Toy Grade Quadcopters Great for beginners-Low Cost
Most Toy Grade quadcopters come with brushed motors and limited range. Some boast all of the features of their hobby grade counter parts but they usually fall short in regards to functionality. When you are purchasing a toy grade quadcopter there are a few options that stand out from the crowd. This is a list of our favorites in the toy grade category based upon what we have flown, crashed, modified, and repaired. If you are interested in pricing and product specs click on the name and follow the link.
Price Key $-$$=Beginner (10-50) $$$=Intermediate (50-100 ) $$$$=Hobby (100-400) Professional=$$$$$ (400+) ***Price information subject to change based upon website sales and promotions***
Syma X5C-1 $ If you are truly a novice pilot and want to get the biggest bang for your buck this is the best option for you. The SYMA quadcopters come with two rates, low which is very docile and high which gives the quadcopter the ability to fight low to moderate wind speeds. This little drone is a flying tank and can take all the abuse you can throw at it. When it does finally break parts and accessories are cheap and easy to find. This option comes with an on board camera which is controlled by the remote and saves to a micro SD card (provided). To view a camera quality test video click HERE:
Syma X5SW $$ Just like its predecessor the X5SW is battle tested and kid approved. The body style of this model is slightly changed from the X5C and the camera capabilities are upgraded to include a live WiFi feed. The Feed can be viewed via smart device by downloading the SYMA app. The packaging contains a QR code and app information. (App is compatible with Apple and Android devices) To view a camera quality test video click HERE: (The camera on the X8W and X5SW are identical)
Syma X5HW $ This is the next step in the evolution of the X5 Line. This model has all of the features of the X5SW but includes the altitude hold feature. (Hence the H in the name) Syma calls this their hover mode and achieves this feature by adding in a barometer to their flight controller. This feature is common in higher end hobby grade models and is paramount for obtaining quality photos and videos. Be forewarned that your video quality may be better but will not be comparable to the professional grade drones discussed later on in this list.
SJ X300 $ This quadcopter has a sportier design and comes with 4 rates ranging from extremely docile for indoor flight to very responsive which allows the pilot to fly faster outdoors and on windy days. The controller is about the size of a PS4 controller which makes it great for smaller hands, and the buttons are clearly labeled which makes for easy and fun acrobatic flight. This is not as durable as the X5 quadcopters but the parts and accessories are again cheap and easy to find. For parts and acessories for this quadcopter follow the link HERE:
JJRC H 31 $ The JJRC H 31 is a toy grade quadcopter that boasts being waterproof. If your first thoughts are I don't plan on flying in or near the water then that safety feature may not be a selling point. This quadcopter does have 3 rates of flight with 1 being very docile and 3 being very fast. With this quadcopter the rate 3 YAW is extremely quick and makes for great funnels. Overall for the price it is a great option for beginners with parts and accessories available HERE:
Mould King $ The Mould King is a standard quadcopter with few bells and whistles. It comes with two rates (low and high) and headless mode. It is a good option for someone who is starting out that may be overwhelmed with two many features as it sticks to the necessities. It has a nice design and resembles a miniature DJI Phantom.
Micro Sized Toy Grade Quadcopters
Floureon H 101 $ The Floureon H 101 is a sporty micro with a lot of cool features. It has the ability to do acrobatic flips as well as inverted flight. Don't let the size fool you this little drone has some serious speed and comes equipped with 3 rates of flight. This little guy is a beginners budget but requires a bit of skill to fly. The detaching props are a blessing and a curse as they will save you from a lot of costly repairs but frustrate you with how easy they fly off after each crash.
JJRC H8 Mini$ The JJRC H8 Mini is a highly capable micro with great range and speed. The product description claims 30M but this is one of the few times they air on the side of caution as I have had this little quad at least 50-80M away in an open field. Anything more than that would be detrimental as it would be impossible to see. Flight time is around 5-10 minutes so buy extra batteries as you won't want the fun to end! This micro, like the floureon, is very affordable but somewhat hard to control even on lower rates. If you want to test your skill for indoor flight or enjoy a wide open experience on a calm day the H8 Mini is a steal.
Hubsan X4$ The Hubsan X4 is a fun to fly micro drone equipped with a 720P camera. The camera quality is not amazing but for the price it works as a great intro to drone photography for beginners. If you are looking for an affordable option with good maneuverability and kid friendly controller this is your drone. Like the before mentioned Floureon and H8 this is mainly an indoor flyer but can be taken outside on clam days. Unlike the other micro drones mentioned the X4 is lacking prop guards and instead comes equipped with upgraded LED's.
Toy Grade quadcopters are an amazing introduction into multi rotors since they are relatively cheap and can be flown indoors. In future posts we will cover some of the larger Toy Grade quads whose size and wait bump them into the non-beginner range. We will also explore the world of Cheap Brushless Quadcopters whose main purpose is for aerial photography. These types of drones are typically known as "camera birds" since their primary function is to provide a stable platform to capture photos and videos. Price Key $-$$=Beginner (10-50) $$$=Intermediate (50-100 ) $$$$=Hobby (100-400) Professional=$$$$$ (400+) ***Price information subject to change based upon website sales and promotions***