If you spend at least five minutes learning how to choose a quadcopter, you will quickly realize that there are tons of options to choose from.
And so that you do not get lost in this sea of drones, we will suggest the most popular models that have many positive reviews from both Russian and foreign users on specialized resources.
How to choose a drone for beginners
The less experience you have, the easier the drone should be to control.
The quadcopter can be controlled either with a dedicated smartphone app or with a remote control. Some models are controlled with a remote control, while additional flight information is displayed on a phone or tablet.
For beginners, it is better to choose models with a remote control, as it is more difficult to control the flight using a mobile application.
If the quadcopter is intended as a gift for a child, it must have safety options (for example, with frame protection for the rotor).
Choose a drone that does what you want.
Decide how you want to use the drone, then narrow down your choices to drones that can do these things well.
- For example, you are interested in a quadcopter that can perform simple acrobatics to the delight of you and your child. Then the obvious choice is a small, mobile drone instead of a larger drone with a camera.
- On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a bird's eye view, you will need a drone with FPV (First Person View) - the broadcast of first-person video.
- If you want to take complex aerial photography and shoot high-quality video in flight, you will have to fork out for an expensive model with an excellent video camera. We will also mention such models in this quadcopter rating.
Size and weight
Large drones (from 50 cm) are quite heavy and fly steadily in gusty winds. These models are only run outdoors.
Small (10 cm to 25 cm) and medium (25 cm to 50 cm) quadcopters weigh much less, and can already deviate from a given trajectory in an average wind.
Important: the weight of a quadrocopter intended for a beginner user or as a gift for a child should be less than 250 grams. Otherwise, you will have to register it with the Federal Air Transport Agency.
Camcorder
Which drone to choose for shooting depends solely on your needs.
- Drone cameras designed for professional shooting can shoot video in Ultra HD 4K (3840x2160) resolution.
- If a drone is essential for hobbyist photography, look for models with HD (1280 × 720) and Full HD (1920 × 1080) recording capabilities.
- There are drones designed for those who like to take spectacular selfies. Such models have a good camera with the function of fixing the object and tracking it.
- Shooting frames can be saved using the aircraft's internal memory, or an SD memory card.
Best Budget Quadcopters 2020
3. Blade Nano QX 3D RTF BLH7100
The average price is 5,490 rubles.
Characteristics:
- quadcopter
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: mini
- camera availability: no camera
- maximum flight time 5 min.
- functions: 3D piloting, automatic flips
- sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope
- control: radio channel
- does not require registration for flights
Here is the answer to the question of which quadcopter to choose for beginners. The Blade Nano QX is an inexpensive drone that lacks a camera, but is quick and agile.
The 3D prefix in its name means that this drone is capable of air pirouettes (flips around its axis).
pros: very easy to operate, there are spare screws included.
Minuses: short run time, very sensitive to wind.
2. Ryze Tech Tello
The average price is 7 890 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: mini
- maximum flight time 13 min.
- maximum flight speed 8 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 720p
- functions: automatic flips, automatic takeoff and landing, first person view (FPV)
- sensors: ultrasonic sensor, barometer, visual positioning sensor
- control: WiFi
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- does not require registration for flights
If you want everything from a quadcopter at a reasonable price, then Ryze Tech Tello is the best choice. It has an impressive control range - up to 100 meters, good quality of shooting and average flight time for most inexpensive models. There is even digital stabilization, which improves the quality of the video you shoot. Simplicity of control will allow even a child to easily master this model.
It's also very convenient to connect the battery to Ryze Tech Tello, all you need to do is insert the battery into the case and snap it shut.
pros: compact size, making it easy to fit in a backpack or bag, agile and responsive to control.
Minuses: takes off no more than 10 meters above the ground (software limitation), due to its small size, sensitive to wind.
1. CXHOBBY (Cheerson) CX-10W
The average price is 3 370 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: micro
- camera availability: with camera
- maximum flight time 4 min.
