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People buy drones or quadcopters for a variety of reasons. Some of them are looking for pure entertainment, while experienced drone pilots have motives like aerial footage, capturing drone shots, or even making money.

Teachers around the world also make use of drones these days to deliver highly interactive lectures to their students. 

Some hobbyists use the smart flight features of modern, flying drones to capture the footage by staying either in front or behind the subject. 

Considering all these uses, manufacturers keep coming up with advanced and totally awesome drones that come equipped with powerful features.

But with all these features the price of these drones also keeps soaring. At times, you don’t have that much money to spend but you still want a good deal. The advanced features that the best drone comes with are usually not required by entry-level pilots or teenagers.

These hobbyists would feel happy with the basic features and solid construction at a great price. Cheap drones may have their disadvantages but with proper use and care, you can avoid those shortcomings.

Learn about the signal range of the remote control and stay within it to avoid collisions and damages. It is also recommended to use a simulator to learn about the various features of your drone and to use them correctly. 

It isn’t difficult to find a great drone that costs under $200. But the question is, would it be worth the price?

Let’s find that out by reviewing some of the highly-rated drones available out there in the price range of $100 to $200.

Finding the Best Camera Drone for Less

Depending on why you want a drone, you can pick from several choices available on the market. When looking at their rating and all those positive reviews, one can’t help but think that these inexpensive drones are not a bad choice after all!

They might have a short lifespan, very limited flight time, flimsy remote controller, or an average or low-quality camera, but they can still fulfill your basic requirements especially if you are a newbie. 

You might also be interested in the fact that quadcopters that weigh more than 0.55 pounds are required to be registered with the FAA. So, a product that weighs less than this might not prove to be a very good investment in the long run.

The good news is, most quadcopters in the $100 to $200 range weigh around 1 to 2 pounds.

Some camera drones are usually pricier because they either offer HD video recording capability or autonomous flight modes. When you pay less, the body might not be as sturdy as it should be, but that can be resolved by handling the drone carefully.

You can also assure that under $200 you would still be getting a great camera (at least 720p), multiple skill modes, and around 7-10 minutes of flight time. 

Now that it’s clear that even drones that are under $200 can prove to be useful and fascinating, the question is, how to find the best one for this price?

Here is a list of the 7 best drones that are inexpensive but still quite well-made, come with WiFi connectivity and GPS as well as some other attractive features, and most of all, they are easy to fly.

The 7 Best Drones Under $200

1. Altair Aerial AA108 Camera Drone  

This drone, although inexpensive, comes with many powerful features and solid construction. The product has been especially recommended for kids because of its exceptional durability and ease of use. It offers a flight control range of 100 meters and a relatively long flight time because of two batteries.

You can use it with the app on your smartphone to control many of its additional features, such as creating a custom route by drawing a flight line on your phone. Once you are done creating the route, your drone will fly around the path you have specified.

The fact that Altair Aerial is a US-based manufacturer makes this drone an even more preferred choice for a lot of people out there. 

It comes with three different flying modes for beginners to amateur flyers. Another great feature of this quadcopter is the Altitude Hold that keeps the drone in the air at a fixed altitude for taking amazing photos.

The drone is lightweight and therefore might not work well in windy conditions. Additionally, it doesn’t support real-time video on your smartphone. Apart from these couple of downsides, the product offers great value for your money.

Interested? Check it out on this link! 

2. EACHINE E520 WiFi Quadcopter with 1080p HD Camera 

This one comes with an even better rating on Amazon and a more reasonable price. If you are looking for a quadcopter that offers extended flight time, wide-angle view, speed control, and one key return, don’t look any further. 

With 15-17 minutes of powerful flight and an HD camera quality, the drone is great for recording high-quality videos. This drone has been designed for outdoor flight, which makes it even more attractive in some people’s eyes. 

A powerful feature of this drone is its 360 degrees reverse flight. It is quite sturdy and easy to set up. Some users have reported that anyone can use this drone even if they have never flown a quadcopter before. 

One downside is that it doesn’t have GPS. But if you want this feature in your quadcopter you may want to look for some other models by the same manufacturer. 

