3. Syma X5SC Drone

The Syma X5SC-’s design is largely borrowed from DJI’s Phantom model but with an economical dimension. This is one the most affordable camera indoor drones that can fly optimally. It is a good option for a beginner who wants a basic unit before buying a more expensive model.

For its price, the X5SC- is a small caliber drone (12.4 inches diameter and 4.1 inches thickness) with a weight of less than 1.5 pounds. The device is made of plastic and it falls into the RTF (Ready To Fly) category. You can assemble the feet and the camera in a few seconds in addition to fixing the propellers. It is well suited to indoor flights, especially for beginners. However, it can be difficult to avoid shocks during the first hour of flight.

In the package, you will find a remote control (without batteries), a 4 GB memory card and a 500 mAh lithium battery. With this type of battery, the maximum flight time is about eight minutes and the recharging process takes two hours. If you intend to use this drone for longer periods, it is recommended that you purchase additional batteries. The range of the controller is about 100 meters. Obviously, a device of this caliber does provide the best performance outdoors except in mild weather.

controller is about 100 meters. Obviously, a device of this caliber does provide the best performance outdoors except in mild weather. Despite a displayed resolution of 2 megapixels, the camera provides an image that is best used for tracking or capturing a scene without much movement. The rendering standard is below most basic smartphones. The colors are not sharp and lack contrast. The absence of any stabilization system – physical or electronic – makes photo capture difficult and video capture disappointing. The camera angle, which is reduced, and the inability to rotate it further decreases the accuracy of shooting.

4. DJI Mavic Air

The DJI Mavic Air is the near-perfect love child of the very successful Mavic Pro and the compact and user-friendly Spark. It's a consumer drone that highlights DJI’s commitment to innovation. By taking the tech and foldable rotor arms from the DJI Mavic Pro and the small form factor and playfulness of the Spark – and then improving on both – DJI has produced its best drone yet for consumers.

The Mavic Air hovers over that perfect middle ground, offering high-end specs at a lower price point than the Mavic Pro. It has just about every bell and whistle (though this drone certainly does hum) you could ask for, from 4K video and 32MP panoramic pictures to a 21-minute battery life, max flight distance of 10 km, and an 8 GB internal storage.

More importantly, the DJI Mavic Air is easy to fly thanks to an improved object avoidance system and gesture controls, giving this drone more mainstream appeal.