Image: MomJunction Design Team
Since drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) became available for the general public, their popularity has increased. Today the best drones for teens are equipped with good cameras for hobbyists and professionals to take aerial photos and video footage. An aerial view provides a different perspective and artistry. Controlling a drone using a remote control and camera requires creativity and makes a great companion for teenagers to explore.
If you’re planning to buy a drone for your teenager, we are here to help you out. Here, we compiled some tried-and-tested drones for teens for you to make an informed choice.
Top Picks
How Do Drones Work?
Drones are no more complex than using your phone for playing a simulation game. They can be controlled from a joystick or smartphone with wireless connectivity. You can pre-program flight paths for your drone using the apps. The motor power, gyroscope, accelerometer sensor, propellers, etc., work in tandem to make the drone’s flight smooth.
Safety Tips While Using Drones
- Avoid flying in rough weather conditions and fly with anti-collision lighting
- Do not fly behind obstacles to not lose line of sight while mapping a flight path
- Do not fly any closer than 30m to people and maintain safe navigation to prevent accidents
- Do not go over 400 feet as it increases the chances of running into a smaller aircraft
- Operate the drone outside the five-mile limit from an airport
- Stay away from hazard areas and areas packed with a large crowd
The Best Beginner Drones In 2024
1. Best Easy-To-Operate: Holy Stone HS110D Drone
Holy Stone drone performs beautifully with zero distortion and altitude hold technology that allows you to go hands-free for well-timed shots. This remote-control drone for teens boasts a 180° wide-angle, FPV real-time transmission, and a 1080 HD camera for razor-sharp images. You can enjoy the effortless ease of mapping a flying route and motion maneuvering through the convenience of your smartphone.
The teen-friendly drone connects to your mobile device and enables multiple functions, including trajectory control, gravity sensor, gestures control, and voice control, making it an excellent drone for beginners. According to the reviewers, it can also be controlled when out of sight by activating a headless mode where the drone safely hovers while following the pilot. This review video can tell you more about this high-performance drone for teens.
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Multiple functions
- Superior app interface
- Ergonomic remote control
Cons
- May be hard to control
"I was looking for a beginner-friendly drone when I found this one. Its image quality is pretty decent, but the wind resistance is lacking. However, it is a good starter with easy-to-learn controls. I am pleased with my purchase."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 17,984 Amazon shoppers have left good reviews about this product, citing its quality features and benefits.
2. Best User-Friendly:Ryze Tech Tello – Mini Drone Quadcopter UAV For Kids
The time-tested Ryze Tech Tello from DJI is a mini drone quadcopter UAV suitable for beginners. It comes with a powerful camera, enabling users to capture high-definition videos and photos. The camera drone for teenagers has a long flight time and features two long antennas for stable video transmission. This youth drone kit for teenagers includes four propellers, four propeller guards, a propeller removal tool, and a micro USB cable to make drone flying a breeze. Moreover, this tech-enabled racing drone for teens can perform various tricks with a touch of a button, making it an ideal choice for thrill seekers.
Pros
- 5 MP camera
- HD 720p video resolution
- Long-lasting battery
- Lightweight drone
- 13 minutes of max flight time
Cons
- May glitch at times
- Mobile application might have bugs
"I am impressed with this drone's easy-to-control features. I like that it is lightweight, but that makes it sensitive to wind. However, the quality is quite good. Overall, it is a solid choice."
3. Best Stability: Force1 U45W FPV Drone
Get your teen the Force1 U45W drone for a great aerial adventure. This FPV drone for teens connects to your smartphone via the FlyingSee app, allowing you to do aerial tricks for a fun flying experience. It has an intelligent auto-hovering feature along with the headless mode for a stable and safe flight. You can easily customize the route for the drone with your smartphone, making it a trusted choice. Its VR-compatible feature allows a stunning bird’s eye view of the sky. If you want to find out more about this incredible product and its usage, make sure to check out this review on YouTube.
Pros
- Easy controls
- Stable flight
- Smooth playback
- Multiple modes
Cons
- Lightweight and may not be suitable in bad weather
"Flying this full-sized drone was an exciting experience. It's quite stable and responsive and its sturdiness seems promising as well. However, it needs extra care on breezy days. For beginners like me, it is a solid option."
