There are some mini drones you are willing to take a chance on and some you aren’t when it comes to purchasing one.

We discuss some of the best mini drones below, whether you’re looking for a fun mini drone to race indoors or you’re eager to find the best mini drone that includes a camera.

Continue reading our list of the top 11 options for your reference.

Best Mini Drone Top 11 List

• DJI Mini 3 Pro: Best mini drone
• DJI Mini 2: Best camera under $500
• DJI Mavic Mini: Best value camera drone
• Holy Stone HS 420: Best for a trusted mini drone at a great price
• Hubsan H502S Desire: Best beginner’s drone
• Yuneec Mantis G: Best fun voice operation
• Hubsan H107: Best starter drone
• Hubsan H111: Best fun indoor nano drone
• EMAX Tinyhawk 3 RTF: Best high-speed mini drone
• Walkera Rodeo 110: Best little racing drone
• Holyton HT02: Best for indoor use

Related Reading: Best Drones under $500

Best Mini Drone Review

1. DJI Mini 3 Pro: Best Mini Drone

It just so happens that the DJI Mini 3 Pro, a top contender drone, shares dimensions with the DJI Mavic Mini and Mini 2 before it and weighs less than 250g.

The Mini 3 Pro has by far the best camera of the bunch, and DJI upped the ante with the optional Battery Plus powertrain. The drone now weighs more than 250g thanks to this new battery, but the increased flight time is an astounding 47 minutes.

Pros

• Compact size
• Solid 4K camera
• Sub-250g
• Optional battery for 47 minutes of flight time
• Optional DJI RC remote with display

Cons

• Only avg. flight time with sub-250g battery
• Feels over-priced

2. DJI Mini 2: Best Camera Under $500

The DJI Mini 2 is the best drone overall that we would classify as a mini drone, not just the best camera drone under $500. Despite having a 4K camera, a long flight time, and a good connectivity range, the drone is small enough to pack away easily and weighs less than 250g.

Pros

• Best drone under $500
• 4K camera
• Solid connectivity
• Fun to fly
• Great small hobby drone

Cons

• Just a small hobby drone

3. DJI Mavic Mini: Best Value Camera Drone

With the DJI Mavic Mini, one of the few drones on the market to offer a stabilized camera and GPS with a flight weight of under 250g, DJI entered the mini drone market. Although the flight time is a little under average and the 2.7K camera produces video similar to what you might see from a mid-range smartphone, this was the best drone under $500 until the newer model appeared.

Pros

• Silky smooth video capture
• Weighs less than 250g
• Easy to fly
• Fun to fly
• Very portable

Cons

• Only 2.7K video capture
• Decent flight time

4. Holy Stone HS 420: Best For A Trusted Mini Drone At A Great Price

The Holy Stone S420 from Holy Stone is a fantastic option for the best mini drone and the company continues to astound with its incredible drones. With an impressive flight time between the three included batteries, you can fly longer and get the shots you want. This small drone has a 720P HD camera that enables clear aerial photography. Given that this mini drone is still loaded with fantastic features, this price is difficult to beat. It is best for users wanting a trusted mini drone at a great price

Pros

• Modular batteries make for quick battery change
• Simple, easy-to-use remote
• Easy to follow instruction booklet

Cons

• The camera quality isn’t the best
• Can be difficult to learn for new drone users
• Learning to use the remote is recommended
• The remote holder for the phone could be sturdier

5. Hubsan H502S Desire: Best Beginner’s Drone

Although it lacks GPS and a powerful camera, the Hubsan H502S Desire is a toy-class drone that provides a good flying experience. The H502S Desire is a solid and dependable choice for hobby pilots or those looking to learn to fly with a less complex aircraft.

Pros

• Easy to fly
• Reliable
• Safe and fun to learn with

Cons

• Limited range
• Limited battery life
• No GPS
• FPV camera is a low resolution

6. Yneec Mantis G: Best Fun Voice Operation

You can use voice commands to operate the Yuneec Mantis G, which is a really entertaining party trick. The drone itself provides a pleasant flying experience, and the camera produces passable 4K video, but it has aged to the point where more modern drones perform in many ways better.

Pros

• Voice commands!
• Good flight time
• Fun and reliable drone
• Good flight features

Cons

• Decent camera
• Poor availability
• Pricey

7. Hubsan H107: Best Starter Drone

The Hubsan H107 is a line of drones that vary in terms of the options and accessories they can be equipped with. A basic hobby drone is the most basic model, and you can progress to models with cameras, propeller guards, and more. This drone shows Hubsan’s enthusiasm for creating toys, but their expertise in creating aircraft has advanced significantly since the H107’s launch a few years ago.

Pros

• Simple drone
• Range of accessories
• Easy to fly
• Great drone for first-time pilots

Cons

• Just a simple drone
• Older machine

8. Hubsan H111: Best Fun Indoor Nano Drone

Anyone can enjoy the Hubsan H111 in their living room because it is a straightforward toy-class drone. Or, if you’re like me, you can leave it on the desk while you take a quick flight when you need a break. The H111 has a short flight time and is best used for indoor flights. We are still developing our piloting skills with this aircraft, despite the fact that it is simple to fly but challenging to master.

