Not so long ago, drones were extremely expensive and you needed a few thousand dollars and FAA registration before you could have acquired one.
However, today, after introducing drones with pocket-friendly prices, the consumer drone market exploded.
Every day a significant amount of units are being bought and manufacturers are pumping more and more of these units into the market.
So if you are thinking of joining the hype and getting one of these cool gadgets for yourself, then you should not spend a ton of money on your first drone.
Piloting a drone can take some time and if the drone crashes, you will not lose a large sum of money.
In this article, we will talk about the best drone under 150, the features you can get at this price, and the things you need to keep in mind before purchasing.
We have also answered a few of your most asked questions on a $150 drone.
Drone
Features
Price
- Flight range: 80 – 100m
- Flight time: 7-9 minutes
- Weight: 3.36 oz
- Best drones under 150 reviewed
- What to look for in the best camera drone under 150
- Frequently asked questions: best drone for $150 and under
- What are drones exactly?
- Are drones under 150 any good?
- Is it possible to get a professional drone for under 150?
- Can I make money with drones under 150?
- Do I need to register a drone that costs under 150?
- Final thoughts: best drone under 150
Best drones under 150 reviewed
- Flight range: 100m
- Flight time: 13 minutes
- Weight: 2.72 oz
The Ryze Tech/DJI Tello drone is manufactured by Ryze robotics who worked closely alongside one of the biggest manufacturers of professional drones available today.
Ryze Robotics and DJI bring to you the Tello drone with incredible features at a fraction of the cost and is the best drone for $150.
The Tello drone provides great footage from an amazing aerial perspective with a 5-megapixel camera and an image sensor that captures 720p HD videos.
This drone is a great choice for beginners and comes with pre-installed propeller guards to protect the unit in the event of a crash.
In addition to this, beginners can also benefit from the eight different takeoff and piloting modes which makes it easy to fly and control the drone.
The flight time on this unit is decent and clocks in at around 13 minutes per charge which is awesome for a drone at this price point.
The best camera drone under 150 connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and the maximum range is around 100 meters.
The Tello drone is small, lightweight, and agile which makes it so much fun to play around with that even experienced pilots are buying them up.
- See the World from the Sky: Whether you're at the park or hanging out at home, take off and...
- Capture Great Pictures and Videos: Tello's camera has a high-quality image sensor to capture 5MP...
- Programming Fun: The Tello EDU app supports Scratch, a kid-friendly programming language. With a...
- Fantastic Features: Tello, with a flight controller powered by DJI, lets you perform awesome tricks...
- What you get: Ryze Tech Tello Aircraft, 4 Propellers (Pair), Propeller Guards (Set), 3 Batteries,...
- Max focal length: 82.6
- Flight range: 80 – 100m
- Flight time: 7-9 minutes
- Weight: 3.36 oz
The Eachine E58 Quadcopter is a fantastic camera drone that comes with a 2-megapixel camera that shoots wide-angle 720P videos.
The camera can also be tilted downward by 90 degrees manually.
It is a compact unit and can only provide around 7:00 to 9:00 minutes of flight time using a Wi-Fi signal to connect the drone to the transmitter or your smartphone.
The Wi-Fi transmission FPV system allows your phone to connect to the drone so you can view the footage in real-time to accurately capture photos and videos.
This unit has a maximum range of 100 meters and if the drone gets lost or goes beyond 100 meters, it should automatically return to its takeoff position.
Other features include the three different speed settings ranging from 30% to 100% maximum speed.
This works great for beginners who can start at 30% and work their way up to 100% speed.
The Eachine E58 Quadcopter also comes with altitude hold mode, headless mode, gravity sensor mode and can perform acrobatic flips at the push of a button.
- Flight range: 150m
- Flight time: 8-10 minutes
- Weight: 3 oz
The Altair #AA108 is another great camera drone under 150.
It is well constructed and made from durable plastic to withstand crashes as you learn and build your flying skill.
This out-of-box ready-to-fly unit simply requires the installation of one of the two included batteries and using the one-touch take-off will have you up in the air and flying in no time.
This affordable drone features a wide-angle 720P camera and comes with a 10 minute flight time and 100 meters maximum range.
To further extend flight time this unit comes with two batteries which means you get a total of 20 minutes of flight time at no extra cost to you.
