Last Updated on November 13, 2023
What’s not to love about mini drones? They are budget friendly, small and portable, you can bring them with you almost everywhere. They are super fun for solo or group flying, for beginners or skilled drone enthusiasts alike. Many of these minis are so affordable that you can buy several of them and create your own mini drone formation in the air as most of them have anti-interference ability. Note that most of these mini drones are so light weight that they do not require FAA registration.
Here is our run down of mini drones to fit your budget – under $50. These are pretty simple crafts, however we have a check list and buying tips for mini drones, check out our Mini Drone Buying Guide to aid you with your selection decision. Our mini drone category featured here is focused on micro drone and Nano drones sometimes called pocket drones – have fun choosing the right mini drone for you.
-SNAPTAIN SP350-
-Holy Stone HS210-
-Potensic A20-
-Syma X20-
-Holy Stone HS190-
Our top affordable mini (micro and Nano) drones:
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Holy Stone Mini Drone for Kids and Beginners... | $36.99 | View on Amazon | ||
Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone Easy to Fly... | View on Amazon | |||
Pocket Drones for Kids with Headless... | $49.99 $36.99 | View on Amazon | ||
Holy Stone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone... | $29.99 | View on Amazon |
1. SNAPTAIN SP350 Mini Drone for Kids
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The SP350 mini quadcopter drone comes in 3 vibrant colors (Red, Blue, Yellow). The small drone can fit in the palm of your hand and only weights 24.75 oz.
The micro drone comes with 3 batteries each with a flight life of 7 minutes giving you up to 21 minutes of flight time. The controller requires 3 AAA batteries.
This small drone is packed with features that it one of the best drones for kids and adults alike. Because it is so light weight, the Snaptain SP350 min drone is best suited for indoors or low wind environments outside.
With the touch of a button you can have your drone take-off, land, or return. Extra features like toss and fly, circle fly, headless mode, and 3d flips give you countless enjoyment as you flight the drone. The mini drone also comes with 3 speeds so you can adjust to your skill level.
- 1 x SNAPTAIN SP350 Drone
- 1 x Remote Controller
- 3 x Batteries
- 1 x set of Spare Propellers
- 1 x Charging Cable
- 1 x Wrench
- 4 x screws
- 1 x screwdriver
- 1 x User Manual
The mini drone is well constructed and the blades come with propeller guards making it safe and durable for flights. This is a perfect drone for flying around in the family room or the garage for fun and is an excellent choice as a toy for personal entertainment or working on your flight skills.
2. Holy Stone Mini Drone for Kids and Beginners:
- [Easy to Use & More Fun]: The drone can be Tossed to Launch, it can perform Circle...
- [Three-Speed-Mode Drone]: Our drones have Low/middle/high speed modes, perfect for...
- [Extended Flight Time]: This RC drone comes with 3 batteries, which can extend your...
- [Safety Design Micro Drone]: The propellers are isolated by the protection guard,...
If you are looking for an affordable nano drone that can fly indoors or outdoors, do flips, and it fits in the palm of your hand, you want to consider the Holy Stone HS210 quadcopter. The HS210 is available in 3 colors (Red, Blue, & Green).
The nano drone comes with 3 batteries each with a flight life of 7 minutes giving you up to 21 minutes of flight time. The controller requires 3 AAA batteries which are not included with the drone.
Holy Stone has created this small drone that is perfect for indoor flights due to its propeller protectors to protect the propellers as well as objects the drone might bump into. The HS210 drone is suitable for all ages and is recommended for ages 14 and up.
- 1 x Holy Stone HS210 Drone
- 1 x Remote Controller
- 3 x Batteries
- 1 x set of Spare Propellers
- 2 x USB Charging Cables
- 1 x Wrench
- 1 x Propeller screwdriver
- 1 x Instruction Manual
The HS210 comes with many feature to provide hours of enjoyment. Safety features include one button start and stop, and a one button emergency stop. The drone also comes with a low battery alarm.
Flight features include Funny Flips, Altitude hold, and “headless” mode. In addition to being able to fly at 3 different speeds, the nano drone can be controlled by the transmitter for up to 164 feet. This drone is perfect full featured flyer for beginners.
3. Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone Drone for Kids and Beginners:
- [Easy to Play]: -One Key Taking-off / Landing and auto-hovering function enable this...
- [3 Battery for More Fun Time]: -Come with 3 drone batteries, this micro drone aims to...
- [Headless Mode]: -Won’t lose direction, you can fly the drone without worrying...
- [A Great Gift for Kids]: -With more fun functions like headless mode, 3 speeds...
Potensic is another brand you should consider as their drones are some of the better made drones in this space. The Potensic has similar features to the previous models reviewed how ever it does have 1 less battery giving you a shorter flight time. The A20 is available in 2 colors (Red & Green).
The nano drone comes with 2 batteries each with a flight life of 7 minutes giving you up to 14 minutes of flight time. The controller requires 3 AAA batteries which are not included with the drone.
The A20 is ideal for indoor flights due to its propeller protectors to protect the propellers as well as objects the drone might bump into. The body material is rubbery and durable. The A20 drone is suitable for all ages and is recommended for ages 14 and up.
- 1 x Potensic A20 Drone
- 1 x Remote Controller
- 2 x Batteries
- 1 x set of Spare Propellers
- 1 x USB Charging Cable
- 1 x Instruction Manual
Getting started with the A20 drone simple with its one button take of and landing features. The 3 speed feature allows you to slow things down for true beginners then have the drone go faster as you master navigating the drone.
