What Is a Beginner Drone?

Beginner drones are a category of Drones and Aerial Imaging that are designed with first-time flyers in mind. Hallmarks of beginner drones include accessibility, follow me tracking modes, ease of use, and an assortment of beginner-friendly features designed to help novice pilots get accustomed to operating a drone. Compared to the more advanced drone categories, many beginner drones are relatively small and easy to use drones.

What Are Starter Drones Used For?

Beginner drones (also known as starter drones or selfie drones) are designed to help novice pilots get accustomed to a broad spectrum of applications, from aerial imaging and filmmaking to recreational flying and racing.

What to Consider When Shopping for an Entry Level Drone?

When shopping for a beginner drone, keep the following important features in mind.

Camera

Many beginner drones feature a built-in camera system—though the quality and sophistication of that system varies from drone to drone. If you’re looking for a beginner drone that can shoot quality images and video, be sure to consider the following specs and features:

• Resolution: The higher the camera resolution, the more details (pixels) captured. If you’re interested in capturing quality aerial images and video, look for a camera that shoots at least 12MP stills and can record 4K video.
• Sensor Size: Sensor size determines how much light the camera captures. More light means better image quality.
• Stabilization: Resolution and sensor size won’t matter much if your drone’s camera isn’t properly stabilized. To ensure all of your aerial images and video are still, smooth, and shake-free, make sure your drone has an effective stabilization system, one that utilizes a reliable mechanical stabilizer (like a 3-axis gimbal) or electronic image stabilization (EIS).

Battery Life

The battery life of a beginner drone can vary dramatically—from a few minutes to more than half an hour. If possible, look for a drone that offers at least 15 minutes of flight time—otherwise you’re going to spend a lot of time charging and hot-swapping batteries.

Safety Features

Flying a drone is not without risk, especially for new pilots. Crashes, collisions, flyaways—these are potential hazards that drone pilots of all skill levels must contend with. To mitigate that risk, look for beginner drones with these popular safety features:

• Obstacle Avoidance: An automated safety feature that allows a drone to detect and avoid obstacles in its flight path. Most obstacle avoidance systems rely on a combination of detection sensors and software to perceive obstacles and safely navigate around them.
• Return to Home (RTH): A safety feature that directs the aircraft return to its original takeoff point (or another predefined location). In most drones, RTH can be activated manually by the pilot, or in case of emergency (e.g., low battery or loss of signal), it will activate automatically.

Size

The size and weight of a drone helps determine its portability and categorization. Many beginner drones weigh less than 250 g (0.55 lb), meaning they’re travel-friendly and can be legally flown without registration.

Which Newbies Drone Accessories Do I Need?

Drone accessories cover a wide range of categories. running the gamut from absolutely niche too necessary. Some of the most common and essential for best beginner drone accessories include:

Extra Batteries: Odds are your new beginner drone won’t have the longest of flight times. If your drone is a little light on battery life, and it supports replaceable batteries, consider picking up a spare battery or two.

Memory Cards: If you plan on capturing photos and/or videos with your drone, odds are you’re going to need more storage than what your drone provides. If that’s the case, be sure to stock up on compatible memory cards, which will allow you to save all of your aerial imagery.

Spare Parts: Despite advancements in safety-enhancing features like obstacle avoidance, drones are not impervious to damage. To avoid a premature and possibly permanent grounding, be sure to keep plenty of spare and replacement parts handy, especially propellers.

Protective Cases: Regardless of whether you are a professional, a hobbyist, or somewhere in between, being a drone pilot definitely isn’t cheap. Even beginner drones can incur a fairly substantial investment. To protect that investment, we recommend a protective case or backpack, which will safeguard your drone from the elements and allow you to securely transport it from one location to the next.