I’ve included the Deerc D20 Mini Drone in a couple of articles such as the Best Drones Under $50 and the Best Drones for Kids at Each Age, so I thought it was time to do a deep dive on this affordable, fun mini-drone.
Unlike a lot of cheap drones that come and go, quickly disappearing when they are superseded by a new model, the Deerc D20 Mini Drone has been around since about 2020 and is still holding its place in the market.
In the Best Drones for Kids article, I personally recommended this drone for kids at least 10 years old but technically it’s recommended for ages 14 and up. The Deerc D20 requires a bit of hand dexterity to control and some patience for changing propellors. It’s still an easy to fly mini drone that is suitable for grown-ups as well.
I’m assuming since you’ve probably come across this model from searching its name that you’re already familiar with its specs and you’re looking for a deeper dive on whether this drone is actually worth it, so I’ll get straight to the point with the main questions you probably have. I’ve included the out of the box specs toward the end of the article for those not familiar with this model.
Can the DEERC D20 Mini Drone really fly for 20 minutes?
Realistically, this drone can fly for around 7-8 minutes per battery. The maximum flight time in test conditions is 10 minutes per battery, giving it a maximum of 20 minutes by using both. In real-world conditions, the flight time is highly dependent on the environment. If there are buildings, cell phone towers or mountains this will affect the flight time. Wind will also severely reduce the maximum flight time.
It comes with two batteries but they can be purchased separately here.
Can the DEERC D20 fly in the wind?
The simple answer is no. If this mini drone is flown in the wind it’s blown around because it’s so light, the propellors just aren’t strong enough to control the drone properly in the wind. If you fly in the wind you’re risking losing or damaging the drone.
For a more robust drone, checkout the Contixo which I reviewed as the Best Drone Under $200.
Can this drone really fly 131ft?
Realistically, the DEERC D20 mini drone can fly a maximum of 100 feet rather than 131 foot. Similar to the maximum flight time, these out of the box specs are measured in test conditions so there is no interference or wind.
How do I calibrate the DEERC D20 drone?
Drones generally need to be calibrated every time they’re flown so it’s great that this is a fairly simple process for the DEERC D20. To calibrate the drone hold the joysticks down to the right until the lights on the drone blink, when calibration is complete the lights will stay on. It’s also best to re-calibrate the gyro after a crash.
How to I return this drone if it has a defect?
DEERC have a 30-day guarantee so that if you receive the drone and it’s faulty they’ll replace it. Unfortunately, when buying cheap, mass-produced technology we have to accept that there are going to be some defects.
We have up to 90 days to claim issues with any accessory parts for replacement. To contact DEERC directly you can use their email, live chat or phone, here’s the link to their current contact details. If you need to send an item for return, use their support guide here.
What app do I use for FPV with the DEERC D20?
The DE FPV app is used with the Deerc D20, it’s compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Does the DEERC D20 connect over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
The DEERC D20 connects to your phone via wifi, the drone gives off its own wifi signal. When you start up the drone your go to the wifi connections and select DeercFPV###. When you open the app you’ll see the connected drone.
What is the trimmer for?
The trimmer function is used to correct the drones movement if it seems to drift. If the drone is drifting to it’s right for example, click the trimmer button on the controller and push the joystick to the right to balance the drone.
How can I do flips or activate headless mode?
To do flips with the DEERC D20 the drone needs to be flying at left 10 feet high, then simply click the 360 flip button then tell the drone which way you want it to flip. Use the joystick to direct the flip forwards, backwards, left or right.
Headless mode overrides the front and back of the drone, which can be a simplified way to learn to pilot a drone. For a full explaination, check out What is headless mode on a drone. Headless mode is activated by clicking a single button on the DEERC D20 making it super easy to get started.
Can I adjust the angle of the camera?
Yes, the camera on the DEERC D20 Mini Drone can be manually rotated. It has 90 degrees range meaning the camera can be rotated by hand from pointing in front of the drone to directly below.
DEERC D20 Mini Drone Specifications & Comparison
In the table below I’ve listed the stats for the DEERC D20 and compared to the Cheerwing mini drone which is around the same price so you can see what is realistic in this price bracket.
DEERC D20 Mini Drone  | Cheerwing  | |||||
| Range | 131 ft | 164ft/ | ||||
| Max Flight Time Per Battery | 10 mins | 8 mins | ||||
| Camera Resolution | 1280x720p | 1280x720p | ||||
| Weight | 2.43 ounces / 69 g | 4.16 ounces / 118g | ||||
| Special Features | 360 flips Headless Mode Waypoints | 360 flips Headless Mode Waypoints |
Is the DEERC D20 Mini Drone Worth it?
Given the affordable price, the DEERC D20 Mini Drone is worth it, the only real downside I see with the drone is how lightweight it is making it super sensitive to wind. For something a bit heavier and more resistant to the wind check out the Cheerwing and LBLA FPV drones in the drones under $50 article, these have similar features but slightly shorter flight times.
