In recent years, drones have become the hottest flying objects around us. If your budget is under $500, but you still want a drone with a 4k camera read along to find out which are the best 4k camera drones under $500. Drones with 4k cameras are attracting much interest from different professionals across various fields today. It was initially built for dropping bombs during war and later used for surveillance purposes by the military. But the use of drones is going much more beyond military use. Many fliers have now adopted it for recreational purposes.
Courier companies are now considering the use of drones for delivery purposes. A change in regulation is required for drone delivery to be possible soon. But drones are going to change the way things and people are going to be transported in the next few years.
The entry of 4k camera drones has transformed the way pictures and videos are captured today. Filmmakers, photographers, journalists, and Ad makers – professionals from different fields are making use of drone technology to deliver their best products. What was thought impossible to capture a few years back is being made possible by 4k camera drones today.
This generation is at the edge of a drone revolution. We never quite know how these small flying objects are going to change our lives in the future.
Tons of drones have hit the markets around the world, but finding the best 4k camera drones it’s not an easy task, many tests have to be ran. From simple, budget drones to high-end drones for professional use – there is a drone for everyone out there.
In today’s review, we shall take a look at the top 10 best 4k camera drones. These drones are available on Amazon.com below $500. This is a simple guide to help you choose a drone that suits you best according to your taste and budget.
Table of Contents:
1. Top 10 best 4k camera drones under $500
2. Do I need a license to fly a drone?
3. How long do drone batteries last?
4. What happens if a drone goes out of range?
5. What drones do professionals use?
6. How long can a drone stay in the air?
Here is a comparison table with the top 10 best 4k camera drones under $500 to help you understand the specifications better.
The best 4k camera drones under $500 available on the market are:
- HUBSAN H117S Zino GPS Drone
- C-Fly Drone 4K Camera Optical Flow
- Teeggi Visuo Zen K1 Drone 4K Camera 50X Zoom
- GoolRC JJRC X12 GPS Drone – 4K HD Camera
- Cigooxm B4W Drone with Camera 4K
- Panzisun C-Fly Faith 4K HD Camera
- Anyren JJR/C Smart Drone 4K HD Camera
- HJL 4k HD Camera Drone
- Cigooxm MJX Bugs with Camera 4K Drone
- 4k Camera Ezyz X46G RC Drone
Top 10 best 4k camera drones reviews!
1. The HUBSAN H117S Zino GPS Drone
Hubsan Zino H117s drone has a 4k camera that is attached to a three-axis gimbal. It has a high video resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30 fps, with varied filming modes. The Hubsan Zino can shoot for approximately 23 minutes on air, which is quite higher than other well-known drones. The good news is that you can even increase the flight time by investing in another battery. The new battery will hardly cost you around $ 30.
Some essential features on the Hubsan Zino are return-to-home, line-flying mode, and waypoints. These flight modes are used to control the flight of the Hubsan Zino on air. If you are using the line-flying mode, you can put your Hubsan Zino on a straight route and then direct the camera according to your will as well as the gimbal.
The Zino has the GPS installed, and it also features the altitude hold, which means you can be assured the Zino will be steady and stable while filming on air. Another essential feature of the Hubsan Zino is the active track vision system. This feature enables you to trail any object on the sky or any subject below the air.
Hubsan Zino can transmit the pictures and videos it shoots up to 1000 meters which makes it the best 4k camera drone that shoots from long distance.
The drawback is that Zino does not have optical flow mode or the sensors that avoid obstructions on its way.
2. C-Fly Drone 4K Camera Optical Flow
The C-FLY Dream drone comes loaded with a full HD 4k camera, with a video resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It also features a 4k camera resolution to capture high-quality aerial images. The camera is fixed on a 2-axis gimbal allowing the drone to capture pictures and videos at a steady position.
The C-Fly Dream features a Dual GPS and advanced optical flow sensors. This ensures the drone will hover steadily and stably in any surrounding.
The drone has a flight time of about 15 minutes with a 1000 mAh battery. You can always get an extra battery to increase the flight time. Some essential features of the C-Fly Dream are the smart flight modes like Follow me, Fly around, and Waypoints. Its Return to Home enables the drone to return home automatically.
The C-Fly Dream weighs about 248 g only, which makes it light and easy to carry.
This makes it easy for the pilot to shoot pictures and videos.
The drawback here is that the transmitter lacks a monitor for you to view the photos and videos. You will have to connect your phone with the transmitter and then the drone.
3. Teeggi Visuo Zen K1 Drone 4K Camera 50 Times Zoom
The Visou Zen K1 is a foldable drone that boasts of an HD camera among a host of other features. The videos can be shot in 2k, but the pictures can be captured in 4k resolution. Visuo Zen K1 has a flight time of about 28 minutes. It also features a dual GPS and comes with an optical flow sensor.
The Visou Zen K1 is especially popular among frequent travelers and adventurers. The drone is foldable, making it compact and easy to carry. Therefore, it makes an excellent choice for travelers.
