You love the great outdoors. We know that and appreciate it. You also love gadgets and technology. Mixing them together is a lot of fun. That’s why we take care to review things like the best trail cameras on the market.
You’ve wanted to expand on the nature photography and tech gadgetry, so you decided to find a drone. It’s the best in nerdy gadgetry and tech toys but also offers some great aerial views and perspectives for new grounds in exploration.
The only real issue is that you have no idea which one to buy. There are tons of drones on the market, and they all operate differently. You’re not sure whether they’re all legal, or how the regulations work, and you don’t have a very big budget for the latest and greatest in technology since this is a new hobby that you may or may not actively enjoy.
That’s where we come in to help you. We have done extensive research for all the drones on the market, taken them out for test flights, and found the best drones under $100! We will review the strengths and weaknesses of each drone for you and follow it up with a buyers guide to help you learn what to look for when making your purchase.
1. Blade Nano QX RTF Quadcopter with Safe Technology – Easy Repairs And Modifications
This is a great little drone for beginners that is easy to modify and offers excellent flight options. Repairs are easy and the motors plug in so there’s no soldering required if you need to replace them.
This little drone is small enough for indoor flight but not too small to function outside. It allows preprogrammed flips and you can make it move pretty quickly.
Blade has a reputation in the industry already for making strong radio controlled aircraft products, so they used the same DSM2 frequency for this chopper. This allows you to fly using this high-quality system instead of lower quality transmitters that most budget drones use.
Features:
- Lightweight airframe
- Exclusive SAFE (Safe Assisted Flight Envelope) technology with agility and stability modes
- Includes extra rotor blades for modifications and repairs
- Includes 4 channel MLP4 DSMX transmitter with batteries
- Uses an E-flite Li-Po battery with a compact USB charger
Pros
- Easy to modify and repair
- SAFE technology allows new pilots to comfortably fly the drone
- Stability mode ensures the quad stays upright
- Versatile construction allows for indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- No warranty included
- Some users report the batteries do not last very long
2. Syma X20 Mini Pocket Drone Nano LED RC Quadcopter – Miniature Model
The Syma X20 Mini is one of the newest drones that Syma has upgraded. Despite its small size, it can do big things! In fact, this drone weighs less than one tenth of a pound!
With headless mode and a lot of great features to create stability, this drone is a great way to teach new pilots to fly. The lightweight, compact model is also more responsive to control.
Just remember that this is an indoor drone ad is not meant to be flown outside
Features:
- 360 degree stunt flip
- Flashing light for night time visibility
- Altitude hold feature
- One-key take off and landing button
- Speed adjustment options – perfect for beginners and experts!
- 6 axis gyro quad rotorcraft flight for stabilization and easy control
Pros
- Perfect for beginners and experts due to three great features: the one-key take off landing button and altitude hold and headless mode options
- Tiny drone fits in the palm of your hand!
- Lighting allows the drone to be seen at night
Cons
- Only 5 minutes of flight time
- No camera or video capabilities
Syma has included some common troubleshooting tips that you may need when using this model of drone. If the drone flies to one side, it is likely not calibrated properly and you will need to recalibrate it until it ss level. In the headless state, it will base towards the front if too many collisions occur. You can redefine which direction is front.
3. Holy Stone F181C RC Quadcopter Drone – Ambidextrous
The Holy Stone is a great outdoor drone for a modest budget. It includes a 2mp camera that can shoot HD video. It also comes with some great features to assist with flying and piloting.
Features:
This drone is a great option for beginners and is still an upgrade from toy models, plus it has some nice features to help you learn to pilot a drone.
- 2mp camera with 720p HD quality video capacity
- One-key return and headless security system
- Altitude hold function
- One-key acrobatics for 360-degree flips in 4 different directions
- Bonus battery is included for longer flight time
- 4 speed control mode
- LED Light
- 6 axis gyro technology
Let’s look at some of the advantages and drawbacks that come with this model of drone.Pros
- An upgrade from toy drones
- With the extra battery, you get about 14 minutes of flight time in total
- Great for beginners as the heavy build makes flight easier together with the altitude hold and one-key return features
- You can choose whether to use your left or right hand to operate this drone!
Cons
- No first person view
- This drone ends up with a lot of interference in areas with lots of WiFi saturation.
4. Altair AA108 Camera Drone – American Made
This drone is a real crowd pleaser thanks to its design sophistication, excellent customer service, and durable manufacturing. A company based in the United States manufactures it, so if you like to support local businesses, this is a great option for you.
Altair is a company that puts its customers first and tries to anticipate their needs right from the start. They provide extra battery life, a cardboard cutout the same size as your controller that will teach you the functions and features, and lots of technical specs!This is a great drone for any skill level, with 3 flight modes to use based on how well you can pilot. It can be flown both indoors and outside, with 10 minutes of flight time and an extra battery!
The drone is constructed using durable plastic parts so it can withstand a few crashes while novice pilots learn control. It also has a more stable hover function than other drones, so beginners can take beautiful pictures without worrying about keeping the drone steady.
Features:
- Altitude hold function
- One touch capability for flight and landing
- Headless mode and 3 speeds options
- FlyingSee app, VR capabilities, and real time first person view video
- Alarms for low battery or out of range drone
- 100 meters (or 300 feet) range
- Create custom routes
Pros
- Great image capture with the real time 720p camera with video capability
- A 120 degree wide angle HD lens for panoramic photos and birds-eye view video
- Easy to fly thanks to headless mode, altitude holds, and one-touch takeoff and landing
- App support incorporates virtual reality technology
Cons
- Not ideal for indoor use – but perfect for outdoor use
- Some reviewers report the camera is good enough for the VR experience you may want to have
5. UDI A818 Force1 Drone with Video Camera – Great For Photography
This drone is tons of fun and offers a great value for the price. It’s packed with features and offers a great flight experience. This model makes improvements upon the earlier UDI A818 HD+ Drone model and the difference is incredible.
This is one of the smoothest flight drones on the market in this price range. The controls are accurate and the drone responds well to your commands. The camera is pretty great and will take some very focused pictures. This also offers 2 modes so that beginners and experienced pilots can both enjoy this drone.
Features:
- 720p HD camera and 4 GB micro SD card included
- One push stunt mode allows 360 degree flips and acrobatics
- Headless mode and 6 axis gyro for stability and easy control
- The package includes an extra battery for longer flight capability
- 4 extra blades for repairs in case of crashes
Pros
- Great for photography with the 4 GB storage capacity with a 720p HD camera
- The extra battery and power bank deliver up to 18 minutes of flight time per charge
- The drone has colored LED lights, so it offers a great light display if you fly it in the evening
- Post footage straight to social media platforms using the data cable and port
- No assembly required; the drone is fly-ready
Cons
- The motor noise is loud
- The drone does not perform well in windy conditions
Best Drones Under $100 