8 Best Toy Drones For Kids Reviewed
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Drones are great fun but can be expensive. As parents, it's easy to be tempted by a cheap but wrong one drone buy for your child.
None of the choices in this guide will frustrate your child, but the absolute best purchase is this MJX B4W Brushless drone. You pay a little more for it, but it has an incredible flight time of 20 minutes, by far the longest of all drones which we have reviewed.
In this guide I'll show you how to get the best drones for kids so you can let them have fun (and maybe you can too) without having to spend too much.
Not every drone for beginners is suitable for your child. Purpose built drones for young people have designs that make flying easier AND are safe.
The last thing a child wants to experience with their new one drone is frustration and discouragement.
Below are the most popular ones drones for kids in different price ranges, then I'll go into more detail about each of these choices:
Overall best kids drone
The MJX is a good quad drone with camera suitable for younger pilots on mission. Great to fly with an immersive First Person View (FPV) flying experience.
Best cheap budget drone
The 66C is easy to understand and a great drone to learn from. It comes with a headless mode or worry-free mode, ideal for kids.
Best drone for beginners
You may find this drone a bit fast and uncomfortable if you've never flown a drone before. It certainly has a lot of power for a small machine, but is very sturdy and the learning curve not that steep.
Best budget camera drone
This drone comes with a HD camera (removable). The perfect gift for any child who wants to take aerial photos and videos.
Best selfie drone
This is one of the cheapest drones for kids for taking selfies, but don't let the low price tag put you off.
Best drone under 100,-
The DJI Ryze Tello is a great little quadcopter for kids. Not only is it a fun drone, it's also educational and can be controlled by smartphone or laptop with a coding system called Scratch.
Best wide angle camera
It's a great first vehicle for kids and anyone looking to improve their flying skills before moving on to more expensive quad bikes.
Drone with best HD camera
The big Parrot Anafi is a smart and very capable quad. It is popular with pilots who are ready to take their flying and aerial shooting experience to the next level.
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Drone For Kids Buying Guide
This guide contains some of the best drones of the child at the time of writing.
They can also help children learn about the technology and mechanics of their new flying bird robot.
I don't use confusing jargon or bother you with unnecessary technical details.
The technical specifications that I show with each model include:
- Size of the toy drone
- Weight of the vessel
- Manufacturers recommended age
- Flight time: how many minutes it will fly with each charge
- Flight Range: The furthest distance the drone can travel from you / controller
- Charging time of the battery
- Camera type: if applicable
- Controller type, ie physical remote, mobile app, or both
I add these specs at the end of each review in a table. If you want more information, follow the best price link at the end of each review.
I also list all the pros and cons for each model in the same table.
Most lightweight toy drones for children do not require a permit to fly.
Note that these rules and regulations about drones and quadcopters for consumers are periodically reviewed and updated.
It is the responsibility of all droneowners to stay informed of these laws.
Before you buy a kid-friendly drone
Get an idea of what you want for your child before you decide to buy.
Some of the small ones drones are incredibly cheap, but you still want to make the right choice. That's what this guide is about.
Keep the age of the child in mind so that you can narrow down your options.
There are five basic considerations to think about, namely:
- Your budget range?
- User-friendliness: user-friendly controls and functions
- The size: also think of all small detachable parts
- Do you want a camera?
- Flight controller: is it physically included, or are there additional costs or is it a mobile app?
I have some low budget ones drones for kids included in these reviews, plus a bigger budget and everything else in between.
Fortunately, by the end of this guide, you'll be able to make more informed decisions about your new one drone.
I've also sorted these reviews in order from price category-cheapest first to most expensive.
The categories are less than 50 euros, less than 100 euros, and one drone in the adult middle segment for the more experienced teenager.
Best Kids Drones Reviewed
Don't be put off by the low price of this one drones. It's amazing how well these workers fly and how robust they are.
Seriously, you get a lot of value for your hard-earned money here.
I've ordered each model based on Editor's Rating - from highest to lowest. These are not just reviews based solely on my opinions.
I also take into account real user feedback and expert reviews.
MJX B4W Brushless drone
- 20 minutes flight time
- 4K camera
- Very light so catches wind quickly
The MJX B4W is a capable optional camera quad that is ideal for kids and advanced pilots.
The three flight modes and one-button take-off and landing ensure that young people have a confident take-off.
