Drones are extremely popular, and you can use them for a lot of different things. Whether you want to have fun exploring previously inaccessible areas, use them professionally for film making and photography, or just race at top speeds while performing wickedly fast maneuvers through obstacle courses, there is a drone make and model for your needs.
This article reviews the 10 best drones on the market for people whose budget is $300 or less. I will give you a breakdown of each drone’s features, strengths, and weaknesses, along with a comprehensive buyer’s guide that gives you some pointers and things to consider when purchasing your drone.
1. Potensic D60 Drone– Best All Around Drone
This drone is amazing. It is seriously one of the coolest drones I’ve seen on the market for its class. It looks amazing, and it comes with some seriously great features.
It is an incredibly smooth drone that beginners can fly, and it will hover without a pilot telling it to stay put. Better yet, it can even handle windy conditions!
Your on-screen display will show telemetry and radar information. It supports accurate control with two precision engineered joysticks.
This drone mixes the best in terms of speed and stability. Beginners can use it on the slow mode, and experts will love the insanely fast top speed. Photographers will also love the powerful camera and video capabilities.
Built-in sensors keep this drone steady even if winds reach 15 miles per hour, so you won’t lose control of your drone.
Features:
- Amazing camera quality: advanced camera with 110°FOV lens captures high-quality aerial video and photos from a panoramic view
- Seven stability sensors allow for indoor and outdoor flight with HD video and aerial photography
Pros
- 20 minutes of flight time per battery!
- Control range of up to 300 meters lets you fly it pretty far without it hitting the 400 meter altitude that starts the “no drone zone” per FAA regulations.
- Supports FPV views in VR goggles so you feel like you’re in flight with the drone!
Cons
- The flight plan feature is also sold separately through an in-app purchase (allows you to preselect your drone’s course).
2. Holy Stone HS 700 FPV Drone – Best GPS System
The Holy Stone 700 takes the most popular model, their HS 100, and makes improvements. This drone is capable of being used for filming videos and school projects without springing for expensive camera rigs and high-end drones. It’s also great for outdoor events and holidays with families.
The GPS system also stands out on this model. It will lock on to over 20 satellites in under a minute, so it is extremely precise. The system allows the drone to follow you or easily return home when it runs out of battery, loses signal, or is simply told to do so.
Features:
- 12 MP HD camera using 1080p with 30FPS and 110-degree field of view for panoramic views
- optional GoPro support
- Brushless motors are extremely quiet so video won’t be flooded with audio feedback; also extremely powerful and rarely require replacement parts
- 20-minute flight time when accessories (like guards, landing gear, and cameras) are removed, but less if you’re using it to film
- 400-meter control range
- Return-to-Home features: Low battery, signal loss, and guided
- Altitude hold
- Onboard GPS module allows smart features (follow me, circle around me, return home, and Tap Fly); GPS will lock in over 20 satellites in under 1 minute
- full HD video transmission in 5G over the full range
Pros
- Extremely durable.
- Best GPS system.
- Calibration is easy to handle and instructions are clear and precise.
- Easy to fly with a very small learning curve and headless mode allows you to focus on photography.
- Capable of creating custom flight paths with the app integration, locking an altitude hold, and accessing live FPV video.
- Stable and responsive to pilot input.
- Great handling ability.
- Supports smartphone controllers and FPV apps.
Cons
- Despite being built for film, the flight time is significantly decreased when you actually use cameras while in flight.
- The drone is heavy and powerful enough to require you to register it with the FAA before it can be flown legally.
- The camera can’t be adjusted in flight, must pilot the drone to get the shots you want.
- There aren’t any beginner modes or blade guards, so this is not an introductory option.
3. Potensic T35 GPS Drone– Best All Around
The Potensic drone is a all-in-one package that won’t break the bank. It has a great balance of features for value.