4. Best Ergonomic Controls: Drocon DC-014 Drone
With the Drocon Spacekey drone, enjoy the lovely panoramic pictures with its 1080p resolution camera with stunning 120° aerial view shots. Connect to the Drocon Fly app for seamless images. Navigate the drone with a simple route mapping over your phone screen as you draw the path with just a ‘sweep and drag’ of your finger. Enjoy the stability and safe flight return with the headless mode, gravity control, one-key return, and altitude hold with this drone for beginners.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Ergonomic controls
- LEDs
- Durable drone
- Uninterrupted flying
Cons
- Might be difficult to trim
"This drone has been a hit with my kids, and I find it equally entertaining. We have been flying it outdoors without any complaints, and the real-time video feed with impressive quality adds to the fun. Overall, it is a decent option."
5. Best Non-Toxic: Force1 Scoot Duo Hand Operated Drone
Ideal for children of eight years and above, the Force1 Scoot indoor drone is an absolute delight. This hand-operated stunt drone for teens takes off with a gentle toss and lights up with its vibrant LEDs. The pair of ball drones moves and changes directions as you move your hand and guide the flight. This toy drone comes fitted with smart 360° obstacle avoidance sensors for a smooth flight. With many positive reviews, the hobby drone for teens has a webbed shell design to protect it from the drone propellers and is safe to use.
Pros
- US-certified STEM toy
- Fun to operate
- Non-toxic material built
- Suitable choice for beginners
Cons
- Not suitable for older teens
"This drone with dazzling lights and flip feature is a favorite of my two teens. Even my pet loves to follow it around the house with curiosity. While a cool toy, it could benefit from durability improvements."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has earned its stripes, with over 15,327 reviews on Amazon.
6. Best ABS material: Sanrock U52 Drone
The Sanrock U52 drone could be an excellent pick for visual fun while getting high-quality, uninterrupted footage and pictures of your flying adventure. With its ergonomic control and throttling, you can enjoy 360° aerial flips, automatic hovering for stable shots, gravity sensors that move with your smartphone, and a two-speed switch option.
Liked by many reviewers, this drone lets you enjoy FPV footage and real-time videos with VR glasses for an ultimate 3D experience. The smart alert allows you to fly back the drone before it runs out of battery. This outdoor drone for teenagers also has a stuck protection feature that halts the motors to better manage the drone.
Pros
- High-quality ABS material
- Impressive video quality
- Propeller guards
- Multifunctional fun
- Easy controls
- Durable drone
Cons
- Might not overcome the winds
"This user-friendly drone offers impressive altitude hold and easy smartphone integration. I especially liked the intuitive basic controls. While the video quality could be better, it provides a solid learning platform for beginners. I found it a worthy pick."
7. Best Camera: Syma X500 4K Drone
Syma X500 Drone has an excellent 4K UHD camera that combines a 120° wide-angle lens with a 90° vertical gimble movement to produce stunning shots. Fitted with the GPS return feature, the drone automatically returns to the home point, even when it loses battery or connection, making it a failsafe feature. This long-range drone for teenagers comes with a unique gesture mode to auto-shoot pictures and a ‘follow me’ mode to mimic your steps to catch an aerial view of it. A military-grade high-power battery keeps the drone in the air for over 28 minutes.
Pros
- Unique features
- Stable flight
- Excellent camera
- High control range
- Circle fly option
Cons
- Might be a little difficult to get the hang of the drone
"As a drone hobbyist, I have found this drone to be resilient. It is durable and has user-friendly controls, which beginners will love too. I would recommend this to those looking for a fun introduction to drone flying."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
About 1,494 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
8. Best For Beginners: Potensic T25 Drone With 2K Camera
The Potensic T25 drone is a huge hit with beginners intending to learn to fly a drone. Equipped with a 2K HD camera, you can adjust the camera with the joystick provided to an angle of 75° during flight. Since it is WiFi connected, you can transfer images quickly. The drone for beginners is equipped with a “Follow Me” mode and GPS that allows it to follow you wherever you go. With low power and signal loss protection, the best-selling GPS drone for teens will automatically return home when needed.
