Best Indoor Drones Under $400
Though flying drones outside are fun, many people live in climates where staying indoors is the only option. When looking for the Best indoor drones, you’ll need to figure out which features are most important for your home setup. Prioritize long-lasting drones with high-quality components, as well as those designed with keeping beginners in mind. Because these drones will be used indoors, keep in mind battery life and overall noise production.
Overall, the best drones for flying indoors are so tiny that they would not harm you or damage the wall if they hit it. Small enough to fit in your palm, the finest nano drones contain tiny propellers that spin on the motor shaft or fold when they come in contact with something. There are also toy flying drones but in this article, we will only talk about indoor drones.
Following is a list for you to choose from when deciding to buy an indoor drone or when learning to fly one.
Ryze Tello
One of the Best indoor drones with a lower price but enhanced features
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 98 x 93 x 41mm
- Weight: 80g
- Battery: 13 minutes
Even though it was manufactured by a firm called Ryze, the drone is sometimes lumped in with DJI’s drones because it uses DJI flight technology and an Intel processor. It is similar to a mini DJI drone. It contains many features that should not be available at such a low price, like EIS (electronic image stabilization) and bottom sensors for stability.
Although the drone does not come with an RC transmitter, it may be controlled using a smartphone app. You can use hand gestures to control it, and at the same time, if you do nothing, it will maintain its location and height, making it safe to use.
The Tello has an image-stabilized HD camera and several flight modes, including circle around and tricks. It also comes with a prop guard for added safety, which is ideal to be used indoors. The best part is that it can be flown effectively outside.
Although it lacks a dedicated controller and a particularly good camera, it can shoot 720p videos and 5-megapixel photographs.
Force 1 Scoot LED
Perfect toy both for kids and grownups
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 110 x 110 x 45mm
- Weight: 80g
- Battery: 4 minutes
Force 1 Scoot is a mini drone is also one of the Best indoor drones, with a unique flying-ball-like design that comes at a reasonable price. The ring on this tiny drone shines brightly, giving an impression of a flying saucer.
It is excellent for younger children because it has built-in motion sensors that allow kids to control it with their hands. With the same sensor technology, the drone can fly autonomously indoors and avoids obstacles, so there’s no immediate threat of crashing or causing damage.
To get in the air, you toss the drone in the air, and the motors will automatically engage. It rotates slowly but steadily, and you can push it without touching it, thanks to the two infrared sensors that detect and avoid your hands. Also, the IR sensors on the bottom allow you to push it up. Finally, if the motion sensors hit something, it will immediately turn off, with the cage absorbing the impact.
The Force 1 Scoot is not meant for outdoor use, and given its small proportions, it would fly away in the lightest wind and does not come with remote control. Also, it lacks a camera, and you can not practice your controls.
DJI MINI 2
The finest toy drone for both indoor and outdoor flights
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 159 x 203mm
- Weight: 242g + guards
- Battery: 31 minutes
The upgraded 4K camera on the Mini 2 is incredible: So you can now record 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second, and 12-megapixel photos, much like the previous model. The three-axis motorized gimbal guarantees that your shots are smooth, and it is legal to fly outdoors without registration.
The drone has GPS and GLONASS positioning transceivers, which let it determine its location on a map and improves its ability to hover almost flawlessly in place. Autonomous and semi-autonomous flights are also possible because of the GPS system. A range of automatic Quickshots-automated flight paths, circle, corkscrew, or pull back away-are available in mini 2.
Learn more about DJI Mini 2
The lack of sensors for obstacle avoidance and recognition is one of the reasons this foldable drone is so light. Its qualities make it one of the Best indoor drones That mean there will be a learning curve and some crashes. But once you get the hang of it, the Mini 2 is more steady, agile, safe to fly, and quieter than other DJI models. The Mini 2 also includes DJI’s OcuSync wireless technology, which improves connection strength while extending the range to 6.2 miles.
Parrot Mambo FPV
The most entertaining indoor drone for children with a bit more quality
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 180 x 180mm (with prop guards)
- Weight: 73g (with bumpers)
- Battery: 8-10 minutes
The Parrot Mambo is a high-quality drone from the premier drone manufacturer in the United States. Therefore, it comes with a variety of addons that make flying this drone the most exciting experience.
The drone is compatible with IOS and Android phones and tablets. The device can be connected through USB or Bluetooth 4.0 BLE. It possesses a stabilization and flight aid system. The drone also uses an ultrasonic sensor, a camera, and a barometer to maintain a stable hover, so if you let go of the controls, it will simply hover.
The Flypad controller is required for flying Parrot Mambo FPV. It is a stable drone that can be flown even by the most inexperienced pilot. For the price, the FPV goggles are a fantastic edition; but the quality can be pixelated, and the resolution decreases as the drone flies farther away from the person controlling it.
Know in detail about Parrot drones
The Parrot Mambo has a 720p camera. The forward rotors will appear in every photo and video you capture during the flight. Also, when the drone is traveling quickly, the captured videos can be shaky.
Know about the best drones for agriculture
Eachine E010
A well-known beginner drone
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 115 × 100 × 48 mm
- Weight: 16.7g
- Battery: 5 minutes
When we look for the Best indoor drones, we also have a choice in form of Eachine E010, It is a low-cost indoor drone, making it ideal for newbies, who are likely to crash it. It possesses removable batteries, which helps prolong the total flight time depending on how many batteries you have. This drone also has excellent prop guards and is nearly unbreakable in the event of a collision.
Despite its short battery life, this is an excellent indoor drone with a comprehensive feature set. It has a return to home feature and can perform flips and rolls. It has a slow mode, which is ideal for beginners flying indoors or anyone who wishes to fly through tight places. So, the use of 6 Axis Gyro technology makes it incredibly stable in the air, a feature that beginners will cherish.
Due to its small size and lightweight, it won’t perform well in the wind. This drone comes with three flight modes, i.e., low, medium, and high; if you wish to fly it outside, make sure you are in the high-speed mode to beat the wind.
| Pros | Cons |
| Small and affordable | Not suitable outdoors |
| Easy to land | Has no camera |
| Comes with four extra propellers | Short flight time |
Snaptain H823H
A convincing and sturdy indoor drone for safe enjoyment
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 76 x 71 x 246mm
- Weight: 240g including guards
- Battery: 7 mins
The exposed propellers are the most pressing issue with indoor flying, yet the Snaptin H823H handles it better than most. The drone is equipped with a guard that protects not only the sides of the revolving blade but also the top and bottom of the propellers.
It is a small drone with a variety of features that is aimed mainly at inexperienced pilots. It uses rechargeable, small LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries, similar to most drones of its size. However, every battery in the box will need to be charged, and the remote control will require a few AAA batteries.
Beginner pilots will appreciate it because it has the ability to take off and hover automatically with altitude holds and the option to move forward by increasing speed. The drone has a front-facing headlight that will help you maintain track of it if you operate it at night.
An issue with this drone is that it must be connected to the remote control by moving the joysticks up and down until a beep sounds before using it. On a higher-quality, more expensive drone, this would not be necessary so often.
Want to know about 5 best drones for kids