Best Drone Under 400 – See Our TOP 5!

So what exactly is the best drone under 400?

Drone technology is improving so quickly these days, becoming more and more refined each year.

The speed at which the leading drone companies are racing to outdo each other with evermore impressive specs and expensive tech is just crazy.

This is great and everything, but it can sometimes leave enthusiasts like you and I with our heads spinning!

With so many of the most well-known drone rigs now costing thousands of dollars, you might begin to wonder if there are still any high quality drones you can buy for less?

The answer, you’ll be very happy to know, is YES!

However, working out what is the best drone for you will vary widely, depending on the precise features you need and what exactly you want to use it for.

Let’s see the features that matter.

Features to Consider in Drones Under 400

Flight Time

Different batteries provide different flight times, obviously.

The most powerful battery setups will give you flight times of 18 minutes or more.

Higher capacity batteries will be pricier, though.

On the other end of the spectrum, low capacity batteries will likely give you a flight time ranging from 6 to 8 minutes.

Which doesn’t start to sound so good if you ask me.

Transmission Range

The drone’s transmission range is another important factor you should consider.

An average drone can transmit from about 300 meters away.

Some drones have significantly shorter transmission ranges to cut their costs.

Other drones have significantly longer transmission ranges, which are ideal if you want your drone to travel far away from you for commercial inspection work or aerial photography.

Camera Quality

The cheapest drones won’t have a camera at all, unfortunately.

For those that do have one, you should always carefully consider the quality.

The best quality cameras will shoot in 1080P HD video and transmit FPV footage to you.

Some slightly lower quality drones might have cameras that take 720P HD video, which is still excellent quality.

Also consider whether any photography extras are included.

What’s the field of view, and can you adjust the photography angle? What about the light settings?

These are all questions you need to ask if the camera quality is going to be important to you.

Acrobatics

Some drones are made for sport.

As such, they are more likely to include cool acrobatic maneuvers like barrel rolls, 360 degree flips, and other flight stunts.

Are you looking for a drone that you can show off to your friends? If yes, a sporty drone might be a good pick.

Return to Home

When the drone battery gets low or it flies out of range, it’s important that it does not crash or become lost.

Some drones mitigate these risks with a Return to Home function.

That means, whenever the drone is outside its normal range or with low battery capacity, it flies back to a predetermined start point.

Nice fail-safe features I think!

Other Smart Features

Some other smart features will make life easy for you.

These include one key takeoff and landing, altitude hovering, and other autonomous piloting features.

Other smart features will allow you to take breathtaking photos and videos.

A Follow Me feature will have the drone lock onto you, while other features might allow the drone to fly in circles or capture steady subjects at unusual angles.

Included Accessories

Next important question:

What accessories does the drone come with?

Most kits will include just the drone, along with its remote controller.

Some kits will include a carrying case, extra batteries, spare parts, charging hubs, or even FPV goggles.

Make sure you review everything included in your drone kit, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Budget

Budget is another major consideration, since we are talking about drones under 400.

How much are you willing and able to pay?

If you want comprehensive features, you’ll need to be prepared to shell out more money and get your budget closer to 400.

However, there are still a lot of very reasonably priced drones under $400 that can provide all the fun you want for an attractive price.

1. DJI Sparks With Remote Control Combo

Like the DJI Phantomvs Mavic, this DJI drone is a high quality piece that easily makes the list for the best camera drone under 400.

It’s the best drone under 400 from DJI, and definitely one of the best drones under 400 on the market altogether!

This remote control combo comes with the drone, the transmitter, and the standard Spark accessory kit (which is still pretty impressive!).

There’s a 2 axis gimbal camera to stabilize the photography and videography, with the camera capable of capturing an image quality of 12 megapixels.

The camera also takes 1080P HD video at 30 frames per second, which makes it the best camera for drones under 400.

There are a number of smart features that make flight easier, making this one of the most intuitive drones under 400.

For example, the Video Gesture and TapFly controls let you control the drone and its camera with just gestures.

