Hello there, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my review of the best drones under $50 in 2023.
I understand how difficult it can be to find a high-quality drone that suits your budget due to the popularity of high-end drones that flood the market.
But I can assure you that I’ve got you covered. I’ve compiled a list of the best drones under $50 that suit your budget without giving up on quality after 13 hours of research and testing.
These drones are great for gifting your child or simply annoying your housemates without drilling a fat hole inside your wallet.
QUICK FACT: The best drone under $50 is the Mocvoo Beginner Drone!
Quick Summary of the Best Drones Under $50
| Product | Features | Price |
DEERC D20 Mini Drone (Best Drone for Gifts Under $50) | ||
Force 1 Scoot Hand Operated Drone (Best Drone for Kids) | ||
Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone (Best Drone for Long Flight Time) | ||
Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone (Best FPV Drone Under $50) | ||
Mocvoo Beginner Drone (Best Foldable Drone Under $50) | ||
Neheme NH530 Drone (Best Camera Drone Under $50) | ||
Force 1 UFO Mini Drone (Best Drone under $50 with LED Light) |
NOTE: All the drones on this list were below $50 at the time of writing.
How To Choose The Best Drone Under $50
Shopping for affordable drones on a budget doesn’t need to be a hassle. But not every drone under $50 will suit your needs. Going for cheap drones means that your drone won’t have some of the unique features that can be found in high-end drones like DJI, Autel, and Skydio.
But, here are some things to look out for when shopping for the best drone under $50
Drone Price
You may, however, get only what you paid for. Many low-cost drones are also low-cost in the “breaks easily” sense, so while price is important, a low-cost drone may not last long.
If you want to get your money’s worth out of your drone, don’t buy one for less than $20. Drones below that price range may not have some of the features you’re looking for and may break easily.
Despite this, many low-cost drones under $50 are easily blown away by the wind and shot out of the sky by the very housemate you’re attempting to annoy!
Also Read: Best Drones Under $100 in 2023
Drone Size
The size and weight of a drone are one important factor to look out for when buying a drone under $50. Most drones under $50 tend to be small, even if you can still find big drones in that price range.
If you’re serious about buying a small drone, you can also look at the three guides below to find some small-sized drones that will suit your needs:
- Best Mini Drones of 2023
- Best Micro Drones of 2023
- Best Nano Drones of 2023
Camera Quality
Drones under $50 aren’t for you if you’re looking for a premium-quality drone with a camera. You’re better off going for a drone under $300 to suit your photography needs without breaking the bank.
Drones under $50 will never have a 4K camera. Even at that, only a few drones under that price tag will have a 1080p resolution. You’ll be stuck with a resolution of 720P for that price.
This isn’t all doom and gloom. Drones under this price tag are useful for first-person viewing (FPV) using real-time relay. Most drones offer this kind of service, which you can sync with your smartphone.
If you already have a high-quality camera like a GoPro, you can check out the best drones for GoPro to see a list of drones that come with a mount for cameras, or check out the best drones with cameras if you simply want a drone with a premium-quality camera.
Flight Speed
Okay? You won’t be able to compete at a drone racing tournament if you want to purchase a drone for less than $50. Most drones under this price tag won’t be able to perform optimally with high-end drones.
This is the drone for you if you simply want a drone to do simple tasks for you, such as stalking your previous lover (LOL… just kidding) or distracting your gaming friend while playing Call of Duty.
However, you shouldn’t fly your drone at its maximum speed if you want to have a long flight time or if you don’t have enough experience flying drones at a high speed.
Flight Range
Most small drones under $50 won’t be able to go a long distance without losing connection with the remote controller. The general range for drones with this price tag is between 50 and 200 feet.
You can check out the best drones for long distances if you want a drone that can travel far without losing connection with the remote controller.
Flight Time
Drones in general don’t have a long battery life compared to other remote-controlled devices. Cheaper drones will always have a shorter battery life than more expensive drones.
This happens because cheap drones tend to be small and long-lasting batteries tend to be big. Big batteries won’t fit into small drones. Hence, the need for small batteries with short battery lives.
This isn’t all doom and gloom; the majority of cheaper drones can achieve a flight time of around 5-8 minutes. You can extend the flight time by flying at a low speed or buying an extra battery if your drone has a detachable drone.
You can check out the best drones with long flight times if you want a drone with a long battery life.
Drone Durability
Well, most drones under $50 won’t be able to withstand wear and tear like other expensive drones. Cheaper drones are easily damaged and more likely to be blown away by the wind.
You can reduce the frequency of repairs by either purchasing a drone with propeller guards to protect the propellers from damage or purchasing a propeller guard for your drone if it has a spot for attaching the propeller guard.
Other Features
The majority of drones under $50 won’t have the awesome features that can be found in high-end drones like DJI, like collision detection, GPS, obstacle detection, camera stabilization, and many more.
In summary, think carefully about what you want before you go shopping for a drone.
What Are The Best Drones Under $50?
