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10 Best Mini Drones in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks
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One of the best ways to get into drone flying is to purchase a mini drone. Mini drones are easier to fly, but they provide you with a learning experience before you invest in a heavy-duty drone. Of course, it can be difficult to find the right mini drone for the job.
Because there are so many mini drones on the market, many of the models are unreliable and simply looking to make a quick buck for the manufacturer. To ensure you get your money’s worth from the mini drone, it’s important to select a model that is reliable and offers great features.
To help you pick out the best mini drone in 2024, we have provided this roundup of the 10 best models. For each model, we provide comprehensive reviews, pros, and cons so you know exactly what the models offer. We also provide a buyer’s guide at the end to help you make the decision even easier.
The best overall mini drone in 2024 is the DJI Mini SE. This drone only weighs 242 grams, but it is heavy-duty and offers great features. For comparison, this drone is about the same weight as a smartphone, ensuring you can take it everywhere. It even has upgraded wind resistance to ensure your footage is stable while in the air.
Speaking of capturing footage, the DJI Mini SE offers great video capabilities. It supports 12-megapixel (MP) aerial photos. The camera stability is provided by the three-axis motorized gimbal. You don’t have to worry about your model dying in the air either. When fully charged, this drone can last for 30 minutes.
This DJI Mini SE is even an option for beginners. It has an easy-to-use template with a convenient app to ensure you know how to use this model and generate great content. The only potential downside of this model is its price, but the price is reasonable given its features and capabilities.
If you are on a tight budget, our best overall pick may be too expensive for you. If that’s the case, you need a value drone. The best mini drone for the money is the Holyton HT02 Golden Mini Drone. This drone is highly affordable, but it still offers great capabilities and fun.
The Holyton HT02 Golden Mini Drone is outright the cheapest model on the market. This model has one of the best prices as a result.
Furthermore, the model is super easy to use. It is specifically designed for children, ensuring anyone can easily fly this drone. The model comes with three batteries, three modes, and multiple trick options to ensure you have fun.
Although this drone is affordable, it isn’t right for serious drone users. It is made from plastic, which means it is not very durable or long lasting. This model is best for kids or beginners who just want to play around in and aren’t worried about breaking the device.
If you are a serious drone fanatic, you may need something even more impressive than our overall pick. If that sounds like you, you need the DJI Mini 3 Pro. This ultra lightweight mini drone has not hit the market yet, but it is open for preorder so you can have the best aerial photography for social media and work.
This model is designed for individuals who already know what they are doing but want a mini drone specifically. It captures 4K videos and 48 MP photos. It also has iOS, aperture, and a number of other features to ensure perfect shots.
Overall, this is the best mini drone that money can buy. As a result, this model is insanely expensive. Unless you know you need an incredibly high-quality mini drone, you might want to select a more affordable option. For those who need a mini drone for professional purposes, this drone is a great investment.
The DJI Mavic Mini Fly is another great mini drone to try out. This set is very expensive, but it is not as expensive as our premium pick. The good news is that it comes with everything you will need, including a case, micro-SD card, batteries, and some replacement parts.
Just like all other DJI products, the drone itself is highly impressive. It is compact but offers fantastic flying, photo taking, and durability features. As such, this is a great model if you need a high-quality mini drone but can’t afford our premium pick.
Because of its price, this mini drone isn’t necessarily ideal for beginners. Make sure you will use this mini drone before purchasing it. For individuals who need a great mini drone, this is a fantastic option.
If you can’t tell yet, we love the DJI brand. They offer fantastic mini drones at a more reasonable price than competitors of equal value. The DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo is like the above-mentioned DJI Mavic Mini Fly.
It includes the same mini drone, which is high-quality, contains great features, and proves a durable build. This kit also includes a case, extra batteries, and a unique remote control. Despite its name, this model contains fewer accessories than the above-mentioned model.
The good thing about this DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo is that it is more affordable than the option above. Because it contains fewer accessories, its price tag is lower. This may make the drone an option for individuals who need some accessories but can’t afford some of the above-mentioned high-quality combo kits.
For the rest of the list, we are going to focus on mini drones that do not belong to the DJI brand but are still fantastic. The Holy Stone HS720 Foldable GPS Drone is one such product that fits the bill perfectly. In fact, the Holy Stone brand is a major competitor to DJI.
