People have a common belief about drones. It is that two categories of drones exist. The first category features toyish drones costing less than $100 and offering short-lived excitement. These drones have very little as end products. The second category has drones that cost over $700 and have numerous features, including GPS, HD cameras, radio controllers, etc. However, there are reasonably priced drones having the best in technology and premium hardware. There are several such best drones under 500.
The question is how to find a good drone under $500 for your kids. Well. That depends on several factors. Below, we are going to discuss some of the factors.
A guide to finding the best drones under 500
Drone Type – An extensive variety of drones are on offer. These models have various features and options that could be convenient for different users. A key consideration for buying a quality drone under $500 is the drone type.
Generally, drones are of two types, namely, camera and FPV drones. A camera drone features a premium camera for cinematic aerial footage. However, these drones are mostly comparatively slower-paced and without FPV Goggle support.
FPV drones feature greater flying speed, altitude, and range. These drones make up for their average cameras with compatibility with FPV goggles to provide users a real-life experience.
Flying Time – Parents who want the best drones under 500 for their kids must consider their flying time. It means the time for which a drone will fly on one charge. Thirty minutes of frying time suffice most users. The reason is that users can put multiple batteries in their drone bag for increasing flying time when the need arises.
Flying Speed – A drone with a faster flying speed can be a real time-saver for users. Kids who are keen on performing various aerial maneuvers would be keen on a faster drone. A 35 MPH drone will suit them fine.
Flying Height – Flying height of a drone is significant as it promotes good aerial footage. The maximum height of 2 miles is more than sufficient for kids to enjoy their drone flying.
Range – Users can control their drones with their wireless radio controller. Users can stream a video feed from their drone to their smartphone or FPV goggles with these controllers. All controllers have a maximum limit. Drones with a greater range rating of 2 or 3 miles are recommended.
There’re some more factors to consider while buying a drone for less than $500. One is video resolution. A camera with a good resolution is good for kids you want cinematic footage. Another one is the controls. It’s always better to purchase drones with user-friendly controls. Drones with mechanized control options also facilitate flying. Other considerations are accessories that accompany a drone, a drone’s size, and form.
Next, we’ll discuss some of the best drones under 500. We start with the EACHINE E520 Drone with 4K Camera Live Video.
EACHINE E520 Drone with 4K Camera Live Video
Parents scouring the market for a good HD camera drone for their kids that cost less than $500 will like this drone. This well-designed drone is foldable and weighs less than 300g. Thus, it is super easy to carry around. It has quite a few excellent features, a prominent one being the 4K HD Camera with 120° Wide Angle. The GPS facilitates a more steady flying experience.
The smart flight modes and a host of other features will wow kids and their parents. They are:
Waypoint – Users can sketch a path on the app, and this drone is going to follow that path mechanically.
User-friendly features – The drone that user-friendly features for beginners, including headless mode, altitude hold, single-key take off/landing, low battery alarm, emergence stop, and evident LED lights. Beginners will have no problem controlling the drone.
Smart Track – A mode that will lock the drone to the user, and the drone will follow the user wherever he goes. This mode also facilitates capturing videos and pictures hands-free.
The camera facilitates prompt picture transmission. Kids will relish real-time gorgeous scenery in FPV on their VR Glasses. The 0-90° camera angle lets kids experience different feelings of multiple angles.
Read more:
Best Drones Under 200 and Buying Guide
Bolt Drone FPV Racing Drone Carbon Fiber with First Person View
A Bolt Drone is an affordable solution for a ready-to-fly FPV drone bundle. Now, everyone can enjoy FPV drone piloting and racing. This carbon fiber drone features a state-of-the-art controller system, FPV goggle, altitude stabilization, and HD camera.
We elaborate on the features of the drone below.
Line of Sight – As soon as users turn the drone and controller on, both pair up. Users are set to take off. Beginners will pick up the basics easily with the drone’s altitude stabilization and beginner’s mode. They will learn safely maneuvering and controlling the drone.
The screen mounted on the Controller – Having got the basics right, users can pilot the drone to a greater distance with the screen mounted on the controller. They will see live HD airborne view on the screen.
FPV Goggles – Users who want an FPV experience of the scene above need to fit the screen into their goggles. They get an immersive flying experience.
Kids can easily transition between traditional viewing and FPV viewing sliding the screen on the controller and the goggles.
The Bolt is definitely amongst the best drones under 500 that is super enjoyable and has an easy learning curve. It allows recreational drone flying and immersive FPV piloting.
XIAOKEKE GPS Drone with Camera
The drone hovers steadily and is capable of capturing high-quality pictures of the surroundings. Users who get a very weak GPS signal or no signal need not worry. They can land the drone securely with optical flow positioning. They need not worry about losing the drone. The drone is suitable for beginners and veterans alike. What is the reason? The single-key start, easy start/stop conditions, and automatic altitude hold and return features.
Two more features that make the drone easy to maneuver are “Custom flight route” and “headless” modes. With the first feature, users can make the drone fly along a path that they sketch. By activating the headless mode, users can fly the drone to all positions, notwithstanding the direction it is pointing towards. Thus users can concentrate on capturing video footage and images of the view below and around them.
The integrated 4k + 0.3MP anti-shake dual cameras let users see live video footage on their mobile phones in FPV. They can also record memorable moments.
XIAOKEKE has got several great reviews for its high-quality and responsive customer service. Buyers who have any queries are free to contact them via email. They are going to reply within 24 hours.
The 25 minutes flight time on one charge is suitable for flying the drone and landing it and putting in a new battery set.