Best Drones for Beginners in 2022 – Reach for The Sky!

The leading DJI product on our list of the most affordable video and picture drones is the Mavic Air 2. This model comes with an impressive camera, small size, long flight, and the option of giving hand-gesture commands.

Like its cheaper sibling, the Spark, and unlike many photography drones for beginners, this device is also rather small. As such, it’s easier to carry around and is more maneuverable.

Although it may not be a champion of affordable drones, Mavic Air 2 has one of the best cameras in this price range, capable of shooting ultra HD videos and 48-megapixel stills. The drone comes with preset video and photo modes, like Sphere, making it easy to create visually attractive material. Its ability to recognize hand-gesture commands ensures easy drone movement and quality selfies.

Mavic Air 2 comes with a collapsible joystick controller that uses your smartphone as a screen, streamlining flying and allowing video transmission at a greater range. A mini drone with a camera must excel in obstacle avoidance, and in this department, the Mavic Air 2 soars above the rest. It has back sensors, and this drone doesn’t just detect obstacles - it dodges them on its own.

Apart from some minor problems with camera controls, there aren’t any real drawbacks to this drone. However, you should be prepared to dish out nearly a thousand dollars for this piece of machinery. But that’s the price if you want to have possibly the most suitable starter drones.

The name Parrot is certain to come up when researching good quality drones. This globally renowned drone manufacturer based in France has been in the game since 1994. Parrot products are well-known for quality and reliability, and we chose a beginner-friendly model for our list: Parrot Anafi.

Anafi is among the company’s flagship drones, rocking a truly impressive 4K camera. This results in remarkable photography capabilities, shoulder-to-shoulder with (or even outperforming) the Mavic Air in this regard. However, there’s one significant obstacle to Parrot Anafi being recognized as one of the top racing drones for beginners - its $679.99 price tag.

In addition to the 4K camera, Anafi also comes with HDR video capabilities. You’d be hard-pressed to find HDR video features on other drones in this range, and the difference in video quality compared to non-HDR is evident. 

The ability to move the camera at an upwards angle, coupled with a powerful zoom that goes up to 2.8x without impacting image quality, cement Anafi’s place among the most popular drones for beginners.

The drone’s 224 x 67 x 65 mm dimensions and 320-gram mass place it smack-dab in the middle of the size and weight range, meaning you won’t have any trouble carrying it around. The fact that Parrot Anafi is foldable adds to its portability, and the light carbon used in its manufacture makes it moderately resistant to crash damage. 

This set of characteristics allows it to go toe-to-toe with outdoor drones for newbies, but there are more suitable drones for prolonged outside use to be found.

Anafi isn’t without its problems, however. The software it uses can often be buggy, resulting in settings not being applied or mode-switching getting stuck. Moreover, the ability to use the Follow Me mode comes as a paid addon. When the base drone price is already so high, this is no reason for joy either.

On the whole, Parrot Anafi is still a great photography drone. Its 4K camera, HDR video, and strong battery make it possibly the best beginner drone with a camera for people of all ages.

A premium-tier drone, DJI Air 2S is practically an all-out upgrade of DJI’s Mavic Air 2. Compared to the Mavic Air 2, the Air 2S received improvements on practically all levels - from safety features to camera quality, movements, and automation. The trade-off is that you have to part with $999.99 if you want to get your hands on this drone.

The DJI Air 2S has all the features you need when it comes to drones for beginners. First, new flyers will appreciate the security features, including robust obstacle avoidance. The use of GPS, visual sensors, and GLONASS satellites allows the drone to perfectly determine its position and hover in place. In case you get lost flying, the Return to Home option is a life-saver.

Camera drones cannot hold a candle to the Air 2S quality. This drone features a 5.4K video camera, blowing most competitors out of the water, but this level of quality is usually coveted only by professional photographers and video-makers.

With up to 31 minutes of flight and a maximum range of 18.5 km, the Air 2S is definitely one of the most popular drones for beginners with long battery life. The drone is lightweight as well as foldable, but it does cross the FAA registration threshold, so you’ll have to pay the $5 registration fee.

Another DJI Air 2S standout feature is Master Shots - a combination of automated flight paths and camera movements. Through it, you can create automated videos or pictures easily, especially if you want to record yourself doing something.

