5 Great Drones for Teenagers
When selecting a drone for a teenager, keep in mind that most have not owned a drone before and so should be considered as beginner drone pilots. As such, they will need to be trained on safety features to protect themselves and others.
We know that drones open up avenues of photography that have been closed to the average person in ages past. Today’s teenagers have grown up with the expansion of drone use and many are intrigued by this venue, eager to learn more programming and develop skills with these photographic tools to capture and tell their stories. Remember, teenagers are no longer small children and can easily become bored if the drone is too simplistic or a toy.
They may also see being a drone pilot as a right of passage into the adult photography world.
How we choose the best drones for your teenager
We have read through articles, user reviews and star ratings to develop a list that will give you options for your teenager.
From affordable drones such as Black bird 4K to DJI Tello EDU at higher price points – we have worked to provide something that fits with a wide range of budgets, but have chosen to exclude high-end products because we do not think that they are the best option for a beginner drone pilot.
Keep reading to find the right drone for your teenager.
Ryze Tello Mini
Excellent for teenagers who are interested in programming
Why we love it:
This lightweight (2.8 ounces), small (3.6 x 3.6 x 1.6 inches) can be easily carried. But it is also sturdy, steady and capable of taking both still shots and videos (but of a lower quality).
It supports ‘Scratch’ an MIT coding language that gives an excellent opportunity for teenagers to grow as programmers as they work with this drone.
What you should know:
Unfortunately, it lacks a GPS system and return-to-home function and so there is a greater chance of being lost. It has limited control range. It also lacks stabilization features such as gimbals found on some other drones.
Black Bird 4K
Excellent drone for beginners with little interest in programming
Why we love it:
This low-cost, 85 gram drone with good stabilization can take 12 megapixel stills and video at 120 fps video. If you have zero experience with drones, this gives an excellent starting point that doesn’t discourage right out of the gate.
It has long battery life and a transmission range of 2 km that gives more time for exploration and developing your creativity.
The anti-collision system and gravity sensors give additional safety features.
What you should know:
Although this drone is easy to use and gives good results, it is not easy to program or personalize. This may be frustrating for some who want these features.
DJI Tello EDU
An excellent choice for learning different programs and other aspects of piloting a drone
Why we love it:
This more advanced drone has more programs that make it excellent for sharing on social media. It can be used for both stills and videos with advanced controls and data interface. It also has SDK 2.0 adding extra challenges. Programs include Scratch, Python and Swift. And as an extra special bonus, it uses AI to be able to coordinate drones flying in formation.
What you should know:
Unfortunately, it lacks a GPS system and a return-to-home program. Which means it can be lost more easily. It could also benefit from more safety features such as blade guard
Holy Stone HS110D
Excellent for vloggers who want to stream live outside
Why we love it:
This 145 g. quadricopter drone comes with software to link directly to your phone and broadcast live to social media, with a 1080P HD camera. It also has protective guards to maintain the safety for the drone, pilot and others. Other interesting aspects are the 3D flips, one key operations and both gravity and gesture controls.
What you should know:
SD cards are not included, so be sure to stock up before heading out. The SD cards should not exceed 32G each. The battery is good for about ten minutes and takes about 120 minutes to charge. You may want to buy and charge additional batteries so that you are well-prepared for your sessions. It also needs AA batteries which are not included.
Holy Stone Mini Drone
Excellent, inexpensive drone for those who want to focus on flying
Why we love it:
This 44 g mini drone is excellent for those who want to master different aspects of piloting a drone. They may or may not be interested in photography. This allows them the freedom to focus on one aspect at a time.
Since it can be flown indoors, it’s also good fun for rainy, windy and snowy days. Three lithium polymer batteries are included. So charge up and let your imagination fly.
What you should know:
This drone has neither camera nor video capacity.
Batteries emit a warning when they are low to prevent loss and/or crashes. All the propellers are encased with protection guards and it has an emergency stop as well.
Moving Forward:
So, if your teenager is begging you to get them a drone, you don’t need to feel overwhelmed or afraid that it will shatter your budget. We’ve been digging through the file to find ones that may work for both of you regardless of your skill levels.
With all the different kinds of drones on the market, it may seem daunting at first. Feel free to go through this article with your teenager and see what they are actually interested in. They may surprise you.
