In the ever-changing world of technology, drones are always improving. There are several aspects that you should consider before purchasing a pocket drone. At one time, drones were a thing of science fiction. Now, they can actually fit in the confines of your pocket. Unfortunately, there aren’t any drones that are one size fits all. Therefore, you need to look at the specs of each one and make sure that they will provide you with the best performance for how you plan on using them.
We understand that this might be your first drone purchase. So, we wanted to not only provide you with a few reviews of drones available on the market, but we also wanted to help you understand the criteria to consider when choosing one. Below, you will find some of the top criteria that you should know about and consider before making your final purchasing decision.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Pocket Drone
Drone Weight
For most drones, weight is not a major issue. As long as they have a strong enough power source, they will be able to fly. With these types of small drones, however, weight is definitely a criterion that you need to consider when making your purchase. Drones come in all sizes and weights, but those that are meant to fit in your pocket should be on the lighter side. One of the worst things that could happen after purchasing this type of drone is finding out that it is too heavy and large to be comfortably portable.
One way to test this criterion out before purchasing your drone is to get different objects of varying sizes that match the weights of the drones you are considering. Put those objects in your pocket and walk around with them for a while. Doing this can help you test how the weight of each drone will feel and whether or not it will be comfortable for you to carry around in your pocket. It is also important for you to make sure that the design is evenly weighted, which is an important factor in determining whether or not the drone will have any flight issues.
Foldability
In addition to being lightweight, a drone meant to go in your pocket should also be compact enough to fit into small places. While most pocket drones fold, there are a few that do not. When making a purchasing decision, it’s important to consider whether this feature is something that is important to you. For most people interested in these drones, however, having a model that is both portable and comfortable to carry is ideal.
After all, it doesn’t matter if you can fit something in your pocket if it feels uncomfortable while it is there. With that being said, foldability is not a priority among all drone users and consumers. It is important to note that if a drone is foldable, there may be more parts that are prone to breaking in transit. Be sure to carefully review the function of folding parts to ensure that they can hold up over time.
Capable Manufacturer
There are thousands of manufacturers that make drones, but that does not mean that they are all worth their weight in the industry. Before purchasing any drone, you should also review the manufacturer of the product to get a sense of their product reliability and how they are with their customer service. There are a number of things that could go wrong with a drone during shipping or while in use, and you want to have a manufacturer that you can turn to for help when you need it.
A lot of the top manufacturers provide some sort of warranty for their drones, which can give you peace of mind in your purchase. In addition, a capable manufacturer will be more likely to provide a quality manual for their product. Without a manual, assembling your drone and adjusting the controls to fly and run it properly can be very difficult. One of the best ways to determine if a drone manufacturer is reliable is to read reviews on the different products that they design.
Range
Drones come with various range calculations, so this is an important factor to keep in mind. When looking at any drone, you need to consider where you will be flying it and what sort of range you will need to do so effectively. For instance, if you plan to fly the drone around the inside of a building or in a small yard, range will not be too much of an issue. However, if you are interested in taking your drone to a park or other large outdoor area, having a model with a decent range rating will give you more flying options.
You also need to consider the signal range of the drone. If the area that you are going to fly the drone in is full of various obstacles like buildings or trees, you need to ensure that the drone you are purchasing will not lose range and signal at the wrong time, causing it to crash and most likely break. Finally, another feature related to range is flight time. For the majority of pocket drones on the market, this is under 10 minutes. Your flying techniques also affect overall flight time. Keep this in mind when performing aerial stunts such as flips, which will reduce the amount of time you can stay in the air on a single charge.
Lighting Systems
A reliable lighting system is an important feature on a drone because it helps you track it while in flight. Plus, there are many drones that come with cameras. To ensure a clear picture, these drones will need some sort of lighting system, especially when taking photos at night or in poorly lit areas. Many drones on the market today come with LED lighting systems, which are efficient and long-lasting.
When reviewing a drone’s lighting system prior to purchase, you may want to check if the lighting components can be replaced if they fail or are damaged. Some companies offer replacement parts and components, but this is not always the case. Fortunately, many drone lighting systems can be purchased online and in brick-and-mortar stores. While it’s best to find a drone with its own built-in lighting features, aftermarket parts can come in handy for repairs or upgrades.
