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. If you’re looking for a drone that’s more budget friendly, you may want to take a look at ourarticle on the 5 Best Drones Under £300 for some more afforadble options.
So, let’s look at our top picks under £500.
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 13 x 15.7 x 4.8 cm
- Weight - 135 g
- Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - Hand take-off and landing
Firstly we have the DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo. It’s currently selling for £449/$602 on Amazon.
At just 135g, the DJI Neo is extremely lightweight and easy for anyone to fly. You can take off and land straight from your hand, and it even supports flying without a controller. Voice controls, the mobile app and the included RC controller give you flexible ways to operate it.
AI subject tracking keeps the camera focused on you while you move, and QuickShots provides eight preset flight paths for simple, cinematic clips. It’s ideal for capturing moments at picnics, hikes or days out.
The 4K camera is stabilised for smooth footage, even in breezy conditions. Full propeller protection also makes it safer to use indoors or around obstacles, reducing the chance of accidental bumps.
The Fly More Combo adds the RC Motion 3 controller and DJI Goggles N3, giving you an immersive FPV-style flying experience. You also get three batteries and a two-way charging hub, making longer flying sessions far more convenient.
Buy the DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo from Amazon for only £449/$602:
Potensic ATOM FM Combo 4K Drone
- Brand - Potensic
- Dimensions - 30 x 24.2 x 5.8 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - Visual Tracking/QuickShots
Another great option is the Potensic ATOM FM Combo 4K Drone. It’s currently selling for £330/$444 on Amazon.
The Potensic ATOM SE supports 4K resolution video capture at 30fps, as well as stunning 12MP photos. Additionally, the 78° 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 96 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.
The QuickShots function makes it easy to take excellent photos and videos even as a beginner. The 5 modes include Pull-away, Rocket, Circle, Spiral, and Boomerang. This allows you to take stunning shots with a single click! If you want a bespoke shot , you can always take over using the manual controls.
If you want a high-performance drone with a variety of flight modes and automatic shots, the ATOM Combo is a great option.
Buy the Potensic ATOM FM Combo 4K Drone from Amazon for only £330/$444:
DJI Mini 3 Camera Drone 4K HDR
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 25.1 x 36.2 x 7.2 cm
- Weight - 630 g
- Resolution - 2160P
- Special Feature - Dual Native ISO Fusion
Next we have the DJI Mini 3 Camera Drone 4K HDR. It’s currently selling for £339/$447 on Amazon.
The Mini 3 can film in 4K HDR at 30 frames per second, and the Dual Native ISO Fusion technology ensures that the image remains crystal clear even in shadowy areas or at night. The battery is impressive too, offering a flight time of up to 38 minutes, so you’ve got plenty of time to get the perfect shot.
This drone is powered by efficient brushless motors, and also offers features like Level 5 wind resistance and a 3-axis gimbal for image stabilisation. These features make the drone capable of recording clear footage in harsh weather conditions, and the motors allow it to take off at altitudes as high as 4000 feet. It’s perfect if you want to record in a variety of locations and conditions.
Similarly to some of the other models on this list, the Mini 3 offers automatic flight patterns to make recording much easier for the pilot. This includes functions like Circle, Helix, Rocket and Boomerang, making the drone follow a flight path without the need for manual control for the pilot. This is great if you want the drone to record you without you needing to operate the controller.
The Mini 3 is a well-rounded drone from industry leader DJI, and it’s difficult to beat for less than £500.
Buy the DJI Mini 3 Camera Drone 4K HDR from Amazon for only £339/$447:
Potensic ATOM 2 4K Camera Drone
- Brand - Potensic
- Dimensions - 25.2 x 5.8 x 30 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - AI Tracking
The Potensic ATOM 2 4K Camera Drone is another great option under £500. It’s currently selling for £370/$498 on Amazon.
The Potensic ATOM 2 is a compact but highly capable camera drone aimed at users who want advanced imaging features without stepping into full professional territory. Weighing under 249 g, it remains travel-friendly and regulation-light while offering a clear upgrade over entry-level models.
It features a 1/2″ Sony CMOS sensor paired with a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, enabling sharp 48 MP photos, 8K stills, and smooth 4K HDR video at 30 fps. Compared to electronic stabilisation, the gimbal delivers noticeably steadier footage, particularly in wind or during movement.
