Best Drones of 2025
Don’t buy before reading this article! We’ll help you find the top 5 drones.
John Wilson
John is a photographer with ten years of experience in operating drones. John has in-depth technical knowledge and practical experience in all areas related to drones
- john@weselect.org
Top 5 Best Drones for Beginners in terms of performance, camera quality, range, and ease of use
Over 48 camera-equipped drones have been tested by a drone expert. We select the 5 top rated easiest drone to fly for beginners.
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are becoming increasingly popular for various purposes.
If you want to start your journey with drones but don’t know them yet, the feeling of flying a drone is amazing, but the risk of an accident, complicated controls, and most importantly the cost can be huge.
That’s why we decided to buy and test the most popular, affordable drones for beginners in 2025. Our research shows that the market is flooded with thousands of misleading products, and only a few of them really work as promised!
For beginners: If you have enough money and don’t mind, I recommend the Mini 4 Pro. However, if you’re looking to save and want to gain good flying experience, just read on.
Here is our list of the top 5 best introductory drone recommendations with a camera for 2025, with a full review of our first choice at the bottom of the page.
PRODUCT
RATING
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
#1 Best drone under 250g
9.9
“Excellent”
User ratings
(7,254+)
Detop
Price : ￡149
- The easiest drone to fly in our tests
- Long battery life (USB charging)
- Gimbal with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS)
- Adjustable HD camera
- 360° photo/video mode
- Transmitter with Type-C charging
- Brushless motor reduces noise and extends lifespan
- Optical flow positioning stabilizes the body
- GPS positioning
- Easy to use for beginners
- Intelligent 360° obstacle avoidance
- Return to home with GPS location
- Automatic return on low battery level
- Frequently sold
- Available online only
9.8
“Excellent”
Max
Price : ￡189
- Transmitter with a 4.5-inch screen and 5G
- Long battery life (USB charging)
- Transmitter with Type-C charging
- 360° photo/video mode
- Easy to use for beginners
- Adjustable HD camera
- Brushless motor reduces noise and extends lifespan
- Optical flow positioning stabilizes the body
- GPS positioning
- Intelligent 360° obstacle avoidance
- Return to home with GPS location
- Supplied with an 8GB memory card and card reader
- Available online only
- Larger budget
9.6
“Great”
Phantom 4
Price : ￡419
- Excellent results in taking photos
- Mechanical three-axis stabilizer
- Intelligent flight modes
- Long range
- High-speed flight
- Great stability and wind resistance
- Expensive
- Impressive size, not very practical for transport
- High noise level
9.4
“Good”
Mini 2
Price : ￡352
- Excellent image quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Long flight time
- Intelligent flight modes
- Flight stability
- Good value for money
- No obstacle avoidance system
- Expensive
- No vertical shot
9.2
“Good”
DRONE S159
Price : ￡274
- Remote screen control
- Advanced connection technology
- 5G WiFi FPV
- Weighs less than 250 g
- With a memory card
- Intelligent 360° obstacle avoidance
- GPS positioning
- Some customers complain about stability issues
- Expensive
The best beginner drones with camera 2025
#1 Best beginner drone to buy
9.9
“Excellent”
User ratings
(7,254+)
Detop
Price : ￡149
- The easiest drone to fly in our tests
- Long battery life (USB charging)
- Gimbal with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS)
- Adjustable HD camera
- 360° photo/video mode
- Transmitter with Type-C charging
- Brushless motor reduces noise and extends lifespan
- Optical flow positioning stabilizes the body
- GPS positioning
- Easy to use for beginners
- Intelligent 360° obstacle avoidance
- Return to home with GPS location
- Automatic return on low battery level
- Frequently sold
- Available online only
HD video and photos
We captured amazing video and photos with this drone
Best value for money
The incredible build quality, performance, and simplicity of the drone are unmatched at the price of just ￡149
Longest battery life
During our tests, the drone managed to outperform all other competitors by a significant margin
Should I buy Detop?