In addition, we have collected some frequently asked questions (FAQs), to help you and your teenager choose the best drone for their needs at this time.
This guide should help you decide on the best drone for your teenager and give extra tips about what to look for.
How old should a child be before they are allowed to use a drone?
Drones can cause injury to the operator, so should not be used by young children. Teenagers tend to have the agility, focus and eye-hand coordination to safely fly a drone. Some ten-year-olds can also be competent to operate one. So, think, is this child’s age in the double digits; if not, they should be closely supervised by a competent adult, or restricted from using a drone.
If the drone requires FAA registration, the child needs to be at least 13 years old.
Do I need to register my teenager’s drone with the FAA or Transport Canada?
If you are living in the United States, and your teenager is planning to do some serious drone piloting and is at least 13 years old, then the safe route is to have them registered. Just as you would license and register a motor vehicle, so you should register their drone. Click here for American regulations.
If you are not living in the United States, inquire with the appropriate government department for your region or country. For transport Canada click here. Registration with the FAA does not give a pilot the right to fly in Canada. Check specific country regulations if your teenager plans to travel with their drone.
Click here for some information on Europe.
If you are considering Asia
If you are considering India
If you are considering Saudi Arabia
If you are considering Israel
If you are considering South Africa
If you are considering Australia
And the list goes on, but by now, I expect you see the pattern.
How do I download my pictures or videos from my drone?
This depends on the type of drone you are using.
1. If your drone is connected to your phone, just transfer them to your phone and download from your phone.
2. If your drone has an SD card, you can remove it, and take it directly to your computer.
3. Others allow you to download using a USB cable.
Check the drone manual for further instructions.
In addition, many types of drones have YouTube videos online for further instructions.
How much do you have to spend to get a good drone?
This depends on if you want a basic, good-functioning drone or one with all the bells and whistles. A basic drone can be purchased for around $100 or a bit less to well over $1000 with more professional features.
What are the cons of buying a drone?
First of all, some want a drone to fit in with their social group. In this case, purchase an inexpensive one so that they can sort out if this is what they want or not. The second problem is battery time and charging time. This can make use limited to short bursts of less than an hour. Third, safety features need to be checked carefully to prevent injury to people and the surroundings. Think about the interests of the pilot – programming features, photographic resolution, video streaming…
Is it good to buy a drone to take on vacations?
If you are planning to travel outside your home country, carefully check the drone regulations for the country that you plan to visit and ensure that you have met their requirements at least a month before you visit. Have all your paperwork in place.
If I have a registered drone and am a responsible pilot, do I have other restrictions?
There are many areas (i.e. arenas, airports, wildlife reserves…) where drones are not allowed. Violating these restrictions can lead to fines and even imprisonment. Keep up-to-date on the regulations for the area where you want to operate your drone.
What are the different types of drones?
Licensing agencies begin by looking at a drone’s weight. Micro drones are under 249 grams (0.54 pounds), the next size is small (small remotely piloted aircraft systems categories (RPAS)) drones from 250 grams up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds), if your drone is over 25 kilograms you will need a Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC). Drones need to be treated with respect, in general, they’re not toys.
Where can I fly my micro drone?
The quick answer is, check all the flight regulations for the area where you plan to fly your drone. Of course, you can practice in your home, but not in National and most provincial parks (negative effects on wildlife). If you want to fly over private property, get permission first, preferably in writing,
If I am flying in an approved area, and a manned aircraft appears, who has right of way?
The manned aircraft ALWAYS has right of way. Act accordingly.
In Conclusion
So what is the best drone for your teenager? This will need to be decided by the both of you.
We’ve tried to provide guidance from our extensive reading so that you will get the best drone for your maturing family.
We hope that you have found this information helpful and all you have to do now is click the links to check out prices and additional information.
All the best on our journey and thanks for stopping by!
Additional Resources:
Gatwick drone shutdown
- highlighting some of the problems that can and have occurred.
Legal advice: Can I Shoot down the Drone Flying over my Farm?
- This Irish article gives practical advice that is useful in any country. Check for the specific regulations for your area.
How Canada's New Drone Rules Affect You
- check similar articles for your country to ensure that you are allways acting within safe parameters.
Aerial Drone Competition
Drone competitions are on the rise. This is a place to start looking for venues.