Best Drones for Kids
Today's generation is lightning-fast with all the novelties on the gadget market. And if you are thinking about a gift that can be not only a toy to be accepted with excitement, but also an object that promotes the development of motor and cognitive skills, a great way to spend time both at home and outdoors, a drone for kids in April 2024 is the best option. Already at this stage an interest can be formed that will grow into a lifelong activity, whether it's drone building or working with video and photography.
Moreover, drones are popular not only with kids, but with their parents too. We think the gadget will be of interest to contemporary parents who are always up to date with fashion trends and want their children to keep up with the times. As you have already seen, the modern world of drones is extremely large and studying this variety requires a lot of time which adults do not always have. If you find yourself in a situation like this, the following review is here to help.
If you're short on time, here are our top two drones for kids.
Best Drones for Kids — Buyer’s Guide
Drawing from our experience when selecting the best drones for kids, various factors come into play. Understanding these will help you choose a drone that best fits your needs.
How to Choose a Quadcopter for a Child: Tips, Ideas, Advice
If you want to be an unshakable authority in the eyes of your child - give your child a radio-controlled quadcopter, learn to fly the drone together and get a lot of positive emotions.
But it is important not to go overboard and follow a few tips.
Tip 1: Price
Do not pursue expensive premium models, if you buy a quadcopter for a child of 6 years. To a child, expensive does not mean good. You are not buying it for yourself - the question of status is irrelevant here.
Consider regular (relatively cheap) flying drones of small size (with or without a camera), which can be launched in the apartment and outdoors.
Tip 2: Design
The design is the first thing that catches your eye.
Children's quadcopter must be bright, with a fancy design and preferably a camera (if available) hidden in the case.
An important point is the presence of protection for the propellers. The learning process will invariably be accompanied by falls and collisions, so the safety of the drone and surrounding people (and objects) should be taken care of in advance.
Protection can be removable or stationary, and there are also models, propellers of which are securely hidden in the case. Such specimens can be caught with bare hands!
Tip 3: Durability and availability of spare parts
Children's games are a real test of any toy's durability and the quadcopter is no exception.
Prepare for the fact that the drone will repeatedly fall, bump into walls, furniture, ceiling, grandparents and trees in the yard. Collisions will result in damage.
Pay attention to the impact resistance of the case. Modern plastic used in the production of flying drones combines weight/strength characteristics well. The formula is simple - the lighter a quadcopter is, the easier it is for it to survive falls and bad landings.
Tip 4: Simplicity of control
There is no need to chase after fancy models of quadcopters, no matter how many functions it has, a beginner pilot will use the simplest ones. At this stage it is important that the success of acquired skills should be obvious, otherwise the child will just get upset and abandon the toy.
If you're looking for the first model, focus on the manufacturer's recommendations (for beginners, intermediate, professional level)
Tip 5: Compact size
Where are you planning to fly? For a child's drone, the first landing site is the room, so pay attention to mini and micro models. They are ideal for children's temperament.
Compact size (up to 15 * 15 cm) and light weight is a guarantee that the drone will not damage itself when falling and will not harm its surroundings. For example, Potensic Upgraded A20 with size 3.5 x 3.1 x 1.25 in or DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini with size 3.9×3.6×1.6 in.
What Features should I Look for in Drones?
Unlike serious devices for adults, a kid's drone is a less complex device. Inexpensive radio-controlled drones for kids have the following features:
- Do not have a camera or there is a low resolution one (420-720 p);
- Fly on a single battery charge for 5-8 minutes;
- Have a control range of up to 150 m;
- Have Headless mode - "headless" mode, which makes it easier for beginners to control the drone.
The design of a kid's drone is thought out so that even if it falls or collides with obstacles, the propellers will not be seriously damaged and will not be able to injure those around them. The intuitive control panel allows a child to quickly grasp the piloting. The children's quadcopter is easy to control and resistant to serious mechanical damage, which is very important for beginners.
