7 Best Drones Under 200 Pounds For Beginners
Here’s a list of the 5 best drones under 200 pounds for beginners or just anyone who wants an affordable drone for play and practice.
Consumer drones have come a long way since they first started to appear about ten years ago, and today they are more affordable than ever before. The drones on this list represent some of the best in terms of value for money that you can find on the market today. They’ve been selected based on the number of reviews and the average rating on Amazon.
What to look for In A Drone Under 200
When you start flying drones you’ll immeditately notice that they all compete to provide the best in several flying features and functions:
- Control range
- Obstacle avoidance
- Emergency stop function
- Altitude hold function
- Intelligent flight modes
- GPS positioning
- Takeoff and landing methods
- Battery life
- Low battery power indicator
These are some of the basic functions you need to look out for when choosing between drones. The best beginner drone should have most if not all of these features and a budget drone should at least have the basic functionality that makes it a reliable alternative.
What you’ll probably find is the accuracy and reliability of them from one drone to another. As with anything else in life, cheap drones are often not the best drones, but then again the expensive drones have a justifiable price if the quality and accuracy exceeds the cheap drones.
Your choice will depend on what you intend to do with your drone. The features needed for drone flying for aerial photography vary slightly with other drones designed for drone racing using FPV.
In addition, there are the camera features that have to be taken into account:
- Camera quality
- Live video transmission
- Clear video footage
- Gimbal
You may also want to note if any of these items are provided:
- Second battery
- Battery charger
- Propeller guards
- Spare propellers
- Carry case
DEERC DE25 Drone with 1080P HD Camera
The DEERC DE25 drone is a powerful and high-quality device that comes with a 1080p HD camera and a 90° vertical tilt gimbal. This allows for clear photos and more stable video making it perfect for capturing footage. The drone’s battery offers up to 18 minutes of flight time, which is not the longest on this list but enough to keep you amused.
It also features follow me, tap-fly, hand gestures, headless mode, altitude hold and one key start/landing functions, making it easy to use and fun for kids or beginners. The GPS positioning helps prevent loss of the drone, and it performs an auto-return when the drone is low on power, suffers a loss of signal, or is out of range. The portability and foldable design also make it easy to carry wherever you go.
- Pros: Plenty of five-star reviews from satisfied customers
- Cons: Flight time a little on the low side
Syma X300 WiFi RC FPV Drone with 1080P HD Camera
The Syma X300 WiFi RC FPV Drone with a 1080P HD Camera is a great option for those looking for an affordable and easy-to-use drone. Thie FPV real-time Wi-Fi Transmission lets you experience a fast and clear first-person view flight.
The Syma APP is also equipped with many other interesting functions, such as the flight path mode which allows you to draw a route on your app and have the drone fly along the path. This drone also features optical flow positioning which makes the hover more stable and achieves better performance in precise location and photography.
- Pros: Clear instructions and a responsive drone
- Cons: 4 x AA batteries are required for the remote controller
HOLY STONE HS110G GPS FPV Drone with 1080P HD Camera
The Holy Stone HS110G is a GPS-enabled drone that features a 1080P HD camera with a field of view of 110°. It has a stable hover that allows you to catch clearer images and it has a return-to-home (RTH) function that is triggered whenever the battery is low or you lose signal.
This Holy Stone drone is also equipped with Follow Me mode and Drawing a Route on the Holy Stone App control page, which allows you to control the drone hands-free while you focus on capturing photos and videos.
It has a maximum flight time of 26 minutes. The real-time view reaches up to 492FT away and the control distance is up to 984FT, giving you a wider visual enjoyment. The carrying bag makes it convenient to take the drone out.
It is easier for newbies or beginners, equipped with functions like GPS satellite positioning hover, altitude hold, headless mode, one key takeoff/landing, emergence stop, low battery alarm and visible LED lights.
- Pros: Easy to fly, popular with children (under the supervision of an adult)
- Cons: Some reports of weak GPS signal
Potensic T25 GPS Drone with 2K Camera
Potensic’s T25 drone is a great option for those looking for an affordable camera drone with impressive features. The FPV 2K HD camera can take stunning photographs and videos, and the built-in up-down gimble allows you to adjust the angle of the camera remotely in flight.
