Best drones without a camera for beginners – if you want to make your first flight experience easy.
Have you been dropping the idea of purchasing a drone for learning purposes only because they are too expensive to be allowed to crash? Have you been trying to get hold of a drone to up your photography game or even just for the fun of it? Are you a photography fan who already has a GoPro camera and wants to up your photography game with aerial photography?
You can easily perform stunts and more now by simply buying a drone without a camera. If you do not own a drone because you never knew how to fly it, now is the best time to learn the skill. All you need is a basic hobby-grade non-camera drone with some beginner-friendly features.
Most hobby pilots wonder why they should choose a drone without a camera. It is mainly because the non-camera drones are usually very pocket friendly and are a great way to master the art of drone handling.
Moreover, If you already have a GoPro camera, you can get a non-camera drone with a camera mount feature and explore the world around you like a bird. However, this only occurs with pilots who have long left their time as a beginner and have mastered their hobby very well. We want to deal with both variants in the following post.
Here are some of the best drones without a camera that you can consider buying in 2022.
- Altair Aerial BlackHawk Drone
- 3DR Solo Quadcopter
- DJI Phantom 2 Quadcopter
- Force1 F100GP – RC Drone with GoPro Mount
- Holy Stone HS170 Predator Drone
- MJX Bugs 3
- Syma X11 RC Quadcopter
- DROCON Bugs 3
- Holy Stone HS150 Bolt Bee Racing Drone
- Syma X5A-1
- Holy Stone HS210 Mini Drone
1. Altair BlackHawk
Design
The Altair Aerial Blackhawk has one of the most durable designs. It is the cheapest long-range drone that can fly for around 500 meters.
Since it is an incredibly beginner-friendly drone, it can be set up within barely 20 minutes. The hull is mostly ready to fly. All you need is to assemble the propellors, guards, and landing gear using a screwdriver. As it is very straight forward and easy, also the assembly manual is included in the package.
Features
The Altair BlackHawk is extremely basic when it comes to features. Interestingly, its simplicity is the primary feature that makes it stand out if you want an easy to control beginner drone. The drone gets connected easily to the controller without any fancy smartphone apps.
The Altair BlackHawk is equipped with brushless motors and a 6-axis gyro that makes flying quiet and fun with excellent stability. With up to 500 meters of flight range, the drone can pull off incredible stunts and dives, which makes it an enjoyable experience.
Although it is a drone without a camera, it comes with a camera mount that can comfortably accommodate any action camera, including GoPro.
Battery
With an 1800 mAh battery, the BlackHawk can fly for about 15 – 17 minutes, which is a decent time for a drone that is priced at this price point. However, battery recharge time is much longer.
Read detailed review of Altair Aerial Blackhawk drone to know more about it.
2. 3DR Solo
Design
3DR Solo has a highly modern and professional-looking design. It is sleek but has a robust built. The design is crash resistant and works exceptionally well with rough flights. This is the strongest drone in the market if you are scared of crashing and damaging your quadcopter.
According to the manufacturer’s claim, this drone can only get crashed due to an internal malfunction or a defect. Therefore, if your drone ever crashes and breaks, you can take it to the retailer and get a warranty claim.
Features
3DR Solo is a perfect purchase if you are looking for a fun flight experience with intelligent flight modes. From orbit to selfie mode, this drone has all the primary functions, and it is one of the best drones that follow you around. Since it does not come with a camera, you will need to mount your GoPro if you wish to capture excellent aerial selfie shots.
At 55 mph, this drone has impressive speed and can perform spectacular stunts very smoothly. The 3DR comes with a built-in black box that keeps a log of all flights. As a result, the entire process of claiming warranties becomes smooth without any disputes.
The 3DR Solo is marketed as a smart drone, which is quite evident from its video-game style controller. It is designed for swift single-touch controls that help to control the drone and the camera like a breeze. The drone supports HDMI connectivity, which is a massive bonus for those who wish to see an on-screen display of drone shots.
Battery
The 3DR Solo comes with a 2500mAh rechargeable battery that allows a flight time of 25 minutes without a camera. If you are using the drone with live video feed through a camera, expect the flight time to cut down to 20 minutes. It takes about an hour and a half for the battery to recharge.
3. DJI Phantom 2
Design
The DJI Phantom 2 is the best quadcopter for beginners with an exceptionally well-constructed design. It is ready to fly a drone. All you need to do is to attach the propellers, and you are good to go.