Here, I’ll dive into the top 9 best drones under $50. Each review will contain the features and benefits of the products, the pros and cons, the specifications, and my final verdict on the product.
The aim of this section is to help you make a smooth and easy decision about which drones suit your needs and your budget.
1. DEERC D20 Mini Drone
The DEERC D20 is the perfect gift for your child’s birthday. It’s fun, easy to fly, and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, like it was assigned to you from heaven.
Say goodbye to spending extra bucks on a new drone after propeller damage is prevented by the four propeller guards that come with it. And say hello to voice commands like “take off” and “land.”
No need to fumble with the buttons to take a picture. Just post a V-sign or palm in front of the camera, and boom! The drone automatically takes the photos or videos. (Easy, Peasy)
Double batteries equal double charging cables, which translates to double fun while flying the drone.
DEERC D20 Mini Drone Specifications
- Video/Photo Resolution: HD 1280 X 720P
- Drone Battery: 2 X 3.7V 1800 mAh
- Dimension: 196 X 162 X 43mm
- Flight Time: 10-15 minutes per battery (depends on the speed)
- Battery of Controller: 3 X 1.5V AA Battery (Not included)
- Control Distance: 90-100 meters (depends on phone device and environment）
- Transmission Range: 131 feet/ 40 m (depends on phone device and environment）
- Battery Charge Time: About 80 minutes
DEERC D20 Mini Drone Pros and Cons
My Take on DEERC D20 Mini Drone
This is the drone for you if you want to give your husband or child something to make them happy. Check out the button below for more information on the product.
2. Force 1 Scoot Hand Operated Drone
You can have short product description here. It can be added as and enable/disable toggle option from which user can have control on it.
It does a pretty job of meandering around objects thanks to its obstacle avoidance motion sensor, which means you and your folks will have loads of fun playing catch with the drone.
The durable and safe webbed shell design will kiss goodbye to frequent damages that would make you spend that extra dollar for a new purchase. Less purchase, more money in your pocket.
There’s no need to fumble with a remote controller because it has none. Just slightly launch it in the air to turn on the drone and control its direction with your hands
Force 1 Scoot Hand Operated Drone Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Item Weight: 0.07 Pounds
- Control Type: Hand Operated
- Media Type: No
- Wireless Communication Technology: No
- Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Ion
- Are Batteries Included: Yes
- Remote Control Included: No
- Product Dimensions: 4.7″L x 4.7″W x 2″H
Force 1 Scoot Hand Operated Drone Pros and Cons
My Take on Force 1 Scoot hand Operated Drone
This drone is for you if you want something to give your child that will fill their face with joy and laughter. However, if you want something that will last for 20 minutes, the drone is not for you.
Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone
The Potensis Upgraded A20 Mini drone is one fun drone to fly. With an average flight time of 10 minutes, this drone provides you with more fun than most drones under the $50 tag.
It’s one hell of a gift for your child. It comes with more functions, like three adjustable speeds, headless mode, and a remote control, to make your flight time enjoyable.
The LED indicator will alert you when your battery is low, preventing you from crashing in mid-flight. This will prevent your drone from getting lost when flying it outdoors.
The triple battery means triple fun time. Stop wasting time waiting to charge the batteries. Just swap in the drained battery for a new one and charge it while having fun with your drone.
Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone Specifications
- Included Components: 10
- Skill Level: beginner
- Item Weight: 0.19 kilograms
- Control Type: Remote Control
- Battery Cell Composition: Lithium
- Are Batteries Included: Yes
- Product Dimensions: 3.5″L x 3.11″W x 1.26″H
- Batteries: 3 lithium metal batteries
Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone Pros and Cons
My Take on Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone
Overall, the Potensis Upgraded A20 Mini drone is for you if you want a longer flight time than the average under $50 drone. However, the remote control comes with a learning curve, which should be no problem as long as you can read the instruction manual.
Check out the button below for more information about the product.
4. Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone
The Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone comes with the easiest control you can imagine. You can take pictures without using the controller, using voice commands and gestured shots.
Holystone HS340 Mini FPV Drone Features and Benefits
The one-key start or landing, and headless mode guarantee easy control of the drone. The Holy Stone HS340 is a mini drone that gives you a wonderful experience when flying both indoor and outdoor flights.
Demonstrate to your friends or children how to do feats such as toss to go, circle fly, high-speed rotation, and 3D flips that other mini drones cannot. Enjoy both indoor and outdoor stunts!
Give basic voice commands like “take off” or “land,” and the FPV drone with camera will do the relevant activities. In addition, the drone will automatically snap images or video when you post a V sign or your palm in front of the camera.
Create memories that will last a lifetime with the 720p camera. The camera comes with a cutting-edge image processor that can record amazing films and transmit real-time images back to the app interface.
The drone and the operator are protected against a sudden shock or flying away thanks to the emergency stop feature, fuselage design, and propeller guards.
Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone Specifications
- Video Capture Resolution: HD 720p
- Skill Level: beginner
- Item Weight: 50 Grams
- Battery Capacity: 500 Milliamp Hours
- Control Type: Voice Control
- Media Type: SD
- Wireless Communication Technology: Wi-Fi
- Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Polymer
- Are Batteries Included: Yes
- Video Output Resolution: 1280×720 pixels
- Package Dimensions: 6.73 x 6.22 x 3.35 inches
Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone Pros and Cons
My Take on Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone
Overall, the Holy Stone HS340 Mini FPV Drone is for you if you want an FPV drone with fanciful features like gesture shot, voice commands, and many more. However, the drone isn’t for you if you want to film in 1080p.
Check out the button below for more information about the product.
5. Mocvoo Beginner Drone
Capture those wonderful scenes from a high altitude without fear of your pictures getting pixelated. All thanks to its 50X zoom, which allows you to capture all of the details you desire.
The Mocvoo Beginner Drone is a 2-in-1 package for any drone pilot.
Not only does it have a 1080p camera to shoot high-quality photos, It’s also foldable to fit right into your pocket, making it easy to take it anywhere you want for some quick photo shoots.
The all-around propeller protection shields you from harm and your drone from damage, saving you money on replacing the propeller or paying medical bills.
Mocvoo Beginner Drone Specifications
- Video/Photo Resolution: HD 1920 X 1080P
- Drone Battery: 2 X 3.7V 1800mAh
- Flight Time: 10-15 minutes per battery (depending on the speed)
- Battery of Controller: 3 X 1.5V AA Battery (Not included)
- Control Distance: 90-100 meters (depends on phone device and environment)
- FPV Transmission Range: 82 feet/ 25 m (depends on phone device and environment)
- Battery Charge Time: About 90 minutes
Mocvoo Beginner Drone Pros and Cons
My Verdict on Mocvoo Beginner Drone
Overall, I found out that the Mocvoo Beginner drone is great for you if you’re looking for a foldable drone with a 1080p camera under $50.
You can check out the button below if you want more information about the product.
6. NEHEME NH530 Drone
The Neheme NH530 is my favorite drone with a camera under $50. Equipped with a 1080p camera, this drone promises to capture the memories you’ll create with your loved ones.
Gift your loved one this drone for Christmas, a birthday, or other special celebration and watch them glow with joy. It’s great for beginners who have little to no experience flying drones.
It also comes with a variety of functions, like gesture shots, voice commands, altitude hold, headless mode, speed adjustment, and trajectory flight, to make your flying time fun and exciting.
Neheme NH530 Drone Specifications
- Drone’s Weight: 60g / 0.13lbs (FAA Registration NOT Required)
- Quadcopter Dimension: 6.9 x 6.9 x 1.6 inch (with guards)
- Drone Battery: 2 pcs (3.7V 500 milliamp Hours)
- Control Distance: 80-100 meters
- Flight Time: 8-9 minutes / per battery
- Charging Time: 90 minutes / per battery
- Video Capture Resolution: HD 1080p
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Control Type: Remote Control
- Media Type: SD
- Wireless Communication Technology: Wi-Fi
- Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Polymer
- Video Output Resolution: 1920 X 1080 Pixels
NEHEME NH530 Pros and Cons
My Verdict on NEHEME NH530
Overall, this drone is great for beginners and kids who want to brighten their room when flying. This drone isn’t for you if you’re looking for a camera drone under $50.
Check out the button below for more information on the NEHEME NH530
7. Force 1 UFO 4000 Mini Drone
The Force 1 UFO Mini Drone comes with an easy remote control Drone that allows you launch, land, and perform 360° flip drone stunts with ease.
This piece is also great for flying indoors at night, all thanks to its beautiful display of multiple LED lights that brightens up the room when flying.
The drone is also safe for kids due to the four propeller guards that prevent injuries to your kids. My little nephew also loves drones, he flies them at night whenever he gets the chance.
Force 1 UFO 4000 Mini Drone
- Connectivity Technology: Remote Control
- Included Components: Remote Transmitter, UFO 4000 LED Drone, USB Charging Cable, (2) 3.7v Lithium Batteries, Spare Propellers (Set of 4),
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Remote Control Technology: Remote Control Technology
- Control Type: Remote Control
- Media Type: No
- Material: Plastic
- Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Ion
- Product Dimensions: 8.3″L x 7.1″W x 4.2″H
- Item Weight: 15.5 ounces
Force 1 UFO 4000 Mini Drone Pros and Cons
My Verdict on the Force 1 UFO 4000 Mini Drone
Overall, this drone is great for beginners and kids who want to brighten their room when flying. This drone isn’t for you if you’re looking for a camera drone under $50.
Check out the button below for more information on the Force 1 UFO 4000 Mini Drone.
Final Thoughts on The Best Drones Under $50
Personally, the MocVoo Beginner Drone is the best drone under $50.
It comes with a 1080p camera that would capture those scenes and important memories. It also fits right into your pocket and bag thanks to its foldable propellers.
Flying a drone doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can still have fun with a drone under a small budget, though it won’t have some features that can be found in high-priced drones.