Choosing a Drone According to a Child’s Age
Manufacturers recommend quadcopters for children from eight years old. For kids 5-6 years old it is a toy that quickly becomes boring and breaks, so it is better not to buy it for playing independently. You can sometimes let them hold the remote control and press the buttons under your supervision.
If you do intend to buy it, do not start with models that cost $ 1000. It is better to choose from inexpensive drones that are age-appropriate for a child:
Drones for children of 6 years old
They are small copters with a lightweight, sturdy case, with a protective frame on the propellers (propellers in a plastic ring) and the simplest functions.
In order for the quadcopter to start working, it only needs to be charged, without pre-assembly and preparation.
Drones with low speed and flight range of 30-50 meters are designed for indoor use, because due to the small weight they cannot withstand wind gusts outside. The remote control resembles a game joystick with a few buttons to control (takeoff / landing, return to the starting point with one button) without complex combinations of commands, as in a professional device.
Drones for children of 7-8 years old
Junior school age, who are already interested in more complex devices and control technically complex toys on their own. The kids can be trusted with a drone with broader functionality and a greater range to launch it outside. There are drones for kids with a camera, which will not give high-quality pictures, but it is quite suitable for the first experience.
Most copters can be controlled by remote control or by using an app on your mobile device. Without charging they hold for about eight minutes with a range of movement of up to 100 m. Drones for this age usually have the following functions and modes: flying over a fixed point, emergency stop, flying at a given altitude, speed control, Headless mode, saving videos and photos to TF camera, 3D flips. For example, DEERC D20 Mini Drone and Force1 Scoot for 8 years old and up.
Drones for children from 10 years
The children have become curious about serious characteristics - speed, height of movement, onboard equipment, first-person flights. The functionality of devices for children from ten years old is expanding - several speed modes, radius up to 100-150 m, weather sensors, the Follow Me function, which will allow the device to follow the operator and simultaneously take pictures.
Most models for this age are equipped with HD cameras with resolution of 2.0 mp/3.0 mp and gyroscopes for position stabilization, which allows them to take pictures of tolerable quality. Control with IOS, Android with installed software significantly increases the capabilities of such drones - they can perform flips, hanging, acceleration, work in the Follow me mode, transfer images to the Internet, which professional devices can do.
Best Drones for Kids - TOP 10
In the realm of drones for kids, certain models stand out for their exceptional qualities. Here's a list of the top seven drones for kids.
Best Drones for Kids: Comparison
You can find inexpensive models that are easy to use. They are designed for kids. Before buying the best drone for kids, it is worth reviewing the available options. We will help you choose a drone for a child providing a detailed review of 10 quadcopters that we think are best for kids.
| Drone | Camera (Resolution) | Flight Time (minutes) | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone | Yes (720p) | 13 | Programmable, VR headset compatibility |
| DEERC D20 Mini Drone for Kids | Yes (720p) | 20 (10 per battery) | Multiple control modes, Headless mode |
| Holy Stone F181W FPV Drone | Yes (720p) | 10 | Wi-Fi FPV, Altitude hold |
| Force1 Scoot LED Hand Operated Drone | No | 8 | Hand operated, LED lights |
| Holyton HT02 Mini Drone for Kids | No | 21 (7 per battery) | 3D flips, Altitude hold |
| SANROCK U61W Drones | Yes (720p) | 13 | VR headset compatibility, Customizable route |
| Q9s Drones for Kids | Yes (720p) | 9 | 360-degree rotation, 3D flips |
| Potensic A20 Mini Drone | No | 15 (5 per battery) | Easy to fly, LED for orientation |
| TOMZON A31 Drone for Kids | No | 24 (8 per battery) | Color changing LEDs, 3D flips |
| Syma X400 Mini Drone | Yes (720p) | 9 | Counter-rotating propellers, Easy to use app |
DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone
Author’s Choice
The DJI Ryze Tello a compact drone with a fairly simple design but it is only on the surface. In fact, it is a much smarter technology than other copters in this segment. There are four blades on collector motors. The front camera is capable of shooting HD 720p video and taking five megapixel photos. The angle of view is 82.6 degrees. At the bottom there are two infrared sensors and an additional camera. They are used for visual positioning, the presence of which, by the way, sets it apart from the competitors.
