Drones under $500 can be found in a variety of categories, so we’ve put together a list of the best drones for each budget. Whether you’re looking for a beginner drone or an advanced model, we have you covered! ..
What to Look For in a Drone
Drones come in different shapes and sizes, so it’s important to find one that’s the right size for your needs. They also come with different features, so it’s important to find one that has the features you need and nothing else. ..
Camera Considerations
Most people who want a drone are specifically looking for a camera drone, making camera quality an essential part of the equation. If possible, it’s a good idea to get a UHD 4K camera drone. However, it’s not crucial. Most people still don’t have 4K TVs, and 4K video is wasted on small mobile devices.
Drones are becoming increasingly popular for filming and taking pictures. However, apart from future-proofing your drone, a little 4K footage essentially gives you up to 4x zooming capacity in post-production if you’re outputting to 1080p HD video without losing any image quality. At this point, 720p HD footage is essentially obsolete, even for casual social media use. ..
Most drones don’t have a gimbal, and rely on electronic image stabilization (EIS). Some drones, such as racing drones, have a 3-axis gimbal or 2-axis gimbal. Mechanical stabilization is a combination of these two technologies.
Flight Endurance
The flight time of drones is a key concern. After all, you can’t go very far or get long stretches of footage if you need to land and swap batteries every five minutes. As of 2022, 30 minutes of flight time is the gold standard, with long-range flight endurance locked away at the top of the drone market. Intelligent flight modes can help conserve battery power depending on what type of photo or video work you’re doing.
How Many Rotors?
Drones are becoming more and more popular, but they can be expensive. For now, this budget excludes adding more motors and rotors, but going ahead with the extra speed, lift capacity, and redundancy of multirotor drones beyond the classic quadcopter design will be more common.
Should You Choose a Foldable Drone?
However, the potential for foldable drones is vast. They could be used for a variety of tasks, from monitoring security cameras to delivering goods. They could also be used in the future to help with research and development, making them more cost-effective and efficient.
Drone Licensing
If you’re thinking about buying a drone, be sure to check the FAA’s website for the latest information on drone rules in your area. The website also has a search tool that lets you find specific information on drones and drone operators. Always be aware of the legal requirements for flying drones in your area, as failure to comply can result in fines or even jail time. The FAA website is a great resource for finding out more about local drone regulations. ..
1. Best Camera Drone Under $500: DJI Mini 2
The new Ocusync transmission technology allows for 4K 30 FPS video output with high wind-resistance. This makes it perfect for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and other sports. ..
The DJI Mini 2 is a great drone for anyone looking for an affordable option that still offers great performance. It has a strong wind resistance and battery life that makes it perfect for beginner pilots, as well as experienced flyers who need a drone that can take on even the most challenging tasks.
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is a great camera for 4K video recording. It has a 4K resolution, but you can only record 24, 25, or 30 frames per second at the highest resolution. The Panasonic Lumix GH4 also has a much better wind resistance than the other cameras in this review.
DJI’s new Ocusync technology means you never have to worry about a break in the real-time live video signal or leaving the control range. ..
The Mini 2 is a budget-friendly drone that is just as close to the high-end drones like the Air 2 as you can get for this price. Its biggest downside is its lack of obstacle avoidance, which can make it dangerous if you’re flying it near obstacles like trees or walls.
This budget DJI Spark drone isn’t too surprising, but it does mean you have to be extra careful with the weight and budget. You also don’t have features like Active Track or “follow me,” which were present in the older DJI Spark drones.
The Mini 2 drone is the best choice for those looking for an easy-to-use DJI drone. The mobile apps and software are top-notch, making planning flights and setting waypoints a breeze. Advanced features are easy to access, and tutorial videos are available that teach you everything from flying to getting better shots. ..
2. Best Bang for Buck: DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo
The drone includes numerous accessories (batteries, propellers) that make it foldable for easy storage. It has a 2.7K camera that allows you to capture stunning footage and photos. ..
This is the original Mavic Mini that cheekily sidestepped the laws requiring drones that weigh more than 250g require licensing. Although this DJI drone is a dinky 249g in flight, it’s very much a serious drone and not a toy.
