How to pick the best beginner racing drone?
So, you want to start racing drones and you are looking for the best racing drone? To compete on the next level you will need to get yourself the best beginner racing drone. There are several options out there and we are going to show you how to spot the great ones from the fake ones. Keep reading to see if you can find yours today. In this review, we discuss 11 great racing drones on its features, specifications, pros, cons, prices and much more.
What To Look For In The Best Racing drone
Drone racing is quickly evolving from a niche hobby to an exciting and highly competitive sport.
But, before you enter your first race, you’ll need an effective best racing drone that’s ideal for beginners.To start, racing drones are not camera drones. Camera drones were made to capture high-resolution aerial images of landscapes, cityscapes etc. For this reason, they’re designed to fly “low and slow.”
The best racing drone is a small, speedy quadcopter designed for FPV (first person view) flying competitions.
For a starter racing drone, you’ll want something that’s affordable yet durable because you will crash your quad. It’s part of the learning process. So, it’s better to start with a budget drone so that you don’t lose a lot of money.
Also, you’ll have to decide whether you want to compete in drone racing league events or more informal meetups.Drone racing leagues normally stipulate the specs your drone needs to have to compete. These races are normally indoors where wind and other weather conditions aren’t an issue.
Informal meetups are normally open to any kind of drone but they are sometimes held outdoors. Let’s take a look at the best racing drones.
The 11 Best Racing Drones
1.Holystone HS230
When purchasing the best racing drone there are so many factors to consider but the biggest one of them all is speed. How fast does the drone accelerate? What’s the highest speed it can attain?
In the creation of the Holy Stone 230 or HS230, speed was probably the biggest priority and this can easily be seen from the aerodynamics and battery capacity. This FPV drone is designed to accelerate from 0 to 45 km/h within seconds! Yes, you heard that right. The drone is capable of attaining its maximum speed in a matter of seconds and this will honestly blow your mind away. With such high speeds, you’d expect the drone to be surrounded by so many FAA restrictions but that is not the case. You won’t even need any registration from the FAA to fly it.
Of course, if it’s your first time to fly the drone, you are going to have a tough time controlling it at such speeds. That is why it has multiple speed modes to accommodate beginners. You can start by flying it slowly, master the controls and maneuverability and then scale up the speeds to experience exciting blood rush!
The HS 230 is more than just a speed drone. It can also accommodate a camera and thanks to its 2.4GHz operating frequency, and 5.8GHz Real-Time Transmission you will be receiving live images and videos with zero latency.
This drone features a 720P FOV HD Camera with a 120° view. This camera enables you to catch every single moment which you can record and share it with your family and friends. The LCD screen also allows you to watch live images and videos using the FPV function because the transmitters don’t have to be used with a phone.
The drone has also been fitted with great LED lights for night flights. These help in controlling and sighting the drone but we also found the ambiance of the lights really cool.
Specs
- 4 GHz Operating Frequency
- 8GHz analog signal transmission frequency (Real-time)
- 6-axis Gyro (4CH)
- 7V 750mAh Li-Po batteries
- 1280 by a t720P camera with a 120° view
- 7-10 minutes of flying time
- 60-90 minutes charging duration
- Weighs 4.1oz
Bottom Line on this best racing drone
The HS230 is in our opinion the best racing drone to buy. Very few racing drones can compete on the same level as the HS230. Its camera captures breathtaking images and the transmission frequency makes sure that you get the video live with zero interruptions. We also found the low power alert really useful. This lets you know that the drone is running low on battery through the LED lights and will also be displayed on the monitor helping you to plan appropriately. As you can see, HS230 is up there among the best racing drones in the market right now.
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2. Holystone HS 150 Bolt Bee Mini Racing Drone
Holy Stone 150 is the new generation of incredible racing drones that are also very affordable. In this quadcopter, the manufacturer has successfully managed to bring down the cost of a racing drones without destroying the character and personality that makes them exciting.