Offers high-quality capabilities. It includes a 4K camera with GPS-assisted intelligent flights. In addition to this assisted flight, it has an easy-to-use design that is simple enough for even beginners to begin mastering. It has multiple settings to ensure you get the shot you want.
In terms of price, this model is about the same price as our best overall pick. As a result, it is slightly expensive, but it is nowhere near as expensive as some of the other products we have looked at. The main downside of this model is that it doesn’t perform as well in windy conditions. Make sure to be careful if you live in a windy area.
Here is another great Holy Stone mini drone to check out. The Holy Stone Mini Drone is specifically designed for children and beginners who just want to have some fun. It is incredibly cheap. It is closest in price to our budget pick, making it a highly affordable option.
Much like our budget pick, it is affordable but still offers many features and is user-friendly. It can perform different tricks and features that all kids and beginners will love. Granted, this affordability comes at a price. This model is not very durable and is specifically designed for having fun, not professional.
The Q9s Drones are also great mini drones for children. They are the same price as the above-mentioned model, making them super affordable. Anyone can afford this mini drone. It is also user friendly, features multiple operating tricks, and is fun for the whole family.
Something that’s unique about this model is that it lights up with neon green and blue lights. This makes it easy to spot the drone and you can use it at night. Once again, this affordable price means that the drone is made from less durable materials. This is not a good option for serious flyers as a result.
The DoDoeleph Mini Drones is a tiny mini drone that is designed to be highly portable and compact. It is even free from large joysticks that can get in the way. That way, you can easily slip this model into your bag whenever you travel.
On top of being highly compact, this model is super affordable. It is the same price as the two drones mentioned above. It also includes different technology, such as auto hovering and automatic landing and takeoff. More like the above two models, the DoDoeleph Mini Drones are not very durable, and they do not come with a bag, which makes them even more likely to break when traveling.
Finally, the last mini drone to check out is the Cheerwing Syma X20 Mini Drone. This drone is the exact same price as our budget pick, proving just how affordable this model is. This model is incredibly compact with multiple features to ensure your child has a lot of fun.
Not to sound like a broken record, this mini drone also lacks in durability and reliability. You need to be super careful when playing with this model because it can break easily. It does not come with a case, either.
Pros
Affordable
Easy to use
Many features
Super compact
Cons
Not durable
Not designed for professional purposes
Easy to break without a case
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Mini Drones
Now that you have a list of the 10 best mini drones on the market in 2024, the only thing left is to make your decision. We know. The decision probably isn’t any easier than before.
To help you out, here are the five factors you need to consider when purchasing a mini drone. These features will help you narrow down the options and make your final selection.
Size
If you want a mini drone specifically, size obviously matters. Look for models that are compact and portable. You will want to consider the dimensions and weight of the drone, as well as any accessories. Select a size that is ideal for you and your needs
Durability
When purchasing any drone, you always want to select a model that is highly durable and built to last. After all, these models will fall and get held up from time to time. Make sure to select models that have durable builds and reliable brands. You can read reviews to learn about the durability of the product.
Image Credit: Karl Greif, Unsplash
Even if you select a durable product, make sure to buy cases and other accessories that will further protect the drone. If you select a drone that does not come with a bag, purchase one separately to keep your drone safe during transport.
Batteries
In order for your drone to work, it has to be powered up. Read up on the battery life of the drone before you purchase. The longer the battery life, the better. However, longer battery life typically relates to a heavier drone since a bigger battery is required. Keep that in mind when buying mini drones specifically.
App
Most drones today come with a convenient app. This app will allow you to look at your photos and videos from the comfort of your phone. Test out the app before you purchase the item or read reviews. You always want to select a model that comes with a great app that is easy to use.
Price
The last factor to consider is price. Although price should not be the only factor, shop for mini drones within your budget. If the drone you want is not within your budget, save up. It will make the mini drone that much more fun.
Conclusion
After reading these reviews, you now know about the 10 best mini drones for 2024. Of all these products, our favorite is the DJI Mini SE, though the DJI Mini 3 Pro is even better if you have the wallet for it. If you are on a budget, then we recommend the Holyton HT02 Golden Mini Drone instead.
Regardless of which model you select, keep these five factors from our buyer’s guide in mind. These five factors will not only help you narrow down the selection from our roundup but pick any mini drone on the market.
Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
