Here at the Strategist, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing. While we’ve covered the best tech toys for kids, the best VR headset, and a certain foldable drone from DJI, here we’re covering the best drones on Amazon. (Note that reviews have been edited for length and clarity.)
Best mini-drone under $100
“Amazing value for $39.99. I had been wanting a fun little drone to fly around the house. This is a lot more than I expected for the price: the packaging and product quality are very good. The controls are extremely sensitive for flight, and this drone is so fast it sounds like a fly as it zips around. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a drone to fly around the house, or for beginners looking for a durable first RC quad. I smacked this little drone off of just about everything in my living room till I got the hang of it, and it has taken zero damage.”
Best headless drone under $100
“This drone flies great if you take the time to understand the controls and make sure that it’s level before you turn it on. The drone finds its ‘balance’ during the first few seconds that it has power. If it’s leaning one way or the other during this time it will tend to wander. I also found that putting it in headless mode makes it easier to fly for newbies like myself. This drone is very durable and there are replacement parts available on Amazon that won’t break the bank. Don’t forget to order extra batteries. You will want them so you can fly more than ten minutes or so at a time.”
Best drone for beginners under $100
“This is a really fun and user-friendly beginner drone. This size is very easy to control! It actually does really well in the wind, but I would recommend using the higher speed mode when it’s windy. This one took a couple of good crashes and it still performs perfectly. I have to say the pictures and video are really amazing. I would certainly recommend this drone for anyone looking for an inexpensive, high-quality drone to have fun with, especially if you’re new to this. You get a lot of really great features for the price.”
Best micro-drone
“For 30 bucks, this thing is pretty hard to beat. It makes it so much easier to fly than many of the other drones in this price range. The controls are very precise. Some drones have a tendency to ‘get away’ from you when you are still learning. You will make a series of overcorrections and the drone winds up spiraling further and further out of control until it crashes. With the X20, all you have to do is let go of the joystick(s), and it simply comes to a standstill in the air. It is an excellent drone for beginners, it is very forgiving and perfect for learning.”
Best drone under $200
“The Return Home Quadcopter Drone by Potensic was purchased for my teenage son. The main things that I really liked were the automatic return, low power return, and no signal return on this drone. Knowing that the drone will come back automatically, even though my son isn’t paying attention to how long he’s been using it, is a relief knowing the price of these things. This drone is also pretty lightweight and comes with quite a few extra spare parts.”
Best drone under $300
“My husband bought the HS100 for my 60th birthday. I am one pleased grandma! I’m a newbie at flying drones. After following the calibration instructions, the first flight went exceptionally well. The HS100 is responsive and very easy to fly. The follow-me feature was a hoot. Almost like have a pet flying around following you. The biggest reason my husband chose this drone was the camera. Let me tell you what, the HS100’s camera takes good pictures and decent video. I can actually use my VR headset with this drone and there’s no choppiness! I have not found anything I don’t like about this.”
Best drone under $400
“Have had it for about six months now and can honestly say I love this little thing. It has held up great and wowed me and others multiple times with the type of footage it can get and the cool things it can do. I highly recommend it for anyone trying to get in the game! You can only go into sport mode (fly super fast) with the remote, and to me that is one of the best parts! Yesterday my phone died, so naturally I panicked, but much to my surprise, since it was connected to the remote, I was able to safely bring it back. You’ll love this drone! It is versatile and perfect in every way.”
Best professional drone under $600
“I’ve had this drone for over six months now. and I have to say, it is more than just a drone. It is a tool. A tool used for all sorts of cool jobs. I’ve done roof inspections, Wi-Fi surveying, and various other tasks to earn some side income. This DJI is one of those purchases where, even though I wanted it for the ‘giggles,’ I ended up finding expert ways to use this. From surveying, to videoing competitions. The quality of DJI shows.”
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