Drones have been a thing of interest for many as people are now beginning to see how useful they can be. These devices are used to capture images and take videos at heights that ordinarily, wouldn’t have been possible.
Kids mostly use drones for fun and entertainment. If you have made up your mind to buy a drone, it is a beautiful thing and I will help you with that.
The majority of the drones you will find are high priced, some drones cost up to $500 and above and not everyone is willing to spend such an amount in getting one. If you are on a low budget, there are still some good drones you can buy, whether as a beginner or an expert. We will be looking at drones that are sold for $200 or less.
Not to worry, I have made available some perfect drones you can purchase so you can easily make your choice. Listed below are the best drones under $200 you can buy.
Top 15 Drones For Under 200 Dollars
1. Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC Helicopter Drone
The Holy Stone HS170 Predator is one of the best drones under $200 you can get anywhere. It has a control range of about 50 meters and is very easy to control as there is an instruction manual to guide you. This drone features three different speed modes, so you get different experiences, and it has colorful LED lights that keep it noticed at night. It weighs less than a pound which makes it lightweight.
The battery it uses is a 3.7V 350 mAh Li-ion battery, and it comes with one as well as a charger to charge it. It takes about an hour for the battery to get fully charged and you get up to 8 minutes of run time when it is full. When in use, it is recommended that you take breaks to help the board cool off and avoid overheating.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
- Three-speed modes
Cons
- Low runtime
- Little heat up
2. SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone Review
First on the list is the SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone, an easy-to-use one. The drone is light and made with premium ABS material which is quite durable. It is powered by 2 Lithium Polymer batteries which come included with the product, and the batteries take about an hour and some minutes to get fully charged. When fully charged, each battery lasts about 10 minutes, depending on how the drone is used.
The CAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV drone covers up to 80 meters, and it records video in outstanding quality. You will need to purchase a Micro SD card to use along with this drone as it is where the videos will be saved, it does not have a memory of its own. The drone features an altitude hold for stable photography, and the propeller protection helps it prevent a particular collision.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
- Good video/image quality
Cons
- The battery takes a long to charge
- Low run time
3. Potensic T25 GPS FPV RC Drone
This drone offers you the right image and video recording with its full HD camera. It uses a 1000 mAH modular battery which gives you about 10 minutes of run time, and it covers a range of about 300 meters. Charging the Potensic T25 GPS FPV RC Drone takes about 30 minutes to be completed, and there is an indicator light that shows red while charging and green when full.
The drone has an auto return home button which brings it back to its take-off point when pressed. It works when the drone is in GPS mode, and it helps prevent it from getting lost. An in-built map in the Mobile App allows you to create your flight path. It makes the drone easier to control. The Potensic T25 GPS FPV RC Drone weighs close to 3 pounds which is quite light.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to control
- Good video/image quality
- Auto return
Cons
- Low runtime
4. Attop WiFi FPV Drone with Camera 720P HD, RC Drone
Here we have a lightweight drone that takes off and lands with just the push of one button; very easy to control. The drone makes use of AAA batteries, 3 of which comes also included with a 3.7V Li-po Modular Battery and a USB charger. It is recommended that the battery is fully charged before putting the drone up for a flight and full charging takes about an hour or a bit less.
You get about 8 minutes of flight time when the battery is fully charged. One unique feature available on the WiFi FPV Drone is the 3D flip which can be done by pushing the right joystick button; it flips the drone 360 degrees. With its in-built gravity sensor, controlling the drone is made easier, and you can have some fun with the featured AR game.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to control
- Gravity sensor
Cons
- Low Battery run time
5. DROCON Drone for Beginners
The DROCON drone is an ideal lightweight drone for beginners just learning to fly. It features a one-key return button that brings the drone back to its launch position when pressed. You can set the drone at either high or low speed. It features two different speed modes with an 80M range. There are LED lights that keep the drone visible, making flying this drone at night very possible. It performs 360° Flips which is quite fun.
One 550 mAH Li-po Battery is needed to power it up and a USB charger to charge it, both come included upon purchase. Charging time for the drone battery is about 90 minutes, and you get 7 – 8 minutes of run time after that. The mobile app for this drone can be downloaded from the Google play store or the apple store for Android and iOS devices, respectively.
