Best Drones Under $300
Discovering the best drones under $300 can be a daunting task, but fear not—I've done all the research for you. After dedicating time to reviewing 15 different drones, the Holy Stone HS700D emerges as the best drone under $300, boasting a long flight range, 20 minutes of battery life, and an FHD camera. Read more about it here.
The Best Drones Under 300 Dollars:
Best Drone Under $300: Holy Stone HS700D
- 2K FHD 90°Adjustable Camera with 5G...
- 44 Mins Max Flight Time: 2 batteries...
- Brushless Motor: It is so quiet but very...
- GPS Assisted Flight: With GPS location,...
- Simple Control: Quick launch by pressing...
Recently, the Holy Stone HS700D got a huge price slash, making it my number one drone under $300 right now. Considered to be “better than DJI” according to its satisfied users, the Holy Stone HS700D is packed with premium features that will not cost you a lot. In fact, this drone is more than you will bargain for: 2K FHD camera, long 1600 m connection, 20 minutes of maximum battery time and heavy duty shock absorption. With all these features under a very reasonable price, you wouldn’t want any other way unless you are completely dedicated to DJI Mavic Pro 2 or more.
Best Value Drone Under $300: Parrot Bebop 2
- Enhanced 14 megapixel fish-eye lens...
- 25 minutes of flight time thanks to a...
- Equipped with powerful motors for flight...
- Powerful rear flash LED for better...
- Requires registration with FAA. Visit...
The Parrot Bebop 2 is a much-improved version over the first Bebop; now it includes a solid 14MP camera with 1080p under consistent 30 frames per second, longer 25-minute battery life and lightweight crash-free design. It may be just below $300 but the drone pays for itself with its long-lasting build. You wouldn’t even want to turn your head anymore to check out the DJI instead because this beautiful drone can do so much more while costing less. It is also good for indoor and outdoor purposes since it is neither too big nor too small. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
Best Budget Drone Under $300: Altair 818 Hornet
The Altair 108 Hornet costs way lesser than $300, making this a good budget drone on a mid-end scale. While it may be significantly cheaper, the Hornet includes vitally convenient features like the hold altitude mode and one-button landing. It also looks quite sleek, giving it a professional look and enough pizzazz to convince anyone that this drone does not cost less than $200. It also makes a great entry-level drone if you ever want to start your life in the drone hobby. Overall, the 108 Hornet has great specs: 15 minutes of battery life, a 720p camera and can travel much further than just 100m.
Best Non-Camera Drone Under $300: LaTrax Alias
- Quad-rotor thrust with auto-leveling...
- High-capacity 650mAh LiPo battery
- Integrated bright, colorful LEDs
- 2.4GHz radio system
- Molded two-piece, two-color canopy in...
EWhen the camera is not a priority in your drone preference, the LaTrax Alias is what I would definitely recommend to you. It’s a high-speed drone that can do all sorts of aerobatics that are more than enough to impress an audience. It’s also good for both beginners and experts in drone piloting. The 2.4 GHz controls cater to both casual and experienced users since it has multiple modes for everyone. It also has a stunt and race mode too, depending on your situation. If you need the best drone for showmanship without costing you a fortune, look no further than the LaTrax Alias.
Best Racing Drone Under $300: Walkera Runner 250
- Brand New Latest Version Walkera Runner...
- Ready to Fly combo with DEVO 7 Remote...
- Equipped with 1080P HD FPV Camera, GPS,...
The Walkera Runner 250 is a fast-paced drone that mainly focuses on racing and stunting. Beginners beware: this drone is very complex to use, making it more suitable for drone pros instead. It only weighs at 498g and designed with a carbon fiber finish with brushless motors. It can reach a top speed of 40 kph with a strong connection of up to 1000 m. The only downside about the Runner 250 is the 15 minutes of battery life but that is tolerable. It doesn’t cost much too, making this a solid competitor on the aerial race track or for performing crazy stunts.
Conclusion (Why I Would Buy It)
I would definitely choose the Holy Stone HS700D above everything else as my best drone under $300 because of all the strong features it includes. However, that is just my opinion. You may choose the others as well depending on your preference. If you like something that is worth your money and a good alternative to a DJI Mavic Pro, the Parrot Bebop 2 makes an excellent buy. Meanwhile, the Altair 108 Hornet is best for when you need a cheap choice with some very solid features. The LaTrax Alias is a good choice if you don’t want a camera-based drone that can do sick stunts in the air. And finally, the Walkera Runner 250 is the wisest decision if you ever need a budget racing drone with excellent speeds.
Drone Buying Guide
Range
Buying any drone that is worth more or less than $300 can be quite a big decision and in terms of range, you should be looking for 300m+ at this price point. Within the $300 price range are some of the already well-known drone brands such as Holy Stone, DJI and Yuneec.
Battery Life
If you are planning to buy a drone within the $300 price tag, look for flight time of at least 15 minutes or more. Sure, you can buy something shorter than 15 minutes if you're on a lower budget of $200 or $100 cheap drones. Whether it’s 4K, 720p or none at all, if you're looking for a racing or stunt drone.
Brand
Well-known brands such as PowerVision and DJI are some of the best-sellers in the industry, however not a lot of people can afford them. Brand wouldn’t matter if it’s around the $300 range as long as you follow the reviews from other people and unbiased critics.
Camera or None
This depends on what you want. Some camera-based drones are just built for taking shots while others are meant for navigation. There are also some drones without cameras to capitalize on the light weight in order to do crazy stunts.
More or less, yes it is. Some may ask you to spend more in order to experience the best drones but there are so many good choices that cost $300 or less.
Racing drones are only worth it if you are planning to compete in the world of drone racing. Otherwise, you are better off with a camera-based stunt drone instead or a casual drone that is built more like a cameraman than a race driver.
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.
If you call DJI’s $360 drone cheap, then yes they do. However, don’t expect their cheapest ones to outperform a lot of its competition. Most of the best DJI drones have a price range of $700 and above. A lot of people consider them overpriced and if you are one of those, just read the choices above to see if there is any drone you like.
