What Is The Best Starter Drone To Buy?
If you are wanting to know what is the best starter drone to buy, make sure you read this article as I have been there and gone through the process of buying cheap nasty starter drones and never had any luck at all! I started flying drones and buying cheap garbage years ago, but I soon learned that you really do get what you pay for.
Years ago I bought several cheap selfie drones to learn on, plus good-looking drones that looked like they could fly without any issue, but I sure was wrong. They would all just drift off in their own world and wouldn’t hover or be responsive like you see on their promotional videos.
Before I knew it, I had ruined several cheap drones from accidentally flying them into the house, fence, losing them in trees with slight wind gusts, and lots more!! That’s when I looked into getting a more reliable beginner drone and was keen to learn what I could while using one that didn’t cost a fortune.
Although I did have fun trying to maneuver and take photos and fly around with the cheap drones, the amount of money I spent on these cheap nasty, crappy no-name drones, I should have put all of that money into buying a decent drone to learn on and see how I go, then progress my flying capabilities and upgrade if I felt the need to. Lesson learned. That is why I have decided to write this post to help people like yourself find a perfect drone to start your flying on.
What to Look For When Buying a Drone For a Beginner
New entry-level drones are more intuitive to fly and come with better resolution and camera options than ever before. The drone market is a vast one with drones ranging from $50 to as much as $2500 and upwards. However, as prices increase so do the features of the drone, which as a beginner you might not need a lot of these.
So what should a drone have for a beginner pilot? A beginner drone should be easy to fly, with auto hovering (preferably with GPS to maintain hovering position and prevent the drone from drifting), have a ‘Return to Home’ feature, be easy to launch, and can maneuver nicely in tight places.
A beginner drone should be easy to transport, lightweight (preferably under 250 grams, otherwise you may need a license to fly in some countries if it’s over 250 grams in weight), be tough and most of all….make sure it’s a cool-looking drone!
If these are the things you want in a drone then check out my top 3 picks below!
DJI Mavic Mini 2 – #1 Pick
DJI Mavic Mini 2 Specifications
- Range – The DJI Mavic Mini 2 has a range of up to 10kms
- Video Resolution – 4K
- Camera Resolution – 12MP
- Weight – 242 grams
- Battery Capacity – 2250 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery
- Max Flight Time – 31 minutes
- Remote Controller – The remote controller is included and is compatible with most Android/iOS smartphones and is controlled by using the DJI Fly app
- Supported SD Cards – UHS-I Speed Class 3 or higher
- Gimbal – 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
- Wind Resistance – Up to 37.8 km/h
The DJI Mavic Mini 2 is a small yet powerful drone that turns the sky into your creative canvas easily and without worry, helping you make every moment an aerial moment.
The Mavic Mini 2 is a massive upgrade from the original DJI Mavic Mini and has a load more features including the new OcuSync 2.0 Video Transmission that supports up to 10km of HD video transmission with its incredible anti-interference technology. This helps you fly further and see even clearer.
The Mavic Mini 2 is so compact and portable, you can easily fold it up and slip it into your pocket or bag.
The Mavic Mini 2 may be a small lightweight drone weighing just 242 grams, but handles wind easily with its wind resistance of up to 37.8 km/h!!
The DJI Mavic Mini 2 is by far the best drone in my collection and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!!
DJI Mavic Mini – #2 Pick
DJI Mavic Mini Specifications
- Range – The DJI Mavic Mini has a range of up to 4kms
- Video Resolution – 2.7K
- Camera Resolution – 12MP
- Weight – 249 grams
- Battery Capacity – 2400 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery
- Max Flight Time – 30 minutes
- Remote Controller – The remote controller is included and is compatible with most Android/iOS smartphones and is controlled by using the DJI Fly app
- Supported SD Cards – UHS-I Speed Class 3 or higher
- Gimbal – 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
- Wind Resistance – Up to 28.4 km/h
Just like DJI’s Mavic Mini 2, the original DJI Mavic Mini is the ultimate drone for travel. It’s super easy to carry around for quick flights wherever you want to go. Its compact size also makes it possible to capture different angles and perspectives, so whether you want to catch every detail of a skyline or a swarm of bees, you’ll be able to capture every angle with the Mavic Mini.
The original Mavic Mini is the first DJI drone that I bought for myself, and the results were amazing!! I couldn’t believe that something so small and lightweight would be so responsive and stable in the air. I still take my Mini everywhere I go as it’s a very portable drone and I don’t want to miss getting that perfect shot.
If you are wanting to save some money and not go for the Mavic Mini 2, then the original Mavic Mini will save you some money and you still won’t be disappointed, you just won’t get the extra functions and stability that the Mini 2 has to offer.
Check the compatible phones here for the DJI Mavic Mini
DJI Ryze Tello – #3 Pick
DJI Ryze Tello Specifications
- Range – The DJI Ryze Tello has a range of around 100 meters
- Video Resolution – 720p
- Camera Resolution – 5MP
- Weight – 80 grams
- Battery Capacity – 1100 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery
- Max Flight Time – Approximately 13 minutes
- Remote Controller – The DJI Ryze Tello is controlled by using the virtual joysticks in the Tello app on your smartphone. You can buy a compatible remote controller for the Ryze Tello.
- Supported SD Cards – The DJI Ryze Tello drone does not support SD cards. Your photos and videos are saved directly to your smartphone.
- Gimbal – The Ryze Tello does not have a gimbal. The Tello relies on ‘Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), which produces steady video without the need to have a bulky gimbal.
- Wind Resistance – Up to 24 km/h
DJI’s Ryze Tello drone is the world’s first DJI drone for kids (9+). This tiny drone weighs under 100 grams and fits into the palm of your hand. This miniature 4-propeller drone is designed for indoor and outdoor flying and is equipped with an HD camera. It can fly up to 100 meters away from you using a virtual joystick on your smartphone or tablet. The DJI Tello is built to withstand minor scrapes and crashes, allowing you to learn all the basics of flight and video recording.
No all is good about the Tello drone. The manufacturer states that it can fly up to 100 meters, but more realistically it’s around 30-40 meters. Its resistance to the wind is also not good and it is recommended to only fly outdoors if there is little to no wind at all, as they can easily drift off with the slightest wind gust.
The DJI Tello is simple and fun to fly, making it a great drone for younger users. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative for a starter drone, this is one to consider.
So the above are my personal top 3 picks for beginner drones. I hope this has helped you with working out what is the best starter drone to buy for a beginner.