As we are talking about the best drones under $600 with camera, in this article, we will only be discussing drones within a $300-$600 price range. If the kind of drone you’re looking for doesn’t fit into this range, you may find the following articles more useful:
Our Picks
Our Top Choice: The DJI Mini 2 is an HD drone with 3-axis mechanical gimbal stabilization and comes from an industry-leading brand with great support and reliability.
Close Runner Up:
The Hubsan Zino was a close second thanks to its great 4K UHD videos and excellent flight time. Its range was a little less than our top choice but had many other features that made up for this.
Wildcard: Though a little over $600 we had to feature the Parrot Anafi because it gives its high-priced competitors such as the Mavic Pro a real run for their money. 4K UHD shooting capabilities, stylish design, and great battery life make it a solid choice for those with a little extra cash.
What you will learn in this article:
# Overview of Drones Costing Less Than $600 with camera
# Who Should Buy These Drones?
# The Best Drone under $600 with camera Reviews
Overview of Drones Costing Less Than $600
Drones in this price range are very powerful and feature-rich. They usually have a 4K UHD camera and a mechanical gimbal for flawless stabilization. The flight time is usually longer (over 20 minutes) and they have a range of around 1.2 miles or more.
They’re likely to have cool GPS options that allow you to return it to home when you’re finished or when the battery is low, meaning they don’t just fall from the sky and most come with the follow-me options.
They’re typically small and portable, even if they’re not always foldable making them great for people who travel light.
Who Should Buy These Drones?
If you’re already a drone pilot and currently fly something a little more budget and beginner-friendly, the drones in this price range will be a nice upgrade to what you’re used to. They will give you more time in the air, tend to have better image quality and a mechanical gimbal will provide you with more professional-looking footage.
Why Should You Trust Me?
Since 2016 I have been an avid drone pilot. I decided to choose a high-end model which was much pricier than the drones in this article. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours of research on what goes into making a great drone and have flown many different models. As drones have now been on the market for a few years, you can purchase them much cheaper than in the past. Some of the best drones under $600 aren’t too dissimilar from the likes of higher-priced models such as the Mavic range of drones these days.
How We Picked
There are many drones less than $600 on the market these days; some from bigger name brands and some by smaller companies. We spent many hours reading through data from real users and professional reviews and even interviewed some experts in the field to get their 2 cents. After this, we then came up with some criteria that helped us decide on how well the drone would rank in our top 3.
The Best drone under $600 criteria
#1. Does the camera shoot a minimum of 2.7K HD?
When looking for drones in this price range, I would personally look for UHD capabilities, meaning a minimum of 2.7K, if not 4K preferably. Usually, 4K will shoot in 30fps with some cameras having 60fps options. If you can get your hands on a 4K60fps drone for less than $600, you’re scoring a pretty good deal.
#2Does the drone have good stabilization?
With a drone in this price range, you should only be looking to buy drones with mechanical gimbal stabilization. 3-axis gimbals are best, but considering the price, a 2-axis gimbal will still perform well and are far better than any built-in camera stabilization you can get.
#3. Is it easy to use?
If you’re a beginner, having a drone that’s easy to use is paramount. Even if you’ve flown a drone before, having easy access to the drone’s many features will lead to a more pleasant flying experience.
#4. What’s the flight time?
Drones in the $300-$600 price range should have a flight time of no less than 15 minutes and ideally, I would want something which can last around 20 minutes.
#5. Is the customer service any good?
Customer service is one of the most important things I consider when looking to buy a new drone. I want someone on hand immediately if I’m having issues with setting it up or in-flight and you should want the same. It can be very frustrating if you’re wanting to fly your drone but are waiting days for a response from a customer care rep.
#6. What’s the range like?
For drones in this price range you should ideally be looking at a range of over 1.2 miles (2km), this means you’re getting good value for money but should still have a decent line of sight when flying it in open spaces.