Top 3 List of the Best Pocket Drones
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1. Syma X20
The Syma X20 has multiple features that make it easier to fly and control than some of the other drones on the market. This is a six-axis-gyro rotorcraft, and it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor play. This drone comes with a headless mode, which means that when it cannot recognize the fuselage direction, it will continue to fly. This feature makes it easier for beginners to learn how to handle the controls.This drone also comes with a single take-off and landing button. You can also have fun with the 360-degree flip feature, which allows the drone to continuously roll with ease. Plus, due to the colorful flashing lights, you can even enjoy flying this drone at night without worrying about losing sight of it. Go find out more information about this drone on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
Syma X20 Specifications
| Product: |   |
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| Specifications: | • Size: 10.5 x 10.5 x 2.5 cm / 4.13 x 4.13 x .98 in • Flight time: Approx. 5 minutes • Battery for controller: 4 "AAA" batteries • Control distance: 66ft / 20m • Charging Time: Approx. 50 minutes • Battery for quadcopter: 3.7V 180mAh Li-Po battery |
Syma X20 Pros List
• It has auto hovering technology built into its system
• A single button for landing and lift-off control makes for easy operation
• The drone has a lightweight build design
• It has colorful flashing lights for night play
• It is designed for kids and beginning drone users
Syma X20 Cons List
• Its charging port is delicate
• The manufacturer has a no return policy on this drone model
What do other reviews say?
Overall, the reviews for the Syma X20 Mini Drone are very positive. Take a look at this review of the newest Syma X20 Mini Drone for a look at its top features.
2. TENKER Mini RC Drone Portable Pocket Quadcopter
This pocket quadcopter drone is manufactured by TENKER, which is a well-known manufacturer of drones. The company designed this model to provide a quality flying experience for more advanced users. They have added a number of bright LED lights to the model, which makes it easy to keep track of this drone when flying at night. Additionally, this drone model is lightweight as well as foldable, making it ideal to carry in the pocket.
Along with its other features, this model has an altitude hold mode, which makes it more convenient to fly straight. However, it is also capable of extensive maneuvering and performing different types of aerial stunts. The headless mode enables the drone to remain in flight even if it gets out of range of the transmitter for a short time. It’s important to note that this drone is more complicated to put together and operate, so it’s best for experienced drone pilots. View the TENKER Mini RC Drone Portable Pocket Quadcopter on Amazon to find out more information.
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TENKER Mini RC Specifications
| Product: |   |
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| Specifications: | • Size unfolded: 6.5 x 6.5 x 2.7cm • Size folded: 5 x 5 x 2.7cm • Fly time: Approx. 5-8 minutes • Transmitter battery: 4 "AAA" batteries • Quadcopter battery: 3.7V 220mAh • Controller Size: 14.5 x 8.5 x 5cm |
TENKER Mini RC Pros List
• This drone has a bright LED light system for night flying
• It comes with a headless mode that lets it stay in flight
• The drone is lightweight in design
• This drone is foldable for easy transportation
• It is capable of performing aerial stunts
• It has an altitude hold mode
TENKER Mini RC Cons List
• This drone is not user-friendly for beginners
• It comes with complicated instructions
What do other reviews say?
This TENKER mini drone has received great reviews overall for its features and ease of use. Check out what this reviewer has to say about the TENKER Mini RC Drone Portable Pocket Quadcopter.
3. HolyStone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone
The HS190 RC drone is a small drone that was designed to fit comfortably in most pockets. When not being used, you can fold parts of the drone up to protect it from getting broken in transport. You can fly this drone at three different speeds, which allows you to take your time in learning how to fly it without it getting away from you. It also has a couple of other neat features that most drones don’t have.
For instance, it has a single button that you can push to make the drone lift off and land, and it has a single-key return option. This allows you to push a button on the controller, and the drone will automatically fly back toward the transmitter that is located in the controller. The company also designed the drone with an extensive LED lighting system to make it visible when flying at night. View the HolyStone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone model on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
HolyStone HS190 Specifications
| Product: |   |
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| Specifications: | • Weight: 24.9g • Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches • Fly time: Approx. 5-7 min • Operation range: Approx. 30-50 meters • Charge time: Approx. 40 minutes |
HolyStone HS190 Pros List
• It has a functioning LED lighting system for flying at night
• It has a single landing and lift-off button
• This drone is foldable making it easy to carry
• It has a headless mode that keeps it in flight
• It is capable of reaching three different speeds
• It has a single-key return
HolyStone HS190 Cons List
• This drone is not ideal for outdoor flight
• There are some issues with lifting off evenly
What do other reviews say?
Reviewers give this drone high marks for its portability and variety of features. This review highlights both the best and worst features of the HolyStone HS190 Foldable Mini Nano RC Drone.
Conclusion
The Best Pocket Drone Is…
After reviewing the above drones, we have concluded that the number one pocket drone sold on the market is the newest Syma X20 Mini Drone. It is an excellent choice for drone users of all levels, and it has a lot of quality features that pushed it over the top in our opinion. Go check it out on Amazon.
Before making your final purchasing decision, you could also check out our article What Is the Best Nano Drone With a Camera? to find other great portable drone options.
Come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.