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Although no authority solidifies this claim, it is safe to say that the higher the price of a drone, the more features you are likely to get from it. There are some features that are found in drones that fall under a certain price range. Most revolve around the maximum flight time, maximum range, camera quality, and some set of automated features.
However, you don’t have to break the bank to get a drone with most of these features, if not all. Many high-quality drones are priced under $300 with excellent features that can rival some more expensive drones.
The Six Best Drones Under $300 Are Reviewed Below
There are many drones that fall under $300. Here are some of the best drones on the market in that category that are constantly giving their owners more value for their money.
1
Holy Stone HS720 Foldable Drone
Holy Stone is one of the leading makers of high-quality and affordable drones, and the HS720 is highly rated among its drones. Luckily, it is well priced below $300.
The drone comes with a brushless motor, which enhances its speed. Its batteries help it attain a flight time of 26 minutes after every charge. It boasts of a maximum control range of 3277 ft, and live video can be transmitted over this range in the highest quality possible.
HS720 comes with an impressive 4K UHD camera, that can be used to film videos, cover events, and record other fun stuff. It is also great for taking high-quality aerial photos. The camera can also be used to transmit live video.
The Holy Stone HS720 also comes with a GPS feature, an altitude hold. It has a return-to-home feature that activates when the drone loses signal, direction, or the battery runs low. This drone is exceptional for its price and offers users some of the best flying experiences and other impressive functions.
Key Features:
- GPS
- Foldable
- 4K UHD Camera
- Altitude hold
- Follow-me
- Brushless motor
- Return-to-home
- Live video transmission
Specification:
- Brand: Holy Stone
- Model: HS720
- Maximum flight time: 26 minutes
- Maximum range: 3277 ft
Pros
- It is fast
- It is easy to fly
- It has high precision
- It has an impressive camera
- Has a return to home feature
- Has an impressive flight time
Cons
- The battery takes too long to charge fully.
2
Holy Stone HS100
This is another impressive drone from Holy Stone with a lot of amazing features, most of which are also found in the HS720.
The Holy Stone HS100 combines stability and high maneuverability to give users one of the best flying experience. The drone has a flight time of 18 minutes after every full charge, and a maximum control range of 1968 feet, which is quite commendable for its category.
It is equipped with an HD 2K camera designed for taking aerial photographs and record videos. The camera is also adjustable to increase the field of view. It supports live video transmission via 5G wifi and does not disappoint when it comes to FPV flights.
The drone also comes with a range of interesting features, such as an automatic return home feature powered by its GPS. This helps to reduce the chances of your drone getting missing. Also, the follow-me feature allows the drone to follow you while being controlled from your smartphone.
The drone’s size does not make it ideal for indoor flight, and its users in the USA will have to register the drone with the FAA.
Key Features:
- 2K HD camera
- GPS
- Auto return home
- Follow me mode
- Altitude hold
- Headless mode
Specification:
- Brand: Holy Stone
- Model: HS100
- Maximum flight time: 18 minutes
- Maximum range: 1968 ft
Pros
- It is fast
- Has a good camera
- Has a return home feature
- Supports FPV flying
- Has excellent stability, and manoeuvrability
Cons
- Not ideal for indoor flying
- Requires FAA registration
3
Potensic D85
Potensic is a popular maker of drones and, they have a list of impressive drones on the market that solidifies their place as a top brand. The D85 is one of those drones, and it is designed for drone flyers of every category, from beginners to pros.
The drone is very durable and performs excellently in the air and windy conditions. This is not unrelated to its brushless motors. It comes with a very good battery that lasts a maximum of 20 minutes after every full charge. It has an astounding maximum range of 4900ft and can transmit images and videos over a range of 1600 to 2620 ft.
The D85 comes with a high-quality 2K HD camera with a 130-degree field of view, allowing you to take some of the best aerial shots possible as well as videos. You can also use this drone to transmit live video to your smart devices using WIFI and enjoy one of the best FPV flight experiences.
The drone also comes with other features such as dual GPS, headless mode, automatic return home feature, which activates when the drone losses signal or the battery runs low.
Key Features:
- Brushless motors
- Transmits live video
- 2K HD Camera
- GPS
- Headless mode
- Auto return home
Specification:
- Brand: Potensic
- Model: D85
- Maximum flight time: 20 minutes
- Maximum range: 4900 ft
Pros
- It is beginner-friendly
- It is relatively fast
- It has a long flight time
- Ideal for FPV flying
- Performs excellently in air
- It has a return home feature
Cons
- The charging time of the battery is too long.
4
Contixo F24 Pro Quadcopter
Contixo F24 Pro is on a league of its own and can arguably be regarded as the best in this category thanks to an impressive line of features and performance.
The drone boasts of a powerful combination of 4 brushless motors, which is responsible for its incredible speed as well as performance. It is designed for people with different levels of experience.
However, some beginners may struggle with the drone because its brushless motors generate a performance designed to satisfy the flying needs of intermediate and professional drone flyers. Contixo has other drones such as the F18 and F20 that are more beginners-friendly.
The F24 has an impressive flight time of 30 minutes, which is the longest for drones reviewed in this category. It has a maximum control range of about 3600 ft. This is also the same when transmitting live video.
It comes with a 4K Ultra-HD adjustable camera designed to take high-quality aerial photos and record videos in 2.7k. The drone can also be used to transmit videos in real-time via its WIFI.
