If you’re in search of the best drones for beginners, there is a huge range of options for you. Whether you’re looking for a drone for general photography or a cheap drone to learn how to fly, we have rounded up the best drones for beginners to suit every budget.

Picking the best drone that is suitable for beginners can undoubtedly be a little challenging, as there are so many options out there.

This is why in this guide for the best drones for beginners, I have listed a variety of drones, all with varying features and at different price ranges.

This is not an exhaustive list, but you should find a drone is that suitable for your needs and at a price that is affordable.

What Is The Best Drone For Beginners?

Apart from drones for racing, most consumer drones are easy to operate, so they are suitable for beginners. 

Which drone is suitable for you will depend on your budget, the features you want and how you plan on using the drone.

Most of the drones on this list cost between $300-$1200, and come with advanced features such as HD 4K camera, 3-axis gimbal, dual GNSS receiver, autonomous flight modes and a good flight time.

My personal favourite drone is the DJI Mini 3 Pro, but I have listed the DJI Air 2S as the best overall drone for beginners because it comes with a range of superior features such as the camera, transmission range and safety feature.

Will You Need To Register Your Drone?

You will have to consider the rules and regulations regarding flying drones in your country. For example, if you live in the USA, you can fly drones that weigh less than 250g without needing to register the drone. However, you will need to take a safety test called The Recreational UAV Safety Test, also known as TRUST. This test is free to take and is administered by FAA-approved organisations. Click here to find out more about TRUST and how to complete the test.

In the UK, if your drone has a camera you will need to register it by obtaining an Operator ID, even if it weighs less than 250 grams. If the drone weighs more than 250 grams, you will also need to pass an online test and obtain a Flyer ID.

For more details on the rules and regulations regarding flying drones in the UK, please visit the CAA website.

Are Drones Easy To Fly?

That really depends on the type of drone you purchase, most of the drones I review on this site I relatively easy to operate. This is because most of them come with gyroscopes, barometric pressure sensors, GPS and vision systems.

All these combine to make it easier to fly a drone, the cheaper ones, that don’t come with GPS or vision systems, may be harder to hover with but, they are still easy to fly.

The more expensive drones, like those from DJI, that have advanced flight stabilisation features are very easy to fly.

Many even come with autonomous flight modes, so you don’t even have to manually control the drone. This is very useful for when you want to capture images or record video footage, as you can program the drone where to fly, while you just concentrate on capturing amazing images and videos.

That being said, these are flying robots and could easily cause harm if they are not flown responsibly. So, I advise you to read the instruction manual of whichever drone you purchase and follow everything they ask of you.

As a beginner, make sure to practice flying your drone in a wide-open area, with no people around unless they are with you and the weather is very good with little to no wind.

 

Best Drone For Beginners

1. DJI Mini SE

Editors Choice
9.4
1. DJI Mini SE

The DJI Mini SE is a lightweight, foldable drone that's perfect for beginners. It has an HD camera stabilised by a 3-axis gimbal and captures 12MP images and 2.7k video footage. The drone captures impressive photos and video footage and comes with 4 Quickshots that will allow anyone to capture short cinematic videos at the push of a button. The drone has a maximum range of 4km and a flight time of 31 minutes. The Mini SE is the best budget GPS drone on the market and is perfect for beginners.

Key Features

  • 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
  • 12MP images
  • 3-axis gimbal 
  • 4 Quickshots
  • Records 2.7k videos at 30fps
  • 31 minutes of flight time
  • 4km transmission range
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2. DJI Mini 3 Pro

2. DJI Mini 3 Pro
9.4/10 Our Score

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a very popular consumer drones currently on the market and is suitable for both beginners and professional photographers. Its foldable design, portability, and ease of use make it a great all-in-one drone for any situation.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro features an incredibly lightweight design that allows it to be easily carried wherever you need it. The camera has a large 1/1.3-inch sensor that can capture 48MP images and comes with several photography modes, including panorama and HDR. As for videos, the Mini 3 Pro can record 4k video footage at 60fps, 2.7k at 60fps and 1080p at 120fps. It has a maximum bitrate of 150Mbps and comes with intelligent video recording modes such as Mastershots, Quickshots and Hyperlapse.