- Best feature: three flight modes
- Best Function: 120° Wide Angle 4K Camera
- Pros: Long flight time, smartphone ready, kid friendly, easy / safe flight modes, bonus battery & props
- Cons: not good at winds above 10 mph, no camera stabilization
The MJX is a good quad drone with camera suitable for younger pilots on mission. Great to fly with an immersive First Person View (FPV) flying experience.
Best of all, newcomers can take it slow and learn how to fly with these fry at their chosen pace.
You can switch to Mid-level and finally Advanced flying when it's time to leave Beginner mode. That's three levels in one drone.
Here are some of the MJX's impressive flying characteristics
- Altitude Hold function
- Take off and land at the touch of a button
- Heading Hold, also known as Headless Mode (great for kids starting out)
- FlyingSee app for Apple / Android
- Customized flight routes with the smartphone app
- Virtual Reality Mode (requires VR glasses (not included))
- Real-time First Person View (FPV) video
Why it's great drone is for children
The feature list above are things you'd expect to find on much more expensive camera quads.
This drone with many features is an excellent choice for children because it acts as a training tool.
The flight range is about 300 feet (100 meters) which gives young pilots a decent ride.
And there are low battery and out of range alarms to make sure they don't lose their new MJX.
Your eye in the sky
The MJX can optionally be mounted with a 720P, 120 ° wide angle camera that takes good photos and videos.
With the camera you can see what the drone sees from a smartphone screen.
FPV blows away young pilots and gets them excited about flying camera quads.
The remote has a clamp that holds most regular smartphones in place.
Besides, you don't need a smart device to fly with the MJX.
You do need a smartphone to fly with FPV. You also need the phone to create a flight path for your quad to follow.
UDI's smartphone and FlyingSee app RC add additional features.
It's probably better to fly with the controller alone at first. FPV is best suited for intermediate and advanced flyers.
There's more to enjoy with this one drone as skills develop and that's the point.
The bad news
It's hard to go wrong with the MJX brushless drone when you compare it with similar products.
The only real reason to go for this as a student quad for kids - is the long 20 minute maximum flight time.
A bonus battery is included, so at least that's something.
The battery charging time only takes about 45 minutes when done at room temperature.
Another minus is that the drone does not fly well in the wind.
My advice is to avoid winds above 10 mph. You can do this lightweight drone always fly indoors when the weather outside is bad.
Make sure you know how to control it before doing that.
The final blow is that there is no camera stabilization. The photos and video from the camera are good, but far from exceptional.
Still, we cannot expect cinematographic quality for a quadcopter in this price range.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 9,9 x 9 x 4,1 "
- Weight: 3 oz. (85g)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 8-10 minutes
- Flight range: 100 m (328 ft.)
- Charging time: 45 minutes
- Camera type: 120 ° wide angle 720p
- Controller type: 2.4GR
Benefits
- Ideal camera quadcopter for children
- Great value for money
- 3 flight modes at flight level
- 120 ° wide angle 720P camera
- Suitable for First Person View (FPV)
- Smartphone ready
- Easy / safe flight modes
- Bonus battery included
- Spare set of parts
Cons
- Short flight time
- Not good at winds above 10 mph
- No camera stabilization
ATOYX 66C
- User-friendly kids drone
- Affordable (also very popular)
- It's clearly a toy
This handy little quadcopter is a perfect one drone for children and anyone at entry level.
It comes from the smaller minus category drones, meaning it is about the size of an adult's hand.
What we have here is a fast and fun quadcopter for young people. The manufacturer's recommended minimum age is 14 years.
It means adults need to supervise younger children who want to fly.
The 66C has a high score on Amazon and thousands of positive reviews from users.
It's comforting to know that others have the drone have flown and are enthusiastic about the functions and possibilities.
Here's a quick look at what's in the box on this affordable little craft:
- The Predator Mini Quadcopter
- Remote control (RC)
- 350 mAh battery
- Spare set of rotator blades
- USB cable
- Manual
- Small screwdriver
Flying the 66C
The 66C is easy to understand and a great one drone to learn from. It comes with a headless mode or worry-free mode.
This is great for beginners as you don't have to distinguish the front from behind.
There are three speed modes and the slowest is perfect for beginners. The super fast mode offers a lot of fun for more advanced ones drone-pilots.
When flying indoors, consider the speed options.
Take advantage of 6-Axis Gyro technology and perform impressive rolls and flips with a little confidence and experience.
This is all push button flying, so nothing is too complicated here.
You control the 66C with its 2.4G remote control (included). It is a simple yet practical design that fits neatly in the hands.
The only problem with the RC is that the buttons are not highlighted.
You will quickly find out which button activates which function.
