Durable Drones Priced Under $400

Are you looking to purchase a drone, but don’t want to break the bank? Here are some features you should look for in a budget drone and some examples of drones that may be just what you are searching for.

*Note: Check out these pages if you are looking for a mid-priced drone ($400-$959) or more advanced and expensive drones (Over $959).

Durability

If this is going to be your first time flying a drone, you will want one that can withstand some crashes. Learning to fly a drone successfully takes some time and practice and there are bound to be some mishaps in the process. The BLADE Nano QX RTF Quadcopter, UDI U818A, and Sky Viper Video Drone V950HD all are built to withstand crashes.

As even a durable drone can break, you will also want to check if replacement parts for gears and propellers are widely available and easy to install. You don’t want to have to throw your drone in the trash after only a few flights. A good feature of the UDI U818A is that it comes with a spare set of rotors.

Battery Charging Time

The time to charge a drone battery can range from 25 minutes to two hours. If you get a drone with a longer charging time, you will want to know if replacement batteries are readily available and easy to install. That way, you can purchase extras and install them in order to have the ability to fly your drone for longer periods of time.

The UDI U8181A comes with a spare battery pack. The BLADE Nano’s batteries are easy to purchase and install. On the other hand, the Sky Viper’s battery is difficult to replace.

Control Range and Length of Flight Time

The BLADE Nano is recommended for indoor use and provides a 20–40 foot control range. The other two models are controllable for about 100 feet.

Drones in this price range generally offer 5–9 minutes of flight time per battery charge. If you are using a camera with the drone, this will drain the battery more quickly, resulting in a shorter flying time.

Ease of Use

Does the drone come ready to fly or is assembly required? Both the Blade Nano and UDI U818A come fully assembled. On the Sky Viper, the blade guards need to be attached before the first use.

The BLADE Nano offers two flying modes – beginner and expert – and comes equipped with Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope (SAFE) Technology to help stabilize the drone. Beginner mode prevents the drone from doing flips or flying at a difficult angle. The UDI U818A also offers two flight modes, while the Sky Viper offers three.

Camera

A camera is a fun feature to have on a drone. At this low price point, the quality isn’t wonderful, but it is acceptable for recreational purposes.

While the BLADE Nano is too small to support a camera, both the UDI U818A and the Sky Viper come equipped with cameras that can take photos and record video (no audio). The UDI U818A is a fixed camera, while the Sky Viper is capable of a 360° panoramic view. Neither of these cameras offer a live-feed. Images must be uploaded to a computer. The UDI U818A comes with a 2 GB micro SD card which does not hold a great deal of data. The Sky Viper is somewhat better with a 4 GB micro SD card. If you plan to do a lot of recording, you might want to upgrade to a higher capacity card.

Author: Stacey Miller
Copyright: 2016 BestDronesToBuy.org