Pros
- Lightweight
- LED lights
- Easy to use
- Different speed modes
Cons
- Low battery runtime
- The battery takes a long to full
6. SNAPTAIN H823H Mini Drone for Kids
If you want to get a drone for your kid(s), you have a pleasant buying option with this Snaptain Mini Drone. As the description says, it is a mini drone, so the size is not too big, and the weight is a great light. It has a fun design and top features which make it perform as well as any other drone.
Operating the drone is quite easy as it takes the push of one button to take off and land. There is one key return that automatically brings the drone back to its initial location before the flight and the altitude hold to maintain flight height.
Full charging takes up to an hour, and you get just 6 minutes of run time. Three different speed modes are available so you can set the drone at low, medium, or high speed. The CAPTAIN H823H Mini Drone also performs 3D flips, and it has LED lights so it can be used at night.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to control
- Different speed settings
- LED Lights
Cons
- Low runtime
- Small size
7. Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone
This is another ideal drone for beginners, with some very nice features. Just like most drones on this list, it takes just a button to start the drone and land it as well. It uses a 1000mAhLi PO-Modular Battery and comes with a USB charger to charge it.
High and low-speed modes are available; you can adjust between them at will. The drone features a low battery power alarm, you’ll be alerted in due time once the battery gets low. An emergency stop button automatically halts the drone and stops flight. This will come in handy when control is lost, or the drone flies out of sight.
You can make your flights more fun and exciting by performing 3D flips and also taking the drone out for night flights; the colorful LED lights keep it visible in the dark.
Pros
- Lightweight
- LED lights
- Easy to control
- Adjustable speed
Cons
- Low battery life
- Heats up with the high speed
8. Holy Stone F181W WiFi FPV Drone
Another Holy Stone drone comes next – this time, the F181W drone. The Holy Stone F181W drone is lightweight and easy to control one. Take off, and landing is activated by one button, and it features an automatic altitude hold which comes in handy when shooting videos and images.
The drone uses a 3.7V 750mAhLipo Battery; it comes with two when you purchase the product which kinds of gives you more runtime as you can charge one while the other is in use.
You will need to charge the battery for close to 90 minutes before it gets full and each battery lasts for about 10 minutes of use. A fantastic flying experience awaits you as you can perform 3D flips and also fly the drone at night; it features LED lights.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good image/video quality
- LED lights
- Easy control
- Multiple speeds
Cons
- Long charging time
- Low runtime
9. ScharkSpark Drone Guard for Beginners
This is a good deal if your main reason for getting a drone is to record videos and images; it has a high definition 1080P which does that efficiently. It is easy to start, it takes off with just a push of a button and lands the same way. The drone uses a lithium-ion battery, and the battery is charged using a USB cable. It takes about an hour and a half to charge the battery fully, and when fully charged, the drone runs for about 12 minutes.
You can switch between 3-speed settings, and the altitude hold helps make flight control easier. If there is any glitch, the one essential return home will bring the drone back automatically when pressed; the LED light also gives it visible, especially at night. The drone is foldable, which makes the size more compact and storage easier.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- LED light
- Multiple speed settings
- Good image and video recording
Cons
- Long charging time
- Low Battery run time
10. TOPVISION Foldable Quadcopter RC Drone Review
The TOPVISION Foldable Quadcopter RC Drone is a quality drone, compact in size, and light in weight. Operation is smooth, one-button starts and lands the drone, and you are sure to have fun with it as it flips and rotates at 360°. It features an altitude fold function and has three different speed settings; low, medium, and high.
Flying the drone at night is very much possible; it features colorful night lights that allow you to see it when the sun is down. It comes with two batteries; each battery has a runtime of about 7 minutes, so you get 14 minutes in all. You can use one battery and charge the other. Each battery takes up to an hour to get fully charged. As stated in the description, it is foldable, which increases its portability; it is less troublesome to transport.
Pros
- Lightweight
- LED lights
- Adjustable speed settings
Cons
- Low run time
11. SIMREX X300C Mini Drone Review
One thing that is sure about this drone is that you will be attracted by its design, the really nice design it has. Whether beginner or intermediate, everyone will find the SIMREX X300C Mini Drone fun and enjoyable to use. It takes clear pictures and videos with its in-built HD camera and performs 360 flips and rotations. Take-off, and landing is activated with one key, and the drone covers a range of about 45 meters.
