Below are all the links to the drones we recommend.
Read all about the types of drones we suggest; grouped by use and by price range here: Drone Buying Guide.
Start here if you missed it: Drones 101.
Note:
For full description, honest reviews and ordering info, you may click on the Amazon affiliate links below. Doing so adds not a penny to your cost.
UFO 3000 LED Drone Quadcopter
Flight Time: 7-9 mins. Range: not indicated
Camera: None Return Home: none
Controller/Monitor: Handheld remote/no image
Need Smartphone: No
General Description: This makes a great young child's toy drone; easy to use right out of box, bright LEDs for an awesome nighttime display; 360 degree flips with the push of a button; comes with extra battery and spare props; a very popular child's gift.
Syma X5C-1 Explorers Quadcopter Drone
Flight Time: 5-7 mins. Range: 30-55 yards
Need Smartphone: No Return Home: None
Camera: 2MP HD
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote controller/ LCD Monitor Screen included
General Description: Fun indoor-outdoor child's or beginner's drone. Has some surprising features for the price (camera; headless mode; altitude mode); LED lights for night flying and 360 degree flips for fun.
Holy Stone HS170C Quad Drone
Flight Time: 6-8 mins. Range: 30-55 yards
Need Smartphone: No Return Home: one-key
Camera: HD 720P
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote/no image/ view later from SD card
General Description: Good mini copter drone for child; Headless mode; 360 degree flip; LED lights for nighttime fun.
Hubsan X4 H107D Quadcopter
with FPV Camera
Flight Time: 7 mins. Range: 55-110 yards
Need Smartphone: No Return Home: none
Camera: 480p- instant video review on transmitter; Records to SD card, download later
Controller/Monitor: FPV Transmitter/controller/LCD screen
General Description: Beginner's quad copter for learning. 360 degree flips; mediocre video at best, but okay for training.
Force1 UDI U818A Camera Drone
Flight Time: 7-9 mins. Range: 300 ft.
Need Smartphone: No Return Home: None
Camera: 720p HD cam w/4gb Micro SD card; Records mediocre videos & stills and uploads to pc or mobile via USB cable
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote/ LCD Monitor Screen included
General Description: Great beginner's drone at a great price; Headless mode; altitude hold; 360 degree flips; LEDs for night; extra battery and props. Mediocre video footage.
Holy Stone F181C Quad Drone
Flight Time: 7-9 mins. Range: 55-110 yards
Need Smartphone: No Return Home:1-button; non-GPS
Camera: 720p HD 4GB Micro SD card
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote controller/ LCD Monitor Screen included
General Description: Good price for a beginner's learning drone; has these upgrade functions: Altitude Hold Function, One Key Return Home & Headless Mode; 360 degree flip; LED lights; extra battery. Takes decent but not outstanding video for camera drones.
U45W Blue Jay WiFi FPV Camera Drone
Flight Time: 7-9 mins. Range: 320 feet
Need Smartphone: Yes Return Home: No
Camera: 720p HD 2MP; 4GB Micro SD card
Controller/Monitor: Hand held; monitor with your smartphone in real time (First Person View)
General Description: Lots of features for the price; makes a great training drone. 1-Key Lift/Land, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode + Custom Flight Mode; 360 flip; extra battery and props.
Syma X8G Quadcopter
Flight Time: 7-10 mins. Range: 110 yards
Need Smartphone: No Return Home: No
Camera: 8MP HD camera, 720p
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote/ LCD Monitor Screen included
General Description: Good beginner's camera drone, a definite step up from the under $100 "toys"; better video reported. Headless Mode; 360 degree flip; An HD camera is included but the unit is also compatible with the GoPro action camera.
Altair #AA108 Camera Drone
Flight Time: 8-10 mins. Range: 300 feet
Need Smartphone: Yes Return Home: No
Camera: 720p HD, wide-angle
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote/ attach your smartphone
General Description: Good video and ease of use puts this drone above the other low-priced units. Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, 3 Skill Modes, one-button takeoff & landing; extra battery. Virtual Reality Mode; Can be used with VR Goggles (not included)
Altair AA818 Hornet Beginner
FPV Camera Drone
Flight Time: 15 mins. Range: 165 yards
Need Smartphone: Yes Return Home: No
Camera: 720p HD; wide angle
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote/attach smartphone
General Description:
Parrot Bebop 2 FPV-
with goggles
Flight Time: 25 mins. Range: 1.2 miles
Need Smartphone: Yes Return Home: Yes; GPS
Camera: 1020p full HD; excellent video
Controller/Monitor: Hand controller; FPV headset; smartphone fits into goggles or mount to hand controller
General Description: This is not a toy or beginner's drone. Some study and calibration required; single button launch & land; Immersive virtual reality experience with FPV goggles.