Still, it's a bad design flaw in what would otherwise have been the perfect kid-friendly quadcopter - at least for the money.
Flight time and control distance
You can fly 80 feet from the controller and as long as 8 minutes in ideal conditions.
That doesn't sound long, but it's an average time for one drone in its class. Always carry a spare battery or two.
Charging time is approximately one hour. I recommend changing batteries before they run out of power for optimal control.
You can also upgrade the battery to a lithium polymer to improve flight time.
The 66C does not come with a camera. Kids looking to start seeing and filming aerial photography can check out the other options in this guide.
The drone is primarily a solo flying robot.
The judgement
This is a robust little craft, despite its small size and light weight. It will withstand a few collisions and crash landing.
If you damage the screws, it is good to know that there is a spare set in the box.
The other good thing to note is spare parts availability when you need them.
My biggest disappointments are the unmarked buttons on the remote and the overly basic user manual.
All in all there is very little to eat for around 40 euros. The drone from ATOYX is cool, easy to use and has some great flight modes.
It can also perform some impressive stunts.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 5,3 x 1,6 x 5,3 inches
- Weight: 408 g (14.4 oz.)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 8 minutes
- Flight range: 80m (262 ft.)
- Charging time: 60+ minutes (1 hour or more)
- Camera type: None
- Controller type: 2.4GR
Benefits
- User-friendly kids drone
- Affordable (also very popular)
- Light and robust (crash resistant)
- Comes with spare blades
- Nice to fly
- Three speed modes
- Can upgrade the battery
- No legal registration required
Cheap ATOYX drone vs MJX Bugs B7
Of course you can do these two drones Don't compare, because they really differ enormously in price, but it is good to know what exactly you get for such a price difference.
The 66C is clearly a toy. A nice entry into the world of drones, especially for smaller children, but something that they cannot grow with as much as they become more interested.
The Bugs, on the other hand, offers everything you need in one drone when you want to do more with it and it is still easy enough to get started.
Obviously it's not really a toy, but a good one drone for slightly older children who want to fly seriously and have a special interest in it drones.
The 66C is only 5.3 inches and a really small one drone, while the widest side of the Bugs is 9.9 inches, with a camera that the 66C obviously does not have. They can both fly for the same amount of time, but the range of the MJX is also a lot longer.
Syma X26
- Affordable toy drone
- Robust (crash resistant)
- Bad flight time (battery life)
The Syma X26 Mini is a drone for children that looks nice as a toy. That makes it especially attractive for younger children.
Despite this, it is still a fun profession for everyone at the entry level.
Because it is a mini lightweight RCquadcopter, it is perfect for the indoor environment.
It's also ready to fly (RTF) right out of the box. The makers recommend a minimum operating age of 14 years.
There isn't much in the box, but you have everything you need to fly:
- 4 GHz remote control (RC)
- Instructions
- Batteries (including a bonus battery)
- screwdriver
- Additional fans
- Battery charger
Flying with the Syma X26
You have to be careful when dealing with this drone flies out.
Its small size means it is easy to lose in shrubs, long grass, trees and other areas where a lot is happening.
It is best to fly in bright open areas.
You may need to specify how the craft responds to controls before taking to the air.
That means left, right, forward and back tweaks. The manual explains how to do all of that.
You might find this one drone a bit fast and awkward if you've never had one before drone have flown.
It certainly has a lot of power for a small machine, so it takes some getting used to.
The 2,4 GHz mode 2 remote control
The remote control (RC) is also light and toy-like just like the drone. It works well though.
Anyone familiar with a standard video game controller will have no problem getting used to it.
It doesn't take long for children to become comfortable with both drone as the controller. It even has a 6-axis gyro flight control system.
This helps to keep the Syma X26 stable in the air.
Once you're flying around comfortably, you can move on to 360 ° flips and rolls. The pilot achieves these beautiful movements with the help of a single button.
That makes them easy to implement and yet impressive to watch.
There is no need to panic if you have the drone out of sight because it has a handy built-in positioning system.
The single press of a 'Return' button takes it back to base, as long as there is power left in the battery.
Flight time and control distance
With only 5 minutes, the flight time of the T36 Mini is not that good. They contain a bonus battery that basically gives you 10 minutes.
Charging time is about 50 minutes, which is quite fast.
The control range is approximately 30 meters.
With such a drone you don't want to fly it any further than that. It's also enough distance to zoom around most homes while you perfect your piloting skills.
The judgement
The Syma X26 Mini is a great choice for children who want to understand the phenomenon of... drone of the consumer want to explore.
