15 Remote Control Drones to Buy

The F100 Ghost GoPro Drone is an amazing value for the price.

The F100G rc quadcopter is both tough and nimble, and comes with a mount for a GoPro Hero 3 or 4, which means you could get professional quality shots. As you can see in the video below, it can be flown in windy weather and still allow for a controlled flight.

The brushless motors on the F100G not only make for a smoother, quieter flight, but allow for precise control while flying and longer flight times—at 19 minutes, this drone has one of the longest battery lives of drones on the market for this price point.

The F100G is also a good beginner/intermediate drone for still photography and aerial videography. It comes with High/Low Speed modes, which allow for greater control when it comes to getting the perfect shot.

If you decide to buy the F100G, make sure to register your drone with Force1 to get your free extra battery (value of $25).

Key Specs and Details

• GOPRO CAMERA DRONE: Now you can sync compatible GoPro Hero 3 and Hero 4 action cameras with your drone thanks to the convenient camera mount on the F100 drone
• BRUSHLESS MOTORS FOR SMOOTH CONTROL: The powerful motors on this drone are much quieter than others. Plus, they provide a longer flight time and offer smoother and more precise control
• IDEAL DRONE FOR VIDEO & PICTURES: Equipped with a High/Low Speed mode to easily control the speed of your flight & it’s ultra quiet to help eliminate unwanted noise on your videos
• EXTRA LONG FLIGHT TIMES – GREAT DRONE FOR BEGINNERS: The flight time on the F100 Ghost puts other drones to shame lasting up to 19 minutes per flight

The U49W Blue Heron drone, boasts altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen with Camera Live Video, so you can 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 a great 720p camera for clear HD pictures and live video.

Add to that it’s impressively long flight time of 15 minutes, and you’re looking at a great drone for beginners (or intermediate pilots, for that matter) at an inexpensive price.

Features & Specs

• GET GREAT PICS & LIVE VIDEO VIA WI-FI DRONE FPV: Take great HD drone pics & live video w/ the 720p video drone camera
• ONE OF OUR BEST DRONES FOR BEGINNERS: Use Alt. Hold for stable flight & the rubber-damping quadcopter drone camera to capture clear HD imagery
• HEADLESS MODE, LOW-BATTERY & SIGNAL ALARMS: Headless Mode makes flight easy for drones with camera live video capability, & alarms alert you when it’s time to land
• EXTRA-LONG FLIGHT TIME + EXTRA DRONE BATTERY & MOTORS: Stay in the air longer at up to 15 minutes per flight, and enjoy a bonus battery for even more fun between charges; we also include spare motors to keep you flying
• 3 SPEED MODES & 1-KEY CONTROL MAKES FLYING EASY: Low-, medium- and high-speed settings plus 1-key takeoff and landing makes flying easy for new pilots

The U49C Red Heron quadcopter looks sleek and is a great gift for the newbie drone pilot.

The retailer Force1 includes an extra battery in this model, which doubles your flight time and is great for folks logging those first few hours of flight. The Red Heron also comes with spare motors, which is a great value add, especially for beginner drone pilots.

Features & Specs

• GET CRISP PHOTOS and VIDEO WITH A 720P DRONE CAMERA: Watch how drone FPV (first-person view) flight comes to life with this camera drone. TAKE OFF & LAND WITH 1 BUTTON WHEN FLYING THIS REMOTE CONTROL DRONE: Learn the ropes in no time – easier than many drones with camera live video features
• USE DRONE ALTITUDE HOLD & HEADLESS MODE FOR STABLE FLIGHT: Get better drone HD video quality when you add increased flight stability
• USE YOUR IPHONE OR ANDROID IN CUSTOM ROUTE MODE: Trace a route with your finger and this drone for iPhone or Android will follow it on autopilot
• EXTRA BATTERY & POWER BANK: Get double the flight time and charge on the go with a bonus battery for this HD drone (search ASIN B01MFDPQ5B for additional batteries if needed)

DJI’s Mavic Air is the hottest new drone on the market, and combines the best features of the Mavic Pro and the Spark.

The Mavic Air is super small, like the Spark, and it can fold up to become even smaller, like the Mavic. It can be flown with gesture control, like the Spark, but it also comes with high quality 4K video, like the Mavic.