The battery needs about an hour to charge before using entirely. The drone flies for up to 10 minutes when fully charged though you need to take breaks if the motor heats up. The SIMREX X300C Mini Drone features three different speed modes, and emergency stop buttons stop the drone automatically in cases where there is a control problem.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- Different speed modes
- Good image/video quality
Cons
- Low run time
- Small-sized
- Heats up
12. Cheerwing CW4 RC Drone Review
The Cheerwing CW4 RC Drone comes in all white colors, making it unique in appearance. It weighs lesser than a pound and has a 2MP 720P camera for taking quality pictures and recording good images, it takes off and lands with the push of a button. You can perform 360° flips with this drone and also adjust the speed to either low, medium, or high.
The drone makes use of a 3.7V 500mAh Li-Po battery and the manufacturers include 2 of it along with a USB charger to charge it. An hour is how long it takes to charge each battery sufficiently, and each one has a maximum runtime of 8 minutes. Just one battery is needed at a time. The other should be charged, so you get a bit more runtime. You get an alert when the battery gets low and needs charging.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Low Battery alert
- Adjustable speed
Cons
- Low runtime
13. JJRC H68G Drone Review
You would love the JJRC H68G drone appearance, black with a touch of yellow at the top of the fans. It starts easily with one key, which also functions in making it land, and the altitude hold makes operating it easier. It features the GPS auto return that brings the drone back if it ever passes its maximum range or if control is lost.
The JJRC H68G drone comes with double batteries. Each lasts for about 15 minutes when the drone takes off though just one is needed for the drone to function. Charging one and using the other is the best way to save battery and get more run time, it takes about 4 hours to get fully charged, which is a pretty long time.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to operate
- Good runtime
- Auto return
Cons
- The battery takes a long to charge fully
14. ScharkSpark Drone SS41 Review
The ScharkSpark Drone SS41 is more like a toy drone, one for kids though it can be used as well as others. Just like most drones on this list, it uses one key for takeoff and landing and has lost control protection that brings it back when control is lost.
Its dual cameras allow you to capture good images and record good videos. The Gesture Control allows you to do this automatically. It lasts for up to 15 minutes on a full charge; meanwhile, it takes 150 minutes to charge the battery fully. The speed mode can be set to low, medium, or high.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Dual Cameras
- Lost control protection
- Good runtime
Cons
- The battery takes a long to charge fully
15. Tinggi VISUO XS809S Drone Review
Coming last but not in any way the least on this list is the VISUO XS809S Drone by Tinggi. It is a foldable drone and very light in weight. You get more stable flights with the aid of the altitude hold.
This drone has a runtime of up to 20 minutes which is quite impressive though charging takes longer and you are advised not to overcharge. It has different speed modes, you can perform 3D flips, and it features LED lights making it an ideal night flyer.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- Different speed modes
- Good runtime
Cons
- Takes a long to charge fully
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is a license required to fly a drone?
A: It depends on your country of residence. In some countries, you do need a license to fly a drone, but in others, you do not. You should check to be sure.
Q: What happens if my drone gets out of sight/range?
A: If your drone gets out of sight, you should use the return button to bring it back if it features one. In other cases, it could become lost, and you have to search for it.
Q: What happens if a battery goes down when the drone is in flight?
A: In such a case, the drone will drop down or return to its flight location if it is programmed that way. Most drones alert you when the battery is low, so you should take note of that and prevent the battery from draining completely.
Q: Which drone is the best to buy under $200?
A: Various drones can be classified as “best” which are sold for less than $200. The drones listed above are some of the best ones you can get.
Q: How do I control my drone?
A: Most drones come with a remote control which is what you use to control them. Some drones can be connected to a mobile phone via WiFi and controlled through the drone’s mobile app.
Q: Can I get a good drone for less than $200?
A: Yes, you can, there are several quality drones you can buy for less than $200. The drones listed above fit that category.
Q: Are drones hard to control?
A: Drones are not supposed to be hard to control; a remote control makes control easy. If you ever have problems with controlling your drone, you should consult the user manual.
Q: How high can I fly my drone?
A: Drones have different ranges, and that determines how high or how low you can fly them. A drone with a range of 80 meters can go higher than that 30 meters. Control is lost once your drone flies above its maximum range.
