Best Starter Drones For Kids

Drones aren’t just for adults anymore.

A number of new models have recently hit the market, designed specifically with kids in mind.

These starter drones for kids are incredibly easy to use and hold up to all the abuse beginner pilots can throw at them. Of course, they’re extremely fun to fly as well.

Yet fun isn’t the only reason to buy a drone for your kids. Owning a drone teaches your child responsibility, helps them learn about an important emerging technology, and gets them out of the house.

Our favorite benefit, however, is the parent-child bonding experience that flying a drone helps create.

So which drone is right for your children? We’ve done the legwork for you and have tested dozens of drones with young pilots in mind.
Here are the best starter drones for your kids.

Syma X5C

The Syma X5C quadcopter drone is one of the best starter drones for families on a budget. It’s best suited for slightly older children that have some remote-control experience.

Despite its incredibly low price tag (just $55.95), this drone doesn’t sacrifice anything in the way of performance. Handling is intuitive, flying is easy, and the entire build is robust.

The X5C is rugged enough to hold up to the wear and tear of beginner pilots. It can survive serious crashes with little more than a scratch. And if it is crashed, replacement parts are readily available and quite cheap.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of the Syma X5C is its camera. It films in 720p with 360-degree eversion. A micro SD card can be used to store footage. The drone and built-in camera offer a great introduction to aerial photography for your kids.

Though a budget-model drone like the X5C can’t compete with a premium drone like the DJI Mavic Pro, it’s still an all-around quality quadcopter. 7 minutes of flight time and a 170-foot range make it a great drone for kids to learn with.

Check out this video of the Syma X5C in action.

Cheerson CX-10

Parents of young children rejoice: the Cheerson CX-10 quadcopter drone is simple enough for kids as young as 8 years old to pilot on their own.

Yet that’s not the only reason to love the CX-10. In addition to its extreme ease of use, it costs roughly $15.00.

Of course, such a cheap drone doesn’t come with the features of a high-end model. It doesn’t even come with the features of the budget-friendly Syma X5C. Yet none of that means that the CX-10 isn’t a great starter drone for kids.

Despite its low price, the incredibly tiny (its known as “the world’s smallest quadcopter” and fits in the palm of your hand) Cheerson CX-10 features a flight time of 8 minutes. And that’s with a charge time of only 30 minutes. The drone is also notable for its stable flying and impressive handling (it can do flips mid-air).

Another great feature is the adjustable remote control sensitivity. This can be adjusted to three skill levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) so your child can grow with the drone as they become a more experienced pilot.

Two quick negatives to note: the CX-10 doesn’t come with a camera. It’s also designed for indoor-only use. Its small size means that even a hint of wind can greatly reduce handling and stability outdoors.

Check out this video of the Cheerson CX-10 in action.

DBPOWER X600C

If you want something a bit more powerful and high performing than the Syma X5C or Cheerson CX-10, you should look into the DBPOWER X600C quadcopter drone for your kids.

The X600C packs an incredible number of features and technologies into a remarkably affordable package. For just $79.99, you get a drone capable of first-person flying with a smartphone or a 3D virtual reality headset.

Yes, you heard that right – 3D virtual reality. Though a VR headset doesn’t come included with the X600C, the technology is compatible with most headsets on the market. It offers an incredibly unique experience that allows your kids to feel like they’re flying the drone from its very own cockpit.

Those that don’t have a VR headset can still get a taste of the action with the drone’s FPV flight feature. The X600C transmits from the built-in camera to your smartphone in real time. You get to see exactly what the drone’s camera sees.

Even if you don’t use the FPV feature, the drone’s built-in camera is still a great introduction to aerial photography and videography. It captures video in HD 720p thanks to the 0.3mp camera.

Check out this video of the DBPOWER X600C in action.

Holy Stone F181

The Holy Stone F181 quadcopter drone is a great starter drone that your kids won’t grow out of right away.

At $109.99, the F181 is a great value drone considering its high-performance design. It includes an HD camera that shoots high-quality images and video, an impressive 320-foot range, and 9 minutes of flight time on an 80-minute charge.

Though the F181 doesn’t have smart flight modes (like high-end drones including the DJI Phantom 4), it does come with a return command. Press the button and the drone automatically realigns itself with the remote. It’s a very useful feature for kids that are just learning to fly.

Another smart flight feature of the F181 is its “Headless Security System.” Basically, this technology helps stabilize the drone so your child never loses control. Once again, this is a highly useful feature for beginners.

Aside from these features, the F181 is just plain old fun to fly. The controls are highly intuitive and easy to learn. The drone even performs mid-air flips at the press of a button.

Check out this video of the Holy Stone F181 in action.

Final Thoughts

There are just so many drones available on the market that it can be hard to narrow down the options to which one is best for your kids.
The starter drones above are the best of the best that are designed with kids in mind. They range in price from a measly $15.00 all the way up to $109.99.

No matter which starter drone you choose, your children are sure to be hooked on UAVs for years to come.