In short, it’s a drone that’s really easy to fly but also provides high quality stills and video.

Stand Out Features for the Mavic Air

ActiveTrack can sense up to 16 subjects simultaneously, letting you choose the right tracking subject. It comes with higher tracking precision, so you can follow targets even when they’re running, jumping, or cycling, or moving somewhat erratically (for instance, riding a bicycle down a mountain).

QuickShots has six different options: Rocket, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Asteroid, and Boomerang, and can be shared to social media via the DJI GO 4 app.

SmartCapture lets you control the Mavic Air by hand, making it convenient for drone newbies or professionals working with multiple systems. Similar to the Spark, you can launch, fly, and take videos or photos on the Mavic Air using only hand gestures.

TapFly lets you fly wherever you tap on your mobile device screen, and works in Forward, Backward, Free, and Coordinate modes, letting you adjust flight speed to suit your aerial needs.

Key Specs & Details

• 32 MP sphere panoramas
• Foldable and portable
• 3-axis gimbal
• 3-directional environment sensing
• Smart capture / gesture control
• 21 minute max flight time
• Weighs less than 1 lb.
• 8 GB of internal storage

The X5UW Thunderbolt is a powerful drone with a high quality camera for the price point.

Because of its low-latency FPV video transmission straight to a built-in controller screen, the Thunderbolt is ideal for anyone who wants a fun drone to learn on, but also wants to learn how to race around obstacles with ease.

A big bonus with the Thunderbolt is that it comes with two extra batteries, which is a great value add and will allow you to fly for a lot longer before having to go back and recharge your batteries.

Features & Specs

• STORM THE SKIES W/ AN RTF DRONE MADE FOR STUNTS & EASY FLYING: This RC quadcopter drone with camera features 1-Key Takeoff, Landing & 360° Flip, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode & Custom Route Mode
• CAPTURE DAZZLING HD 720P PICS & VIDEO W/ THIS WI-FI FPV DRONE CAMERA: Drones with camera capability come and go, but the Thunderbolt leaves its mark in crystal-clear 720p HD
• FLY ONE OF OUR BEST DRONES W/ CAMERAS: The X5UW remote control drone is the perfect easy-to-fly drone for kids or adults, and can be flown by tilting your smartphone
• VIEW IT ALL IN REAL TIME W/ WI-FI FPV DRONE CAMERA TECHNOLOGY: Mount your smartphone on the included remote control clip and fly while seeing what your drone sees
• SPEND MORE TIME IN THE AIR W/ 2 EXTRA BATTERIES: This RC drone comes with 2 bonus batteries (for a total of 3) for max flight time between charges

The Hubsan X4 (H107L) is also featured in our popular article on cheap drones for beginner pilots.

Hubsan has emerged as one of the top drone companies. They produce high quality quadcopters at affordable prices. The Hubsan X4 (H107L) is the same.

It’s one of the best learner quads out there, with excellent handling and over 9 minutes of flight time. It’s also great size for indoor flying.

The H107L is a durable quadcopter that can take a beating, but you can also buy a propeller guard to make it even more crash resistant, which can be helpful for new pilots.

It offers one-click flips (both forward and backward) for doing aerial tricks, and the drone only takes 30 minutes to charge, so you can take a coffee break and be flying again in no time.

We can’t recommend the X4 (H107L) enough for new pilots who are just getting into the industry and more advanced pilots who are looking for a durable little quad to have some fun with.

Extras

These extra parts are available for the Hubsan X4 (H107L):

→ Hubsan X4 (H107L) Crash Pack

→ Propeller Guard

→ Extra Propellers

→ Extra Propellers + Propeller Guard

→ Extra Batteries

Features

• Durable one piece main frame
• Permits super stable flight
• Ready to fly (RTF)
• Control distance: 100 meters

Specs

• Frequency: 2.4G
• Gyro: 6 axis
• Size: 14.73 x 5.84 x 2.54cm
• Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Charging time: 30 minutes
• Flight time: 9 minutes
• Control distance: 100 meters

The Syma X5SW is our first drone with a camera on this list. It’s an upgraded version of the extremely popular X5C.