The drone has several Intelligent flight modes, such as ActiveTrack 4.0 and POI 3.0. It uses DJI's OcuSync 3.0 video transmission technology for a range of 12km and has a flight time of 34 minutes with its standard intelligent battery. The flight time can be extended to 47 minutes with the purchase of the Intelligent Plus battery.

The integrated 3-way obstacle avoidance system helps keep the drone safe and comes with an advanced automatic return-to-home feature.

Overall, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is an incredible combination of portability and performance that makes capturing high-quality videos and photos easy and fun for anyone. Its affordability makes it an ideal choice whether you're just getting into drones or already have experience with them.

Key Features

  • 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor
  • 48MP images
  • 3-axis gimbal with true vertical shooting capability
  • HDR videos and photo recording mode
  • 3-way obstacle avoidance system
  • Focus TrackIntelligent flight mode
  • Records 4k videos at 60fps
  • 34 minutes of flight time
  • 12km transmission range
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3. DJI Air 2S

9.6
3. DJI Air 2S

The DJI Air 2S is an advanced drone for professional photographers and videographers. It boasts a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor with a 3-axis gimbal camera, allowing you to capture stunning photos and videos with incredible detail up to 5.4K at 30 fps or 4K at up to 60 fps. In addition, the drone can transmit 1080p Video Transmission from a maximum range of 12km and comes with an advanced four-direction obstacle avoidance system that provides an extra layer of safety along with its ADS-B receiver and automatic return-to-home feature.

The Air 2S comes with intelligent flight features such as Active Track 4.0, Point of Interest 3.0, and Spotlight 2.0. It also lets you easily create short cinematic video footage with its Mastershots and Quickshots mode.

The DJI Air 2S also comes with an impressive battery life of 31 minutes on a single charge, so you don't have to worry about running out of battery in the middle of flying.

All in all, the DJI Air 2S is the perfect choice for beginners and professional photographers. It comes with some stunning features and is easy to operate. If you are looking for the ideal drone in terms of features, camera and price, the Air 2S is one of the best on the market.

Key Features

  • 1-inch CMOS sensor
  • 20MP images
  • SmartPhoto & HDR Panorama photography modes
  • MasterShots & QuickShots Intelligent video recording
  • 4-way obstacle avoidance system
  • Active Track & Point of Interest Intelligent flight mode
  • Records 5.4k videos at 30fps & 4k at 60fps
  • 31 minutes of flight time
  • 12km transmission range
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4. Autel Nano Plus

best drones for beginners The Autel Nano Plus is a high-performance drone designed for aerial photography and videography. It features a powerful HD camera capable of capturing stunning images and video footage. The camera has a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor with an RYYB filter and a large f/1.9 aperture, which allows it to produce 50MP images and 4K video footage at 30fps. The camera is well-suited for capturing stunning aerial shots with its autofocus technology and excellent performance in low-light conditions.

The drone uses Autel’s SkyLink 2.0 technology, which enables it to transmit video over a maximum range of 10km, making it ideal for capturing aerial shots from a distance. Additionally, the drone comes with several intelligent flight modes, including Quickshots, Hyperlapse, and ActiveTrack.

The drone also has a 3-way obstacle avoidance system that ensures a safer flying experience.

In addition to its powerful camera and advanced flight features, the Autel Nano Plus is also designed for portability and convenience. Its foldable and lightweight design makes it easy to carry and store. Overall, the Autel Nano Plus is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a beginner-friendly drone for photography.

 

Key Features

    • 1/1.28-inch Sensor
    • 50MP images
    • HDR image & video recording mode
    • Records videos in 4k at 30fps & 2.7k at 30fps
    • 3-way obstacle avoidance technology
    • Intelligent Flight Modes
    • 10KM Range
    • 28 minutes of flight time
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5. Autel Nano

best drones for beginners The Autel Nano is a fantastic drone that comes with features similar to the Nano Plus. The drone is incredibly lightweight, weighing 249g and has a very compact and ultra-portable design, making it perfect for travel photographers.

The Autel Nano comes with an excellent HD camera with a 48MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and can record HDR 4k videos at 30fps. The drone comes with multiple photography modes and has a couple of intelligent video recording modes in Quickshots and Hyperlapse.

