Best Drones for Adults [Updated 2021]
Updated:
Getting into drones as an adult these days can be a bit of a headache. Why? Because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of drones out there to choose from. Researching the best drones for adults also means searching through some of the introductory drones, as well.
Unfortunately, that can take quite awhile, so we’re here to help you out. Hobby drones for adults are relatively easy to find, but they often get mixed in with drones for kids and drones for beginners.
Top 4 Drones For Adults
Here are our top 5 picks for the best drones for adults as a hobby.
DJI Mavic Air
The DJI Mavic Air is one of the most popular pro drones on the market today and is our #1 choice for a high-end drone for adults. It comes with a ton of advanced features (including autonomous flight modes and the best obstacle avoidance sensors around) at a fairly reasonable price of $700. It even has a built-in 4K Ultra HD camera that can also take 1080p video at 120 frames per second.
This is in addition to the impressively long flight range and flight time and the fact that the whole drone can fold up and fit in a pocket. This has become one of the most popular flying cameras in recent memory, and when you take a look at the specs it’s definitely not hard to see why!
Here are the features and the specs:
- Has a maximum flight time of 20 minutes
- Has the most advanced obstacle avoidance functionality on the market
- Has a maximum transmission range of 10,000 meters
- Features a 6-axis gyro for stability
- Comes with a built-in 4K Ultra High Definition camera
- Folds up for compact storage and portability
The Mavic Air is one of the best high-end drones around in our opinion and perfect for any adult drone pilot who wants to take his, her, or their game to the next level.
Altair Aerial Blackhawk
You can find the best price on Amazon.com here.
If you find the manufacturer’s name familiar, it’s because we’ve reviewed their drones earlier on. The Blackhawk by Altair Aerial, however, is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous line of drones that have been released thus far, costing only $120.
While it may cost less than the 818 Hornet, there’s a couple of reasons why. If you have a GoPro HERO3 or a HERO4 model, you can strap it to the Blackhawk and fly away.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Has a maximum flight time of between 15 to 17 minutes
- Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system
- Has a maximum transmission range of between 300 to 500 meters
- Uses independent ESCs that are built into Automatic Lock Protection
- Has an action camera mount for GoPro HERO3 and HERO4 models
- Features Automatic Lock Protection
The Blackhawk by Altair Aerial is the perfect choice for someone who wants a high-speed drone with minimal features and superb specs.
Intro Drones for Adults
Here are our top 5 picks for the best intro drones for adults as a hobby. (Take a look at our picks for Top Drones For Kids here)
AA18 Hornet
You can find the best price on Amazon.com here.
The 818 Hornet by Altair Aerial is another awesome intro drone for adults. It’s also incredibly budget-friendly, coming in at only $160!
You may notice a lot of similarities here, considering this one is also manufactured by Altair Aerial and is a lot like the AA108, but they do have their differences. For one, the 818 Hornet can go further and has a battery that lasts up to 5 minutes longer.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses a premium 720p HD rubber-damping camera with real-time video transmissions and FPV capabilities
- Has a maximum flight time of up to 15 minutes, doubled by the second battery included for free
- Features Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, 1-Button Takeoff, 1-Button Landing, 3 Flight Skill Levels, Out of Range Alarm, Emergency Landing Function, Low Battery Alarm and Custom Route Modes
- Has a maximum flight range of up to 150 meters
- Takes a 7.4V LiPo battery
The 818 Hornet by Altair Aerial is a step above the AA108, making it a great choice for someone who liked the first, but wants one with some more stretched specs, if you get our meaning.
Altair Aerial AA108
You can find the best price on Amazon.com here.
The AA108 by Altair Aerial has had a serious price drop lately, currently priced at around $110! What is loved most about this drone is that it comes with 3 Flight Skill Levels – Intro, Mid Level, and Advanced.
These flight skill levels ensure that you can learn and grow with your drone without having to upgrade to a more professional model. Instead, flip to the last skill level, and you’ve got your professional drone right there!