The first impression when you look at the HS 150 is the excellent craftsmanship of its construction. The drone is finished in high-quality black and yellow bodywork with two LED lights or rather “eyes” at the front. You will also notice that its motor arms are very different from typical drones. These have helped in boosting aerodynamics and have also significantly improved its overall appearance.
HS150’s brilliance in performance is mostly attributed to its aerodynamics. The drone is designed in a shape that allows it to eliminate as much air resistance as possible and this doesn’t just make the drone super-fast but also helps in preserving its battery life.
The Holy Stone 150 is a high-speed quadcopter that’s outfitted with a high voltage power motor for quick acceleration.
This is another drone that you can race right out of the box. Its five-speed modes make it great for both beginners and experts who are looking for lots of speed. The highest velocity is 50 km/h. The HS 150 comes with 2 3.7V 600Mah Lipo batteries. According to the manufacturer, this will give you a flight time of 5-7 minutes. It takes about 90 minutes to charge the battery.
This drone has a headless mode and 3D flip features which are very helpful functions for beginner drone racers. The transmitter’s operating range is about 50 – 70 meters.
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Power
HS150 is powered by a modular battery which in simple terms is an improved and more efficient version of regular batteries. This type of battery is not just effective in providing the needed power but is also adequately protected from fire, overcharging and other hazards.
Performance
HS150 is designed to be fast and this has been achieved through its remarkable aerodynamics and power source. The manufacturer explains that it can get up to 31 miles per hour which is an insane speed for a drone within its price range.
Another big issue that always affects the performance of best racing drones is wind and other weather conditions. HS150 has been able to counter all these through stabilizers. The propeller guards fitted are also so negligible allowing you to add or remove them without affecting the overall performance of the drone.
Control
Controlling the HS150 is very easy. You don’t have to be a nerd to fly it and keeping it stable is made easy by the 6-axis gyro stabilization system. Something else really awesome about the drone is the little tricks that you can perform including my personal favorite 3D flips and U-turns.
Specs
- 70m Operational Range
- 7 minutes of flight time
- Charging takes 90 minutes
- 7V 600mAh Lithium Polymer battery
- 4GHz radio transmission
- 6-axis Gyro
- 5-speed modes
- Features altitude hold function
- Lower power alarm
- Supports headless security mode
Pros:
- The HS 150 is beginner friendly. It’s simple to fly and the adjustable speed control allows you to fly indoors at low speed or outdoors with high speed.
- The controls are well-marked and with a slide in battery, you won’t waste any time getting it started.
- It’s a high-performance drone at an affordable price. It’s a great option if you don’t mind not having the camera and just want to focus on racing.
Cons:
- The battery tends to slide out after a crash or a hard landing, making it more likely that you’ll lose it.
Verdict
HS150 may have a few challenges like the limited range, long charging time and the lack of a camera but its performance and overall effectiveness is too much to brush it away. It’s a brilliant racing drone that will give you an astonishing experience and the best part is that you don’t have to pay an insane price for it.
Overall, the HS150 is a deserved #2 in our best racing drone list.
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3. Vusion 250 Racer
This is a first-person view racing drone that comes with all the necessary FPV equipment already installed. When you buy the Vusion 250, you’ll also get LCD video monitor, 5.8GHz video transmitter, a micro-memory card slot and gogglers.
The video transmitter also to you to see your flights in real time. Made with the drone racer in mind, the transmitter includes eight Race race band channels that are exclusively meant for FPV racing.
The 600TVL FPV camera will capture every moment of your flight including the FPV view. When you’re done recording you can save the video to the camera or to a micro SD card.
With this model, you won’t need to do any extra assembly or soldering. Also, its modular construction ensures that the device is durable and simple to repair. Highly com
You also won’t have to buy extra batteries since it comes with a 3S LiPo battery, AC charger, and AA batteries.