DJI Phantom 3 STANDARD
Flight Time: 25 mins. Range: 0.5 miles
Speed: 35mph Need Smartphone: Yes
Return Home: Yes; 1-button GPS
Camera: 2.7K full HD; 8gb micro SD card
Controller/Monitor: See exactly what your camera sees with a live HD video feed right on your mobile device. WiFi Video downlink.
General Description: Great reviews on DJIs lower-priced camera drones. One-button launch and land; excellent video quality, most all the bells and whistles. DJI!
DJI Spark Fly More Combo Drone Set
Flight Time: 16 mins. Speed: 31mph max Range: 1.2 miles
Return Home: Yes; GPS based navigation
Need Smartphone: Yes
Camera: 1080p HD; gimbal-stabilized
Controller/Monitor: Hand held remote; attach a smartphone
General Description: Spark is a mini drone that features all of DJI's signature technologies. It is packed with advanced features such as close-range hand controls (great for selfies), quick palm launch via face recognition, Obstacle Sensing; Intelligent Flight Modes including TapFly. Talk about a flying robot!
DJI PHANTOM 3 SE
4k camera drone
Flight Time: 25 mins. Speed: 35mph
Range: 0.75 miles Need Smartphone: Yes
Return Home: Home Lock GPS positioning
Camera: 4K UHD video/12MP; Gimbal mounted; 16gb micro sd card
Controller/Monitor: Hand-held remote controller/ smartphone mounts on it.
General Description: Easy to Fly, Intelligent Flight System; beginner mode; Follow Me, Course Lock, Home Lock, and waypoint navigation. The main decision point with this drone is that it shoots outstanding video in 4k (Ultra High Definition). Consider it a sophisticated flying camera, not a toy to cruise the hood. But it is easy to use and an awesome choice for the price.
Yuneec Q500 Typhoon
Quad Drone
Flight Time: 25-30 mins. Range: .25-0.5 miles
Speed: 22mph Need Smartphone: No
Return Home: Yes, GPS directed
Camera: 4K UHD 12MP; gimbal-mounted; 16gb micro SD card included
Controller/Monitor: Personal Ground Station with built-in 5.5" Android touchscreen
General Description: For such a reasonable price, the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K really does pack in a lot of features. The 4K video footage is excellent; drone is very responsive to controls.
GPS features Watch Me and Follow Me, but no collision-avoidance sensor.
Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter
Flight Time: Up to 25 mins. Speed: 22mph max
Range: 1 mile Need Smartphone: No; has own display
Return Home: yes, GPS directed
Camera: 4K UHD; 20MP; 3-Axis Sensor-Driven Image
Controller/Monitor: Handheld remote with built-in 7" touchscreen
General Description:
This professional 4k camera drone is a direct competitor/alternative to the standard go-to, DJI Phantom 4 Pro. The main difference is that Yuneec built it's own video monitor into the controller, a 7" touchscreen (no smartphone needed). However, this did result in a larger and heavier controller.
It has lots of sophisticated features, like GPS stabilized flight control, with 8 smart flight modes; auto takeoff and land; collision avoidance system; 6 rotors; Dynamic Return Home, Low-Battery Return Home.
Comes with backpack, 2 batteries and 10 propellers.
DJI Phantom 4 Professional Quadcopter
Flight Time: 30 mins. Range: 4.3 miles
Need Smartphone: Yes; or tablet Speed: 45mph
Return Home: Yes; GPS directed
Camera: 4K- 20MP; gimbal-mounted; 16gb SD card; WiFi video downlink
Controller/Monitor: Handheld Controller; clip is adjustable to hold either a smartphone or tablet.
Upgrade available to Phantom 4 Pro + Remote Controller with built-in 5.5" touchscreen, making a smartphone unnecessary. But this option is very expensive, like $500 more.
General Description:
This is the Mack Daddy of hobby drones under $1,500. The sturdy unit is constructed of magnesium alloy, making it super strong, yet light. The Flight Autonomy system includes several useful modes, including TapFly, ActiveTrack, Position Mode, Tripod Mode, Atti Mode, and Sports Mode; add to all this a 4k camera!
5 direction obstacle avoidance sensors w/infrared sensing help prevently costly crashes.
With all these bells and whistles, this is the one we wish would appear under the tree on Christmas morning. 'Nuff said...