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses a premium 720p HD rubber-damping camera with real-time video transmissions and FPV capabilities
- as a maximum flight time of up to 10 minutes, doubled by the second battery included for free
- Features Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, 1-Button Takeoff, 1-Button Landing, 3 Flight Skill Levels, Out of Range Alarm, Emergency Landing Function, Low Battery Alarm and Custom Route Modes
- Has a maximum flight range of up to 100 meters
- Takes a 3.7V 350mAh LiPo battery
The AA108 by Altair Aerial is one of the best hobby drones for adults, especially for those who want one that grows in experience with them.
Holy Stone U818A HD
The U818A HD by Holy Stone is a great drone for adults that is also very budget-friendly. It’ll only cost you $70, is very easy to fly, and also doubles as a drone that is simple enough for children to use without using any of the extensive features.
It’s one of the best hobby drones for adults for anyone who wants to start with something small and inexpensive. Though it’s a small & cheap it comes with an HD camera that’s actually of good quality!
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses a 720p HD camera at 30 FPS with 2 MP still photographs
- Features Headless Mode, 360-Degree Flips and Low Voltage Alarm
- Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system
- Comes with a 4 GB microSD card and card reader
- Uses LED running lights
- Has a maximum flight time of between 7 to 9 minutes, which can be doubled by the second battery included for free
- Has a maximum transmission range of up to 80 meters
- Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with 4 channels
- Has an LCD transmission screen
The U818A HD by Holy Stone is a very impressive little drone for adults who want to get into hobby drones. It’s both simple yet very effective where serious features and specs are concerned.
SYMA X5C-1 Explorer
If you’re looking for something smaller in budget, then the X5C-1 Explorer by SYMA is right up your alley. It’s going for as little as $45 right now. Despite the low price, we assure you, it’s a drone that well deserves a spot on our list.
You may recognize this one. If you do, it’s because it’s the upgraded version of the previous X5C by SYMA. This one, however, includes an HD camera and a couple of other upgrades that we know you’ll love.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system
- Features Anti-Interference Technology, 360-Degree Eversion, Throwing Flight Function and 1-Key 360-Degree Rolls
- Uses an HD camera
- Comes with a 4 GB microSD card
- Has a maximum transmission range of up to 30 meters
- Takes a 3.7V 500mAh LiPo battery
- Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with 4 channels
- Has a maximum flight time of between 5 to 7 minutes
- Uses a 2-in-1 transmitter
The X5C-1 Explorer by SYMA is a great way to get a handle on learning how to fly a drone. While it’s a simple one, it’s never stopped being a classic that teaches you everything you need to know about flying a drone successfully.
Holy Stone F181W
For those who want a drone that will give them a challenge, the F181W by Holy Stone comes highly recommended. It has a reasonable price of $112 and brings some serious professional power to the table.
For starters, it boasts Automatic Altitude Hold, which uses a powerful amount of air pressure to hold it steady no matter the weather, something that every aerial photographer needs.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses a 120-degree FOV HD WiFi camera with 720p HD resolution
- Offers FPV capabilities and real-time video transmissions
- Features Automatic Altitude Hold, Gravity Sensor Function, One-Key Takeoff, One-Key Landing, 3D Flips, One-Key Return and Headless Mode
- Uses the latest 6-axis gyro stabilization system
- Has a maximum transmission range of up to 100 meters
- Takes a 3.7V 750mAh LiPo battery
- Has a maximum flight time of between 7 to 10 minutes, doubled by the second battery included for free
- Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with 4 channels
- Has LED lights for low visibility and night flight
For anyone looking for an introductory challenge before they step up to the more complicated drones for adults, the F181W by Holy Stone is where you most definitely want to be.
Advanced Drones for Adults
Now let’s get onto the second portion of our review, the advanced drones for adults. These hobby drones are not for the faint of heart. They require, at minimum, skill in flying a drone and using certain features.