Pros:
- The Vusion 250 is fast, lightweight and easy to control
- The drone has three difficulty modes which mean it’s great for beginners who want to sharpen their skills on the easier levels first.
- When your skills improve, you’ll be able to step up to a new “level of flight” which will allow you to fly at higher speeds with advanced maneuverability
Cons:
- The FPV video quality, at only 480 x 272 resolution, is not the best. The sub-par video quality can cause some color changes on the monitor which can make flying unsafe.
- Due to these monitor issues, the best time to fly the Vusion 250 would be during the evening at a high altitude so that you can avoid crashing into trees.
The Vusion 250 takes a well-earned 3rd spot in our best racing drone list.
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4. Contixo F6 – Best fpv racing drone
For a budget racing drone, the Contixo F6 has a lot of exciting features. It comes with 4-speed modes, One Key Takeoff/ Landing, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode and One Key Return Function.
You’ll also get a 720p HD rotating camera with live feed, FPV and VR capabilities. The live feed function allows you to broadcast live video via the mobile app.
The virtual reality mode creates an immersive flying experience so that you can truly take in the spectacular aerial views as you fly.
Altitude Hold means that you’ll be able to hover your drone at any altitude even when you release the throttle. This is a great feature for beginners who may have trouble keeping the device in the air at first.
But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to take advantage of the 360° Flip feature. This function will have you doing aerial stunts in no time.
Pros:
- This drone is fast even in altitude hold. Some quadcopters lose speed when you use this function but this drone doesn’t.
- The Contixo F6 comes with a high capacity 2300mAh lithium rechargeable battery which can power up 10-12 minutes of flight time on a single charge.
- The manufacturer promises 18-minute flights, but 10-12 minutes is a more realistic expectation. You can turn off the LED lights to get more power.
- This is the best fpv racing drone
Cons:
- There have been complaints that the modular camera sometimes detaches during flight. This disconnects the Wi-Fi feed.
- Your video will still be recorded and saved on the app. But you won’t be able to download it onto your phone.
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5. X-Speed 250B
The X-Speed 250 B is fully assembled and ready to fly, right out of the box. It comes with a Raptor 390 tower and a radio link AT9 transmitter.
The tower has an integrated OSD, so you don’t have to install it separately. This package also includes an FPV camera which can be adjusted from 0 to 45 degrees.
The ARRIS 2205 motor and 5042 propeller offer a high-powered performance supported by a 4S Lipo battery.
Pros:
- The X-Speed 250B is a very durable device that has a high degree of crash resistance. This makes it ideal for beginner drone racers.
- It’s quick and surprisingly agile, given its ruggedness and solid construction.
- It has a beeper which helps you to locate your drone if you lose it.
- It has great range and you can easily transition from horizon to full acro modes.
Cons:
- Some customers have complained that the transmitter screen isn’t easy to read in daylight
- It can be challenging to customize some settings on the drone.
- The drone does not come with a battery charger or FPV goggles. You’ll have to buy those separately.
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6. Arris X-Speed 280
The Arris X-Speed 280 is an RC drone that comes fully assembled.
The package includes a Raptor 390 Tower, a radio link AT9S transmitter, a Sony 700 line camera and four 3-blade propellers that offer 10% higher efficiency than normal propellers.
The high-powered ARRIS 2205 brushless motor and 5042 propeller make this an aircraft built for speed. You will also get an ARRIS 4S 1500mah Lipo battery with your purchase.
But you will have to buy FPV goggles and a battery charger separately.
Pros:
- The X-Speed 280 has a sturdy frame and is known for its high level of crash resistance. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
- It’s fast. The ARRIS 2205 motor is very powerful and with a 1500 50c battery you’ll enjoy flights that last from 10 to 15 minutes.
Cons:
- Be prepared to buy your own battery charger and FPV goggles because they aren’t included. The manufacturer recommends an Imax B6AC V2 charger and Fat Shark Dominator V3 FPV goggles.
