The drones are the rage of today’s consumer market. As the number of drones flying in the sky is growing at an explosive pace. You will likely hear humming noise on your way to work. Drones, like most popular gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, and cameras are becoming an everyday’s favorite toy. They make a great gift under the Christmas tree for your family, friends, brothers, sisters and more! In this guide, I am going to talk about the best and popular drones on Amazon that you can buy.
Amazon is well known for being the retail giant as they sell a wide range of products. If you are planning to buy a drone on Amazon and wonder which popular drones you should get. Then look no further. Because I have assembled the top 10 best and popular drones on Amazon for all remote pilots. Whether you are a beginner or professional drone pilot, you will get to see which quadcopter is best selling all on this single post.
Since I update this article frequently, I recommend you to bookmark this page so that you can stay in the loop whether new drones become popular. The competition in the drones market is quite fierce so you will likely see new drones every month or so. Before I start talking about the top 10 best and popular drones to buy on Amazon. I want to explain to readers who might be new to drones first. Learn more about the drones below or jump here to start browsing the best drones on Amazon.
What Does Drone Mean?
A drone is a small unmanned aerial vehicle that can be operated remotely. The drone operator flies the drone using the remote controller that is linked to the quadcopter. The drone usually comes in several varieties that are built and designed to fit consumers’ needs such as casual, racing and even professional.
Is Flying Drone Legal?
Yes, flying a drone is legal. There is FAA regulation that determines whether flying a drone is legal or not. If you own a drone that weighs less than 0.55 pound then you are not required to register it. For instance, you can buy an X12 Drone or Ninja FPV Drone and start flying right away. Whereas if you bought DJI Mavic 2 Pro or Phantom 4 Pro will be required to register before you can fly it.
Each country has its drone regulations that determine if you can fly or not. Certain countries such as Cuba bans importing drones outright. Whereas if you were to travel to the Bahamas with your drone, you will be required to fill out their permit that states you are using it for your own uses only or you will face 50% import tax equals to the drone’s value.
Fortunately, flying your drone in the United States is legal and very relaxed for most areas. It also depends on the state and local laws. Most of the time, if you are flying a cheap drone for beginners it is legal to do so. However, if you buy a drone specifically for the photographer and the like where they often weight more than the 0.55-pound registration requirement. You will have to register your drone.
Why Drones Are So Popular?
That is a really good question. Drones are very popular just like laptops, smartphones, and cameras. You might be wondering how come they are so popular that is because the drones have applications in the real world. They are being used by the agriculture industry to manage the crops better, providing law enforcement the toolset they need to perform their jobs better. Furthermore, the drones are commonly used for documentary purposes in most popular TV shows like the Amazing Race.
Drones bring a lot of benefits that can be used to help for production gain, not just everything has to be about fun. You can even make money flying drones if you desire to. I always recommend to my readers who have never flown a drone before to buy an affordable quadcopter first. It is easy to understand why the drone is very popular once you get hang of it.
The technology advancement in the drones has made it very easy to control. Plus there are a lot of features that the drone brings to the table that provides you countless fun and enjoyment. Some of my favorite and popular drones that I flew around are HS150 Bolt Bee, X12 Drone and IN 1802 Drone. They all are great and are very popular among beginners and experienced remote pilots.
Top 10 Best and Popular Drones on Amazon
Holy Stone HS170 Predator
One of the most popular Holy Stone drones that are selling very fast even to this date. The HS170 Predator is a zippy mini drone designed for beginners who have never flown a quadcopter before. Its durable build design and great appearance make it quite a popular drone. Not only beginners love this drone, but the HS170 Predator also incorporates the latest upgrades such as improved stability and better flight controls.
It has a flight time of 7 minutes with a maximum control distance of up to 50 meters. These specifications generally are the norm for a drone with a price tag under $50. Although, the HS170 Predator doesn’t have a built-in camera, unlike its successor, the Predator 2. Still, this little cobalt bird is packed with staple features like altitude hold, headless mode, 360-degree flips, and built-in low power warning systems. (Check Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 7 Minutes
- Control Distance: 50 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode and Low-Power Alarm
- Pocket-Sized
Syma X5C Explorers
The Syma X5C Explorers is a well-reputed drone known for its stylish design and features that it brings to the table. Just like HS170 Predator, Syma X5C Explorers focuses on beginners who are interested in learning how to pilot a drone before planning to buy more expensive models such as the flying beast Mavic 2 Pro. Granted, the Syma X5C Explorers don’t have state of art features. But, it does a really good job of training beginners. If you crash a drone, you don’t lose that much of investment with this copter.
