Over the years some of our best photos have been taken on our drone. With technology getting better every day, you once had to buy a huge expensive drone to take amazing images. But now mini drones with a camera are the way forward.
There are so many new and exciting drones on the market to choose from and deciding which one to buy can seem like a minefield. So we have put together a complete guide to mini, nano, and micro drones.
We have taken into consideration all of the important things you need to factor in when using a drone. Those factors are battery life, flight times, camera quality and price!
After this research, we ended up with the 7 best mini drones with camera you can buy right now.
This post might contain our affiliate links. This is at no extra cost to you, but you would be doing us a solid if you did use them. It shows us your appreciation after we have written this amazing guide for you 😏*
The best mini drones with a camera – DJI Mini 2
If you are wondering what our answer is and wanting to skip the comparisons of other mini drones with a camera, then here is our winner. Although the DJI Mini 2 is not the cheapest, it is by far the best quality and includes the most features.
What is a drone
A drone is a motor propelled aircraft that is controlled via a pilot with a controller on the ground. Another name for a drone that is used more in the military is a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
In simpler terms, a drone is A aircraft that can fly and does not have a pilot onboard inside it.
Our Drone Shots
Check out a selection of the drone pictures we have taken over many years of travelling.
The difference between a nano, micro, mini drones with camera
As you probably guessed the biggest difference between a Mini, Micro, and a Nano drone is the size. The nano is the smallest of the drone collection, followed by the Micro and then the Mini, which is the largest.
With each type of drone comes different features. Currently smaller drones such as nano and micro drones have considerably fewer features than a larger mini drone. However, with fewer features comes a smaller price tag.
So it will be down to you to read our best mini drones with camera guide first, before deciding exactly what you are looking for in a drone.
Best Mini drones Vs Pro drones
There are pros and cons to both a pro and mini drone. We have put together a quick list of reasons why you should buy a mini drone over a pro.
- The cost 🤑 Mini drones are considerably cheaper than their big brothers in the pro range. You can find a mini drone for under £100, compared to a pro which will set you back around £1000.
- Size 🐘🐭 Mini drones are lighter and smaller which makes it easier to transport. Due to their lightweight, you do not need to obtain a drone license.
- Good for beginners 👨🏻✈️ If you are looking to buy your first drone we recommend starting small and cheap until you get the hang on flying. There is nothing worst than losing £1000 by crashing a pro drone in a tree or lake.
What qualifies as a mini drone with a camera
If you look at most of the drone websites such as DJI or Amazon, you will see that they all have similar descriptions when it comes to mini drones with a camera. They talk about the drone being lightweight, small, and extremely portable. Something you can slip in your pocket and use on the go.
These are some of the biggest selling points when it comes to mini drones. Who doesn’t want a drone with amazing battery life, beautiful 4k video footage, and all fits in your back jean pocket?
Generally speaking there isn’t official size and weight measurements to qualify as a mini drone. However, most companies like to keep the weight of the drone below 250grams and this is for good reason, new drone laws!
Mini drones with camera laws and rules
When it comes down to the hard facts you don’t want to get caught out.
Recently countries all over the world are having more and more problems with people using commercial and toy drones. When it comes to flying drones there are strict rules and regulations you need to follow. One of the biggest is not flying a drone near an airport.
For this reason, many countries have brought in specific laws on drones and some now require you even get a license. Don’t worry too much, there is a way around these laws.
Drone manufacturers are aware of these restrictions and are creating smaller and lighter drones but with still all of the amazing features such as a camera and stabilisation, a great example of this is the DJI Mini 2.
DJI have gone out of there way to jampack every feature you could possibly want in a mini drone. But most importantly kept the weight under the magic 250g. The DJI Mini 2 weighs 249grams.
In most countries, if your drone is under 250 grams then you will not have to register to fly or obtain a drone license. In the United Kingdom, this rule applies, however, if you have a bigger and heavier mini drone then be sure to visit the UK Civil Aviation Authority website. Here you will find all the up to date details on the ever-changing drone laws.
If you are unsure of your countries drone law’s, a quick google search should put you on your local Aviation authority website where you can find more information out.
Key features in mini drones with camera
To keep things simple we have picked out 9 features that we feel are the most important to look for in a mini drone. Each of these features varies from drone to drone. Typically you will find as the price of the drone increases so do the number of features included on the drones.
Flight time
One of the most important things we look for in a drone is flight time. You want to spend more time flying your drone rather than landing it, changing the drone’s battery and then trying to fly it back to the same location.
Not only does a longer battery life allow you to have more fun flying your mini drone, but it also potentially allows you to fly even further to get that epic photo with the camera.