How cool is that!?

But, that’s not all.

The drone includes obstacle detection and avoidance from multiple directions.

You can also use subject tracking features at various angles.

The drone’s top speed is 31 miles per hour when used in sport mode, and it can give you up to 16 minutes of flying time.

Not bad huh?

With a control range of up to 1.2 miles, this is possibly the best drone under 400.

Video footage can even be shared and edited directly from the DJI Go app!

Pros:

• Comes with remote controller and Spark accessory kit
• 2 axis gimbal stabilization
• Takes photos in 12 megapixels
• Shoots video in 1080P HD at 30 fps
• Gesture and TapFly control make flying easy
• Obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities
• Subject tracking from multiple angles
• Top speed of 31 mph
• Up to 16 minutes of flight time
• Unparalleled range of up to 1.2 miles

Cons:

• Not the longest flight time on the list
• Can only reach 31 mph when operated in Sport mode
• 2 axis camera might not provide enough stabilization

“Best Drone for Under 400 from DJI”

OOR: 4

2. Parrot Bebop 2 Power FPV Pack

As far as drones under 400 go, the Parrot Bebop is easily among the best drone under 400.

With the extra battery, the total flight time is a whopping 60 minutes, making this the best drone under 400 for long flight times.

It clocks in at just under 400, making this more a 400 drone than anything.

The Bebop 2 FPV pack is just one of many evolutions that the Bebop line has gone through.

Included in the package are immersive FPV goggles called Parrot Cockpit glasses.

It will surely lend you an awesome FPV flight experience.

The included controller allows for easy maneuvering, although you can also pilot from your tablet or smartphone.

So control is quite versatile.

One smart feature making this arguably the best drone under 400 is the Follow Me feature, which allows the drone to follow the user and shoot great selfie footage.

You can also use the free Flight Pro app to expand your list of options and ensure you always capture your best moments.

You will need an operating system of iOS 8 or higher, though, which is a bummer.

Pros:

• Extra battery provides 60 minutes of flight time (30 minutes per flight)
• Can pilot from controller, tablet, or smartphone
• Integrated app expands options
• Includes FPV goggles for an immersive experience
• Follow Me feature takes great selfie footage

Cons:

• App is only compatible with iOS 8 or higher
• Not the largest range on the list
• Cockpit glasses may be unnecessary if you already have FPV goggles

“Best Drone for Under 400 for Long Flights”

OOR: 4.3

3. Walkera F210 3D Edition Racing Drone

This racing drone is the best drone under 400 for sports and races.

When comparing drones under 400, you have to be sure of what you’re looking for.

This is a drone that provides acrobatic maneuvers that are simply amazing.

When you use the drone in its 3D Aerobatic Mode, you can do a cool 3D edition flip.

There’s also an optimized receiver that has a response time of 4 times faster than other receivers.

Also, your flight controller parameters can easily be adjusted through your phone. Talk about amazing!

The OSD can also be optimized to suit your tastes. There’s a low battery indicator, signal alarm function, horizon line, and update locking and unlocking.

Put whatever matters most to you on your home screen for easy access!

Pros:

• 3D Aerobatic Mode allows for cool tricks
• Optimized receiver performs 4 times faster than the competition
• Flight controller parameters can be adjusted through your phone
• You can optimize your OSD to show the drone qualities that matter to you

Cons:

• Doesn’t have as many smart features as some others
• Best for racing, not for capturing footage
• Lacks a return to home function

“Best Drone for Under 400 for Racing”

OOR: 3

4. Holy Stone HS700 FPV Drone

This drone can take aerial footage in 1080P HD and transmit live video over a 5G WiFi connection, making it arguably the best drone under 400 for high quality transmission.

This is truly a great drone for capturing unparalleled footage, and can be considered the best drone under 400 with camera.

The upgraded camera has a 110 degree field of view, allowing you to see and capture a wide view of footage in an adjustable setting.

