Glenn loves writing: no wonder he decided to become a journalist without too much thinking right after his high school. When not working for his magazine, he writes for us o read more
Vincent is a professional videographer who seems to know everything about the industry. He got his first quadcopter as soon as they appeared on the market, so if any drone-r read more
Last updated: March 02, 2024
Extreme Fliers is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Did you know that as for August 15 2021, it was estimated by the survey that 15% of United States citizens had flown a drone at least once? It’s not hard to see why though; there’s something utterly refreshing about experiencing the view from the skies, and drones and their attached cameras make this a possibility.
As if that wasn’t enough, manufacturers are strengthening the resolution of their cameras, incorporating features like the headless mode into some of the best drones under $200 to help users better control their drones; and even fitting their drones with auto-return features to prevent losses on investments.
Efforts are being made from a technological perspective to improve the acceptance of drones and lessen the dangers associated with their use. We are here to give the gist of how all these technologies interact in the final products.
"2K camera with 120° FOV and 75° adjustable wide angle help to capture clear photos and more stable videos. WiFi camera provides you faster but more precise image transmission."
"HS440 is a must-have for beginners with its intelligent functions, and thanks to its intuitive and advanced features packed in a foldable frame, it provides complete freedom wherever and however you want to create."
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
9.2
27%
Photography
9.0
12%
Geographic mapping
8.7
8%
Fishing
8.5
6%
Hunting
8.5
5%
Spy / Surveillance
9.1
5%
Racing
7.6
3%
Fun
7.2
Video
9.1
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.7
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
5%
Camera Mount Type
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
360° flip
5.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
5.0
Photography
9.0
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
8.4
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
10%
GPS
10.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
9.3
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
9.1
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.7
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
8%
Flight time (min)
9.6
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
5%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
5%
GPS
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
8.6
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.7
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
8.4
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
9.6
7%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
5%
GPS
10.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
7.6
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
10%
Flight time (min)
9.6
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
7.6
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
5.0
Fishing
8.7
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
10%
Flight time (min)
9.6
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.7
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
7.6
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
N/S
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.5
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
10%
Flight time (min)
9.6
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.7
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
7.6
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
N/S
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
9.6
10%
Charging time (min)
N/S
10%
Follow me
10.0
10%
Circle Fly
10.0
10%
360° flip
5.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
7.9
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
10.0
5%
Headless mode
5.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What makes it stand out?
Fitted with impressive, intelligent features for flight. GPS features for easier flight and tracking of your drone. 60-minute battery flight time. Brushless motors for a quiet flight. Foldable and portable drone for easy transport. Easy and fun to fly with different features.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
Not very durable, so it’s essential to take care when flying. It is hard to purchase extra batteries.
We placed the Aovo Drone at the top of our list, as the Editor’s Choice, because of its impressive features. This the best 4K drone under $200 that provides Ultra HD picture quality for fantastic clarity, high definition, and deep contrast. Users can enjoy its vivid colors and even fly the drone out for 60 minutes. It is fitted with two batteries, each offering 30 minutes each. The drone is also equipped with long-life brushless motors, which quiet down the drone when flying and reduces the power consumption.
The Aovo Drone is best suited for anyone who wants intelligent features in their device. It comes with a 90-degree adjustable anti-shake camera, making it easy to take fantastic photos and videos. The drone offers intelligent flight with GPS assist and a double stable system indoors and outdoors. It can follow you automatically and return to its take-off location when it loses signal. Plus, there are other settings you can choose when using the GPS.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
9.4
27%
Photography
9.0
12%
Geographic mapping
9.0
8%
Fishing
9.0
6%
Hunting
9.0
5%
Spy / Surveillance
9.2
5%
Racing
7.8
3%
Fun
9.0
Video
9.3
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.2
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
360° flip
N/S
3%
VR glasses compatibility
N/S
Photography
8.9
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
8.6
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.2
10%
GPS
10.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
Spy / Surveillance
9.1
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
8%
Flight time (min)
9.2
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.2
5%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
5%
GPS
10.0
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
N/S
Geographic mapping
8.8
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
8.6
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
9.2
7%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
10.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
N/S
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
10%
Flight time (min)
9.2
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
N/S
Fishing
9.2
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
10%
Flight time (min)
9.2
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.1
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
9.1
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.1
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
10%
Flight time (min)
9.2
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.1
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
9.2
10%
Charging time (min)
8.1
10%
Follow me
10.0
10%
Circle Fly
10.0
10%
360° flip
N/S
6%
Control distance (meters)
7.3
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
N/S
5%
Gesture control
N/S
5%
Headless mode
N/S
5%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What are its best features?
Well, for starters, we'd like to assure you that this drone is quite easy to start up and fly. In addition, in line with the quality expected from Holy Stone, it is well built and durable, despite its lightweight nature and plastic build. We also loved the fact that an extra battery was included with the purchase despite the more relatively good flight time. Thanks to this durability and battery power, you would have quite the drone to fly.