The Visou Zen K1 has a transmission range of about 500 meters. This range is pretty good for a reasonable drone that costs around $ 200. This is the best 4k camera foldable drone at this price.
The Visou Zen K1 is very durable as it is made from high-quality plastic. It may not get easily damaged by slight accidents. And because of its unique features, it also works out great for both beginners as well as experienced drone pilots.
This drone has bright LED lights that offer great visuals for night flights. It features three-speed flying modes and comes with a brushless motor. This allows more thrust, which enables the drone to fly much faster. It is not recommended for beginners to operate at the fastest mode as the drone could go out of control.
With many cool features, the only drawback is that the drone app is not satisfactory, and there were connectivity issues with 5G WiFi.
4. GoolRC JJRC X12 GPS Drone with 4K HD Camera
The JJRC X12 is a 4k camera drone that also comes with a high definition 1080P camera for videos. It is fixed on a three-axis gimbal that ensures a steady and balanced shot. It has two ultrasonic sensors that enable the drone to keep a stable height when it is flying. Its optical sensor allows the drone to operate even when the GPS signal is not available. This feature comes in quite handy when you want to fly the drone indoors.
The JJRC X12 is another foldable drone with a 4k camera, which is compact and lightweight to carry. The drone has a durable finish, as it is made from superior quality plastic.
It features three smart flight modes and has a flight time of about 20-25 minutes. This is quite decent for a drone that comes at an affordable price. Its unique feature is an automatic return to home mode. So, you can be assured this drone will definitely find its way back home. Having the flight time this long makes it one of the best 4k camera drones with a flight time this long.
The images and videos can be transmitted over a range of 1200 meters.
The JJRCX12 boasts of brushless motors that come with more thrust, pushing the drone to fly faster. Brushless motors require less maintenance and are supposed to be more efficient.
You would need a 5G enabled smartphone to operate this drone. You can also download the ENJOY FLY app to be able to perform the smart flight modes for flying the drone.
The only drawback is that the app can stop working or may crash on some occasions. But it is fixed as soon as some problem is detected. So, it should not stop you from buying this cool flying device.
5. Cigooxm B4W Drone with Camera 4K
This drone comes with an adjustable 4K camera with an upgraded wide-angle lens. This feature offers a panoramic view of the video recording. It also comes with 5G FPV or first-person view. This feature allows you to see what the drone is filming. The drone can send Wi-Fi transmission from a distance of about 300-800 meters.
With simple features like takeoff/return/landing to operate, it is ideal for use for beginners too. Other features like optical flow and ultrasonic positioning help the drone to stay steady on-air for aerial filming.
The Advanced GPS mode and the altitude hold help the drone to hold its exact position on air. It also helps to avoid any chances of losing the drone. The drone will automatically return to its pilot when it fails its signal or network.
The transmission range is shorter than other drones in this price category.
6. Panzisun C-Fly Faith 4K HD Camera
This drone comes in a neat, foldable design. It makes it an excellent buy for adventure lovers. C-Fly Faith comes in different speed levels that can be adjusted according to the pilot’s experience. It comes with simple features that make it easy to operate for amateur pilots too.
This 4k camera drone comes attached in a three-axis stabilized gimbal. This eliminates any kind of shaking while taking aerial shots. It comes in a 1080p HD lens for shooting crisp videos.
It has a maximum transmission distance of about 2000 meters. And the battery can endure for about 25 minutes on air. This drone comes with all primary functions like orbit mode, follow me, optical flow, GPS, and ultrasonic altitude. This drone is one of the best 4k camera drones with this kind of range, almost 2km.
A minor disappointment here is that there can be a small transmission delay for photos.
7. Anyren JJR/C X7P Smart Drone 5G 4K HD Camera
This is a 4k camera drone that comes attached in a two-axis gimbal for steady shots. You can shoot 4k photos and 1080p videos on this drone.
JJRC claims this drone can fly for as long as 23 minutes. This flight duration is one of the best in this price segment.
It comes with a brushless motor that enables the drone to fly faster. Other functions include GPS positioning system, ultrasonic height, and optical flow, 5G Wifi, and different flight modes.
It also comes with LED lights in red and green for evening flights.
It is a decent drone priced above $200; the only sad part is the bulky remote control, which lacks a display screen too.
8. HJL 4k HD Camera Drone
This HJL drone comes with a 4k HD camera for photos that make it suitable for sports and aerial photography. The images can be transmitted over a distance of 1000 meters using advanced 5G technology, the charging time is about 5 hours, and the light time is approximately 25 minutes which is perfect for a drone in this price range.
This drone comes in a three-dimensional folding plan. This makes it easier to hold firmly with one hand. It also has GPS positioning to make sure the drone is positioned in a targeted location.
9. Cigooxm MJX Bugs with Camera 4K Drone
CIG00XM MJX BUGS is a 4k camera drone that comes with a high-definition wide-angle lens. This allows you to capture stunning views with vast backgrounds.
