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The best drones for kids these days aren’t just toys. You can still buy those hard-to-use plastic crafts for very cheap prices, but there are better options out there. Many drones are now easier for kids to fly and better at surviving crashes. Some even have cameras so that kids can try their hand at photography.
Some of the best drones for kids are toys, but they’re still a lot of fun to fly. They can also be a great way to start to learn about STEM. We’ve also included a few more advanced drones for those who are good at controlling them or want to take drone photography more seriously.
Best Drones For Kids Comparison Table
Product Name | Max Flight Time | Max Speed | Camera | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ryze Tech Tello | 13 minutes | 17.9 mph | 5 MP HD | 3.8 x 3.6 x 1.6″ | 0.17 lbs | $99.00 |
DJI Mini SE | 30 minutes | 29 mph | 12 MP, 2.7K | 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.8″ | 0.54 lbs | $299.00 |
HASAKEE Q9 Drone | 7 minutes | 5 mph | 480P | 5.9 x 5.9 x 1.4″ | 0.08 lbs | $39.99 |
EMAX EZ Pilot Pro Drone | 12 minutes | 35 mph | 720P HD | 9.8 x 9.8 x 2.6″ | 1.11 lbs | $199.99 |
Altair Aerial #AA108 Drone | 10 minutes | 17 mph | 720P HD | 9.8 x 9.8 x 4.1″ | 0.85 lbs | $129.80 |
Holy Stone Mini Drone | 7 minutes | 7 mph | 720P HD | 5.3 x 1.6 x 5.3″ | 0.1 lbs | $39.99 |
Potensic A20W Mini Drone | 8 minutes | 10 mph | 480P, Wi-Fi | 10.2 x 8.9 x 2.5″ | 0.15 lbs | $49.99 |
Potensic A20 Mini Drone | 5 minutes | 6 mph | None | 3.1 x 3.1 x 1.2″ | 0.01 lbs | $29.99 |
Ryze Tech Tello
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 80 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 13 minutes |
Camera | 5 MP |
Transmission Range | Up to 100 meters |
Max Speed | 8 m/s |
Stabilization | Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) |
Battery | 1,100mAh |
A lot of the technology in the Tello comes from Ryze’s parent company, DJI, which is great news for quality and smarts. The camera is built into the body and can take five-megapixel photos or 720P videos, which is the best quality you can get in a toy. Watch out for a Tello with the Iron-Man logo and an Edu flavor as well as the regular one.
There are the usual flips and tricks to show off to your friends, as well as “EZ” video shots. But where it really shines is in its educational value. That includes being compatible with Scratch, which is a block-based visual programming system that lets computer fans learn how to code on a phone or tablet in the most fun way possible.
The Good
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Impressive camera quality for its price
- Compared to other small drones, it has a longer flight time.
- Can be set up with the Scratch programming language
The Bad
- Not good for flying when there is a lot of wind.
- No obstacle avoidance feature
DJI Mini SE
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 249 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 30 minutes |
Camera | 12 MP |
Transmission Range | Up to 4 km |
Max Speed | 46.8 kph |
Stabilization | 3-axis gimbal |
Battery | 2,500mAh |
This updated version of the DJI Mavic Mini isn’t a toy in the strictest sense. It is, however, a drone that weighs less than 250g, which is just below the weight limit for registration in the US and China and a tier in the EU and UK. To be honest, it’s a great job. It has the same basic parts and flight time as more expensive pro drones for older kids with smartphones.
It can also record 2.7K video and JPEGs with a resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels to a MicroSD card. And because the lens is stabilized, the results are miles ahead of what you can get with other toys. If you buy this as a gift, you’re giving real flying camera. It can even take automated flights for video selfies in orbit, so you might also be helping your child’s social media.
The Good
- Design that is light and small
- Camera and video features of high quality
- Long time in the air
- A small drone has a high transmission range.
- Obstacle avoidance feature
The Bad
- The price is higher than that of other mini drones.
- Not able to record 4K video Only a few color options
HASAKEE Q9 Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 60 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 8 minutes |
Camera | 0.3 MP |
Transmission Range | Up to 50 meters |
Max Speed | 3 m/s |
Stabilization | None |
Battery | 3.7V 300mAh |
This quadcopter is cheap and fun, making it a great first drone for younger kids. The remote is easy to use, and in addition to the usual steering controls, it has buttons for takeoff, landing, and going back home. The HASAKEE Q9 can flip and spin 360 degrees and fly at three speeds thanks to its four propellers, which have guards and LED lights.
The kit comes with two batteries that can be charged and last for about 7 minutes each. Three more AAA batteries are needed for the remote control. This drone is very sensitive to wind, so it should only be used inside. Setting up an indoor space for young pilots. can help create a safe place for your child to play and have fun.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- Easy to carry and not too heavy
- Suitable for flying inside
The Bad
- Short time in the air
- Camera of poor quality
- Not enough transmission space
- No stabilization feature
EMAX EZ Pilot Pro Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 95 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 12 minutes |
Camera | 600TVL |
Transmission Range | Up to 100 meters |
Max Speed | 10 m/s |
Stabilization | 3-axis gyroscopic stabilization |
Battery | 1S 450mAh |
The four-propeller EZMAX EZ Pilot is a great first drone for beginners because it is fun and easy to use. The enclosed propellers make this drone safer, and the remote control has easy-to-use joysticks that make it easy for first-timers to control. The drone has three levels of difficulty.
