Best Starter Drones in 2025

Soaring into the air has never been easier (or cheaper), thanks to a growing selection of starter drones on the market. There are starter drones for kids retailing for under $25 and more advanced models for videography, racing, inspections, and FPV flights.

At Bavovna, we spend a lot of time, testing different drone models as we train models for AI navigation. And a good part of our team are also avid drone hobbyists. So if you’re in the market for a new quad, here are recs of the best starter drones.

Best Starter Drone With Camera: DJI Mini 4 Pro

DJI is almost eponymous with the ‘camera drone’. They’ve got several great beginner drones including NEO, Mavic Mini, and Air 2S. But we prefer DJI Mini 3 because it offers a premium drone photography experience without a premium price.

Lightweight and portable, DJI Mini 3 can cruise for up to 50 minutes (in good flight conditions and with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus add-on). Otherwise, it’s a good 20 to 30 minutes of flight time — more than enough to capture some scenic shots. Extra features like QuickShots mode can help you snap even more content with its 12MP camera with 4K video capabilities.

A DJI Mini 3 is the best starter drone because of its robust safety features: Geofencing, infrared collision sensors, a downward vision system, and automatic return-to-home when your battery runs out or your connection lags. Overall, DJI Mini 3 offers an affordable gateway into drone videography, making it easy to capture stunning aerial shots—without the complexity of pro-level models.

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Best Starter FPV Drone: Eachine Novice VI

Eachine Novice IV is easy to start using, plus it’s packed with pro features to explore as you advance—so you’ll never hit a ceiling. It comes assembled, bound to the radio controller, and the right video channel matched with your goggles aka ready-to-fly.

Battery life is commendable: about 20 minutes with a stock battery and 30 minutes with an alternative 4S 18650 3000mah. An integrated 1080p camera captures detailed, crisp shots with a 3-axis gimbal preventing motion blur. Hold and headless modes also make novice FVP flying easier and GPS Rescue helps with faster drone retrievals in case your mission went rogue.

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Best Starter Drone for Inspections: Skydio X10

Skydio X10 is a compact yet long-range drone with an ample flight time of 40 minutes, thanks to an 8419 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery — more than enough to run inspections around larger industrial sites.

Featuring a triple sensor array—narrow, telephoto, and radiometric thermal cameras— the drone shoots HD footage even in low-light conditions. A 22 lux flashlight also helps. Plus you can opt for an array with a thermal FLIR Boson+ sensor, offering sensitivity down to 30 mK and a resolution of 640 x 512 px.

All of these characteristics make SkydioX10 a stellar choice for condition-based asset monitoring programs.

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Best Starter Racing Drone: EMAX Tinyhawk III

Retailing for about $260 (with all accessories), EMAX Tinyhawk III is a great entry-level racing drone, packed with some solid features. The pre-installed 1S 450 mAh battery system gives about 4-5 minutes in flight time but can be easily swapped for a more robust option.

With a durable, but lightweight body and propeller protection, Tinyhawk III can withstand the (inevitable) light collisions and bumpy landings, giving you ample room to practice. An improved control system (an EMAX E8 transmitter) offers faster navigation response during swift maneuvers.

The integrated RunCam Nano 4 FPV camera offers crisp, real-time footage for immersive flights. The triple-combo of affordability, performance, and user-friendly navigation make EMAX Tinyhawk III a great option for building up your FVP skills.