Buying Guide: best Mini Quadcopters with & without camera
Are you looking to buy a mini drone? Then you’ve come to the right place. We will show you high-quality mini drones with camera for photo and movie shooting, as well as ultra-compact and affordable micro/nano drones for indoor use.
Advantages & disadvantages of mini drones
The most obvious advantage of mini drones is their small size. If you’re looking for a small drone for everyday use or vacation that you can take anywhere and easily stow away, a mini quadcopter is the best choice.
However, it is also clear that the small size also brings a few disadvantages. If you are looking for a small drone with a long flight time, a long range and a good camera, you will have to dig a little deeper into your pocket.
On the other hand, mini quadcopters that are not quite as expensive are best suited for beginners as well as for children and teenagers. Many of these small drones (micro/nano drones) are robust enough to survive the odd crash without breaking. Nano drones are also usually relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.
Advantages of mini drones
- compact
- robust
- inexpensive
- easy to operate
- suitable for beginners, teenagers & children
- suitable for indoors (indoor drones)
Mini drones with camera
Modern mini drones with camera are becoming more and more powerful and popular. Until some time ago, HD cameras were the ultimate in this segment, but now even mini quadcopters with 4K cameras are available.
Many features that one is used to from a current drone with a camera can nowadays also be found in the small versions, making them more and more attractive, especially due to their small size and low weight.
Tip: You can find an overview of top drones in all sizes on our best drones page.
Even though many of the high-quality mini drones have an FPV camera, they are still only of limited use as real FPV racing drones. If you want to record spectacular flights or races, you should therefore better reach for a special FPV racer.
A small drone, on the other hand, is predestined to be a compact travel companion on vacation. Due to their small sizes, mini quadcopters are also perfect for everyday use, as they can be conveniently transported and taken anywhere.
If you want to buy a mini drone with a camera, we currently recommend one of the following models:
DJI Mavic Air
The DJI Mavic Air is currently one of the best mini drones in 2021. Despite its small size, the Mavic Air is a mini drone with 4K camera and 3-axis gimbal. A range of up to 2.5 miles (4000 meters), flight times of up to 21 minutes and a top speed of 42.5 mph (68.4 km/h) make the 450 gram lightweight drone a real buy!
DJI Mavic Mini
The DJI Mavic Mini is even more compact and lighter than the Mavic Air. The 249 gram lightweight copter with camera has a 3-axis gimbal – but videos are “only” recorded in 2.7K. In return, the foldable drone stays in the air for up to 31 minutes and reaches a top speed of 29 mph (47 km/h).
DJI Spark
The DJI Spark is also an extremely small drone with a Full HD camera. 16 minutes of flight time, 0.6 miles (2000 meters) of range, an obstacle detection and about 31 mph (50 km/h) can be seen. Gesture control and various QuickShot modes are also available.
Zerotech Dobby 4K
The Zerotech Dobby 4K is an affordable mini FPV drone with a 4K camera. The 199-gram copter is controlled via smartphone within a radius of about 330 feet (100 meters). The flight duration is about 9 minutes.
Micro/Nano Drones for Indoors
If you’re looking for a small drone for indoors, micro/nano drones are just what you need. Known as micro drones or nano drones, these mini-multicopters are extremely compact, sturdy and easy to use.
Nano drones are usually relatively inexpensive, but often not as well equipped as high-quality mini drones. Nevertheless, the small drones have their raison d’être and are ideally suited as a drone for indoors to gain initial experience.
Due to their light weight, micro drones are very susceptible to wind and should therefore only be flown outside when there is no wind.
Tip: If you buy a mini drone, make sure you have a propeller guard (prop-guards). These small plastic cages for the rotors protect them from touching objects. In addition, prop-guards also prevent the fast-spinning propellers from injuring bystanders.
Holy Stone HS170
The Holy Stone HS170 with a diameter of about 13 centimeters weighs only 50 grams and can be controlled at a distance of 100 to 165 feet (30 to 50 meters). It flies for 6 to 8 minutes, is capable of 360° loops, return-to-home and can be flown outside in low wind conditions.
Jamara Skip 3D
The Jamara Skip 3D quadcopter is a mini drone without a camera that can perform tricks at the touch of a button and even fly on its back. Weighing just 30.4 grams, the rugged mini quadcopter stays in the air for 7 to 10 minutes and can be controlled within a radius of about 330 feet (100 meters).
Parrot Mambo
The Parrot Mambo is a toy drone with 9 minutes of flight time. A mini cannon, a gripper arm or a note clip can be optionally attached to the small fun drone.
Revell Control 23971 Nano
The Revell Control 23971 Nano Drone with its diameter of just 45 millimeters in about the size of a 2 euro coin. With a range of up to 165 feet (50 meters), they can fly this rugged nanoquad for up to 5 minutes.
Torro U839
With a diameter of 8.9 centimeters, the Torro U839 is capable of looping and rolling and can be controlled within a range of about 100 feet (30 meters).
SYMA X11
At 15.2 x 15.2 x 3.7 centimeters, the SYMA X11 Micro drone is nearly twice the size of the Torro U839, stays in the air for about 7 minutes and can be controlled to distances of about 260 feet (80 meters).
NINETEC Spyforce1
The NINETEC Spyforce1 is about the same size as the Syma X11 and has a flight time of about 5 to 6 minutes. The range is up to 330 feet (100 meters).
JJRC H20 Nano
The JJRC H20 Nano Hexacopter is a nano drone with dimensions of 11 x 10 x 2.5 centimeters. 80 feet (25 meters range), about 7 minutes of flight and loops at the push of a button make the JJRC H20 Nano an interesting mini hexacopter.
Eachine H8S (RTF)
The Eachine H8S (RTF) weighs only 20 grams and brings it to 5 to 7 minutes of flight time. It handles flips at the touch of a button and has a return-to-home function.
DS24 building block drone
The DS24 building block drone is a mini drone kit that requires no special tools to assemble. If you’ve always wanted to build a mini drone yourself, the DS24 building block quadcopter is just what you need.
We at dronenoize.com hope to help you with this selection of high-quality mini drones with camera as well as cheap micro or nano drones and wish you lots of fun and success flying them!