On average a mini drone with camera flight time can range between 10-31 minutes. This is a huge difference between the two which leads on to our next point with flight times.
If your drone has a shorter flight time, this means you are going to have to purchase more batteries to compensate. So whilst the mini drones with a longer flight time are more expensive upfront. After you factor in purchasing all of your pair batteries the price comparison isn’t so different after all.
Also bear in mind that wind conditions along with taking photos and videos will eat away at your battery and reduce your drone flying time.
Drone batteries
When it comes to choosing your drone based on batteries you really have only two options.
The first is the more expensive but longer-lasting lithium-ion rechargeable batteries built into the drone controller and drone.
The second is your standard AA/AAA batteries that are not rechargeable, don’t last anywhere near as long and are expensive to keep buying.
As mini drones with a camera have come along way over recent years, most do now have the lithium-ion batteries. You will find however the cheap drones will require you to purchase your own batteries.
Drone battery charging times are another big factor when choosing which drone to buy. The best mini drones with a camera tend to have a charge time of 40 minutes per battery. Whereas in the cheaper models you can be waiting for up to 90 minutes.
Transmission range
When you hear peoples talking about a mini drone’s range, they are talking about the distance you are able to fly from the take-off point. Whilst battery life does affect the range, we are talking about the signal strength from your drone controller to the drone itself. The DJI Mini 2 boast one of the highest transmission ranges out of all of the drones available.
Although because of drone laws you shouldn’t be flying your drone over 400 metres high, it doesn’t mean you can fly it far, providing you can still see it.
The top mini drones on the market are offering a range of 10km’s which is crazy! This is compared to some of the lower end drones only offering 100 metres.
Drone and camera stability
Stability and stabilisation is a key feature to look for in a mini drone with a camera. If you are wanting a drone that is great in most weather conditions, fights back the wind, hover in a set location and can take amazing images with the drone’s camera. Then you need to invest in a slightly bigger and better performing mini drone.
All mini-drones have some form a stabilisation built-in, this allows them to fly straight. But the difference between having a drone that is slightly stabilised compared to a drone that is heavier with bigger propellers and has a camera with a 3 axis gimbal attached is huge.
If your drone is for racing around the local park and exploring your neighbourhood then the smaller and cheaper options are best for you. But if you do want to venture out and fly your mini drone over the edge of a cliff or across a lake and take some incredible photo’s. Then you really want a mini drone with a camera that is fully stabilised with a gimbal.
Controllers
The different types of controls can really be a make or break for some people when choosing which drone to buy.
Most drone controllers will require you to download an app to link with your drone and controller. This means that your phone now becomes your controller screen and allows you to get an FPV (first-person view) of where you are flying your drone.
Some mini-drones also allow you to fly your drone just through your smartphone. The drawback to this is the controller are nowhere near as responsive and the transmission range is a lot smaller.
Most controllers will come with built-in rechargeable batteries. But we some of the cheap options you will have to buy batteries and replace these regularly.
Camera quality and resolution
Drone are great fun to fly but once you have got the hang of that, you are going to want to start taking amazing pictures and video. This is where you need to consider the camera quality of your drone. Most mini drones with cameras can record at 720p or higher. When it comes to photography you want a camera with high megapixels giving you better resolution.
We wouldn’t recommend buying a drone with camera quality less than this. This is because the image sensors in drones are small and without great glass-like in the lenses of a standard DSLR or mirrorless camera you cant zoom in to your subject. This means you either have to fly closer, which is not always possible. Alternatively crop in closer after you have taken an image, you will then notice the image quality will reduce the more you crop.
The less expensive drones come with a camera but some do not give you the option to record or capture what you are seeing. Its sole purpose is to allow you to see where you are flying.
This is compared to the more expensive drones that allow you can capture amazing images, 4k video footage and store it on a micro SD card.
If photography or videography is your things and the main reason for your drone purchase, then we recommend sticking with the DJI range.
AI features
AI or artificial intelligence modes on drones are super impressive! Whether it is obstacle avoidance or follow me mode, the technology in the littles drones has come along way in recent years and works really well.
As you can tell with this running theme, the more you pay for a mini drone the more features and AI modes you will receive.
Some of the key features we use the most in our drone are:
- GPS enabled – This allows the drone to know exactly where it is at all times included where it took off from. This means that if you do crash or there is a malfunction you can locate your drone or request it to fly back to home, the take-off point.
- Obstacle avoidance – This mode is something we use the most. Even after hours of flying accidents still happen and having obstacle detection mode helps you having so many crashed. It detects obstacles in the drone’s path and will automatically move the drone so a collision doesn’t occur.