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7. Parrot Bebop 2 Racing Drone Kit With Goggles
This is a lightweight quadcopter drone with a flight range of up to 1.2 miles.
The drone comes with a Parrot Skycontroller 2 and the Parrot Cockpitglasses (FPV goggles) which provide an immersive flying experience.
The built-in wide-angle camera allows you to capture 1080P HD videos and 14Mpx photos. You can save your footage in either RAW, JPEG or DNG formats.
The Parrot Bebop 2 comes with a 3-axis digital stabilization system which enables smooth and stable video capture.
The package also includes a high capacity 2700mAh battery which has up 25 minutes of life.
Pros
- This is a fast quadcopter. You get to speeds of up to 50ft/s or 35 mph. This makes it great for racing.
- It’s a very stable flyer. It can tolerate medium winds and stays still when there’s no wind present.
- Even though it’s a stable flyer, the Bebop 2 has a lot of agility as well. It handles turns effortlessly as long as you know what you’re doing.
Cons
- The WiFi disconnects from the controller easily. This isn’t much of an issue in rural areas where there may be less WiFi interference.
- But in urban areas where you’re competing for WiFi signal with a city of other devices, it’s easier to lose your connection. This means that you’ll lose your visual and potentially your drone.
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8.Walkera F210
The Walkera F210 is a racing quadcopter that’s ready to fly when you purchase. Made from carbon fiber with a signature “bow” body design, this drone is a tough bird.
Sturdy and durable, it’s powered by four 28 size 2500kv motors running on a 4S battery pack which makes it fast and great for racing.
The on-screen display module (OSD) and 5.8GHz transmitter come pre-installed. The package also includes a 700TVL night vision camera, a Devo 7 remote, propeller, battery, charger, a user manual, and accessories.
Night vision camera comes with a 120° supervision lens that captures clear pictures for racing. It’s designed to give you real-time image transmission which is ideal for racers as well.
Pros:
- The Walkera F210 is fast and withstands crashes very well. You can break all of the propellers, replace them and be flying again in no time.
- The transmitter on the F210 gives you steady video quality and the OSD graphics for FPV are well executed.
Cons:
- The fail-safe takes about 5-6 seconds to engage. That’s a pretty long time especially when you’re going at full throttle.
The Walkera takes a 8th spot in our best racing drone list.
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9.Arris X220
The Arris X220 is lightweight and has an “X” symmetrical design. Despite its simple structure, it’s durable and agile.
Made from carbon fiber, this drone can fly for up to ten minutes. It comes with a pre-assembled ARRIS XAT700M HS1177 mini camera which can handle both bright and dark condition with 700TVL quality images
The X220 is known as one of the best racing drones for freestyling.
It’s equipped with a flycolor raptor S-tower 4-in-1 flight controller, which has built-in F3 flight controller with electronic speed control (ESC) and on-screen display (OSD).
The aircraft is powered by ARRIS’s high-end X2205 V2 2300kv brushless motor. Paired with the 5042 3-blade propellers, you can expect lots of efficiency and speed
This is a “bind-n-fly” (BNF) version which means that the remote controller, battery, battery charger are not included. You’ll need to purchase those separately.
Pros
- It’s a sturdy aircraft with lots of speed. Its lightweight enhances maneuverability which makes it a great choice for beginner drone racers.
- The drone is easy to set up and flies smoothly when it’s in the air.
Cons:
- This device is not ready to fly right out of the box as it doesn’t come with key components like the controller and battery.
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10. HobbyPower DIY 250 – Racing Drone Kit
This one is for all the DIYers out there who want to build their own best racing drone.
The HobbyPower DIY 250 kit comes with a carbon frame kit, 4 brushless motors, a 4-speed controller, 3 blade propellers, a flight controller & protective case, a power board, gold bullet connectors (male & female) and 3 double stickers.
