Mini drones
Quadcopter- Overall Rating
- LED lights
3D rolling effects
6 axis gyro technology
Altitude hold
Headless mode
Holy Stone HS170
Mini Helicopter Drone- Overall Rating
- Headless mode
6-axis gyro stabilizing system
LED lights
A range of 30 to 50 meters from the RC
6 to 8 flight time
SNAPTAIN S5C Wi-Fi
Mini drone- Overall Rating
- 720p HD camera
Voice and gesture control
One key take-off, landing, and return
Headless mode and altitude hold
Gravity control functions
Introduction
Finding a drone with the best features can get really expensive really fast. On top of it, of you are a beginner, things can easily go wrong. If you have no idea how to fly, you should be extra careful about buying a high-tech drone. Unless you don’t mind blowing off your hard-earned money in one crash, we suggest you buy a mini drone and practice flying first. Although it’s not much compared to larger drones, mini drones have cool functions too. So, you get to work on your skills and fall into the drone craze before moving onto a bigger and better deal.
If you have a limited budget, mini drones are the perfect choice for you. These are relatively inexpensive and you still get pretty awesome camera quality. So, if you are on a budget or need to improve your piloting skills, buying a mini drone is the ideal, stress-free choice.
Ready to discover the best mini drones in the market today? You better be. Here are the 10 best mini drones we chose just for you. Feel free to scout around for the best drone.
Overview Comparison Table of 10 best mini drones
| S.N. | Mini drones | Image | Features | Ratings | Product link |
| 1. | Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC Helicopter Drone |  | • Headless mode • 6 axis gyro stabilization • 3 speed modes • Colorful LED LIGHTS |  |  |
| 2. | Mini Drones Quadcopter |  | • LED lights • Altitude hold function • 360 degree flips • Headless mode • One key take off and landing |  | |
| 3. | SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone |  | • Altitude hold function • 720p HD video transmission • Signal warnings • Guesture control |  | |
| 4. | Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone |  | • Altitude Hold • Headless Mode • One Key Taking-off / Landing | | |
| 5. | Holy Stone HS210 Mini Drone |  | • Headless mode • 21 minute flying time • Auto hover function • Low battery alarm |  | |
| 6. | DJI Mavic Mini |  | • Supports 12MP aerial photos and 27K HD videos • 3-axis motorized gimbal provides superior camera stability • 30 minutes of flight time • Compatible with many devices | | |
| 7. | SIMREX X300C Mini Drone |  | • Foldable design • Altitude hold function • One key take off and landing • High resolution real time images • 3 speed modes | | |
| 8. | Jjrc Mini drone |  | • Headless mode • One key return • For beginners and children • 3D flips and roll • LED lights |  | |
| 9. | Parrot mini drone |  | • Ultra-compact drone • Turns 90° and 180° and performs acrobatic 360° forward and backward flips • Removable wheels to roll anywhere • FreeFlight 3 app offers an intuitive control | | |
| 10. | Tello Quadcopter Drone |  | • Programmable • Bounce mode and throw and Throw & Go • 8D flips |  | |
Review of top 10 best mini drones
#10. Tello quadcopter drone
With this Tello quadcopter, flying is extra easy. You can just toss it into the air and it will start flying right away. Or, it could also take off right from your hand using bounce mode. The app comes with an easy to understand UI and you can start flying with no trouble.
This drone also comes with an embedded high-quality 720p camera. So, you can take cool images that look like they were professionally taken. And, you can also share them directly to your social media using your smartphone. It’s an incredible micro foldable selfie drone. Even if you don’t know how to properly fly, you can get the best aerial shots. If you are thinking of shooting a short video, you can use functions such as the circle, 360, and up & away to shoot the best video.
Tello is also a programmable drone. The Tello mobile app supports Scratch and you can play around with the code and command this drone to do cool movements. And you can do this all using your smartphone. If you love experiencing a realistic, first-person view, this quadcopter is also compatible with VR headsets.
As for the flight time, this drone offers a full 13 minutes of fun. It also has a distance range of 100m and is one of the highest flying drones. The two antennas of this drone let you transmit HD videos to your smartphone in real-time. It can also perform some cool stunts like 8D flips with one click of a button.
For protection, Tello has four removable propeller guards as well. These guards protect the propellers from any damages. Because these are extremely easy to remove and mount, you can simply take them out when you feel comfortable with flying this drone. In case you happen to crash, there are four spare propellers as well.
