Drones continue to increase in popularity for both hobbyists and professional operators. With more models for sale than ever, it’s safe to say that it can be overwhelming for beginners when trying to choose the right drone for them.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a carefully crafted list of the best drones for beginners in the UK (as well as the rest of world!). We’ve covered drones that span a wide range of price points, so there’s definitely something that will suit your chosen budget.
So, what’s a good drone for a beginner?
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
DJI Neo Mini Drone with 4K UHD Camera
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 15.7 x 13 x 4.9 cm
- Weight - 135 g
- Camera Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - Palm Takeoff & Landing
A key highlight is its controller-free operation. You can launch it from your palm with a single press and control it through the mobile app, voice commands, or an optional controller if you prefer more precision. This makes it a great choice for beginners who want a smooth, flexible flight experience.
For content, the Neo offers a 4K UHD camera with stabilisation and level-4 wind resistance, ensuring smooth, sharp footage. Its Subject Tracking and QuickShots modes make filming simple and fun, whether you’re hiking, filming events, or capturing everyday moments.
Its full-coverage propeller guards add a layer of safety, giving new pilots more confidence when flying indoors or in tighter spaces.
The DJI Neo comes with the aircraft, intelligent flight battery, propeller guards, spare propellers and screws, a USB-C cable, gimbal protector, and a screwdriver. A charger is sold separately, but the kit provides everything needed to get flying quickly.
With its smart flight features, 4K video, and easy setup, the DJI Neo is an excellent entry point for anyone wanting a fun, reliable mini drone.
Buy the DJI Neo Mini Drone with 4K UHD Camera from Amazon for only £169/$226:
Holy Stone HS360D Drone with 4K Camera
- Brand - Holy Stone
- Dimensions - 14 x 9 x 5.5 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Camera Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - Smart GPS Modes
This model is a lightweight foldable drone that combines long flight times, smart GPS features, and a 4K camera — ideal for beginners and hobbyists wanting to capture smooth aerial footage. Priced at around £210, it weighs just 249 g, so it can usually be flown without registration, making it a hassle-free option for travel and everyday use.
A key advantage of the HS360D is its 80-minute total flight time from two included batteries. Its 6 km image transmission uses a wired controller-to-phone connection, which helps reduce lag and keeps the 4K feed stable even over distance.
The 4K UHD camera with an 85° wide-angle lens captures sharp, vibrant footage, while built-in GPS flight modes — Follow Me, Waypoint, Circle Fly, and Auto Return — make flying smooth and beginner-friendly. Its foldable design and included case make it easy to pack and take anywhere.
With regular app updates and intuitive controls, the Holy Stone HS360D offers great performance and smart functionality without a premium price tag, making it a strong pick for new drone pilots.
Buy the Holy Stone HS360D Drone with 4K Camera from Amazon for only £270/$361:
DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 25.4 x 19.4 x 13.4 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Camera Resolution - 2.7K
- Special Feature - Beginner Friendly Movement
The DJI Mini 2 is equipped with a 12 MP camera and records sharp 4K video at 30 fps, supported by a three-axis gimbal for smooth, stable shots. It offers up to 31 minutes of flight time, solid wind resistance, and OcuSync 2.0 transmission with a range of up to 6 km — a practical setup for both wide scenic shots and closer, more controlled filming.
The Fly More Combo adds extra value with spare batteries, a charging hub, additional propellers, and a compact carrying bag. This makes it much easier to travel with the drone and extend flying sessions without worrying about power.
Using the DJI Fly app, QuickShots and other automated flight features make it simple to capture smooth, cinematic clips even if you’re new to flying. You can shoot, edit, and share directly from your phone, keeping the whole process quick and easy.
If portability, ease of use, and reliable performance are key priorities, the DJI Mini 2 with the Fly More Combo is a well-rounded option that fits a wide range of flying needs.
Buy the DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo from Amazon for £430/$575:
Potensic ATOM Combo 4K GPS Drone
- Brand - Potensic
- Dimensions - 24.2 x 30 x 5.8 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Camera Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - Beginner Friendly Movement
Another great option is the Potensic ATOM Combo 4K GPS Drone. The ATOM is highly portable and offers great specs all-round. It’s currently selling for £340/$455.
The Potensic ATOM is an ultra-lightweight, foldable drone weighing under 249g. It’s compact design and the included crossbody bag make it incredibly portable and ideal for travel or outdoor adventures. You can easily slip it into a backpack or jacket pocket without hassle.
It’s equipped with a 4K camera and a 1/3″ Sony CMOS sensor, delivering sharp, high-quality video at 30fps. The 3-axis gimbal ensures smooth, stable footage even in challenging conditions – it’s perfect for capturing professional-grade aerial shots.