This device has three different speed modes for beginners and the more experienced pilots.
The addition of headless mode, altitude hold, and one-button takeoff and landing make it the perfect choice when learning how to fly a drone.
You can also use your smartphone to draw a custom flight path and the drone will follow that path.
Safety features included on the Altair drone are emergency landing and a low battery alarm so that your unit is safe at all times.
- ✅PREMIUM 720P CAMERA DRONE W REALTIME VIDEO: The Aerial AA108 comes with a 120 Degree Wide-Angle...
- ✅EASY TO FLY - The Altair Quadcopter is easily piloted & has Headless Mode, Altitude Hold &...
- ✅STABLE FLIGHT & DURABLE CONSTRUCTION for Long Lasting Fun! The Altair also has Custom Route...
- ✅LONG RANGE & FLIGHT TIME - 100 Meters / Up to 10 Minutes, 720p Real Time FPV (First Person View)...
- ✅Great Drone Gift for beginners, kids & all skill levels - 3 Flight Skill Levels: 1 – (Great...
- Flight range: 100m
- Flight time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 4.1 oz
The Force1 U45W drone Is a great beginner’s choice if you are interested in aerial photography.
The unit provides a bionic bird’s eye view and has a fairly long battery life considering the price.
It comes with an extra 3.7v 500mAh battery which makes it perfect if you require a longer flight time.
You can capture crisp photos and videos from up above with its 720P HD camera that works in VR and specializes in capturing 360 degrees shots.
This nifty little device is beginner-friendly and comes with easy features like one key take-off and landing, a 6-axis gyro for stabilization, a headless mode for easy piloting, and altitude hold to hover.
To make things simpler, you can fly this unit using your iOS or Android phone by simply downloading the FlyingSee app.
In the app, you will be able to draw custom flight parts, fly in gravity mode and watch videos, and capture photos in real-time.
The Force1 U45W drone is an easy-to-use unit that provides decent enough pictures and videos for a drone costing less than $150.
- VR Headset Compatible RC Drone with Camera: Fly with your drone and experience First Person View...
- User-Friendly Beginner Drone for Adults: Take control of this RTF drone with the included 2.4GHz...
- Fly With Your Phone: Use Gravity Mode when you download the FlyingSee app to fly this FPV drone with...
- Tough Outdoor Drone with Long Flight Time: This long distance drone flies for up to 30 minutes with...
- Powerful, Safe, Quality Assured: The U45W FPV drone with camera flies with a high-powered drone...
- Flight range: 60m
- Flight time: 7-8 minutes
- Weight: 2.56 oz
The Parrot Minidrone Swing features a unique design unlike any other drone on the market.
It is a 2 in 1 device that you are going to like playing around with.
This device comes equipped with a double flight mode feature that allows it to be flown as a quadcopter or an airplane.
It is the ideal option for hobbyists due to its fly mat control and multirotor that allows it to fly without trouble through the sky.
The wings on the unit are made out of foam which can help it withstand crashes while the flying pad can extend its range up to 60 meters.
The flight time varies and depends on the mode you are flying in.
If you are flying in quadcopter mode you will get a total of 7 minutes flight time and in airplane mode. You will get up to 8 minutes.
This unit can also perform aerial acrobatics and can be used in high-speed racing with the ability to attain speeds of 19 mph in airplane mode.
Challenge your friends to a race and be impressed at the way this unit zooms across the sky for a drone under 150.
Other than racing purposes, it can be used to take photos with its 0.3 megapixels built-in camera.
Unfortunately. It is incapable of capturing videos and the photo quality isn’t exactly the best.
The Parrot Minidrone Swing is easy to use and it is possible to use your smartphone to control it by downloading the FreeFlight mini-app.
- Dual Flight mode (Quad/Plane): designed for aerial acrobatics and high-speed racing with friends
- Achieve speeds of up to 19mph in plane mode
- Increase piloting range with the included Parrot Flypad (works with or without a smartphone)
- Unique X shape provides you with a two drones in one experience
- OS compatibility: iOS 7 and up / Android 4.4 and up
What to look for in the best camera drone under 150
If you are new to the wonderful world of drones, not knowing what to look for when you’re purchasing a unit can lead to a waste of time and money.
However, have no worries as this section is here to help you out.