Features
The Phantom 2 has a back-to-home feature. However, you need to make sure that the drone is calibrated to avail that feature. It does not come with a camera but supports a GoPro camera. It is equipped with a gimbal that offers excellent stability for great visual output. The Gimbal is not pre-installed, but you can easily set it up yourself by following the user manual included in the package.
The spare rotor blades which are included in the package are a bonus in case of damage. Besides that, there are other safety features and alarms, such as an alert for the No-Fly Zone.
The drone has both GPS enabled and manual mode with a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour. The maximum altitude reach of this amazing drone is about 500 meters, but it is advised not to use the maximum range if you are flying from a confined area.
Battery
The 5200mAh battery allows an impressive 25 minutes of flight time.
4. Force1 F100GP RC Drone with GoPro Mount
Design
F100GP by Force1 is one of the best options for those looking for a GoPro drone without a camera. Although it is not ready to fly a drone, it has a simple design that comes with a user-friendly manual.
It takes only a few minutes to attach the parts. The hull has a robust built, and it comes with spare parts for replacement in case of damage. The sleek black shell makes it an aesthetically appealing bird with an aggressive feel as it flies in the air. This amazing drone comes with two additional body shells, blue and white, included in the package.
Features
The F100 is by far one of the best RC drones without a camera. It is compatible with most GoPro cameras, which is a plus point. The brushless motor allows it to fly quietly without creating much noise. The controller is very beginner-friendly and is highly responsive. It can perform flips and stunts effectively.
The F100 drone is equipped with powerful brushless motors that allow stable and precise flight experience. The brushless motors also ensure more extended flight frequencies without the risk of burning out the motor. The controller’s transmission range is an impressive 500 meters; therefore, it is considered as best long range drone without a camera.
Battery
The package includes two batteries, and each one can fly for fifteen minutes. Therefore, you can enjoy 30 minutes of flying.
5. Holy Stone HS170 Predator
Design
Holy Stone is a popular choice for nano quadcopter drone lovers for their simplistic designs and performance. The HS170 stands true to the brand’s hallmark with its sleek yet robust built.
This drone is designed for both wind-resistance and shock resistance which makes it great for both indoor and outdoor flights
It is effortless to fly this drone. However, we do recommend using it as a toy drone for teenagers.
Features
High stability is a signature feature for most Holy Stone drones. The HS170 comes with a powerful motor and a 6-axis gyro that promises excellent stability and flight performance compared to most other drones for less than $50.
The headless mode is a great function for new drone pilots. Since this easy to fly drone is a part of drones without a camera; therefore, it is obvious that it does not come with a camera.
The controller is highly responsive, with a transmission range of up to 80 meters. On the downside, it can take you a bit of time to understand the controls since the transmitter is not labeled very well.
Battery
The drone has a maximum flight time of 8 minutes with a battery recharge time of 60 minutes, which can certainly be improved.
6. MJX Bugs 3
Design
The MysteryStone Bugs 3 is also known as MJX Bugs 3 quadcopter, and it is designed for strength, durability, and efficiency. The compact design is visually appealing when it is in the air. The package includes extra blades that can be easily replaced just in case your existing blades are damaged.
Features
The Bugs 3 quadcopter is equipped with a powerful motor that makes the flight experience a breeze. Brushless motors also help improving battery efficiency when the drone is in the air. The drone easily stands out from most other drones at the same price point in terms of flight performance.
The flight stability of MJX Bugs 3 is a notch above most other drones of the same league. It can perform 360-degree flips and twists very swiftly.
Smart control can cover a transmission for up to 500 meters. The remote control is equipped with a low battery alarm when the battery is about to go down. It is a cameraless drone, but it is easily compatible with most GoPro cameras and allows you to take beautiful aerial shots.
Battery
The powerful 1800mAh battery allows a flight time of 18 minutes. The package includes a spare battery; therefore, you can easily double your flight time to 35 minutes. The recharge time of 300 minutes is way too long, which is a major con of this drone.
7. Syma X11
Design
Syma enjoys a loyal following for its drones due to its strong built and efficient flight performance. If you are looking for a Syma drone without a camera, this X11 quadcopter is an excellent pick. The drone has an aerodynamic design and is highly crash-resistant. It can be used as both an outdoor and indoor drone.
