Indoor drone flying is a sport all its own. Outdoor drones are built to be strong, fast, and durable; the best indoor drones are small, agile, and easy to control. Without wind and weather in the way, indoor drone pilots can show off their skills by executing aerial stunts and flying circles through their living rooms and basements. Whether you’re looking for the next great rainy-day activity or the perfect holiday present, we’ve gathered three of the greatest indoor drones on the market.
Size
The best indoor drones are small and lightweight. The drone needs to be able to zip through doorways and around furniture items without crashing—and if it does crash, it should be too small to do any serious damage. If you’re using first-person view goggles, smaller drones also help make an indoor route feel like a full-sized racecourse.
Luckily, there are plenty of tiny yet high-quality drones on the market. Look for an indoor drone that can fit in the palm of your hand; ideally, it should weigh less than 100 grams. Nano drones and pocket drones are both great options. If you choose a pocket drone, make sure that it doesn’t have any delicate folding parts.
Safety
Crashing a drone is almost inevitable, especially for amateur pilots. When you’re flying indoors, there are more obstacles to crash into and more potential damage that could be done to your drone.
Because of this, safety is one of the most important features of an indoor drone. Start with a lightweight drone that won’t break anything if it crashes. Heavier drones are more durable, but they can also potentially leave a dent in the wall or a crack in a window.
Next, check to see if the drone has guarded or enclosed propellers. Some drones have guards built into the frame; others have optional guards that can be attached as needed. These guards might be a detriment for racing, but they’re an excellent addition for indoor flight. Unguarded propellers can damage furniture or even fingers if the drone is grabbed while in motion.
Some advanced drones have autopilot features that might prevent them from crashing. Look for altitude hold, collision avoidance, and gyroscopic stabilization. These features aren’t a substitute for great piloting, but they can help keep collisions to a minimum. Finally, remember to get a drone with an emergency stop function just in case something goes awry.
Durability
You don’t want your drone to damage anything if it crashes, but you don’t want it to break, either. A great indoor drone can take a few hits without needing a replacement propeller.
Look for a drone with solid construction and a streamlined design. If the drone has a camera, make sure that it’s embedded safely in the frame. Avoid small moving parts that might snap off on impact. Guards, bumpers, and other types of padding will help absorb shocks and keep the drone body intact.
Durable drones often weigh more, so make sure that you’re not getting something too heavy to maneuver in a closed environment. Since you’re not planning to fly the drone outdoors, you can avoid metal frames in favor of light yet sturdy plastics.
Control
Indoor environments don’t have a lot of room for wide turns; this means that your drone will need to be easy to control. Look for highly responsive controls, agile movement, and internal stabilization. Headless mode is a particularly useful feature as it will let the drone back out of tight spaces or turn through narrow hallways.
An indoor-only drone doesn’t need to have a long range, but it does need to have a strong transmitter. You don’t want the signal to cut out whenever the drone flies into another room or behind a piece of furniture. Most drones can work with multiple transmitters, so don’t be afraid to use your favorite outdoor controller.
Some of the best indoor drones come with autopilot features. Altitude hold ensures that the drone won’t fall if your hand comes off the controller. Route mapping tools will let you draw a path through the house for your drone to follow. Features like selfie mode can enhance the experience and turn your drone into a valuable photography tool.
Flight Time
One of the benefits of indoor drone racing is that you don’t have to stray too far from the charger. Still, longer flight times are more fun, so look for a drone with a good battery life.
Small drones can’t hold large batteries; however, since they weigh less, they can usually fly longer with less power. You can expect a good indoor drone to have a flight time between seven and 15 minutes.
Take advantage of the fact that you’re flying indoors by purchasing an additional battery. If you charge one battery while the other is in use, you’ll be able to keep flying your drone for hours on end.
The 3 Best Indoor Drones
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1. Altair Aerial AA108 Quadcopter
For such a small drone, the Altair Aerial AA108 packs a surprising punch. This fun little quadcopter comes equipped with an HD camera, autopilot features, and smartphone integration.
The Altair AA108 is an extremely stable drone with several features intended for beginner pilots. Users can choose from three flight skill levels; each level allows the pilot more direct control over the drone. At all levels, the drone is fast, agile, and easy to maneuver with the included controller.
Unlike other quadcopters, the AA108’s propeller guards aren’t built into the drone’s frame. Instead, the two long propeller guards are attached to either side of the drone. These guards do a surprisingly good job of keeping the propellers safe; they can take several bumps and crashes without bending or breaking.
Should anything go wrong with the drone, Altair is known for providing exceptional customer service. Pilots can check the in-depth user’s manual for advice, or they can call the service line with any questions.
All in all, the AA108 is an excellent indoor drone with all of the essential features. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive indoor drone flying experience, start with the Altair Aerial AA108.
