Best Small RC Cars – Mini And Micro Remote Control Cars
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Summer 2021 is right around the corner and a lot of families are looking for “at-home activities” for their kids as they get out of school!
If this describes you, you’re in luck, because today we’re looking at the best small, mini, and micro RC cars for sale in 2021.
Not all remote control cars need to be big and tough, like the mighty off-road Traxxas models. And still, some others may want a small RC car they can use safely indoors.
In fact, we highly recommend looking at the Altair brand of small remote control vehicles. While Altair is mostly known on this site as a drone manufacturer, they’ve recently released several high-quality RC boats and trucks! We often find ourselves recommending Altair to our friends and family, mostly because they’re one of the few resellers in the industry that handle all of their customer service here in the USA.
If you’re a relative newcomer to the world of rc cars, you might not know the difference between a small RC car, a mini RC car, and a micro RC car. Indeed, these are fairly loose definitions that even serious hobbyists can’t always agree on. However, we’ve included an FAQ answering this question – and many more questions that come up often when discussing the subject of small remote control cars – below the product reviews.
Best Small RC Cars Reviews
These products are smaller than your average remote control car for sale, but not by much. They’re for shoppers who want something that can be used indoors but don’t want to sacrifice the performance that comes with a larger motor
Altair Bravo RC Car Pro – #1 Small RC Car
Click here to See it On Amazon! or you can get Free Priority Shipping from the manufacturer’s website at AltairAerial.com.
The Altair Bravo 4×4 is a rugged yet small RC car packed with some great features you usually find in much larger vehicles.
This remote control car can reach speeds up to almost 25 MPH, with a range right around 250 feet! If you’re looking to do some exploring, the Altair Bravo is the small RC car for you.
I was super impressed with the durability that this little car showed! For only being a 1:16 scale remote control car, it was still able to attack some pretty rough terrain. I was able to take it up and over a nice size pile of gravel and then through some pretty large puddles on the other side.
If you’re a beginner looking to get into remote control cars and aren’t really sure about jumping up to the big rock crawlers quite yet, I think the Altair Bravo might be the small RC car for you.
Another feature I found to be really useful was the two-speed setting. I started the Bravo out at low-speed just so I could get a handle on the mechanics of the car. Soon after, I was up into high-speed and tearing across the parking lot outside my apartment!
Now, if you’re new to the RC hobby, you probably haven’t quite had the opportunity to work with the “great” customer service teams that are out there offering support. Let’s just say the experience is less than pleasant. Few companies return your emails. If they do, it’s usually some form letter full of grammatical errors that make me question who is really answering the email.
Altair, on the other hand, is phenomenal to work with. I’ve been flying their drones for years now, and they’re always quick to respond to any questions I have. I’ve even bought some of their items “incognito” just to see how they treat regular customers, and it’s exactly the same!
Customer service isn’t usually thought of as a significant benefit, but that’s generally because most companies can’t (or just won’t) offer what Altair does; Help and answers.
Altair Bravo Features:
- 4 wheel drive
- 2.4 Ghz radio transmitter
- Multiple speed modes
Pros:
- Durable frame
- Easy to Control
- Fast speeds
Cons:
- One Battery Included
Power Pro – #1 Small 4×4 RC Car
See the best price on Amazon.com or you can get Fast & Free Shipping from Altairaerial.com
The Power Pro 4×4 is an exceptional small RC car that comes packed full with some amazing features. This RC car can travel at high speeds of nearly 30 mph and drive at a range of 250 feet. These are great stats for any driver looking to do some exploring. Not only that, but the Power Pro is equipped with 4 wheel independent suspension meaning each wheel can move on it’s own. This will help you master any difficult terrain and make sure your small RC car can move through rocks and rubble.
If you’re a beginner and aren’t quite ready to go offroading yet, this small RC car runs great on flat pavement too. Plus, there are two speed modes so you can start slow and learn the controls of the car. Once you become more confident, you can move into the faster mode and get to racing. The Power Pro 4×4 is made my Altair Aerial who are known for their outstanding customer service, too. If you have any questions about your RC car you can call or email them and they will be there to help you and give you detailed and personalized answers.