What could be improved?
No machine is perfect, and the Holy Stone HS175D has its flaws. We noticed that the drone needed to be paired with the controller again every time it was turned off or crashed; we hope a permanent pairing is in the works for later upgrades. The app was also not satisfactory; though it was easy to understand and use, it doesn't offer any controller functionality, and this can be improved upon.
The Holy Stone HS175D drone is a well-built aircraft with a great flight time and an altitude hold that is suitable for use by adults. It also possesses intelligent circle fly and waypoint fly features.
Holy Stone is known to manufacture drones to serve both the needs of beginners and experts. The HS175D is an upgrade on the HS175, and, as expected, it is better in some regards. It has a longer flight time, better video transmission quality, and four brushless motors to make its flight quieter, smoother, and more stable in winds.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.5
27%
Photography
7.7
12%
Geographic mapping
8.0
8%
Fishing
8.3
6%
Hunting
8.3
5%
Spy / Surveillance
8.5
5%
Racing
7.4
3%
Fun
8.4
Video
8.5
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
7%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
360° flip
N/S
3%
VR glasses compatibility
N/S
Photography
7.6
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
15%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
10%
GPS
10.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
Spy / Surveillance
8.5
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
8.0
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
9.4
5%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
GPS
10.0
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
N/S
Geographic mapping
8.0
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
8.0
7%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
10.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
N/S
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
Flight time (min)
8.0
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
N/S
Fishing
8.3
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
8.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.3
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
Flight time (min)
8.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
N/S
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
8.0
10%
Charging time (min)
7.8
10%
Follow me
10.0
10%
Circle Fly
N/S
10%
360° flip
N/S
6%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
N/S
5%
Gesture control
N/S
5%
Headless mode
N/S
5%
Altitude hold
N/S
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What makes it stand out?
There's a lot to love about the HS110G, and we love it all. We were very impressed with the auto-landing and auto take-off features of the drone. The new GPS function also played a role in some of the flight stability improvements that were noticed compared to the HS110D. However, our biggest thumb up is for the provision of spare parts by the manufacture in the event of a crash.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
The HS110G is not completely better than the HS110SD. For instance, despite not possessing the propeller guards that the HS110D has, this drone is still heavier. We were also disappointed by the fact that the HS110G, unlike the HS110D, doesn't support a remote Smartphone. Improvements could also be made on the charge time because it lasts pretty long.
The Holy Stone HS110G is a quadcopter with a follow-me function and GPS module to aid flight stability, making it one of the best GPS-fitted drones under $200.
The HS110G is one of the most affordable brands by Holy Stone drones available and is similar to the HS110D. Though the HS110D boasts a wider field of view and better video quality, the HS110G offers a longer flight time, more battery power, and a GPS module that enhances flight stability through communication with satellites.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.1
27%
Photography
6.2
12%
Geographic mapping
7.5
8%
Fishing
7.2
6%
Hunting
7.2
5%
Spy / Surveillance
7.6
5%
Racing
7.1
3%
Fun
7.9
Video
8.1
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
360° flip
10.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
N/S
Photography
6.1
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
5.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
7.5
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
7.8
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
GPS
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
7.3
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
7%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
6.1
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
6.1
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Protection Guards
10.0
5%
Return Home
5.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
7.3
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
6.1
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
N/S
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
7.1
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
12%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
6.1
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
N/S
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Charging time (min)
N/S
10%
Follow me
5.0
10%
Circle Fly
5.0
10%
360° flip
10.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
10.0
5%
Gesture control
10.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
10.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
What are our favorite features?
Like many other pilots who have purchased this drone, we were impressed by its lightness, but we were even more impressed by how the drone manages to maintain stability despite the lightness. It also has a gravity control feature and gesture control to help beginners and photographers take more stable shots. The FPV view and circle fly round off an amazing drone.
What could be better?
Considering its weight and functionality, this drone more than deserves its spot on our list, and it does so at a very low price compared to some of the other reviewed drones. However, changes could be made to the camera quality down the line. This drone arguably goes from being an excellent drone for most people to being the perfect drone for beginners with a better camera.
The DEERC drone is a lightweight drone that is appropriate for kids and adults.
The DEERC drone is very similar to the DEERC D10 model from the same manufacturer, but this one doesn’t come with a backpack and doesn’t have the Ultra HD camera on that drone. However, this one is cheaper, and that one is out of the price range of this buying guide.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.8
27%
Photography
9.2
12%
Geographic mapping
8.1
8%
Fishing
8.2
6%
Hunting
8.2
5%
Spy / Surveillance
8.4
5%
Racing
7.5
3%
Fun
7.4
Video
8.8
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
8.8
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
360° flip
5.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
10.0
Photography
9.2
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
10%
GPS
10.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
8.6
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
8.8
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
8%
Flight time (min)
7.3
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
5%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
GPS
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
8.1
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
8.8
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.3
7%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
10.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
Flight time (min)
7.3
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
10.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
N/S
Fishing
8.3
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Flight time (min)
7.3
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
8.8
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.5
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
10%
Flight time (min)
7.3
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
8.8
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.0
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
7.3
10%
Charging time (min)
9.2
10%
Follow me
10.0
10%
Circle Fly
5.0
10%
360° flip
5.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
7.0
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
5.0
5%
Headless mode
N/S
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What makes it stand out?