The Mavic Mini is a great drone for anyone looking to fly in light to moderate winds and very usable ranges. It’s not as durable as the older Mavic drones, but it’s still a great option for those who want to fly more.
The Mavic Mini is a barebones drone that doesn’t come with any accessories. If you’re looking to just buy a drone with a single battery and no accessories, we can’t recommend the Mavic Mini. Instead, you should look at the DJI Mini 2 or Mini SE, both of which we’ve covered here.
DJI’s first-generation Mini drone offers a lot for less than $500. You get a carry case, spare rotors, two extra batteries, a triple battery charger, and an indoor flight safety cage.
The Mini’s main problem has always been its WiFi connection. Despite using DJI’s OcuSync for video transmission, the Mini can only be used in countries that are not too far away from the drone. In most cases, you can’t use the Mini beyond where you can see it with your naked eye!
3. Best Budget Camera Drone: DJI Mini SE
The Mavic Mini Internals is a better wind resistance than the Mini 2. It is compatible with the Mini 2 batteries.
The DJI Mini SE is a budget-friendly drone that offers a lot of features for the price. It’s not as advanced as the Mavic Mini, but it’s more affordable and can be used for basic photography and videography. If you’re looking for a drone that can do more than basic tasks, the Mavic Air or the DJI Inspire 2 are better options.
Internally, the Mini SE has a new camera system that is identical to the first-generation Mavic. The camera system can capture duplicate footage with the same quality as the original model.
The DJI Mavic SE is a newer model of the popular Mavic Mini drone. It has some important upgrades over the original Mavic Mini, including more powerful batteries that should last longer than those in the original model. If you ever upgrade to the Mini 2, your old batteries will work with the SE. ..
DJI has given the SE a shell similar to the Mini 2 and increased the wind resistance of the SE compared to the Mavic Mini. Unfortunately, you’re still stuck with WiFi image transmission, but otherwise, this is an excellent drone for a great price.
4. Best Camera: Hubsan Zino 2 Plus
The Mavic 2s-like specs (but no obstacle sensors) are fantastic Sony image sensor33-minute flight endurance.
The Zino 2 Plus is a powerful drone that can be used for professional purposes. It has a great range and can be flown in all types of weather. It’s also easy to use, making it perfect for those who are new to drones.
The Zino 2 Plus is a 4K capable drone that offers 33 minutes flight endurance and a dollar under our budget. It is in direct competition with the Mavic Air 2s, which offer 4K footage capability and a dollar over our budget.
The Hubsan X4 is a great drone for beginners, but the Ambrella H22 processor and Sony image sensor mean that you’ll get great low-light results and footage comparable to drones at twice the cost. If your main priority is image quality and fundamental flight specifications, the Zino 2 Plus is a fantastic option at this price point. ..
5. Best Educational Drone: Ryze Tello
The DJI Phantom 4 is a great camera that offers a low price of 720p HD video. It can be programmed to do things like DJI software technology, making it perfect for anyone who wants to make videos and photos.
This is a story about how Ryze Tello, an affordable education platform, has helped people learn programming and coding.
DJI’s Ryze Robotics drone has some pretty powerful onboard processing hardware that makes it able to do things that other drones can’t. This is a great drone for people who want to be able to do more than just take pictures and videos.
The camera on the Tello is low-specification, with a maximum resolution of 720p. However, with enhanced image processing and built-in EIS, the camera can take good footage, despite not having a gimbal.
The Tello is a budget-friendly drone that doesn’t come with a dedicated controller, but you can purchase one later. Flight control is performed using your smartphone or pre-programmed flight behavior.
The Tello is a drone that is perfect for anyone looking to start a career in coding or robotics. It is affordable and easy to use, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to get started in this field.
6. Best Mini Toy Drone: Potensic A20 Mini (Upgraded )
The tiny drone perfect for manual flight practice includes three batteries in total, making it a great option for anyone looking to get some practice in. ..