They might be a bit pricier but you will get what you’re looking for. It’s a company that many users trust and that has been producing top-notch drones for quite some time.

Interested? Check it out on this link!  

3. Le-Idea IDEA 10 FPV RC Drone with HD Camera 

With GPS-assisted flight, altitude hold, and foldable design, this drone offers great value for your money. And the bonus point is, it comes with an HD 1080p camera. 

It provides up to 17 minutes of flight time unlike most drones available in this price range. If you want to experience a real-life 3D flight using your VR headset, you can achieve it with this drone using its 3D Mode feature. 

The drone can be programmed to return home even if it is lost. You can also find it on the map if it goes off-course due to a strong wind or some other conditions. Due to these advanced features, the product is also referred to as an “affordable intelligent RC quadcopter”. 

If these features appeal to you, don’t think twice. It has been rated as the best beginner drone for teenagers. 

One disadvantage is that it does not come with great customer service/technical support. If you start experiencing issues with video quality or GPS, you might not be able to get a timely response.

Interested? Check it out on this link!  

4. Contixo F22 RC GPS Quadcopter Foldable Drone 

Another foldable, good-looking, 1080p camera, and compact drone at a great price, this quadcopter can make an excellent present for a new and inexperienced pilot. It comes with US-based customer service, which is an attractive and much-needed feature. 

Most drones in this price range usually have no customer support, which can be a big disadvantage especially when the product comes equipped with advanced features. 

Users prefer it for its selfie camera, stable flight, good flight time, and high-quality remote control reception. 

However, one downside is its inability to provide real-time videos of great quality. They may lag or stop working altogether even at 5G WiFi capability. 

And the battery may not hold up as well as the manufacturer claims. Apart from these points, the drone looks promising for first-time flyers who don’t want to spend more than $200 on an entry-level drone.

Interested? Check it out on this link!  

5. Blade Scimitar LRX BNF Basic 

This is a heavy, well-made, and powerful quadcopter at a great price. If you want to have a perfect FPV experience, look no further. It is great for advanced flyers who have had prior experience of flying other cheaper drones. 

The product comes with detailed instructions for setting it up the first time. The drone has received a 5-star rating on multiple platforms from expert pilots and is, therefore, a highly recommended product. 

You won’t be disappointed with this quadcopter for the price you pay. It comes with 7″ diameter 3-blade plastic propellers. It might not be suitable for beginners as the experience level mentioned by the manufacturer is intermediate. 

There are also less expensive models available by the same manufacturer. You can check them out to determine their suitability for newbies.

Interested? Check it out on this link! 

6. LAIHUI FPV Drone with HD Camera and Brushless Motor

 

This is again a great product for entry-level pilots who are also aware of all the powerful features a quadcopter may provide. Gesture recognition, foldable design, one key start and landing, and altitude hold are some of its most prominent features. 

In addition, it comes with a 4K HD camera and GPS functionality for assisted return-home. Since it’s a newly released drone, it hasn’t received any rating as of yet. However, the manufacturer claims that it is equally good for kids and adults. It is WayPoint compatible unlike many drones in this price range.

The camera offers a 120 degrees field of view and connects to a 5G transmission for excellent playback. The user can define the flight plan and the drone would exactly follow it.

7. Blade Vusion 250 V2 FPV RTF 

A solid, highly stable, and great-looking starter drone for anyone who likes or would like to fly quadcopters like an expert. It is heavy but that’s a plus point because it doesn’t get damaged very easily. 

That is why it is recommended especially for beginners. But some people have also reported that newbies may find it a little tricky to handle because of its amazing speed.

The quadcopter offers an excellent outdoor FPV experience for the price it comes at. It comes packaged with an FPV monitor and goggles. Its most prominent feature is the Betalight configurable flight controller that allows the user to fine-tune it according to their unique flight style.

Users prefer it as a racing drone because it is super fast and extremely stable. No negative points have been mentioned about this quadcopter so far. If you are looking for a tough drone that wouldn’t break, look no further.

Interested? Check it out on this link!  