The battery is removable. According to the manufacturer, it lasts for 13 minutes of flight but we found out that this is probably some ideal conditions, because it lasted for about 12 minutes. It is charged through the micro-usb connector, which is located on the copter. This is very cool because you don't need to carry around some additional external charging; it can recharge from a conventional power bank.
It is controlled from your smartphone, that is connected to the Wi-Fi network created by the copter, which is good because it is very simple on the smartphone touch screen and is also not very good because when you get used to the physical sticks as on copters with an external remote control then it feels a little unusual.
Another scenario is connecting an external gamepad to your smartphone to control it. It connects via Bluetooth without any problems and is pulled into the Tello app. In our opinion it is much more interesting to control it that way.
Flying is easy although there’s a minor delay in control, but you get used to it. There are two flight modes: normal and high-speed. In the latter, Tello accelerates to 8 meters per second, which is almost 30 km/h. This mode is recommended for outside only, because at home it is simply dangerous. Although the declared flight range is up to 100 m, this value varies greatly depending on the presence of external interference.
An important point is that the drone doesn’t have a built-in memory card, so the videos are saved directly to your smartphone. It is a very unpleasant moment because if the connection is bad, the video’s bitrate goes down, and, respectively, it loses in quality.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Sturdy construction
- Programming options
Cons:
- No built-in memory card
- Minor delay in control
Summary: As indicated by our tests this compact and simply designed drone boasts smart technology with features like a front HD camera, infrared sensors, and visual positioning that set it apart from competitors. It offers user-friendly controls through a smartphone or an external gamepad, has a flight time of around 12 minutes, and supports two flight modes, but lacks built-in memory, relying on a smartphone for video storage, which can affect video quality.
DEERC D20 Mini Drone for Kids
Best Overall
The DEERC D20 drone comes with a controller that is easy to use, and has a phone holder on it, prop guards, 2 batteries providing 9:30 minutes of flight time each and extra propellers. It's foldable which makes it even tinier. There are no sensors on the bottom. This is one of the most silent drones which is definitely an advantage.
The camera is tiltable so you can tilt it all the way up or down. The camera quality is good for the price.
The absolute pro of the DEERC D20 Mini is the app it comes with. You can easily access all the features through the app even if you don’t have a controller with you.
The users have complained that the footage is very glitchy/shakey because there’s no SD card so it totally depends on Wi-Fi quality.
Another con of the drone is wind resistance. Because it’s so lightweight, fighting the wind for it is a challenge.
Pros:
- Compact foldable design
- User-friendly app
- Extra battery and propellers in the kit
Cons:
- Shaky footage
- No strong wind resistance
Summary: Our research indicates that the DEERC D20 Mini drone is user-friendly with features like a foldable design, silent operation, a tiltable camera, and an intuitive app, but suffers from shaky footage due to lack of SD card support and poor wind resistance due to its lightweight build. It includes a controller with phone holder, prop guards, two batteries with around 9:30 minutes flight time each, and extra propellers, but lacks bottom sensors.
- Camera HD 720p
- Flight Time max 20 minutes
- Transmission Distance: 131ft / 40m
Holy Stone F181W FPV Drone
Premium Choice
The Holy Stone Fq81W indoor drone has an HD 720p camera with a 120 degree field of view. It certainly doesn’t have the quality of a professional one but it can be useful for casual photography if you are on vacation. If you have a limited budget and you want to buy an indoor drone with a camera, the Holy Stone F181W is best for you.
With built-in Wi-Fi you can see what your camera sees through its smartphone application. One of its cool features is its ability to maintain a specific altitude. This allows you to take good photos and videos.