Buy it if…
You are a beginner in drones
The drone market for beginners is full of different models, which makes choosing the perfect drone more difficult than ever before. However, Detop is certainly one of the best beginner drone models available on the market today.
You need manual camera control
Manual camera control and the ability to take RAW photos are rare in beginner drone models, but Detop can handle both tasks, while also providing a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for HD video stabilization.
You have a limited budget
For just ￡149, you get a complete set with everything you need for several drone flights in one session.
Choose Detop or Max?
If you want a compact drone with a screen
The Max controller is equipped with a large 4.5-inch display that allows pilots to view real-time video footage from the drone without needing to use a phone. Additionally, it is foldable and easy to carry. It also allows image display on three screens. If your budget allows, it is recommended to purchase this model directly.
If you have a limited budget and want to try a drone with a gimbal
The Detop is equipped with an electronic image stabilization (EIS) gimbal, which makes it very easy to maneuver and allows for stable photos and video recordings. Additionally, it is available at an affordable price, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
We bought and tested the top rated best starter drones uk, here’s why Detop is our number 1 choice
Summary: Buying an affordable drone no longer means giving up on all the latest features and capabilities. During our tests, we noticed that Detop was able to match, and even outperform, the performance of expensive drones from ‘big brands’.
Flying drones has been my passion for ten years. I started piloting RC helicopters as a hobby in 2014, and with the progress of technology, I gradually transitioned to micro-drones and all the newer models.
During this time, I also had the opportunity to try high-end drones like the Inspire 2, so I can confidently say that I’ve experienced what the market has to offer.
While these advanced drones are very exciting to fly, they are also difficult to control and very expensive.
Imagine crashing a drone worth thousands of dollars during your first attempt as a beginner — it would be devastating!
The problem with cheaper drones, however, is that while they are easy to handle, their cameras often leave a lot to be desired!
So when I was asked to test the Detop and discovered its very low price, I thought it was probably just another average drone with weak specs and quality. But after a few tests, I realized I was wrong!
Detop turns out to be a high-quality drone equipped with amazing features that will be suitable for both beginners and enthusiasts like me.
My first impressions
My package arrived within 10 days of ordering, which already improved my mood. There’s nothing worse than buying something new online and waiting weeks for it to arrive. So far, I am satisfied with the delivery process of this company.
After opening the package, I took Detop and Max in my hands and immediately felt some confusion. The materials, matte texture, sturdiness, and build quality of Max made me feel like I was holding a high-quality drone. Besides the fact that it is equipped with a controller with a large screen, it’s offered at such a low price, and I thought its flight performance would be average. Ultimately, apart from maybe a difference in speed, there aren’t too many differences. Detop, on the other hand, also seems very solid, of the right size, and what I liked the most were the rubber feet that provide protection when the drone touches the ground, which left me with a very good impression.
We’ve all been able to distinguish between a cheap or flimsy product and a high-quality one, whether it’s a camera, a robotic vacuum, or a mobile phone. Drones are no exception; both models have excellent design and a striking appearance.
Design
A big problem with Detop, compared to all the ‘cheap’ drones I’ve tested before, is that they are not really designed for speed or durability. Of course, you can fly them at low altitudes in ideal weather conditions, but as soon as they go beyond 200 feet, they lose signal and fall.
When I took a closer look at the build quality of Detop, I was immediately impressed by the sturdiness and stability of the rotors and arms. This drone is also equipped with a carrying case, which makes it very convenient for storage and transportation, meaning I can take it with me anywhere.
I started reading more information about the drone in the manual, and my jaw dropped when I saw that the transmission range is 3 kilometers. That’s 1.8 miles!
Can this company really design a drone with such a transmission range?
If it’s true, it would be comparable to expensive models from major brands. I was still a bit skeptical and continued my investigation.