The electronic speed controls (ESCs) don’t have built-in battery-eliminator circuits (BECs) but assembling them is pretty simple.
Pros:
- It’s a good starter kit for beginners who want some experience building racing drones. You will learn a lot.
Cons:
- This kit does not come with a battery, radio transmitter or camera. Those devices will have to be bought separately
- The manufacturer recommends a 6CH above radio system and a 2-3S 1000mah to 1800mah Lipo battery.
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11.LHI DX2205
This package includes 2 DX2205 2300KV brushless motors. It also comes with a motor/propeller wrench, motor guards, and 4 LED circle-board screw sets.
According to the manufacturer, the DX2205/2300KV brushless motor is designed to work for 200-300 sizes of multirotor. They’re designed for high-speed, lightweight fixed-wing copters.
Pros:
- The bell and base are made from a thick material that doesn’t bend after a crash.
- They run cool and can power a 6-minute flight on a 5-inch quad running on a 1400mha 4s battery.
Cons:
- Some customers have complained that the engineering of the magnets is substandard.
- There have also been reports of vibrations and stuttering when these motors are assembled to a drone
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The Anatomy Of A Beginner Racing Drone
A basic FPV racing drone has the following features. Make sure you look for them when you’re shopping for your first quadcopter, especially if you plan on building one.
- 4 motors + extras
- 4 ESCs (electronic speed controls) + extras
- 4 propellers + extras
- RC Flight controller
- Lithium-polymer (LiPo) battery + extras
- FPV Video transmitter (vTx) and receiver (vRx)
- Radio Control transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx)
- FPV goggles
- Antennas
- Battery straps
- On-Board camera for FPV feed
- HD camera for recording. This isn’t essential because it makes the quad heavier. You don’t want that when you’re racing.
What Is The Best Racing Drone Frame?
It can be really challenging to find the best racing drone frame, amidst a vast array of options. To help you figure it out, here’s a list of features you should consider before buying a frame:
- Propeller Size: Prop size is one of the most important considerations when choosing a racing quadcopter frame.
The size of your wheel base will determine the size of the propellers but the common sizes are 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″.
Many of the top racers use 5” propellers and frames. They are great for racing and acrobatics. 6” propellers will give you lots of speed but the take up a lot of battery power.
- Weight & Structure: Ideally, you’d want a lightweight racing drone because they’re more agile and accelerate faster.
Frames with thinner arms excel in races because they create less drag which allows them to zoom through the air at high speeds.
A drone that’s light with a thin profile will help you win more races.
- Motors: Motor size is closely linked to propeller size as certain motor pair perfectly with particular propeller sizes.
As we mentioned earlier, 5” and 6” propellers are the best for racing. These propellers work best with an 18xx motor size for less thrust or 22xx for more power.
Keep in mind that almost all 5″ and 6″ frames have 22xx mounting holes.
- Unibody vs. separate arms: A unibody frame has a single plate that combines the main plate and arms.
This design has some drawbacks. If you break an arm you, have to buy a whole new plate.
But frames with separate arms have more metal bolts that add weight to your drone. So, you really have to decide if you’re willing to buy a new plate to keep your drone light.
- X vs H Frame: There’s a lot of debate on which frame design is better between the X and the H. However, X frames with a center stack fly faster because most of the weight sits in the center of the drone.
- Budget: At the end of the day, this is the most important consideration. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Cheaper frames are great for your wallet but the quality of the materials is sometimes sub-par. There are some affordable frames out there but they aren’t dirt cheap.
Summarized, drone frames are an important spec when buying the best racing drone.
Conclusion on Best Racing drone
As you can see, these are some great choices if you look for the best racing drone.
Which one is right for you will depend on your budget and the preferences which are most important to you.
As always, just make sure you really get to know you drone before pushing its limits. There is nothing worse than seeing your drone fly off or crash too hard beyond repair.
Practice makes perfect.
Do you own these best racing drones? Let us know how you like it in the comments below!
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