It’s got an extra battery and propeller guards which is especially good if it’s used by a kid.
Pros:
- Long flight time compared to competitors’ (up to 20 minutes)
- Extra battery and propeller guards
- HD 720p camera with a 120 degree field of view
Cons:
- No strong wind resistance
Summary: Our findings show that the Holy Stone F181W is an affordable indoor drone with a 720p HD camera featuring a 120-degree field of view, suitable for casual photography and ideal for those on a budget. It includes built-in Wi-Fi for live camera feed through its smartphone app, altitude hold for stable photos and videos, and comes with an extra battery and propeller guards, making it kid-friendly.
Force1 Scoot LED Hand Operated Drone
Best Budget
Do you have a young child who wants to fly a drone but is too little for a standard flight controller? Take a look at the Force1 Scoot.
This UFO-inspired copter is far from a traditional one, but it's perfect for kids. To launch the drone, you simply toss it in the air and it comes to life with bright LEDs and hangs in the air. Built-in motion sensors allow you to fly it by waving your hands beside it, making it very easy to control without the need for a remote. The Scoot LED hand drone, with a diameter of 4.3 inches, comes with a USB charging cable and offers 8 minutes of flight time after being charged for 50 minutes. It features a 360° rotating flight design.
It’s safe, durable and inexpensive - just what you need for a kid.
Pros:
- Safe for indoors and for kids
- No controller required
- Cool design
Cons:
- No camera
Summary: After trying out this product, we can say that this UFO-inspired drone, ideal for children, comes to life with bright LEDs when tossed in the air and can be easily controlled by hand motions thanks to its built-in sensors, eliminating the need for a remote. It's safe, durable, and affordable, making it an excellent choice for young users.
- Flight time of 13 minutes
- LED Scoot perform a 360° flip
- Age 6-8 and up
Holyton HT02 Mini Drone for Kids
Best Design
The Holyton HT02 is probably the tiniest drone you can find, it’s literally a pocket one. The remote controller is also a case for the drone, so it’s easily transported.
It’s a basic beginner quadcopter with basic features. It doesn’t have a camera so you can concentrate on flying without looking down on your smartphone. It’s easy to fly and has a domelike prop guard so it’s good for kids and safe to be used indoors.
The drone has 3 speed modes, an altitude hold and performs 3D flips. It is said to have a 30 meter control distance so you don’t want to go too far with this one. It comes with 3 batteries giving you a combined flight time of up to 24 minutes, which comes in handy if you want to take it on a trip.
Pros:
- Safe for indoors and for kids
- Flight time up to 24 minutes
- Altitude hold
Cons:
- No camera
Summary: This extremely small, pocket-sized drone doubles as a beginner quadcopter with its remote controller also serving as its carrying case, making it highly portable. It lacks a camera, focuses on simple flying mechanics, and features a dome-like prop guard, making it ideal for kids and safe for indoor use, with 3 speed modes, altitude hold, 3D flips, a 30-meter control range, and 3 batteries providing up to 24 minutes of flight time.
- Flight time up to 24 minutes
- 3D flip
- Age 14 years and up
SANROCK U61W Drones
Best with Camera
The SANROCK U61W is a fairly small drone. The controller is comfortable and has got a little map that tells you what the buttons do.
The camera is good for the price. You can get decent photos and videos as long as you don’t jerk around too much, or move too fast or be too far away.
There’s an app you can download on your smartphoneOne of the great features of its app is that you can use your phone as the controller. It responds really well. You can also connect your drone to a VR headset through the app. Another cool feature is that you can customize the route by simply drawing a path on the screen of your smartphone with your finger.
It's really durable with the blade guards, so it's a good option for anybody who is a first time drone user and of course for kids.
The quadcopter is very lightweight (2.2 ounces), the down side of which is that it’s easily tossed around even in light wind.
