Best Drone Under $100 2023: Our Top 3!

Introduction to our Guide to the Best Drone Under $100

You're reading our best drone under $100 guide!

The problem these days is that surging inflation has driven up the cost of just about everything under the sun – and this poses a challenge to many of us in terms of how to maintain our hobbies (which aren’t technically necessary but are crucial for our mental health) or to keep our children entertained without breaking the bank.

Now, if your hobby happens to be stamp-collecting or gardening, you probably won’t need to spend much. But if you’re into photography – and, more specifically, jonesing to try out drone photography – or if your kids want to get into drones just for the fun of it or test the waters of a future career, then you do have a problem.

In this case, today’s rundown of the best drone under $100 will definitely be something up your alley.

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Our List of the Best Drone Under $100

1. Tactical X Drone – best for professionals 🏆
2. Maji Air Drone – best for hobbyists and casual photographers (🎖️Editors’ Pick!)
3. Shadow X Drone – best for beginners

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Best Drone Under $100 Comparison Table

Note: Prices are subject to change over time. Please click the links to check for current pricing.

Specifications	🏆 Tactical X Drone (Top Pick!)	Maji Air Drone	Shadow X Drone
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
Camera	1080p HD	1080p HD	1080p HD
Flight Time	15-20 minutes	15 minutes	10-12 minutes
Range	300m	120m	50-70m
Max Speed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Weight	2.4 lbs	0.45 lbs	0.15 lbs
Size	11.4 x 11.4 x 4.3 inches	6.3 x 4.4 x 2.3 inches	6.7 x 5.5 x 2.2 inches
Features	3-speed modes, Altitude hold, One-key takeoff/landing	GPS, Altitude hold, 360-degree flips, One-key takeoff/landing	6-axis gyro, Altitude hold, One-key takeoff/landing
Customer Reviews	4.3/5	4.5/5	4.2/5

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1. Tactical X Drone (editor's choice!)

Best for Professionals

Key Features

• Portable construction.  The Tactical X Drone can easily be folded thanks to jointed arms and flexible blades. This lightweight device is also easily portable;
• Gravity sensor. This feature enables both beginners and experts to fly their drones and use them to shoot impeccable footage almost straight out of the box;
• High-definition imaging technology.  The Tactical X Drone records videos at 120 frames per second and has a still image resolution of 12 megapixels;
• Long-lasting battery capacity. Unlike most drones, the Tactical X Drone lets you shoot up to fifteen minutes of active footage without needing to recharge.

The Tactical X Drone is the perfect drone under $100 for professional users. It is a compact, state-of-the-art aerial photography/videography device that relies on an advanced gyroscope system for exceptional stability in flight, as well as high-resolution imaging technology for clear, richly detailed footage.

Why we love it as the best drone under $100: Considering the price point, the Tactical X actually does offer value for money in the sense that it actually stays in the air longer than most budget-friendly models and the image quality is almost as good as that of the bigger players in the market.

Pricing

Click here to check current discounted pricing.

Money-back guarantee 

If you are not satisfied with Tactical X Drone as the best drone under $100, you can return it within 30 days after purchase to get your money back.

Where to Buy It? 

We recommend buying Tactical X Drone only from their official website. This way, you can avail Tactical X Drone discount code and get the product for less than the usual price.

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2. Maji Air Drone

Best for Hobbyists and Casual Photographers

Key Features

• App-based controls that you deploy through your mobile phone, regardless of whether you're running Android or iOS;
• Track setting to determine your flight path well beforehand;
• 120° wide angle Full HD camera that takes 12MP stills and 120fps videos;
• 360° panorama mode;
• One-key takeoff; and 
• Multiple flight modes

The Maji Air Drone is a remote-controlled portable drone that is foldable and lightweight, making it the best choice for casual photographers and hobbyists. They will appreciate the fact that it is foldable, lightweight, offers an extensive range of motions, as well as high-precision image capture technology.

Why we love it as the best drone under $100: Two words – panoramic photography. We appreciate that this one is a drone that young photography enthusiasts can cut their proverbial teeth on in terms of learning how to shoot, angle, and sweep footage from the air.

Pricing

Click here to check current discounted pricing.