- Features: First Person View (FPV)
- sensors: gyroscope
- control: WiFi
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- does not require registration for flights
If you don't know which quadcopter to choose from Aliexpress, take the CXHOBBY CX-10W - you can't go wrong. It has a five-star rating on Yandex.Market and ranks first in our selection of budget quadcopters for its combination of cost, features and ease of use.
All controls of this model are simple and intuitive, the build quality does not cause complaints from users, and the presence of a camera and first-person view capabilities pleasantly surprise at such a low price. All in all, the CXHOBBY CX-10W is an ideal option for those starting to explore the capabilities of a quadcopter.
pros: compact size, ideal value for money.
Minuses: fragile blades that can break easily if the quadcopter hits an obstacle.
The best mid-range quadcopters
3. Propel Star Wars Tie Advanced X1
The average price is 15 690 rubles.
Characteristics:
- maximum flight time 8 min.
- video shooting: no
- sensors: altitude, gyroscope
- control: remote control
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- does not require registration for flights
Star Wars fans will surely be delighted with this drone styled as an Imperial fighter. And although this model does not have a camera, it has a unique feature - the mode of battle with other Propel Star Wars drones using the built-in IR cannon.
The controllers of these drones play several sound effects and music from the Star Wars movies. Each drone is hand-painted and numbered.
pros: design, ease of use, acrobatic mode, lasers (well, almost).
Minuses: no camera, difficult to find on sale in Russia, search on Ebay and Amazon.
2. DJI Spark Fly More Combo
The average price is 41,500 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: mini
- camera availability: with camera
- maximum flight time 16 min.
- maximum flight altitude 500 m
- maximum flight speed 13.9 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 1080p
- Functions: ActiveTrack, TapFly, Auto Takeoff and Landing, Gesture Control, First Person View (FPV), Return to Takeoff, Restricted Zone Alert
- sensors: magnetometer, accelerometer, visual positioning sensor, infrared sensor
- control: WiFi, radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GLONASS, GPS
This is one of the best video drones in the review. It has face recognition function, takes high definition photos, and can shoot high definition videos.
In addition, this model offers a variety of DJI technology signatures that include intelligent flight modes for outstanding speed and control precision. In TapFly mode, you can control your flight on your phone screen, and QuickShot mode offers four intelligent shooting programs.
Due to its small size, this drone can fly even indoors or in rough terrain among trees.
pros: LED light, many photo modes, including time-lapse and time-lapse, gesture control available, DJI Goggles support.
Minuses: short flight time, little manual photo and video settings.
1. Fimi X8 SE
The average price is 35,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: medium
- folding design
- maximum flight time 33 min.
- maximum flight altitude 500 m
- maximum flight speed 18 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 2160p
- Functions: Point of Interest, ActiveTrack, TapFly, Draw, Auto Takeoff and Landing, Intelligent Orientation Control, First Person View (FPV), Return to Takeoff, Restricted Zone Alert
- sensors: magnetometer, ultrasonic sensor, visual positioning sensor
- control: radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GLONASS, GPS
This drone comes with a 12MP camera with a 78.8 ° wide-angle lens, 3x optical zoom, slow motion and panoramic shooting capabilities. The Fimi X8 SE allows you to shoot excellent quality video at a resolution of 2160p, and also has the ability to fly along a programmed trajectory while shooting. This function is called Cine shot.
Other advantages of buying this drone include long flight times, three-axis stabilization, and no-fly zone alerts.
pros: high image quality, long flight range, convenient remote control.
Minuses: It is not possible to charge all 3 batteries at the same time, the fit is often poor.
The best premium drones
3. Autel Robotics EVO
The average price is 66,317 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: medium
- maximum flight time 30 min.
- maximum flight range 7 km
- maximum video resolution: 4K
- functions: automatic flips, automatic takeoff and landing, first person view (FPV)
- sensors: ultrasonic sensor, barometer, visual positioning sensor
- control: WiFi
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GPS and GLONASS
The first thing you'll notice about the EVO is its bright orange color scheme. It makes it noticeable, which is very good if you need to find the drone in tall grass or visually determine where it is against a bright sky.