The new toy drone to consider is the DJI Mavic Pro. This drone is a bit more expensive than the 111 or CX10, but it offers features that make it worth the investment. Here are five reasons why you should buy a Mavic Pro:
- Its camera is one of the best on the market. The Mavic Pro has a powerful camera that can take great photos and videos. It also has an advanced obstacle avoidance system that makes it easy to fly in difficult environments.
- It has a long battery life. The Mavic Pro can fly for up to 27 minutes, which means you can keep it flying for longer periods of time without having to worry about running out of juice.
- It’s easy to use. The DJI Mavic Pro is very user-friendly, which makes it easy for beginners to get started with drone flying.
- It’s affordable compared to other drones on the market. The DJI Mavic Pro costs around $1,000, which is cheaper than some of the other top-of-the-line drones on the market.
- It comes with a lot of accessories, including a controller and extra batteries ..
The Potensic A20 Mini is a great choice for anyone who wants to learn manual drone flight or just wants a zippy little drone to keep them entertained. It’s smaller and less expensive than some of the other options on the market, making it a great option for beginners. ..
The mini drone also has a longer range than a nano drone, which is great for those times when you want to fly further away from your location. Plus, the mini drone is much easier to control than a nano drone, making it easier for you to fly and take pictures or videos.
The drone has an automated takeoff, landing, and hover function. For users who can’t get the hang of absolute directions, there’s also a headless mode, where the drone moves relative to the transmitter’s position.
The A20 drone is perfect for children or yourself who want to learn about drones. However, it doesn’t have a function that allows you to do flips like other drones in this class.
7. Best Budget Beginner FPV Drone Kit: BetaFPV Cetus Pro FPV Drone Kit
The cheapest FPV kit we could find is a brushless motor system with several crash safety features. ..
Drones are becoming more popular these days because they allow you to see the world from a new perspective. You wear a set of video goggles and feel like you’re out there flying through the air. ..
Drones that use FPV technology don’t need a gimbal, as the camera is stabilized using the drone’s pitch and roll. Some drones, such as those from DJI, offer an FPV mode where the roll axis of the gimbal is locked. ..
The Cetus Pro FPV is a good value for an FPV drone. It has brushless motors, which are preferable and last longer than the non-Pro model. ..
The Cetus is a quadcopter that can be flown for up to 5 minutes at a time and has an auto-shutdown function during a crash as well as integrated rotor guards. We think you can probably put the Cetus through a lot of punishment. ..
8. Best RTF Racing Drone Under $500: ARRIS X-Speed 280 V2
Ready to race? The new FPV racing drone is ready for you. It’s fast, durable, and affordable- perfect for those who want to fly quickly and easily.
Now, there are a number of ways to get into drone racing. One way is to join a league, which will give you access to the equipment and resources needed to race. There are also online leagues, where you can sign up and start racing as soon as you have your drone.
Now that racing drones are easier to buy and fly, many hobbyists are turning to the Arris X-Speed as their go-to model. This Ready To Fly drone is equipped with a camera and can be flown using video goggles. It requires a set of batteries to operate, but these can be easily replaced with a balance charger. ..
The Arris is an excellent drone for racing. It has a lot of power and speed, but you need to be careful not to crash it. You don’t have the benefit of GPS hover or anything else to help you stop it if you do crash. It’s just you and the drone against the world. ..
The Arris is a great drone for racing, but we don’t recommend it as your first drone. If you want to learn manual flight first, something like the A20 Mini is an excellent place to start. ..
9. Best Beginner Camera Drone: Holy Stone HS100
2K CameraGPS moduleHeadless flight control allows you to fly without a head-mounted camera. This module is compatible with most drones and can be controlled using a smartphone or computer.
The HS100 from Holy Stone is a sub-$200 camera drone that can shoot 2K video. It usually sells for around $180, which is mind-blowing in and of itself. However, there’s intense competition in its price bracket, so it also needs to be good. ..
The HS100 is a great drone for beginners because it’s very easy to fly and crashes very little.
The DJI Inspire 2 is a great drone for beginners, but it’s only $120 more expensive than the HS100.