It also comes with an excellent GPS, which enables other features such as return home, follow me, altitude hold, among others. You can also use the drone’s app to customize the flight path as well as activate the Tapfly mode.
The drone is foldable and also comes with a portable bag, making it a worthy travel drone.
Key Features:
- 4K UHD Camera
- Brushless motors
- GPS
- Auto return home
- Altitude hold
- Follow me mode
- Foldable
Specification:
- Brand: Contixo
- Model: F24 Pro
- Maximum flight time: 30 minutes
- Maximum range: 3600 ft
Pros
- It is fast
- Has an impressive range
- It has a relatively long flight time
- It has a high-quality camera
- Has automatic return home feature
Cons
- It is not the best for beginners.
5
RUKO F11 FPV Drone
The Ruko F11 drone is arguably one of the best camera drones under $300. It is also easy to operate and can serve as be used to sharpen your flying skills. It has three-speed modes, therefore, allowing users to fly at any level that they can handle.
It comes with brushless motors and a 2500mAh battery that can power the drone to achieve a maximum flight time of 30 minutes. The drone also comes with an extra battery, thereby doubling your flight time to 60 minutes. It has a maximum control range of about 4000 ft and can transmit HD videos at a maximum range of 1640.4 ft.
The Ruko F11 boasts a high-quality 4K UHD camera that captures some of the best aerial shots. It can be used to record videos at a resolution of 1080p, making suitable for recording events, among other fun stuff. The adjustable camera also allows for 5GHZ FPV transmission.
The drone comes with other exciting features such as GPS, auto return home, which activates when the drone battery is down, or it goes out of range. Other features include follow me mode, Tapfly, altitude hold, among others.
Key Features:
- 4K UHD Camera
- GPS
- Brushless motors
- Live transmission
- Headless mode
- Three-speed modes
- Follow me mode
- Tap and fly
- Altitude hold
- Auto return home
Specification:
- Brand: Ruko
- Model: F11
- Maximum flight time: 30 minutes
- Maximum range: 4000 ft
Pros
- It is easy to operate
- It has a high-quality camera
- has auto return home feature
- has an impressive flight time
- comes with an extra battery
- It is relatively fast
Cons
- There is no gimbal stabilizer
6
Altair Outlaw SE Drone
The Altair Outlaw SE drone is one of the best drones under $300, and it is also coming from the popular Altair brand, which further extends its claim.
The drone is user-friendly and has a lot of interesting features, with its camera being the most prominent feature.
Thanks to its battery, the Outlaw SE offers users a maximum flight time of 15 minutes per full charge, and it has a maximum control range of about 1969 ft.
It comes with a 1080 HD camera that is excellent for photography and video recording. It is also used for live video transmission and has excellent FPV features. Other features further enhance its image and video quality on the drone, such as the GPS and Altitude hold, which helps to prevent shaky images.
The drone also has other features designed to make flying worthwhile. They are one-button take-off and landing feature, headless mode, return home, follow me, etc. It is also essential to mention that apart from helping to enhance image quality, the GPS does a good job of stabilizing the drone during flight.
Key Features:
- 1080p HD Camera
- GPS flight mode
- Altitude hold
- Return to home functions
- Headless mode
- Follow me mode
- Live video transmission
Specification:
- Brand: Altair Aerial
- Model: Outlaw SE
- Maximum flight time: 15 minutes
- Maximum range: 1969 ft
Pros
- It is beginner-friendly
- The GPS makes flying easier
- It has a very good camera
- It transmits live video over a wide range
Cons
- The battery is not the best around.
Buying Guide Questions
Buying drones and flying them are two different things. Below are answers to questions that tend to arise concerning drones.
Can Drones technically fly at night?
You can fly your drone at night. However, you may need to secure a part 107 waiver from the FAA.
You can also fly in the twilight. while ensuring that your drone has an anti-collision lighting system
Why did my drone fly away?
There are reasons why your drone flew away, with the most likely reason being a loss of signal. If your drone loses signal and does not have a return home feature, it may fly away without being found.
Also, strong winds can move your drone away from the control range.
How far can a drone go up?
According to the FAA, the maximum height you can legally fly your drone is 400 feet above the ground. Now, if you are looking for underwater drones which are water resistant or even RC Fishing Drones, then you can check our selections in other guides.
What is the maximum range of a drone?
Various drones have different maximum range. However, the FAA recommends that drones are kept in one’s visual line of sight.
Can my neighbor fly a drone over my house?
Normally, your neighbor should seek your permission before flying a drone over your house, similar to where you can use an RC Fishing Boat, you need proper permission and approval. However, your neighbor can still fly their drone over your house without seeking your permission. This is possible because drones are protected under a law that relates to aircraft.
The best you can do in situations like this is to talk to your neighbor or report to your local law enforcement agency. However, there are a few states in the USA where a neighbor cannot fly a drone over the house of their neighbors without their permission. There are calls for the FAA to review some of its rules on drones.
However, in the meantime, do not shoot down your neighbor’s drone!
Can drones see curtains?
No, the camera on most drones cannot see through curtains. However, infrared and thermal cameras can be used to see or sense the heat signatures of various objects behind curtains and windows. However, such cameras are relatively expensive. The normal drone cannot see through curtains.
Conclusion
You can get amazing drones with interesting features for anything under $300. However, while searching for these drones, take the due diligence to see what other buyers are saying concerning the product. Furthermore, it is essential to keep up with the drone industry’s constantly evolving trends, whether you are buying them for recreational or commercial purposes.