The thing that we liked most is a camera - that's one of the selling points of the Potensic, and among the reviewed drones on this list, it performed best in this regard, hence the nomination. However, the camera is not all we like; the brushless motor makes this drone more stable, and the aluminum body confers more durability than some of the other drones on our list. The cherry on top of this fantastic affordable drone has to be the customer service, with many other customers praising them. More on that when we have cause for it.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
We experienced some problems with the battery of our drone before the first flight, and it is assumed that it was dead. Customer reviews showed similar problems had occurred with other customers. Considering our expertise, more than one customer needed to receive replacement batteries, though it was easy to figure out. We hope this isn't a bigger problem, but more battery life and flight time would be welcomed.
The Potensic T25 drone is an affordable drone that offers budding photographers a chance to try out drone-based photographs in a stable drone.
The direct model to which the Potensic T25 could be compared is the Potensic D50, and despite the fact that the D50 is more expensive, the T25 is widely considered a much better performer. It offers more battery power, has a good quality FPV camera, and is quite stable in the air.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.5
27%
Photography
7.9
12%
Geographic mapping
8.2
8%
Fishing
8.5
6%
Hunting
8.5
5%
Spy / Surveillance
8.6
5%
Racing
7.3
3%
Fun
8.8
Video
8.5
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.5
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
360° flip
N/S
3%
VR glasses compatibility
N/S
Photography
7.9
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
10%
GPS
N/S
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
8.5
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.5
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
8%
Flight time (min)
9.0
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
8.2
5%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
GPS
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
N/S
Geographic mapping
8.1
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.5
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
7%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
N/S
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
N/S
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
N/S
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
8.5
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.5
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
N/S
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.5
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.5
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.6
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
N/S
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Charging time (min)
7.8
10%
Follow me
N/S
10%
Circle Fly
N/S
10%
360° flip
N/S
6%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
10.0
5%
Gesture control
10.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
N/S
What makes it stand out?
We couldn't help but notice how committed this drone is to convenience and ease of control. Almost all of its features were added with this in mind. The gesture control helps to take pictures with little stress; the gravity sensor helps to make flying easier. The adjustable camera offers a variety of angles and reduces the need for too much motion. In our opinion, you won't be seeing a more convenient drone anytime soon.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
The entire package of this drone is all good, and some understated features like the space for a memory stick make it even more convenient. However, one place where this drone goes wrong is in the absence of brushless motors. There was a lot of drifting during flights, and it's not hard to see beginners losing their drones during a flight if this is not fixed.
The Holy Stone HS440 drone is one that brings together some high-end features in an easy-to-understand drone for beginners.
While the HS440 compares favorably to some drones under the Holy Stone brand, its transmission signal is no competition for the 5G transmission of the HS470. However, it offers a lot of fun for beginner pilots.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.0
27%
Photography
6.2
12%
Geographic mapping
7.2
8%
Fishing
7.2
6%
Hunting
7.2
5%
Spy / Surveillance
7.5
5%
Racing
6.4
3%
Fun
7.1
Video
8.1
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
9.1
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
360° flip
10.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
5.0
Photography
6.1
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
5.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
7.4
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
9.1
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
7.8
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
5%
GPS
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
7.1
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
9.1
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
7%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
5%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
8.0
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
7.3
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
5.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
7.4
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
9.1
11%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
7.2
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
9.1
12%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
7.8
10%
Charging time (min)
9.2
10%
Follow me
5.0
10%
Circle Fly
5.0
10%
360° flip
10.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
5.1
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
5.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
What are its best features?
The SYMA X600W might lack many features, but what it possesses, it is designed to use optimally. We experienced this optimal use with the flight time and, considering it comes with two batteries, that's a huge plus. We also loved the custom flight path feature that was incorporated. The stable hover flight and its camera make it good for taking stable shots as well.
What could be improved?
Unfortunately, the X600W doesn't have remote control via the app, making it an inferior drone in some ways. We still feel that the cost makes it a better bargain, but app control would be nice to have moving forward.
The SYMA X600W drone is one that offers beginners to drone flight sufficient time to get acclimatized to drone control and flight.