It’s just about 8 ounces in weight and is super lightweight. This drone is also one of the best for beginners looking for drones with the awesome video quality. With this Tello quadcopter, you don’t need to learn how to fly to take amazing pictures. So, it’s an affordable deal for beginners looking for drones under $100.
Pros
- Programmable
- Easy to use
- Bounce mode and throw and Throw & Go
- 8D flips
- Lightweight
- Will survive crashes
- Awesome aerial photography
Cons
- Limited battery life
#9. Parrot mini drone
This drone comes with two removable wheels. These wheels can roll anywhere from floors and ceilings to walls. So, you’ll get to take it anywhere you want. This drone can be controlled with a remote controller or using your smartphone. It easily pairs with many devices using Bluetooth. The app is super easy and you’ll be controlling the parrot mini drone on your own in no time.
This Parrot drone can also turn 90 degrees or 180 degrees and can perform acrobatic 360 degree turns as well. While it’s super easy to control this drone, as a beginner, you are bound to crash at some time. This drone has one disadvantage when it comes to crashes. Although the drone is fitted with an automatic propeller circuit breaker, in a crash, you’ll most likely damage the propellers. But having a few spare propellers would easily solve this issue.
The battery life of this drone lasts a mere 8 minutes and the charge time is close to one hour. And, this drone will not operate unless the battery is fully charged. However, Parrot promises to replace any defective battery with no additional cost. And the 8 minutes of battery life will offer you a good amount of time to have some fun with your beginner drone.
The Parrot mini drone measures 7.6 x 2.6 x 8.1 inches and is about 9 pounds in weight. It is an impressively stable drone too. However, this drone will also easily fly away if you lose control. So, we suggest trying this indoor first. Once you get the hang of it, take it outside. Guaranteed, all drone newbies will love the simplicity of this drone.
Pros
- Easy to fly
- Can be controlled through Bluetooth
- Can roll anywhere
- Awesome aerial shots with the embedded vertical mini camera
Cons
- Really short battery life
#8. JJRC mini drone
You can find all the basic functions available in any entry drone such as headless mode, one key return, and awesome 360-degree flips and turns on this drone. The 6-axis gyro stabilization system helps it be more stable and flexible when flying. You can throw this drone to the air and it will start flying immediately.
There are also three speed levels for this drone. So, once you’ve mastered it all, you can have some fun with your family or friends by turning the JJRC mini drone to a mini racing drone. Just set up some hoops and have fun!
The JJRC mini drone is a cheap remote control drone. Yet it does not slack on safety. This drone has four round propeller guards that give the propellers maximum protection against collisions. So, even if you drop it, it’s not likely to get damaged. In case you happen to damage the propellers, four spare propellers come with this drone. So, you are good to go.
The anti-crash ABS body will also minimize damages due to sudden shocks and crashes. The one key return function will also come in handy for a beginner. If you feel like you are losing control, or are done flying for the day, just press this button and the drone will come right back to you.
This remote control drone also comes with two batteries. Each lasts 5 minutes. So, in total, you get 10 minutes of pure fun. For a mini drone at this price, this time is a reasonable deal. However, if you want more time, you can always buy another pair of batteries.
The LED lights of the JJRC mini drone makes it possible for you to fly this drone at night too. But, don’t take it out on windy weather as it will most likely be blown away. For indoor use, this drone is the dream. It’s impossible to crash this drone. So, it’s a perfect little entry drone for beginners.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Headless mode
- One key return
- LED lights
- Three speed modes
- 360-degree flips and turns
- Stable and flexible flying
- Best indoor drone
Cons
- Won’t be good for windy conditions
#7. SIMREX X300C foldable drone
You can control this foldable drone with your smartphone or remote controller. It can also be controlled with different methods such as through Wi-Fi or gravity control. The headless mode makes it extra easier to operate. Even if you don’t see where the drone is pointing at, you can still fly where you want to fly.
The SIMREX X300C is one of the best mini drones with camera. The 110° Wide Angle FPV Camera with 1080p full HD video quality will give you the chance to take photos and videos that look like they were taken by professionals using professional drones.
This pocket drone with camera is also a perfect drone for kids. Because it is extremely easy to use, your kid would definitely love using it. Functions like altitude hold, one key return, and cool 360-degree flips and rolls in any direction make it a fun little drone to use. So, if you are looking for a drone with camera for kids, this may be a perfect choice.
This foldable pocket drone also comes with three speed modes. So, if you are a beginner, you’ll definitely have fun mastering each one of them. Plus, this drone is compatible with VR glasses. So, it would offer a nice 3D experience as well.
