Best Low-Budget <250g Micro Drones That Don't Require Registration

Why Sub-250 gram drones?

Federal law defines sub-250 gram unmanned aircraft as “micro” drones. These Group 1 micro-UAVs do not require registration in the US or most countries. They range from toys, to hobbyists’ racing drones, to a novice cinematographer’s flying camera. Top-of-the-line micro-UAVs could make a helpful adjunct to a mobile unit. For small units, these make ideal “periscopes” to see over terrain or scout areas remotely.

While a larger, high endurance and longer-range drone is of course better, they are much larger packages. Sub-250 gram UAVs are smaller, lighter, and faster to deploy than larger models. A very small drone can be easily carried along and used to augment the patrol where a larger drone providing overwatch is not available or to clear or recon areas in lieu of sending in a man. Heavier drones being man-packed will slow a patrol down, will take longer to launch and recover, and will hinder mobility if attacked.

Now why sub-250 gram drones exactly, you may be wondering? Surely heavier ones are better, especially if I’m not planning on man-packing the thing into combat. Let me quote the FCC:

• “All drones must be registered, except those that weigh 0.55 pounds or less (less than 250 grams).”
• “Beginning September 16, 2023, all drones requiring registration must operate in accordance with the Remote ID rule.”

Remote ID (RID) is a radio transponder system that openly broadcasts over Wi-Fi bands a drone’s location, altitude, and speed, as well as the location of the pilot. If using a COTS drone in a defensive or combat application, RID is a liability because it broadcasts real time location data that could be used to pinpoint the aircraft and the pilot.

• No remote pilot certification or tests required
• Less stringent operating rules and simplified regulations. Legally speaking, they can be flown over people and structures that are not directly involved in the flight vs. larger drones that can't do this (legally). The government's reasoning is because of their lightweight they are less likely to brain someone should they fall out of the sky.
• Did I say no FAA registration? Save yourself $5!
• Easier travel: Micro drones are compact and lightweight, making them easier to carry during travel. They are also less likely to attract attention due to their small size.

 
What still applies?

• You need permission in controlled airspace (such as near airports)
• You're still restricted by TFRs (fly one near Biden and they'll know)
• Maintain visual contact with the drone (you will probably overrun the transmitter range before then)

 
Realistically, unless your drone crashes and injuries someone or the police show up, flying over structures or people with respectable clearance isn't going to cause problems. While you must stay below 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), unless you're near and airport or hit a plane isn't not like anyone is really going to know.
 
As far as drone detectors, these will be present near major airports, military bases, and special events, like Joe Biden’s vacation or a major sporting event. While sub-250 gram drones aren’t broadcasting RID, their unique signals in the Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) band are discoverable by specialized and sensitive detectors. If you fly a drone in a remote part of National Park or something, odds no one will ever know.

Buying Guide to Sub-250 gram drones

Here are the top four sub-250 gram drones, all available between $750 and $140 (depending on the price when you buy).

DJI Mini 3 Pro
Best performance, second best camera, but has all the DJI nerfing and China drawbacks.
Autel Evo Nano Plus
Like the DJI Mini series but with slightly decreased performance but none of the DJI Chinese baggage.
DJI Mini SE
Cheapest DJI model.
Holy Stone HS710
Cheapest, quality model. Perfect for beginners or “stacking” multiples of.
 
DJI Mini 3 Pro
DJI is the biggest name in drones, but it comes with a caveat that it has been “nerfed” and is probably a Chinese spy device. Overall, it has the second Best camera and the best performance. Negatives are it is Chinese and omes with geo-fencing problems native to all DJIs, which isn’t why you buy sub-250 gram drones. It’s also relatively expensive than other drones in its class.

• Max flight endurance: 34 minutes
• Max hovering endurance: 30 minutes
• Camera resolution: photo 48 MP 8000 X 6000; video 4k Ultra HD: 3840 x 2160  60 fps
• Battery charging time: 1 hour

 
Autel EVO Nano Plus
This has the best camera, up to 8K resolution. It also does not have the baggage that DJI does. At the price point, it is the most comparable to the DJI Mini with similar endurance.

• Max flight endurance: 28 minutes
• Max hovering endurance: 26 minutes
• Camera resolution: photo 50MP 8192×6144; video 4K Ultra HD 3840×2160 60 fps
• Battery charging time: 90 minutes.

 
DJI Mini SE
This is the cheapest drone so far produced by DJI. However, it only has a "2k" camera so it lacking the advanced camera features or higher quality resolution might be problematic if you want coo video. It also has the negatives of DJI geofencing and probably feeding data back to China.

• Max flight endurance: 30 minutes
• Max hovering endurance: 30 minutes
• Camera resolution: photo 4000 X 3000; video 2.7k: 2720 X 1530 @30 fps
• Battery charging time: 1 Hour
  

Holy Stone HS710
This is the cheapest non-toy option (I got it for $139 at the time) that is ideal for beginners and nearly disposable use. Consider these the Baofeng radios of the micro-UAV level. They are small, light, and can be easily carried by an individual. It has a 4K camera and more advanced camera/flight features that the cheaper DJI options don't have like altitude hold and “follow me” (if you’re into cinematographic video).

• Max Flight Time: 30 minutes
• Max Hovering Time: 30 minutes
• Photo Resolution: 4000 X 3000
• Video Resolution: 2.7K: 2720 X 1530 @30 fps
• Battery Charging Time: 1 Hour