Drones are an excellent tool for hobbyist RC pilots, filmmakers, and photographers. They offer a unique perspective of the world that was previously limited to expensive helicopter footage, and the technology is only improving over time.
Despite these advancements drones can be expensive, with some high-end models costing thousands of pounds.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best drones under £500 UK, covering cost effective options without compromise.
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
NMY L800 Drone with 4K Camera
- Brand - NMY
- Dimensions - 20 x 15 x 5 cm
- Weight - 1.1 kg
- Resolution - 2160P
- Special Feature - GPS
Firstly we have the NMY L800 Drone with 4K Camera from NMY. It’s currently selling for £300/$361 on Amazon.
This drone is really impressive, especially for the reasonable price. It features a 3-axis mechanical gimbal and 4K EIS electronic image stabilization camera, producing ultra-stable shots. The 5G transmission and 120° motorized adjustable lens allow you to view images and videos from angles that were previously unimaginable.
NMY have equipped this drone with a high-quality GPS. This is really helpful because if the drone is low on battery, out of control or without signal, the aircraft will automatically return to the starting point. There’s no need to worry about losing it!
The battery utilisation is another notable spec. Two batteries can achieve approximately 50 minutes of flight time per charge. This is partially due to the efficient brushless motor, which boasts minimal power consumption.
If you’re looking for an energy efficient drone with additional features like GPS and camera stabilisation, check out the L800 from NMY.
Buy the NMY L800 Drone with 4K Camera from Amazon for only £300/$361:
Holy Stone HS720G 2-Axis Gimbal Drone
- Brand - Holy Stone
- Dimensions - 33.5 x 21.3 x 9.2 cm
- Weight - 1.41 kg
- Resolution - 2160P
- Special Feature - GPS
Next we have the Holy Stone HS720G 2-Axis Gimbal Drone. It’s currently selling for £300/$361 on Amazon.
Similarly to the L800, this drone features a 2-axis motorized gimbal and 4K EIS (Electric Image Stabilization) Camera. This means that the HS720G produces stunningly-stable footage without the need for additional equipment.
The HS720G is also equipped with powerful flight instructions. This includes commands like Follow Me, Tap Fly, and Point of Interest, resulting in instant hands-free flights. This makes the take-off process even then ever, even for beginners.
It’s really portable as well. The innovative foldable design of the HS720G make it easy to fold away and carry. This is made even easier with the included carrying case, which protects the drone during transport.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use 4K drone, take a look at the Holy Stone HS720G.
Buy the Holy Stone HS720G 2-Axis Gimbal Drone from Amazon for only £300/$361:
Potensic ATOM SE Drone
- Brand - Potensic
- Dimensions - 15 x 10 x 5 cm
- Weight - 250 g
- Resolution - 2160P
- Special Feature - ShakeVanish
Next we have the Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone. It’s currently selling for £330/$397 on Amazon.
The Potensic ATOM SE supports 4K resolution video capture at 30fps, as well as stunning 12MP photos. Additionally, the 118° FOV and vertical adjustment of +20° to -90° give you even more control over your shots. Despite the high quality, it’s capable of providing up to 62 minutes of flight time with 2 smart batteries.
Potensic’s SurgeFly flight control system provides pilots with an easily accessible flight control experience. There are 3 flight modes – Video, Normal and Sport. In Sport mode, the drone is capable of max speeds up to 16m/s in 2.8s. SurgeFly provides optimized navigation for the drone, combined with the ToF sensor to help achieve high accuracy positioning and more stable control, whether you’re flying indoors or in GPS-denied environments.
If you want a high-performance drone with a variety of flight modes, the ATOM SE is a great option.
Buy the Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone from Amazon for only £330/$397:
DJI Mavic Mini Portable Drone
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 23.6 x 17.9 x 8.9 cm
- Weight - 250 g
- Resolution - 1080P
- Special Feature - DJI Fly App
Next we have the DJI Mavic Mini Portable Drone. It’s currently selling for £400/$481 on Amazon.
The Mavic Mini is really impressive when it comes to the camera specifications. It supports 12MP aerial photos and 2.7K Quad HD videos. The included 3-axis motorized gimbal provides improved camera stability and crystal-clear footage.
DJI have engineered the Mavic Mini with weight in mind. At just 250 grams, it’s almost as light as the average smartphone! This makes it extremely portable and places it in the lowest and safest weight class of drones. Not only that, but the light weight makes it easier to manoeuvre in flight.
The Mavic Mini’s dedicated remote control is capable of maintaining HD video at a distance of up to 4 km! It’s detachable control sticks can be stored inside the remote controller to improve portability.
If you’re looking for a premium drone from a reputable brand, the Mavic Mini is an ideal choice.
Buy the DJI Mavic Mini Portable Drone from Amazon for only £400/$481:
Ruko F11 GIM2 Portable Drone
- Brand - Ruko
- Dimensions - 5 x 40 x 8 cm
- Weight - 560 g
- Resolution - 2160P
- Special Feature - Anti-shake
Finally we have the Ruko F11 GIM2 Portable Drone. It’s currently selling for £500/$602 on Amazon.
The combination of the high-quality 4K camera, 2-Axis gimbal stabilization, and the Electric Image Stabilization technology results in shockingly clear footage. The GIM2 is capable of taking photos at 4K resolution and recording videos at 4K/30fps, so Ruko definitely have you covered when it comes to quality. Additionally, the included zoom function allows you to focus on the details whenever you need.
Ruko have used the classic design of the F11 series for the GIM2, so the drone is extremely stable during flight. The powerful but low noise brushless motors are strong enough to resist level 6 winds, meaning that you don’t have to worry about shaky footage in windy conditions.
The GIM2 utilises an intelligent GPS system. This includes impressive features like auto-return home, GPS follow me, points of interest, waypoint flights and much more. These features make the setup process as quick as easy as can be.
If you’re shopping for the best 4K drone under 500, the GIM2 is a perfect choice.
Buy the Ruko F11 GIM2 Portable Drone from Amazon for only £500/$602:
Comparison Of Camera Resolution For Drones <£500
The chart below compares the photo and video resolution of drones that are less than £500.
You can see that the camera performance is somewhat similar across the board here, making the cheaper options impressively capable for the price.
The DJI Mavic has the best quality still photos, but the video quality isn’t quite as high as the other drones on this list (although it’s difficult to argue with DJI quality).
Thanks for reading our article. If you’re interested in drones, you might want to look at our article covering the Best Drones for Beginners in the UK.
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.