Controls
Holding the controller is very comfortable. It’s ergonomic, and I didn’t encounter any issues during long flights. The buttons are very responsive and easy to use.
The joysticks feel similar to a game controller, with a lot of resistance and exceptional precision. The controller is also equipped with a retractable smartphone holder.
With the included carrying case, it’s clear that the creators really wanted this drone to be easy to carry and use anywhere. I think that’s a huge advantage.
Detop even has a mobile app that allows you to control the drone from your phone. Of course, you can also control the drone using the controller without the need for a mobile phone. I think there’s no reason not to take the drone out now.
I conducted further experiments with the drone’s control and discovered some really interesting features. One of them is the ability to control the drone from the phone, which makes it super intuitive and beginner-friendly. It’s really as simple as playing a mobile game.
Some other notable features include programmed 360-degree camera movement, slow-motion recording, and one-touch automatic takeoff and landing.
Test
Finally, it was time to test the capabilities of this drone. The features I described earlier are great, but they don’t mean much if the drone doesn’t perform as promised.
The three most important features of a high-quality drone are camera quality, transmission range, and control responsiveness. These were the focus of my tests.
After charging the drone, I went to the nearest park, connected the battery, and pressed the automatic start button.
The drone took off straight, smoothly gliding above me.
I believe this test is very important, especially for beginners. I remember many years ago, when I was controlling my first drone, it was easy to lose control of it.
This test shows that even beginners can launch this drone without any stress. Perfectly.
For my next test, I flew a bit higher and tested some tight turns to see how the drone reacted to my commands. Some of the cheapest drones I tested earlier had many problems with input delay and lack of response, but Detop had no such issues.
It’s very similar to a model priced around ￡300, and the only minor difference is the advanced rewinding feature. So far, everything is fine.
To my great surprise, the transmission range was also as promised! I managed to fly 1.8 miles without losing the signal. That’s far enough that I forgot where the drone was, so that’s far enough!
In addition to the one-button return home feature, this drone also has an automatic return home function in case of low battery, so you don’t have to worry about losing it.
Combined with the anti-collision sensor, you can use the drone for a long time without any problems.
The camera quality of this drone easily competes with expensive brands. During my tests, I was able to take beautiful photos and videos. Unlike other cheaper drones, the images are very stable and clear.
Surprisingly, after all my tests, I checked the battery, and it still had 30%! I had over 20 minutes of flying and intense shooting, and I still had some energy left. However, to enjoy long flights, I bought two extra batteries for swapping.
What makes Detop different from other products?
What is the best drone for beginners?
Detop is the first choice we select due to its ultra-HD recording, ease of use, and long-lasting battery. The intelligent obstacle avoidance and features available on mobile phones are very helpful for beginners. There are also detailed tutorial videos, which are very useful for beginners to get started.
After several days of testing this drone and all its features, I can confidently say that it can’t be compared to anything in its price range. This drone truly competes in terms of quality and performance with major brands that cost over ￡300. Here are a few reasons why Detop is better:
HD Camera and Recording Features: The Ultra HD camera is amazing on its own, but when combined with the pre-programmed camera modes, it makes capturing every moment easy. With the push of a button, the drone can take slow-motion photos or perform full 360° shots of its surroundings.
Battery Life: There’s nothing worse than setting up your drone to take photos, only to have it quickly run out of battery. Detop is lightweight with better battery capacity, meaning you can fly twice as long as the competition.
Advanced Anti-Collision Software: The built-in sensors can detect when the drone is too close to the ground or other obstacles and automatically change its flight path to avoid collisions. You wouldn’t want to accidentally destroy your drone, and this safety feature ensures its protection.
Portable and Durable: The drone is very compact and portable, yet it has an incredibly solid build and high-quality construction. Take the drone everywhere and always be ready to take amazing photos.
Engine Noise Silence: Thanks to its highly efficient motor and aerodynamic design, Detop can reach high speeds while keeping noise levels low.