It's also robust. That means it can take some of those inevitable bumps, collisions and bangs.
It's not a feature-rich quadcopter, but then it wouldn't be for one drone in this price range.
I see it as a great apprentice craft. Seriously, get good at flying the X26 and you'll be ready to move on quickly.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 3,3 x 3,3 x 1,4 inches
- Weight: 21 g (0.7 oz.)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 5 minutes
- Flight range: 30m (98 ft.)
- Charging time: 50 minutes
- Camera type: None
- Controller type: 2,4 GHz mode 2 R.
Benefits
- Affordable toy drone
- Powerful and responsive
- Robust (crash resistant)
- Bonus battery included
- Fast battery charging time
- 6 axis gyro flight control system
- Go back to the basic button
Cons
- Bad flight time (battery life)
- Takes some getting used to
Syma X5SW Explorer
- Value for money kids drone
- 2MP HD 720P removable camera
- Short flight time
The Syma X5SW Explorer is a flying quad for children that offers value for money. It's a bigger one drone than the previous choice.
It is still lightweight and easy to handle for safe flying both indoors and outdoors.
This drone comes with an HD camera (removable) and we will look at that in more details soon.
It is the perfect gift for any child who wants to take aerial photos and videos.
The age recommended by the manufacturer to use this unsupervised drone to fly is 14 years.
When the new drone arrives, it is ready for you almost immediately. You can put the screw protectors on (optional) and the batteries in the remote control.
You are now the pilot in charge and ready to fly.
These are all the items included in the box:
- Syma X5SW RC Quadcopter
- One set (4) rotating blades
- Four blade guard guards
- 4G remote control (RC)
- 7V 500mAh LiPO battery
- USB charging cable
- Card reader
- screwdriver
- Manual
Flying with the Syma X5SW
The most important feature for each drone, especially the first one, is the ease of use.
Well the Syma X5SW is easy for kids to fly, a smooth kite and a real showoff in the sky.
The 6-axis Gyro stabilization helps to stabilize the craft making it more flexible and wind resistant.
The modular design structure provides easy assembly and aids easy maintenance.
Flight time and control distance
As with the first choice, there isn't much to complain about for the money. Flight time is a bit below average at 7 minutes.
The biggest complaint is that it takes a long time to charge the battery.
The battery charge time is at least 90 minutes, so it's not impressive.
It is always a good idea to bring an extra pair of fully charged batteries with you when you fly.
The 2.4G transmitter is quite ugly but perfectly functional. The control rods are spring-loaded and have a pleasant feel.
There is even a small LCD display on the bottom with status indicators.
There are about nine control options to help you fine-tune your flights and control the camera.
The control distance from the transmitter is 30 meters.
The Syma X5SW drone-camera
The tiny 2MP HD 720P camera won't win any awards. But then most children are not overly busy with exceptional images anyway.
It is still a great first-time camera drone for young people to practice with.
You can remove the camera if you are just flying for fun.
The lighter payload gives you a bit more flight time and agility, so it's a useful feature. The average flight time is approximately 7 minutes.
The judgement
In summary, I recommend this as a great first camera drone for kids.
It's fun to fly, easy to control, stable in the air, and can take a few punches. It is certainly an affordable choice.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 12,2 x 12,2 x 3,1 inches
- Weight: 726 g (1,6 lbs.)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 7 minutes
- Flight range: 30m (98 ft.)
- Charging time: 90 minutes
- Camera type: 2MP HD 720P
- Controller type: 2.4GR
Benefits
- Value for money kids drone
- 2MP HD 720P removable camera
- Stable flyer, easy to operate
- 6 Axis Gyro Stabilization
- Crash resistant
- Easy to find spare parts
- Headless flight mode
- High landing slippers
- FPV upgrade potential
Cons
- Long battery charging time
- Shortened flight time
EACHINE E58
- Good beginner mode
- Fast battery charging time
- Engines can get very hot
This is one of the cheapest drones for kids for taking selfies, but don't let the low price tag put you off.
There is a lot of good things to do with this Eachine E52 Mini Selfie Quadcopter. It is also a good looking craft.
The manufacturer's recommended minimum age is 12 years. That's two years younger than most drones on this page.
It suggests that children under the age of 12 have someone older to supervise them.
This is what you get in the box of a new E52 Selfie:
- RC Quadcopter
- Battery
- Remote control / transmitter
- USB cable
- Screwdriver
- Manual
- Selfie room
- That's about it - a few pieces for a simple craft. OK, let's see how she performs in the air.
