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The short answer: a camera drone under 250 grams makes a great gift for a teenager or adult who likes being outdoors, travels, or loves filming. It’s small, it doesn’t need FAA registration if it weighs under 250 grams (0.55 lb) and is flown only for fun, and good ones are easy to fly. Just budget for an extra battery or two, check that it works with their phone, and give them a heads-up about the free FAA safety test they’ll take before the first flight. For more on this class of drone, see our guide to drones under 250 grams.

Who a small drone suits

  • The traveler or hiker who wants video of places from above. A folding camera drone packs small. Most film 4K, and better models have a motorized mount that steadies the camera.
  • The vlogger who wants to be in the shot. DJI says its Flip takes off from your palm and has subject tracking to keep a person in frame.
  • The curious beginner who wants to try flying without spending much. Holy Stone and Potensic both list a beginner mode on their budget models.

It’s a weaker fit for someone who’ll mostly fly in strong wind: even models their makers rate for moderate wind get pushed around in strong gusts. It’s also a weak fit for a young child flying alone. The FAA’s free safety test has no minimum age, but we’d suggest an adult flies alongside a young child while they learn.

Our picks for each kind of person are in the best drones under 250 grams.

What to buy with it

  • More batteries. By the makers’ figures, one battery gives about 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the model. Those figures are measured in calm air, so real flights are shorter. Many drones come in a bundle with extra batteries and a charging hub. DJI calls this a Fly More Combo; other brands just list the batteries in the box. A bundle is usually the better gift.
  • A memory card, if one isn’t in the box. Potensic, for example, says its ATOM SE ships without one. Check the maker’s list of cards that work with the drone.
  • A case or bag, if the bundle doesn’t include one.

One thing not to add: a bigger “Plus” battery or heavy accessories, if you want the drone to stay under 250 grams. DJI says its Mini 3 weighs about 290 grams with its larger Plus battery, and the FAA counts everything attached to the drone at takeoff. At 250 grams or more, it has to be registered and must broadcast Remote ID, a digital ID signal.

Check that it works with their phone

Most small camera drones use a phone app to show the camera view and save settings. Before you buy, check the listing or the maker’s spec page for the oldest iPhone and Android versions it supports. Potensic, for example, says its ATOM SE needs iOS 11 or Android 7.0 or above, and includes three phone cables.

Some kits skip the phone question entirely: the DJI Flip Fly More Combo, for one, comes with a controller that has its own screen. That’s handy for a parent or anyone who’d rather not tie up their phone.

Android owners should know one wrinkle. DJI says its DJI Fly app has been removed from the Google Play store, so Android users download it from DJI’s website instead. It’s an extra step worth mentioning in the card.

What they must do before the first flight

Your gift will come with two small jobs:

  1. Take the FAA’s free online safety test, called TRUST, and keep the certificate. Anyone flying for fun must carry proof that they passed. You can correct answers until you pass. The test site keeps no copy, so save it on their phone and print one; if it’s lost, they retake the test.
  2. Learn the basic rules. Stay at or below 400 feet, keep the drone in sight, give way to planes and helicopters, and get permission before flying near an airport. States, cities and parks can have their own rules too, so check before flying somewhere new.

No registration is needed for a drone under 250 grams flown only for fun. The full basics, in plain words, are in do you need to register a drone under 250 grams?

A nice touch: charge the batteries before wrapping the gift, so the first flight can happen the same day.

Common questions

Should I take the safety test for them?

No. The certificate belongs to whoever flies. Each person who flies the drone for fun takes the test themselves and carries their own proof.

What if they want to use it for a side job, like real estate photos?

Then different FAA rules apply: the drone must be registered whatever it weighs, and the pilot needs an FAA certificate (see the FAA’s flying-for-work page).

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