Flight performance is supported by PixSync 4.0 transmission with a range of up to 10 km, along with reliable GNSS positioning for stable hovering and accurate return-to-home. Intelligent modes such as AI Track, QuickShots, vertical shooting, and night video add creative flexibility.
With the Fly More Combo providing up to 96 minutes of total flight time, the ATOM 2 is a strong option for intermediate pilots or ambitious beginners who want premium camera features, long endurance, and advanced creative tools in a lightweight drone.
Buy the Potensic ATOM 2 4K Camera Drone from Amazon for only £370/$498:
DJI Flip 4K Drone Fly More Combo
- Brand - DJI
- Dimensions - 23.3 x 28 x 7.9 cm
- Weight - 249 g
- Resolution - 4K
- Special Feature - AI Director
Finally we have the DJI Flip 4K Drone Fly More Combo. It’s currently selling for £499/$672 on Amazon.
The DJI Flip is a lightweight, beginner-friendly camera drone designed to make aerial filming as simple and safe as possible, while still delivering DJI’s signature image quality. Weighing under 249 g, it avoids most registration requirements and is easy to carry for travel or everyday use.
It features a high-quality 4K camera with a large 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, allowing it to capture detailed photos and smooth 4K HDR video at up to 60 fps. This makes it well suited to vlogging, travel footage, and casual cinematic shots, even in challenging lighting conditions.
One of the Flip’s standout features is its full-coverage propeller guards, which add confidence for beginners and make it suitable for flying in tighter spaces. Palm takeoff, intelligent subject tracking, and automated flight modes further reduce the learning curve, letting you focus on framing shots rather than manual control.
The Fly More Combo includes three batteries for up to 93 minutes of total flight time, along with DJI’s RC 2 screen controller for a streamlined flying experience. Overall, the DJI Flip is an excellent option for users who want safe, intuitive flying paired with strong 4K video performance in a compact drone.
Buy the DJI Flip 4K Drone Fly More Combo from Amazon for only £499/$672:
🚁 Comparison Of The Best Drones Under £500
If you want a quick overview of how the best camera drones under £500 compare, the table below highlights the key differences in weight, camera performance, and standout features before diving into the full reviews.
DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo – £££, ultra-light 135 g drone with 4K video, AI tracking, QuickShots, and immersive FPV-style control using motion controller and goggles.
Best for casual users who want hands-free flying and a fun, immersive experience with minimal setup.
Potensic ATOM FM Combo 4K Drone – ££, GPS-enabled 4K drone with QuickShots, visual tracking, and up to 96 minutes of total flight time.
Best for beginners who want long flight time and easy automated filming.
DJI Mini 3 Camera Drone 4K HDR – ££, compact DJI drone with 4K HDR video, 3-axis gimbal, and strong wind resistance.
Best for users who want dependable DJI performance and stable footage under £500.
Potensic ATOM 2 4K Camera Drone – £££, advanced 249 g drone with 1/2″ Sony sensor, 3-axis gimbal, 8K photos, AI tracking, and up to 96 minutes of flight time.
Best for users upgrading from entry-level drones who want better image quality and creative features.
DJI Flip Fly More Combo – ££££, beginner-friendly 4K HDR drone with full propeller guards, AI subject tracking, palm takeoff, and RC 2 screen controller.
Best for safe, intuitive flying with excellent video quality and minimal learning curve.
FAQs
The DJI Mini 3 Camera Drone 4K HDR is one of our overall favourites. It offers 4K HDR videography, impressive battery life, and great bonus features like image stabilisation and ISO Fusion for increased image quality. It’s difficult to beat this model from industry leader DJI for less than £500.
ISO fusion technology has been introduced to make life easy for photographers and videographers. The sensors automatically amplify the image quality by merging two different images captured by separate circuits. This ensures that the videos and photos are of sharp quality, with more precise details in shadows and highlights. By combining the two images, the camera can achieve a detailed version of an image, providing a broader and sharper display.
Yes, drones from reputable manufacturers like DJI usually come with a care package as standard that covers the user in case of any damages within the service period. The user also has the option to extend this coverage by paying for DJI Care Refresh for added protection.
Like DJI, HoverAi, and Potensic provide a similar warranty service for their customers. However, it is worth noting that each company has it’s respective warranty polices uploaded on its relevant websites.
Thanks for reading our article. If you’re just getting started with drones, you may want to take a look at our Beginner’s Guide to Drones and RC Models for an overview.
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.