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Altair Aerial AA108 Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight: 85 grams (with batteries) • Flight time: 10 minutes • Battery: Lithium-polymer • Range: 100 meters • Camera: 720p • Headless mode: Yes • Altitude hold: Yes • Autopilot: Yes • FPV: Yes |
Altair Aerial AA108 Pros List
• Extremely durable design with crash guards for drone safety
• Pilots can choose from multiple skill settings for different experiences
• Connects with a smartphone app for autopilot features
• Comes with an extra battery for longer flight times
• Low battery alert helps prevent crashes due to power failure
• High-quality camera for FPV so you can see what the drone is seeing
Altair Aerial AA108 Cons List
• Drone requires some assembly
• Weight from propeller guards may decrease flight time
What do other reviews say?
Blue Collar Reviews calls the AA108 a “feature-rich and well-built machine.”
2. Potensic A20 Mini Drone
The Potensic A20 is a safe and durable drone that’s a great choice for beginner pilots. We’ve featured the A20 before on our list of the best drones for kids. Many of the features that make this drone kid-friendly also make it perfectly suited for indoor flight.
The Potensic A20 is known for being extremely easy to fly. A one-touch launch feature lets pilots of all ages get the drone off the ground and into the air. Similarly, the emergency stop feature will immediately halt the motors and drop the drone to the ground.
Thanks to the A20’s durable construction, this little drone can take plenty of knocks and falls before any parts need to be replaced. Guards on the propellers and feet make sure that the drone won’t damage any furniture while it’s in flight.
As an indoor drone, the A20 shines with its adjustable speed feature. Pilots can choose from three speed settings to customize their flying experience. The slow setting is great for casual flying in a busy indoor environment.If you’re searching for a simple and easy indoor drone experience, take a look at the Potensic A20 Mini Drone.
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Potensic A20 Mini Drone Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight: 100 grams (with batteries) • Flight time: 15 minutes • Battery: 3 lithium metal batteries • Camera: No • Headless mode: Yes • Altitude hold: Yes • Autopilot: No • FPV: No |
Potensic A20 Mini Drone Pros List
• Propellers and feet are padded for safer flying
• Battery is covered for additional safety
• Speed mode feature lets pilots tailor the flying experience
• Emergency stop immediately lands the drone safely
• Comes in multiple fun colors for variety
Potensic A20 Mini Drone Cons List
• Batteries charge while inside the drone; no external charger included
• No camera or autopilot features
What do other reviews say?
RCwithAdam notes that the Potensic A20 is a simple indoor drone and is “a lot of fun to fly around.”
3. EMAX Tinyhawk S
Tiny whoops are some of the best indoor drones. They are small and speedy, but they are also easy to maneuver and control. The whoop design typically features a smooth chassis with a guard frame around the propellers.
The EMAX Tinyhawk S is a durable tiny whoop that can reach amazing speeds. The Tinyhawk is compatible with both 1S and 2S batteries; in fact, the drone comes with one of each for flexible flying. The low-voltage 1S battery is great for indoor use, and the 2S battery lets pilots reach speeds up to 55 mph.
The Tinyhawk S is marketed as an FPV drone. It features an adjustable camera angle and an integrated video transmission system. FPV isn’t necessary for indoor drone flight, but it’s still a great feature for any drone to have.
Unlike many tiny whoops, the Tinyhawk S is ready to fly right out of the box. If you’re looking for a fun camera drone that you can fly right away, check out the EMAX Tinyhawk S.
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EMAX Tinyhawk S Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight: 30 grams (without batteries) • Flight time: Six minutes • Battery: 450 mAh lithium-polymer • Motor: Brushless • Camera: 600 TVL • Headless mode: Yes • Altitude hold: No • Autopilot: No • FPV: Yes |
EMAX Tinyhawk S Pros List
• Takes both 1S and 2S batteries for different power levels
• Reaches speeds up to 55 mph for a fast flying experience
• Extremely durable yet lightweight construction
• Suitable for both indoor and outdoor flight
• Adjustable camera for FPV
EMAX Tinyhawk S Cons List
• Doesn’t come with a controller
• Camera isn’t the highest quality
• No altitude hold or autopilot
What do other reviews say?
The DroneDJ calls the Tinyhawk S an “all-in-one package” and highly recommends it as a beginner FPV drone.
Conclusion
All three of these drones are small, stable, and easy to fly. The Potensic A20 is a great indoor drone for kids, and the EMAX Tinyhawk S is one of the best tiny whoops on the market. However, if you’re looking for the best indoor drone, the Altair Aerial AA108 is definitely the right choice. This all-inclusive quadcopter can fly in any setting and comes with a bundle of features for pilots of all skill levels.
Check out the Altair Aerial AA108 on Amazon; it has every feature you’re looking for in an indoor drone.
If you like indoor drones, you should also read our review of the best selfie drone.
Come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.