Simple toys or true hobby? Whatever you think, here’s a guide with all the best drones 2018 you can buy in the USA.

Buying a drone is not always an easy task. In fact, despite their increasing diffusion these products always remain a niche. This is mainly due to the high-end model costs and the poor performance of cheap drones.

Compared to the past, however, when drones were more of a whim, considerable progress was made in this area. Above all, the battery life, and a camera drone market considerably grew.

If you are wondering which drone to buy, then you are in the right place today. We will analyze together the best drones 2018 that are available online and we will reveal those features that we considered suitable to enter this special ranking.

First, however, it is good to do a little study. When you want to buy a drone for the first time it is necessary to know some regulations that rule this sector.

Drone Flight Regulations

There are a few things to know before you start flying your drones. In fact, given the increasing extension, the FEDERAL drone regulations decided to regulate its usage. Unfortunately, there is not one place in the law where we can look and say “here specifically are all the drone regulations in sequential order.” There are many different regulations spread out all over that apply in certain circumstances. Thankfully, we can say that ALL of the federal regulations are located in one code – the code of federal regulations (C.F.R).

Basic Rules

Recreational / Hobbyist Rules—Flying for Fun

You must fly for hobby or recreation ONLY (no side jobs or in-kind work allowed).

You must register your UAV with the FAA on the FAADroneZone website.

You must fly within visual line-of-sight.

You must follow community-based safety guidelines and fly within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization (CBO) like the AMA.

You must fly a drone under 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization.

You must never fly near other aircraft.

You must notify the airport and air traffic control tower prior to flying within 5 miles of an airport.

You must never fly near emergency response efforts.

Commercial Rules—Flying for Work

You must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA to fly commercially.

You must register your UAV with the FAA on the FAADroneZone website.

Your UAV must weigh less than 55 pounds, including payload, at takeoff.

You must fly in Class G airspace.

You must keep your UAV within visual line-of-sight.

You must fly at or below 400 feet.

You must fly during daylight or civil twilight.

You must fly at or under 100 mph.

You must yield right of way to manned aircraft.

You cannot fly directly over people.

You cannot fly from a moving vehicle, unless in a sparsely populated area

Drones Features

Now at least we all know the basic regulation of the drone flight so its time to see the drones features. Do not underestimate this part because it will help us to choose the most suitable model for you. If you want to buy a drone you will find it really useful to learn to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Battery: It is one of the most important features. As for smartphones, or maybe even more, if the battery is low, the flight sessions will be short. The majority of drones for recreational use allow between 10 and 30 minutes of activity. If possible, then try to towards a model with interchangeable battery and buy a spare. In fact, charging times are often long and will force you to exhausting expectations.

Weight and Dimensions: These are two characteristics that greatly influence maneuverability. It would be useful to start with small and light drones, perhaps cheap drones. They are perfect for practice and will not bleed you if broken. After a trial period, the choice is wide and depends on your tastes. Always remember the discriminating of the legislation.

Camera Drones: Video camera is a must now! The smaller drones have spent an integrated video camera. However, the resolution is low and is unsuitable for quality shots. The high-end models instead are equipped with much more versatile cameras. Obviously, along with quality the cost also rises. But if it is an essential element for you, you will find models that record videos in 4K resolution, with stabilization and independent controls for video recording.

Flying Range: Also regulated by the law. While remaining within the prescribed deadlines the differences between the various drones are sensitive. The most compact is suitable for indoor and outdoor flying. Always keep in mind both height and operating distance at the time of purchase.

Controls: They can be of two types. The simplest method involves using your smartphone. The commands are intuitive and immediate, but the range is limited. The more expensive models instead are equipped with a dedicated radio control. This increases the range and the precision of the control. GPS is also often available to facilitate flight maneuvers and return to base.

Price: If for you drones are just a pastime, we doubt you want to spend large amounts. The positive factor is that the cheap drones start from a few bucks. The Pro models instead cost several hundred bucks, but also offer superior quality. In between there is everything and for all tastes, the choice is up to you!

Now that you know a little bit of theory, it’s time to find out which drone to buy among the multitude of models in stores all over the world.