While the drone may have been designated for adults and kids in its description, it doesn’t compare well against the SYMA X22W that’s also meant for kids and beginners.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.6
27%
Photography
7.6
12%
Geographic mapping
7.9
8%
Fishing
8.1
6%
Hunting
8.1
5%
Spy / Surveillance
8.4
5%
Racing
7.6
3%
Fun
9.1
Video
8.5
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
360° flip
10.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
10.0
Photography
7.6
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
N/S
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
8.3
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
7.4
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
GPS
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
N/S
Geographic mapping
8.0
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
6.8
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.4
7%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Return Home
N/S
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
N/S
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
7.4
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Protection Guards
10.0
5%
Return Home
N/S
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
8.1
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Flight time (min)
7.4
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
N/S
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.1
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
7.4
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
N/S
3%
Return Home
N/S
3%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
3%
GLONASS
N/S
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
7.4
10%
Charging time (min)
8.8
10%
Follow me
N/S
10%
Circle Fly
N/S
10%
360° flip
10.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
N/S
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
10.0
5%
Gesture control
10.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
10.0
3%
Return Home
N/S
What makes it stand out?
This drone brings together features and is a great toy or beginner drone, whichever you may intend it to be. We love the fact that the drone has the kind of features that makes it enjoyable for both adults and kids; it's an actual family drone. Kids can have fun with the gestures control, while beginners would definitely fall in love with the trajectory flight.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
This drone is very light and, as a result, it's not very good for windy situations. The batteries also overheat and need some time before they can be recharged. Thankfully, it descends by itself when it is about to die. So, a few changes to the battery and a few features to help manage during windy weather is all this drone is lacking.
The Holy Stone F181W drone is one that delivers all you’d want from a modern drone at an affordable price.
The F181W doesn’t have any direct models it can be compared to, but because their manufacturers are well-known in the drone-making world, we expected a quality drone, and they delivered.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
6.5
27%
Photography
6.2
12%
Geographic mapping
6.2
8%
Fishing
6.1
6%
Hunting
6.1
5%
Spy / Surveillance
6.1
5%
Racing
6.7
3%
Fun
7.0
Video
N/A
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
N/S
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
5.0
3%
Follow me
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
360° flip
10.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
5.0
Photography
N/A
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
5.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
N/A
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
N/S
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
7.5
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
5%
GPS
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Trajectory flight
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
5.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
N/A
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
N/S
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.5
7%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
5%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
5.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Return Home
5.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
10%
Flight time (min)
7.5
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
10.0
5%
Return Home
5.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
N/A
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
10%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
10%
Flight time (min)
7.5
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
N/S
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
5.0
Hunting
N/A
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
N/S
12%
FOV (degrees)
N/S
11%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
10%
Flight time (min)
7.5
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
N/S
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
9.2
2%
Trajectory flight
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
5.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
7.5
10%
Charging time (min)
9.2
10%
Follow me
5.0
10%
Circle Fly
5.0
10%
360° flip
10.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
5.6
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
5.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
5.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
10.0
3%
Return Home
5.0
Why is it special?
The drone is for kids and we have to say it has a feature that kids would love, so we love it too. The drone is tiny, and it's a wonder how this even functions. This tiny drone has a 3D flip feature, multiple speed settings, and a throw-to-go function. That last feature is definitely the most interesting on this drone, but we are happy if the kids are happy.
What are the flaws?
We find it hard to find fault with a drone that was designed to serve kids; it's quite hard to go wrong there. If there were one tip, we could give, though, it would be for the manufacturers to try making this drone a little bigger. It's small and convenient, but that means it's more likely they may try to force it into orifices it has no business exploring.
The Holy Stone mini drone is a drone that is meant only for kids. Adults might try it out, but they would be disappointed for the most part.
Compared to the Holy Stone HS190 mini drone, this drone is relatively better. However, this drone doesn’t possess the headless mode features or the altitude hold that the HS190 includes.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
8.1
27%
Photography
7.8
12%
Geographic mapping
7.5
8%
Fishing
7.7
6%
Hunting
7.7
5%
Spy / Surveillance
7.9
5%
Racing
7.9
3%
Fun
7.6
Video
8.0
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
360° flip
10.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
5.0
Photography
7.9
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
5.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
7.9
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
8%
Flight time (min)
9.0
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
GPS
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Trajectory flight
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
7.5
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
7%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
5%
GPS
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
5.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
10.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
10.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
Fishing
7.6
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.3
2%
Trajectory flight
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
7.6
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.4
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.3
11%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
7.9
7%
GPS
5.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
5.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
8.3
2%
Trajectory flight
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
9.0
10%
Charging time (min)
8.3
10%
Follow me
5.0
10%
Circle Fly
5.0
10%
360° flip
10.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
6.4
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
5.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
10.0
5%
Headless mode
10.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
N/S
3%
Protection Guards
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What are its best features?
This drone brings fun to flying and we are happy to have shared in the fun as well. From the 3D flip to the FPV feed, the drone offers enough all round quality without doing anything spectacularly. It's also perfect for beginners for which the machine was made. We couldn't help but marvel at the ease with which the flips could be performed and the general ease of setup and flight.
What could be improved?
There's not much wrong with this drone, but we would have to point out that e expected there to be app control and gesture controls. Though the drone has an attitude hold to help users take stable pictures, it doesn't really hit home due to the quality of the camera. Finally, the manufacturers could add a custom flight path feature so pilots could watch their drone in autonomous action.
