Drone for a gift - what cheap drone to choose?

The drone is an extremely interesting gadget for both children and adults. The variety of available models makes it an ideal gift idea for almost any occasion - from communion to birthdays. How to choose the right drone, combining quality with affordability?

What kind of drone for a gift? Basic requirements

The low-cost drone category is dominated by companies such as Syma or BetaFPV - each of these manufacturers is able to ensure good quality and durability of their equipment. However, you can also bet on solutions from the market leader DJI, which released a few months ago its cheapest model - DJI Neo, being a very cost-effective choice for a gift. For cheaper devices, you can count on flight time mostly in the range of 8-15 minutes and charging time of 30-70 minutes - Therefore, it may also be a good choice to equip yourself with an extra battery pack. The price of the drone itself, on the other hand, can be adjusted according to the age of the recipient:

• drones under 300 zł - a good choice for children and younger teens
• up to PLN 500 - for teenagers aged 14-16
• drones up to PLN 1,000 - Suitable for teenagers already entering adulthood, i.e. 16-18 years of age
• more expensive devices - recommended as a gift for an adult, preferably with previous drone flying experience

Gift drone for a child - from £135

Wanting to choose a drone as a gift for a child, it is worth paying attention primarily to small, easy-to-use models that will be both durable and safe. Propeller guards are an important piece of equipment - in addition to features that can be useful for learning to fly. Recommended models include m.in. Syma X5HW - is an easy to control drone with a 0.3 MP camera, offering stable flight thanks to a 6-axis gyroscope. The fun is enhanced by the built-in live viewing function, and the price of the device is just 279 PLN.

In the search for even cheaper drones, we can stay within Syma's range - the manufacturer has a lineup of extremely popular model X26, whose price is only 135 PLN. A range of 70 meters, obstacle detection and intelligent flight orientation mode make it a great introduction to the incredibly rich world of drones. Both the X5HW and X26 are ready to fly right out of the box.

*Prices are current as of 22.01.2025 and are subject to change.

Drone - a gift for communion: recommended models from DJI

Communion is a special occasion that often involves giving valuable gifts to children. A drone as a communion gift should be slightly more advanced, offering additional features that will interest older children. The already mentioned Syma models will be perfect - however, if you want to make a more interesting gift and you are sure that the gifted child will be able to cope with a more complex device, you can confidently bet on the base models DJI. In this area, the following proposals deserve attention:

DJI Neo - The drone, which premiered in September 2024. Immediately after its release, this model became the cheapest drone DJI, and its current price is just over £800. Already at this price, however, you can count on advanced features, high quality camera and flight stabilization. As a result, it is an ideal gift not only for communion, but also for older children, teenagers or even adults.

DJI Mini 2 SE - one of the most popular offerings from DJI. Currently, the price of the drone is approx. pLN 1,350, and in return for this price, users get high quality recordings, flight stability, advanced GPS systems and very intuitive operation. Thus, it can also be a suitable choice for younger users, providing plenty of opportunities for learning and fun.

*Prices are current as of 22.01.2025 and are subject to change.

Cheap drone for a gift - FPV drones

Looking for low-cost, interesting models for a gift, it's also worth taking a look at the a wide range of FPV drones. The prices of the devices in this category vary widely, but the cheapest of them is an expense of only PLN 500. It should be noted that the style of flight in this case is completely different than with standard drones, used mainly for photography - FPV flights are much more dynamic, thus requiring reflexes and good control of the device. Therefore, they will be a suitable choice for slightly more experienced users, although nothing prevents you from starting your drone adventure just with FPV devices.

One of the recommended FPV models is Pavo Pico from BetaFPV, which can be purchased for just under £500. However, to take full advantage of the drone's capabilities, you will need to mount an additional camera - the device is compatible m.in. from DJI O3, Walksnail Avatar HD Pro or Caddx Vista. The whole thing is made of special lightweight material, which allows you to combine speed with endurance and dynamics. Also noteworthy is the powerful engine, which provides impressive flight speed, stable lift and excellent balance even in difficult conditions.

BetaFPV Cetus Pro is, in turn dynamic FPV drone with built-in C02 microcamera, which is ready to fly as soon as you unpack the device. Special motors and lightweight design make it extremely easy to perform various tricks, and the simplicity of operation translates into a huge possibilities even for beginners. The price of the device is PLN 600 - so it can be a perfect choice as a gift for various occasions. The flight distance in an undisturbed environment is as much as 80 meters, so Cetus Pro provides virtually endless amounts of fun. Similar opportunities are offered by BetaFPV Cetus X, available at the same price.

*Prices are current as of 22.01.2025 and are subject to change.

Which drone to choose for a gift?

Wanting to buy a drone for a gift, there are quite a few different models available - noteworthy m.in. suggestions Syma, DJI or BetaFPV. As a rule, we recommend adjusting the price, and thus the level of sophistication of the drone, to the age of the recipient: for younger children, the best will be simple models, with features to help them learn to fly. For those with some flying experience, on the other hand, it is worth considering more advanced models, such as the DJI Mini 2 SE, or base FPV drones.

It's worth remembering that a drone isn't just a toy: it's a versatile device that can become the basis of an engaging lifelong passion. Therefore, before choosing a specific model for a gift, it is worth analyzing all the parameters of the equipment, its functionality, price and capabilities. It is also important to determine your budget - even a cheap drone for a gift can provide hours of fun.