The best mini drone on the market at the moment is the DJI Mini 3 Pro but this is over budget for many UAV enthusiasts. So, in this article I’ll go through which mini drone is the best under $500 and $350 as well as the best mini drones for kids.
- Drones under 250g don’t have to be registered with the FAA if they are just being flown for fun
- They are super convenient to throw into a backpack or into a lens compartment of camera bag for that ‘just in case’ aerial photo opportunity .
The Best Mini Drone : DJI Mini Pro 3
The overall best mini drone is the DJI mini 3 Pro, but it’s a pricey option. On paper the Mini 3 has the longest range and the longest flight time however, what really makes the Mini 3 Pro the best mini drone is the stability and refinement of software and hardware. The 12km range of the Mini 3 is supported by DJI’s the Occusync 3.0 technology, this was first released in the Mavic Pro and has been refined over the past 6 years.
The hardware and engineering behind the Mini 3 is the result of over 16 years of manufacturing drones and dominating the UAV market with a 75% market share. DJI have packed professional features, previously only found in full size UAVs into this new mini drone.
For cheaper versions, you may want to consider DJI’s other mini drones; I compare these in the article Mini SE vs Mini 2 vs Mini 3 Pro.
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The DJI Mini 3 Pro currently has the best range for a mini drone, the longest battery flight time (when using the intelligent battery) and an impressive camera that can shoot vertical video.
Some of the reasons you might consider the other Mini drones above are :
- If you have data privacy concerns or are photographing sensitive images (ie search and rescue or security), the Exo Mini Pro is better recognized for data privacy. DJI has been criticized for having funding from the Chinese government resulting in the Security Bureau adding DJI to the US Entity list.
- Cost … The Exo Mini Pro is the cheapest option for a professional level mini drone.
Mini Drone Obstacle Avoidance
The Exo Mini, DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Autel Evo Nano+ all feature tri-directional obstacle avoidance. The sensors are at the front, back and bottom so there is no protection for sideways movement.
Below is a diagram of the DJI Mini 3 Pro obstacle avoidance sensor positioning and coverage compared to the Evo Nano+. The DJI Mini 3 has better obstacle avoidance coverage to the front and rear of the drone and a wider range of protection provided from the bottom sensor.
Obstacle Avoidance Coverage: DJI Mini 3 Pro
Drone Obstacle Avoidance Coverage: Autel Evo Nano+ Mini
Above: The Autel Evo Nano+ obstacle avoidance has less coverage than the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Best Mini Drone for Photography
When it comes to the best mini drone for photography, the Mini 3 Pro has the largest camera sensor making it the best performer in low light settings. For detailed information, I’ve written a more detailed article on what to look for when buying a drone for photography.
One of the unique features of the DJI Mini 3 Pro camera is the rotating lens which can shoot vertical photos and videos. This means the field of view is full screen on mobile phones with out having to rotate the phone horizontally.
If you’re a photographer, you may want to also consider the Exo Mini Pro which has the benefit of an adjustable aperture. This feature is not often included in drone cameras and (at the time of writing) this is the only mini drone with this photography feature. More on the Exo Mini Pro in this article.
Having an adjustable aperture means the amount of light being let into the camera lens can be controlled. A larger aperture (a higher ‘f stop’ number) lets more light in for gloomy days or indoor drone photography while a smaller aperture will stop bright sections of a photo from becoming blown out and loosing detail.
Which Mini Drone has the Best Range
At time of writing, the Mini 3 Pro has the best range of all mini drones available. It has a 12km range with live stream video up to 1080p with 30fps. This long range is supported by 4 built in antennas and DJI’s Ocusync 3 technology.
The transmission technology has been repeatedly refined since it was first released in 2016 with the Mavic Pro.
12km Range is a really generous distance, even compared to full size drones. One of the few drones that exceeds this is the DJI Mavic 3, more on that in Long Range Drones.
What is the Best Mini Drone Under $500
The best drone under $500 is the DJI Mini 2. Yes, at full price this model is slightly above $500 but by going though trusted re-salers such as the links below you can score a quality drone at a great price.
The Mini 2 is one of DJIs most popular drones, it’s kitted out with a good camera and a transmission range of 10km support by Ocusync 2.0. This is a big step up from the Mini SE which only has a range of 4km. To see the difference in features between these and the Mini 3, check out the DJI Mini comparison article here.
In the table below, the DJI Mini 2 is compared to the Fimi X8. This is a less well known drone that’s available under $500 but it’s features are comparable the more expensive mini drones like 4K stills and 8km transmission.
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| Still Photo Resolution | ||
| Video Resolution | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| Gimbal |
Based on out of the box specifications the Fimi X8 is a really strong contender for the best mini drone under 500.
Fimi have been around since 2014 as a part of Xioami which is a Chinese tech brand. They’ve made some interesting changes with the Fimi X8 mini like the Pro Battery and the controller design.
The Pro Battery is lighter and gives a longer flight time, similar to the Intelligent Flight Battery that DJI has released for the Mini 3 Pro. This battery is an optional feature when buying the Fimi X8 mini drone.
The controller design is different to any other drones we’ve seen before, it extends to fit the mobile in the center of the controller.
Above: The Fimi X8 Mini drone has some interesting features like the expandable controller that fit the mobile in the center.
In my opinion, the DJI Mini 2 still comes out on top, the technology has been refined from the previous versions and is more robust. However if the budget needs to stick to under $500 then the Fimi X8 is worth a look.
What is the Best Mini Drone Under $350
The best mini drones under $350 is the DJI Mini SE. It’s around this price bracket that drones make the jump from being toy like to a functional flying camera, I go through my top 3 picks in the Best Drones Under $300 in this article.
The specifications of the Roku F11 Mini are almost identical but Roku are known for producing cheaper, toy like drones compared to DJI.
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| Still Photo Resolution | ||
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| Gimbal |
What is the Best Mini for Kids
The all round, best mini drone for kids is the Ryze Tech Tello but I have a few favorites when it comes to this category.
Kids drones are generally smaller and fall under the mini drone category so there are some great options like indoor battle drones and programmable mini UAVs.
For more options I highly recommend you take a look at the Top Drones for Kids at Each Age.
The Tello drone has removable propeller guards which make it good for learning to fly indoors while protecting both the drone and the walls.
It has a flight time of 13 minutes per battery which is better than the majority of other toy drones which will usually get around 5 minutes flight time. The Tello also has a 3 battery charger, making continual flying easier.
Many toy drones have a built in battery which means once it’s flat, it’s game over until the drone recharges.
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Wrap Up on the Best Mini Drone
While the DJI Mini 3 Pro is the best mini drone available at the moment there are some other great options if your budget doesn’t stretch that far.
The DJI Mini 2 still has a great quality camera, smooth transmission supported by Ocusync 2.0 with FPV up to 4km. If bought new at full price, this drone retails above $500 so if you dont want to buy a refurbished model then the Fimi X8 is a viable cheaper option that has pro features.
At the cheaper end of the best mini drones, the DJI Mini SE is a good reliable option.
My recommendation on the best mini drone for kids is the Rize Tech Tello but be sure to check out the suggestions for the best mini drones for kids for each age.