The FPV drone lives up to its affordable billing by providing many interesting features at a low price.
The drone compares well with the Zuhafa T4, but if we are honest, they both offer fantastic value at their respective prices.
What it is: For general purpose. The drone will be used on different occasions - mainly for taking photos and video recording. However, the model can also be used for geographic mapping, hunting and fishing or just for fun.
Score components:
34%
Video
9.1
27%
Photography
9.6
12%
Geographic mapping
8.7
8%
Fishing
8.8
6%
Hunting
8.8
5%
Spy / Surveillance
8.9
5%
Racing
7.2
3%
Fun
7.6
Video
9.2
X
What it is: The drone will be used for video recording: professional cinematography, blogging, or any other purpose. The product’s required to feature high-resolution camera, wide field of view, and large memory card capacity, among other specs.
Score components:
35%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.7
8%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
7%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
5%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
5%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
3%
Follow me
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
360° flip
5.0
3%
VR glasses compatibility
N/S
Photography
9.6
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for taking photos – it’s expected to possess a high-resolution camera, Altitude Hold feature for stabilization, as well as other useful features in this case – such as Circle Fly or Gesture Control.
Score components:
45%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
15%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
10%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
10%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
10%
GPS
10.0
7%
Camera Mount Type
N/S
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
Spy / Surveillance
8.8
X
What it is: The drone is going to be used as a quiet surveillance device. We were targeting on those with great camera specifications (Live View quality in particular), impressive control distance, and additional handy features, such as GPS or Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
20%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.7
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
9%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
8%
Flight time (min)
8.1
7%
Max memory card capacity (GB)
N/S
5%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
5%
GPS
10.0
3%
GLONASS
10.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Trajectory flight
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
1%
Galileo
5.0
Geographic mapping
8.7
X
What it is: The device will be used for mapping and surveying. Ideally, it’s a specifically designated device with weatherproof construction, great camera and suitable software. However, more simple models can be used for casual hiking, for instance.
Score components:
15%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
10%
Photo Resolution (Mp)
N/S
10%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.7
10%
Flight time (min)
8.1
7%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
5%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
5%
GPS
10.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
4%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
GLONASS
10.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
2%
Protection Guards
5.0
2%
Return Home
10.0
2%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
1%
Galileo
5.0
Racing
N/A
X
What it is: If you intend to use your drone for racing, it must be light, highly maneuverable, and fast, of course. These devices are also wind resistant and feature Protection Guards or Obstacle Detection function.
Score components:
30%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
20%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
10%
Flight time (min)
8.1
10%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max ascend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Max descend speed (m/s)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Protection Guards
5.0
5%
Return Home
10.0
5%
Headless mode
5.0
Fishing
8.7
X
What it is: The product will be used for fishing. A high-quality camera with wide field of view is required in the first place. Also, the device must be ultra-quiet and feature an extra-long control distance.
Score components:
15%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.7
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
10%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
10%
Flight time (min)
8.1
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
10.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Hunting
8.7
X
What it is: The drone’s going to be used for hunting purposes. It must be extra-quiet and compact, as well as have a powerful, high-capacity battery. The case must be sturdy, operate at low temperatures, and withstand all weather elements.
Score components:
13%
Live View (FPV) Quality
8.7
12%
FOV (degrees)
9.5
11%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
10%
Flight time (min)
8.1
10%
Video Resolution + FPS
9.3
7%
GPS
10.0
5%
Camera adjustability (degrees)
9.3
5%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Max wind speed resistance (m/s)
N/S
3%
Circle Fly
10.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
3%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
3%
GLONASS
10.0
3%
Operating temperature range (C)
N/S
3%
Charging time (min)
7.8
2%
Trajectory flight
10.0
2%
Altitude hold
10.0
2%
Smartphone controlled
10.0
Fun
N/A
X
What it is: Drones used for fun must feature a wide array of additional functionality – such as a 360° flip, Voice and Gesture control, RGB lights, and Protection Guards/Obstacle Detection.
Score components:
10%
Flight time (min)
8.1
10%
Charging time (min)
7.8
10%
Follow me
10.0
10%
Circle Fly
10.0
10%
360° flip
5.0
6%
Control distance (meters)
7.6
5%
Max speed (km/h)
N/S
5%
Obstacle Detection
5.0
5%
Trajectory flight
10.0
5%
Voice control
5.0
5%
Gesture control
5.0
5%
Headless mode
5.0
5%
Altitude hold
10.0
3%
Max height (meters)
7.5
3%
Protection Guards
5.0
3%
Return Home
10.0
What are our favorite features?
We liked the fact that the drone could be operated and calibrated through the app. It also helps that the drone is easy to control, and even if you struggle to come to grips with it fast enough, the GPS- assisted return-home feature is there to ensure that your drone doesn't go wandering into the wilderness.
What could be better?
