Best budget drone options under $350?

Buying Advice Forum
1

Looking for the best drone I can get under $350. I’m open to buying refurbished or used. It must come with at least one battery, a charger, and a controller. So far, the best I’ve seen is a refurbished Mavic Mini. If you’ve got any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Thanks!

2

I’ve heard DJI might face restrictions in the US soon.

3

Toryn said:
I’ve heard DJI might face restrictions in the US soon.

I’ve read that too. They’re saying DJI drones might get banned.

4

Olen said:

Toryn said:
I’ve heard DJI might face restrictions in the US soon.

I’ve read that too. They’re saying DJI drones might get banned.

Wait, is that for real?

5

Olen said:

Toryn said:
I’ve heard DJI might face restrictions in the US soon.

I’ve read that too. They’re saying DJI drones might get banned.

Sounds like fake news to me.

6

You might find some good advice in other threads about drone options.

7

If you can stretch the budget a bit, the Mini 2 Fly More Combo is worth it. Better range and camera quality than the first model, plus it comes with two extra batteries, which is super handy. I found one here if you’re interested.

8

@Frances
Adorama is a legit site for camera gear. I used them a lot years back, and they were solid. Not sure about customer service these days, but they’re definitely reputable.

9

Lex said:
@Frances
Adorama is a legit site for camera gear. I used them a lot years back, and they were solid. Not sure about customer service these days, but they’re definitely reputable.

Thanks for confirming that! I’ve seen some good deals on used drones there.

10

@Frances
Should I go for a new Mini 3 at $380, a used Mini 2 Fly More for the same price, or a Mini 3 Pro Fly More used for $250? Any advice?

11

Ariel said:
@Frances
Should I go for a new Mini 3 at $380, a used Mini 2 Fly More for the same price, or a Mini 3 Pro Fly More used for $250? Any advice?

I’d be cautious about buying DJI drones right now. There’s talk of them getting banned in the US.

12

@Olen
Or it could be a reason to grab one while you can. They’re mainly banning them for government use, so there might just be restrictions on new sales. They’d probably need a buyback if they actually banned ownership, which sounds pretty unlikely.

13

Ariel said:
@Frances
Should I go for a new Mini 3 at $380, a used Mini 2 Fly More for the same price, or a Mini 3 Pro Fly More used for $250? Any advice?

I’m not sure I can help much here. I got the Mini 2 Fly More a while ago and still love it. I was tempted to upgrade to the Mini 3 but decided to wait. These drones are fantastic, but keep in mind many great photo spots don’t allow drones.

14

If your budget is $350, stick with a DJI, even if it’s used. Otherwise, if you want something way cheaper, the Holy Stone drones are decent around $50. But if you want a long-lasting one, go with DJI. It’s better if this isn’t just for a kid.

15

@Sawyer
Agreed. Holy Stone is great for budget options, especially models with GPS like the HS110G. But if you want something that’ll last longer, DJI is the way to go.

16

Costco has the DJI Mini 3 for $380 until tomorrow.

17

DroneDreamer4 said:
Costco has the DJI Mini 3 for $380 until tomorrow.

Same here! It comes with an SD card and ND filters too.

18

DroneDreamer4 said:
Costco has the DJI Mini 3 for $380 until tomorrow.

I’m in a similar spot as OP. I’d love to get a DJI with goggles eventually, but not sure if the Mini 3 works with goggles?

19

@Skyler
You can buy DJI goggles compatible with the Mini 3.

20

DroneDreamer4 said:
@Skyler
You can buy DJI goggles compatible with the Mini 3.

I think I only saw that for the Mini 3 Pro, though.