Drones have no doubt become so popular that they can now be easily categorized in several ways including size, weight, capabilities and more.
While regular-sized drones are preferred, sometimes you may want a smaller drone especially if you’re traveling around or want to fly indoors.
In these instances, you’ll need a small drone but not an extra small unit like a nano drone.
Today, we are going to take a look at the best mini drone and a few other mini-units in this mini drones reviews guide.
These small drones span a wide variety of styles and capabilities so you are bound to find one that will meet your needs.
Drone
Features
Price
- Control Range: 30 meters
- Flight Time: 16 minutes
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Control Range: 60 meters
- Flight Time: 24 minutes
- Weight: 1.98 pounds
Best mini drones reviews
- Control Range: 30 meters
- Flight Time: 16 minutes
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
Snaptain is one of the names that you’ll see popping up if you’re looking for mini drones.
The Snaptain S5C drone offers great value for money due to all that it offers.
If you are looking for a beginner-friendly drone that comes with some advanced features then definitely grab this one up.
First off, the futuristic design and LED lights give it an awesome look.
It has a 720P HD camera that offers decent image quality and FPV capabilities.
This small and compact unit also has a gravity sensor mode that allows you to control it by moving your smartphone around at certain angles.
You can also use it with VR headsets to give you a more immersive flying experience and you can expect a flight time of around 16 minutes with the two batteries.
It offers fast flying speeds but it is not advised to fly this unit in windy situations because of its lightweight nature.
The Snaptain S5C comes with a control range of 30 meters and a 1-year warranty.
The list of smart features includes one key takeoff and landing and altitude hold for ease of use.
- Control Range: 30-40 meters
- Flight Time: 8-10 minutes
- Weight: 8.1 ounces
Simrex is another brand that you may see popping up because of its high ratings.
The Simrex X3000C mini drone is another budget-friendly option with FPV capabilities.
This foldable drone comes in many different colors and you can take your pick from white, red, blue or yellow.
It is also super lightweight so there will be no need to register this unit if you live in the United States or Canada.
The unit comes with propeller guards and is well-built to minimize any damages that may occur if you do crash now and again.
One of the best things about this drone is that it comes with a 6 axis gyroscope that provides extra stability while recording 720p HD videos.
The flight time of this drone is around 8 to 10 minutes and if you’d like to expand the flight time then purchase a couple of extra batteries to charge them up and keep them handy.
You can choose to fly the unit using the remote controller or your smartphone.
If you do choose to use your smartphone, you’ll have to download the Simrex app which is available for both Android and iOS devices.
On the other hand, the 2.4 GHz controller uses 4 different channels and has a range of around 30-40 meters which is pretty much standard for these types of drones.
- Phone direct control with transmission or transmitter control with smart phone. Apple iOS/ Android...
- 360 degree flips & rolls. One key 3D rolling special effects. Flip in 4-ways flip(left, right,...
- Headless security mode. When eyes can't identify the orientation of the drone, The headless mode can...
- Equipped with the latest 6-axis gyro flight control systems, provide better using experience.
- Range: About 30-45 meters. Flight Tim: about 8-10 minutes. Charging time: about 60 minutes.(Note:...
- Control Range: 50 meters
- Flight Time: 18 minutes
- Weight: 1.04 pounds
If you’re looking for a basic mini drone for flying practice or a kid, then the UFO 4000 is the one for you.
Its captivating design closely resembles a spaceship and the LED lights enhance its appearance especially when flying in the dark.
Being a simple drone there isn’t much to it except the fact that it’s crafted with standard ABS plastic which means that it is durable enough to withstand impact.
In addition to this, the propellers are protected by built-in guards which act as shock absorbers to minimize damage in the event of crashes.
Meanwhile, underneath the drone, the landing pads are covered with rubber to provide a soft and safe landing.
The unit is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and is a pretty nifty toy-grade drone.
The UFO 4000 is perfect to learn how to perform stunts and tricks in the air and comes with different speed levels to help you master the art of drone piloting.
This unit is also equipped with several features like altitude hold, headless mode and 1-key start and stop.
You get about 18 minutes of flight time with the 2 included batteries and a remote controller with a range of 50 meters.
- Easy Remote Control Drone for Kids: Fly this mini RC drone for boys and girls with a push of a...
