HobbyKing currently offers a variety of drones, multirotors, and quadcopters that are great for beginners and are on sale - everything under US$50.00!

Entry-level or beginner drones are a great way to get started with RC, FPV, or aerial photography. They're also a great initial investment to introduce your kids, family, or significant other to the basics of radio-controlled flying without risking your own RC aircraft or budget.

These drones for beginners are a great jumping point to start learning and appreciating the joys of piloting RC planes, and most of all, take it in stride if your drone eventually crashes.

Most of the drones we offer are small and light (under 0.55lbs or 250g). This means you won't have to worry about registering with the FAA or limited to club approved areas. While they are small, they are also packed with features such as cameras for capturing videos and images, built-in flight stabilizers, as well as mobile apps to manage or share your content.

3 Key Differences Between Entry Level vs Standard Drones

Here are three major differences between beginner drones and the standard high-end drones:

  1. Flight Time.
    The good news is that your entry-level drone will be fairly easy to fly and typically ready to fly (RTF) with everything you need straight out the box. That being said, the average flight time for these drones is usually around 10 to 15 minutes with around half an hour needed to recharge them. This means you'll need to think about getting a drone that has removable batteries and carry spare batteries for longer flight times.
  2. Camera Resolution.
    Despite misconceptions, many entry-level drones now include cameras for taking photos or recording videos as a basic feature. Unlike standard drones, the camera resolution may be similar to that of older smartphones while the video resolution might be 1080p at best instead of 4K currently offered by DJI and similar brands. Moreover, many drones may not have their camera mounted on a gimbal, so expect your stills or videos to be a bit shaky.
  3. Standard Features.
    Not all drones come with the same standard features one would expect. Some beginner drones may include a simple remote that resembles a toy RC radio, a video game controller, or have controls integrated into its mobile app. Other drones may offer "return to home" for them to automatically return to your location, or sensors (flight stabilizers) to hold the drone in place ("auto hovering") so pilots don't worry about losing control. This makes it much easier for beginners and kids to get started with RC as a hobby.

Here Are Some Of The Drones We Have Available For Kids, Loved Ones Trying RC, And Beginners.

  • A8 Quadcopter with 2.0 MP Camera

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If you are looking for a small fun to fly quadcopter that even has a built-in camera, then the A8 is exactly what you need. This little guy is easy to fly, has rock-solid stability, and can do flips in any direction.

With 5-8 minutes of flight time, you have plenty of opportunities to capture either still photographs or videos on the 2-megapixel camera that can be downloaded to your PC after each flight. This is a fantastic little quadcopter that will give you hours of fun.

  • MJX X300C FPV (Ready to Fly) 2.4Ghz 4CH 6 Axis Multirotor with HD Camera iOS and Android Compatible

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For beginners, the headless mode allows you to forget about all of the usual orientation worries. Advanced algorithms on the flight controller ensure any directional changes are compensated so that a right turn will still turn right - even when flying towards yourself. The "one key return" button also has the model returning to you regardless of where it is pointing!

You can have HD real-time FPV transmission to your iOS or Android device simply by installing the app and connecting via WiFi. The included phone mount is spring-loaded to allow you to mount the mobile phone of your choice to the transmitter. The MJX app also has video recording and editing so that you can save your flights to view later or share

The MJX X300C is a feature-packed multirotor for getting into FPV and aerial videography. With its selectable flight response modes, 6 axis gyro stabilization, 3D capability, and one-key return feature, this fabulous little multirotor also has a built-in HD camera and WiFi FPV. The X300C really raises the bar for the competition to follow!

  • Runqia Toys RQ77-10G Explorer Drone with HD Camera (Mode 2)

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  • Runqia Toys RQ77-10 Explorer Drone (Mode 2)

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Looking for a mini drone with all the features? The RQ77-10 has it and is capable of flying both indoors and outdoors. It's easy to fly with a 6-axis gyro to keep you stable and has a one-click button to do 360-degree rollovers.

The RQ77-10 has an auto-return function for returning to where you started. There is a slow-fast mode on your transmitter depending on how fast you want to go. Headless mode can also be activated from your transmitter.

The RQ77-10G has all the features of the RQ77-10 but also comes with an HD camera that can take both stills and videos with the supplied transmitter.