The Best Drone under $600 with camera Reviews
Best Choice: DJI Mini 2
Key Specs
- Maximum Flight Time: 31 minutes
- Maximum Transmission Distance:6.2 miles (10 km)
- Maximum Speed: 35.8 mph (57.6 kph)
- Stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- Video Quality: 4k 30fps
- Camera Resolution: 12 MP
- Weight: under 249g
Before the DJI Mini 2, the Mavic Mini is considered to be the best drone under $600, but the new version has changed a lot and delivered quite a few major upgrades. The DJI Mini 2 uses the same design but weights even lighter than the Mavic mini’s 249g. Most importantly, it has better flight performance. DJI Mini 2 can fly up to 31 minutes each charge, it comes with stronger motors which enable it to remain stable in level 5 wind with a max speed of 35.8 mph (57.6 kph).
The DJI Mini 2 also packs the latest video transmission technology which gives you a 720p stable low latency live video view, and the max transmission range can reach up to 6.2 miles.
The new DJI Mini 2 also edges out the first generation in video shooting. It’s capable of 4K 30fps footage while Mavic Mini only supports 2.7k.
Although the price is a little bit higher than the Mavic Mini, for most beginner pilots who just want a quality drone for traveling or everyday use, the DJI Mini 2 is the best choice. Learn more about DJI Mini 2 and Mavic Mini comparison.
Also great: DJI Mavic Mini
Key Specs
- Maximum Flight Time: 30 minutes
- Maximum Transmission Distance:4km (2.5 miles)
- Maximum Speed: 29 mph (47 km/h)
- Stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- Video Quality: 2.7k 30fps
- Camera Resolution: 12 MP
- Weight: 249g
We moved the Mavic Mini to the also great list because the new DJI Mini 2 has come out. Though it’s not comparable to the new version, it’s still a good option, especially the more affordable price.
One of the biggest selling points of the Mavic Mini is the weight, it’s only 249g which means you don’t need to register before you fly in most of the countries around the world. It packs a 2.7K camera allowing you to capture quality HD aerial videos together with the 3-axis gimbal. The transmission system is the same as that of the Mavic Air, it enables you to fly as far as 4km (2.5 miles).
Another thing that makes Mavic Mini outstanding is the 30-minute flight time per charge. It’s almost the same as the Mavic 2.
Like all the drones in the Mavic line, the Mavic Mini also features a foldable design which makes it incredibly small in size, when I first got it, I was a little bit surprised and doubted its performance, but after I got it up in the air, all my doubts were all gone. It’s so stable and gave you a feeling of confidence.
When it comes to flying, it’s even easier than other DJI drones. You just need to insert the battery and then connect your phone, then you are ready to go. A new App called DJI Fly is specially made for the Mavic Mini. It’s more intuitive and easier to navigate than the DJI GO 4.
If you are familiar with DJI drones, you will find that some popular features like Obstacle Avoidance, ActiveTrack, Panorama, and Time Lapse are missing on the Mavic Air. This is not surprising because of its size, weight, and $399 starting price.
Also Great: Hubsan Zino
Key Specs
- Maximum Flight Time: 23 minutes
- Maximum Transmission Distance: 0.6 miles (1km)
- Maximum Speed: 21 mph (33.8 km/h)
- Stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- Video Quality: 4K Ultra HD
- Weight: 710g
Though it’s double the weight of the DJI Spark, you get an awful lot of features for the price which include 4K UHD filming capabilities and a 3-axis mechanical gimbal which gives excellent stabilization. It is foldable so is easy to transport when traveling and charges in just three hours which is great if you can’t wait to get the drone back in the sky.
It has GPS tracking that helps to support the return to home feature, object tracking, and orbit mode to follow you along on your adventures.
Their customer support is top-notch and they’re available via live chat, email, and phone Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm. They also have a large YouTube community where they have a lot of cool hints and tips for operating your drone.
When the drone first launched they were, however, faced with some glitches but they seem to have all been fixed now thanks to regular software and firmware updates and users are loving how much value for money you get in this feature-packed drone.
However, they do need to work on their GPS tech a little more as some people reported their drone flying away or just landing when returning to home, which is why this drone didn’t beat DJI to the top spot despite it having a lot more to offer in terms of camera and video quality.
Upgrade Pick: Parrot Anafi
Key Specs
- Maximum Flight Time: 25 minutes
- Maximum Transmission Distance: 1.2 miles (2km)
- Maximum Speed: 34 mph (55 km/h)
- Stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
- Video Quality: 4K Ultra HD
- Camera Resolution: 21 MP
- Weight: 320g
This drone is slightly above the budget for this article but is a great option if you want to upgrade and have a few extra bucks to spare.