- Vibrant LED Drone with 2 Speeds: Pilot this drone day or night, indoors or out with ultra bright...
- User-Friendly UFO Drone Specs: This stunt drone is equipped with smart features like Altitude Hold...
- Extended Flight Time with 2 Drone Batteries: Get back to flying this quadcopter drone again and...
- Kid-Safe and Durable Toy Drone: This mini drone for kids is designed with kid-friendly propeller...
- Control Range: 60 meters
- Flight Time: 24 minutes
- Weight: 1.98 pounds
Holy Stone is up there among the best when it comes to budget-friendly drones to have a bit of fun.
The Holy Stone HS370 is an excellent mini that also gives you great value for money.
This small drone is pretty lightweight and easily fits in the palm of your hand.
It has a nice black and red color scheme that comes with the propellers already installed.
The package also includes some propeller guards so they can prevent any serious damage if the drone crashes.
This unit comes with a 720P HD camera and is powered by a 7.4v 880mAh battery that gives you a flight time of 24 minutes with the included two batteries.
You can control the drone using the remote controller which is one of the best-looking controllers for a toy drone.
It is similar to a video game controller, well-designed and fits comfortably in the hand.
The buttons are easily identified and it also comes with a smartphone mount to hold your smartphone.
The controller’s control ranges around 60 meters.
You can also use your phone to control the drone by downloading the official app.
The Holy Stone HS370 offers features like altitude hold, one key start on/land, 3D flip and much more.
These features all help if you’re new to drone piloting and allows you to get different kinds of video shots using the built-in camera.
- Control Range: 100 meters
- Flight Time: 11 minutes
- Weight: 1.94 pounds
JJRC has some great mini drones on the market and the JJRC H71 is one of their most popular units.
This mini drone is possibly one of the best on this list for various reasons.
First off, it comes with a carry case which is a useful accessory if you travel quite a bit.
The JJRC H71 can be classified as a pocket drone because it is so small and flat that it can even fit into a medium-sized trouser pocket.
It is super lightweight and foldable so definitely one of the most portable drones ever.
The body is slim and equipped with cool LED lights at the front and back which can come in handy when flying during twilight hours.
This unit comes with a 1080p FHD camera fixed on the nose of the drone with a wide-angle lens that can be manually tilted 90 degrees to get better viewing angles.
On the bottom, you will find an optical flow sensor that provides some flight stability especially when the drone hovers.
The JJRC H71 offers a flight time of around 11 minutes and can be extended to 22 minutes with the included extra battery.
The controller is much like a video game controller but it isn’t as aesthetically pleasing however the controls are easily identifiable.
It allows you to control the drone up to 100 meters away which is much more than you can get most on this list.
- 1080P HD Camera & FPV Function:Possessing 90° adjustable 1080P HD Camera, it allows you to capture...
- Modular Battery&22mins Flight Time:Comes with 2 pcs modular batteries which is convenient to...
- Optical flow positioning & Altitude Hold:The feature of Optical flow allows the drone to hold its...
- Drone for Beginners & Kids:Optical flow Altitude hold,headless mode and 1080P camera, the drone...
- Great Gift & Carrying Bag:The foldable design fits in the compact package ,which is convenient to...
- Control Range: 150 meters
- Flight Time: 20 minutes
- Weight: 5.6 ounces
You’ve probably never heard of the Zuhafa brand and that’s no fault of your own.
While fairly unheard of, this mini drone from this manufacturer is highly advanced and comes with a wide range of features.
The Zahafa T4 is the best mini drone with camera on this list and comes with a foldable design that makes the unit compact and portable.
However, don’t let the small size fool you as this drone comes with two cameras.
How awesome is that?
It is one of the best practice drones if you’re thinking of getting into aerial photography.
The primary camera located at the front of the unit can capture 1080p videos while the other camera captures 720p video.
Both these cameras allow you to record videos from different angles at the same time.
It offers 20 minutes flight time that can be further extended to an incredible 40 minutes with the extra included battery.
Now that’s value and flight time that’s welcome for a mini drone.
The Zahafa T4 comes with advanced features like altitude hold, palm control mode, altitude hold and others.
