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RC Drones with a Camera: Our Top Picks
Hobbyists ![]() Scoot Mini Drone Flight Time | 8 Min Flight Time | 8 Min |
Hobbyists ![]() UFO 4000 LED Mini Drone Flight Time | 18 Min Flight Time | 18 Min |
Hobbyists ![]() F111WF Folding Drone Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 7-8 Min Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 7-8 Min |
Hobbyists ![]() U49WF FPV Camera Drone Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 12-15 Min Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 12-15 Min |
Hobbyists ![]() DJI Tello Camera | 720p Flight Time | 13 Min Camera | 720p Flight Time | 13 Min |
Hobbyists ![]() DJI Mavic Mini Camera | 12 MP, 2.7K Video Flight Time | 30 Min Camera | 12 MP, 2.7K Video Flight Time | 30 Min |
Construction - Filmmaking - Marketing ![]() DJI Mavic 2 Pro Camera | 20 MP, 4K 10-bit HDR Video Flight Time | 31 Min Camera | 20 MP, 4K 10-bit HDR Video Flight Time | 31 Min |
Public Safety - Inspections - Construction ![]() DJI Matrice 200 V2 Camera | Compatible with various payloads Flight Time | 24 Min Camera | Compatible with various payloads Flight Time | 24 Min |
We’ve spent hours testing and researching the top UAVs and quadcopters out there, and we’re happy to say we’ve narrowed it down to a select few.
This article lists some of the best remote control (RC) drones for sale on the market right now. Whether you’re looking for a cheap indoor flyer or a professional rig for aerial videography, we’re confident you’ll find a quality drone on this list that will meet your needs.
Want to skip the details and go straight to the list itself? No problem:
“RC drones” can mean many things (cars, boats, planes, etc) but this article focuses on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Why?
Because they’re awesome! (And they’re our specialty ;).)
Read on to find out which sUAS is right for you:
Note #1: All specs/features are obtained from the manufacturer or retailer.
Note #2: On this list, we’ve included models available for sale on Amazon and DJI — as Amazon and DJI Associate partners, we earn a small commission for qualifying purchases. Please know that we’ve tested many of the models on this list, and we wouldn’t recommend anything we wouldn’t fly ourselves!
8 Minutes
Hobbyists
Looking to fly without worrying about a remote controller? Then the hands-free operation of the Scoot Mini Drone is a perfect choice. It a great drone for all ages, with an enclosed frame and infrared obstacle sensors, it is also safe for use in any indoor space.
It comes with a USB charging cord making it easy to charge it anywhere and it gets a full charge within an hour.
With 8 minutes of nonstop flight time, this drone is great for playing fun interactive games with your friends at a very affordable price.
18 minutes
Hobbyists
Bright red, white, and blue LEDs make it easy to spot the UFO 4000 LED Mini Drone as it zips through the sky.
Propeller guards wrapped in LED lighting increase the durability and visibility of the drone and make this affordable drone great for beginners. The simple remote controller makes this drone perfect for all ages with 1-Key Start/Stop and easy joystick directional controls.
Looking for a beginner stunt drone? Look no further, with 4 channels, 2 speeds, Altitude Hold, and Headless Mode; this beginner drone also performs 360° mini flips.
720p HD
7-8 Min
Hobbyists
Traveling with a bulky drone can be challenging, but the F111WF Folding Drone is an affordable option that is a great choice for those who like to travel due to its folding arm design typically found on high-end drones.
Its 6-axis gyro offers optimal stabilization for the 720p HD camera to easily capture high definition aerial photos.
Live stream allows the drone operator to see exactly what the drone is seeing through your smartphone via the iPhone/Android mobile app. The extra battery, propeller guards, and propellers that are included make this a great camera drone.
720p HD
12-15 Min
Hobbyists
The U49WF FPV Camera Drone offers an outstanding 720p camera for clear HD pictures and live video. Altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen with Camera Live Video allow the pilot to see exactly what the HD camera of your drone sees in real-time.
