Best Drone Under $100
Embark on a journey with me into the realm of budget-friendly drones, where affordability meets premium features. The quest for an exceptional drone under $100 led me through a maze of options, and the DJI Tello emerged as the shining star. Join me as we unravel the details of this remarkable drone and explore the top 5 contenders vying for your attention. Ready to discover drones that defy price barriers? Let's dive in!
Best Drones under 100 Dollars for 2024:
Best Drone Under $100: DJI Tello
- DJI Tello Quadcopter Drone Boost Combo
- Includes：Tello Drone, Battery x3,...
It may look like a dream at first, but the DJI Tello is the cheapest drone of the brand that only costs a hundred bucks. But, does that mean they spliced up a lot of the great features? Not very much. In fact, it retains most of what makes a DJI drone great, especially with its quadcopter design. Its 5MP camera is laced with 720p 30 fps for some decent shots. The controls are fairly easy to learn and the headless mode makes this very beginner-friendly. Most of all, this is a highly-recommended drone for a budget buyer who wants to experience what it’s like to fly a DJI drone.
Best Value Drone Under $100: Drocon X708W
- Brand New in box. The product ships with...
The Drocon X708W is a drone for the whole family. While you may be an experienced droner, the X708W is a great entry-level UAV for beginners for a very low price. It’s a VR-ready drone that includes 2 types of speeds, a 720p camera, headless mode, LED lights and a return to home button. Since the Drocon drone is so light, you are not required to register it to the FAA. Once you purchase it, you can fly it around immediately. Also, I’m impressed by how lag-free the camera is - especially for its price. The Drocon X708W is a solid choice for when you want to know the feel of flying a drone before advancing your hobby.
Best Drone Under $100 for Photography: Altair Aerial AA108
Not only is the Altair Aerial AA108 very easy to use for beginners, but it is also great for aerial videography and photography thanks to its built-in 720p with minimal lag and superior stability. It is quite seldom to find a drone that can utilize a 720p camera to the fullest, but the AA108 manages to do so. It also includes 3 easy modes: takeoff/landing, headless mode and altitude hold. If you want to use the camera as the guide for directing your drone, it just feels very stale and responsive. For a drone that is below $100, I would say this is a bargain price.
Best Racing Drone Under $100: Hubsan X4 HS150
- 2.4GHz flight control
- 360 flips & rolls
- Built-in LED
- Indoor and outdoor
- USB Charger
In any case of drone racing on a budget, the Hubsan X4 HS150 is your wingman for the job. It is made for the amateur drone racer but there is high value in here.The highest speed it can attain is 50 mph and has 5 different speed modes. Due to its miniature size, you can use the drone indoors as well as outdoors (given that it isn’t a windy day) to do crazy stunts and handling. It only uses a basic 2MP camera but hey, you get what you pay. And for a drone this good, it’s another bargain deal.
Best Budget Drone Under $100: Hubsan X4 H107C
Did you know that you can buy a drone that costs even less than $30? Yes, it is possible. Meet the Hubsan X4 H107C: an FPV drone with great maneuverability and decent features to make it easy on a beginner. You would think I’m crazy about telling you the price but it’s real, alright. An FPV drone for only below $30? Yes, this is it. While the camera is only 0.3MP, it’s not bad at all, especially with daytime shots. It’s also great for kids thanks to its propeller guard that prevents accidents and knocking down objects inside the house.
What Drone Should You Buy Under $100?
Miraculously, you can now buy a drone that costs as low as $20. But if you want the best drone under $100, you should get the DJI Tello. It’s DJI on a budget; what else is there to say? However, if you think that’s too much for you, why not go for a cheaper one like the Drocon X708W? Would you like to try out photography with a drone? You may want to fiddle with the Altair Aerial AA108. Meanwhile, for the drone racers, the Hubsan X4 HS150 provides enough power to show amateur droners how the racing works. And if you only have a budget of below $30, the best drone I can tell you is the Hubsan X4 H107C
Drones Under $100 Buying Guide:
Travel Distance
Buying any drone that is worth more or less than $100 can be quite a big decision to do (unless you have more than enough money to splurge on many choices). Usually, the most ideal buy is the drone that can travel with a range from at least 50 to 100 m and up. Anything lesser than that would feel like the drone is less valuable for its price. Within the 100-dollar range are some of the already well-known drone brands such as Hubsan and DJI, so it’s definitely wise to buy something that can travel very far yet still within your line of sight.
Battery Life
If you are planning to buy a drone within the $100 price tag, you better make sure it lasts at least 5 minutes or up.
Brand
Well-known brands such as Walkera and DJI are some of the best-sellers in the industry, however not a lot of people can afford them. A brand wouldn’t matter if it’s around the $100 range as long as you follow the reviews from other people and unbiased critics.
Camera or None
This really depends on what you want. Some camera-based drones are just built for capturing beautiful images while others are meant for navigation. There are also some drones without cameras so they’re easier to use for beginners thanks to its headless mode.
Drone FAQ under $100:
Yes, of course. Some may ask you to spend more in order to experience the best drones but there are so many good choices that cost $100 or less - especially if you are okay with low-range UAVs. Take the listed drones in this article for example; they’re all good choices without costing you a fortune.
Some FPV drones already include goggles in the package. However, if you happen to have a modern VR headset that can work with a drone, you may choose to buy only the drone without the goggles and controller. Major brands always carry a headset plus controller package for each of their drones.
Racing drones are only worth it if you are planning to compete in the world of drone racing. Otherwise, you should just buy 3D stunt drones since they’re cheaper and easier to use mostly because of the headless mode they carry.
DJI now sells a $100 drone called the Tello. It isn’t the best model in DJI’s lineup but if you want to sate your desire for a decent DJI drone without blowing a huge budget, the DJI Tello makes a great choice. However, I recommend you buy a DJI Mavic Mini instead.