The controller is pretty simple and has a control range of 150 meters which is farther than any of the other drones on this list allows.
- 【Double Flight Time & Foldable】:2 pcs of Modular Li-Po Battery yields(1800mAh 3.7V) up to 30mins...
- 【Dual Cameras&FPV Function】:Equipped with 1080P HD front camera and 720P bottom camera,you can...
- 【All Function】: Follow Me, Automatic Hovering (Auto Hover) / Altitude Hold, First Person View...
- 【best beginner drone】: With just one or two steps, it will take off/land or return home.The...
- 【Customer Service】: Maybe this is your first drone of aerial.So whether you have questions about...
Buying guide to the best small drone
The truth is that you can find a wide range of mini drones out there.
However, things can get quite confusing due to a large number of drones on the market.
To make sure that you’re getting the best mini drone and the best bang for your buck, here are a few factors to take into consideration when looking for the best small drone.
Camera
If you’re looking for a mini drone that can record videos or take photos then you should look for a drone with a built-in camera that gives you good enough video and picture quality.
Many factors can affect the video resolution of your drone like lack of stabilization features etc.
That being said, don’t go about expecting to find a mini drone with a camera to offer professional quality videos and photos.
If you want a professional-quality camera drone, read this best drone with camera article.
At their low prices and small sizes, they offer good enough quality media to be shared with friends, family and on social media.
You’d usually find drones in this mini drone category equipped with a 720P HD camera which is good enough.
If you’re looking for something more, fortunately, some mini-drones come with a 1080 FHD camera that offers better video quality and photo output.
Flight time
Flight time is a factor that needs to be considered no matter the size or price of the drone.
The flight time gives you a fair idea of how long the fully charged battery of the drone can last in the sky.
Everyone wants the longest flight time possible but the average flight time of mini-drones is around 6 to 10 minutes.
Most of these mini drones come with two batteries so the flight time is extended.
This takes flight time anywhere from 15-22 minutes.
You can also further increase flight time by buying some extra batteries, charging them up and keeping them on hand.
This can be done for drones of any size if you want to spend a long time in the air so it’s not exactly a huge drawback for mini drones.
For drones with the best flight time, check out these units in the drone flight time review guide.
Control range
Drones are controlled using radio controllers and these radio signals have a certain range or limit.
The drone itself will have a maximum range and it will be mentioned in the manufacturer’s specifications.
This tells you the maximum distance that you can cover using the drone without losing control.
Most drones of this size typically have a control range of 50 meters while some may even have as much as 100 meters.
Size and weight
Since you’re looking for a mini drone, the unit needs to be small and compact as well as lightweight.
Size and weight are important factors so pay close attention to these when looking for a mini drone.
This will allow the drone to be portable and makes it the perfect companion to travel with.
Some of these drones are even small enough to fit inside your pocket without being too heavy.
Accessories
One of the best things about mini drones is that the manufacturers always include various kinds of accessories in the box.
This can be anything from carrying cases, extra propellers, propeller guards, extra batteries and much more.
While these accessories may not necessarily change the performance of the drone, they can make the overall experience so much better.
They can help you make the drone easier to fly, travel around with, minimize damage from crashes and save you money from buying replacement parts.
This is why most of these drones’ miniature versions come with a wide range of accessories are considered to be the best in terms of value since you get the best bang for your buck.
FAQ’s: Drones miniature versions
Can I fly these units indoors?
Yes, you can definitely fly these drones inside due to their small size and lightweight nature.
Just be careful and fly them in empty rooms, rooms with lots of space or any indoor area where there aren’t many obstacles that it can crash into.
Also, fly them at a low speed and only increase speed when you have mastered the art of drone piloting.
Are there drone laws for mini drones?
While most of these drones are small and light enough that you don’t need to register them, if your unit weighs over 250grams then you will have to register it.
The FAA states that you must pass the test to acquire the TRUST certificate for hobby flight or the Part107 certificate for commercial flights.
Drones under 250g do not require registration but may require a license to fly.
Check with drones laws and regulations in your town, city, state and country to ensure you are abiding by the laws.
Drone
Features
Price
- Control Range: 30 meters
- Flight Time: 16 minutes
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Control Range: 60 meters
- Flight Time: 24 minutes
- Weight: 1.98 pounds