Other features features include low battery warning, lights on the front and back of the drone, Altitude hold, and “headless” mode. This drone is another great option as a full featured drone for kids or adults that are beginners.
4. Newest Syma X20 Mini Pocket Drone review:
- X20 Mini Drone is the newest drone upgraded with multi features, this 6-Axis gyro...
- Headless Mode makes easier flight: Once the fuselage direction can not be recognized,...
- One Key Take off / Landing: one button press automatically taking off or landing,...
- Altitude Hold: Auto hovering is an altitude holding technology that lets the flying...
If you are looking for a drone that looks a little more sofistiated than the other drones on this list that can fly indoors or outdoors, do flips, and it fits in the palm of your hand, the Syma X20 is your drone. The X20 quadcopter is available in 2 colors (Gold & Blue).
The battery is built into the drone and has a flight time of about 5 minutes. The recharge time from the USB cable provided is about 50 minutes. The controller requires 4 AAA batteries which are not included with the drone.
This mini drone by Syma is slightly larger than the other drones we reviewed but is still small enough to be considered a micro or pocket drone. It is best used for indoor flights due to its smaller size. The propeller protectors keep the blades from getting damaged or damaging objects in the event of a crash. The Syma X20 drone is suitable for all ages and is recommended for ages 8 and up by Syma.
- 1 x Syma X20 Drone
- 1 x Remote Controller
- 1 x Batteries (in the drone)
- 1 x set of Spare Propellers
- 1 x USB Charging Cable
- 1 x Wrench
- 1 x Propeller screwdriver
- 1 x Instruction Manual
The the 6 axis gyro on the X20 provides a stable and more wind resistant control when compared to other drones in this class. Safety features include one button start and stop for easy control. LED light provides for night flying.
Flight features include continuous 360 degree rolls, Altitude hold, and “headless” mode. Drone can be controlled by the transmitter for up to 66 feet. This drone is a good choice if you don’t want to hassle with extra batteries.
5. Holy Stone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone for Kids:
- 𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧 --- This drone features one-click...
- 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 --- The Altitude Hold function...
- 𝟑 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 --- HS190 drone comes with 3 speed modes...
- 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 --- Propellers are isolated by the...
The HS190 mini drone is very compact and convenient. You can fold up the quadcopter and store the drone inside the controller so you only have to carry one thing.
The nano drone comes with a built in battery that can be charged from the controller or your computer. It has a flight life of 7 minutes and takes about 40 minutes to charge. The controller requires 4 AAA batteries which are not included with the drone.
The HS190 by Holy Stone is compact and durable. The HS190 drone is suitable for all ages and is recommended for ages 14 and up.
- 1 x Holy Stone HS190 Quadcopter
- 1 x 2.4 GHz Controller
- 4 x Spare Propellers
- 4 x Propeller guards
- 1 x USB Charger
- 1 x Propeller Crowbar
- 1 x Screwdriver
- 1 x Instruction Manual
The HS190 comes with features that help it make our short list of mini drones. Safety features include one button start and stop, and a one button return home. LED lighting allows for night flights and the folding option with the storage in the controller are particularly nice features. The ability to use the controller to charge your drone is also a convenient feature.
Flight features include 3 speeds, high speed 3D Flips, Altitude hold, and “headless” mode. Drone can be controlled by the transmitter for up to 30-50 meters. This drone is perfect full featured flyer for beginners.
Buying tips: what to look for in a mini drone?
You already know that you want a compact and portable drone. What other features should you look for in a mini drone? The answer depends on why you are getting a mini drone. Do you just want to have fun flying a mini drone indoors or outdoors? Do you want a mini drone that allows you to fly first as a beginner then as an experienced pilot later? Do you want a selfie drone? What is your budget? Though most of the mini drones are affordable, they can run from south of $30 to north of $300.
Mini drones are fun drones. Depending on why you are getting a mini drone, the pertinent features in your evaluation of purchase should include:
- Flight time
- Flight range
- Selfies yes or no
- Type of controller
- Return to home
- Altitude hold
- Follow-me mode
- Headless mode
- Anti-interference
- Camera stabilization
- HD camera, 1080p, 4k
- Removable battery
- Battery charge time
- Durable construction
- Power consumption
Some notables about mini drones:
- You control their flying motions via either RC controller or mobile device app.
- Most of these mini drones are light weight, i.e. you do not need FAA registration. The less the quadcopter weighs, the less damage it can do.
- The mini drones weight under one ounce are indoor drones. Those closer to one pound are indoors and outdoors. In general, mini drones are susceptible to wind shear – do not fly above 20 feet high as the change of wind condition in altitude can be significant.
Best Overall Mini Drone – SNAPTAIN SP350 Mini Drone for Kids
The SP350 provided long flight times and all the features. The throw and fly option was the only real technical difference from the Holy Stone HS210 model. So if you don’t care about the throw and fly feature you may also want to consider the HS210.
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Best Convenient Mini Drone – Holy Stone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone
We really liked how the HS190 drone could be stored in the controller and not having to keep track of both the controller and drone when out and about. For a toy drone, it has a features that make the drone easy to fly. The option of charging from the controller allows you to avoid having to keep a power source around to give your self a second flight after the battery runs down.
- 𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧 --- This drone features one-click...
- 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 --- The Altitude Hold function...
- 𝟑 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 --- HS190 drone comes with 3 speed modes...
- 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 --- Propellers are isolated by the...
“You will have a blast flying these fun mini drones especially on a clear day!” by The Drone Buying Advisor.