Compared to mutlirotor drones, helicopter drones are favoured for their endurance, long-range capabilities, and heavy-lift capabilities, making them suitable for tasks such as search and rescue missions, cargo transportation, and military operations.
Although I normally review multi-rotor drones, helicopter drones are a cool alternative. Their vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities allow them to access remote areas and perform precise maneuvers in challenging environments.
In this article, I’ll cover 4 of the best helicopter drones for hobbyists.
The Best Mini Helicopter Drone
Mini RC helicopter drones, also known as micro drones, are compact and lightweight models that are very popular with kids. These tiny remote-controlled flying machines are equipped with rotor systems and miniature motors allowing the drone pilot to learn the basics of flight control in a controlled indoor setting.
Due to their small size, they are often easily caught in the wind so are better for indoor use. Whether performing acrobatic maneuvers, exploring tight spaces, or racing through an obstacle course, mini remote-controlled helicopter drones provide a fun and accessible entry point into the world of drone technology.
The SYMA Mini RC Helicopter is tiny in size measuring only 4 inches long. It easily sits in the palm of your hand. Despite being a very affordable price, this mini drone has altitude hold which is a great feature for beginners. Altitude hold lets the drone hover at a set height without needing any input from the remote control. The control is a good size for small hands and has a simple design.
The downside to this drone is that the flight time is only 6-8 minutes and the battery can’t be removed to be replaced with a charged one. The charger plugs directly into the drone. However, at this price point, 5 minutes flight time is pretty standard.
The Best Cheap Helicopter Drone with Camera and Long Flight Time
Most of the helicopter drones under $50 only come with a single battery and have a a max flight time of 5-8 minutes. However, the 4DM3 Helicopter Drone comes with 2 batteries that have a maximum combined flight time of 30 minutes.
While the design is more bi-copter than helicopter, I like that it has built in propellor guards which protect the blades and the walls if it’s being flown inside. It also comes with a carry case to keep all the parts together and protected while in storage.
Also, not many helicopter drones come with a built-in camera. This model has a 1080p HD camera that transmits the live view to a mobile phone.
Other nice touches that make this drone great for beginners are the gesture mode for selfies, altitude hold and headless mode.
The Best Large Helicopter Drone
At 80cm long, the DLSixYi is one of the largest remote controlled helicopter drones. One of the benefits of buying a larger size drone is that they are more stable in winds and easier to control. This drone can fly for up to 30minues and includes 2 batteries.
The down sides to this drone are that it doesn’t have a camera, so there is no FPV and it can’t be paired with a mobile device.
DLSixYi Large Helicopter Drone: Check availability and best price
The Best Helicopter Drone for Adults
Most helicopter drones have toy-like features but the UH60 is an American Black Hawk imitation designed for adults. Flying this drone has the benefit of robust dual brushless motors which last longer and make less noise.
The overall build of the propellors and drone body is carbon fibre and nylon making it more durable than toy drones. While not the biggest RC helicopter drone, this model is large enough to fly outdoors in mild wind. It measures 12cm high with a propellor span of 42.5cm.
As well as being a more robust build, this drone is faster and more responsive than cheaper models.
The Wrap Up on The Best Helicopter Drones
While I normally review multi-rotor and fixed wing drones, helicopter drones are a fun alternative. They’re well established for commercial use as well, such as the RMAX which is a crop dusting drone for agriculture.
If you’re looking for a small robust toy drone for kids, the SYMA mini is a great option. However, toy drones often have limited flight time by not having interchangeable batteries.
Moving up in price to the under $50 bracket, the 4DM3 is my pick. This helicopter drone has a built-in camera and up to 30 minutes of flight time which is much longer than most toy helicopter drones.
If you’re looking for a large helicopter drone, the DLSixYi is a cool option. This RC helicopter measures 80cm in length making it an impressive model suitable for flying outdoors.
When it comes to helicopter drones for adults, the UH60 American Black Hawk is a cool option. It’s a step up in design with brushless motors and carbon fibre, nylon frame.
