Everyone has heard of drones. They pop up in the news for various reasons on a regular basis, but although unmanned aerial vehicles (as they are also known) have their more serious uses, smaller versions are great fun to play with. Smaller drones are manuverable awesome to fly – so much so that drones for kids are all set to be the hottest toys of 2017.
Flying a drone in itself is a learning process. It takes some practice to get good at flying. This means that while a lot of fun, they are also a good method for teaching kids to persist and be patient (which for teenagers is no bad thing!). Drones can also be powerful for developing children’s hand-eye coordination skills as well as a potential spark for a lifelong fascination of flight and the science behind it. And, on top of all that, they are also a great way for parents and children to spend quality time together outdoors, which is always a good thing.
Despite the ready availability of drones, shopping for the right toy isn’t so easy. Now that we have you convinced on UAV’s merits, here is our list of the top ten drones for kids and teenagers to help you make an informed buying decision.
Drones for Kids and Teens
 | Syma X5SW Explorers2 | Check price at |
 | AKASO X5C | Check price at |
 | Holy Stone HS170 Predator | Check price at |
 | Cheerson CX-10 Mini Lowest Price | Check price at |
1. Syma X5SW Explorers2
The Syma X5SW Explorers drone for kids is a 6-Axis gyro RC quadcopter with a cool HD camera on board, so once you have mastered the art of flying your drone, you can use it to take bird’s eye photos. This drone is wind resistant and can be flown indoors as well as outside, although it’s probably not recommended that you have a go indoors unless your breakables are locked away. The Syma X5C drone comes with rechargeable batteries and spare parts are readily available.
2. AKASO X5C
The AKASO X5C also comes equipped with an on-board HD camera. Kids and teens can practice their acrobatic skills with this drone, as it performs 360-degree flips and other cool movements at the touch of a button. The HD camera can be used to take fun photos and make video recordings. Another cool feature is the built-in LED light – you can fly your drone in the dark and pretend it’s a UFO!
3. DB Power MJX X400W
The MJX X400W is a radio controlled aerial drone and HD camera combo that allows for FPV through your smart phone. A neat feature is the ability to view what your drone sees through a VR headset. It features two different speed settings, so you can fly it slower in smaller areas or when learning to fly. With a 300 foot range and the ability to do 360 degree flips, this drone is packed with features. It’s lightweight and damage resistant, which makes it ideal for teenagers aged 14 and above looking for their first toy drone.
4. Holy Stone HS170 Predator
The Holy Stone drone is suitable for older kids and teens with some experience of flying drones. It is highly responsive and damage resistant. The drone is pre-programmed with a 360 degree flip trick, so your teen can impress his friends with his flying skills. The drone’s battery will last around 15 minutes on a full charge.
5. Haktoys HAK905
The amazing thing about the Haktoys HAK905 is that it is kitted out with ultra-bright 7” LED lights all around the frame, so night-time flying is tremendous fun. This toy is perfect for older kids to practice their flying skills. It comes with a USB charger and built-in rechargeable batteries. It is also one of the tougher drones for kids and can easily withstand hard impacts on to concrete.
6. RC Stunt Drone Quadcopter
The RC Stunt Drone is ideal for kids aged 10 years and above. It has a 6-axis design, which makes the drone very easy to manoeuvre and control. With two fully charged batteries, you can have 12 minutes flying time. Like other drones in its class, the RC Stunt Drone performs 360 degree flips at the push of a button. You must remember to hold on to the box, as it doubles as a practice landing pad.
7. Eachine H8C Quadcopter
The Eachine H8C Quadcopter features a 2.0MP HD Camera, so your child can take pictures from their airborne drone. This is one of the best stunt drones for kids – it has a lightweight, durable frame and it is fitted with 4 LED lights for night flying. It is also fast and fun and the perfect gift for kids aged 12 years and over.
8. TX Juice Ai Drone
The TX Juice AI drone is ideal for younger children aged 8 years and above. Unlike many drones for kids, this toy doesn’t require hours of practice in order to perfect your flying technique. Instead the drone is equipped with an auto take-off, hover and land feature, so flying is simple. The drone has auto stunt buttons and two manual flip buttons. Buy this drone and your child can be a professional pilot in minutes!
9. Cheerson CX-10 Mini
The Cheerson CX-10 Mini drone comes in an array of different colours. This drone is designed for teenagers aged 14 years and above. It has three different flight modes, which dictate how manoeuvrable the drone is in the air. The 6-axis design means the drone is super stable and easy to control. The control distance is only about 40 metres, but it’s a fun toy and the charging time is an impressive 20-30 minutes. It also flies well indoors, which should keep more experienced pilots happy.
10. SYS JJRC H20 Nano Hexacopter
Looking for a fun stocking filler or cheap gift for a tech-mad older child? The SYS JJRC H20 Nano drone is the perfect choice! This tiny, pocket sized drone is very stable and easy to control. It tumbles in four different directions and is fitted with four LED lights for night flying. And thanks to a ‘one key return’ function it is nice and easy to recall your mini drone back home.
If your child has a little more experience, you might be ready to step up to the bigger, more practical drones. The DJI Phantom 3 is a good next step. It’s more expensive than anything on the list, but it is much higher quality and can stream it’s video feed up to a half-mile away from home base!
One thing to be aware of before you splash out on a drone is that the laws governing drones vary depending on whereabouts in the world you live. In some cases it is illegal to fly a drone in a public place, so always check before you fly. If you don’t, your fun day out with the kids might end very badly!
Do you own any other super cool drones for kids that we haven’t mentioned? If so, let us know in the comments!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, tedeytan.