- Follow me Mode, Orbit mode and Waypoint mode – These features are really useful when taking videos alone. It allows you to not worry about flying the drone so you can film and perform whatever activity you are trying to capture.
- Headless mode – When the headless mode is activated, the front of the drone is always the same direction the control is facing. No need to worry about the orientation. This function makes it perfect for kids and beginners.
Size and weight
If you are planning to fly your drone at home or in the local park then size and weight might not matter too much to you. But if you are planning on taking it on holiday or travelling then buying a drone that is small and lightweight is key.
The beauty is that all of these mini drones are under 250g but once you start adding the weight of the controller, spare batteries and propeller guard your bag soon starts to fill up and get heavy.
In our reviews below we have listed the weight of each drone along with how small each drone can fold down to.
Price
The price of a mini drone with camera is ultimately going to be one of the biggest factors when choosing which drone to buy. In our best mini drones with camera guide, the price range between the cheapest and most expensive mini drone is fairly large.
However, when you consider what you are getting for the extra money, you will find that it is actually great value for money.
The cheapest drone at on our reviews is the Potensic A20 at £29.99. This drone is very basic and is aimed at young children and to be used in the house or back garden.
The most expensive the DJI mini 2, you can pick up on Amazon for £549. This drone is small but good enough to be used by professional videographers and photographers all around the world.
If you are looking for a mini drone somewhere in between these two price ranges we highly recommend Eachine E5115 drone with a camera. This drone is packed with features and is a ridiculously good price.
7 Best mini drones with camera review
So here it is our review into the 7 best mini drones with cameras. We have listed each drone starting with the cheapest and finishing with the most expensive. Each mini drone has its pros and cons so make sure you check each one out before making your decision.
Note – If you do decide to purchase a drone, buying it through our site using our affiliate like to amazon or any other products really helps us, and cost you know more. We make a small amount of commission 2% usually and allows you to continue writing these free guides and reviews for you.
Potensic A20W mini drone
The Potensic A20W is the smallest, lightest and cheapest mini drone on our list. Whilst it has limited functions it still makes for a great drone to practise flying with. Limited to a short flight time and range the Potensic A20w is more of a toy rather than a piece of equipment. This drone would be ideal for small children wanting to fly around the house or garden.
Pros
- One of the cheapest mini drone with a camera on the market.
- It has headless mode and altitude hold.
- Small and light which fits in the palm of your hand.
Cons
- No GPS so you are unable to track your drone.
- Only comes with one battery, flight time is short.
- Transmission range is short, so only ideal for flying in the house or back garden.
Size & Weight
3.5 x 3.1 x 1.2 inches
Price
£36.79
Snaptain A10 Foldable Mini Drone
The Snaptain A10 is one of the best budget drones you will find. The value for money comes in the form of its 720p camera quality. Although the flight time and range is not great it will still allow you to have an FPV of where you are flying.
This drone would be great for a beginner looking to fly the drone close by. If you are looking to fly a little further afield then scroll down some more to check out the Holly Stone HS110G.
Pros
- The Snaptain A10 is already small but the arms fold in so you can transport it safely.
- The built-in camera has a resolution of 720p which allows you to take good quality photos whilst flying.
- This drone is very cheap compared to some of the other drones we have reviewed in the post.
Cons
- Only has a 15-metre limit flight height which is not very high at all
- A short transmission range of 25 meters, for a little extra money you can find a drone with much high transmission range.
- The drone controller takes AAA batteries which can run out quickly. They are not included in your purchase.
- The Snaptain has a short flight time of 7 minutes, compared this to some of the other drones at 30 minutes.
Size & Weight
8.3 x 8.0 x 3.0 inches, 61 grams
Price
£39.99
Simrex X300C mini quadcopter drone
The Simrex X300c quadcopter drone comes in a whole range of colour which is great for kids. Again this drone is aimed more at beginners and is a toy. This is mainly due to poor camera quality. If the camera was upgraded to 720p resolution or higher then this drone would be strong contester.
Pros
- Equipped with a 6-axis Gyro flight control systems, provide better and safer using experience.
- The Simrex X300c can perform 360-degree continuous flips and rolls for perfect action and wonderful performance.
- The range is 30 meters which is so far the longest transmission range on the budget mini drones.
Cons
- Only has an 8-minute battery life with a 60 minute charge time.
- Poor camera quality which means no beautiful landscape photos.
- No GPS mode means no “return to home” function or tracking.
Size & Weight
3 x 0.5 x 8 cm, 240 grams
Price £39.99
Ryze Tello nano drone powered by DJI
The Ryze Tello drone is the first of the more expensive mini drones. It is a considerable jump up in price but you do get additional features for your cash. The Tello boasted it is powered the DJI which are the kings are the sky and drones.