All in all, the Air 2S is probably the best drone for taking video you can get your hands on, while its safety features make it ideal for beginners. Its only significant downside is the $999.99 price tag.

Next up on our list of reviews of the most affordable drones is the smallest of the bunch. The Mini 2 drone comes from DJI, arguably the most popular manufacturer of consumer drones. The first Mini drone was almost exclusively targeted at beginners, while the Mini 2 comes with features that appeal to experienced flyers too.

The Mini 2 drone weighs just under 250 grams. This is important because it means you don’t have to obtain an FAA registration and makes it easy to carry around. As such, it’s considered one of the greatest entry-level drones, as you’ll be able to use it straight from the box. 

The dimensions of the drone are 159 × 203 × 56 mm - noticeably smaller than most of its competitors. But this small drone packs quite a punch in terms of battery strength and flight range. 

The battery takes two hours to charge and can give you up to 31 minutes of uninterrupted flight, far more than some of its weightier siblings. Its flight range goes up to 10 kilometers if flying in ideal conditions and one-way.

DJI Mini 2’s camera is a significant upgrade compared to its predecessor, which is why it deserves a spot on every list of video drones for beginners. This drone boasts a 4K camera that produces genuinely jaw-dropping videos, while still shots are captured in 12 MP. 

Another new addition is the OcuSync connection, a considerable improvement over the Wi-Fi connection used with the previous model. OcuSync relies on radio frequencies instead, resulting in a much more extensive control range and low-latency video previews on your phone.

Due to its strong motors and sturdy controller, this DJI drone is possibly the easiest drone to fly. However, one major downside is that it lacks obstacle-avoidance capabilities, which absolute beginners might feel the need for.

One of the most recommended drones for beginners under 100 dollars was developed by Ryze Tech in partnership with DJI - one of the biggest drone brands in the industry. Ryze Tech is a less-known Chinese startup in charge of the development and production of the Tello drone, relying on DJI technology. The final product surpassed all expectations and is now sold on DJI’s website.

Ryze Tello belongs to the category of toy drones. Weighing just 80 grams, it is categorized as a great starter-drone option. For a drone this tiny, it has an impressive flight time of 13 minutes. Furthermore, Tello takes only 90 minutes to charge fully and has a flight range of 100 meters. The drone is controlled with your smartphone via a Wi-Fi connection.

With several fail-safes and helpful flying features, Ryze Tello is the perfect choice when looking for easy-to-fly drones for children. The drone has an Auto Takeoff/Landing function, and the low maximum flight height allows for comfortable indoor use. 

Tello also comes with intelligent flight modes that let users perform tricks like flips and take 360° videos with just one push of a button. Lastly, Tello is programmable through Scratch. This coding system is designed for kids and introduces them to the basics of block-based visual programming.

Ryze Tello has two key downsides - low flight range and low-quality camera. Although this is common among inexpensive drones, having a mere 100 meters of flight range is still pretty limited. The camera is a 720p/5MP model, which can result in blurry pictures and videos.

However, with its price tag of only $99, functionalities for learning the basics of drone flying, small size and weight, and fail-safe features, Tello is ideal for children to practice flying drones. On the other hand, it can’t match real photography drones in terms of video and photo quality.

Hubsan is another Chinese manufacturer on our list. It produces top-quality racing and toy drones, and the Hubsan H122D Storm is no exception. While it’s designated primarily as a racing drone, it has other capabilities and is considered a step up from many cheap drones with camera products.

Its small frame, designed with racing in mind, is only 9.4 cm x 9.4 cm. Due to the frame being pretty compact, the risk of damage in case of crashes or collisions is considerably reduced.

The Hubsan Storm can also do flight tricks like flips and rolls at the press of a button. What’s more, the Return Home feature activates automatically once the battery is low, meaning you can never lose your drone. This truly puts this UAV among the cheapest drones out there. With the drone, you’ll get an Xbox-like controller and FPV goggles, which is a big plus.

While you wouldn’t expect a good camera on a racing drone, the Hubsan Storm is full of surprises. The HD 720p camera can capture videos of breathtaking quality; the camera has a pretty extensive view angle and is rotatable, too.