The drone doesn't come with memory card compatibility and saves directly to the app album. Another issue we noticed was the tendency for the drone to be affected by wind. It's probably because it's made from plastic to aid easy flight but getting blown around by winds is not good for control. The video quality was good enough, but in low light, it deteriorates, and this, combined with a shaky WiFi signal, could lead to an inconsistent video feed.
The Tomzon D40 drone offers a 4k video resolution from its camera and a relatively long flying time for users.
Tomzon is a popular manufacturer of drones with a number of models under its belt. However, the Tomzon D40, which possesses many of the other features in the D25, doesn’t possess the headless mode or hand gesture photographing that the other model has. In terms of camera quality, though, they are similar, and both also possess the return-home feature that makes this drone a favorite with adults who are beginners with drones.
Things to Consider
If you’ve been watching drone flights online and are eager to get one for yourself, it’s easier to get tempted or pushed into buying a bigger, faster, more sophisticated drone. However, relatively experienced pilots looking to impress carry out most of those drone flights.
The reality of a beginner is much less glamorous and uncertain. Don’t get us wrong; it’s fun to fly but you have to understand that when you start flying, there is the likelihood that you’re going to struggle to control your drone properly, crash your drone or lose it altogether.
So, rather than experience the negatives of the fragility of drones at an expensive rate, why don’t you learn the intricacies of drone flight on a cheaper aircraft that provides good value for the cost. That’s the drone advice we are giving.
Thanks to the flexibility of manufacturers and their commitment to considering potential pilots’ pockets, many of these drones possess a level of functionality that their price belies. Many of the drones we would be mentioning even utilize GPS technology to enable an auto-return home function (such as the Holy Stone HS110G drone) that reduces the likelihood of a drone wandering away.
What to expect from drones under $200
As earlier implied, the machine you’d be getting would not be the most sophisticated on the market if you’re looking to purchase a quadcopter under $200, but it would be worth its cost.
One thing we can assure you’d have on many of our recommended drones is the possibility to take aerial images and footage. In fact, this is a significant selling point of many good drones under $200 that are not cheap enough to be designated as toys; consider them to be affordable introductions to aerial footage.
Along with the opportunity for aerial imagery, a drone purchased for under $200 would be light. It might not be light enough to escape FAA flight law requirements in the United States
Trusted SourceUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)Whether you’re a new drone pilot or have years of experience, rules, and safety tips exist to help you fly safely in the national airspace.
www.faa.gov
, but it would definitely be light enough to require cautious flight in strong winds (another reason to be thankful for the popular return-home feature).
Features to consider
Expectations aside, drones possess some basic characteristics by which they could be judged. These represent solid metrics by which types of drones
Trusted SourceTypes of DronesHere we are going to discuss various types of drones and for ease of understating they are categorized into four basic sections.
filmora.wondershare.com
could be judged and compared to one another. Rather than leaving you to figure them out, though, we have brought these features to you and are going to be putting you through what they mean and how they could influence your flight experience.
Flight Time
The duration of videos and fun time with your drone highly depends on its flight time.
Flight time is one of the first considerations you should be weighing if you’re thinking of buying a drone; you want to be sure that whatever you’re buying stays in the air long enough and if the flight time is too short, we assure you that sticking with that drone would be a frustrating experience.
Flight time becomes even more important if the goal is to utilize in taking images or footage of events. By extension, flight time is affected by battery strength and both go hand in hand. Many drones that come with more than a single battery may be marketed as having unrealistic flight times, but from a practical perspective, the SYMA X600W is the best we have reviewed in this regard.
This drone offers 20+ minutes of flight time and considering that the average flight time of drones in this price range is usually between 10 and 20 minutes, we consider that a good deal if its flight time that’s your biggest worry.
The flight time can also be influenced by the speed at which the drone is flown and the weather conditions in which they are used.
Video Resolution
Drones have been popularized by YouTube content makers that utilize them in their activities. However, they wouldn’t have grown on people if the footage made from them didn’t match up, to some extent, with the hype. Though the drones on this list don’t take images worthy of a Pulitzer or footage deserving of an Oscar, they do ok for their prices.
The Potensic T25 Drone is the best on this list in terms of video resolution and image quality. However, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering that Potensic makes some of the best camera drones under $200.
Again, we would like to point out that though you would enjoy the process of making footage especially in places that are hard to access
Trusted SourceThe FPV drone pilots taking cameras where humans can't goWhile drones for filming have been around for years, FPV has opened up new possibilities for videographers and content creators.
www.cnn.com
impersonal, and the footage would be of great quality, you can’t reasonably expect too much from a drone of this price.
Dimensions
Due to a drone’s small size, you may take it everywhere with you, because you don’t need a lot of space for it.
The dimensions of a drone usually have a lot to do with its design, and its design consequently influences function. A drone could be a single rotor drone, Tricopter, Quadcopter, Hexacopter, or Octocopter. Most of the drones we have recommended in this review are of the Quad X type.
