This is the list of best Drones for Beginners that can give you professional-looking areal photos and videos in 2023.
Flying a drone around is not only lots of fun, it’s even more enjoyable when you can use a drone camera to take photos or video of a point of view that was once limited to pilots and birds.
From affordable flying machines to mid-range models that are easy to pilot, this buying guide covers all of the top drones with cameras for first-time flyers. We’ve tested every drone here to make sure it’s fit to fly. But before you buy a drone camera these are a few key things to consider:
Controls :
Many drones come with a dedicated remote — they often look like game controllers — and can also be piloted using a smartphone app or with a combination of the two. Some come with first-person view goggles that give you an immersive view of the drone flight as if you were in a cockpit.
GPS support :
Support for GPS (or GLONASS, the Russian variation) will make your flights and video more stable, assist with taking off and landing and cut down on crashes. Drones with GPS often have a “return to home” feature that can recall them automatically if you get into a sticky situation.
Sensors:
Air pressure sensors and vision sensors (aka cameras) help with altitude assistance or “holding” as well as obstacle avoidance and will let you concentrate on flying your drone instead of having to constantly adjust the throttle.
Batteries:
The lithium-ion batteries that power most of the best drones run for 15 to 25 minutes on a charge, though an increasing number of mid-tier models, like the DJI Mini 2, can now fly for 30 minutes or more. Still, you’ll need spare batteries — they range from $45 to $70 for the DJI drone models included here — to extend your flight time beyond that.
With that in mind, Let’s have a look at the list of finest drones for beginners.
List of Top 6 Drones for Newcomer
- DJI Mini SE
- DJI Mini 2
- DJI Mavic Mini
- Ryze Tello
- DJI Air 2S
- Parrot Anafi FPV
1. DJI Mini SE
This is DJI’s lowest-cost foldable camera drone ever and is a great beginner’s choice if you live in one of the places it is on sale. Currently, DJI is only selling it in selected countries such as the US, Canada, and Australia.
What DJI has cleverly done is take the drone from the 2019 Mavic Mini, put it in the body of the DJI Mini 2, and undercut the price on both. This is a fantastic package for the price, although it does lack the resolution and range of the superior Mini 2.
For consumers not confident learning to fly and shoot video at the same time, the automated QuickShots provide several striking orbiting or other dramatic swooping shots while keeping your subject in the frame. The DJI Mini SE makes use of its intelligence to do this from the main camera rather than packing any extra scanners, which probably helps even this beginner model pull off 30 minutes of flight time (as with all drone official times, expect about 20% less).
| Weight | 249g |
| Dimensions (folded) | 138×81×58mm |
| Controller | Yes |
| Video resolution | 2.7K 30fps |
| Camera resolution | 12MP |
| Battery life | 30 minutes (2400mAh) |
| Max Range | 4km / 2.5 miles |
| Max Speed | 47kph / 29mph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
2. DJI Mini 2
The DJI Mini 2 is considered one of the best drones for beginners. It’s under 250g which is the weight for pilot registration in the USA and China, it has GPS-based return to home and other pilot-assist features, and it includes very share-friendly ‘QuickShots’. In fact, other than all-around object collision systems, the drone has almost everything you’d expect from a folding drone costing more than twice as much.
The accompanying remote control is also completely new, and in FAA areas offer up to 10km (6.2 miles) range via automatic channel switching, meaning you can confidently take the drone out in even 24mph wind and remain confident the drone won’t out of contact. The camera gimbal will keep images horizontal and vibration-free while recording up to 4K video, as well as a selection of other effects recently only known on DJI’s prosumer models, like panorama (and even sphere panorama). Photographers can choose Raw, manual exposure, exposure bracketing, and other features they’d expect on the ground.
If you’re thinking of the Mini 2 as your first drone, but you’re already familiar with cameras, then this is definitely the best choice. It’s also pretty handy indoors thanks to downward-facing visual and sonar distance sensing systems which can help it hover even without GPS, and the optional propellor guards (detachable cages to prevent any accidents while flying near obstacles). The app also makes getting the images to your phone easily if you don’t want to wait until you get home.
| Weight | 242g |
| Dimensions (folded) | 138×81×58mm |
| Controller | Yes |
| Video resolution | 4K 30fps or FHD 60fps |
| Camera resolution | 12MP |
| Battery life | 31 minutes (2250mAh) |
| Max Range | 10km / 6.2 miles |
| Max Speed | 57kph / 35mph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
3. DJI Mavic Mini
Launched at the end of 2019, this drone was aimed squarely at the consumer market (and specifically to avoid the 250g registration limit). It still packs quite a punch – 2.7K video, GPS, altitude hold, and a mechanical gimbal – meaning that images and video is recorded to its MicroSD card were of more than adequate quality for YouTubers or Instagrammers. Indeed the drone has been understandably popular (while, equally predictably, DJI’s attempt to brand it a ‘FlyCam’ has not caught on). This drone is still in sale in most places, but those able to buy the newer DJI Mini 2 will probably be better off going for the near-identical, but cheaper DJI Mini SE.
If you are just starting out your areal photography or videography journey then, this DJI’s Mavic mini is the best drone for newcomers. the original Mavic Mini was and is a surprisingly capable machine, but the ‘extended wi-fi’ radio system means that, in bad conditions, the signal can become intermittent even before the drone reaches the legal range.
Similarly, the motors can only compensate for a maximum of force 4 cross-wind, though of course on bad days you could play indoors with the propellor guards. There is also a great range of safety features (hover, return-to-home, tutorial, and geofencing to prevent you from getting into trouble near an airport).
