Best Drone for Christmas 2018

There might not be a better gift to give this Christmas than a drone. They are a blast to fly, fun to race and can take awesome pictures and video. But finding the right drone to buy with confidence isn’t so easy. You’ll want to check out our best drones for Christmas 2019 list as well.

We thought we’d help you find the perfect drone for that special someone you are shopping for this holiday season. Drones are not a one-size-fits-all gift, so Half Chrome Drones has made it easier for you. Let’s make this a Merry Drone Christmas.

Scroll down or use these links to jump to the type of drone you are looking for:
▪Best Beginner Drone (less than $100)
▪Best Intro to Photography Drone (less than $400)
▪Best Drone for Most People (less than $800)
▪Best Drone PERIOD.
▪Best Drone for Getting into Racing
▪Best Stocking Stuffer
▪Best Drones for Kids 

Don’t miss out on some inexpensive Christmas-themed drones in the Stocking Stuffer section below.

Best Drone Under $100

The Ryze Tello is one heck of a drone for less than $100. It was developed by Ryze in partnership with Intel and DJI so you know it is solid. It features a best-in-class 5 MP camera with electronic image stabilization and a handful of intelligent flight modes. Learn more about the Tello HERE.

Best Drone Under $400

The DJI Spark is one heck of a drone and probably the best place to start if you want to take good pictures and video. We have tested hundreds of drones and there just aren’t any good ones for less than $400 if high-quality video is your goal. That is, except for the Spark. The Spark features an HD camera on a mechanical gimbal, a 2000 meter range and a 16 minute flight time. The FlyMore package might cost a little more, but we would recommend it.  Learn more about the Spark HERE.

**As a bonus option take a look at the Xiaomi FiMi A3 and Hubsan Zino. They are quickly becoming solid alternatives to the DJI Spark. They haven’t been around quite as long but feature similar specs at a lower price. They are definitely looking into.

Best Drone Under $800

The DJI Mavic Air is a foldable and compact drone that you can use to capture 4K video. This drone is the best option for almost everyone. The camera quality is excellent and it has a solid 4000-meter range and a 20 minute flight time. The Mavic Air has image tracking, front and rear obstacle avoidance, and a bunch of intelligent flight modes. The Mavic Air is a compact dynamo that is sure to please. Learn more about the Mavic Air HERE.

Best Drone PERIOD.

The brand new DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is the best drone on the market today. It is so good that DJI used it as the platform for its first compact “enterpirse drone,” the Mavic Enterprise. It boasts an impressive 4K camera capable of 2x optical and an additional 2x digital zoom. We prefer this drone to the more expensive Mavic 2 Pro because of the artistic creativity it provides for video.

While it may not have the super top end camera, the Mavic 2 Zoom is more than good enough for most applications. It also comes at a significant discount to the Mavic 2 Pro. If you need Hollywood -quality pictures then you’ll need to look into a Phantom 4 Pro or Inspire 2. The Mavic 2 features an 8000-meter range and a 31-minute flight time. All of these features are on top of the omni-directional obstacle avoidance and a plethora of flight modes. If you can afford the $1249 price tag then you need a Mavic 2 Zoom. Learn more about the Mavic 2.

Best Drone for FPV Racing

If you’ve seen FPV racing on ESPN then you know how exciting and thrilling it can be. We don’t recommend you start by picking up a racer like the ones you see on TV. Instead, you should try one of these starter kits. The FatShark 101 starter bundle is the best all-in-one kit for any beginner looking to get into FPV. It gives you a high-quality drone, remote and FPV goggles plus some extras like race gates, extra batteries and a subscription to a drone racing simulator. It isn’t cheap, as it will cost you a little more than $200.

If you are looking for something a little less expensive we’d recommend taking a look at the Eachine E013. Like the FatShark 101, this is an all-in-one kit but on a smaller level. The E013 (sometimes called the R011) is a tiny ducted drone, with a little remote and FPV goggles. They might not be quite as nice as the FatShark 101, but you can get the entire package for about $100. Learn more about the E013

Best Stocking Stuffers

Maybe you want to stuff your stockings with some Christmas-themed drones. If  you do, then you need to check out this little machine from Eachine. This might be THE Christmas drone. The E011C (also known as the JJRC H67) is almost identical to the Eachine E011 (one of our favorites) but has Santa riding the drone instead of his sleigh. It won’t break the bank as you can often find it for less than $20. Learn more about the tiny Santa drone.

 Best Drones for Kids

If you are looking for the perfect drone for kids big or small then you need to check out this article. Whether you need a Christmas drone or one for fun, make sure you come back to www.HalfChrome.com.

What Is the BEST Drone?

So what is the absolute best drone out there? That question isn’t as easy to answer as you’d think. BUT…for most people the answer is the DJI Mavic Air. It is portable, has an awesome camera and excellent flight modes. Learn more about the Mavic Air HERE.

What Is Our FAVORITE Drone?

The Mavic Air is great, but the drone that has us excited to go fly the most right now is the Parrot Anafi. The camera and gimbal setup on this drone allow it to do things that no other drone can. Plus, having the ability to zoom in on what you are filming is priceless. Learn more about the Parrot Anafi HERE.

What Drone Is the Best VALUE?

The best value on the market today has to be the DJI Spark. Now under $400, this little dynamo can do things that once upon a time cost over $1000. Learn more about the DJI Spark HERE. Still too much money for you? There are still some great options. Check out our list of the best drones under $200.

Want More Options?

Every month we update what we believe are the best drones on the market. Check out Best Drones Now. We have also created the one-of-a-kind Half Chrome Drone Cipher™. You answer a few questions and we’ll pair you with the best drone for you.

Do you want to search by price? Click on your menu above or we can break it down for you. Check out drones under $50, from $50-100, from $100-200, from $200-500 or over $500. Maybe you like a good Top Ten list, we’ve got you covered.

Learn More…

If you want to learn more about taking great pictures or flying FPV then check out our comprehensive guides on those topics. Also, take a look at our articles on how to choose the right drone for great aerial photos or for getting started flying race drones. Learn more about drones and how to get the most out of them in our Drone Academy. In the Academy, we also detail some of the advanced testing we do including drone thrust testing and camera quality testing.

I Want Videos…

Did you know that Half Chrome has its own YouTube Channel? We have reviews, flight tests, crashes, 360-degree videos and more. Check it out and subscribe today

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