Autel Robotics EVO is a very rugged drone with long battery life and obstacle detection system. If the connection between the drone and the remote control is lost, the EVO will automatically return to its takeoff point. You can also activate manual return to home.
Battery life is pretty good, although the claimed 30 minutes of flight is only possible under ideal conditions. In real UAVs it will last less - about 26 minutes.
The drone's camera can shoot videos at 4K and 60 FPS. In this case, the less expensive model gives a check and checkmate to such a monster of aerial photography and video shooting as the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. You can take photos in Raw or JPG format with a resolution of 12 MP. Image quality is on par with powerful modern smartphones.
pros: Compact, foldable design, stable 4K recording at up to 60fps, the remote control has a 3.3-inch screen displaying telemetry data, battery life, and other important data.
Minuses: hard to find on sale in Russia, search on Aliexpress or Ebay. No No-Fly Zones Alert. We'll have to tinker to pull out the memory card.
2. DJI Inspire 1
The average price is 149,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by complexity of management: professional
- size: large
- maximum flight time 18 min.
- maximum flight height 120 m
- maximum flight speed 22 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 2160p
- functions: automatic take-off and landing, first-person view (FPV), return to take-off point, alert about restricted areas
- sensors: magnetometer, accelerometer, ultrasonic sensor, barometer, visual positioning sensor, gyroscope
- control: radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GPS
The DJI Inspire 1 gives you everything you need for aerial video and photography of the highest quality. Its camera supports 4K video recording at 25 frames per second, and the lens provides a 94-degree view.
In flight, the Inspire 1 feels extremely stable even at high altitudes and in strong winds. It also has the ability to control flight and camera from different consoles and is equipped with a retractable landing gear.
This drone uses a 3-axis gimbal camera control system with a full 360 degree panning range. This allows the camera to maintain a fixed angle on the subject no matter how the drone is moving. The Inspire 1 is also compatible with iOS and Android, and all you have to do is connect your device to the remote and you're ready to fly.
pros: there is an autopilot, there is an alert about restricted areas and the ability to return to the take-off point.
Minuses: The Inspire 1's only major drawback is its very short battery life and, to a lesser extent, the high price tag
1. DJI Phantom 4 PRO
The average price is 125,000 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: medium
- camera availability: with camera
- maximum flight time 30 min.
- maximum flight altitude 500 m
- maximum flight speed 20 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 2160p
- Functions: Point of Interest, ActiveTrack, TapFly, Draw, Auto Takeoff and Landing, Gesture Control, Flyby Set Points, Intelligent Orientation Control, First Person View (FPV), Return to Takeoff, Operator Follow, Restricted Zone Alert
- sensors: magnetometer, accelerometer, ultrasonic sensor, barometer, visual positioning sensor, infrared sensor, gyroscope
- control: radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GLONASS, GPS
While this drone is slightly more expensive than its closest competitor, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, it has some additional features that many enthusiasts are willing to pay extra for. They include: a body made of titanium and magnesium alloy, an additional battery, 6 optical sensors (2 "look" down, two - back and 2 - forward) and a camera with the ability to take 14 frames per second in burst mode.
The DJI Phantom 4 PRO records 4K UHD video at 60 frames per second. And to make shooting easier, the quadcopter provides such functions as:
- Point of Interest - allows the operator of the quadcopter to set the radius, altitude and flight speed.
- ActiveTrack - smart mode that allows you to track moving objects. This allows the operator to recognize an obstacle in flight in time.
- TapFly - the ability to fly in the desired direction by pressing a finger on the screen in the mobile application.
pros: easy operation, wide 20mm lens, return to takeoff function, automated flight modes.
Minuses: A wide-angle lens sometimes creates distortion at the edges, and autofocus does not always work quickly in low light or low-contrast subjects.
