Guest post by Arthur Daniel Cohen

Are the most high-tech drones worth their price tag? The answer is, it depends. You could pay a top-dollar and get a great drone. But, you could pay much less for a drone with the same quality and similar features, and just have less advanced specifications, such a memory and storage. The latest and greatest high-tech drones may not be best drones for beginners, however, who are brand new to flying and more prone to crashes.

Still, high-tech drones let you record videos for longer times and capture them at higher quality levels. Plus, they typically have helpful added features just for beginners who are new to flying. Whether or not they’re worth it for you will depend on your wants and needs as a pilot. Let’s explore which drones stretch your dollar further.

Can You Find Quality Drones Under $100?

Not all drones under $100 are great, if you hadn’t already guessed. Nonetheless, if you choose the right one, you can get a drone that’s both cheap and well-made, so that it’s durable enough to be a starter drone. 

Here’s our list of the top drones to buy under $100:

• DJI Tello Quadcopter
• Holy Stone HS200 FPV
• Eachine E58 Quadcopter Drone
• Force1 UFO 3000
• Syma X5 Quadcopter Drone

The drones on this list are made with strong materials and able to withstand crashes. They’re designed for either youth or beginners and are great choices for recreational use, or for getting started as a pilot before moving up to more advanced drones.

What’s in the $200-$300 Price Range for Drones?

Stepping up to the $100-$200 price range still keeps you generally in the starter drone range, but there are some that are exceptionally high-quality and advanced considering their price, and can be enjoyed by experienced pilots. 

This is our roundup of great drones under $200, based on value for money:

• Potensic T25 GPS Drone
• Holy Stone HS165 GPS Drone
• Eachine E511 WiFi FPV Live Video Quadcopter
• Eachine E58 Quadcopter Drone
• Contixo F17+ RC Quadcopter Photography Drone

$200-$300 Drones That Compete with High-Tech and High-Priced Drones

It’s definitely possible to find quality drones under $300, and here’s our list of the best ones in this price range:

• Contixo F24 GPS RC Quadcopter Drone
• UPair One Drone
• Potensic GPS FPV RC D80 Drone
• MJX BUGS 2 Quadcopter
• Altair Aerial’s Outlaw SE GPS Drone

Some of these are the best auto follow drones on the market, with GPS capabilities that make them more comparable to high-end drones. You can enjoy features for beginner pilots and sync the drone up with your smartphone for setting navigation routes and more. Many of the more expensive drones have all these features, but offer greater specs, so that you can record video for longer and at higher quality levels.

Expensive High Tech Drones: Does the Hype Live Up to the Price?

While there’s nothing wrong with a drone being expensive, its price tag should be justified. Especially considering many of these drone companies use the same manufacturing facilities and create similar levels of quality. You don’t need to pay more to get quality, but you do need to pay more if you want your drone to have the advanced features and specs.

About the Author:

Arthur Daniel Cohen is a drone blogger who loves drones, with 4 years in the drone industry and 2 years of experience as a professional drone pilot.