There are a few things to look for when looking to purchase the best quadcopter under 150.
Camera
When looking for a camera drone under 150, ensure that the unit does come with a camera and that you don’t have to purchase one separately.
If you have to purchase a camera separately then it means that you will go over your budget of $150 as most cameras are expensive.
Keep in mind that the camera drones in this price range will not have the best photo and video resolution.
However, you can find some that have decent enough quality to get you started and familiarizing yourself with aerial photography and videography.
Flight time
Flight time is incredibly important because sometimes you’re having so much fun flying your drone and then you have to stop because your battery runs out of juice.
Drones at this price can fly anywhere from 7-15 depending on the type of drone.
If you want a drone with a longer flight time, you may have to consider increasing your budget.
On the other hand, you can purchase a few spare batteries and keep them charged up so you can extend your flying time.
Some units on our list come with an extra battery so you do not have to spend any extra money to acquire one.
Maximum range
The range of your drone determines the amount of freedom you’ll have in the air.
Drones under $150 will not have the longest range like the more expensive models.
The maximum range of drones at this price point over Wi-Fi is around 100m which is fair enough at this price point.
Easy to operate
As your first drone, the unit you purchase needs to be extremely easy to operate.
Look for drones that may have different speed settings so that you can start slow and as you improve your piloting skills, you can increase the speed.
Also look for features like headless mode, one-button takeoff and landing, and other features that will help you in case you lose control of your drone.
Durability
Durability is one of the most important things to consider whether you’re buying inexpensive or expensive drones.
Things can always take a turn for the worse in the air and during this time, you need your drone to survive any crashes or bumps.
Look for drones that use durable materials and are sturdily built to withstand any of these mishaps.
Some drones come with propeller guards to save them or you can buy the guards separately.
Pay attention to reviews of the drone that you are thinking of getting, someone probably left a review on how the unit performed after a crash and discussed the damages.
Frequently asked questions: best drone for $150 and under
What are drones exactly?
Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) are flying machines that are flown without an onboard pilot.
The most common types of drones are quadcopters which as the name suggests, have four propellers to help them fly and stay airborne.
Other drone types include tri-copters (3 propellers), hexacopter(6 propellers), and octocopter(8 propellers).
These flying machines are usually controlled with a radio transmitter or buy a mobile device via Wi-Fi.
There are toy drones, racing drones, and professional drones available on the market today at different price points.
Are drones under 150 any good?
Contrary to popular belief, some cheap drones are great.
At one point in time drones were incredibly expensive and now that is no longer the case.
Cheap drones are the perfect option if you are a beginner and Want to familiarize yourself with how these gadgets work.
They help you learn to pilot a drone better without worrying too much about how much money you lose if it does crash.
Other than that, some drones are equipped with a camera that offers decent photography and videography quality.
Drones under 150 are definitely worth considering.
Is it possible to get a professional drone for under 150?
It is highly unlikely that you will find a professional drone for under 150.
Most drones in this price range would be for first-time flyers and amateurs who just need a drone for recreational purposes.
If you are looking for a professional drone to take high-quality photos and videos or one with a longer flight time then you will have to spend a lot more.
Can I make money with drones under 150?
As stated before it is highly unlikely to find a professional drone under $150.
This means that again there is little to no chance of making money with these drones.
These units aren’t equipped with high-quality cameras that can capture high-resolution videos and photos that can be used commercially.
You can try your luck but don’t get your hopes up too high.
Do I need to register a drone that costs under 150?
This will all depend on the country that you’re living in or planning to fly your drone in.
Before buying your drone do some research and see what are the laws regarding owning and flying a drone in that country, state, city, or province.
Make sure you fly in accordance with all local regulations to avoid any trouble with the relevant authorities.
Final thoughts: best drone under 150
We have arrived at the end of the best drone under 150 reviews guide and as you can see, there are many great options out there.
Although these units aren’t going to give you the stunning photos and videos of professional drones, they are decent enough for someone just starting.
Some are even great for racing and can go head to head with the more expensive units.
So if you are on a budget, these drones under $150 will do the job.
For other reasonably priced drones, check out these affordable drones, best drones under 100 and best beginner drone posts.
Drone
Features
Price
- Flight range: 80 – 100m
- Flight time: 7-9 minutes
- Weight: 3.36 oz