Flying with the Eachine E52 RTF Mini Selfie Quad
The plastic materials used on this drone are used are quite strong despite the cheap price. There are also propeller corridors.
They do a reasonable job of keeping the drone to protect against those beginner crashes.
Start flying in 40% flight mode. Even an experienced pilot cannot control this little beast from the box on 100% flight mode.
The giro speeds (angle / rotation speeds) are 100% for advanced users.
Flying with the 40% flight mode offers a lot of fun and stable flying experiences.
Thanks to the 360 ° rollers, you can do impressive tricks and rolls by pressing a button effortlessly.
The Headless Mode also makes flying easier for young pilots.
With this they can drone maneuver using the controller without having to worry about the direction of the vessel.
There are also four colorful LED lights if you fancy flying the H8 Mini in the dark.
These lights look nice, but they also serve a purpose. They make it easy to spot the vessel's orientation at night.
Eachine E52 Mini 2,4 GHz remote control
The remote isn't anything fancy, but it's big enough and easy enough for kids to get to grips with.
You can change the sticks to control the drone easier for larger hands.
The RC has everything you need for controlled flights, despite the standard appearance:
- Switch on switch
- Power light
- Auto-return button (returns the aircraft)
- Single flip button
- Left / right control levers
- Left / right / forward / backward fine tuning
- Flight time and control distance for the Eachine E52
- With a flight time of 10 minutes, the flight time is quite high for a small quadcopter like this one. That's not much fun so make sure to invest in a few extra 3.7V 150mAh batteries if you want more time.
The battery charge time is a reasonable 45 minutes with the USB cable (included). The flying distance is 30 meters which is average.
If you try to fly further, the engines will stop.
This auto shut-off feature is a good thing as it prevents those dreaded flight movements.
The Eachine E528 Mini is lightweight (only 20g with the battery). That means there is little chance of damage if it falls on a soft grassy surface.
The judgement
When you first unpack this cute little quad, you'll wonder how you can afford so little for so many features.
It really is value for moneydrone for children. The only major gripe is the high yaw rate.
I wouldn't suggest it for anyone under ten as it requires more skill to fly than some of the others in this guide.
However, it is a small investment for a great RTFdrone, so fast, stable and cheap.
Benefits
- Very cheap to buy
- Good beginner mode
- Fast battery charging time
- Very nice to fly
- Convenient headless mode for easy slefies
- Headless mode
- Includes live view camera
Cons
- High yaw rates
- Engines can get very hot
DJI Ryze Tello
- Affordable, fun, programmable
- Easy to fly kids drone via smartphone or laptop
- Mediocre camera and footage
The drones between 50 and 100 euros have a few extra bells and whistles than the previous picks.
However, there is not much of a difference with some, so make sure you don't pay extra for what you don't need.
If you plan to fly indoors, always choose small craft from the nano or mini categoriesdrone.
Note that some nano-drones are too small to fly outside. They are way too lightweight and easy to lose.
The DJI Ryze Tello is a great little quadcopter for kids. It's not just a fun one drone, it is also educational.
Young pilots can control this beast with a regular smartphone or a laptop computer with a coding system called Scratch.
Don't be put off. Scratch allows children to easily create new functions and possibilities with Tello's SDK (Software Development Kit).
Flying with the DJI Ryze Tello Camera Quad
The Tello is a super easy entry-level quad for kids, but it's not just for youngsters.
The small drone has enough advanced features to keep older pilots entertained.
All you have to do to fly the Tello is to throw it in the air and go.
There are plenty of other kid-friendly flight features too (see below).
The long flying time is also worth mentioning. You can expect about 13 minutes with the DJI Ryze Tello in normal conditions.
That's twice as many other camera quads in its class. And the range of 100 meters is more than enough for a small model.
The DJI Tello Flight features include:
- Quick takeoff / landing
- Altitude hold function: keeps the quad at a constant altitude
- Vision Positioning: Move over selected areas
- Bounce mode
- 8D tricks and flips (aerial stunts)
Video and photo capabilities
The built-in camera can take 5MP aerial photos and record 720P video at 30fps (frames per second).
The lens has a field of view (FOV) of 82.6 °. The picture is not great, but it is surprisingly good considering the specifications of the camera.
The quad has two antennas and electronic image stabilization. Combined, these things make the video transmission and material smoother and more stable.
Best of all, you can share the images on social media from a smartphone.
The drone is also compatible with virtual reality (VR) headsets for the ultimate First Person View (FPV) experience.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 3,9 x 3,7 x 1,6 inches
- Weight: 272 g (9.6 oz.)