Pros

• Very small and safe
• Reliable
• Fun
• Great to learn on

Cons

• Very limited range
• Limited flight time
• Not great outside

9. EMAX Tinyhawk 3 RTF: Best High-speed Mini Drone

This small drone is a ready-to-fly (RTF) kit, meaning it already has everything you need to fly. It is still a simpler racing drone to control despite its impressive top speed of 35 MPH. The camera’s first-person perspective may require some getting used to, but once mastered, it makes flying enjoyable for everyone. It is best for users wanting a high-speed mini drone.

Pros

• Easy to control, especially for a racing drone)
• Durable, able to withstand most crashes
• Centralized mount to allow for easy repairs when necessary

Cons

• Battery life is short
• The camera doesn’t record
• Camera used for FPV while flying only
• Video quality is lacking

10. Walkera Rodeo 110: Best Little Racing Drone

A miniature racing drone called the Walkera Rodeo 110. Despite being smaller than the average racing drone and, admittedly, slower than many, it is still nimble and quick. The Rodeo 110 is an affordable entry point for people interested in taking up the hobby of drone racing.

We like the Rodeo 110 for its agility and small size, but all you camera drone pilots used to GPS-enabled flight features, get ready to crash. The Rodeo 110 is fast and the controls are a little different than you might be used to. Racing drones are a challenging breed of the machine to control, but they are very entertaining.

Pros

• Fast
• Agile
• Fun to fly
• Great starter racing drone

Cons

• Simple FPV camera
• No remote included
• Not a top contender in the racing world

11. Holyton HT02: Best For Indoor Use

The Holyton HT02 is the best mini drone for you if all you want to do is fly it around inside for fun. Kids of all ages can safely fly this drone thanks to its protected propellers and three-speed settings. Every flight on this drone is exciting because it can hover and spin.

Pros

• Does not require FAA registration
• Can be stored in the transmitter for easy transport
• Comes with auto hovering
• Has features more expensive drones often come with

Cons

• Longer battery charging time
• Changing batteries can be a hassle
• Motors may stop working after little use

What Is A Mini Drone?

When folded or unfolded, a mini drone is a small, portable drone that frequently fits in the palm of your hand. While many mini drones have few features, the best mini drones have a ton of functional and user-friendly features. It is best for those wanting a fun mini drone for flying indoors

Mini Drone Vs. Regular Drone

Depending on the models, mini drones and regular drones will differ in a variety of ways. Larger drones frequently have more features, but mini drones are also getting better all the time.

As the cameras and other accessories that come with mini drones are frequently less sophisticated and professional than those that come with your standard drone, they are thought to be more suited for hobbyists. Mini drones are popular among those who want to fly quickly and for fun and are frequently used more for racing.

Compared to a standard drone, mini drones are significantly smaller and lighter. Both have a lot to offer in terms of advantages, but which one is best for you will depend on your needs and wants.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Mini Drone

Almost anyone can have fun with drones. To make sure you buy a dependable mini drone, be aware of the factors to look at when making your decision.

Price

Mini drone costs are one item whose range is quite wide. This is due to the fact that each drone has a different set of features and accessories.

Mini drones do not always have cameras and those that do frequently cost much less. A mini drone’s price will increase significantly with a better camera, but the cost-benefit ratio is frequently favorable.

Camera

The ability to take photos and videos from a unique viewpoint is one of the features that attract many people to drones. The uses of drones are evolving, though, and a wider audience is attracted to them as their popularity grows.

These small drones frequently lack cameras, but racing drones can be a lot of fun as a hobby. Thankfully, there are excellent mini drone options that are available both with and without a camera so you can truly get the best mini drone for you.

Speed

Mini drones are frequently difficult to control for novice users because of their speed. You need to have control over them even though they can be fast and enjoyable.

There are many small drones available that are designed for racing and speed. It’s crucial to become familiar with these mini drones’ controls if you want to enjoy every flight.

Inside Use

Different types of mini drones are suitable for use both inside and outside. But quite a few miniature drones are designed exclusively for indoor use. Mini drones outside can fly differently due to their size and the wind.

Even though many mini-drones are simple to fly right out of the box, learning to fly a drone indoors can be challenging. There are frequently more barriers inside, which can cause more collisions. To learn how to fly your drone indoors, choose an open space.

Battery Life

Mini drones have a shorter flight time, which is not surprising given their incredibly small size. This is a result of the batteries being smaller to reduce weight and size. When they have extra batteries, mini drones can still offer a respectable flight time.

When you need a new battery, you can quickly and easily change it with some of the best mini drones because their batteries are modular. There are alternatives, so make sure to look into them all. The majority of mini drones will have batteries that can last between four and seven minutes.

Licensing And Permits

While many regular drones must be registered with the FAA, many mini drones are small enough to not. Even if you don’t have to register your drone with the FAA, there are still rules and regulations you must abide by if you’re flying it outside.

Drones weighing less than 250 grams typically do not need to be registered with the FAA. However, how you intend to use the drone may also have an impact on this requirement. Discover here the prerequisites for registration.

FAQs

The Bottom Line

As drones continue to develop and gain popularity, many people have become fascinated by them. The price of mini drones as well as the features and extras that come with them vary greatly. You’ll find it easier to choose the best mini drone for your needs if you consider the types of flying you’d like to do with your drone.

You can find mini drones with cameras, mini drones for racing, mini drones for fun—you name it!

I try to update this list as frequently as I can because drones are constantly being released; the current list includes some of the best mini drones available right now. Hope this guide is useful for you!