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The 10 Best Drones Under $200 – 2018 Buyer’s Guide

Drones in the sub-$200 range are some of the funnest to fly.

They’re cheap enough so you’re not breaking the bank, but they also have a few advanced features that the more expensive models come with.

This article breaks down 10 of the best drones under $200 in 2018Most of these quadcopters come with FPV capability, and all of them come with cameras or support a GoPro.

These drones are in the $100-$200 price range. If you’re looking for a drone that’s less than $100, check out our recommendations for the best drones under $100.

You can get an overview of each drone in this list using the table below. Or scroll down to start from the beginning.

This is the second post in our “Best Drones Under $” series:

Table of the Best Drones for Under $200

#

Model

Price

Description

1

Syma X8G with 8MP Camera

2

Hornet FPV Drone w/ 720p Camera

3

UDI U842 Predator w/ WiFi FPV

4

Holy Stone F181

5

UDI U818A WiFi FPV Quadcopter

6

Holy Stone HS110 FPV Drone

7

Potensic FPV Quad w/ Carrying Case

8

Sky Viper V2400 w/ FPV Headset

9

Tokky Bugs3 w/ GoPro Support

10

CoDrone Programmable Drone Kit


1. Syma X8G with 8MP Camera



The Syma X8G is an excellent beginner quadcopter aerial photography and videography pilots.

It’s a cheap drone under $200 that offers a surprising set of features. The onboard camera shoots HD 720P and 1080P videos, and it takes 8 megapixel still photos.

The Syma X8G also comes with Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC), meaning you have the option of maneuvering the drone based on where the nose (front) is facing or having the forward direction have nothing to do with where the nose is facing. This lowers the learning curve and can make it easier to take certain shots.

The camera’s holding case is also compatible with GoPro cameras.

All in all, this is an excellent UAV for aspiring pilots and aerial photographers/videographers.


2. Hornet FPV Drone with 720p Camera

The Hornet from Force1 is an all-in-one FPV drone.

It comes with a camera that shoots video in 720p, an LCD monitor built directly into the controller, and a 4GB Micro SD card for recording and saving your aerial videos and images.

The quadcopter also comes in a sleek design with propeller guards to help mitigate crashes. And beginners will like its Altitude Hold function, which allows you to easily hover and stabilize the drone mid-flight.

This package comes with two LiPo batteries to extend your flight sessions, as well. Check out the Hornet FPV Drone if you’re interested in first person flight.


3. DBPOWER UDI U842 Predator with WiFi FPV 

The DBPOWER UDI U842 is an extremely high-rated drone under $200.

The quadcopter comes with first-person-view capability through a WiFi link between your smartphone and the drone’s camera.

The quad can also be controlled using the remote control or your mobile device using the DBPOWER/RC app.

The 720P camera gives you quality shots, and the package comes with two batteries for extended flight sessions. Its powerful motors also give it a strong lift and allow it to handle outdoor winds.


4. Holy Stone F181 with 2MP Camera

The Holy Stone F181 is a great RC quadcopter for improving your aerial videography and photography, and it’s one of the highest rated drones in this price range.

It comes with an onboard camera that shoots video in 720p, and the UAV offers one-key “return-to-home” (a press of a button brings the drone back to you).

The controller also comes with an LCD screen that shows you flight telemetry data.

For less than $200, the Holy Stone F181 is a fantastic drone.


5. DBPOWER UDI U818A WiFi FPV Quadcopter

Here’s another excellent quadcopter from DBPOWER, their version of the UDI U818A.

Already a popular drone, this version of the U818A comes with WiFi FPV capability. You can see what the drone sees in real time through your smartphone or other mobile device. (It’s also VR headset compatible.)

The drone also comes with Gravity Induction Mode — download the mobile app and you can control the quadcopter through your phone simply by angling your device in different directions.

The camera shoots video in 720p HD at 30 fps and takes 2MP still photos, and the package comes with two batteries to extend your flight time per charge.

With extremely sturdy propeller guard as well, the DBPOWER UDI U818A is one of the best drones for having fun and practicing your aerial photography skills.


6. Holy Stone HS110 FPV Drone with 720P Camera

A 2MP camera that shoots video in 720P makes the Holy Stone HS110 a sweet drone under $200.

Add on top of that FPV capable flight, altitude hold (allows you to release the throttle and the drone will keep hovering at the same height), and mobile device control, and you can’t get much better than this quadcopter in this price range.

With gravity sensor mode, the drone will respond according to how you rotate and orient your mobile device. It also comes with a one-key return-to-home function, which comes in handy if the drone accidentally goes out of sight.

The HS110 is a great all-around FPV quadcopter.


7. Potensic FPV Quad with Carrying Case

The Potensic F183DH comes read-to-fly with a nice set of additional accessories.

The drone itself comes with a 2MP camera, a 5.8GHz wireless transmission system, and an LCD screen to get a live FPV stream of your camera’s view in real time. It also comes with four propeller guards to protect it during crashes.

The package also comes with extra propellers, extra batteries, a USB card reader, a carrying case, and more.

The Potensic F183DH, with its package, makes it a great quadcopter for experiencing first-person-view drone flight.


8. Sky Viper V2400 with FPV Headset

This is one of the coolest drones in this list.

The Sky Viper V2400 is an extremely maneuverable drone, meaning that it responds well to controls and is capable of aerobatic maneuvers. At the same time, it offers FPV functionality.

The drone comes with adjustable first person view goggles that allow you to see what the drone’s camera is seeing in real time.

It also has flight assist features, like Auto Launch, Auto Hover, and Auto Land. And the quad does 360-degree barrel rolls in any direction with the push of a button.

The Sky Viper V2400 is a highly recommended FPV streaming drone for the more adventurous flyer.


9.  Tokky Upgraded Bugs3 with Support for GoPro Hero

The Upgraded Bugs3 from Tokky is one of the few drones in this price range that come with brushless motors, giving them lower friction, reduce heat production, and a prolonged battery life for the quadcopter.

The drone comes with support for GoPro Hero cameras. Its gimbal mount adapter snugly fits a GoPro camera and comes with an anti-shock system for shock absorbance and smoother images/videos.

LED lights also help you fly in low-light conditions.

This is a great quad for GoPro fans or pilots who want to use their own camera(s).


10. CoDrone Programmable Drone Kit for Beginners (Arduino)

If you’re at all interested in coding or automated drone flight, this is the drone for you.

CoDrone is a programmable drone kit that requires zero prior coding experience or knowledge. After reading the instructions and following a few tutorials, you can program CoDrone to do flips, fly different directions, and even battle each other.

Not only can you get your drone to do cool maneuvers, but you will learn fundamental coding skills that can be applied elsewhere.

The drone comes with an arduino compatible controller, and it can be controlled with your smartphone as well.

CoDrone is an excellent gift, a learning tool, and a fun little flyer.


Did we miss any drones in the $100-$200 range? Let us know in the comments below.

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