Although the battery only allows for eight minutes of flight and the flight range is a mere 100 meters, the Storm is still a good cheap drone. It’s combined features make it more than just a racing drone, so those looking for a multi-role UAV might have found the one.

Every cheap camera drone list includes DJI products as this Chinese manufacturer is a trend-setter in the drone market. The company’s products stand out in terms of design, programming, and capabilities. 

We chose to review the DJI Spark, which boasts excellent capabilities across the board. However, it’s usually categorized as a selfie drone or a dronie.

The most noticeable thing about the DJI Spark is its tiny size - 143mm x 143mm x 55mm. This makes it easy to carry and one of the top drones for adult beginners. Spark’s takeoff weight is 300 grams, and although this is slightly higher than the average weight of other drones on our list, it isn’t all that significant when considering all the available features.

DJI Spark’s camera is impressive. The video resolution is 1080p, and the sensor resolution is 12 MP, guaranteeing crystal-clear photos and videos. 

This is also a drone that follows you. Like many of the most popular entry-level drone products, it’s programmed to recognize various hand gesture commands, so it can follow, track your movements, move side-to-side and take selfies.

Its battery life is underwhelming as it only runs for up to 16 minutes. Moreover, its size makes it vulnerable to wind, which can further drain the battery. If you’re using the smartphone app to control the drone, the flight range is up to 100 meters, but some users claim the connection tends to be choppy. If you decide to buy the controller, which costs an additional $100, the flight range extends to 2,000 m.

Overall, this selfie drone is one of the most preferred drones. Its impressive camera, small size, and option to give hand-gesture commands leave little room for complaints. The only handicap might be the price, as it will set you back at least $450.

Altair Aerial is a Nebraska-based drone manufacturer that focuses mainly on producing cheaper models that are best beginner drones. The model we are reviewing is the Altair AA108, which falls into the category of budget drones, and it’s also another mini drone on our list. It weighs only 85 grams, meaning you won’t have to bother with registration.

The Altair AA108 comes with two batteries, each granting you up to 10 minutes of flight time. Additionally, you receive spare propellers, which saves you a headache because propellers on drones inevitably break.

Like any affordable drone for newbies, AA108 has three separate flight modes for flyers of varying skill. These modes allow beginners to master drone flying quickly and safely. The AA108 also has other safety systems in place, like low-battery and out-of-range alarms, which prevent you from over-extending your drone. 

The Headless Mode is also present, making flying and navigation even easier. It has a 720p HD camera, which is nothing to get excited about, but it still manages to produce decent videos. The camera can’t rotate, but it has a fairly broad FOV of 120 degrees. 

The AA108 also has an FPV option either through your smartphone or goggles, which aren’t included in the initial price. Its FPV range of 50 meters places it among the most convenient indoor drones for beginners.

We wholeheartedly recommend the Altair AA108 as a starter drone for any buyers on a tight budget. The multitude of safety features makes it ideal for children and beginners, but advanced users will also find something to enjoy.

The budget drone market is dominated by Chinese companies, Eachine being one of them. The company is now focusing on more advanced models of drones. Its most famous model, the E58, is designed similarly to Mavic Air. However, we’ve chosen to review the more affordable and beginner-friendly Eachine E511S. 

A number of features make Eachine E511S a great drone for beginners, including options like one-button landing/take-off and low-battery warnings. The E511S is also one of the cheap FPV drones that allow you to enjoy the perks of first-person views through your smartphone or VR glasses. 

The E511S also stands out when it comes to the camera. It boasts a 1080p, 120° FOV, adjustable camera. The field of view is broad, and the video quality is excellent. Furthermore, the E511S has Follow Me and Orbit Modes that enhance the experience. This makes it possibly the best entry-level drone with a camera.

The battery is perfectly satisfactory for a model in this price range. It guarantees around 15 minutes of flight time, and doesn’t take too long to charge. The drone itself is pretty light, which is always a plus in our book. There’s also an emergency stop button, but it should be used with caution, because the drone will automatically drop to the ground.

Nonetheless, this drone is not perfect. It has all the features we expected, but some reviews mention setup problems and issues with video formatting. We experienced none of those, but such things are always something to look out for.