Best Drone Under $500 Australia 2023

Drones have become increasingly popular over the years, and for a good reason. They offer a unique perspective, allowing you to capture stunning aerial footage that would otherwise be impossible.

However, with so many options available, choosing the right drone can be a daunting task, especially if you’re on a budget.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the best drones under $500 available in Australia.

When it comes to buying a drone, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you’ll want to think about what you’ll be using the drone for. Will it be for recreational purposes or for professional use? Secondly, you’ll want to consider the drone’s features.

Does it have a good camera? How long is the battery life? Is it easy to fly?

These are all important factors to take into account before making a purchase.

One of the critical things to consider when buying a drone is its weight. In Australia, drones weighing over 100 grams need to be registered with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Therefore, it’s essential to choose a drone that’s under this weight limit if you don’t want to go through the registration process.

After researching and testing several drones, we’ve narrowed down the top options for the best drones under $500 in Australia. In this article, we’ll be discussing the drones’ features, pros, and cons, to help you make an informed decision.

Best Drones Under $500 in Australia

Looking for a drone that won’t break the bank? We’ve scoured the market to bring you our top picks for the best drones under $500 in Australia. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these drones offer great features and performance without costing a fortune. From impressive cameras to long battery life, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list below and find the perfect drone for your needs.

DJI Mini 2 SE

We highly recommend purchasing the DJI Mini 2 SE if you’re looking for a lightweight and easy-to-use drone that can capture stunning aerial footage.

Pros

• The DJI Mini 2 SE is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you on the go.
• It’s very easy to use, even if you’ve never flown a drone before.
• The extended range and intelligent modes make it easy to capture stunning footage from the air.

Cons

• The camera quality is good, but not as high as some other drones in this price range.
• The battery life could be longer.
• It doesn’t have obstacle avoidance, so you need to be careful when flying in tight spaces.

We were impressed with how easy it was to set up and start flying the DJI Mini 2 SE. The controls are intuitive and easy to master, and the drone is very stable in flight. We were able to capture some stunning aerial footage without any difficulty.

The extended range and intelligent modes are also a big plus. We were able to fly the drone farther than we expected, and the QuickShots feature made it easy to capture professional-looking footage with just a few taps.

The camera quality is good, but not as high as some other drones in this price range. If you’re looking for the absolute highest quality footage, you may want to consider a more expensive drone. Additionally, the battery life could be longer. We found ourselves wishing we had a few more minutes of flight time.

Overall, we highly recommend the DJI Mini 2 SE for anyone looking for a lightweight and easy-to-use drone that can capture stunning aerial footage. It’s a great choice for beginners and experienced drone pilots alike.

BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit

If you’re a beginner looking for a drone, BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit is an excellent choice. It’s easy to operate, comes with a range of features, and won’t break the bank.

Pros

• The turtle mode is a standout feature that allows you to turn the drone over when it falls to the ground upside down.
• The three flight modes available – Normal, Sport, and Manual – cater to different pilot needs and flight environments.
• Altitude hold function enables the quadcopter to auto-hover, making indoor hovering very stable.

Cons

• The battery life is not great, lasting only around three minutes.
• The range of 80m in a wide and undisturbed environment is not the best.
• The camera tilt degree of 30° is not ideal for capturing different angles.

We found the BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit to be an excellent option for beginners. The turtle mode is a standout feature that makes it easy to recover the drone when it falls to the ground upside down. The three flight modes available cater to different pilot needs and flight environments, while the altitude hold function enables the quadcopter to auto-hover, making indoor hovering very stable.

The battery life is not great, lasting only around three minutes. This means you’ll need to carry extra batteries with you if you want to fly for longer. The range of 80m in a wide and undisturbed environment is not the best, so you’ll need to be mindful of this when flying. The camera tilt degree of 30° is not ideal for capturing different angles, but it’s still capable of capturing decent footage.

Overall, we highly recommend the BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit for beginners. It’s easy to operate, comes with a range of features, and won’t break the bank.