If you’re looking for your first camera drone, the X5SW sports a 2MP camera that can hold about 800 pictures and 30 minutes of video recording time.

It’s flight time is around 7 minutes and it takes about 90 minutes to charge, so the flight time to charge ratio isn’t excellent. But all camera drones have an increased payload that widen this ratio, so if you’re looking to take aerial photos and videos, extra batteries are highly recommended.

(You can charge your extra batteries while flying to maximize the flight session.)

This model comes with prop guards standard, and offers 360 flips in either direction — including while you’re recording.

If you’re getting started in aerial videography or you just want to take some cool pictures, try out the Syma X5SW for a great cheap starter quad.

Extras

These extra parts are available for the Syma X5SW:

→ Syma X5 Crash Pack

→ Extra Propellers

→ Extra Propellers + Propeller Guard

→ Extra Syma X5 Batteries

Features

• 2MP HD camera (800 pictures, 30 mins of video)
• Propeller guards standard
• 360 degree flips in either direction
• LED lights for nighttime flying

Specs

• Frequency: 2.4Ghz
• Gyro: 6 axis
• Size: 31cm x 31cm x 8cm
• Weight: 916g
• Charging time: 90 minutes
• Flight time: 7 minutes
• Control distance: 50 meters

UDI is a highly reputable (and affordable) drone manufacturer that’s been constantly upgrading their training / beginner sUAS models over the last couple of years.

This model, the U818A, boasts altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen, so you can see exactly what the HD camera of your drone sees…in real time. Great practice for those of you looking to get into FPV racing.

But that’s not all! You also get bonus VR goggles, an extra battery, extra propellers, AND and a bonus power bank for your additional charging needs.

Box Contents:

• 1 U818W
• 1 Controller
• 2 Batteries
• 1 USB Battery Charger
• 1 SC Card reader
• 1 4GB SD card
• 4 Spare Blades
• 1 Spanner
• 1 Manual

The camera can capture 720P video at 30 frames per second (with an SD card). This is one of the most popular training quadcopters on the market, and I like this particular package because it comes with an extra battery.

The LCD screen on the transmitter displays a full range of flight stats to keep you in the know. Its light but durable frame makes it a great quad for new pilots to practice with.

Features

• Forward-facing camera takes HD video and HD photos with color and white balance
• Movie resolution upgraded to 1280 * 720 at 30 frames per second
• FPV and VR headset compatibility
• Removable Micro-SD (TF) card stores enough for several flights
• Data port and USB Data Cable – upload your new AVI and JPEG files to Facebook, Email, Photoshop LCD radio controller
• LCD screen displays full flight status
• Extra battery to double your flight time
• Photo Button snaps pictures, Video Button starts & stops video recording

Specs

• Frequency: 2.4Ghz
• Size: 13.4 x 13.0 x 2.2 in
• Weight: 1 pounds
• Charging time: about 90-120 minutes
• Flying time: about 8-10 minutes

An exclusive training quadcopter from USA Toyz / Force1 RC, the U45 Blue Jay is one of the more durable beginner quadcopters out there. As you can see by those propeller guards, they can take quite a beating and keep on going.

This makes it great for beginners, but more experienced pilots will enjoy this quad as well. The Blue Jay has a skillful Custom Route Mode as well, allowing you to drag your fingers across your mobile or tablet app screen to create an automated flight path.

Box Contents

• U45W Drone
• 2.4Ghz Controller
• 3.7V 500mAh Battery x 2
• USB Battery Charger
• 4GB SanDisk Micro SD Card
• SD Card Reader
• Spare Propellers x 4
• Screwdriver
• User Manual

Features

• FIRST PERSON VIEW with VR HEADSET COMPATIBILITY: Watch live video feed of your flight from your iPhone or Android Smart mobile device with the FPV WiFi feature.
• ALTITUDE HOLD FUNCTION: SUPER EASY DRONE FOR BEGINNERS TO FLY: Makes controlling the drone a breeze for beginners and stabilizes aerial photography. This is the ideal beginner drone with a lot of the latest features typically found on higher end models.
• ONE TOUCH TAKE OFF AND LANDING: Drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after take off and before landing making it easy to control and maneuver, especially for beginners who are not yet skilled.
• CUSTOM ROUTE MODE -Trace the desired flight path on the mobile app screen and the drone will fly along the path unassisted
• HD CAMERA: Capture 720p high definition aerial photos and videos with 2MP camera; Sync it to your controller to really bring life to your flights!

