Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he has directed Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll to formally establish a joint, interagency task force to counter hostile unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones. “Our job here at the Pentagon — when you think about it — is to prepare for the threats of the future […]
The NATO standard “Sense and Avoid for Unmanned Aircraft Systems” has been promulgated and is effective after being ratified by NATO nations. This is the first Sense/Detect and Avoid standard to be implemented on both sides of the Atlantic. The standard transitioned from recommended practice to an implemented standard after validation by military and civil […]
This summer offshore wind giant Ørsted is using heavy-lifting cargo drones to carry out the largest programme of offshore equipment deliveries that has ever been done outside the military – including Hornsea 1 & 2, the largest offshore wind farms in the world. Ørsted and its UK-based drone operator Skylift are using the FlyingBasket cargo […]
An ultra-endurance drone roughly the size of a small plane crashed along the beach near Ninilchik, according to aviation authorities. The crash involved an aircraft with a 36-foot wingspan known as Vanilla Unmanned, built for days long endurance flights and involved in several military flights including some in Alaska in recent years. The drone was […]
If you’re new to drones, the best piece of advice I can give is this: start with any of the many cheap practice drones you can find (even from the toy aisle at Costco or Target).
You don’t want your first flight to be with a $2,200 DJI Mavic 3 into a pool, only to crash it into a pool. A $40 practice drone from Amazon ending up in a tree? That stings a lot less.
Cheap training drones are intentionally harder to fly than premium models. High-end drones like the DJI Mini 2 SE (still my favorite budget camera drone at $339) practically fly themselves, with auto takeoff, landing, hovering, return-to-home and even pre-programmed flight paths.
Even something like a $300 DJI Mini 4K, which is my favorite camera drone if you’re on a budget, practically fly themselves. After all, the Mini 4K has features like auto takeoff, landing, hovering, return-to-home and even pre-programmed flight paths.
That’s great for capturing photos and video — but it means you’re not actually learning how to fly.
Think of it like driving: you wouldn’t learn to drive in a self-driving Tesla. You’d want to start with a simple car and actually understand the basics. Same goes for drones: train on a basic, inexpensive model before you upgrade.
This guide highlights the best beginner drones under $200 in 2025, all of which are designed to help you master the sticks without breaking the bank.
(Of course, if you are looking for a higher-quality camera drone, check out my guide to the cheapest camera drones that I actually recommend.)
Best drone under $200 for learning to fly: DJI Neo
The Drone Girl, Sally French, connects the DJI Neo battery. It has a maximum battery life of 18 minutes.
At $199, the DJI Neo hits the sweet spot: it’s affordable, durable, and designed specifically with beginner pilots in mind. It’s also the only drone under $200 I’d recommend if you want something that’s both fun to fly and high quality enough to last beyond your “practice phase.”
Even in my guide to the best drones for beginners (which has no price tag limit), Neo still takes the case for my top pick. I dig deeper into the drone on my DJI Neo review here, but here’s a high-level overview of what this drone is all about:
Why DJI Neo is so great for beginners
Intuitive controls: The Neo offers built-in stabilization that smooths out flights, making it forgiving for first-time pilots.
Hand launch capability: Unlike most drones, you can toss the Neo into the air to start flying. This eliminates the need for tricky ground takeoffs.
Durability: Propeller guards and a sturdy build help it survive the inevitable beginner crashes.
Compact & portable: Its lightweight design makes it easy to carry anywhere.
Drawbacks to consider with Neo
Unusual launch style: Most higher-end drones take off from the ground via remote or app. Neo’s hand-launch system isn’t the norm, so transitioning later to bigger drones may take some adjustment.
Remote sold separately: The base package requires you to fly with your smartphone. A physical RC transmitter (which I highly recommend for skill-building) costs extra — pushing your spend slightly above $200.
Price: $199
Flight time: 18 minutes
Now if you can afford to push your budget beyond $200, you might also consider another great beginner drone, the DJI Flip. Learn more in my breakdown of the DJI Flip vs. Neo.
For beginners who want the absolute cheapest way to practice flying, the Tomzon Mini Drone is hard to beat. At just over $30, it’s a low-risk training tool — lose it in a tree and you won’t cry.
Why it’s great for training
No camera, no distractions: This drone exists purely to help you get stick time.
LED propellers: A fun touch that makes it stand out, especially for kids or indoor flights.
Extra batteries included: While each flight is only 8 minutes, the package comes with two batteries, giving you about 16 minutes of total airtime.
Price: $32.99
Flight time: 8 minutes (comes with 2 batteries, for a total of 16 minutes)
No matter what drone you’re flying, make sure you’re comfortable and familiar with drone flying basics before takeoff.
Here are a few other important notes for 2025:
FAA registration: If your drone weighs less than 250 grams (about half a pound) — which applies to both drones in this guide — you don’t need to register with the FAA. But you do need to follow all airspace rules, such as avoiding restricted zones.
Expect crashes: That’s the point! These practice drones are inexpensive precisely so you can learn without fear.
Know when to upgrade: Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’re ready to move up to a camera drone. Start with my guide to the best camera drones of 2025. If you’re still budget-conscious, I’ve also written about the best DJI drones under $500. And don’t forget a drone landing pad.
And if you’re shopping for a younger beginner? Check out my updated roundup of the best drones for kids of 2025.
The YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, designed and developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), is now conducting flight testing in coordination with the U.S. Air Force. This historic achievement continues the company’s rapid creation of new, jet-powered unmanned platforms chartered by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to achieve air dominance while being designed for […]
– Saab has revealed Nimbrix, its first ever dedicated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) missile. The missile is developed to counter the increasing threat from small drones on the battlefield. The fire-and-forget missile is being rapidly developed at Saab with the aim to deliver a system featuring a target seeker, a hard-kill warhead, and a small […]
– uAvionix, a leader in aviation communications, navigation, and surveillance data solutions, and VOTIX, the pioneering drone automation and orchestration platform, has announced the successful integration of uAvionix’s FlightLine ADS-B data service into the VOTIX platform. The collaboration delivers real-time, aviation-grade Detect and Avoid (DAA) data to VOTIX users, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and decision-making […]
“In [the Star Wars movie], ‘A New Hope,’ Luke Skywalker flies an X-Wing through the Death Star trench and blows it up,” La Torre said. “This wasn’t like that. It was way harder. Honestly, it felt more like Darth Vader shooting down rebel pilots. He might be the villain, but he’s also one of the […]
New Xplorer UAV US-based drone manufacturer Arcsky recently announced the launch of the Xplorer UAV, a “rugged, compact drone system built for industrial missions”. Designed for fast deployment, rock-solid reliability, and seamless integration without added complexity, the Xplorer is designed for use across public safety, infrastructure inspection, and survey applications. Simplicity and Flexibility The fully […]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he has directed Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll to formally establish a joint, interagency task force to counter hostile unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones. “Our job here at the Pentagon — when you think about it — is to prepare for the threats of the future […]
