Nano drones are basically the smallest category of quadcopters you can buy, and in this article, we’re taking a look at the best of them while also answering some questions about nano quadcopters in general.
Since nano drones are so small, it’s practically impossible to insert great cameras or amazing flight characteristics, so the redeeming factor is size and price.
This means they’re made for:
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I would situate Nano drones as being somewhere around or even under 3 inches in length, some of them going even under 2 inches. Mini drones on the other hand are categorized as being larger and with potentially more features, but they can also include the Nano drone category.
In this section, we’re taking a look at a mix between the most popular Nano quadcopters and what I consider to be the better ones I’ve tried so far.
These drones aren’t necessarily sorted by best to worst since they are all good and serve their own purpose for different people.
However, I have started with some of the drones I have personally enjoyed the most.
Buying such a drone comes with ups and downs, but the most important factor to consider is the very low price, which really makes it impossible to go wrong with any of these on my list.
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
| Cheerson | Hubsan | Potensic | Snaptain | Sky Viper |
| 6 min | 6 min | 6 min | 7 min | 5 min |
| 60 m | 60 m | 60 m | 60 m | 60 m |
| No | Yes | No | No | No |
| durable | FPV | batteries | cage | durable |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
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No cam
6 min
60 m
1.57 inch
The Cheerson CX 10 was my very first drone and thinking back on it, it was also one of the most mistreated drones in my life. When I got this pocket drone, I had no idea about how to fly a quadcopter and learned that I had to hit basically all the walls in my house.
It doesn’t come with a camera, it’s a super tiny drone, more exactly 1.57 x1.57 x 0.79 inches (4 x 4 x 2 cm) and it weighs just 0.32 ounces (9 grams).
It comes with a 6-axis gyro, so you can fly it stable in the air, but still need to adjust the direction from time to time, as id doesn’t have GPS or anything.
Just like the other drones in this size category, all you can do is fly for 5-7 minutes and then charge it again for 30 minutes.
I remember I had it in 2 colors, and now it comes in 4 colors on amazon, including pink.
This is a drone that you don’t have to register and it’s so cheap that you can buy a few of them and learn to fly with your friends.
The most impressive feat is that it feels basically indestructible (besides propellers, those tend to break).
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
Yes
6 min
60 m
2.68 inch
This is the only Nano copter with a camera on this list, as they tend to be very rare.
It’s quite stunning that this drone that’s 2.68 inches (6.8cm) in size also comes with a camera.
It may be a 0.3mp camera, but the image is pretty clear on the phone. And yes, it does connect through an app to the phone for live FPV.
Just like the others, it can do flips and rolls by the press of a button, it has a headless mode, a throw to fly mode, which looks pretty cool when you do it, and multi-color LEDs.
The controller is pretty similar to that of the Cheerson CX10 and it can take both photos and videos and save them on your phone.
For the price you’re paying, you get a lot with this pocket camera drone, and that’s why I have it high on my list of recommendations:
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
No
6 min
60 m
3.5 inch
This drone is a bit bigger(if you can call it that), yet still fits in the nano category, in my opinion, sitting at 3.1x 3.5 x1.25 inches (about 8cm) it has a very special feature.
This is the only nano drone that has interchangeable batteries. This means that it comes with 3 batteries in the package that offer about 18 minutes of flight time in total and they can be used one after the other without needing to charge the drone itself.
Otherwise, the drone is strong enough to even take outside, considering there isn’t strong wind.
The quadcopter flies pretty stable thanks to its altitude hold function and is a great beginner drone thanks to the 3-speed modes and the emergency stop function.
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
No
5 min
60 m
2.75 inch
This nano drone is made for people who want that extra layer of safety, basically putting your drone in a cage.
It’s perfect if you have kids and don’t want to risk them cutting their skin in a propeller.
The headless mode, altitude hold, and 3 speed levels also make it one of the best quadcopters for any beginner or child to have as their first drone.
It also has an LED light in front to better determine where it’s facing and it’s overall a good choice for anyone.
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
No
5 min
60 m
2.75 inch
A very popular drone, the Viper Dash Nano drone has it all in the name. It’s a very swift nano drone that’s a pleasure to fly. It comes in an awesome box with a solid controller and can fly as far as 60m.
It’s 2.75 inches (7cm) in length and it can also do flips or barrel rolls by the touch of a button.
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
In this section we're taking a more in depth look at the specs and features you should look for when choosing a tiny nano drone.
Durability - This one is probably the most important, as you need a strong drone to learn flying on.
Controllability - Most nano drones have limited flight assistant features, making them quadcopters mostly based on skill, the perfect things to learn on. There are things like altitude hold which is a feature that basically hovers the drone at a certain altitude.
Features - Other features like flips, LEDs or headless mode can be advantages
Camera - There’s not many nano drones with a camera on the market, but be sure this is probably the most impressive feat one could have.
Price - Considering you can buy nano quads for even under $20, there’s no reason in paying a ton of money for one. But paying just a bit more might make a big difference if you are set on a certain spec, like a camera for example.
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How small can drones get?
The nano drones I recommended on this list are some of the smallest drones in the world. You can’t really get smaller than 1.5 inches as the propellers start to not work properly at that point and the drone battery life gets way too small.Can I fly nano drones outside?
Of course you can fly nano drones outside, but it’s not the best idea most of the time, as they can easily be blown away by strong gusts of wind. It’s also possible you can lose them quite easily, especially in tall grass, so definitely no flying them in the park.Can nano drones work with smartphones?
Yes, if the drone has a camera it connects to the mobile connection through wifi or bluetooth and transmits live feed directly on your phone. The app can also allow you to control it without the need of a controller.
However, most nano drones come with small transmitters, some of which even work as the housing for the drone.How long do their batteries last?
This is one of the biggest weaknesses in nano drones, as a battery usually lasts for around 5 minutes before you need to recharge it again. That’s why, if you can, get a quadcopter with a removable and replaceable battery, as it will make it easier to fly for longer in one sitting.
Or simply buy more drones…How far can nano drones fly?
Nano drones can fly about 50-60m at most considering they have small antennas and a 2.4ghz transmitter. This is plenty for indoors and even outdoors in some situations. After that point you can’t see the tiny quad anyway.
Before buying a Nano Drone, make sure to at least look for the basic controls and how to fly a drone. As even with the incredible durability of some of these, it's better not to crash them at the first try.
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