Level one helps kids learn the basics of flying, level two turns on both joysticks but keeps the self-leveling feature, and level three lets users do flips and fly faster. This drone comes with a pair of first-person view (FPV) goggles that let the pilot see what the drone sees and make them feel like they are in the cockpit.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- Both new and experienced pilots can use it.
- Flight performance that is stable
- For the price, it’s a good camera.
- A long range of transmission
The Bad
- Compared to other mini drones, it can fly for less time.
- No obstacle avoidance feature
Altair Aerial #AA108 Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 816 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 10 minutes |
Camera | 720p HD |
Transmission Range | Up to 100 meters |
Max Speed | 24 kph |
Stabilization | 6-axis gyroscopic stabilization |
Battery | 3.7V 350mAh |
This drone from Altair Aerial is the best because of how it looks and what it can do. The drone can fly as far as 100 meters away and can stay in the air for 7–10 minutes. It has a 720p HD wide-angle camera with a 120-degree field of view and a very stable altitude hold for long shoots and clear photos and videos.
It also has three speeds, takes off and lands with the push of a button, and is ready for a smartphone. The body is strong and weighs 85 grams, which is well below the FAA’s weight limit for registering a drone. It comes with a USB charger and two batteries.
The Good
- Strong and durable construction
- Both new and experienced pilots can use it.
- For the price, it’s a good camera.
- A long range of transmission
- Obstacle avoidance feature
The Bad
- Compared to other drones, it can fly for less time.
- It’s a little heavier than other small drones.
Holy Stone Mini Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 35 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 7 minutes |
Camera | None |
Transmission Range | Up to 50 meters |
Max Speed | 8 m/s |
Stabilization | 6-axis gyroscopic stabilization |
Battery | 3.7V 220mAh |
This option from top brand Holy Stone is a great buy for people who want to learn how to fly an RC drone. It’s small enough for little hands to palm, and it’s light and has three speeds so kids can practice positions at their own pace as they get more confident.
The drone can take off and land by pressing a button on the remote, or it can be thrown into the air. It can fly up to 164 feet and stay in the air for about 21 minutes, doing tricks like 3D flips and flying in a circle. It can automatically hover and follow directions from the remote control no matter which way it is facing.
The Good
- Design that is light and small
- Affordable price point
- Easy to fly and good for new pilots
- LED lights make it easier to find your way.
The Bad
- Short time in the air
- No camera or video capabilities
Potensic A20W Mini Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 36 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 10 minutes |
Camera | 480p |
Transmission Range | Up to 50 meters |
Max Speed | 3 m/s |
Stabilization | 6-axis gyroscopic stabilization |
Battery | 3.7V 180mAh |
The best drone for kids you can buy right now is the Potensic A20W. It’s a step up from its stablemate, the A20, which you can find further down our list. It comes with a 480p camera, which is a great way for kids to get into aerial videography.
The palm-sized Potensic A20W is easy to fly because it has Altitude Hold, which keeps it stable even when you let go of the control sticks. It also has a mode called “Headless” that lets you fly the drone in any direction.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- It comes with a 480p camera that can take photos and videos.
- Fit for beginners and flying indoors
- Has a mode that holds altitude to make fl
The Bad
- Not enough transmission space
- Compared to other drones, it has a lower-quality camera.
Potensic A20 Mini Drone
Specification | |
---|---|
Weight | 22 grams |
Flight Time | Up to 5 minutes |
Camera | None |
Transmission Range | Up to 20 meters |
Max Speed | 3 m/s |
Stabilization | 6-axis gyroscopic stabilization |
Battery | 3.7V 180mAh |
This very small drone is perfect for use at home because it’s small enough to fly around furniture and easily move from room to room. The blade guards on the Potensic A20 keep fingers from getting hurt if they get too close.
When it comes to flying, there is a “Headless” mode that keeps the controls the same and a “one-button takeoff/landing” option that is very useful. This drone is a lot of fun for kids and adults to play with around the house.
The Good
- Very reasonable prices
- Design that is light and small
- Fit for beginners and flying indoors
The Bad
- No camera or video capabilities
- Not enough transmission space
FAQs
What age should kids have a drone?
Age guide. Most drones should only be used by kids who are at least 12 years old, but some are made for kids as young as 8 years old.
Are drones good for kids?
Most people worry about safety when kids fly drones, especially since drones are becoming more and more popular. Drones are pretty safe as long as you follow the rules set by the FAA, your city and state laws, and the instructions that came with your drone.
What is the easiest drone to operate for kids?
This option from top brand Holy Stone is a great buy for people who want to learn how to fly an RC drone. It’s small enough for little hands to palm, and it’s light and has three speeds so kids can practice positions at their own pace as they get more confident.
Is drone bad for kids?
Drone flying is like any other hobby in that it can be dangerous. Some people use drones in bad ways that hurt people, property, or wildlife. But drones are safe enough for kids and teens to use if they are flown in a safe and responsible way.