Tucok 012S Drones with Camera for Adults 4K,60 Mins Long Flight Time,GPS 5G FPV Quadcopter for Beginners with Optical Flow Positioning,Auto Return Home,Follow Me,Waypoint Flight,Brushless Motor

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly drone with GPS and GLONASS dual-mode global positioning system, the Tucok 012S drone is a great choice. It is equipped with a 4K camera with Shock Absorption holder, 5G FPV transmission, and a remote-controlled 90 adjustable lens structure that allows you to capture UHD pictures(3840×2160). Here are the pros and cons of this drone:

Pros

• The upgraded camera with Shock Absorption holder enables you to capture UHD pictures(3840×2160)
• The remote-controlled 90 adjustable lens structure allows you to see the world from a greater perspective
• The 5GHz FPV technology guarantees longer and smooth image transmission

Cons

• The instruction manual is not easy to understand and has misspelled words
• The buttons on the controller are not very intuitive
• The drone is cheaply made and may not withstand crashes

We found the Tucok 012S drone to be easy to fly, thanks to its altitude hold feature that makes the drone hover in the air without throttle control. The one-key takeoff and landing feature also helped us get the hang of it quickly and easily. The drone’s Smart Return to Home feature also freed our minds of losing the drone when the battery gets low or it loses signal from the controller.

The Tucok 012S drone is also equipped with multiple GPS functions such as Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, and Point of Interest. These features enable you to free your hands and help you focus on creating beautiful memories. The drone also comes with a portable travel bag, so when on vacation, the whole family can enjoy the flight together and have creative fun.

The drone’s Brushless Motor has a high power to weight ratio, high speed, and electronic control. It enables you to customize the flight distance limitation in beginners mode, so it won’t fly away before you get the hang of it. The 2 pcs intelligent flight battery can extend the flight time to 60 minutes.

Overall, we think the Tucok 012S drone is a great drone for beginners and those looking for a compact drone with GPS and GLONASS dual-mode global positioning system. However, it may not withstand crashes and the instruction manual is not easy to understand.

MJX Bugs 4W Drone 4K Camera Foldable GPS 5Ghz WiFi RC HD Quadcopter Brushless Motor Hobby Grade Multirotors Auto Return Follow Me for Christmas Gift Pressie Idea for Adult Dad Boy Men 3x Batteries

If you are looking for a drone that can capture sharp and vivid colours images, then the MJX Bugs 4W Drone 4K Camera Foldable GPS 5Ghz WiFi RC HD Quadcopter Brushless Motor Hobby Grade Multirotors Auto Return Follow Me for Christmas Gift Pressie Idea for Adult Dad Boy Men 3x Batteries is a great choice.

Pros

• The 4K Ultra HD Camera with 3840*2160 picture quality and the 120° wide-angle lens allows you to capture sharp and vivid colours images with a broader view. The camera can be remotely controlled to pitch from adjustable 0°-90° pitch angle.
• The Powerful Brushless Motors with 2204 1350kv is the most cost-efficient & excellent quality among the brushless motor lines. The maximum upward lift is 230g, and the maximum remote control distance is 1.6km. The arms are foldable which can be folded sideways.
• The Optical Flow Positioning sensor gets the real-time optical flow information and makes integrating computations. Your drone will auto precise hovering with hands-free, and you can focus on your creative shooting. With Optimize optical flow function, it can better perform indoor and low altitude positioning in various environments, especially in dark and low texture environment.

Cons

• The charging time for each battery will take around 4-5 hours, and charging 2 batteries can also be charged by one cable at the same time which full charging time takes 8 hours. You can charge 2 batteries at the same time with 2 charging cable. *1 USB Cable is included.
• The drone is not waterproof, so it is not suitable for flying in the rain or near water.
• The drone may be a bit loud during flight, which can be a bit disturbing to some people.

We recently had the opportunity to test out the MJX Bugs 4W Drone 4K Camera Foldable GPS 5Ghz WiFi RC HD Quadcopter Brushless Motor Hobby Grade Multirotors Auto Return Follow Me for Christmas Gift Pressie Idea for Adult Dad Boy Men 3x Batteries, and we were impressed with its performance. The 4K Ultra HD Camera with 3840*2160 picture quality and the 120° wide-angle lens allowed us to capture sharp and vivid colours images with a broader view. The camera can be remotely controlled to pitch from adjustable 0°-90° pitch angle, which allowed us to capture the perfect shot.