Best Drones 2018

If you have recently approached this world, you will particularly find it necessary to find out which drone to buy to start. In case your budget is limited, there are some cheap drones available in the market that we want to offer you.

Hubsan X4 H107

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If you want to buy a drone to start and look for a fun, but not challenging product, this model could really be perfect. Equipped with four rotors and a six-axis control system, it also integrates a 2 MP camera, certainly not of a high standard but perfect to monitor your first flights.

DBPower U818A

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Remaining on the budget drones, but with a decidedly more captivating design, we find this DBPower model quite attractive. It is a product suitable for beginners with which it is possible to take away some satisfaction. The included camera shoots at 720p, while the controls are designed for those who do not have much experience in this area. Good battery life, a superior product in the budget segment.

Hubsan X4 H507A

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We conclude this section dedicated to drones for beginners, this drone is also not very expensive but very satisfying. The compact size makes it perfect to carry it with you and capture the best moments with a 720p camera. Among the most interesting features, we certainly find the automatic takeoff and landing and the possibility of tracking a subject.

Best Mid-range drones

If you are already familiar with drones and look for a more performing product, you can look forward to the mid-range. Here you will find much more advanced models than those drones for beginners and able to give good satisfaction.

Parrot Bebop 2

This mid-range drone is the perfect match between budget and performance. The camera uses a 14MP fisheye lens with software stabilization to eliminate unwanted movements during recording. Excellent video resolution that can reach up to 1080p.

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The body of the drone is made of light and resistant materials. A remote controller is available separately, which will take your flight sensations to other levels. Unhelpful battery life, which can still be improved thanks to a third-party battery.

DJI Spark

DJI is undoubtedly one of the leading brands in this field and we could not include a mid-range drone of this brand. Spark is small in size so you can enjoy the most fun wherever you want.

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It can be controlled very easily thanks to the smartphone through really innovative and fun to use. The camera mounted on the body is 12MP and allows you to record good quality videos. The only flaw is the lightness that can be an inconvenience on windy days.

Parrot Disco

Do you love high performance? With this mid-range drone, you can fly up to an incredible speed of 80 km/h. This is a model that is no longer very recent but that continues to be an excellent alternative, especially for those with a budget above the economic band but not unlimited.

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Equipped with a single rotor, it incorporates a camera with FullHD video recording. Remarkable battery life, which is around 45 minutes and thus prolongs your enjoyment. The package also includes a controller and a viewer.

Best high-end drones

If the budget is not a problem that concerns you, and you only look for the best, in this section you will find the best high-end drones. This is a segment dedicated to true enthusiasts who do not want to incur restrictions or compromises.

DJI Mavic Air

DJI Mavic Air is undoubtedly the best compact-sized drone that is currently available on the market. Equipped with extreme portability, it allows you to record videos in 4K quality, with a very fluid data transmission.

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If you are looking for an acrobatic drone, with this model you will be able to do many of the evolutions that you have already imagined in your mind. Not autonomous battery, which can still be increased with special kits. However, it is a compact drone where the place for batteries is really minimal.

DJI Mavic Pro

Always staying in the range of compact drones, we cannot fail to highlight DJI Mavic Pro. It is a completely foldable drone that can be safely stored in a bag and taken anywhere you want.

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The camera is mounted on a gimbal, so as not to affect the videos in 4K with imperfections due to vibration and movement. Excellent flight speed, which can reach up to 64 km/h. In the box, you will find a dedicated controller that will make the flight much easier and fun.

DJI Phantom 4

Decided improvement of the previous model, this DJI Phantom 4 drone brings with it an improved structure a really excellent remote controller. The integrated 12MP camera allows you to record excellent videos in 4K resolution.

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This is absolutely an excellent high-end drone, penalized slightly by a not really encouraging battery life. There are about 20 minutes of free flight, which can still be increased with special kits.

Final line

We have reached the end of our guide and we hope to have clarified what drone to buy. The models in circulation are really many, from the cheapest to semi-professional. It is up to you to choose the product that best suits your use and your budget.

In the meantime, if you want to consult another dedicated guide, we leave you with the Best Cheap Drones that we are sure you will find interesting.

However, in the end, let’s see together what are currently the most sold drones on Amazon.

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