The world of drones is getting better and better with the advancement in technology. Drones that were once only available for professional flyers and were far expensive are now available for cheap. Thanks to the mass production of parts and components, even kids can buy a low-cost drone and enjoy the hobby.
Before we get to discuss our curated list of best quadcopters under 50 that you can buy, let’s have a quick look at what to expect in a low-cost drone.
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What to expect in a $50 drone?
We can categorize drones into three different categories based on their price and corresponding features and functions that we get in return. They will be:
- High-end drones: Drones with advanced features like auto-flight, advanced stability & control, 2K/4K camera, live FPV feed, etc. Their price starts upward of 400 USD. Examples: DJI Mavic Mini 2
- Medium-end Drones: Drones with features of the high-end drones but not very polished and well implemented. They work but not as good and some high-end features might be missing. Example: Holy Stone HS 100
- Low-end Drones: Drones with very basic flight features and are normally meant for learning or for kids. They make great gifts without breaking your bank.
In this article, I have curated a list of such low-end, low-cost drones that are fun to fly, make a great gift, and easily available on Amazon and other retail sites.
Design & built quality
The low-end drones that you can find for under 50 dollars are normally smaller in size and can easily fit the palm of your hand (you can even fly them from your palm). The built quality is not as polished as the high-end ones, but they still manage a good quality exterior. Most drones will come with replaceable or permanent prop guards since these drones are often bought by new pilots (and kids).
Battery & flight time
The small size directly affects how much weight the drone can carry. Since the battery makes the most of the take-off weight, you will find a relatively smaller battery onboard and shorter flight time. You can expect a flight time of around 5 – 8 minutes on one full charge.
Camera
You will find a camera on these drones that will connect to your smartphone and stream FPV videos, but the quality will not be at par with the high-end drones. But since these drones are flown just for fun and not for taking perfect aerial shots, you will be fine with a bit of low-resolution selfies.
Flying range
These toy category drones rely on onboard standard Wi-Fi to connect to the remote controller and to your smartphone (if the drone has a camera). So, their range is limited to less than 100 meters, but it is sufficient to fly them around in your backyard or the park.
Who are they for?
As we discussed earlier, these low-cost drones are not for professional use and are only meant for joy flying. They make excellent learner drones when you are new to the hobby. You can buy one, fly it around and learn the flight controls before you can take on a more expensive DJI drone. Since they are small and lightweight, you can bump them around the walls, and they pretty much will survive the hit.

Another great use of drones is for the kids. Kids are curious as hell and love things that fly and can be controlled from a remote controller. My 10 years old nephew cannot get enough of his
Related: Best Racing Drones
Best Drone Under $50 (2020)- Comparison List
The below list is arranged in descending order of value for money (#1 is the best value for money).
Sr. No. | Manufacturer / Model | Camera | Flight time | Range | Price & Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Dragon Touch DK01 | No | 8 minutes | 60m | |
4 | ATTOP A11 | 0.3MP | 5 – 6 minutes | 45m | |
3 | Syma X5SW-V3 | 0.3MP | 5 – 7 minutes | 50m | |
2 | LBLA Micro Drone | 720p | 6 – 8 minute | 50m | |
1 | SIMREX X300C | 720p | 10 minutes | 40m |
Best Quadcopters Under 50 Dollars – Reviews
1. Simrex X300C
Key Features
- 720p Camera
- 10 minutes flight time
- 6 Axis gyro stabilization
- Altitude Hold
- 30 – 40 meters range
- foldable & highly portable
- Headless mode
2. LBLA Micro Drone
Key Features
- 720p HD Camera
- 6 – 8 minutes flight time
- 6 Axis gyro stabilization
- Altitude Hold
- 50 meters range
- one-key Return To Home
- Headless mode
3. Syma X5SW V3
Key Features
- 0.3M Camera with FPV feed
- 5 – 7 minutes flight time
- 6 Axis gyro stabilization
- 50 meters range
- Headless mode
- Dual RC & Smartphone control
- Convenient USB charging
4. ATTOP A11 Mini Drone
Key Features
- Good quality camera
- 5 – 6 minutes flight time
- Headless mode
- 45 meters range
- Altitude hold
- Dual RC & Smartphone control
- Support AR games
5. Dragon Touch DK01
Key Features
- 7 – 8 minutes flight time
- Headless mode
- 60 meters range
- G-sensor control
- Altitude hold
- IR anti-collision sensors
Best Quadcopters Under 50 Dollars – Conclusion
The toy category drones available under $50 are great for newbie pilots who want to master the art of aerial maneuvers before jumping to big guns. They are also perfect for keeping your kids busy with a healthy activity that provides quality entertainment and invokes scientific curiosity.
Since they are low budget devices, you cannot expect high-end features, but they are perfect flying machines for the small price tag.