With a built-in camera, this bird can record videos and capture stills up to 480p HD resolution setting. The Syma X5C drone is capable of performing a wide array of features from 360-degree flips to altitude hold mode and such. This bird comes with a powerful 3.7V 500mAh Li-Po battery that gives an average flight time of 7 minutes. Plus, it has a control range of up to 50 meters. Because of the way Syma X5C Explorers is designed, it can easily fly outdoor as long as the speed mode is on maximum setting for smoother flight experience. (Check Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 7 Minutes
- Control Distance: 50 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Mode, and Low-Power Alarm
- Perfect for Outdoor Flight
Holy Stone F181 Chaser
The F181 Chaser is one of the most popular Holy Stone drones with a camera designed for entry-level racers. Boasting an impressive flying speed of a maximum of 31 miles per hour. This Chaser can easily soar in the skies with minimal resistance from the wind. Thanks to tiered speed mode, beginners can learn how to pilot a drone on the lowest speed setting. Once they have mastered the flight controls, they can challenge themselves by turning up the speed mode.
If you ever want to become an aerial photographer, the F181 Chaser comes with a built-in camera that captures and records images at stunning 720P HD. With the Wi-Fi version of F181 Chaser, you can see the videos being streamed to your smartphones in real-time. Thus, allowing you to see through the drone’s eyes to maximize your flight experience. Furthermore, this racing drone comes with several nifty features to keep you accompanied. (Check Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 9 Minutes
- Control Distance: 100 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Mode, and Low-Power Alarm
- ABS Plastic
- Perfect for Outdoor Flight
DBPOWER X400W
Introducing the DBPOWER X400W, this powerhouse bird is packed with speed and agility. It is one of the most popular drones on Amazon that has attracted over 1,500 customer reviews and growing. With an incredible powerful 3.7V 750mAh LiPo battery capacity, the DBPOWER X400W drone can fly for up to 9 minutes before having to recharge. However, I do highly recommend you to purchase additional batteries if you want to prolong its flight sessions. Moreover, it has a maximum control distance of 100 meters that gives plenty of room for beginners to fly around.
Camera-wise, the DBPOWER X400W uses a 720P HD camera which is located underneath its body frame. It is not adjustable, however, you can enable VR mode with this drone. I recommend you to use Destek V4 VR for this drone if you want to experience the thrill of flying like a bird. From my research, it seems like this drone is a lot of fun to fly around. The sentiment for DBPOWER X400W is overwhelmingly positive, so you should check it out for yourself! (Check Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 9 Minutes
- Control Distance: 100 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Mode, and Low-Power Alarm
- Perfect for Outdoor Flight
Holy Stone HS110D
This has to be one of my favorite mid-tier quadcopters by so far. On the first impression, it does looks like a baby version of the popular DJI Phantom 4 Pro because of how its appearance resembles one. If getting a Phantom 4 Pro or any of these expensive camera drones is your dream goal, then you are going to enjoy this affordable drone for beginners. Here is why: The Holy Stone HS110D is one of the modern drones that uses a modularized battery which improves power effectiveness for longer flight time and delivers more propulsion force that supports higher agility.
It uses ABS plastic which makes it quite durable against crashes and harder to break. Although, I do still recommend beginners who are flying it for the first time to use propeller guards. Even if the quality that this little copter uses is better compared to the drones under $50, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is damage-resistant. Feature-wise, the HS110D is packed with beginner-friendly functions such as headless mode, altitude hold function and four-speed mode that allows a smooth, gradual learning experience to master your piloting skill. (Check Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 10 Minutes
- Control Distance: 60 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Mode, and Low-Power Alarm
- ABS Plastic
- Modularized Battery
- Perfect for Outdoor Flight
Holy Stone HS160 Shadow
Another deeply popular Holy Stone drones that are up for sale. The HS160 Shadow is a foldable drone that can be conveniently taken with you anywhere you want to go. The perfect camera drone for capturing special moments or just to fly around in the open parks to have fun. From the plain sight, it looks like a smartphone similar to an iPhone 7S Plus. It uses a built-in camera that delivers a 720P HD resolution setting and has a field of view up to 120-degree. Making it the perfect foldable camera drone to take with you for traveling.
Lastly, the HS160 Shadow comes with several cool features. While it is obvious that it doesn’t have intelligent or advanced features that modern drones such as X12 drone or IN 1802 drone have. The HS160 Shadow drone is still a very good choice for beginners, notable for its beginner-friendly features with automatic takeoff and landing. Plus it can perform aerial flips to impress bystanders and return home. All functions lie within the tips of your fingers. (See Price)
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 7 Minutes
- Control Distance: 70 Meters
- Features: 360-Degree Flips, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Mode, and Low-Power Alarm
- Modularized Battery
- Foldable
- Perfect for Outdoor Flight
DJI Phantom 3 Advanced
If you have a wad of cash to spend on. The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is a very popular drone that can be bought on Amazon or DJI Store. Although, it is cheaper to buy on Amazon. But if you prefer to buy a brand new from a high quality and official company, you can visit here. This advanced quadcopter comes with an impressive 2.7K HD camera that captures quality aerial images and videos. The perfect starting choice for beginners who wants to learn how to become an aerial photographer while honing their flight skills with an exceptional drone.