Pros
- FPV real-time transmission
- Supports 300 m control range
- Two modular 1000 mAh batteries
- One-key mode for easy takeoff and landing
- Easy to control
Cons
- Live viewing might be delayed
- Battery life could be better
"This beginner-friendly drone is a decent option for novices before they graduate to more expensive drones. It falls short on flight time but ensures durability and has endured harsh weather for months."
9. Best With Long Flight Time:DJI Mavic Mini Drone
The DJI Mavic Mini is a small but powerful yet lightweight drone that weighs less than 0.55 lbs. This mini drone for teens supports 12 MP aerial photos and 2.7K HD videos. All images and videos captured have advanced stability, providing smooth footage. Being lightweight, it can fly longer than its counterparts and has a max flight time of up to at least 30 minutes on a fully charged battery.The tried-and-tested, affordable drone for teenagers is app-controlled by the DJI Fly app, which is compatible with phones running on iOS v10.0 and Android v6.0 and above.
Pros
- Includes a charging base which can double up as a display unit
- Three-axis motorized gimbal for better stability
- Elegant design
- Impressive video quality
- Easy to use
Cons
- May not withstand high winds
"I like how this drone holds its position and is unobtrusive in public places. It's pretty discreet and a great tool for discreet exploration. I am quite happy with the quality and would recommend it."
How To Choose The Right Drone For Teens?
Below mentioned are a few points you should consider before buying a drone for teens.
- Stability: A stable hover and altitude lock would allow your teen to capture clear and precise images.
- Flight time: The longer a drone stays in the air, the more it can achieve regarding aerial photography and filming videos for the best footage. Look for one that boasts a good battery life and doesn’t lose power quickly.
- Ease of operation: Initiating your teenager into drone photography would require a smart and intuitive interface and operation. Automatic modes, easy-to-use operation, impressive features, smart functions, and a user-friendly interface are what you should look for in a drone.
- Image quality: A high-quality camera works wonders for crisp and brilliant shots. Features, including higher resolution, wide-angle lens, tilt range, optical zoom, and mechanical shutter, are some specifications to look for while making a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What drone can I fly in a residential area?
Flying drones above 400ft would require LAANC authorization (1). There are no legal restrictions on flying drones below 400ft. However, it would be best to look up local rules and regulations on drones.
2. Do I need a license to fly a drone?
You may not need a license to fly a drone, but you must undergo a registration process before flying it. Depending on the type and distance the drone can cover, you can register as a commercial, or recreational drone flyer (2). However, drones that are not considered toys can only be flown by someone over sixteen years old (3).
3. Can I fly a drone over private land?
There aren’t any restrictions on flying a drone over private land, but you may need to make appropriate registrations. However, local laws may have different rules and regulations on flying drones over private properties.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Our team of professional writers and reviewers bring you this list of the best drones for teenagers. We have gone through various trusted websites and considered several reviews to write a detailed description for each product on the list and have also mentioned the pros and cons of each. Furthermore, we give you safety tips on using a drone and tell you the factors you should consider to choose the most amazing drone for your teen.
The Bottom Line
Taking aerial photographs using the best drones has become a craze among teens, and good drones can take your teen’s photography or videography experience to the next level. These drones are equipped with gyroscopes and high-definition cameras for seamless photography and videography. Whether your teen is a beginner or an expert, ensure you choose an easy-to-operate drone that delivers the best output with minimal effort for them. Our top recommendations include the DJI Mavic Mini Drone, which has a flight time of over 30 minutes, and the ergonomic Sanrock U52 Drone, which can perform 360° aerial flips. Further, while drones may be great equipment, make it a point that your teens follow all safety measures when using them.
Infographic: Points To Consider When Using A Drone
Flying drones can be exciting for most teens, providing hours of fun. But it’s also essential to ensure a safe experience. Since drones are a relatively recent invention, there’s a lot one needs to know before flying them. So, check out the following infographic to learn the nitty-gritty to keep in mind when using drones. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Airspace Authorizations
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_airspace_authorizations - Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers - Become a Drone Pilot
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot
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