Best Drones to Choose for Different Purposes

Growing up, my favorite tech toys of choice were Tamagotchi and Tekno the Robotic Puppy. Technology has come a long way since I was a kid, and now the Digital Age has blessed the world with the marvel that is drones.

Drones are actively being used by Hollywood — now it’s that much easier for directors to get sweeping, epic shots over landscapes that previously would have required the use of a helicopter to capture. In fact, you’ve probably seen drone footage when streaming TV shows and watching blockbuster movies at the theaters.

However, drones are also widely accessible for use by the average consumer. There are all sorts of drones that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. There are racing drones, fishing drones, camera drones, GoPro drones, FPV drones, drones designed specifically for kids, and more.

Not only are drones a ton of fun, but there are a lot of drone options that are affordable for the average family. Let’s take a look at some of the best options out there!

Best Drones for Kids

Technology has a myriad of benefits, but it also comes with its drawbacks. As we get further into the Digital Age, we become more and more engrossed in modern technology. In the case of children, this typically means being glued to a tablet screen or smartphone.

Studies have shown that overindulgence in technology without moderation can be more harmful to children than good. Drones are a happy medium that can increase your child’s interest in STEM fields and are a blast to play with to boot.

One thing to keep in mind as parents is that certain drones are not suitable for use by children. Make sure you are using a drone designed for kids that is also age appropriate.

Here are some good drone options for any budding child drone pilot:

Syma X5C 2.4G

The Syma X5C 2.4G is a great starter drone for kids. It’s suitable for children of all ages, suitable for indoor and outdoor flight and is easy to use. It’s also very cheap, but durable.

It comes equipped with an HD camera that isn’t spectacular, but for a young child, is more than good enough. It has a flight time of about seven minutes, which is on the low side, and a recharge time of 100 minutes, which is somewhat slow.

Don’t expect the Syma X5C 2.4G to be capable of intricate flight patterns or sharp turns, but for casual flights up to 50 meters, it works very well.

Force1 UDI U818A HD+

The U818A HD+ costs twice as much as the Syma X5C 2.4G, but it’s worth the money. The HD camera on board here is a step up from its Syma competitor and there’s 4 GB of memory. Suitable for indoor and outdoor flight, it comes with two batteries that can last roughly nine minutes each. Flight range can go up to 100 meters.

The U818A HD+ is easy to fly and comes with safety precautions put into place as well as an extra set of blades in case you mess up the original ones.

Two big highlights of this drone are the LED lights that go over well with kids, as well as the acrobatic capabilities, namely the 360-degree flip.

This drone isn’t good for windy conditions, and it’s recommended for kids aged 14 and up, but 9 and 10-year-olds can handle it if they really know what they’re doing. As stated earlier, it’s somewhat expensive at $90, so keep that in mind.

Force1 UFO 3000

Tailor-made for young children, specifically 4-year-olds, the Force1 UFO 3000 lives up to its name. Sporting vibrant green and blue LED lights, this drone is sure to capture the attention of your little one and is great for nighttime adventures.

It has a flight range of 30 meters, which is standard for kids’ drones, and has two batteries that combined last for around 18 minutes. The UFO 3000 is easy to use and can perform basic flight tricks like barrel rolls.

For $50 you get a ton of fun for your growing child.

Best Drones for Photography

Take your Peter Parker aspirations to the next level with a drone! Capture landscapes like never before and get an HD glimpse of how things look from the air. Just be prepared to spend a fair amount of cash, because this hobby isn’t cheap. Here are some of the best drones for photography enthusiasts.

DJI Mavic Pro

Not only does this drone have a cool name, but it has a ton of cool features too.

It’s a durable drone, but is lightweight and compact. It’s capable of flying at up to 40 miles per hour and has a control distance of 4.3 miles. The SkyAutonomy technology on board can sense objects up to 15 meters.

Flight time caps at around 27 minutes and this drone can capture 4K images with its 12 MP camera. Camera drones don’t get much better than this.

The only major con with the Mavic Pro is the price point. $800 bucks is a steep price, but it is the best of the best.

DJI Spark

Another DJI product, the Spark is a suitable drone candidate for those who don’t need 4K and are content with HD. The Spark comes in five different colors, which is great as it’s nice to have color options. It’s also $300 less than the Mavic Pro, which is something your wallet will appreciate.

For HD pictures and videos, the Spark is one of the best choices around. DJI’s Go app also makes it very easy to edit and upload the videos you record to the internet. The drone itself is easy to handle, and even newbies of drones will be able to competently use it.

The biggest drawback of the Spark is it only sports a flight time of around 16 minutes, which is lower than we would have liked.

DJI Phantom 4 PRO

You’re probably picking up the pattern now, but what can we say? DJI makes good camera drones.

The Phantom 4 PRO is a luxury pick, with a steep price tag of $1,700. But if you have money to spend, the Phantom 4 PRO is well worth your hard-earned dollars.

The Phantom 4 PRO has a 20 MP camera capable of shooting in 4K at 60 FPS. It is also the first of DJI’s drones to utilize a mechanic shutter that helps eliminates shutter distortion, which is common when shooting at high speeds or when capturing images of fast-moving objects.

It packs numerous flight modes, is easy to use and is extremely durable. For $1,700, I hope it would be! It also can last up to 30 minutes on a single battery charge, which is outstanding.

Is this expensive? You bet it is. But you pay for quality, and with the Phantom 4 PRO, quality is what you get.

Best Drones for Racing

Casual flight drones and photography drones are the most common, but if you’re looking for drones that are more niche, these options will get you started: the Walkera Rodeo 110, the Vortex 250 Pro, the RedCat Racing Carbon 210 and the Blade Inductrix FPV BNF Ultra.

If you’re really serious about racing drones, keep in mind that they’re like gaming computers: the best ones are the ones that you build yourself. Custom drones will always beat out pre-made ones due to the advancement of parts.

Best Drones for Fishing

A lot of people think fishing is a boring hobby. If they try catching fish with a drone, maybe their opinion will change! Here are some great options for fishing enthusiasts:

Splash Drone 4 Fisherman

This drone is specifically made for fishing. It’s 100% waterproof, which gives it an edge over drones not tailored specifically toward fishing.

DJI Phantom 4 PRO

Look familiar? Not only is the Phantom 4 PRO great for capturing images, it’s also great at catching fish too! That $1,700 price tag doesn’t look so bad now does it?

Conclusion

We’ve given you a short and sweet taste of the wonderful world of drones, but the rest will be up to you! Drones have a growing community depending on the niche, filled with people who are willing to help beginners. The world is changing, and hobbies are too. Get on board the drone hype train and experience one of the best hobbies of the Digital Age!

Also Check: Top 7 High-End Drones