Also, it can transmit in 5GWiFi for up to 1300 feet, ensuring high quality video in real time.

In addition, it’s compatible with GoPro Hero models 2 through 6.

Nice right?

Moreover, the drone has GPS assisted flight.

That means it can hover stably, and when the battery becomes low or the signal is lost, it will automatically fly back home.

So no more worrying about losing your drone!

You can also set the drone to fly in circles along a path or follow you.

The high quality battery can yield a total of 20 minutes of flight time — not the highest on the list, but still very impressive.

Also included is a low power alert system that ensures the drone won’t catch you by surprise and crash due to low battery.

The brushless motors are very quiet while also being very powerful. It’s rare for the drone to break down, and you seldom need to replace the motors.

Sounds quite convenient right?

Also, the controls are simple, with quick launch available through one key.

The propellers can be adjusted and set up without having to fumble with screws, and who doesn’t love the sound of that!

And when the altitude is locked, streaming is stable.

If you go headless mode you can easily control the drone’s direction. A good thing to try if you’ve never experienced headless more flying before.

Pros:

• Captures video in 1080P HD
• Streams over a 5G WiFi transmission
• Transmission range of 1300 feet
• Compatible with GoPro cameras
• 110 degree wide angle field of view
• Stable altitude hovering, making use of GPS
• Return to home activated when battery is low or signal is lost
• Maximum flight time of 20 minutes
• Brushless motors rarely overheat
• Simple and intuitive controls

Cons:

• Isn’t built for doing acrobatic stunts
• Doesn’t have the longest battery time on the list
• Not the longest range on the list

“Best Drone for Under 400 with HD”

OOR: 3.6

5. Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini Helicopter Drone

As far as drones under 400 go, you can usually find a few good options in the mini drone department.

And if you do happen to be looking for mini drones, this is the best drone for under 400. It’s also the cheapest option on the list and perfect for beginners.

The drone comes with a headless flight system, allowing operators of any skill level to fly it with ease. This makes it an ideal drone for kids.

Also, the 2.4 GHz technology has been adopted for peak anti-interference. Also included is a comprehensive 6-axis gyro stabilization system that allows the drone to be both stable and flexible.

The control range is only about 30 to 50 meters, which is something that can make you frown I know. .

Moreover, the drone isn’t particularly wind resistant either, due to its small size and lightweight construction. Much better for inside use.

Flight time only lasts 6 to 8 minutes, and battery charging takes about 45 to 60 minutes, which is annoyingly long considering the flight time.

Pros:

• Cheapest option
• Headless mode lets players of any skill level fly with ease
• 2.4 GHz technology allows anti-interference
• 6-axis gyro stabilization system provides stability and flexibility
• Control range is wind-resistant

Cons:

• Short control range of 30 to 50 meters
• Short flight time of 6 to 8 minutes
• No camera capabilities or FPV video

“Best Drone for Under 400 on a Budget”

OOR: 4.3
Final Thoughts on the Best Drone Under 400

So how do you choose the best drone under 400?

You really have to know what you’re looking for, that’s how.

You may have heard of drones like the Traxxas Aton, Traxxas Aton Plus, 3DR Solo, or Hubsanh109sx4 drone. But how can you decide if the Aton Plus or other drones have features that are best for you?

It’s important to make an informed decision by understanding the ins and outs of drones.

As far as our list goes, the best drone for acrobatic maneuvers is the Walkera.

On the other hand, if you want an extremely long flight time, the Parrot Bebop will give you an amazing 60 minutes (if you count using both batteries the drone comes with).

Meanwhile, the DJI drone provides a maximum range of 1.2 miles, far outstripping the other drones on the list.

And the HS700 is good for people who want to integrate GoPro cameras and stream in extremely high quality.

Last but not the least, the HS 170 is a mini drone with enough features to entertain all newbie drone enthusiasts.

Each of these drones has a unique construction that is best for different people. As long as you know what features are important to you, you can make your best decision and still get the best drone under 400.