7 Best Indoor Drones 2022 : Ultimate Buying Guide

Are you planning to start flying drones at home? Are you looking for the best indoor drone?

Indoor drones are small in size, so you can conveniently fly them at home or in your office. If you want to sneak around or prank a colleague or family member, using a pocket-sized nano drone would be effective and fun.

Also, they are cheaper compared to drones designed for outdoors because they only use lightweight materials like plastic because drones do not need to withstand strong winds. Indoor drones are great for kids, adults and beginners.

If you are interested in this type of drone, keep reading and you will find the best indoor drones in the market today.

Best Indoor Drones

Drones are very popular today and it’s quite embarrassing to step outside and fly your drone for the first time with others who are already very good at it. Of course, you have to practice to be good and if you are not comfortable practicing outside, then do it at home with indoor drones.

Indoor drones are small and lightweight, but they are just similar to other UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) except for the size. Also, these drones are cheap and easy to control, making it a great starter drone for beginners. So whether you are getting your first drone or want to have an indoor drone to sneak around, here are the best models to get.

1. Holy Stone F181W WiFi FPV Drone

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Specs

Weight: 4.9 ounces
Dimensions: 12.6 X 3.3 X 12.6 inches
Video recording modes: 1280 x 720p
Battery of quadcopter: 3.7V 750mAh Lipo Battery
Battery of controller: 4 X 1.5V AA Battery (Not included)
Charging time: about 70-90 minutes
Transmitter operation range: about 50-100 meters
Playing time: 7-10 minutes

Holy Stone F181W bridges the gap between the brand’s beginner and FPV lineup. This flies better than most drones but also comes with certain limitations.

This quadcopter does not include all the functions that you would typically expect from a beginner or indoor drone. For instance, it doesn’t include automatic takeoff and one-button landing function, but it has One Key Return Home and Headless modes that assures you, your drone will get back to you.

Also, you won’t get bored with it because it can perform 3D flips and supports FPV real-time transmission that allows you to see what your camera sees with a live video on your mobile device.

If you are into photography and videography, you will love this indoor drone because it comes with the newest 120-degree wide-angle frame camera that shoots and records in 720p HD resolution. Besides, it includes a 4GB TF memory card that prevents the Wi-Fi lag incurred when recording videos.

Overall, F181W is a great indoor drone in terms of its design, size, and performance. It is easy, safe, and fun to play inside your home or office. If you want to fly it outside, good news, it can withstand strong winds, but it’s best indoors.

PROS

Stylish design
Stable during in-flights
Durable and long lasting
Automatic Altitude Hold function
Mobile control with a smartphone
Records clear and steady videos
Spare parts can easily be obtained

CONS

Mediocre flight time
FPV requires smartphone and app
RC controls can short out
Pairing and range are spotty

2. UDI U818A

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Not Available Alternate Holy Stone HS170 Predator

Specs

Dimensions: 330 x 340 x 55 mm
Diagonal motor distance: 230 mm
Propulsion: 8.5 mm coreless (motors) / 135 mm propellers
Weight: 131 grams
Camera resolution: 1mp stills
Video: 1280 x 720p
Battery: 3.7V 500mAh Li Po
Charging time: 80 minutes
Flight time: about 8-10 minutes
Control distance: about 50 to 100 meters
Transmitter power: 4 AAA batteries
Notable features: Self-tightening technology, One-key return, Headless mode, 3D flips, 2 flight speeds (High and Low)

This indoor drone has a nifty and minimalist design. It is functional and straightforward, not to mention, very affordable. UDI U818A RC is battery powered and completely operational straight out of the box because it is ready to fly.

This drone comes with ergonomic design and self-tightening technology that ensures that the propellers are in place during flight. However, its remote control isn’t user-friendly because it has several buttons placed in a counterintuitive manner.

U818A has two flying modes – the first mode limits the drone’s speed, which helps you get the hang of flying a drone, an excellent option for beginners. If you have outgrown the first mode, then you can use the second mode that turns off the speed limitations.

This drone is capable of taking photos and recording videos, but the quality is below average. The camera doesn’t perform well under low or bright light conditions. But this can perform incredible 360-degree flips and rolls with just a push of a button.

To conclude, this drone is best suited for beginners or those who haven’t flown a drone in their lives because it is easy to use and deploy, and it is very affordable. It can’t withstand winds, so it’s best for indoors.

