UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones) are all the rage! If you have kids, they're probably already asking for one, or will be soon. But drones come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors and options that determining the best (and safest) drone for children can be a task all on its own. To help with this, our friends at We Talk UAV, a drone review site, have compiled a list of some drones worth considering for your tech-inspired children.
Cheerson CX Mini - one of the smallest drones out there, it fits in the palm of your hand. This means it can't overcome the wind, so it's a good way to keep kids occupied indoors. This is the perfect starter drone; super lightweight so there's no damage when it inevitably flies into objects (or people). The Cheerson offers 8 minutes of flying time and adjustable speeds.
Syma X5C - a solid starter drone for children interested in aerial photography. Kids will have a blast filming from all new perspectives they can later show off on Youtube. The drone is medium-sized with a wingspan just over 12 inches and the built-in camera features a great 720p resolution. The 2.4 Ghz radio controller reaches a respectable 50 meters, but the camera drains a bit more power, giving the X5C a flight time of only 6 minutes.
Parrot Mini Spider - comparable to the X5C, the Spider also has a camera. But the Mini Spider's camera doesn't record in HD, which means a slightly longer fly time of 8 minutes. Unlike the X5C, the Mini Spider has a unique set of large wheels on either side, creating a sort of cage. The wheels also allow the drone to roll across the floor, wall, even the ceiling! The drone itself is controlled from your mobile device over Bluetooth, which limits the range. Overall, the Mini Spider is great for kids who can't seem to get the hand of flying and find themselves crashing a lot.
DBPower UDI U845 UFO Drone - speaking of unique, the DBPowers UFO is one of the strangest out there. Unlike the previous three drones which have four propellers, this one has six. This is known as a hexacopter design, which adds more stability and a completely different look. The UFO design and LED lights are a sure-fire attention grabber, but this drone also offers an onboard HD camera that can live-stream over WiFi to a mobile device, up to 30 meters. This doesn't hamper flight time as the DBPowers UFO offers 9 minutes in the air, making this drone for the more curious, intentional and perhaps slightly older child.
Hopefully this has given you a better understanding of what to look for in a drone. Kids will love any drone you give them off this list, but there are lots more out there so feel free to continue your research. Happy flying!
Yunhong Liu is the founder of We Talk UAV, a new drone community and news site launching later this year.