What to Consider When Buying the Best Drones that Cost Under $200

When it comes to buying the best drones under 200, you have various options to choose from. To make a more informed decision, it’s important to be specific about the drone’s features. So, let’s take a look at what you should look for in a drone.

1. GPS Functionality

There are only a few affordable drones with integrated GPS, but it would be nice if you can find the best drone under 200 that has this feature. 

Because with GPS functionality, your drone can hover in place and it can find its way back home with a return-to-home or RTH feature.

The GPS functionality likewise improves the drone’s navigational skills and general stability. 

Of course, there are a few things that can impact the GPS signal, although the main cause is when it does not have a line of sight to the satellites. This often happens when you fly in mountain ranges, tall cities, or under large forest trees.

2. Battery Life/ Flight Time

Battery life is one of the most important things you should consider when buying the best drones under 200. Because eventually, a drone runs out of power. Flight time often struggles to surpass 30 minutes even on the high-end drones.

Sure, you can carry an extra battery, but when considering what drone to buy within your budget, make sure to include the cost of extra batteries in your total price.

3. Control Range

A camera drone’s range will tell you how far from the controller (you) it can function before it eventually loses control. Of course, professional level and expensive drones have a greater control range compared to toy drones. Drones with the longest control range include DJI Mavic Air 2 and DJI Inspire 2, for instance, but they may not be affordable.

Some models in this list have a maximum control range of: 

• Altair Aerial AA108 Camera Drone – 100 meter
• EACHINE E511 WiFi Quadcopter – up to 300 meters
• Le-Idea IDEA  – 200 meters
• Contixo F22 RC – 750 feet or 228 meters

4. Brushless Motors

The motors of your racing drones or any drone for that matter are what propellers are connected to, which causes the UAV to generate thrust and spin around. Thus, it allows your drone to fly.

Without going too technical, a brushless motor contains two main sections: The rotor and the stator. The rotor is a part that rotates and it has magnets while the stator has electromagnets and the part that does not rotate.

Brushless motors may be more expensive than brushed ones, but they possess longer operation or lifespan and offer quieter operation.

5. Gimbal

Even if you’re a budget-conscious buyer, there’s a decent drone with an axis gimbal. This feature allows the camera to stay steady while it’s flying at elevated altitudes and in high winds. 

It’s rare to find smaller or beginner drones with this attachment, although they don’t need this function as toy drones are designed for indoor use or at lower altitudes. So, of course, if you want the best photos and footage, find the best drone under 200 that includes a gimbal.

6. Camera Quality 

If you’re interested in buying a camera drone, then camera quality is something that you need to consider. 

 

Camera drones come in a lot of ranges — from 720 to 4K quality videos. Buying a drone for filming purposes requires high-quality shooting, so it’s best to look for camera drones that offer 4K videos. 

Conclusion: Which Drone Should You Buy?

There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on an expensive drone especially if you are just learning to fly or want only the basic features in your quadcopter. 

It’s true that other drones come equipped with advanced, modern technology that allows them to fly “on their own” and even take off and land automatically. But sometimes these very features take the fun and excitement out of flying.

Moreover, for kids and teenagers, there is no need to buy those expensive models but still, you would want something that would last for a long time and would also be easy to use and set up. 

All the drones available today on the market come in the price range of $35 to $3,000, so you can imagine how these models would differ from one another in terms of durability and features. 

People who spend a lot of money on quadcopters expect excellent customer service to resolve any issues they might face.

Unfortunately, this kind of support is usually either not available or is not very responsive for an inexpensive drone. 

So, in case you experience an error or defect, chances are you will have to resolve it yourself. 

The best drones under 200 are pretty solid and they mostly come with a high-quality camera at this price.

Cheaper models are either too flimsy or they don’t have an in-built camera for recording video or taking photographs. 

Some of these quads are loaded with advanced functionality that makes them even more preferable over other models.

Look for features like GPS drone support for a return home, an ability to view real-time footage in 3D using a VR headset, FPV transmission, an HD camera that delivers excellent results, and technical support if you can find it. 

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