The dimension of a drone and its design could have a say on where they would be used or for what purpose. For instance, a bigger drone may not be ideal for indoor use around home but would be suited to outdoor use. In terms of dimensions, the biggest drone on this list is arguably the Holy Stone HS110G, while the smallest is the Holy Stone Mini drone.
Weight
There are two perspectives from which the influence of weight in a drone could be considered. The first is in how it affects the need or lack thereof of registration. For example, in the United States, drones weighing less than 250g are not required to be registered with the FAA. Above that weight, registration is important before taking off.
On the other hand, the weight would play a part in how your drone would perform in flight. Smaller drones that are designed to be lightweight would find themselves more subject to the whims of the wind than larger drones. Unfortunately, many of the drones on this list are made from plastic and would be affected by the wind.
The Holy Stone MINI drone is the lightest drone on this list and should be experiencing the effects of strong winds more than all of the others. The heaviest, though, is the Potensic T25 drone that weighs over 4 pounds. To mitigate the effect of weight on the stability of drones, manufacturers are starting to incorporate technology such as the stable hover flight feature (in drones such as the SYMA X600W), gravity control (in drones such as the DEERC drone), and the gravity sensor (in drones such as the Holy Stone HS440).
Drones are made to hover and we can assure you that if you calibrate yours well, then it should be stable in calm weather conditions regardless of weight.
Transmission Range
Drones have a limited range. When the drone is flying out of that range, then the signal you need to control the drone is lost. Therefore you can no longer control the drone.
When it comes to picking out a drone for how far away it could be controlled from, the transmission range is the feature to look out for. This basically looks at the strength of the signal between controller and drone and the distance beyond which transmission might not be effective enough to guarantee control.
In terms of this range, no drone on our list even comes close to the Tomzon D40. Regardless of which drone you purchase, though, pushing the drone too far could lose you your drone.
We would also like to point out that the weather affected the transmission range in practical settings. As such, rather than stubbornly persisting with whatever range is listed on the packaging of your drone, you should be ready to turn your drone back towards home (or at least, avoid testing the limit of the transmission range) if the weather turns against you or you start to feel that your control on the aircraft is not as smooth.
Maximum Height
When you are looking to take an aerial picture or image, the maximum height of your drone could be an important consideration depending on just how high you think you’d need to be. For instance, the height you might be required to make for photography would differ from that you would need for a roof inspection.
We generally recommend that pilots do not test this max height, especially when the weather conditions are not very appropriate. As such, curb your enthusiasm for flight and appetite for risk to function well within the range or risk losing control over your drone. You should probably also check out whether or not there’s a height limit for drones in your region before flying.
Having said all of that, the drones with the highest potential heights on our list of recommended drones happen to be the Holy Stone drones and the Tomzon D40 drone.
Material
Top materials used in drones are fiber-reinforced composites, thermoplastics such as polyester, nylon, polystyrene, aluminum and lithium ion batteries.
As we pointed out earlier when discussing the weight of drones on our list of recommended drones under $200, most of these drones are made from plastic with the exception of the Potensic T25 drone, which is made from aluminum.
The use of aluminum (despite its relative lightness compared to other metals) probably contributed to the weight of the Potensic T25 drone compared to others on our list. However, aluminum should also provide more durability than plastic would.
Durability and build material are related and the durability of a drone could be important especially for beginners who are very likely to crash many times.
Warranty
The relative fragility of drones under $200 and the ease with which they could be lost (especially if beginners use them) makes the need for a good warranty policy as important as some of the physical features on the drone. Yes, the price might seem cheap, but the term is relative.
As such, before purchasing a drone, you should check out if it has a warranty policy. We would also recommend that you check out the warranty terms to see if they are acceptable. To round up your research on a potential drone purchase, you could also inquire as to whether or not the manufacturers have a repair policy or a replacement plan for damaged or lost drones. All of these could save you some money in the long run.
Our recognition of the need for a warranty is the reason why all of our recommended drones possess warranty policies.
Price
There’s not much to be said about price, as affordability is the reason for this guide. However, we can say that the drones on our list offer an acceptable value for the cost in all cases. In the event that you are looking to purchase a drone outside this list, though, to ascertain the value of your purchase, checking out customer reviews on the product would be an informative task
Beyond that, we advise that you also compare potential purchases with similar drones in the same price range. The trusted drones on our list could serve as a basis for this comparison as you can be assured that our analysis is trustworthy.
Other features
Beyond the main features of drones, such as the dimensions, weight, maximum height, transmission range, and the rest, drone models (even those within the same brand) tend to come with special features to help improve their functionality and make them more efficient attractive to pilots.
As long as you activate the GPS positioning function, It will always return automatically whenever the battery is low, the signal is lost, or you press one key return.
Some of these features are:
An auto-return home function
GPS
A follow-me mode
Circle flight
3D flip
Custom flight path
Gravity control
Headless mode
A gravity sensor
Gesture control
You would probably not be seeing a drone with all of these features on our list of top rated drones under $200, but many of the drones we have pointed out should possess combinations of a few of these features.