DJI Phantom 3 Standard
Everybody knows and loves the Phantom 3 Standard by DJI. It’s a timeless favorite that has been both reliable and fun to fly for quite a long time. These days, it can be yours for as little as $480, so why not indulge a little bit?
It’s a model from the Phantom line that acts as a suitable bridge from beginners to advanced fliers alike, giving the user something that is more GPS-oriented with loads of controls and options in store.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses 2.7K video and 12 MP still photos with 720p HD real-time video transmissions
- Able to have live images streamed to your smart device for up to half a mile using the DJI GO app
- Uses a GPS module to assist with certain features and other flight aspects
- Has a maximum transmission range of up to 500 meters
- Features Point of Interest, Waypoints Automatic Flight Assistant and Follow Me
- Has a maximum flight time of up to 25 minutes
The Phantom Standard 3 by DJI will always be a favourite classic of every drone user and lover out there, that’s for sure.
Parrot Bebop 2
The Bebop 2 by Parrot is one of the best drone for adults for many reasons. For one, it has an insanely low price of $295 and is an exceptional upgrade from anything we’ve seen before when it comes to previous Parrot models.
It boasts upgraded, powerful motors that offer better flight and an overall better experience in different winds and altitudes, which is something that every drone manufacturer should have, considering a good chunk of them do not.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Uses an enhanced 14 MP fish-eye lens with 1080p video
- Has a maximum flight time of up to 25 minutes
- Takes a 2700mah LiPo battery
- Uses powerful motors for better flight in greater altitudes and winds
- Has powerful rear flashing LED lights for better visibility in low level flights
- Features Automatic Return to Home and Flight Plan
- Uses a 3-axis digital stabilization system
- Able to hit speeds of up to 38 MPH
- Able to stream in real-time using the FreeFlight 3 app
The Bebop 2 by Parrot is a beautiful advanced hobby drone that any user will quickly come to know and love, even on their first flight!
Bolt Drones FPV Racing Drone
For those looking to hit high speeds with a more advanced model, the FPV Racing Drone by Bolt Drones is right up your alley. This one will only cost you $170, which is a great deal in our books.
It’s made of a carbon fiber frame, which is usually done in racing drones, so you can be well assured that, should a crash happen, the damage will be as minimal as possible.
Here are the features and the specs:
- Comes with FPV goggles and an HD camera for live feeds and broadcasting
- Uses a carbon fiber frame for added durability and otherwise protection
- Has a maximum top speed of up to 30 MPH
- Uses a 5.8GHz transmission frequency with a 640×480 LCD screen transmitter
- Takes a 7.4V 1000mAh LiPo battery
- Uses 1020 brushed coreless motors
- Has a maximum flight time of between 12 to 15 minutes
Anyone who wants a good mix of FPV and racing will no doubt receive it from the FPV Racing Drone by Bolt Drones.
The Best Drones for Adults
No doubt, by now you’ve chosen your favorite, or favorites, from the lists of drones we have just gone over. It’s important to remember where your skill level currently is, what you want out of a drone, and what your budget is.
Our favorite pick for the introductory category is the 818 Hornet by Altair Aerial. It’s fast, efficient, has over 15 minutes of flight time per battery, and gives you a run for your money, what little is spent, that is.
Our favorite pick from the advanced category is the Bebop 2 by Parrot. It’s advanced, exquisite, and a very flashy drone that gives real, true flight results.
However, if budget to quality is where your loyalty lies, you might want to go with the Blackhawk by Altair Aerial. It’s a beautiful, budget-friendly, advanced drone that comes from an excellent manufacturer.
Further Reading
The Best Drones of 2021
Best Beginner Drone via Dronethusiast
Kennedy Martinez
kennedy@dronethusiast.comKennedy Martinez is a resident writer who joined Dronethusiast at the beginning of 2019. She has years of experience reviewing drones and other tech products. When it comes to flying drones, Kennedy loves the ability to create artistic videos from a unique point of view. Kennedy enjoys researching new drones and other exciting products that are available to consumers which is why she is committed to creating the best buyer's guides for our readers.