Ranking of quadcopters with a camera in 2020
3. Xiaomi MiTu Minidrone 720P
The average price is 5,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- maximum flight time 10 min.
- maximum flight height 25 m
- maximum video resolution: 720p
- Features: First Person View (FPV)
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Ultrasonic Sensor, Barometer, Vision Positioning Sensor, Infrared Sensor
- control: WiFi, Bluetooth
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- does not require registration for flights
This is a wonderful quadcopter with a camera for a beginner and a great gift for a school child. MiTu Minidrone provides not only a ten-minute flight, but also a first-person view with the possibility of video recording at 720p.
This drone is easy to operate and small enough to be used in a large room or outdoors, moreover, without the need to register with the Federal Air Transport Agency.
An important advantage of this model is the presence of internal memory. Thanks to this, the quality of the recording will not deteriorate, which happens when transferring data over Wi-Fi. And if we are talking about Wi-Fi, then keep in mind that this drone is "friendly" only with devices that support 5.8 GHz WiFi.
pros: The camera shoots well in normal lighting, can be controlled both using a mobile application and using a Bluetooth gamepad, there is an air combat mode with another MiTu Minidrone device, high-quality assembly.
Minuses: short operating time, poorly flies in windy weather due to its low weight (88 grams).
2. DJI Mavic Air
The average price is 47,553 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: medium
- camera availability: with camera
- folding design
- maximum flight time 21 min.
- maximum flight altitude 500 m
- maximum flight speed 19 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 2160p
- Features: Point of Interest, ActiveTrack, TapFly, Auto Takeoff and Landing, Gesture Control, First Person View (FPV), Return to Takeoff, Operator Follow
- sensors: magnetometer, accelerometer, ultrasonic sensor, barometer, visual positioning sensor, infrared sensor, gyroscope
- control: WiFi, radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GLONASS, GPS
For those looking for how to choose the best quadrocopter with a camera, consider the foldable DJI Mavic Air. It can shoot video in Ultra HD resolution at 30 frames per second, 2720x1530 at 60 frames per second, or in Full HD resolution at 120 frames per second.
Photos can be taken in HDR and panoramic mode. The drone also supports Raw and JPEG applications, making it ideal for professional videography and commercial services.
This baby also has surprisingly good wind resistance. Even in strong and gusty winds, he confidently holds the course, takes good pictures and returns safely to the owner.
pros: Collision avoidance system, lightweight and compact, easy to operate, 8GB built-in memory.
Minuses: fragile propellers, short flight time, thoughtful and well-optimized DJI GO4 app, but not in Russian.
1. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
The average price is 113,290 rubles.
Characteristics:
- by difficulty of control: amateur
- size: medium
- camera availability: with camera
- folding design
- maximum flight time 31 min.
- maximum flight altitude 500 m
- maximum flight speed 20 m / s
- maximum video resolution: 2160p
- Features: Point of Interest, ActiveTrack, TapFly, Auto Takeoff and Landing, First Person View (FPV), Return to Takeoff, Follow Operator
- sensors: magnetometer, visual positioning sensor, infrared sensor
- control: radio channel
- Supported OS: Android, iOS
- navigation system: GLONASS, GPS
What quadcopter with a camera is better to take if you want the shooting to be good at any time of shooting and in any weather? The DJI Mavic 2 Pro is the best choice. It offers a 20MP camera with a 77 ° angle of view, f / 2.8 - f / 11 controllable aperture, 4K 30 FPS, and fast motion video. This model also has support for DJI Goggles.
Whichever route you choose for your quadcopter, you can count on it with 360-degree obstacle avoidance.And thanks to a well-thought-out stabilization system, this drone flies confidently even in strong winds.
pros: excellent shooting quality, long-term operation, very convenient menu, the software works stably, without glitches and freezes, the battery can withstand low temperatures.
Minuses: expensive, requires registration with the Federal Air Transport Agency.