The headless mode possessed by some of the drones on our list (such as the FPV drone) simply is the ability of your drone to function from your point of view. This means that the drone would interpret movements or changes in direction from the orientation it bore at take-off.
The custom flight path feature would allow for users of a drone possessing the feature to select some locations as a path of a path that the drone then flies through autonomously. The feature might have variations from drone to drone, but the concept of autonomous flight remains the same.
Some of the features are less functional but bring a lot of fun to piloting. This includes the 3D flip and sometimes the circle-flight, but others like the GPS and the return-home feature are safety measures against the loss of a drone. In some models, such as the Holy Stone HS110G, the GPS also contributes to stability.
Included components
All of the functionality and features that we have pointed out over the course of this guide would need certain components to be carried out. One of the real marvels of drone construction is the impressive way in which all of these components are contained within their constructed body. Some of the components are:
Electronic speed controllers to monitor the speed and direction of the aircraft
A GPS module
Transmitters and antennas
A camera (not always present)
Sensors (such as GPS sensors or collision avoidance sensors in some drones)
Altimeter to measure the altitude of the aircraft
As indicated above, not all of these components would be present within a given drone, but some of them, like the speed controllers, transmitters and antennas, are essential to flight and would always be present.
What is FPV Transmission Range?
Using the omnidirectional transmitter and corresponding antenna will give a live video signal up to about 1.5 mile (2.4 km) range.
The FPV (First Person View) transmission
Trusted SourceUnderstanding Drone FPV Live Video, Antenna Gain And Range - DroneZonHow to increase video range using antenna gain and drones with the longest range.
www.dronezon.com
is a big reason for the boom in drone popularity. The feature allows users or pilots to follow the drone’s flight through a live feed that shows the drone’s perspective. In a way, it gives the impression of flying from within the drone.
The use of an FPV goggle could enhance the experience further, but the experience is spectacular even without them. However, there is a range within which this feature can function seamlessly, and beyond this range, the needed signal might not be picked up. Another problem is the fact that in most drones, the antenna for the FPV transmission is unidirectional, and outside of the covered area, no signal would be picked up. If you want to experience this feature within a large enough range on a $200 budget, the Tomzon D40 drone is your aircraft.
This would depend on what type of drone you’re buying. Generally, drones under $200 can range from small near-toys to affordable camera drones. The distance, too, would follow a similar path. For instance, some of the best camera drones under $200 would be able to fly as far as 400m while the smaller drones, which are more toy than aircraft, would only be able to assure you of a few meters before they are out of range.
While there are apps for some drones under $200, they are not available for all of these drones. Furthermore, the functionality of the app would vary from brand to brand and from model to model. For some, the app provides an avenue for calibration and control, while others don’t grant remote control. Deciding if remote control via the app is important to you is a factor to consider before purchasing a drone.
Yes. The quality of the video that can be made would obviously depend on the quality of the camera that is fitted to the drone. However, many of these drones under $200 are designed and marketed for use in aerial photography, and as such, they come with good enough cameras to deliver on their claims of high resolution. Therefore, yes, a high-quality video can be made using drones purchased for less than $200.
Our verdict
At $200, it would be unreasonable to expect a drone to have the range of functionality or usefulness that sophisticated, expensive drones possess, but the picks on our list of recommended drones do an excellent job of combining many features that may be useful to pilots at this level.
The Aovo Drone was our top pick, offering maximum performance and GPS assistance to improve your experience. It also has a long battery time and flies quietly, with multiple intelligent features.
We gave the Holy Stone HS175D the exact same rating as the Tomzon D40 despite the fact that it doesn’t offer the same range. What the HS175D does bring to the table is a solid, durable build, battery power, an extra battery, and Holy Stone’s reputation. The drone feels like a strong one and performs like that while promising long-term use if managed right.
The HS110G is more or less equal to the model many customers think it should be replacing. It’s not that they have the same features; it’s more like the manufacturers toned down certain features and improved on others. Nevertheless, we loved the GPS-assisted return home feature on this model and its general function compared favorably to other drones of comparable prices.
We have spoken about how the weight of the DEERC drone might affect its stability and some of the moves made by its manufacturers to offset this potential instability. Nevertheless, the lightweight nature of this drone is most definitely justified by its suitability for kids and the range of exciting features like the gesture selfie and 3D flips. Combine those with its tap fly function (not as good as that possessed by the HS110G), and it’s worth its rating on our list.
The Potensic T25 rounds up our top five drones. It’s the best drone on the list for taking pictures and footage. It is also the most durable from a build standpoint. We loved how maximum height, camera quality and flight stability was combined in this drone but its FPV transmission range left a lot to be desired, but it should still prove a bargain for budding content makers.
All Drone Reviews
Showing 15 of
References
1.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Whether you’re a new drone pilot or have years of experience, rules, and safety tips exist to help you fly safely in the national airspace.
About us
Contact Us