- Recommended age: 8 plus
- Flying time: 13 minutes
- Flight range: 100 m (328 ft.)
- Charging time: 60+ minutes (1 hour or more)
- Camera type: 5MP 720P HD
- Controller type: not included
Benefits
- Affordable, fun, programmable
- Easy to fly kids drone via smartphone or laptop
- Compatible with Bluetooth controllers
- Automated flight modes
- Suitable for First Person View (FPV
Cons
- Mediocre camera and footage
- No GPS function
- No 1-key return home (RTH)
UDI 818A Discovery HD+
- Value for your money
- Reasonable 720p HD camera
- Not so good in windy weather
This fast and affordable cameradrone place the pilot firmly in the flight seat.
It's a great first vehicle for kids and anyone looking to improve their flying skills before moving on to more expensive quad bikes.
The makers of the UDI 818A quadcopter suggest supervision for children under the age of 14.
Younger children love to fly the UDI 818A as soon as they get to grips with the controls.
The design of the drone of this boy is extreme to the extreme. That may sound like a criticism, but it is not.
The fewer distractions there are, the less a newbie pilot needs to worry.
This is what you get in the box with a new Discovery model:
- The UDI 818A camera quadcopter
- One spare set of props
- Remote control (RC)
- One 3.7V 500mAh LiPo battery (bonus battery included)
- Battery charger
- USB connector: camera to computer
- 4GB microSD card
- screwdriver
- Manual
Flying the UDI 818A Camera Quadcopter
This drone has large rotors that are widely spaced. It's a design that makes flights more stable than smaller craft.
Despite its size, it is still very light at just 131g or 4,6 grams.
It's not the best kite in stormy conditions, so be careful when going high when it's windy.
On quiet days you will find it quick to respond to controls and really easy to maneuver.
The UDI 818A quad comes with two easy flight modes. Beginners will want to stay in the low mode until they gain confidence.
In high mode you can make fast climbs and fast turns.
Children like to impress with acrobatic moves and rolls and this one drone does not disappoint.
For fancy flying, use the 360 Eversion Key and control those movements with the push of a button.
The Discovery controller
The chunky looking UDI 818A 2.4GHz controller is simple. It feels quite nice in the hands and the markings on the buttons are clear.
It is equipped to control the camera, stunts and flight modes.
The controller also has a digital LCD display that indicates the throttle setting. You can even turn the LED lights on and off from the RC.
Now let's take a look at the camera options.
The Discovery camera
The 720p HD camera is small, flat and light. It attaches to the body of the drone and connects it via thin power wires.
The 4GB MicroSD card (included) stores all air stoppages and video images.
The video quality is more than ok for a drone in this price range.
The upgraded 1080 x 720 resolution @ 30 fps is better than many of the cheaper camera drones in this class.
UDI 818A distance and flight time
The maximum flight time is 15 minutes. The bonus battery included with the UDI 818A Discovery effectively doubles your flying pleasure to 30 minutes.
You may still want to invest in one or two extra batteries.
The long battery charging time is disappointing. It can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours to fully charge.
Compared to many other drones, this is quite long, hence the suggestion for extra batteries.
The control range is 30 meters (98 ft.). This lines up with most of the kid's drones in this guide.
It's important to keep any entry-level drone in line of sight (LOS) at all times, especially the smallest.
The judgement
Many drones are fully autonomous, but this one gives more control to the pilot.
Any child who wants to learn how to fly a drone - instead of just looking at it - should consider the UDI U818A.
It may not be the best drone in windy conditions, but it flies beautifully in good weather. It gets up pretty good to crash.
And there is always a spare set of parts if you damage the blades.
The quick technical specs along with the pros and cons in the table below should help you decide.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 13 x 13 x 3 inches
- Weight: 130 g (4.6 oz.)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 9 minutes
- Flight range: 30m (98 ft.)
- Charging time: 90+ m (1.5+ hours)
- Camera type: 720p HD
- Controller type: 4-channel 2,4 GHz R.
Benefits
- Value for your money
- Nice design
- Provides a lot of controlled flying experience for kids
- Flies well, responds to controls
- Reasonable 720p HD camera
- Impressive flip & roll features
Cons
- Not so good in windy weather
Parrot Anafi
- Excellent value for money for a drone in this class
- Durable, crash resistance
- High average charging time
The big Parrot Anafi is a smart and very capable quad. It is popular with pilots who are ready to take their flying and aerial shooting experience to the next level.
