So I’m just getting into drones and trying to find something affordable to practice with before upgrading to something nicer. I really don’t want to crash a $2,000 drone, lol. I’ve been looking at a few options and wondering if anyone here has experience with them. I’m thinking about a drone under $200, but I’m also open to suggestions for cheaper ones if they’re good for learning! Any advice or personal experiences would be super helpful. Thanks!
I started with a Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone and honestly, it’s a great choice for beginners. It’s only $35 and has basic controls to help you get the hang of flying. No camera, but perfect for learning the ropes.
@Ben
Oh nice, I was actually eyeing that one! How’s the battery life on it?
Orion said:
@Ben
Oh nice, I was actually eyeing that one! How’s the battery life on it?
It’s decent, around 15-18 minutes with all three batteries. Not bad for the price, and you get to practice different flying speeds.
I tried the DJI Neo and it’s awesome for beginners. Super easy to control, plus it has a hand launch feature which is pretty cool. It’s a bit more expensive at $199, but I think it’s totally worth it for the quality.
@Keaton
Is the hand launch feature easy to use or kinda tricky? I’m worried it might be weird to get used to.
Rory said:
@Keaton
Is the hand launch feature easy to use or kinda tricky? I’m worried it might be weird to get used to.
It’s actually super easy! You just launch it from your hand instead of the ground, which makes things a lot simpler if you’re a beginner.
I’ve been using the Tello, which is a bit more pricey at $159 but worth it. It’s got DJI parts, so it feels pretty solid. Plus, it’s fun to fly and even teaches you how to code your drone. Definitely something to consider if you want to stick with DJI later on.
@Zephyr
That sounds cool! Does it fly pretty easily or is it a little complicated?
Orion said:
@Zephyr
That sounds cool! Does it fly pretty easily or is it a little complicated?
It’s pretty easy to fly, actually! It has auto takeoff and landing, plus a smart vision system to help with hovering. I’d say it’s a good balance of fun and learning.
I went with the Tomzon Mini Drone. It’s cheap, at $32.99, and good for just learning to fly. The battery life isn’t amazing (about 8 minutes), but it’s fun with the LED lights and simple controls.
Zion said:
I went with the Tomzon Mini Drone. It’s cheap, at $32.99, and good for just learning to fly. The battery life isn’t amazing (about 8 minutes), but it’s fun with the LED lights and simple controls.
That’s a pretty sweet deal! How’s the control feel compared to other drones you’ve tried?
@Orion
The controls are basic, but that’s exactly what I needed when starting out. You get a feel for it without the fancy stuff getting in the way.
I’d go for the Potensic A20 Mini Drone too, especially if you’re on a tight budget. It’s really basic but great for learning the controls without worrying about losing it. Plus, it’s pretty durable, so you don’t have to stress about crashes.
@EthanSkyWhisper
Thanks for the tip! Does it come with a remote or do you control it with an app?
Orion said:
@EthanSkyWhisper
Thanks for the tip! Does it come with a remote or do you control it with an app?
It comes with a remote, which is nice since some cheaper drones only work with an app. The remote is simple, but it does the job.