Altair Power Pro Features:
- 4 wheel drive
- 2.4 Ghz radio transmitter
- Multiple speed modes
- 30 minute battery life with Dual Expansion Truck
Pros:
- Durable frame
- Easy to Control
- Fast speeds
Cons:
- One Battery Included
SZJJX 1:18 Electric Rock Crawler
This small hobby grade RC car, manufactured by JJX-Tech, is perfect for buyers who want great performance at a cheap price. This small remote control car has great skid resistance and full four-wheel drive, so it can be driven indoors, outdoors, and even in some off-road situations. While not necessarily recommended for young children, this small rock crawler is great for beginners.
Looking for something a little larger, check out our best rc cars reviews article and read all the details you need to know before you purchase.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 11.02 x 6.29 x 5.9 inches
• 2.4GHz Remote Controller
• Car requires 4.8V 700mA battery (included)
• Controller requires 3 AA batteries (included)
• 4 wheel drive
• 20 km/hour top speed
Pros:
• Can be used indoors, outdoors, and even off-road
• 20 minute battery life
• Very cheap for a small RC car of this quality
Cons:
• Slow battery charging
HBX 1:18 Scale All Terrain RC Car
HBX is a well-known and well-respected remote control truck company, and although this particular model is by far the most expensive small RC car on this list, it’s well worth the price for any serious hobbyist interested in a smaller vehicle. This car is highly durable and quite fast, equipped with a superb brushed RC380 motor.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 9 x 7 x 6 inches
• 2.4GHz Remote Controller
• Car requires Li-ion 7.4V,650mAH battery (included)
• Controller requires 2 AA batteries (not included)
• 4 wheel drive
• 30 km/hour top speed
Pros:
• Great performance
• Extremely durable
• Should work in all off-road conditions
Cons:
• Short battery life (about 9 minutes)
• Costs over $100 USD
Best Mini Remote Control Car Reviews
Mini remote control cars are very small RC vehicles that are designed to be used indoors and which may have a camera or other features.
Cheerwing Mini RC Racing Car
Cheerwing is a popular brand of RC car manufacturer, known for making accessible beginner cars that are great for users of all ages and skill levels. This mini brushless RC car comes with a strong and quality design, high viscosity tires, dual motors, and a top speed of 12 mph. That makes this car one of the fastest mini remote control cars for sale on the market today!
Features:
• Car dimensions: 5.00 x 2.50 x 3.25 inches
• 2.4GHz Remote Controller
• Car requires 3.7V 100mAh battery (2 included)
• Controller requires 4 AA batteries (not included)
• 2 wheel drive
• Also includes 6 traffic cones and a ramp
Pros:
• Great speed
• Precise controls
• Comes with two batteries
Cons:
• Not very durable, do NOT use this car outdoors
A-Parts Mini Spy Remote Control Tank Car
The A-Parts Mini Spy Remote Control Tank Car has a very unique design and is one of the few small remote control cars with camera for sale. The camera itself can take still images or stream live video, and it all looks very nice at a 0.3 megapixel resolution. It also has a solid battery life and is a little smaller than the Cheerwing model.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 3.9 x 4.7 x 2.4 inches
• Controlled with iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad tablet
• Car requires Li-ion 3.7V/450mAh battery (1 included)
• Manually adjustable 0.3MP camera
Pros:
• One of the few mini RC cars with camera
• Unique design
• Good battery life (20 minutes per battery)
Cons:
• Short transmission range
• Imprecise controls
Best Micro RC Car Reviews
Micro remote control cars are the smallest cars for sale. These tiny RC vehicles can fit in the palm of your hand!