The drone includes three batteries, offering a total of 96 minutes of flight time. Its charging hub allows you to recharge all three batteries in just 1.3 hours, keeping downtime to a minimum. PixSync 3.0 transmission technology ensures a 6km video feed with minimal latency, even in less-than-ideal environments.
Other useful features include intelligent QuickShots modes such as Circle and Boomerang, visual tracking for automated subject following, and Level 5 wind resistance. With its durable design and advanced functions, the ATOM is a fantastic choice for both beginners and experienced drone pilots.
Buy the Potensic ATOM Combo 4K GPS Drone from Amazon for £340/$455:
DJI Avata Pro-View Combo
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 18 x 18 x 8 cm
- Weight - 795 g
- Camera Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - FPS
The combo includes the DJI Avata drone, DJI Goggles 2, and DJI Motion Controller, combining precise control with an impressive first-person view. The result is a setup that makes FPV flight more intuitive and accessible, even if you’re not an experienced pilot.
The Avata itself is palm-sized and lightweight, designed to handle agile manoeuvres while being easy to carry. Its built-in propeller guard provides extra protection, allowing it to recover from light bumps without cutting the flight short. It offers an 18-minute flight time, which is solid for an FPV drone in this class.
The onboard camera features a 1/1.7-inch sensor with a 155° field of view, delivering smooth 4K footage with excellent stabilisation. Combined with low-latency HD transmission through O3+ technology, you get a crisp, responsive real-time view that makes flying feel natural and precise.
The goggles and motion controller complete the experience, letting you fly with simple hand and head movements. This makes it easy to enjoy FPV flying without needing a steep learning curve.
If you want a portable FPV drone that combines quality footage with a highly immersive flight experience, the DJI Avata Pro-View Combo is an excellent option for both newcomers and more seasoned pilots.
Buy the DJI Avata Pro-View Combo from Amazon for £849/$1136:
🛸 Best Drones For Beginners Comparison Table
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at the key specs and standout features of each drone to help you compare them more easily.
DJI Neo – 135 g, 4K camera, Palm Takeoff & Landing, £169. Best for beginners who want a smooth, controller-free flying experience with subject tracking and safety guards.
Holy Stone HS360D – 249 g, 4K camera, Smart GPS Modes, £210. Best for hobbyists looking for long flight time, reliable GPS tracking, and stable 6 km transmission.
DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo – 249 g, 4K camera, Beginner-Friendly Movement, £430. Best all-rounder for portability, range, and cinematic footage with extra accessories.
Potensic ATOM Combo 4K GPS Drone – 249 g, 4K camera, PixSync 3.0 Transmission, £340. Best for travellers and creators who want a compact drone with long battery life and smooth video.
DJI Avata Pro-View Combo – 795 g, 4K camera, FPV Goggles & Motion Control, £849. Best for immersive FPV flying and pilots who want a highly responsive, cinematic experience.
FAQs
There’s loads of great options on the market, but the DJI Mini 2 is one of our overall favourites. DJI produce some of the best drones on the market and the Fly More Combo is one of the most cost-effective ways for beginners to get started. The Quickshots shots systems allows you to shoot quality videos with ease, and you can perform pre-set stunts at the touch of a button.
The amount that a beginner should spend on a drone is largely dependant on what they’re looking to do with it.
If you just want to try your hand at flying a drone, you can buy small toy drones for as little as £25 to £70. If you’re looking for a drone with a reasonable camera, you’ll likely want to spend between £100 and £500. Premium models that are capable of professional videography can cost upwards of £750!.
There’s two main rules when it comes to flying a drone in your garden in the UK. Firstly, you can’t fly your drone higher than 400 feet (120 meters) above the ground. Secondly, you’re not allowed to fly your drone within 164 feet (50 meters) of any people, vehicles, structures, or buildings.
Beyond that, there’s a couple of other key regulations relating to flying your drone in the garden.
The DJI Mini 2 is an excellent choice for beginners interested in videography.
DJI are a market leader in the drone industry, and this drone is an excellent way to get started with high-quality videography without breaking the bank. It offer 2.7k videos at 30 frames per second, and it has beginner friendly controls that make filming a breeze. Some of the preset modes even allow for near automatic operation if you want professional-quality shots with minimal effort.
Thanks for reading our article comparing the best camera drones for beginners in the UK.
If you’re shopping around for drones, take a look at our article on the Best Drone Under £300 UK.
If you’re looking for a model that’s great for kids, check out our article on the Best Drones For Kids of All Ages.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help. Bye for now!