PROS

Affordable
Easy to set up
Easy to deploy
Beginner-friendly
Sturdy and durable
Free extra battery
Works fair in light wind

CONS

No Altitude Hold and Auto Takeoff features
Poor camera quality
Can’t withstand winds

3. DJI Spark

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Specs

Dimensions: 143×143×55 mm
Flight time/battery life: 16 minutes
Transmission distance: 1.2 miles
Speed: Up to 31 mph
VPS Range: 98 feet
Gimbal: 2 axis
Camera resolution: 12mp
Video resolution: 1080p at 30fps
Weight: .66 pounds
Notable features: PalmLaunch, Gesture and TapFly Control, Obstacle Sensing, Subject Tracking from Various Angles,

Spark is a mini camera drone from DJI. Due to its small size, this makes a great indoor drone. However, don’t underestimate this mini drone because this is as competitive as the other products from the brand.

Although this drone is lightweight and small, DJI Spark is equipped with 2-axis gimbal for stability. It comes with smart features too including Gesture and TapFly Control, FlightAutonomy with Obstacle Detection, Subject Tracking from Various Angles and GPS- & Vision-Based Navigation.

If you want a high-quality camera drone to fly indoor, Spark is highly recommended. It can capture 12mp still photos and 1080p videos.

Spark comes with Vision Position System (VPS), 3D sensing system, dual-band GPS, and high-precision inertial measurement unit. It can hover accurately and sense obstacles from up, which is very helpful, especially if you are piloting in a limited space.

PROS

Portable
Small and lightweight
Precise hover
Gestures controls
Quickshot modes
Can sense obstacles
Control, edit and share via DJI GO app

CONS

Short flight time
Wi-Fi range is limited
No controller

4. Blade Nano QX RTF Quadcopter

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Specs

Dimensions: 14.1 x 8.4 x 4.5 inches
Weight: 0.64 ounces
Flight time: 8 minutes
Range: 40 meters
Camera: None
Battery: 3.7V 150mAh Li-Po
Charge time: 40 minutes

Blade Nano QX RTF Quadcopter is small, lightweight and tough, making it a great indoor drone. It is tiny enough to fly in any room or office where you wish to pilot it. If you frequently move around, no problem, you can slip this in your pocket and continue flying wherever you are.

This micro drone looks like an oversized bumble bee with its black and yellow color combination. However, despite its small built, this comes with the most advanced features to keep its stable up in air.

Blade Nano QX is equipped with SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology that features stability and agility modes. If you get into trouble while flying this drone, just let go of the sticks, and the SAFE technology system will bring Nano QX back to hover all by itself. The amazing propeller guards makes sure that no one is hurt and drone doesn’t break easily.

The stability mode keeps the quadcopter always in control and in an upright fashion so you can fly this with confidence. When you have already mastered the basics, challenge yourself by switching to agility mode that allows you to enjoy faster flying speeds and better maneuverability. This mode gives you the opportunity to improve your flying skills.

I had a great experience flying Blade Nano QX RTF indoors. It is small, easy to control and not to mention, very affordable. If you are looking for your first indoor drone, this machine will make a good start.

PROS

Easy to control
Simple and fun to fly
Has prop guards
Extra spare parts included
Instructions are easy to follow

CONS

Short flight range
Doesn’t have a camera
Has to be registered to FAA

5. Hubsan X4 H107C

Specs

Motor: 4X Coreless motor
Flight time: 6-8 minutes
Time to recharge: 30-45 minutes
Range: Approximately 100 meters

This indoor drone is relatively small, but do not be fooled by its size because this RTF drone is durable and strong enough even for outdoors. Yes, this can withstand minimal wind, but I suggest that you do it when the weather is good.

For beginners, you will be pleased with Hubsan X4 H107C because this is very easy to fly and doesn’t need assembly. Once you receive it, just slide in the battery and power on the transmitter, and you can start piloting it right away.

The controls are very responsive that even newbies will not have a hard time maneuvering it. Also, this drone is very stable for its size. You will surely have a great time flying this.

Another great thing about this micro quadcopter is its camera. It’s not the best, but decent enough. Of course, you wouldn’t expect too much from a drone that costs less than $50.

Overall, this indoor drone is affordable, easy to maneuver, and has a decent camera to take photos and videos. This makes a great drone for beginners who want to hone their piloting skills.

PROS

Affordable
Lightweight
Can perform stunts
Parts are easy to replace
Compatible with FPV glasses

CONS

Crashes easily
Short flight time
Battery drains quickly
Unresponsive in safe mode
Bulky remote control

6. Parrot Mambo FPV

Specs

View angle: 120 degrees
Video resolution: 1280 x 720p
Frame rate: 30fps
Flight time: 10 minutes
Recharge time:
Operating frequency: 2.4 GHz
Operating distance: 328 ft

Parrot Mambo is a small adorable drone. It’s just like its predecessor, but the addition of camera and FPV headset makes a huge difference and gives this the vibe of an entry-level racing drone.

This mini drone comes with intelligent features including crash detection system and the smart block system. Also, it has a modular mount point that allows you to add accessories to your drone and give it extra abilities.