The one problem that would bother a beginner drone pilot is that they would end up crashing the drone, or worse, losing it. But, with the SIMREX drone, you have to worry about neither. This drone can withhold crashes and its four propeller guards will protect the propellers from most accidents.
If you happen to lose control of this drone, don’t worry. You are not going to lose it. Just press the stop button and the drone will land right away. However, make sure that you are not flying this drone in rainy or windy conditions.
This drone comes with 4 spare propellers and only one battery. The flight time is about 8 to 10 minutes. If you want more fly time, you can always buy more spare batteries. Overall, this tiny drone with camera is the perfect pocket drone for beginner flyers.
Pros
- 110° Wide Angle FPV Camera with 1080p full HD video quality
- Altitude hold
- One key return
- 360-degree flips
- Foldable design
- Emergency stop function
Cons
- Not good for windy weather
- Short flight time
#6. DJI Mavic 3 axis gimbal GPS drone
This drone is the best if you can’t afford a commercial drone like the Mavic 2 Enterprise. DJI Mavic drone is not any larger than an average smartphone, measuring 6.3 x 3.15 x 0.39 inches and weighing about 0.06 pounds. Because this drone is extremely lightweight, you won’t even have to register this drone with the government. Registration is easy. But not having to register is much easier.
The DJI Mavic mini drone is impressive with its functions and camera quality as well. Don’t ever let the small size fool you. This drone is capable of taking 12MP aerial photos and 2.7K HD videos. This drone also has a 3-axis motorized gimbal. This means that it will also provide excellent camera stability. So, your cool video will be ultra-smooth with this drone.
Another advantage of buying this is that it has a good battery life for a mini drone. This drone doesn’t weigh much. So, there is less battery consumption. It will fly for 30 minutes in one, full battery. When considering the average flight time of 5 or 8 minutes of other drones, this really is a good deal.
Worried that you’ll crash and lose a propeller? With DJI, you get 3 pairs of spare propellers, 3 intelligent flight batteries, 2 pairs of spare controller sticks for the remote controller, and a 360° propeller guard. So, you can fly this drone without any worries. It also comes with a carrying bag, making it extra portable. If you like traveling, this one of the best travel drones. You can just take it out and let it fly.
When you consider the price, the DJI Mavic mini drone is not the cheapest. However, this drone is perfect for realizing your aerial photography dream. The price tag is a reflection of the value it will bring to your everyday photography. Whether you are a beginner pilot looking for ease of use or an expert pilot who needs a more portable drone in your drone collection, Mavic Mini is a good match for all. This drone will upgrade your everyday photography from good to best. Its intuitive app is very easy to use and you’ll be shooting awesome images and videos in no time. So, why not make this investment?
Pros
- Impressive camera quality
- Lightweight and portable
- A really good battery life
- Foldable design
Cons
- Expensive
#5. Holy Stone HS210 mini toy droneÂ
The best thing about this nano drone is that it is very hard to lose. This drone has a signal system to let you know when it is low on battery. There will be a blinking light on the drone and the controller will start beeping. If you don’t land it, after one minute, it will land itself. Also, if you feel like you are losing control of it, you can press the emergency stop button and it will land.
When it comes to kid drones, ease of use is important. Your 9-year-old should be able to operate it with little to no supervision. This drone has several functions that make it the best micro drone. The auto-hovering function is very stable. You’ll be surprised at how this little drone holds itself. This function will give you enough time to figure out the controls and start flying.
Other than that, it also comes with the headless mode. So, no matter which direction the drone is pointing at, when you shift the stick backward, the drone will move backward and vice versa. This function is great for a beginner flyer. If you want to have some fun with your family, this drone also comes with awesome tricks. You can make flips in all four directions. These funny flips will definitely interest your kids.
There’s really nothing to flying this drone. You can take-off or land with just one press of a button and it comes with three extra batteries which are removable and rechargeable. So, your kid can continue to play for about 21 minutes non-stop. This Holy Stone mini drone also comes with 4 extra propellers in case you happen to break one.
Holy Stone HS210 may be one of the smallest drones in the market. But it sure does deliver when it comes to performance. It also has three different speed modes. Each one is extra challenging and is perfect for beginner pilots who are looking to improve their skills.