Pros:
- App with cool features
- Durability
- Good quality camera
Cons:
- Can’t really fight the wind
Summary: The SANROCK U61W is a compact drone featuring a comfortable controller with a helpful button guide, and offers a good quality camera suitable for stable, close-range photography. It boasts a user-friendly app that allows smartphone control, VR headset connectivity, and customizable flight paths, making it durable and ideal for beginners and children, although its lightweight design makes it susceptible to being unsettled by light winds.
- Camera HD 720p
- Connected to a mobile phone by wifi
- Age 14 years and up
Q9s Drones for Kids
Best Led Light
The Q9s is a pretty solid device. The drone is very durable, so it’s just what you need for a kid. The way it’s lit up is visually appealing. The way it flies is really smooth and easy to control. There are 3 modes, 3 speeds, an auto take off and it can do flips.
There’s also a Headless mode which is a special function that almost all entry-level quadcopters have. This function allows you not to monitor the quadcopter's orientation in the air and therefore makes it much easier to control in line-of-sight. The drone simply flies in the direction you set on the joystick regardless of where its head or tail is. It is a very relevant function for an inexperienced pilot.
The copter is not very loud and safe for the indoors. With all of that it’s good for kids or beginners.
Pros:
- Headless mode
- Durability
- Very visually appealing
Cons:
- No camera
Summary: The Q9s drone is a robust and visually appealing device, offering smooth and easy control with three modes, three speeds, auto take-off, and the ability to perform flips, making it suitable for kids or beginners. It features a Headless mode, simplifying control by allowing the drone to fly in the joystick's direction regardless of its orientation, and is quiet and safe enough for indoor use.
- Flight Time max 13-16 minutes
- 3 speeds adjustable
- Age 14 years and up
Potensic A20 Mini Drone
Best Mini Drone
The Potensic A20 is a pocket drone. It is basically the definition of a children's copter with a diameter of just under 2 inches. It's ready to fly out of the box with a USB charging cable, three batteries and four spare rotor blades.You'll get about five minutes of flight time on a fully charged battery, and the distance to the controller is just over 50 feet.
The A20 is the simplest in the Potensic line, and it is the only drone not equipped with a camera, although you can get a version with a camera for a bit more money (Potentic A20W). The A20 has a white LED on the nose, where the camera is usually located, which is useful for orienting the drone during flight.
This palm-sized model comes with an equally small controller (100W x 70V x 50deep), making it ideal for small hands. The controller is well made for a budget drone. It’s simple and kid-friendly with control knobs that have a nice smooth action.
Starting the A20 is easy - just pull down and release the left joystick to synchronize it with the controller, press the takeoff/landing button, and it will lift off and then hover about two meters above the ground. The A20 responds quickly to controller commands and moves at an impressive speed. It has a "headless" mode that automatically changes the drone's responses to align them with the pilot's position. For example, pushing to the left on the joystick always makes it move to the left — no matter what direction it's looking in.
Without self-stabilization, the A20 needs constant adjustment during flight to prevent it from drifting — even indoors. We do not recommend flying outdoors, as the slightest breeze can carry the drone a considerable distance.
Although the claimed flight time is 10 to 13 minutes, we never got more than nine minutes out of a fully charged battery in our testing.
Pros:
- Headless mode
- Compact design
- Kid-friendly
Cons:
-
No camera
-
No wind resistance
Summary: The Potensic A20 is a child-friendly pocket drone, measuring just under 2 inches in diameter, and comes ready-to-fly with a USB cable, three batteries, and spare rotor blades, offering about five minutes of flight time per battery with a control range of just over 50 feet. While the basic A20 model lacks a camera, there's a camera-equipped variant (A20W), and the drone features a white LED for orientation, a simple and responsive controller suitable for small hands, and a "headless" mode for easier control, but requires constant adjustment during flight and is not recommended for outdoor use due to its sensitivity to breezes.