The minimum age to use this UAV is 14 years and older. The only way to control it is with Wi-Fi and the FreeFlight Piloting app.
That means you have to fly it with a mobile device.
No remote control is available.
Therefore, it is better suited for older children who are more familiar with using smartphones and smartphones tablets than most teenagers.
This is what you get in the box with a new Parrot Anafi:
- Parrot Anafi drone
- Inner hull (body with foam rings around the propellers)
- Outer hull (more wind resistant body)
- 1000 mAh lithium polymer battery
- AC battery charger
- This drone is available in three camouflage styles: jungle, sand and snow.
The FreeFlight App controller
There are a few things to do before you can go to great heights with the Anafi.
The first is to download the FreeFlight Piloting app to your iOS / Android smartphone or tablet and then set it up.
Setting up the mobile app is easy, but take your time and follow all instructions.
Impatience causes more anxiety with drone setup and flight than it saves you time.
It's important to adjust the settings to get the best experience. These include height, rotational speed and some others.
I'm not going to go into the details here as you have the instructions to guide you.
Flying with the Parrot Anafi
After you have set up the app, connect the mobile device to the available WiFi signal. The FreeFlight app is very easy to use.
Even so, allow the first flight with the slowest and lowest mode.
Controller app modes include:
- Joypad mode (ON): joystick joystick for mobile device
- Joypad mode (OFF): Mobile tilt function for operation
- Absolute control mode: activates the absolute reference control function
- As soon as you hit the 'Takeoff' button, the AR.Drone will follow the command and take off. It then hovers a few feet above ground level (AGL) and stabilizes itself with a series of clever stabilizing adjustments.
Flying is fun and easy once you get the hang of it. It may take a while to familiarize yourself with all the smart functions and capabilities.
Then you can perform all those beautiful forward flips, side flips, and backward flips.
The Anafi Drone Camera
The fixed 4K HD camera doesn't produce excellent quality, but it's more than decent.
Most users are happy with the photos and video images for a drone in this class and price range.
You can do a lot with this camera: stream live video to your smart device (SD) or HD video and still save photos to a USB flash.
Be sure to take the time to explore all of the camera options.
Controller Distance & flight time
Parrot claims a maximum flight time of 25 minutes with the 1.000 mAh battery (included). The reality is more like 20 minutes per charge.
It is always a good idea to carry more than one charged battery.
The battery charging time is somewhere around 90 minutes. This is not extreme, but it is on the long side of the average.
And the potential flight range is 50 meters or 165 feet, depending on the WiFi signal.
The judgement
The Anafi offers an incredible experience for qualified pilots.
It's the hardest quad to master in this guide, but it's easy for anyone with previous flying experience.
It has its drawbacks (see drawbacks below), but so does any other drone.
Overall, this is a nice camera drone, and it's massive in size compared to some of the nano and micro options we looked at earlier.
It flies beautifully and remains stable. It can do some impressive stunts and can take pictures and record videos from the sky.
And the FreeFlight app is both well thought out and functional.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 23 x 5 x 23 inches
- Weight: 380 g (13.4 oz.)
- Recommended age: 14
- Flying time: 10 minutes
- Flight range: 50m (165 ft.)
- Charging time: 90+ minutes
- Camera type: Built-in HD 720p 30 fps
- Controller type: FreeFlight app with smartphone and tablet
Benefits
- Excellent value for money for a drone in this class
- Perfect craft for 14 years +
- Great looking drone
- Reasonable flight time
- Immersive First Person View (FPV)
- Durable, crash resistance
- Good iOS / Android app (free)
- Automated stabilization
- Hide race and flip modes
Cons
- High average charging time
- Potential for wifi connection issues
- Price tag high for many young drone enthusiasts
Safety guidelines for flying drones
Most drone manufacturers will include child safety guidelines with their flying toys.
These include things like manufacturer's recommended age and whether supervision is necessary or not.
If there are small detachable parts, the toy drone maker will display small parts warning.
Always read the safety instructions carefully before giving your child control of the craft.
Drones, the new hype among gamers
Gamers no longer just sit inside looking at their screen, but are nowadays more and more outside with their drone. What is a drone and what is so nice about it? What makes it so appealing to gamers in particular?
Flying a drone is often compared by gamers to playing a real-life game.
- A drone is manoeuvrable. It maneuvers easily through busy environments.
- Gamers already have the right skills for operating the machine.
- The images are beautiful.
- It's like a game, but still takes place in real life.
- You can use it for both private and professional purposes.
