Drones for Beginners: A Guide to the Varied Types & Features

As drones have become more affordable, more and more hobbyists have found themselves tempted to jump into the market. But cost was never the only barrier to entry: there's also a tangle of terms and skills you need to master before you can comfortably call yourself a proper drone pilot. Below you'll find definitions of the three main types of drones, the features to look for when purchasing, and sample models to consider, with a special emphasis on affordable drones for beginners.

What is a Drone?

Consider this your basic definition: a drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by a ground-based radio-control system. On the consumer side, "drone" typically refers to a quadcopter, a flying machine that uses four independent rotors and a stabilization system to maintain controlled, level flight. These drones can be used to take aerial photos, to compete in races, or simply to fly for fun.

Types of Drones

Toy Drones

The simplest and least expensive types of drones—and therefore the best drones for beginners—are toy drones. Operators use these models to get the hang of flying drones and to learn to perform more advanced maneuvers, such as flips and spins. Models in this category may feature cameras, though they don't deliver the image quality necessary to be considered "photography drones." Some are so light that they're difficult to fly in outdoor conditions and are meant to be flown inside.

Sample Models

• The MOTA JetJat Nano Drone for Beginners (from $26.99) is a tiny, 0.4-oz. quadcopter that's super-responsive and maneuverable.
• The Angry Birds Bomb Squak-Copter ($29.99) features speed controls and a dedicated stunt mode.
• The Call of Duty Stunt Drone ($44.99) is capable of performing 360° flips, turns, and rolls.

Photography Drones

Heavier and generally more expensive than toy drones, photography drones include a number of features that make them well-suited for capturing bird's-eye-view shots of your surroundings. A photography drone will likely have a high-definition camera for taking both still images and video, and it may have extras such as an image-stabilizing gimbal mount and flight-assistance controls that make it easier to maneuver. Photography drones come in a wide range of styles, from affordable models aimed at hobbyists to feature-laden drones intended for professional photographers.

Sample Models

• The Swift Stream Z-10 Action Camera Drone ($113.99) has a built-in camera, but also features a built-in adapter for accommodating a GoPro or other action camera.
• The Wingsland S6 Foldable Drone ($199.99) delivers high-quality 4K video at a reasonable price point.
• The DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter (from $881.99) can capture 12MP stills and 4K video and comes with an optional extra battery and case bundle.

Racing Drones

One of the most popular drone-related activities besides photography is racing. Drones designed for racing emphasize speed and maneuverability, of course, and typically they also include a first-person monitor in their controllers to aid their operators in navigating race courses. As with photography drones, racing models fall into a spectrum that includes both affordable drones for beginners and high-performance drones for serious enthusiasts.

Sample Models

• The Elite REZO Racing Drone (from $59.99) is an inexpensive option that comes with its own LED course rings.
• The Elite Rapid Racing Drone ($249.99) boasts first-person goggle compatibility and a top speed of 45 mph.
• The Walkera Runner Pro Racing Drone ($324.99) is easy to maneuver even for beginners thanks to auto-flight functions such as GPS Hold Mode.

Drone Features to Look For

Flying Time

Drone battery life is improving steadily, but it still has lots of room to grow. Entry-level drones often only deliver 7 to 10 minutes of flying time, which is why it's a good idea to grab a spare battery or two so you can continue flying without having to wait for a recharge. Higher-end quadcopters can sometimes reach closer to 25 or 30 minutes, but not all do, so check before you buy.

Sample Models

• The Contixo F6 Racing Drone (from $99.99) gets up to 18 minutes of flight time, which is excellent for its price range.
• The Parrot Bebop 2 Quadcopter Drone (from $269.99 refurbished) features up to 25 minutes of flight time.

Range

Range refers to the distance the drone can fly and still remain in radio link with its controller. Lower-end models may only be able to go a few hundred feet, while more sophisticated drones have a range of several miles, though their effective range for transmitting video may be significantly shorter than their maximum travel distance.

Sample Models

• The Raptor Quadcopter Drone ($399.95) has a maximum signal distance of 2,625 ft., or about half a mile.
• The Parrot Bebop Quadcopter (from $139.99 refurbished) has a flight range up to 1.25 miles with the optional Skycontroller bundle (add'l cost).

First-Person View (FPV)

Drones with first-person view modes are capable of transmitting live video to their operator in real time. Sometimes the footage goes to a video monitor built into the controller, and other times you watch it via an associated smartphone app. You can even experience the feed with VR goggles that fill your whole field of vision.

Sample Models

• The World's Smallest RC Camera Drone ($34.95) is an ultra-budget option that streams footage to your smartphone.
• The 2.4 GHz Goggle Striker ($99.95) comes with live feed goggles included.

3-Axis Gimbal

Absent on most beginner models, this feature stabilizes video recordings by keeping the camera level on three separate axes, known as "roll," "pitch," and "yaw" (or vertically, horizontally, and side-to-side). The result is an almost uncannily smooth shot free from the vibrations and shakes that characterize regular drone videos.

Sample Model

• The Xiaomi Mi Drone ($598.99) features a 3-axis gimbal mount for a 1080p FPV camera.

Flight-Assistance Functions

There are several autonomous and semi-autonomous functions a drone might feature:

• Headless mode: Instead of maintaining a consistent "head," which can make it confusing to steer when the drone starts traveling a different direction than you're facing, the copter will automatically reorient itself so that its right and left match yours.

• Return-to-home function: With one button press, the drone returns to its home point (i.e. you). The fancy version of this function uses GPS to direct the drone to an established set of coordinates. A simpler version, used in conjunction with headless mode, just causes the drone to fly straight backwards.

• Failsafe mode: This is the same as the return-to-home function, but instead of you activating it with a button, it's automatically triggered by the drone losing radio contact. This prevents the drone from being lost when it travels beyond its range.

• Stunt modes: Many drones are capable of executing preprogrammed tricks at the touch of the button. These might include flips, barrel rolls, and spirals.

Sample Models

• The Rocket Folding Drone ($74.99) features one-button takeoff and landing, obstacle avoidance, and an emergency stop mode.
• The Contixo F8 Foldable Pocket Drone ($43.99) boasts altitude hold technology for easy positioning, as well as voice control and one-key return.
• The US Army Flare Drone ($38.99) features a headless mode, not to mention glowing crash guards with built-in LED lights.

1080p vs. 4K Drone Cameras

While you can still find plenty of 720p models around, most drones feature cameras that are considered "Full HD," meaning they have a resolution of at least 1080p. More expensive drones might come with 4K cameras that can record extremely high-definition video. Here are some factors to consider when deciding between the two formats:

Many drones in the United States are required to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Learn more about registration requirements here. Additional state and local requirements may apply. Learn more about drone regulations here.

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