Features
If you are looking for a drone that gives you great value for money in terms of flight experience, this is a great drone. With a 6-axis gyro, the X11 has impressive stability and precision. The controller has decent responsiveness and is beginner-friendly.
The drone can fly for up to a distance of 40 meters, which is quite limited. However, it is still good enough if you plan to use it within a confined space.
Battery
A single battery of Syma X11 runs for a decent 7 minutes.
8. DROCON Bugs 3
Design
For those looking specifically to buy a hobby-grade quadcopter drone on a budget, the DROCON Bugs 3 is hands down the most impressive contestant on the racks. Since it is a fairly large-sized drone, which makes it unfit for younger kids. However, the built is quite reliable and durable.
Features
For a toy-grade drone that costs less than 100 dollars, brushless motor is a feature that certainly makes it stand out. This means that the drone will fly with much more efficiency, will drain less battery, and the flight will be much quieter and smooth. There is always a risk of motor burn-out with brushed motors.
The drone can reach up to 30 miles per hour with a transmission range of up to 1000 feet, which is quite impressive at this price point. The 360-degree flips and stunts are another super cool feature to keep hobby pilots hooked. Although this is not primarily a camera drone, it is compatible with most GoPro cameras if you wish to take any aerial footage. The gyro stability helps significantly in taking quality aerial shots.
You can also upgrade this quadcopter to an FPV drone by purchasing an FPV camera separately and mounting it on the drone.
Battery
The battery life can last anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes, depending on wind conditions and speed throttle.
9. Holy Stone HS150 Bolt Bee
Design
The Holy Stone HS150 catches your attention at a glance with its aggressive looks and aerodynamic built. Because of its robust built, it stays strong against crash landings and rough flights.
Features
The HS 150 Bolt Bee is marketed as a high-speed racing drone, and its speed is undoubtedly the key feature of the drone. Although it has multiple speed settings, it can fly as fast as 50 km per hour, which is great for drone racers.
The 3D rolling and 4-way flips with swift and breezy maneuvering add to the flying experience. The drone comes with a 6-axis gyro, which brings in excellent flight stability, therefore it is much easier to handle this drone. It further has a headless mode, which is a prominent addition for new pilots.
Battery
The package contains two modular batteries, each having a flight time of up to 7minutes. The batteries can be changed easily, allowing you to increase the flight time to up to 14 minutes. It takes about 90 minutes to charge the batteries.
10. Syma X5A-1
Design
Syma drones are known for their catchy design aesthetics, and the X5A-1 proves it right yet again. The greyish-white compact design with LED lights makes it a beautiful bird for both day and night flights.
Features
The X5A-1 is marketed as an RC stunt drone, and the flight features fully support the claim. The six-axis gyro ensures both stability, secure handling, and fabulous flight precision. The controller sports a single-key flip and roll function that allows pilots to perform thrilling stunts with absolute ease.
The headless flight mode is an excellent addition for newbies who struggle to control the drone. Because of its bright LED lights make it perfect for night flying.
Battery
The 300mAh battery can run the drone for 7 minutes and take an hour to recharge.
11. Holy Stone HS210 Mini Drone
Design
The Holy Stone HS210 is one of the most impressive nano racing drones on the market. It is an exceptionally built quadcopter with a solid hull and an aesthetically appealing design. The size of the drone is small enough to fit in your palms, therefore it is easy to carry.
Features
Like most other Holy Stone drones, the HS210 has remarkable features. It comes with a beginner-friendly controller. The drone supports different speed levels along with a headless drone, which is an essential feature for new fliers. Newbies can use these features to master the controls before trying their hands on more advanced features.
If you wish to have more fun, there are some impressive 360-degree stunts.
Battery
The HS210 comes with 3 batteries, and each battery allows a maximum of 7 minute flight time. The total flight time of 21 minutes is therefore quite impressive for a toy-grade drone.
Verdict
All of these drones allow you to master controls by flying around in a restricted radius. Some non-camera drones are equipped with additional features such as headless mode and return-to-home, which are great for beginners.
Also, some non-camera drones are equipped with camera mounts for aerial photography. When buying a drone, weigh your options according to your proficiency, expected usage, features that you are looking for, and the pros and cons of the drone before you buy your desired quadcopter drone.
If you have little or no experience with flying drones, investing in hobby-grade, an affordable no camera drone is a great decision. Most basic noncamera drones are readily available at affordable prices. Check our drone buying guides for every budget.