Features:
- Hover and barometer height set function allows altitude hold
- One-key take off and landing
- FPV transmission and Optimized HD 1080P Adjustable Wide-Angle Camera
- Stepless speed function designed for more experienced pilots to get from 10% to 100% seamlessly with gradual acceleration and deceleration for indoor and outdoor flight and practice transitioning from beginner to expert pilot
- Includes spare motors and extra blades in case of repair needs
- 4GB TF card and a USB card reader for video and photo storage
- six-axis gyro control system for stability
- GPS positioning with automatic return during signal loss and low power instances, Follow Me mode to prevent drone from getting lost, and Headless mode with one-key takeoff for beginners
Pros
- Ready to fly out of the box and light enough not to require FAA registration.
- Great combination of stability and agility; gyro system holds it steady while one-push buttons allow for 360-degree aerial acrobatics.
Cons
- Motors can easily overheat so make sure to cool them down between flights and don’t do too many acrobatic maneuvers while in flight.
- Drone needs to sync frequently (to do this, power up the batteries, turn on the transmitter first, then turn on the drone).
4. Contixo F20 RC Quadcopter Drone with GPS – Great for Travelers
The Contixo is really lightweight and easy to carry. It comes with its own bag and everything you need to get flying immediately. It is extremely stable and offers a nice range of features for your needs.
This is a great option for anyone on the go, because it’s got a massive control range that allows for exploring new areas.
It’s also a beginner friendly drone, so it’s a nice introduction to the hobby. The GPS hovering lets you tinker with controls and learn them safely before releasing it and the return-to-home option makes it less likely that you’ll lose your drone for any reason.
This drone has some truly spectacular specs and features, so let’s take a look at the list!
Features:
- GPS-assisted flight lets drone hover with stability and return home when the battery is low or signal drops; it can also follow you and fly circles along your designated radius
- Up to 16 minutes of flight time and a 2k (or 1.2 mile) control range, though FPV stops at 500 meters, so don’t rely on that to see where you’re going if you plan to take advantage of the control range
- Full HD 1080p resolution camera for high quality aerial shots and panoramas that can transmit live video through their smartphone app
- Remote control has a built-in phone holder, so you can seamlessly integrate the app with the controls
- Headless mode, altitude hold, and one-key takeoff and landing
- Brushless motors with a modular battery make this a super powerful propulsion system that can be flown in cold weather conditions, and it rarely breaks down or needs to be replaced
Pros
- Control range is 1 mile!
- Above average flight time with a three-hour charge time.
- Includes a backpack so you can easily take it with you on the go.
- Remote control has a smartphone holder, so you don’t have to juggle between screens.
- Powerful camera allows you to take photo and video up to 1000 feet with a 90-degree rotating camera angle for first person and bird’s eye view and an adjustable wide-angle lens.
- 24/7 customer service based in the USA and will give you a free bonus battery when you call and ask for one.
Cons
- It takes several steps to get it in the air: it has to be aligned, connected to your phone’s app, and then connected to the controller every time.
- The hover feature isn’t perfect and if your drone is out of alignment, it will drift to the side.
5. Hubsan H501S X4 Drone – Budget Friendly Model
Hubsan is one of the most well known names when it comes to drone technology. This drone was made with FPV flights in mind and does not disappoint or deviate from the brand’s reputation. It even has a built-in LCD monitor!
This is consistently a top choice among hobbyist drone pilots, because it’s really great for trying new things, practicing piloting, and getting used to FPV flight runs. It’s also a great beginner’s drone that won’t break the bank.
Features:
- 20-minute flight time powered by brushless motors and a 7.4-volt, 2700mAh Li-Po battery
- 300-meter control range so you won’t have to worry about losing the drone
- Built-in 1080p camera that can record video and photos and transfer live video to the 4.3-inch LCD screen built right into the remote via 5GHz frequency
- GPS positioning allows for Return Home, Follow Me mode, and Headless mode with altitude holds
Pros
- Fail-safe modes enable the drone to fly back to you if you lose control.
- Smooth and quiet flight with easy-to-control piloting.
- FPV transmission doesn’t require a smartphone app; you can use it right from the remote controller’s built-in LCD screen, and the best part is that it is completely lag free!
- Live video can use FPV goggles instead of smartphone apps.
Cons
- Limited 300-meter flight range.
- Camera angle has a very narrow point of view designed for FPV not aerial photography.
Best Drones Under $300 