The drone also has a GPS and Optical Flow Positioning system for stability and can return to its home point automatically if it loses signal or power. With a flight time of up to 10 minutes on a single charge, the T25 is a great option for backyard flyers who want to film family events and share them on social media.
This drone is good for beginners, kids and adults who want to learn how to fly a drone. The basic modes, such as headless mode and altitude hold, make it easy to control the drone and the advanced modes, such as follow me and tap flight, add more excitement to your flight experience.
The camera drone is also very lightweight, and the Potensic offers a 360-day money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase.
- Pros: Higher quality camera for the price range
- Cons: Lower than average flight time
Hubsan H501S Drone GPS FPV with 1080P HD Camera
Hubsan has been providing drones for about as long as DJI so they should know a thing or two about them.
The Hubsan H501S Drone GPS FPV with 1080P HD Camera boasts a long list of features. With its 5.8G FPV Real-time Video Transmission, Follow Me Mode, Headless Mode, Altitude mode, Automatic Return, Fail-safe Mode, GPS positioning location, it has a lot to offer.
Stability in the air with the 6-axis gyro and the brushless motors makes it easier to control in light winds. The large capacity intelligent battery extends the flying time last to 20 minutes, and the 5.8G wireless video transmission distance is up to 300m. The max flight radius is also 300m. These features make the Hubsan H501S an ideal drone for both recreational and professional use.
- Pros: Longer flying time than most
- Cons: Price is a little higher than rivals in this list
DJI Tello Ryze
The DJI Tello drone is a great little drone for both kids and adults. It’s a blast to fly and is packed with features that make it an impressive drone overall. The two antennas help keep the video transmission stable, while the high-capacity battery offers impressively long flight times.
The electronic image stabilization, EZ Shots, Intel processor and 5MP photos produce high-quality movies and images, making the Tello one of the best drones on the market today. Additionally, the lightweight and durable design make it easy to fly with confidence.
- Pros: A low price drone in this range from a market leader
- Cons: After using it you’ll probably want to upgrade to another DJI product
Parrot PF727003 Swing Quadcopter
Finally in this list, we take a look at an unusual quadcopter that may just be the drone you are looking for.
Produced by a company that has been making drones since 1994, the Parrot PF727003 Swing Quadcopter is a unique mini drone. It features autopilot and a vertical take-off and landing mode, making it perfect for beginner pilots.
With the Parrot Flypad controller, you can enjoy ultra-precise control while flying like a pro. The drone can reach speeds up to 19 mph, so you can race through the sky with ease. The Flypad also extends your flight range to up to 196 ft., so you can explore more of your surroundings. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced pilot, the Parrot Swing Quadcopter is the perfect drone for anyone looking for a fun and exciting flying experience.
- Pros: A fast and fun drone that will get you hooked
- Cons: You’ll need spare batteries and a charger
Which of the Best Drones Under 200 Pounds would we choose?
I would go for the Hubsan. It’s from a brand that is as long-standing and as trusted as DJI.
Camera drones continue to evolve and the best camera drone of today is unlikely to occupy the top spot tomorrow. However, as we’ve seen, it’s not all about the camera quality, though that of course is of prime importance if you’re interested in aerial photography.
Most drones are good enough to test and strengthen your flying skills. There is a case to argue that a cheap drone without many or any flight features is a good option as it tests your abilities and enhances your reaction times, building confidence, but on the other hand, most people want a good quality drone that offers stable flight, a decent flight time, and a camera angle that will allow them to start a collection of aerial photos.
As well as budgeting for the drone itself, there are some other items that you may consider essential. As a drone pilot, you won’t need to spend as much as a student pilot or private pilot on things like cockpit kneeboards, charts, navigatonal aids, etc, but it is handy to have a case for drone and some bags for additional equipment. If you intend to use your drone in all seasons then outdoor kit can get dirty, damp, or dusty, depending on the season.