The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced comes with an intelligent flight battery that gives an average flight time of 23 minutes. Plus, it has a remote control distance up to 5,000 meters which are a lot for an entry camera drone. Since it uses Lightbridge technology that improves signal frequency between the drone and remote controller while blocking interference such as Wi-Fi and the like. This is a highly reliable and popular drone that you can buy on Amazon or DJI Store. (Check Price).
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 23 Minutes
- Control Distance: 5,000 Meters
- Features: Intelligent Flight Modes, Waypoint Mode, Active Track, Point of Interest Mode
- Intelligent Flight Battery
- GPS / GLONASS
- Lightbridge Technology
Force1 U45W Blue Jay
The Force1 U45W Blue Jay is quality and best drone on Amazon that has raked more than 900 customer reviews. This is a mid-sized quadcopter that is around two times bigger than your palm. On the first impression, the Force1 U45W Blue Jay appears to be a quality crafted drone with exceptional design. Granted, it does look like a professional drone because of its nice and stylish appearance. It even has a 720P HD camera mounted underneath its frame body that delivers quality aerial footage.
Connect your smartphone to the drone and you can see the video in the first-person view. Plus, it is compatible with the VR headset. I recommend you to use either Destek V4 VR or BNext VR Pro headset. Speaking of its performance, it is super easy for kids and beginners to fly. Thanks to its simplified controls, it is ideal for those who want to learn how to fly a drone. In addition to taking stabilized aerial photography. Lastly, it comes with several automatic features such as landing, takeoff, and hovering. The perfect drone pick for beginners. (Check Price).
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 8 Minutes
- Control Distance: 100 Meters
- Features: Automatic takeoff, landing, hovering, FPV Mode, VR Mode, Headless Mode and more!
- Durable Design.
DJI Spark
Introducing everybody’s favorite smart drone for beginners, the DJI Spark. You can buy it on Amazon. And, just like DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, you can also buy it on DJI Official Store if you prefer to get it directly from the company. They also offer more features and bonus items with fly more combo packs. The point is that this smart drone is one of the easiest and affordable starter quadcopter for beginners. It is small, friendly and compact. Something that a beginner would like to have their hands on.
Just to add on top of it, the DJI Spark is packed with an incredible powerful 12MP camera that can take stills and videos on 1920 x 1080P HD resolution. Unlike sophisticated drones such as Mavic 2 Pro or Inspire 2 that uses a 3-axis gimbal camera system, the DJI Spark uses the two-axis that provides limited camera mobility. However, beginners and professionals can still easily produce stunning aerial pictures and videos that will awe their audience. (Check Price).
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 16 Minutes
- Control Distance: 2000 Meters
- Features: Gesture Mode, Intelligent Flight Mode, Automatic Takeoff, Landing, Hover, GPS/GLONASS and more!
- Obstacle Avoidance Detection System
- Beginner-Friendly Design
Holy Stone HS150 Bolt Bee
Racing drones are becoming a very popular segment in the market. Not just because they are fun to fly around, pilots who build and fly the world fastest drones to compete against their opponents in a stand of test their piloting skills. As Holy Stone claimed that the HS150 Bolt Bee is supposed to be one of the fastest entry-level racing drones for a beginner. With a top flying speed of 31 miles per hour, it is easy to see why this drone has earned its nickname, “The Bolt Bee.”
It features an aerodynamic design that minimizes air drag and improves speed for better flight control. Additionally, it uses a modularized battery that protects against overcharging and discharging as well as enhancing its performance. The HS150 Bolt Bee includes a gradual speed mode that can be adjusted via slider wheel. Unlike tiered speed mode, this feature lets beginners improve their piloting skills with ease. On the side note, it comes with several awesome features like 360-degree flips, altitude hold function, and headless mode. I have flown this drone before and I have to say that this is a rad racing quadcopter. (See Price).
Key Specifications:
- Flight Time: 16 Minutes
- Control Distance: 100 Meters
- Features: Automatic takeoff, landing, hovering, FPV Mode, VR Mode, Headless Mode and more
- Durable Design.
Best and Popular Drones on Amazon Fall 2018 Updated
All of these popular drones on Amazon are currently trending. Every month, there are always new drones that can easily spread like a wildfire. We do our best to keep our best and popular drones on Amazon guide updated so that you can stay with the latest changes. If you were to ask me what is my favorite drone on Amazon, I would say it has to be HS150 Bolt Bee by far. However, other drones are just about even more popular than HS150 Bolt Bee is.
So, that is something you should consider. If you are looking for something simple, yet popular drone to start with. I recommend you to buy either HS170 Predator or F181 Chaser. For beginners who want to jumpstart into aerial photography, I recommend either DJI Phantom 3 Advanced or Spark as you to go drone. Be sure to bookmark our best and popular drones on Amazon as we keep it updated with fresh content.
Over to you
Did you find any popular drones that interest you? Or do you have any drones that you want to recommend to our readers? Let us know what you think of these current best and popular drones on Amazon. Happy flying!