The U28W Wifi FPV Drone is a tiny but mighty drone that can reach fast top speeds. And because of the low-latency FPV video transmission straight to a built-in controller screen, it’s ideal for anyone who wants a fun drone to learn on, but eventually be able to race around obstacles with ease.

Given the size of the frame, the motors are pretty powerful, making this drone super fast and agile. As with many of the other models on this list, it has an easy “flip” button which is fun to see through the built-in FPV controller screen.

Extras

These extra parts are available for the U28W Wifi FPV Drone:

• Extra Batteries

Features

• FIRST PERSON VIEW with VR HEADSET COMPATIBILITY: Watch a live video feed of your flight on an android or iPhone device with the FPV WiFi feature; Syncs instantly and brings life to your flights!
• CUSTOM ROUTE MODE – Trace the desired flight path on the mobile app screen and the drone will fly along the path unassisted
• WIDE ANGLE HD CAMERA & EXTRA BATTERY FOR LONG FLIGHT TIME: Capture pristine aerial videos and photos in 720P high definition on 4GB Micro SD, 120º wide angle format; Double your flight time with extra battery
• 3D STUNTS: Perform 360º flips and rolls with the push of a button; View all of your flips and twists in real time straight from the controller screen
• EASY TO FLY FOR BEGINNERS: Custom route mode allows pilots to draw out their desired flight path in the Flyingsee app. High/Low Speed Mode makes drone easy for beginners to master; FAA Registration NOT Required

Gizmodo calls the Blade Nano “The Best Drone for Advanced Beginners.”

First, it’s got SAFE technology. SAFE stands for Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope. This technology helps you prevent crashing your drone and assists you in takeoff (two necessary skills for any newbie pilot).

If at any time you lose control or need to take a breather, simply let go of the sticks and the quadcopter will hover in place.

When you get more advanced you can switch the quad to agility mode to perform skillful maneuvers and hit top speeds.

The Blade Nano is a beginner drone (for under $100) that will carry you into the veteran landscape. (Blade was also featured in our list of drone companies to watch, among a few of the other manufacturers in this article.)

Extras

These extra parts are available for the Blade Nano QX:

• 4 Extra Batteries
• Extra Propellers (Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise)

Features

• Features exclusive SAFE™ (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology with stability and agility modes (if you get in trouble, just let go of the sticks)
• Small enough to fly in any room or office
• Tough, lightweight airframe with blade guards
• Potent brushed motors that provide smooth and powerful lift
• Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can switch the SAFE system to agility mode for faster flying speeds and more maneuverability

Specs

• Frequency: 2.4G
• Gyro: 6 axis
• Size: 35.8 x 21.3 x 11.4cm
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Flying time: 10 minutes

If you haven’t heard of Yuneec, you’re missing out on some high-quality aerial camera platforms that may very well be the perfect fit for your recreational (or business) needs.

The Yuneec H520 is one of the most advanced aerial videography drones on the market. Most rigs of this quality cost $4,000-$10,000 or more.

The H520 sits at a more reachable price, at just under $2,000.

The H520 is equipped with six rotors, a 360-degree gimbal camera, and retractable landing gear with Yuneec’s standard of being ready out of the box, easy and safe to fly, with stunning Ultra HD 4K video and stills.

The H520 was built for both industrial use and ambitious professionals. It comes with a long focal-length lenses that allows the drone to fly at a greater distance from an object and data storage that may be shared instantly from the ST16S Ground Station or delivered directly in 4K/2K/HD video or 20Mp still images.

Also, flying in FPV with the H520 is super easy. Either use the 7-inch screen built into the controller, or simply connect your goggle’s HDMI cord to the controller’s HDMI port.

Key Specs

• Remote Control: ST16S
• Max Altitude: 500m
• Max Flight Time: 25 minutes
• Weight: 3.6 lbs (with battery, without gimbal)
• Notable Attributes: Hexacopter = better redundancy, Obstacle Avoidance, 360-degree camera

The DJI Phantom 4 is one of the top drones on the market right now.