Money-back guarantee 

If you are not satisfied with Maji Air Drone as the best drone under $100, you can return it within 30 days after purchase to get your money back.

Where to Buy It? 

We recommend buying Maji Air Drone only from their official website. This way, you can avail Maji Air Drone discount code and get the product for less than the usual price.

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3.  Shadow X Drone

Best for Beginners

Key Features

Several pre-programmed flight/shooting modes;

• Surprisingly durable construction; and
• Blow-by-blow slow motion mode for review

The Shadow X Drone is a compact, state-of-the-art device that suits beginners. This particular device was designed with a six-axis gyroscope system for exceptional stability in flight, as well as high resolution imaging technology for clear, richly-detailed footage.

Why we love it as the best drone under $100: The Shadow X stands to be the darling of amateur cineastes. Those who want to learn the basics of cinematography and motion picture camera work will love how different pre-programmed shoot modes will help them get a feel of how to shoot action sequences or panoramic presentations.

Pricing

Click here to check current discounted pricing.

Money-back guarantee 

If you are not satisfied with Shadow X Drone as the best drone under $100, you can return it within 30 days after purchase to get your money back.

Where to Buy It? 

We recommend buying Shadow X Drone only from their official website. This way, you can avail Shadow X Drone discount code and get the product for less than the usual price.

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Can a Drone Priced Less Than a Hundred Bucks be Any Good?!

So is a best drone under $100 worth it?

We know what you’re thinking: it’s a stretch to think that any technical device worth less than a hundred dollars would be of any good – let alone any use – to anybody. 

But hear us out: cheap drones can actually serve as prep material for those who want to get into the practice of flying drones, taking still and moving footage with a drone, or using drones for a specific line of work like architecture or construction. 

Buying a best drone under $100 may not necessarily give you the smooth flying experience of a more expensive one. It may not have all the desirable bells and whistles, let alone the big guns' flight stability and image quality, but they are an excellent way to learn how to use such devices.

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How Did We Choose the Best Drone for Your Money?

In order to determine the items that made our list of the best drone under $100 threshold, we took into consideration the following factors during testing:

• Ease of Use – What’s the point of getting a cheap drone if it gives you headaches because you can’t figure out how to use it? Our choices are drones that are ready to use from the get go and are so easy even a kid under the age of 10 can create their own amazing videos and photo montages;
• Reliability – Cheap doesn’t necessarily shoddy, so we looked at how reliable and durable these drones are in terms of flight time, image stability, image and video quality, audio clarity, and how well they hold up regardless of terrain and weather conditions;
• Features – We like items that give us more bang for our bucks, so drones that do a whole lot more than what you expect always gets more points than those that fly and take pictures from the air; and 
• Value for Money – We made it a point to consider items within a reasonable price range yet offering a whole range of features and functionality that can step up one’s game in terms of photography and video production.

At the same time, however, please note that the usual aspects covered in drone reviews, like performance and stability will not exactly be up to par with those of more expensive and/or technologically superior models.

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Conclusion to our Best Drone Under $100 Guide

Now, to wrap up our best drone under $100 guide;

The items presented in today’s list of the best drone under $100 were carefully tested by our team of experts. We like to ensure that readers will have a sterling selection to choose from when it comes to the best drones under $100 for those on a budget yet want to experience flying and shooting with a drone of their own.

Please note that, in the interest of getting authentic high-quality products, we recommend that you shop for the best drone under $100 through their official websites where you may also get great discounts for multiple purchases. Beware of purchasing from marketplace sites claiming to be resellers so to avoid issues with refunds and returns in the future!

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FAQ

Is buying a best drone under $100 worth it?

Yes, it is. Call it a precursor to bigger things to come: once you feel like you’ve mastered these basic models, you may find yourself ready for the best. Also, if you manage to crash your drone or damage it in any way, you won’t feel as horrible as you would if you managed to smash something worth $500 or more.

What is the best drone under $100?

We recommend getting either of our three options: Tactical X Drone, Maji Air Drone, or the Shadow X Drone to get you started.

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If you've read all the way through this best drone under $100 guide, we are grateful. We have reviewed all these products in detail, feel free to check them out;

1. Tactical X Drone Reviews
2. Maji Air Drone Reviews
3. Shadow X Drone Reviews