  • Metal Structures RC-106 (Ready to Fly) Drone

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Perfect for beginners and experienced pilots with its own 2.4Ghz radio transmitter, the Metal Structures RC-106 Alloy Drone is easy to fly and fit for both kids and adults!

The RC-106 Alloy is a brilliant little model with a modular design, LED lights, and best of all, the alloy body structure offers ruggedness and crashworthiness.

Surprisingly agile, it can do flips at the press of a button and has a one-button return thanks to its 6-axis gyro flight controller that ensures it remains stable in flight.

  • WLtoys Q212 (Ready to Fly) Spaceship Quadcopter w/ Barometric Altimeter & 1 Key Auto Start (Mode 2)

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  • WLtoys Q212K (Ready to Fly) Spaceship FPV Quadcopter w/ WiFi & HD Camera (Mode 2)

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The Q212 quadcopter is a fantastic drone for beginners! With its ready to go 2.4GHz RC system, the Q212 is already a winner before you consider the 6-axis stability, 1 key takeoff/return-to-home features, 360-degree flip functions, barometer controlled automatic hovering capability, and headless mode for stress-free flying.

For RC beginners, the much talked about headless mode (available at the press of a button) allows you to forget about all of the usual orientation worries. Advanced algorithms in the flight controller ensure that any directional changes are compensated so that a right turn command will still turn the model right relative to the pilot, even when it's flying towards you.

Not only has the Q212 taken care of orientation worries, the "one key return" button will have the model returning to wherever it happens to be pointing!

The Q212K quadcopter has all the features of the Q212, and an HD camera, capable of capturing the action at 1280 x 720P, also making it an ideal FPV starter drone.

  • FQ777-955C Scorpius (Ready to Fly) Drone w/ 720p Camera (Mode 2)

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FQ777-955C Scorpius is a very unique mini drone that flies as good as it looks! The inverted motors provide a vastly different look and reduce the risk of the propellers getting tangled up in obstacles.

It has some great features such as "one-key flip" and "headless mode", as well as a slow and fast speed. Propeller guards come standard so you won't have to worry about poking anyone's eyes out when flying indoors or outdoors.

The FQ777-955C comes with a 2MP camera that has an adjustable tilt on the lens so you can easily point in the direction you want to capture. There is also the ability to turn on the video from the transmitter or taking still photos. This quadcopter has integrated LEDs for night-time flights or just for better orientation during the day.

  • EZFLI D5D 6-axis Gyro (Ready to Fly) 2.4GHz Drone (Mode 2) (White)

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The EZFLI D5D multirotor drone is a stable flying platform for those learning to fly or those just wanting to have fun. It is big enough to give a good presence in the sky and can be used indoors and outdoors. The D5D frame is manufactured from tough but flexible styrene plastic that can stand the inevitable crash or heavy landing.

The supplied 2.4GHz remote controller is a comfortable fit in your hands making it easy for precision control. It comes pre-set in mode 2 meaning the throttle is on the left-hand control stick. It also features a headless mode to help with flying in the right direction.

It can do 360-degree flips with just one button! The package comes with everything you need to easily get flying. Just insert three “AA” batteries to get started.

  • S3 (Ready to Fly) Quadcopter w/ HD Camera (Mode 2)

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The S3 Quadcopter with HD Camera (Mode 2) is a fantastic quadcopter that can fly indoors and outdoors with ease and able to do 3D flips and other maneuvers.

The quadcopter comes with an HD camera for taking stills or videos. Just download at the end of your flight, edit, and share it with your friends or family.

 

Other Things to Keep in Mind When Flying Drones

Never fly your drone above 400ft. This is an easy way to cause accidents with manned aircraft or objects flying at high altitudes, leading to fines or worse.

Avoid flying over property or people. Be sure to be at least 150 yards (450 feet) away for a safe distance or above if you happen to fly over them.

Make sure to have your drone in your line of sight. It's easy to lose sight of drones when flying and it's even easier to lose sight of them if they're smaller drones.

Always carry spare parts and batteries. You never know when you'll need to replace parts that are worn out or damaged from smashing into random objects. Having spares and replacement parts can help your drone last much longer than expected.

Stay away from airports or government buildings. Flying near airports or government buildings is just asking for trouble from the government. Be sure to be at least 1-2 miles away or just use common sense when piloting your drone.

Additional drones, parts, kits, frames, and other drone accessories are available here. Here's another take on how to have fun with drones at home or with friends and family!

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