The Powerful Brushless Motors with 2204 1350kv is the most cost-efficient & excellent quality among the brushless motor lines. The maximum upward lift is 230g, and the maximum remote control distance is 1.6km. The arms are foldable which can be folded sideways, making it easy to transport and store.

The Optical Flow Positioning sensor gets the real-time optical flow information and makes integrating computations. Your drone will auto precise hovering with hands-free, and you can focus on your creative shooting. With Optimize optical flow function, it can better perform indoor and low altitude positioning in various environments, especially in dark and low texture environment.

One downside to the drone is the charging time for each battery, which can take around 4-5 hours, and charging 2 batteries can also be charged by one cable at the same time which full charging time takes 8 hours. The drone is not waterproof, so it is not suitable for flying in the rain or near water. Additionally, the drone may be a bit loud during flight, which can be a bit disturbing to some people.

Overall, we highly recommend the MJX Bugs 4W Drone 4K Camera Foldable GPS 5Ghz WiFi RC HD Quadcopter Brushless Motor Hobby Grade Multirotors Auto Return Follow Me for Christmas Gift Pressie Idea for Adult Dad Boy Men 3x Batteries for anyone looking for a drone that can capture sharp and vivid colours images. With its Powerful Brushless Motors, Optical Flow Positioning sensor, and 4K Ultra HD Camera, this drone is perfect for capturing stunning aerial footage.

Contixo F24-Pro Quadcopter

If you’re looking for a drone that delivers stunning 4K Ultra HD picture quality and 2.7K video with deep contrast and vivid colours, the Contixo F24-Pro Quadcopter is a great option. Equipped with a 2500mAh intelligent battery, it provides up to 30 minutes of flying time, and the stronger GPS positioning allows it to hover stably and capture clearer images.

Pros

• The 4K Ultra HD camera delivers breathtaking picture quality and vivid colours.
• The upgraded battery provides up to 30 minutes of flying time.
• The GPS signal is stronger and more stable, allowing for clearer images.

Cons

• The drone may not be suitable for beginners due to its advanced features.
• There have been reports of missing spare batteries in some packages.
• The instructions could be clearer for first-time users.

We recently had the chance to test out the Contixo F24-Pro Quadcopter, and we were impressed by its smart and powerful performance. The 2-Axis Gimble, Orbit Mode, Way Point Flight, Point of Interest and Gesture Control features allowed us to take ideal selfies and fly it in a directed and custom path using up to 16 Waypoints.

The brushless motors ensured a smooth and powerful flight, and the drone’s foldable design made it easy to store without uninstalling the propellers after use. The drone’s 1,700 feet live video and image transmission distance made it easy to capture stunning aerial footage, and the drone’s trajectory fantasy Sci-Fi features made it a fun and engaging experience.

Overall, we would recommend the Contixo F24-Pro Quadcopter to anyone looking for a drone that delivers stunning picture quality and advanced features at an affordable price.

Buying Guide

When looking for the best drone under $500 in Australia, there are several features that you should consider. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

Flight Time

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a drone is the flight time. Flight time refers to how long the drone can stay in the air on a single charge. A longer flight time is always better, as it allows you to cover more ground and capture more footage. Look for a drone that offers at least 20 minutes of flight time.

Camera Quality

Another important factor to consider is the camera quality. The camera is what allows you to capture stunning aerial footage, so it’s important to choose a drone with a high-quality camera. Look for a drone that offers at least 1080p video resolution and 12-megapixel photos.

GPS and Stability

GPS and stability are also important features to consider. GPS allows the drone to stay in one place and maintain its position, even in windy conditions. Stability is important because it ensures that the drone stays level and doesn’t drift off course. Look for a drone that offers both GPS and stability features.

Range

Range is another important factor to consider when buying a drone. Range refers to how far the drone can fly from the remote control. Look for a drone that offers a range of at least 500 meters.

Price

Finally, price is an important consideration when buying a drone. While you can find drones for under $500, you should be prepared to spend a bit more if you want a higher-quality drone with more features. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, so it’s worth investing in a higher-quality drone if you plan to use it frequently.

Overall, when choosing the best drone under $500 in Australia, it’s important to consider flight time, camera quality, GPS and stability, range, and price. By keeping these factors in mind, you can find a drone that meets your needs and fits your budget.