Force1 Gravity Defying Rechargeable RC Car
Force1 is an excellent manufacturer of beginner RC vehicles, and their Gravity Defying Rechargeable RC Car is, in our opinion, the best micro RC car for sale. The name refers to the fact that it can drive on the walls or ceiling, which is a neat gimmick, but what really pushes this car across the finish line is its great performance, which includes multiple controller channels and good speed. It has a few issues with durability, like all micro RC cars, but even in this area it’s a lot sturdier than most of the other products out there.
Looking for rc cars for kids? You can read our in depth review of the best rc cars for kids and learn everything you need to know before you shop.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 2 x 1 x 1 inches
• Controller requires 3 AA batteries (not included)
• Car requires one 3.7v 200mAh Li-Po battery (included)
• Can drive on walls or on the ceiling
• Multiple controller channels
• Vibrant LED lights
Pros:
• Great design
• Great performance
• A fun gimmick where it can drive on walls or the ceiling
Cons:
• Not the most durable car
Micro RC Car Baja Racer
This Ideas In Life brand product – the Baja Racer – is one of the most popular micro RC cars on Amazon. It doesn’t have the most impressive technical specs on the market, but it costs less than 20 dollars, has a great colorful design, and is highly durable. This is the perfect micro RC car for kids or for casual hobbyists.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 2.5 x 1.5 x 2 inches
• 2.7GHz Remote Controller
• Controller requires 2 AA batteries (not included)
• Car plugs into the remote to charge
• 40 foot range
Pros:
• Cheap micro RC car
• Very durable for its size
Cons:
• Imprecise controls
Haomsj Mini Coke Can Micro Racing Car
No, that isn’t a typo – the company that makes these micro cars really is called “hoamsj”, with no capitalization. These popular cars have a great and stylish design, as do the cans they come in (which aren’t actually Coke cans, despite the name.) They have decent power, charge quickly, and come with a few toy traffic cones, but mainly what you’re paying for here is the colorful aesthetic.
Features:
• Car dimensions: 1.2 x 0.9 x 2.7 inches
• 4.9GHz Remote Controller
• Controller requires 2 AA batteries (not included)
• Car uses a built-in rechargeable battery (included)
• Working head and tail lights
Pros:
• The car and the can it comes in both look great
• Decent speed for a micro RC car
Cons:
• Not very durable
Small Radio Controlled Cars FAQ
What’s the difference between a mini RC car and micro RC car?
A mini RC car is a small remote control vehicle that can be driven indoors – usually around 1:32 scale at most. A micro RC car is the tiniest possible remote control vehicle – they can get as small as 1:72 scale.
In other words, these are nearly identical classes of remote control vehicle, but “micro” is smaller than “mini.”
What is the smallest remote control car?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest remote control car ever made is a 25 millimeter model of a Mercedes Benz. That’s 1/90th the size of the original car.
What does RC scale mean?
Many small radio controlled cars are modeled after full-size vehicles. The “scale” is the size comparison between the remote control version of the vehicle and the original car. For example, a 1:10 scale RC car (one of the most common scales) is 1/10th the size of the original car it’s modeled after.
Micro radio controlled cars and mini radio controlled cars usually start at around a 1:32 scale.
Can you buy small remote control cars with camera?
There are a few small remote control cars with camera, but they’re not common, and the cameras aren’t very good. If you’re looking with an RC vehicle with a camera, you’re better off with a drone.
What is the average price of small remote control cars?
Small remote control cars usually cost 50 to 100 dollars.
Where to buy mini RC cars?
Mini and micro RC cars can be purchased in a brick-and-mortar shop if you happen to live in a big city with niche hobby stores, but they’re usually purchased from an online storefront like Amazon. We’ve provided Amazon affiliate links to every product listed in our reviews above.
Mini/Micro RC Cars For Sale
We hope this article has helped you find the best small RC cars, best mini remote control cars, and best micro RC cars for sale. We know that everyone has different needs and desires when they’re shopping for a product like this, so we do our best to help readers find the car that’s perfect for them. If you have a favorite small RC car that we missed, or have a question we didn’t cover in our FAQ, be sure to drop us a line in the comments and we’ll reply as soon as we can.
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.