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Auto-hover function
- Headless mode
- One key take-off and landing
- Best for kids and beginners
- Three speed modes
Cons
- Changing batteries each time is a little challenging
#4. Potensic A20 mini drone
The Potensic A20 mini drone is a fun little drone for adults and kids alike. If you are a beginner, this cool mini drone is one of the best drones under 200 dollars for a beginner. Although it doesn’t include a camera, this drone could teach you the first few ropes of piloting a drone.
The drone is very easy to operate. Even a child can figure out the to-the-point remote controller. To make your experience smoother, this drone comes with basic functions like the headless mode. There are other cool functions to this drone such as three speed levels, altitude hold, and one key take-off/ landing. The drone also comes with 4 round propeller guards. So, the propellers sit tight when and if your drone crashes.
It also has an emergency stop button. If things seem to be going out of your control, you can just press this button and the drone will land immediately. Because of the three speed levels, even an expert drone pilot can have fun with this drone.
Another plus about this small drone is that it is a hand drone that fits comfortably in your palm. So, you can easily take this anywhere with you without a worry. To give you some context about how small this drone is, it measures 3.1 x 1.25 x 3.5 inches and only weighs about 6 pounds.
Potensic A20 also comes with two removable, rechargeable batteries. So, the flying time is about 12 minutes. This is arguably not much. But, it’s a considerable flying time for a mini drone. Also, because this drone is not that heavy, if you live in the USA, you don’t have to worry about registering this drone in the FAA.
This drone is perfect for some family time or as a gift to a kid. If you are a beginner to drones and would like to learn the first few lessons, this Potensic mini drone is perfect. Because it’s affordable, you won’t be losing much if you happen to crash it.
Pros
- Headless mode
- Three speed levels
- Holds altitude with no effort on your part
- One key take-off and landing
- Emergency stop button
- Very portable and lightweight
Cons
- No camera
- Short flying time
#3. SNAPTAIN S5C Wi-Fi drone
This Wi-Fi controlled drone comes with a 720p HD camera. And, you can transmit the videos you take from this camera up to a scale of 80m. So, you can fly farther and not lose your drone. While your drone is within range, you can edit and upload videos directly to social media as well. And, all your edited videos will be saved to the micro SD card.
This iPhone controlled drone has other impressive functions to make your life easier. You can simply give commands to your drone through the app. Voice recognition will work its magic in controlling your drone. Other than that, you can also control this drone using gesture recognition. For example, the SNAPTAIN mini drone will start recording if you show your palm. So, the next time you are outside, you can capture that awesome moment without a hassle through this outdoor drone. You’ll never lose a moment in your life.
While this mini drone is not targeted towards beginners, this is still a good entry drone. The drone is very easy to use. It will take off and land in just one click of a button. The controller also has a ‘return’ command whenever you want your drone back. Other basic functions that come with this drone are the headless function, altitude hold, and cool 360° Flips & Rolls to impress your viewers. This drone also has a gravity control function that lets you adjust the position of your drone according to the vertical and horizontal position of your smartphone.
It also has useful signal warning alarms. This function can really get in handy if you fly too far. The propeller guards protect the propellers and the ABS body is designed to withstand crashes. So, this drone is a good beginner drone. At the same time, the cool functions of SNAPTAIN S5C make it a good choice for advanced flyers as well.
If you are not into SNAPTAIN, Blade 720 is also an incredible Wi-Fi drone. This Blade drone offers 720p images and videos as well. The helix drone is also a good choice for a Wi-Fi controlled drone with an awesome camera.
Pros
- 720p HD camera
- Voice and gesture control
- One key take-off, landing, and return
- Headless mode and altitude hold
- Gravity control functions
Cons
- Short battery life
#2. Mini drones quadcopter
This micro drone quadcopter is the best drone for kids. If you are a beginner flyer, this would be a great drone for training as well. From attractive LED lights to 3D rolling effects, it will make a fascinating gift for a drone lover.
This drone comes with several functions to make flying easier. For example, when you release the throttle, this drone will hold the altitude until you figure out your next move. It also has the handy headless mode for easy navigation and one key take-off and landing. So, you’ll never lose your drone again. The 6-axis gyro technology enables this drone to roll in all four directions in smooth movements. The LED lights will make this drone quite the light show for your kids.
There are four speed modes to choose from in mini drone quadcopter. So, you can practice each level and have fun whether you are a beginner or an expert. And, the powerful batteries offer increased flying time. So, you can have fun for a long time. Send this drone up and enjoy the 360-degree acrobatics and 3D rolls. The round propeller guards would save this drone in case you happen to bump it to a wall.