This drone, in many ways, is similar to the DJI Mavic but comes in at a much cheaper price which is ideal if you’re on a budget but still want a great quality drone. Unfolding and setup take less than a minute meaning you’ll be air bound in no time at all.
The video quality is an insane 4k 30fps and still shots are 21 MP, meaning that even when using the in-flight zoom mode the images are crisp and clear. There’s even a burst mode which can take 10 shots in one second. We also loved the new camera tilt feature on the gimbal meaning the camera can be moved 180 degrees.
There’s also no need to attach your phone to the remote control which is a pretty neat feature of the user-friendly app; simply operate it directly from your smartphone.
It’s nice that they also include an SD card with this purchase, having said that it is only 16GB so I would recommend getting another one for longer flights.
One let down is the lack of the follow-me mode, otherwise, this is the perfect drone for feature/price ratio and I’d highly recommend it.
Competition and Comparison
There were a few other drones we researched and tested that didn’t quite make the top three. Nevertheless, they were worth a quick mention.
DJI Spark
Key Specs
- Maximum Flight Time: 16 minutes
- Maximum Transmission Distance: 1.2 miles (2km)
- Maximum Speed: 31 mph (50 km/h)
- Stabilization: 2-axis mechanical gimbal
- Video Quality: 1080 Full HD
- Camera Resolution: 12 MP
- Weight: 300g
DJI has discontinued the Spark after the release of the Mavic Mini. If you take a look at the comparison, you will find that the Mavic Mini is a replacement for the Spark, that’s why we now put the DJI Spark in the competition list.
Though it does only come with a 1080p HD camera, the image quality is still great thanks to the high-quality image sensor which also catches 12MP shots.
Watch this drone hurtle into the distance at speeds of up to 31mph whilst still delivering stable footage thanks to its 2-axis mechanical gimbal. One user reported that he actually logged a speed of 34mph when using sport mode which is pretty impressive for a drone at this price.
The Spark is the ideal compact, budget drone from leaders in the industry, DJI. It’s not foldable but is really small and weighs just 310g. One of the neat features is that you can use hand signals to command your drone and the follow-me mode is pretty accurate and great for getting another perspective on your shots.
A downside can be the fragility of the propellors, though you are sent propeller guards with this product and the propellors are relatively cheap to replace if needed.
We love the DJI Care add-on which provides great coverage if you were to crash your drone and needed a replacement and their customer care team are always on hand to provide advice and support.
Contixo F18
A lightweight FHD 1080p drone with a range of 1 mile. It’s fairly lightweight coming in at 334g without the battery. It has good GPS and an RTH (Return to Home) feature. Ideal for the intermediate flier looking to upgrade their current drone. However, the customer service is lacking and the FPV streaming isn’t the best.
Parrot Bebop 2
This drone comes with an impressive 14 MP fisheye lens that records in 1080p full HD and has a flight time of 25 minutes. Users commended Parrot on the compactness and ease of use but rated it as more of an entry-level option as the image quality wasn’t as good as they expected and there was a lack of mechanical gimbal, hence why it fell short for this article.
Conclusion: Which is the Best Drone Under $600 with camera?
Hands down for me I think if you want a reliable drone you can’t go wrong with the DJI Mavic Mini 2. It has a bunch of great features and improved a lot compared to the first generation. Its GPS is great as is the obstacle avoidance and the level of quality on still images.
The Hubsan Zino makes a great compromise between some features like 4K shooting capabilities, price, and range. The range was lesser than the other two drones, but if you’re a pilot like myself who always flies line of sight so it isn’t too much of a compromise, especially if you insist on shooting 4K.
If you really want an all-round high spec drone and have a little extra money to spare the Parrot Anafi is an awesome foldable option. Nevertheless, I personally prefer drones with a follow-me mode which this does lack and would be my reason why I’d pick the Spark or Zino instead.
What do you think of the drones we reviewed today? Have you flown any of them before? What was it like? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions about the drones featured today!