Looking for a cheap 4K drone? A few years back a 4K drone would have cost you at least a grand, now, with more drones on the market, we are spoiled for choice. There are a lot of 4K drones on the market and in this article, I have listed 6 of the best cheap 4K drones that cost no more than $500.
Drones are amazing, especially the ones with HD cameras, they let you observe the world from above and see and experience places you may not have otherwise.
There are a lot more cheap 4K drones than the ones I have listed, but they are my personal favourite and you will be able to take stunning videos and photos.
Remember that you may have to register these drones with the FAA or the CAA, and please do check the rules and regulations regarding drone flight wherever you live and comply with them.
Best Cheap 4K Drones
1. DJI Mini 2
The DJI Mini 2 is the successor to the hugely popular Mavic Mini, design-wise, both drones look very similar. The Mini 2 is a lightweight and very compact drone which makes it great to travel with and it weighs less than 250g which means you may not have to register it in the USA or UK. The drone comes with some amazing features which include an HD camera that is capable of recording videos in true 4k and capturing images in 12MP. You can shoot amazing spherical and wide-angle panorama photography and record cinematic slow-motion video footage. The camera comes with HDR support and allows you to take professional videos hands-free via its Quickshots feature.
Key Features
- Records videos in 4K/30fps
- 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
- 12MP still images
- HDR support
- 3-axis gimbal
- Quickshots for short cinematic videos
- OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology
- 31 minutes of flight time
- 10km control range
2. Fimi X8 SE
Xiaomi is not known for making drones, however, the ones they have made have been well received and the FIMI X8 SE is one of the best 4K drones under $500.It has a foldable design and is very compact making it a great drone to travel with. It is medium-sized and weighs just under 800g which isn’t that heavy but still heavier than most foldable drones. I like the overall design of this drone, it looks like a modern smartphone when folded up and it will not take up much space if you are a frequent traveller. It comes with powerful brushless motors that are quieter, more powerful and efficient than brushed motors. The 4K camera is supported by a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, the camera lens has a 78.8° field of view and the gimbal can be rotated in multiple angles that will allow you to get the perfect angle for your videos and images. The mechanical gimbal will also make sure that your videos and images are crystal clear and free from any kind of distortion. The camera has a dedicated high-end image processor from Sony that will enhance the end results of your images and videos. The app is one of the best drone apps and is very user-friendly, it gives you access to the drone smart flight modes and its FPV features. Speaking of FPV, you can stream live video footage in 720p at 20 fps and with the latest transmission technology, video footage can be streamed over huge distances as long as the weather is good and there is no interference.
Key Features
- 1/2.6-inch sensor
- 12 MP images
- Records video footage in 4k at 30fps
- Supports HDR videos
- 3-Axis Mechanical Gimbal
- Dual GPS receiver
- Smart Flight Modes
- 8 km range
- Automatic Return Home
- 33 Minute Flight Time
3. Hubsan Zino 2 Pro
The successor to the popular Zino Pro, the Zino 2 Pro has some impressive upgrades, this includes a longer flight time, improved image tracking capability and a larger camera sensor. The Hubsan Zino 2 is a medium-sized foldable drone that comes equipped with an HD camera that has a 1/2.3-inch Sony sensor, 23mm lens and a fixed f/2.2 aperture. The camera can capture images in 8MP and record 4k videos at 60fps with a recording speed of 100Mbps. It uses enhanced WiFi technology for smoother video transmission and comes with several smart flight modes including active track and waypoint. The drone has a flight time of 33 minutes and a transmission range of 8km.
Key Features
- 1/2.3-inch sensor
- 23mm lens with 80° FOV
- Captures 8MP images
- Records video footage in 4k at 60fps
- 100Mbps
- 3-axis gimbal
- Intelligent flight modes
- 33 minutes of flight time
- 8km transmission range
4. Fimi X8 Mini Drone
The Fimi X8 Mini is an impressive mini drone that comes with many advanced features and is very easy to operate. The drone comes with an HD camera that has 1/2.6 CMOS sensor with 26mm lens and 80° FOV. The camera is stabilised by a 3-axis gimbal for smoother images and videos and comes with HDR support for more colour detail in every shot. The camera can capture images in 12MP in both RAW and JPEG format and records videon in 4k at 30fps at a recording speed of 100Mbps. The drone has several autonomous flight modes and comes with a low battery automatic return to home fuction. It boasts a flight time of 30 minutes and a transmission range of 8km.
Key Features
- 1/2.6 -inch sensor
- 26mm lens with fixed f/2.0 aperture
- 12MP images
- Records 4k videos at 30fps
- HDR support for videos
- 3-axis gimbal
- 30 minutes of flight time
- Intelligent flight modes
- Automatic return to home
- 8km transmission range
5. Potensic Dreamer 4K Pro
The Potensic Dreamer 4k Pro is an exceptional 4k camera drone from one of the smaller brands. The drone has a similar look to that of the DJI Phantom range of drones, it has an all-white colour scheme, a pair of landing legs and an HD camera thta is stabilised by a 3-axis gimbal. The camera has a Sony sensor and comes with a lens that a 78° FOV. It can capture 16MP images (JPEG only) and record video footage in 4k at 30fps at a rate of 60Mbps. The drone comes with several intelligent flight modes and has an automatic return to home feature. It has a flight time of 28 minutes, comes with an extra battery and has a transmission range of 2km
Key Features
- 1/3-inch sensor
- 78° FOV
- 16MP images
- Records video footage in 4k at 30fps
- Video recording rate of 60Mbps
- 3-axis gimbal
- Intelligent flight modes
- Automatic return to home
- 28 minutes of flight time
- 2km transmission range