Pros
- LED lights
- 3D rolling effects
- 6 axis gyro technology
- Altitude hold
- Headless mode
- One key take-off and landing
Cons
- A flying height of 2m
#1. Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC Helicopter Drone
This Holy Stone drone is one of the best drones for beginners. It’s easy to use and will offer enough fun for you. This is also a great night-flyer drone. The front and back have different colored LED lights. So, you’ll be able to identify the front and back even in the dark.
This drone comes with functions such as the headless mode. The 6-axis gyro stabilizing system enables it to move smoothly as well. It’s stable, flexible, and will be very easy to control. It can fly in a range of 30 to 50 meters from the remote controller for about 6 to 8 minutes on a full charge.
This drone can get really hot so make sure you give some downtime to the batteries before you recharge them and fly again. The Holy Stone HS170 drone has 3 speed modes that you can enjoy whether you are a beginner or an expert. It also comes with 4 extra propeller blades. So, if you lose or break a propeller, you can replace it easily.
Pros
- LED lights
- Headless mode
- 6-axis gyro stabilizing system
- A range of 30 to 50 meters from the RC
- 6 to 8 flight time
Cons
- Not good for windy conditions
- Short battery life
Comprehensive Buying guide: Choosing the best mini drone
Factors to consider before buying a mini drone
- Size
The small size of mini drones is one of their major buying points. Small drones are inexpensive and the best thing is that, because they won’t weigh much, the damage is not significant when they crash. So, you can easily get them fixed too.
- Battery life
Sadly, most mini drones don’t have the best battery life. The normal battery life you can expect from a mini drone is between 5 to 8 minutes. So, when you buy a mini drone, you’ll have to buy extra batteries to keep you going. Most will offer extra batteries along with the drone.
- Internal gyroscopes
Gyroscopes are responsible for keeping a drone stable when in air. These are basically rotating disks to defy gravity. Internal gyroscopes are very important for a drone, especially for an outdoor drone.
- Propeller guards
Propeller guards are very important to keep the propellers of your drone protected. This is important for every pilot, especially so for a newbie. If you don’t know how to properly pilot yet, you will crash. And you’ll hit on trees, walls, and everywhere else. It’s very easy to break your propellers unintentionally during a crash. Although many drones come with a few extra pairs to back you up, it’s always good to have a propeller guard. So, when you buy a drone and decide to test fly it, make sure you have your propeller guards in place. Trust me, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.
Benefits of using a mini drone
- Lightweight and portable
A good reason to buy a mini drone like the micro drone 4.0 is that they are incredibly lightweight and portable. A mini drone that weighs around 5 or 8 pounds will easily fit in your pocket or a carrier. Plus, because of their small size, whether you are going to work or backpacking across a country, you can take it anywhere with you.
- Best for novices
Mini drones are usually built with beginners in mind. They all offer a variety of basic functions perfect for learning the first few steps of flying a drone. They are also very easy to control. So, mini drones are the best learning drones before you move on to bigger drones with better specs.
- Not expensive
The thing about beginner drone flyers is that they are likely to crash at some point. So, buying an inexpensive drone will be an added comfort. No one wants to crash a commercial drone on their first flight.
- Survives a crash
Although this depends on the brand, most mini drones are built to live through some major crashes. Most come with detachable propeller guards for added protection. Also, mini drones are mostly made of ABS material, which is extremely shockproof. Mini drones are also very lightweight which means that there won’t be much damage to the drone in case it crashes. So, a mini drone will be invaluable in learning how to fly while not having to replace your drone every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
So, let’s wrap up our top 10 mini drone review list and ultimate buying guide! In this article, we reviewed some of the best drones in the market today. Here’s what we reviewed.
- Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC Helicopter Drone
- Mini Drones Quadcopter
- SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone
- Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone
- Holy Stone HS210 Mini DroneÂ
- DJI Mavic Mini
- SIMREX X300C Mini Drone
- JJRC Mini drone
- Parrot mini drone
- Tello Quadcopter DroneÂ
These are some of the best choices among our top 10 drones.
- Best toy drone for beginners – Holy Stone HS210 mini toy drone
- Best programmable mini drone – Tello quadcopter drone
- Best mini drone with camera – SIMREX X300C foldable drone
We recommend DJI Mavic 3 axis gimbal GPS drone as the best overall drone. This mini drone is an excellent beginner drone where quality meets ease of use. Wanna add this beauty to your drone collection? Check prices on Amazon!
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