Drones are often spotted in busy areas, during events, but also increasingly in nature reserves. If you want to know more about it, read on!
What is a drone?
There are different types of drones and some can fly without a remote control as it follows a pre-programmed route.
But generally speaking, drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that are controlled from the ground with a remote control.
Most drones have a camera attached that can shoot beautiful images from a great height. This is also one of the reasons that many gamers are very enthusiastic about it. The images are of course true to life and although designers can display images beautifully in games, for some the realistic image of a drone is precisely what makes it so attractive!
Drones are small, nimble devices that can shoot almost anywhere, so they can reach anywhere. It is precisely this maneuverability and the type of control that makes a drone attractive to gamers. They provide a good view and can show you images with an angle that you would otherwise never be able to see or create yourself.
What can you use a drone for?
As mentioned, a drone can shoot beautiful images at a great height, and that is also the most frequently mentioned reason for purchase.
These images can be used in professional life by, for example, builders or architects. They need the images for mapping building land or projects.
It is also used for statistical counts by certain authorities. And even emergency services can use a drone to view problem situations before they arrive on the scene.
Many also use a drone privately. In their spare time they fly in an urban environment or in nature reserves to shoot beautiful images. Or to secretly attend an event from the couch or to find a runaway dog.
Why are gamers such good drone pilots?
Gamers are used to doing many things at once:
- they are stress resistant,
- perform well under pressure,
- often have perfect hand-eye coordination, and
- they can often maintain their focus exceptionally well and for a long time.
All in all, while gaming they have developed qualities that are also important when controlling a drone.
Some even say gamers are better at flying a drone than professional pilots!
Because gamers look at their images for hours on end, without ever looking at their controller in their hands, they already have an advantage over non-gamers. In a game, just like in real life, you don't have the option to press “pause”. The avid gamer perseveres and sometimes goes on for hours, under tension and stress. This makes many gamers stress-resistant and also finger-fast and agile.
Flying a drone is actually like a real-life game. It's like playing a game where you have to get from one point to another, as quickly as possible, or mock as many objects as possible. The images are good enough for it. In fact, the images of drones are as good as what game designers always envision and always try to achieve.
The nimble drone can also fly through a crowded environment and this is what makes it so attractive to gamers.
Not only are the visuals beautiful, the mere idea that they are playing in real life is reason enough for the gamers to buy a drone and get started with it. In many cases it is one much better than being hooked inside.
Do you have to follow rules for using the drone?
In connection with safety you must always follow the regulations, otherwise you could be fined or the drone will be confiscated.
So yes, you should always follow rules when flying a drone. These are the rules that also apply to the use of a model airplane.
A number of important rules at a glance:
- You are absolutely not allowed to fly near a (military) airport.
- You are only allowed to fly in daylight.
- You should always keep seeing the drone.
- The maximum height is 120 meters in the Netherlands. Incidentally, in Belgium that is only 10 meters and you are absolutely not allowed to fly above public areas.
Fortunately, the regulations in the Netherlands are a bit more flexible and you are allowed to take photos and videos in public areas.
However, it is advisable to check local regulations before flying. If you do not follow the correct rules, you run the risk of a heavy fine and the drone can even be taken.
A drone is a fun toy for everyone, but especially gamers have a lot of fun with it. The aspect of a real-life game is an attractive feature of a drone.
In addition, gamers are very good drone drivers. Qualities that they have developed while gaming come in handy when they are piloting a drone. They can concentrate on a particular task for a long time, can do several things at the same time and have good hand-eye coordination.
Are you a gamer and don't have a drone yet? You might think it's time to experience the hype up close and test your skills in real-life!
How young children can fly with drones
Even a tiny drone can become an out-of-control flying missile in the wrong hands.
Therefore, there are legal responsibilities with flying UAVs, especially outside in public areas.
It may not be as dangerous as it let loose with a stunt scooter outside, but there must be good parental controls.
You should think about the age of the child when choosing a drone. For example, a 16-year-old may not want the same product as a 5 year old.
Which brings me to my next point.
Always supervise very young children with a drone, even if they show impressive pilot skills.
Most drone manufacturers recommend 12-14 as the minimum unsupervised age.
Even small nano and micro toy drones have fast moving propellers and small parts that can stifle a curious toddler.
Most of these toys are safe to fly both indoors and outdoors, but under supervision.
Consumer drones are becoming the most sought after children's toy of all time. They also bring a lot of fun.
Today's young people are tomorrow's drone pilots and we want them to be good.
Also read: the Nintendo Switch or a children's tablet?
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.