The SE is a great beginner drone, but its small size can make it harder to fly. The HS100 is a 700g drone, compared to the Mini’s 249g. That makes it more predictable and, in our opinion, suitable for absolute first-time users.
10. Best for Getting New Angles: Parrot Anafi Extended
The Panasonic Lumix GH4K is a high-end camera that comes with an extra battery and SD card. It also has a gimbal4K HDR camera that allows you to take amazing photos and videos with stunning clarity and detail.
Parrot is one of the pioneers of camera drones. Their classic AR drone showed us the future of personal camera drones. The likes of DJI eventually outdid parrot, but they are still in the drone business. Not only that, but the Anafi does something that no other consumer drone can: it looks up! ..
The Anafi drone camera angle allows for filming from below, opening up creative possibilities for drone footage. This is possible because the Anafi has a gimbal that can be rotated 360 degrees. This makes it possible to film without having to worry about getting too close to the ground or up in the sky. ..
The Anafi 4K HDR foldable drone has excellent camera footage, and the Extended package comes with extra batteries, an SD card, a spare remote, and controllers. ..
The Anafi is a great drone for the price. It’s a bit expensive compared to other drones on the market, but it’s worth it because of its features and value. However, there is no telling how long Parrot will support the drone or even how long the company will be around.
11. Yesterday’s Flagship: Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon
A dedicated ground station provides high-quality optics for your telescope. This station uses high-quality optics to improve the image quality of your telescope.
The Q500 4K Typhoon is a drone that was released in 2015 and has since received successive price cuts. It is a great drone for those who are looking for a budget-friendly option.
The downside is that Yuneec no longer makes the Q500, so there’s a limited supply of existing stock. You also won’t get any more firmware updates, barring if any critical bugs come to light at some point. On the bright side, it means this is the most stable and bug-free state this drone has ever been in. ..
Despite its age, the Q500’s camera still takes fantastic high-quality footage. Its sheer size and quality of optics make it a great choice for aerial photography and videography. ..
The Q500 is a professional-grade ground station that doesn’t require a smartphone. You can use it to fly your drones, or use it to capture video and photos. People are still flying their Q500 drones today, so if you want something with more heft and quality for aerial photography and videography, this is a serious contender in the sub-$500 budget segment.
12. A Smarter Mini?: Upgraded Hubsan Zino Mini SE
The advanced AI flight features6KM transmission range makes it the perfect choice for those looking for a more advanced aircraft. It is significantly cheaper than the Mini 2, making it an excellent option for budget-minded pilots.
Hubsan is releasing a drone called the Zinio that is essentially a Mini 2 with some upgraded specs. It’s priced between the DJI Mini SE and Mini 2, making it a good option for those looking for an affordable drone but don’t want to sacrifice quality. ..
The DJI Mavic Pro is a great drone that offers many features that are not found on other drones. It has a 6KM transmission range, long list of flight modes, active tracking, and a bag. It is also a better deal than the Mini 2 because DJI has released updates for the Mavic Pro that make it more reliable and easier to use.
Hubsan is the underdog in this drone race, so they’re trying some cutting-edge features. For example, the drone can identify its landing pad and landing in its center precisely. We also recommend that you check out comparative footage of the DJI Mini 2 and the Zino Mini SE to decide for yourself whether the Mini 2 is worth the small additional bump in price. Remember that you get more accessories in this pack than the barebones Mini 2. ..
Is Spending More Than $500 Worth It?
If you’re looking for a drone that can do things like take pictures and videos, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on features, we recommend the DJI Mavic Pro. It’s a great drone for beginners and has many of the features that you’ll need before you can start taking pictures and videos with it.
The drone industry is seeing a shift in focus from high-end features to budget-friendly ones. This means that if you stick to this budget segment, then those high-end features will eventually trickle down into future drones. The features in question are mainly much better camera technology, a better flying experience, and intelligent obstacle avoidance. ..
Drones are becoming more expensive, but they also tend to have additional autonomy and are easier to fly. If you spend more, you’ll likely get a drone that requires less skill and learning to operate. However, the $500 drone segment now has all of the essential features you need to make great content or have a fantastic flight experience for most people.