It’s the fastest Phantom so far, capable of reaching top speeds of 45 miles per hour. It also gets an excellent flight time of 28 minutes—great for pro pilots to get the shots they need and minimize downtime.

The Phantom 4 also has a built-in camera that can record video at 4K, 2.7K, 1080p and 720p. But one of it’s most notable features is the obstacle avoidance system. The drone can intelligently position and maneuver itself around obstacles mid-flight.

Couple all of this with a Tap to Fly system, DJI’s reliability, and robust software, and you’ve got a tough drone to beat.

Extras

These extra parts are available for the DJI Phantom 4:

→ DJI Phantom 4 Carrying Case

→ PolarPro DJI Phantom 4 Camera Filters

→ DJI Phantom 4 Accessory Bundle

→ Extra DJI Phantom 4 Battery

→ DJI Phantom 4 Propellers

Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian

DJI recently released the Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian, which comes with a magnesium shell and anti-fingerprint coating, not to mention the super cool-looking matte-grey obsidian coloring.

Check it out:

You can order the Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian now on the DJI website.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP Adobe DNG RAW
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS / 1080p at 120FPS
• Max Flight Time: 28 minutes
• Max Speed: 45 mph (20 m/s) in Sport mode
• Notable Attributes: Battery Life, Obstacle Avoidance, Flight Modes

DJI Phantom 4 Accessories

• Extra Battery
• Battery Charging Hub
• Quick-Release Propellers
• Lighting Kit

Improvements to the Vision Positioning System (VPS) and front-mounted obstacle sensors help provide greater security and confidence when flying indoors or with lots of obstacles around.

The DJI Inspire 1 V2.0 is bigger and offers full 360° camera rotation, giving you an unrestricted view of the world below. It’s 3-axis gimbal and camera system can be easily removed from the aircraft for safe transport and for future upgrades.

And because DJI offers different camera systems (like the Zenmuse X3, Zenmuse X5, Zenmuse X5R, Zenmuse XT, etc.), the DJI Inspire 1 V2.0 is flexible and the kind of model that will allow you to grow over time.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 18 minutes
• Max Speed: 49 mph (22 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator Mode, Multiple Zenmuse Camera Systems

Buy With One Or Two Controllers

Ever heard of dual-operator mode? The DJI Inspire 1 V2.0 lets one person fly, and another person control the camera. I’ll tell you this. Once you fly with dual-operator mode, it will be hard to go back to flying solo. Operating sUAS with a talented crew member is really fun.

• One Controller
• Two Controllers
• DJI Inspire 1 Hard Case
• Extra Propellers

DJI Inspire 1 Accessories

• Lens Filters (PolarPro)
• Extra Battery
• Deluxe Bundle

If you’re looking for a bigger bird with payload flexibility, 360° camera rotation, and dual-operator mode, the DJI Inspire 1 is a great fit.

DJI is a drone manufacturing juggernaut.

Their DJI Phantom 3 series arguably represents the best selling drone models of 2015 and 2016. Within the series there are four different models: the Standard, the 4K, the Advanced, and the Professional.

The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is the most sophisticated option in the series, and as the name suggests, it was designed for professional pilots.

The 3Pro offers 4K video, 23 minutes of flight time, and a whopping 5km control distance.

The quadcopter also comes with five advanced flight modes:

1. Follow Me
2. Course Lock
3. Waypoints
4. Home Lock
5. Point of Interest

These autonomous modes let you focus on camera control and getting the right shot. This makes the DJI Phantom 3 Professional a smart choice for pro pilots.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 23 minutes
• Max Speed: 36 mph (18 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable Attributes: Older Model = Lower Cost (But Still Quality Aircraft)

DJI Phantom 3 Professional Accessories

• Extra Battery
• Extra Propellers (2 Pairs)
• DJI Phantom 3 Propeller Guard
• DJI Phantom 3 Camera Lens Protector + Cover
• Remote Controller Strap
• DJI Phantom 3 Hardshell Backpack

If you’re on a budget and/or need to sacrifice some of the bells and whistles of the newer systems, the Phantom 3 series offers more affordable pricing but units that still pack a lot of punch.