5 High-Quality Drones under 250 Grams — Maximum Functionality in a Tiny Device

Holy Stone HS120D is among the bestselling drones under .55 pounds for a good reason. It features tracking features such as Custom Path, Follow Me, and Object Trace and GPS support to assist return flights when the drone is out of range, or the battery runs low. It also includes Altitude and Headless modes for easy orientation.

Some of the notable features include control range of 300 meters and maximum flight time of 18 minutes.

The camera is 2K UHD with 120° FOV and adjustable FPV. It captures 2048 x 1152p videos, making it the best 1080p drone under .55 pounds, and the Gesture Control takes automated shots that are instantly shareable on social media.

Buyers also receive a bonus backpack for convenient transport and storage, two 3.7V 1200mAH rechargeable batteries that can be switched for continuous operation, a 5V USB charging cable, 4 propellers, 4 guards, and 2 landing gears. It takes 2 hours to charge each battery.

Each rotor tip has built-in LED lighting that indicates the calibration status.

Holy Stone HS120D supports micro SD cards with a maximum memory capacity of 32GB, and you can control it with a remote controller or via app with online matching buttons. One key is used for both takeoff and landing and for return to home.

What we liked: It is reasonably priced, has decent flight time and several drone tracking functions, and resolution output of 1080p HD.

What could be better: The main complaint regards losing the drones despite the tracing features.  Besides that, this drone is not foldable, but that should not be a deal breaker since it has a compact profile.

Our Upgrade Pick has been upgraded with stronger connection, powerful motors, improved battery life, and high-quality cameras with 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor that are better than the 2.7K of its predecessor. It comes with a 4K camera with capture rate of 30 frames per second and a 12MP camera.  To maximize resolution, DJI Mini 2 is equipped with a 3-axis motorized gimbal for to stabilize the signal for minimal interference. The resulting videos have 720p resolution.

It features integrated OcuSync 2.0 that optimizes transmission to a distance of up to 10 km by adjusting between the frequencies.

DJI Mini 2  is the best professional drone under 250 grams with impressive flight time of 31 minutes, maximum speed of 35.8mph, and control range of up to 4,000 meters.

It has automated flight paths and supports both GLONASS and GPS to provide precise location.

The upgraded camera can now generate raw images as well as JPG images, and you can magnify the images by up to 4 times and edit them to add filters and soundtracks.

You can fold the compact drone to fit in your packet and fly it without prior registration by FAA.

What we liked: It has excellent range and battery life, and stabilization to produce high-quality images. It also comes with guards to minimize damage from impact.

What could be better: Although buyers appreciate the level 5 wind resistance, they would like the drone to also have ActiveTrack, which detects obstacles during flight.

Ryze Tech Tello is mainly designed for kids and beginners, but you will find that there are several features that will benefit professionals, too. For starters, it is one of the best lightweight drones under .55 pounds for beginners, weighing only 81 grams.

The drone flies at a maximum speed of 17.9 mph in operational range of up to 100 meters, lasting for a maximum of 13 minutes in flight. It is powered by DJI, which should make this model a bargain considering drones with this technology tend to be pricier. DJI pioneered the first preassembled drone as well as several other inventions.

The camera captures 5MP photos and videos at HD 720p resolution, and two antennas stabilize the signal for live transmission.

You can operate the drone with the Tello app, which transforms your phone into a recording device, or you can write code for the commands with Scratch, a mobile programming language. Update the software to use the motion commands.

The drone is capable of 360-degree views and midair flips, and, owing to EZ Shots function, you can share the footage on social media. Once you connect to the app, you will see a red video recording button. Since there is no slot for memory card, the captured images and videos are sent to your phone via the app.

The package includes a set of propeller guards, 4 propellers, propeller removal tool for quick disassembly, a Lithium Polymer battery, and a micro USB cable.

What we liked: It is the best drone under .55 pounds for beginners and kids that is also a fun tool to learn coding.

What could be better: Image and video quality could be better if the Wi-Fi connection remained stable.

If you have limited budget but would still like a drone with features fit for a professional, we would recommend Cheerwing W1PRO as the best drone under .55 pounds.

It is equipped with a 1080p HD front camera, a 720p bottom camera, a clip to attach a phone for FPV, and optional guards to mitigate damage. The 1080p camera has an adjustable viewing angle of up to 120º, and the drone supports smartphones as well as SD cards with maximum memory of 64GB.

The drone has maximum flying time and control range of 18 minutes and 250 meters respectively. Users can switch speed, and the LED lights improve visibility at night.

It comes with 2 rechargeable 7.4V 1800mAh batteries, so you can swap them for minimal interruptions, an extra propeller for quick replacement, a remote controller with two handles, and a manual. The inclusion of a second battery is convenient because charging time is 200 minutes. The remote controller uses 4 AA batteries bought separately.

This affordable model is compatible with smartphones and features GPS mode to track your surroundings. You can activate Waypoint or Follow Me mode on the app so you can recover the drone in case of low battery or lost signal. Palm’s control mode suits selfies, Maintain Altitude mode remembers previous settings, and Optical Flow mode for custom flight path.

What we liked: It comes with 2 cameras, 2 rechargeable batteries, and phone attachment. We also like the decent flight time, GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity, and compatibility with SD cards for memory expansion.

What could be better: Charging takes a while, and taking clear pictures can be tricky in windy weather since the camera is fixed, and this model lacks gimbal or Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) function.

Long gone are days when you had to spend a minimum of $1000 to purchase any drone. You can now get the best drones under .55 pounds for beginners, such as SIMREX X300C, which costs less than $100.

It is capable of 360-degree flips in 4 different directions, flight time of up to 10 minutes, and maintaining current height even when you release the throttle stick. This is achieved with headless mode functionality that lets the drones remember the active settings, so it doesn’t detour.

The drone features 6-axis gyro flight control system and flies at a remote control range of 30 to 45 meters. It is available in 4 optional colors.

The controller utilizes AA batteries, which are not included. Instead, the package consists of a phone holder, charging cable, one Lipo battery, 4 additional propellers and their protection frames, and a user manual. The manual advises users to gently adjust throttle for precision since the motors are very responsive and to take breaks between flights to let the drone cool.

This drone under .55 pounds is not weatherproof, so avoid flying the drone in windy or rainy weather that may damage internal components like the battery.

It takes approximately an hour to fully charge the battery. Keep the included cable because it is the only one that can charge it.

SIMREX X300C may be controlled with a remote control or with an iOS or Android phone. It features a 110° wide angle first-person view (FPV) camera with resolution of 1920 x 1080. You can view the live footage on your phone. Beginners will find it easy to operate because you only use one key for takeoff or landing. There are 3 selectable speed modes.

The protection ring prevents damage of the propeller, and the foldable design makes it portable.

What we liked: We like the FPV camera, low pricing, easy controls, additional propellers, and the protective features.

What could be better: It has limited flying time, the remote batteries are not included, and the holder may be too small for some phones.