As their popularity grew, the market spread and technology became more mainstream, forcing manufacturers to produce high-quality drones at kid-friendly pricing in order to stay competitive.
Drones are designed to fly about for entertainment and to do acrobatics, as well as to take images and video from a distance.
Drones with more powerful 1080p cameras and video capabilities, which are frequently used for vacations, are on the higher end. But believe it or not, you can get a nice 720p camera drone for as cheap as $60.
What to look for when buying a mini toy drone
When purchasing a drone for children, here are some easy guidelines to keep in mind:
Durability:
Most mini drones are made of plastic which is usually quite sturdy. However, it’s always a good idea to check if the model’s spare components, which include more than simply batteries, are also available for purchase.
The propellers are usually the most fragile component. Most toy drone put less emphasis on them to keep it light weight and reduce the cost of manufacturing
Controller:
There are two main ways to control a kids drone. With the remote control supplied with the drone or with a smartphone using an app to control the drone.
For children under 14, the remote control version is probably the best choice. However, many children and teenagers now have smartphones that they want to use and connect directly to the drone. Most models offer both control options. Check before purchase to make sure.
Battery life and autonomy in flight:
Look for drones with replaceable batteries. Battery charging time can range from 45 minutes to a few hours. It is therefore advisable to buy an extra battery or two so that your child can get the most out of it.
Flight time averages 5-7 minutes per battery. Some newer models have a flight time of 10-15 minutes.
Camera quality:
Drones for the little ones are generally not recognized for offering the best in on-board cameras! If you are just looking for a toy drone for your child, the quality of the camera doesn’t really matter.
However, if you are looking to buy a drone for a teenager, they are more likely to share the photos on their social media or with their friends. So you will want to buy a camera drone that has a good quality sensor. Most are equipped with 720p cameras, but there are models with better 1080p HD cameras in particular.
Supervision by an adult:
Toy drones are labeled with recommendations on the minimum age the child should be to fly the drone. Parents should decide at their own discretion if their child is responsible enough to fly a drone with or without supervision.
Drones, like anything with moving parts, can be dangerous whether used indoors or outdoors. You can’t just give a kid a new drone and let them play unsupervised. Adult supervision is essential for any young pilot and to avoid any problems. Children’s drones generally do not have sensors that increase the level of safety offered as on a more expensive drone for aerial photography.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure the safe use of any drone you purchase for younger children.
So what we suggest
Whether you want something to fly around your backyard to master a 360-degree continuous roll (always amazing) or a high-end drone to take great images and video for your next vacation, you can read our top suggestions.
For kids and adults who want to check out a number of models before going on to something more expensive, we cover the types indicated above. Each of the drones we discuss below has an average customer rating of at least 4 stars, with several of them scoring 4.5 stars or higher.
Holy Stone Kid Toys Mini RC Drone
Key Specs
Dimensions: 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.18 inches
Weight: 44 grams
FAA Registration: No
Flight Time: About 21 minutes
Camera: No
Why we recommend it:
The drone may be launched and landed with a single press of the remote’s one-touch button, or it can be hurled into the air. It can fly for 21 minutes and has a range of 164 feet, executing everything from 3D flips to flying in a circle. It has auto-hover and reacts to the remote’s commands regardless of the drone’s orientation.
Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone with 1080P HD Camera
Key Specs
Dimensions: 12.6 x 12.6 x 4.7 inches
Weight: 146 grams
FAA Registration: No
Flight Time: About 20 minutes
Camera: Yes; 1080P HD FPV
Why we recommend it:
This drone has a lot of cool and important features, as well as a great 1080P HD camera and live video transmission from 196 feet away. Voice control, a function that is more typically found in adult drones.
Using the drone’s flight trajectory and gesture control, children can have a blast mapping out their own own flight paths for the drone. They can act out “paper” to start recording and “scissors” to capture images.
Propel Star Wars Quadcopter: X Wing Collectors Edition Box
Key Specs
Dimensions: 2.2 x 7.5 x 6.8
Weight: 124 grams
FAA Registration: No
Flight time: About 7 minutes
Camera: No
Why we recommend it:
The T-65 X-Wing Starfighter of the Rebel Alliance will be difficult to resist if you or your child is a Star Wars fan. Altitude stabilization and auto takeoff/landing modes are also included. It can be charged in about 30 minutes. It also comes with a display box that plays the Star Wars theme, as well as a hand-painted model of the spacecraft.
Jargon to know when buying or using a drone
Here are the some most used terms for your easy reference. If you haven’t memorize them then you can pin it on your memory as you will find these terms again and again:
FPV: First Person View
FPV allows you to see exactly what the drone camera sees. It is visualized in real time on a monitor or a smartphone with an image feedback in (near) real time.
RTH :RETURN TO HOME
This is the return to home mode, a safety feature now found on most newer drones. In case of low battery or loss of connection of the remote control, the child drone will return to the take-off point.
RTF: READY TO FLY
Ready to fly, no assembly or additional parts required, just charge the battery and you’re ready to take off. (You may need to install propeller guards and landing gear on some models)
HEADLESS MODE :
No matter which direction the front of the drone is facing, it responds to the remote control stick. So you don’t need to pay attention to the orientation of your kids drone. You only need to focus on its direction.
HOVER MODE
This mode keeps your drone hovering at a constant altitude without having to adjust the throttle stick.
Bottom Line
There are many different mini toy drones on the market, so it’s important to choose one that’s right for your needs and interests. If you’re interested in trying out drone flying yourself, a mini toy drone is a great fun to get started!
Some of the best mini toy drones are available at very affordable prices, making them a great option for anyone looking for a fun and affordable way to enjoy flying their drone.
If you’re looking for a small, easy-to-use drone that you can take with you on your travels, then a mini toy drone is the perfect option.
Mini toy drones can also be feasible option for limited aerial photography and videography, but they can be used in many other ways as well.
So if you think that kid-friendly drones are just toys that can’t possibly work, think again.
