Snaptain copter is our top choice for small hands because it offers safety and ease-of-use features.
The controls are easy to use and the protective guards will protect your computer from children’s hands. Voice control technology allows kids to get involved even if their smartphones aren’t yet fully mastered.
The Headless Mode solves the problem of teaching children how to fly a drone. The drone moves in accordance with your position by altering the controls. Instead of moving forward according to its ‘front’ in normal flight, the directions here are drawn in relation to the pilot. This makes it much easier to control and is easy for kids to learn.
Windy conditions can cause this model some trouble. We recommend that you check the weather before you fly, especially since there is very little stabilization technology inside.
You still have a lot of basic features with GPS, follow mode, a 90-meter range of video connections, and altitude hold. You can also save footage directly to an SD card, whereas cheaper drones will usually save directly to your smartphone. This will result in better video quality and, if you fly often, it will also save space on your smartphone.
