After conducting extensive research on over 40 drones, the Walkera F210 emerges as the best racing drone. It outshines competitors in terms of price, speed, battery life, and lightweight design. Learn more about the Walkera F210 and the top 5 racing drones in the detailed guide below.
The Top Racing Drones:
The Walkera F210 is perhaps one of the fastest drones to ever exist; and also one of the best-sellers in the racing category. Thanks to its intimidating super chopper design and programmed with the latest F3 flight system, you bet that this baby can go from zero to one hundred really freaking fast. It also includes a highly-improved night vision and the Devo 7 transmitter means strong connections even from far away. The controls are highly responsive too. There is nothing else said about the Walkera F210. If you need the ultimate flight racer, this is it. Just get ready to pay top Dollars.
The EMAX Hawk Sport is a budget-friendly approach when it comes to racing drones. The EMAX was one of the very first brands that popularized the drone racing competition, giving rise to other brands to make high-performance racer drones. The EMAX Hawk Sport is their flagship drone. It can reach a top speed of up to 105 mph with a spare canopy and a GoPro support mount. The speed-controlling system can accept up to 25.2V, which is how it reaches more than 100 mph. It is especially a great drone for both intermediate and expert drone pilots without spending much money.
The ARRIS FPV250 is a very popular model among the mainstream crowd because of its amazing little details put onto the device. Most of all, the camera quality is superb here: almost as if the reception is of a person’s vision. And to make it even better, the ARRIS FPV250 also has low latency, easy maneuverability and simpler controls that can do complex move sets as you race, which is why it is heavily favored among the racers both beginners and experts. Keep in mind that this drone is expensive but worth every penny. It has won multiple tournaments so it is no wonder why it has become a word of mouth that this is the best.
The Walkera F210 is more inclined to intermediate and advanced drone racers. Its light build makes it exceptional for agile moves and crucial turns in the track. This is all thanks to the carbon fiber design and warning lights on the head and rear that not only give off some serious racing vibes but help in maneuverability. It also includes plenty of room for design customization and performance tweaking, giving you a more personal touch to the Runner 250 thanks to its easy assembly and disassembly. It may only last up to 12 minutes but every second of this drone is nothing but fun. With all that said, the Walkera Runner 250 Pro is just the best FPV drone out there.
If you prefer your racer equipped with a stylish 4K camera to give you that advantage in vision control, the Hubsan Zino is perfect for you. It may be pricey but it is a bargain for intermediate and expert racers. You can also stream in 4K live up to a maximum of 1000 m, giving you that competitive edge during distant battles. Remember that no other drone offers a price range this low - especially if it is equipped with 4K. And so, if you want high-quality racing visuals as your main advantage, then this is definitely the best choice for you.
You can choose anything in this article but as for me, I’d pick the Walkera F210 since it is approachable for racers of any skill level. Plus it just looks so slick too. If you prefer something more budgeted yet still has the right speeds and maneuverability, the EMAX Hawk Sport is your best shot. However, if it is handling you’re after, the ARRIS FPV250 focuses on that rather than top speed and acceleration. Meanwhile, the Walkera Runner 250 Pro is the lightest of the group thanks to its carbon fiber build, and the Hubsan Zino has the 4K vision advantage. It’s all up to you.
Without a doubt, all the mentioned drones above are very fast. However, just because it is fast does not mean it is the best. There has to be an equilibrium of 3 components: speed, handling and latency. Yet, if speed is what you are looking for, the Walkera F210 or the Walkera Runner 250 Pro should be your priority.
If you haven’t noticed by now, drone racing is all about mastering tight corners and quick hovering too besides sprinting. In order to find the perfect handling of your choice, you better make sure the drone you are finding has a reputation of having tight controls. Case in point, the ARRIS FPV250 and the Walkera Runner 250 Pro.
Another important aspect to remember is the latency of your drone. This includes two vital parts: the responsiveness of the controls and the maximum distance. The best latency is always around 1 to 2 ms, which results in minimal to zero delays when inputting controls and headtracking. Distance of more than 400 m is also good enough in order to prevent control delays and lag.
720p is the least you should need in order to see everything clearly. However, 4K is always best but will always cost the most.
Drone racers may cost at least $200 and up. Of course, the more expensive, the better the gear and accessibility. Take for example the ARRIS FPV250: it may cost around $500 but it has better brushless motors, zero latency and light build, which makes it a heavy favorite among competitors.
According to an article from Forbes by Darren Heitner, grand winners of major drone racing events from around the world, especially in Dubai, can earn around $100,000 to $250,000. But that was back in 2017. Right now, grand winners can earn up to $500,000 in the major league.
A racing drone can reach up to speeds of 100 to 120 mph. While some drones already have default top speeds, an experienced pilot can tweak it and go a level higher, reaching more than 125 mph to 130 mph. However, the faster the default drone speed is, the less welcoming it is for beginners.
There are many choices out there but I highly recommend the Walkera F210 and the EMAX Hawk Sport since they offer multiple modes that make it more welcoming for the less experienced drone racers. Yet, there are also many choices beyond this article such as from Yuneec and VIFLY.