It also comes with an extra battery to help you fly for even longer before having to charge, and an outstanding 720p camera for clear HD pictures and live video.
Add to that it’s impressively long flight time of 25 minutes with the extra battery, and you’re looking at a great drone for beginners (or intermediate pilots, for that matter) at an inexpensive price.
5 MP, 720p
13 Min
Hobbyists, FPV Racing
The DJI Tello is a great drone for beginners that can even be flown indoors due to its small footprint. It comes packed with advanced features that we have come to expect from DJI. Low battery protection, vision positioning system, and auto takeoff and landing are just a few of the advanced features that make this a great beginner drone.
Capture crisp 5-megapixel pictures and 720p videos with the Tellos onboard camera system. With VR headset compatibility, fly with a breathtaking first-person view with an 82.6º FOV/
13-minutes of flight time, DJI technology, and FPV headset compatibility at such an affordable price ($100!), make this a very compelling option for an inexpensive drone.
12 MP, 2.7K Video
30 Min
Hobbyists
The DJI Mavic Mini that was just released by drone manufacturing juggernaut DJI, is their lightest and smallest drone yet. This is DJI’s first model that weighs just 249 grams, making it exempt from the FAA’srequirement to register any drone that weighs 250 grams or more. For its small size (around the size of a smartphone) DJI has done an incredible job packing the Mavic Mini with a large array of features.
The popular foldable design from the Mavic series also shows up in the Mini, making it one of the highest tech portable drones on the market. With a 30 minute flight time, 12-megapixel camera, and a three-axis gimbal it will be difficult to find a comparable aircraft in this size and price range. Pilots will have the option to choose from four pre-programmed flight maneuvers like Rocket, Circle, Dronie, and Helix. GPS receivers and downward visual positioning sensors make the Mini easy to operate with precise hovering. This drone is a great choice for hobbyists who want DJI technology in a small and relatively affordable package.
See our review of the Mavic Mini here.
Two Buying Options
20 MP, 4K 10-bit HDR Video
31 Min
Construction Filmmaking Marketing
The Mavic 2 Pro is a small drone that is loaded with advanced software and hardware commonly found on DJI’s larger models, which is why it has become a favorite among drone pilots. With a professional-grade camera from Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad; the 1-inch CMOS sensor, Hasselblad camera offers 20-megapixel photography with enhanced HDR and color sensitivity.
The Mavic 2 Pro may be small but it is perfect for professional photographers, videographers, and content creators just to name a few. Its portable design makes it an essential companion for travel bloggers, documentary compilers, and commercial drone pilots in any industry.
Omnidirectional obstacle sensing can sense obstacles from five directions (forward, backward, downward, left, right). Plus, it’s equipped with upgraded versions of Active Track, Waypoint, and Point of Interest modes, so professional photographers and videographers never have to place a cap on their creativity.
See our review of the Mavic 2 Pro here.
Compatible with various payloads
24 Min
Public Safety Inspections Construction
The DJI Matrice 200 V2 is designed for applications such as public safety, inspections, and construction, just to name a few. Like the DJI Inspire, the Matrice features a 2-axis FPV camera allowing the operator to see what’s ahead while simultaneously controlling the other sensors. The installed anti-collision beacon improves safety by complying with FAA regulations for anti-collision standards by making the aircraft visible to other aircraft. Due to its large size, it is compatible with a multitude of DJI gimbal sensors that can be interchanged. Operators can also select third-party sensors that can be installed greatly increasing the functionality of the platform.
The FlightAutonomy system includes obstacle avoidance sensors on the front, bottom, and top of the drone. The Matrice is also equipped with AirSense, which alerts drone pilots when a manned aircraft is in the immediate area. The self-heating battery system and the airframes IP43 weather rating make this drone suitable for any weather condition. Ideal applications for the Matrice include public safety, energy, infrastructure, and construction.
Checkout other Matrice Models from DJI here.