Mambo FPV bundle includes the Parrot Cockpitglasses 2, which is similar to mobile VR glasses – it lets you get right into the action. This drone doesn’t have a gimbal but is stable enough. The controller is very intuitive and easy to maneuver. It produces decent photos and videos, but sometimes the video lags.

Mambo FPV is a fun mini drone but this is not a toy. Yes, it feels fragile because it is made of plastic, but I tell you, it can take a significant beating. It keeps going even after several crashes, which is quite impressive for such a small drone with FPV headset. Overall, this is a great value for money.

PROS

Intuitive controls
Modular system
Simple and easy to fly
Interchangeable parts
Good control and hover
Great value for money

CONS

Video lag
Short flight time
Only one battery included

7. Parrot Rolling Spider

Specs

Dimensions: 7.6 x 2.6 x 8.1 inches
Weight: 55g
Battery: 550 mAh removable Lithium-Polymer
Camera: Vertical camera at 60fps, 300,000px resolution
Flight time: 8 minutes

Rolling Spider is famous for its giant wheels. This mini drone is too small that you don’t have to register it with FAA. It can fly indoors and outdoors up to 18 km/hr.

Rolling Spider’s large wheels are removable. However, it is included in the design for a purpose; they protect the drones and its plastic motors from obstacles that inevitably come into its path. It works like the flexible guards of Blade Nano QX 3D. So, the wheels are essential, but I believe that it could have been designed better.

Aside from the wheels, Parrot equipped Rolling Spider with an ultrasonic sensor, a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer with a pressure sensor to make in-flights stable. To make flying more fun, you can perform barrel rolls and backflips.

This best indoor drone is strong and tough because it can survive crashes. You can actually use this in your backyard, too. However, this is best used indoors because it is tiny and lightweight, and can easily be blown away by the wind.

Parrot Rolling Spider is not perfect, and I don’t expect it to be one given its low price. However, this is a good beginner drone and a reliable one, especially if you are planning to use it at home. It is affordable, stable, has user-friendly controls, and very easy to fly, so I highly recommend this.

PROS

Affordable
Very Stable
Strong and durable
No FAA registration required

CONS

Low battery life
Range is limited
Battery takes longer to charge

Why Get an Indoor Drone?

There are numerous reasons why beginners should consider getting an indoor drone for their first quadcopter, and if you are wondering why here is a list of the benefits you can enjoy from indoor drones.

Affordable. All of the best indoor drones are small and lightweight. They are not made of superior materials to withstand strong winds or any other condition, so they tend to be low-cost. Also, they are controlled via a smartphone app, so you don’t have to spend on a controller.

Appeals to everyone. The best indoor drones are appealing to people of all ages. Children as young as 7 years old and even adults can enjoy this all together. Complete beginners will also love the thrill of maneuvering this as their first quadcopter as they can practice inside the comfort of their home.

Best for beginners. If you are new to drones and want to get into the hobby of drone flying, then start with indoor drones. These indoor drones are great platforms to test your piloting skills as you fly them in narrow spaces.

Indoor Drone Flying Tips

Flying drones is always fun whether you’re doing it indoors or outdoors. If you have an indoor drone or you are planning to get one, here are some tips for you.

The smaller, the better

Best Indoor drones come in different sizes, but generally, the smaller versions are more preferred. I highly recommend that you get a micro or mini drone. Stay away from large drones that will take so much space as they will be more challenging to control and navigate in a limited space.

Clear the area

Before flying your best indoor drone at home, make sure to clear the area. Remove breakable things, keep the kids on the side, and make sure that you have enough room to control it. By doing this, you will keep your drone from being damaged and your kids and pets from being injured.

Reset if necessary

Some drones are capable of remembering and adapting their previous flight conditions. For instance, if you fly your drone on a windy day, it might adjust the setting and affect its performance indoors. So, reset it.

Adjust the controls

Some drones come with preset controls for indoor or outdoor. If yours have this, then switch it to indoor when you are flying it inside your home or office for better control.

Use propeller guards

Propeller guards are not accessories that you can opt to ignore. They are not add-ons because they are designed for a purpose and that’s to protect fragile propellers from being damaged. Aside from protecting the drone’s propellers, this can also prevent injury when the propellers strike a person or fragile items at home like a couch.

Conclusion

Indoor drones come at different packages, some support FPV, others have cameras, and the rest have advanced flight features. But they share this property – they are lightweight and small enough to fly in rooms or offices.

If you are getting your first indoor drone, it’s best to start with a low-cost one and train your flying skills using it. There are already tons of affordable drones that are equipped with advanced features. Those drones are also well-built and can sustain crashes, so they make a great investment if you are just starting up with flying drones.

What’s your favorite/ best indoor drone? Why do you like it? Feel free to share your experience with us.