The 6 Best Beginner Drones Take the Guesswork Out of Flying

The DJI Mini 2 SE is the best overall for being one of the most reliable, easy-to-operate, and feature-heavy drones. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and folds up for easy storage and carry. The 12-megapixel camera captures 4K, 30-fps video and can reach up to 4x digital zoom. At 0.53 pounds, the Mini 2 doesn’t require registration.

Reviewers attest to how its camera shoots superb footage and how “incredibly easy to fly” this drone is. It may be an outdated model, but enthusiasts on both Reddit and YouTube say it’s still worth grabbing today.

The Atom SE is a direct competitor to DJI’s Mini 2 SE, though loaded with extras that won’t compromise its beginner-friendly status. It comes with its own carrying case and an additional battery, which gives this drone roughly one hour of flight time, granted you land the machine to swap batteries.

This tiny device has a 4K HD camera with stabilization tech to help the 12-MP photos and 4K, 30-fps footage come out clear. It also has a control system with three modes—including video, normal, and sport—and plenty of tracking modes. A GPS-assisted return home button sets the drone to fly back to you in case of emergencies.

While the DJI Mini 2 is a solid starter drone, it’s also an older model. Today, DJI’s Mini 3 Pro reigns as the best drone for beginners who want more functionality and can stomach a steeper price.

The Mini 3 Pro has additional safety features that the Mini 2 lacks, such as rear and downward obstacle avoidance via sensors and an automated return-to-home function that instantly calls back your drone in an emergency. The accompanying app will guide you in creating, editing, and sharing your content—video at 4K and 60 fps and photos at 48 MP.

If you can swing the price, this is an incredible value for beginners who are seeking a drone with a terrific camera and extra safety features.

This tiny, foldable quadcopter is an alternative to DJI’s Mini 2, weighing an ultralight 245 grams and fitting in your palm. This small device can fly for 31 minutes and shoot 4K HDR video with its 12-MP camera, capturing 4K footage at 30 frames per second. It also has a few filming modes such as smart tracking, which automatically locks on to a target, and Timelapse.

The remote plugs right into your smartphone. A stable flyer, even in winds of up to 24 mph, this little device is a solid beginner’s drone frequently recommended by Reddit folks. Some say its camera is a bit shoddy, however, and can expect a choppy video.

Fimi is a popular alternative to DJI drones, offering similar features at a friendly price point. The X8SE has a fantastic camera to rival DJI’s Mini 3 Pro—at a few hundred dollars less. Most noteworthy, however, is its ability to withstand the elements. The X8SE can fly in winds of up to 46 miles per hour.

This drone is capable of shooting 4K UHD footage at 30 fps or 2.7K at 60 fps. It comes with an adaptable controller, which attaches directly to a smartphone for easy piloting. Additional safety features, like a return home mode and no-fly zone protection, help you safely maneuver your aircraft. Nice: A down camera to help with precision landing.

Be warned: You should pass on the Avata if you find VR nauseating. But if you don’t, it’s an immersive way to fly, thanks to a pair of included VR goggles that allows you to view the drone’s flight on a live HD feed.

Its controller is a flight stick similar to a Nintendo Wii controller and has squeezable triggers to propel forward. Smooth 4K video transmits directly to DJI’s VR goggles. Of course, you can also record video in full 4K at 60 fps for posterity.

Also keep in mind that the Avata can’t fly for as long as other DJI drones (18 minutes), and its weight requires you register it.