The drone comes with intelligent flight modes such as Dynamic Track and automatic return to home. It also comes with a 3-way obstacle avoidance system, 28 minutes of flight time and a video transmission range of 10km.

 

Key Features

    • 1/2-inch CMOS Sensor
    • Record videos in 4K at 30fps
    • 48MP images
    • 16× digital zoom 
    • Obstacle avoidance technology
    • Intelligent Flight Modes
    • 10KM Range
    • 28 minutes of flight time
Check Price

6. DJI Mini 2

 

 

best drones for beginners The DJI Mini 2 is a great drone for the casual user looking to capture stunning aerial shots. With its lightweight, foldable design, excellent 4K video quality, and intuitive controls, this drone is great for beginners.

The DJI Mini 2 comes with a powerful HD camera that can capture 4k footage at up to 30 fps and a 100 Mbps bit rate. It also comes with a 3-axis motorised gimbal that helps keep your shots stable even when flying at high speeds or in windy conditions. The camera can capture still images in 12MP in RAW and JPEG formats and has AEB and Panorama photography modes.

The drone has a flight time of 31 minutes and a video transmission range of 10km, it does not come with intelligent flight modes such as WayPoint, Active Track or POI, but a third-party app like Litchi or Drone Link can access these.

 

Key features

    • 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
    • 12MP images
    • 3-axis gimbal
    • Records 4k videos at 30fps
    • 100Mbps
    • 5 Quickshots
    • 10KM Range
    • 31 minutes of flight time
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7. Holy Stone HS720E

Best drones for beginners

 

The Holy Stone HS720E is a mid-tier drone that is easy to fly and suitable for beginners. It has a foldable design and comes with an HD camera that is stabilised by a 2-axis gimbal. The drone comes with a dual GNSS receiver and has an optical flow sensor for better flight stabilisation and has a flight time of around 20 minutes. Other features include autonomous flight modes, electronic image stabilisation and automatic return to home features.

 

Key features

    • HD Camera records videos in 4K@30fps
    • Electronic image stabilisation
    • 8MP Images
    • Dual GNSS Reciever
    • Optical flow sensor
    • GPS Automatic return to home
    • Intelligent Flight Modes
    • 1KM Range
    • 23 minutes of flight time
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8. Holy Stone HS700E

Best drones for beginners

 

The Holy Stone HS700E is an upgrade to the original HS700, this drone comes with a 4K camera that comes with electronic image stabilisation. The has a dual GNSS receiver and an optical flow sensor and has a flight time of 20 minutes. The drone also has intelligent flight modes for easier flying and comes with an automatic return to home feature.

 

Key features

    • HD camera records 4k videos at 30fps
    • Camera has a wide-angle lens 
    • Dual GNSS Reciever
    • Electronic image stabilisation
    • Optical flow sensor
    • GPS Automatic return to home
    • Intelligent Flight Modes
    • 1KM meter Range
    • 23 minutes of flight time
Check Price

Final Thoughts

No matter if it is Christmas or someone’s birthday, a drone is a great gift for any special occasion and flying them is extremely fun. All the drones on this list are geared towards beginners but they are suitable for everyone.

FAQs Regarding Flying Drones 

Can You Fly Drones At Night?

This will depend on where you live, however, in the UK and USA, you are allowed to fly drones at night, as long as you always have clear visual sight of the drone. If the drone you are flying has an LED light on the belly or top and the light is bright enough that it is always visible, that should be enough.

If a drone does not have a light, you should purchase a strobe light that can be attached to the drone and always be visible at night.

However, as drone laws continue to be updated, please check the websites of the CAA (UK) or the FAA (USA) and make familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations regarding flying drones at night.

Can You Fly Drones In The Rain?

For consumer drones, such as the ones listed in this article, the simple answer is no, most drone manuals will mention this, so it is recommended that you never operate drones in weather conditions that go against the advice of the drone manufacturer.

Can You Fly Drones In the Wind?

If it’s light and breezy, yes you can fly drones in the wind, anything stronger is not recommended unless you are an experienced drone pilot. For reference, the DJI Mini 2, which is a very lightweight drone has a maximum wind resistance of around 22mph, which is pretty good for a mini drone. However, unless you are very experienced, you should never test this limit and not try and go beyond it.

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