The mobile phone app helps you fly with your controller, however, there is no SD card storage with this drone so all the images you take will need to be stored directly on to your phone.
This drone comes with digital stabilisation which is not quite as good as having a gimbal with 3 axes but is defiantly better than nothing. Although the Ryze Tello drone is a good quality drone, unfortunately, the price tag is a little too high for our liking especially if you are looking for a budget toy drone.
Pros
- The Ryze Tello boast a 5mega pixel camera and records 720p video.
- The transmission range for the Tello is up to 100 meters.
- To start to fly the drone, simply toss it in the air.
Cons
- This drone is considerably more expensive than the budget drones. It doesn’t have many more features that warrant the increased price.
- Although the flight time is longer than the budget mini drones, it is still has a short flight time of 13 minutes.
Size & Weight
9.8 x 9.2 x 4.1 cm 80 grams
Price £99
Eachine E511S
The Eachine E511S is where we hit the middle ground in the mini-drone range. Aimed more towards adults rather than children, the Eachine has an impressive 1080p camera with a 120-degree angle to capture all your flying moments. But most importantly it is the first drone that has GPS enabled.
This does reflect it the cost, but you will thank us for spending a little extra cash when you can track your drone instead of losing it in the woods.
Pros
- The Eachine E511S is GPS enabled which means no more losing your drone and it also has the return to home feature.
- Great camera quality with 1080p resolution and a 120-degree camera angle which is adjustable, allowing you to get some amazing footage and photos.
- Transmission range of up to 200 metres, this is quite far for a budget drone.
Cons
- 16 minute flight time is still relatively short
- The controller takes AAA batteries which are not included.
- The combined weight of this drone with a battery is 280 grams. This means it is over the magic 250g and you will have to check your local legislation to see if you need to register this drone.
- Charge time of the drone battery is 150 minutes which is extremely slow
Price £129.99
Holy Stone HS110G
The Holy Stone HS110G is going to get a vote on the best mid-range mini drone in our review. It has all the features much like the Eachine (1080p camera and GPS enabled). But the main difference is the weight of the drone at only 176 grams this is extremely light. Although the Holy Stone does not have to the capability of folding down it is still an impressive drone to own.
Pros
- Very lightweight at only 176grams, meaning no FAA needed.
- GPS enabled follow me mode and target locking help you shoot the better videos and pictures.
- Advanced 1080P HD camera with 110 FOV can capture great video and aerial photos, giving you a wider visual enjoyment from a birds-eye perspective.
Cons
- 13 minute flight time which is 3 minutes less than the Eachine E511S
- The transmission range is an impressive 1000 feet, however, the live camera transmission is only available up to 500 feet. Which is means your ill be flying blind for half of your flight if your drone is far away.
- 180 minute battery charging time, this is the slowest battery charging out of all the mini drones reviewed.
Size & Weight
12 x 7.6 x 3.6 inches, 176g
Price £139
DJI Mini 2
The DJI mini 2 is by far one of the best mini drone on the market. It boasts a 4k 12-megapixel camera to capture the amazing views from the sky. A ridiculous flight time of 31 minutes we outperform some of the more expensive professional drones. This mini drone is targeted toward to frequent flyer and the amateur photographer and videographers.
Although the price is significantly more than many other mini drones on the market, it does reflect in the technology that is included.
Which makes it in our mind the winner of the best mini drones with camera review.
Pros
- 4k video footage and a 12mp camera which is by far superior to any of the other drones allowing you to get crispy sharp footage and detailed images.
- The camera also has a 3 axis gimbal making the camera stable even when flying in the wind.
- The battery life and flight time of the DJI mini 2 is an amazing 31 minutes. This is double the amount of the next best drone.
- The weight of this drone is 249grams under the magic 250g.
- The transmission range is an eye-watering 10km’s and can fly in winds up to 24 mph.
Cons
- The Dji mini 2 is considerably more expensive than some of the other mini drone we have reviewed. However, it does have the best and most reliable features.
- The size of this drone is a lot bigger and heavy compared to some of the other choices.
- Buying replacement parts of batteries will cost you more money.
Size & Weight
Folded: 138×81×58 mm, 249 grams
Price £549
What Camera Gear Do We Use
- Main Camera: Panasonic G80
- Go To Lens: Panasonic 12-60mm
- Tripod: Manfrotto Adventure Tripod
- Camera Bag: Manfrotto Backpack
- Underwater Camera: GoPro Hero 8
- Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- Power Bank: Anker Power Bank
- Hard drive: WD 1TB hard drive
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