TOMZON A31 Drone for Kids
Best Coloring
The TOMZON is easy to fly, and features multiple colour blades. Perfect for beginners, this drone comes with a controller, 2 rechargeable batteries, and some extra propellers. There are many ways to control and operate it for optimal fun. It has automatic frequency pairing, one key landing and take-off and three speed adjustment functions which are ideal for both kids and adults. It auto-hovers in the air until a direction is chosen for flight. It features emazing changing colors that look awesome in low lit areas.
The copter is wrapped by protective guards to protect kids from spinning propellers. Besides the 360-degree rotation, 3D flips and Headless mode, there's an emergency stop button that will let the drone cut off power and stop flying immediately.
Pros:
- Easy and fun to fly
- One key landing and takeoff
- Colored lights are a highlight
Cons:
- No wind resistance
Summary: The TOMZON drone is beginner-friendly, featuring colorful blades, a controller, two rechargeable batteries, extra propellers, and various control options including automatic frequency pairing, one-key landing/takeoff, and three-speed adjustments. It's designed with safety in mind, boasting protective guards around the propellers, and includes features like 360-degree rotation, 3D flips, Headless mode, and an emergency stop button for immediate power cut-off, making it suitable for both kids and adults.
- Flight Time max 16-18 minutes
- Safety Protective Guard
- 3D flip
Syma X400 Mini Drone
Best with Phone App
Syma X400 is a palm sized drone which can easily be used indoors. Its propellers counter rotate to keep the flight stable. It has got a camera on the front so you can connect it to Syma’s app on your phone and see the feed from the camera. The app is intuitive, easy to use.
The drone is pretty fast and responsive. It features altitude hold mode, auto take off and landing as well as flips.
Prop guards can be installed for a kid or a beginner. Although, even if a propeller is damaged, there are spare ones in the kit.
Pros:
- Easy to use app
- Compact design
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Low wind resistance
Summary: The Syma X400 is a palm-sized drone suitable for indoor use, featuring counter-rotating propellers for stable flight and a front camera that connects to Syma's user-friendly app for live feed viewing. It is fast and responsive, equipped with altitude hold mode, auto takeoff and landing, flip capabilities, and comes with propeller guards for beginners or children, plus spare propellers in case of damage.
- Camera HD 720p
- Flight Time max 13 minutes
- Age 14 and up
FAQ about Best Drones for Kids
Your guide to the most common queries regarding drones for kids.
Can kids fly toy drones?
They surely do if the drone is age appropriate. As we have explained in detail in the buyer's guide, for a child of 6 and older the drone has to be small, durable, lightweight, easy to control and have propeller protection. We recommend starting with a simple, inexpensive model.
What is the best drone for beginners?
In our opinion it’s DJI Ryze Tech Tello ( Author’s choice), with its intuitive control, the quality that can be trusted and prop guards. Also, consider the Syma X400 Mini Drone (Best Phone app) with its easy to use app and an affordable price.
What is the easiest drone for kids?
For the youngest it’s definitely the Force1 Scoot LED Hand Operated Dronen as there’s no controller, it’s totally safe and visually appealing.
For older kids we think the SANROCK U61W would be a good option because of its advantage - availability of camera, the app with cool features and durability.
Best Drones for Kids: Conclusion
So, the best drones for kids are a balance between safety, ease of use, and fun features. Key features include protective guards around the propellers, intuitive controls, and durability to withstand accidental bumps or falls.
Many models come with additional features such as colorful LEDs like the Force1 Scoot, a camera for basic photography like the DJI Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone or DEERC D20, different flight modes, and integration with smartphone apps like the Syma X400 Mini Drone, for a more interactive experience. Importantly, these drones are lightweight and come with safety features such as emergency stop buttons and headless modes to help with navigation.
Whether used indoors or outdoors, these drones are the perfect introduction to the world of flight for children, promoting not only fun but also hand-eye coordination and an understanding of technology. With a wide range of options to suit different ages and skill levels, there is a perfect drone for every young aspiring pilot.
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