If you are a YouTuber or content creator then, this DJI’s Mavic mini is the best drones for b.
| Weight | 249g |
| Dimensions (folded) | 140×82×57mm |
| Controller | Yes |
| Video resolution | 2.7K 30fps |
| Camera resolution | 12MP |
| Battery life | 30 minutes (2400mAh) |
| Max Range | 4km / 2.5 miles |
| Max Speed | 47kph / 29mph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
4. Ryze Tello
With more than half of the global market, DJI have kept their tech at the serious end of the market. However, a friendly relationship with neighboring firm Ryze has led to the Tello, a compact drone that doesn’t skimp on the tech. It beams 720p video back to a phone in WiFi range (100m), or 5mp photos, which are recorded by the App.
This data link also provides you a battery warning, and the drone is capable of taking off and hovering using its 14-core processor and in-built sensors. That power makes for fun features like the “Throw & Go” launching and flips, but also supports Scratch, a simple, block-based programming language that means literally anyone (kids included) can have fun ordering the Tello about.
Ryze Tello is the best cheap drones for beginners, thanks to flight tech by DJI.
| Weight | 80g |
| Controller | via Phone, ideally with a Bluetooth game controller |
| Video resolution | 720p, 30fps |
| Camera resolution | 5MP |
| Battery life | 13 minutes (1100mAh) |
| Max Range | 100m |
| Max Range with controller | 60m |
| Max Speed | 36kph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
5. DJI Air 2S
The DJI Air 2S – the successor to the Mavic Air 2 – brings a photography-grade camera into a reasonably compact drone that is well-equipped with features suited to first-time drone users, whether they specialize in video or photography. The 5.4K video gives the option to crop down to 4K without loss of resolution, while the 20-megapixel camera produces great wide-angle images.
In terms of safety, the drone has all the key safety sensors – forward, backward, downward and front-mounted upward-looking – with which the drone can not only sense obstacles and stop, but also plot and execute an avoiding path if appropriate (depending on the settings). Only the sides of the fuselage lack sensors, so caution is needed while exercising tracking shots; most of the time this won’t be a problem, and DJI’s previous side sensors on the Mavic 2 series weren’t worth the extra money.
If you’re flying around physical obstacles (sensors have a harder time with water) then it might be better value to get a drone with more sensors the first time out; you can always learn with caution. The controller is ideal. It is strong, has a good battery, easy access to speed modes, and the place the phone (which acts as your screen and menu) sits is just where you need it.
This DJI’s Air 2S is also considered the best drones for beginners wedding photographers.
| Weight | 595g |
| Dimensions (folded) | 180×97×84mm |
| Dimensions (unfolded) | 183×253×77mm |
| Controller | Yes |
| Video resolution | 5.4K 30fps (or 4k 60fps) |
| Camera resolution | 20MP |
| Battery life | 31 minutes (3500mAh) |
| Max Range | 18.5km / 11.4mi |
| Max Speed | 68kph / 42mph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
6. Parrot Anafi FPV
Parrot did an amazing job of straddling the fun and the functional aspect of the drone market ever since they essentially created it ten years ago, and the Anafi (especially the new FPV kit) epitomizes that. Because the firm is slightly slower to refresh than competitors, it has instead added extras, not least of which is the FPV kit. Also, the price has been kept accessible (while other brands we could mention have inflated with regular new releases).
All of which is to say the Anafi is a professional drone, with a 4K camera capable of zoom (at least in video mode), with a gimbal-stabilized camera. With the addition of First Person View (FPV) goggles, you can also fly it from “inside” the cockpit. Parrot’s goggles are included in the FPV kit; at first, they were the only ones supported, but a later software update means you can use other headsets.
The app is fully featured and great for ‘Arcade mode’ racing or settings-obsessed photographers. The only thing missing from a much more expensive craft (and admittedly this isn’t a cheap drone) is a collision sensing system, but the Anafi is surprisingly robust, especially the FPV version with improved legs. What is good about this drone (what generally makes it well priced) is also something of a worry; Parrot seems more interested in professional platforms than enthusiasts and prosumers now, so future support seems open to doubt. It’s a personal choice.
| Weight | 310g |
| Controller | Yes |
| Video resolution | 4K HDR 30fps |
| Camera resolution | 21MP |
| Battery life | 25 minutes (2700mAh) |
| Max Range | 4km / 2.5mi |
| Max Speed | 55kph / 35mph |
| Today’s Deal | Checkout Now |
Most Frequently Asked Question about Best Drones for Beginners:
1. Which drone should a beginner buy?
As Cameracritique, We think the best drone for most novice pilots is the DJI Mini 2. It’s not the cheapest entry-level drone, but it shoots great 4K video, offers good flight time from a single charge and intuitive flight controls make it very easy to fly.
2. Is it hard to learn to fly a drone?
A lot of people think that drones are hard to fly, but the truth is, they’re really not. … Even the most advanced drones from DJI require some general knowledge if you want to avoid crashing or worse, losing your drone forever.
3. How much does a decent drone cost?
The typical cost for a toy drone ranges from about 1500 to 15000 Rs. Camera Drones start at around 25000 and go up from there.
4. Which is the cheapest drone?
Ryze Tello: The best cheap drone overall, thanks to flight tech by DJI.
5. Is Mavic air good for beginners?
The Mavic Air 2 is an incredibly versatile piece of hardware that’s best drones for beginners just getting into a new drone hobby and for more advanced Dronies (I just made that word up) looking for an all-around good product.