Its advanced GPS allows accurate positioning of air. Its altitude hold mode ensures it hovers at precise location the way you want it. With the Return-to-Home button, you can be assured the drone will return home safely when the battery runs low.
It comes with all essential flying modes like direction buttons, gesture control, 5G Wi-Fi, LED lights, track flight, point of interest flight, and so on. The transmission range for images and videos is about 1600 meters. And the drone can stay up in the air for as long as 20 minutes.
Another vital feature of CIG00XM MJX BUGS is that it comes with a robust brushless motor. MT2204 is designed especially for Bugs 5W. This motor is built of the metal shell, advanced inner electromagnetic construction with a good cooling act. This motor works in a very steady manner even when the flight is at high speed.
The drone weighs about 1500g, which is a bit on the heavier side. If the body is lighter, the flight time could be higher.
10. 4k Camera Ezyz X46G RC Drone
This drone comes with 4k dual cameras for crisp photo shoots. It is connected to 5G Wi-Fi so you can watch the videos and pictures directly on your mobile phones. It supports both Android and iPhones.
It makes use of brushless motor attached to a 6-axis gyroscope. It comes with GPS for accurate positioning and optical flow mode for indoor positioning.
The drone comes with all smart flight functions, making it easy even for amateur pilots to control the flight.
The sharp images and videos can be transmitted over a distance of about 1000 meters. And the drone battery can last as long as 22-24 minutes in the air. To extend the flight timing, you can change the battery and fly the drone again.
The battery takes about 360-400 minutes to fully charge, which is pretty long for a drone battery.
If you have any doubts about buying a drone, take a look at the faqs below.
FAQ
1. Do I need a license to fly a drone?
Whether or not you need a license to fly a drone depends upon many factors. Different locations have different regulations when it comes to operating a drone. In the US, the FAA or The Federal Aviation Administration has various rules for flying drones commercially and for recreational purposes.
If you are flying your drones in indoor locations, you are not required to get a pilot’s license. But if you are operating your drones outside for recreation or as a hobby, then you would be required to register with the FAA. A law that was passed earlier in 2018 states that pilot flying a drone for recreation purposes must register with the FAA, also mark the registration number on the drone. The pilot is also required to carry the FAA registration while flying the drone.
The law keeps changing. And the law differs from place to place. So, you need to look up to your city or country’s drone laws and regulations and follow them.
2. How long do drone batteries last?
The duration of drone batteries depends upon the price you pay for the drone. The higher the price, the better the quality of the cell, which will last longer. Usually, the drones that come at average rates will have batteries that may last for about 10 minutes. But expensive drones that cost higher will have your batteries running for a longer duration. You can expect the batteries of high-end drones to last for at least 20 minutes or even more.
In our top 10 best 4k camera drones we included only drones that last at least 15 minutes in the air.
Some other factors also determine the duration of a drone battery. There are different sizes of cells with different power. A stronger and well-maintained battery will keep your drone flying for long hours. Lithium batteries are worth investing, though they cost higher than other cells. They are much stronger, which is why they last longer in the air.
The size and weight of the drone are also crucial in determining the duration of the battery life. A large drone will need a bigger and more powerful battery to keep the drone longer up in the air while a lightweight drone puts less stress on the battery. This enables the battery to last longer on a lighter drone.
3. What happens if a drone goes out of range?
There are various possibilities in which you can lose your drone when it is up in the air. When the drone moves out of its range, you can lose the signal resulting in loss of the drone. At that moment, it is possible the drone can face a collision and fall.
Weather is another spoilsport that can dampen your fun with flying drones. Adverse weather conditions can allow your drone to move away from your range and lose signal. It is difficult to determine your drone location when you have lost the signal.
There are times the drone will move beyond your range and lose the video you are watching. The drone can keep flying and return automatically to your field. Or worse, they can collide and crash somewhere.
When the signal is lost, you can never tell if you can get your drone back.
4. What drones do professionals use?
Professional drones come with ultra high definition cameras for photos and videos, long battery life, and smart features. These professional drones are especially useful for filmmakers, journalists, and Ad makers. Having a 4k camera drone it’s a must for every professional.
One of the top professional drones in the market is the Phantom 4 pro. This drone boasts of a flight time of 20 minutes in the air, speed of 45 miles per hour. That is good enough to shoot photos and videos around a considerable location.
The Phantom 4 Pro camera comes in 4k video resolution. This will enable you to shoot a high-budget film.
Some other professional drones are the DJI Mavic Air, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, DJI Mavic Mini, and Parrot Bebop 2. These are some of the drones that are ruling the skies at the moment.
5. How long can a drone stay in the air?
Typically, most drones can fly for about 10 to 30 minutes at the most, till their battery exhausts. For longer duration, they will have to recharge or change the batteries to keep the drone flying up in the air. There are also other factors like drone weight, weather conditions, and size of the battery that can determine the length of your flight time.
There are custom-made drones that flew for longer hours. SkyFront and Quaternium made the record of flying their customized drones for more than 4 hours. These are hybrid drones that use both gas and electricity for flying.
