Loolinn Z3 vs Ryze Tello
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Loolinn Z3 at $50 and the Ryze Tello at $99 are both popular starting points for people who want to try drone flying without a big investment. The Z3 wins on flight time and price.
The Tello wins on flight quality and programmability. Both shoot 720p, both lack GPS, and both weigh under 250 grams.
This is the most interesting comparison on our under-$100 list because neither drone is clearly better. They're good at different things.
Pros & Cons
Loolinn Z3
- Three batteries included give about 60 minutes of total flight time for $50. That ratio is hard to beat
- Optical flow sensor on the bottom helps it hold position indoors far better than pure barometer drones
- 132 grams and foldable makes it light enough to toss in a bag without thinking about it
- 20 minutes per battery is the longest single-charge flight time of any drone under $100 on this list
- Physical buttons on the controller for tricks means less time in the app, more time flying
- 720p camera produces grainy, washed-out video that looks like it's from 2015
- All recordings save to your phone over Wi-Fi. No SD card slot, no way to get higher quality files
- Optical flow only works over flat, well-lit surfaces. On grass, carpet patterns, or in dim light it loses tracking
- 80m range is the theoretical max. Real-world Wi-Fi range is closer to 40-50 meters before the feed breaks up
- No headless mode on some firmware versions, which is confusing for beginners who lose orientation
- The Loolinn brand has almost no presence outside Amazon. If you need support, good luck
Ryze Tello
- $99 and 80 grams, it's the cheapest way to learn real drone piloting fundamentals
- DJI flight controller hardware gives it indoor stability that generic toy drones can't touch
- Scratch and Python programming support makes it a legit STEM teaching tool, not a gimmick
- Prop guards and soft plastic body survive the kind of crashes that would wreck a $400 drone
- 8D flips and bounce mode give kids instant fun before they've figured out the sticks
- No FAA registration required in the US since it's well under the 250g threshold
- 720p camera is essentially useless for anything beyond the most casual snapshots
- No GPS means it drifts outdoors, and even a light breeze pushes it off course
- 10 minutes real flight time, not the 13 on the spec sheet
- 30-40 meters actual Wi-Fi range in practice, not the 100m DJI claims
- No gimbal or mechanical stabilization, so video is shaky unless you fly dead-smooth
- No obstacle avoidance, no return-to-home, just a low-battery auto-land
- Phone app is showing its age and drops connection mid-flight more than it should
Price Range
The Z3 at $50 is half the price of the Tello at $99. The Z3 ships with three batteries (48 minutes total). The Tello ships with one (10-11 minutes).
To get comparable airtime with the Tello, you'd need four extra batteries at $20 each. That's $179 for about 50 minutes. The Z3 gives you the same airtime for $50. The price gap in terms of flight-time-per-dollar is enormous.
But price-per-minute is not the whole picture. The Tello's DJI flight controller is hardware you can't buy separately or add later. The Z3's batteries are just batteries. You're paying for different things.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
2.5 | 3.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 720P | 720P |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (small CMOS) | 1/5-inch CMOS |
| Aperture | — | f/2.2 |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 20 min | 13 min |
| Range | 0.08 km | 0.1 km |
| Max Speed | 8 m/s | 8 m/s |
| Gimbal | None (no stabilization) | None (EIS only) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $50 | $99 |
| Weight | 132g | 80g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Flight Quality
Flight quality is the Tello's decisive advantage. The DJI flight controller gives it indoor stability that optical flow alone can't match. The Tello holds position in three dimensions.
The Z3's optical flow helps with horizontal hold on flat surfaces, but it still drifts more and responds to stick inputs less cleanly.
Flight Time
- Total airtime: 48 minutes with 3 batteries (Z3) versus 10 minutes with 1 battery (Tello)
- The Z3's airtime means more practice per session for learners who need repetition
- The Tello's single battery creates a frustrating pattern: 10 minutes of flying, 60 minutes of charging
Programmability
Scratch and Python SDK support are unique to the Tello. No other drone at any price offers this. If programming is part of the appeal, the Tello has no competition.
Build and Extras
- Camera: both 720p to your phone. The Tello has slight EIS. The Z3 has none. Neither produces footage worth talking about
- Portability: the Z3 folds. The Tello does not. For travel, the Z3 packs smaller
- Brand support: the Tello has DJI-backed firmware updates, a large community, and third-party accessories. Loolinn has almost no presence outside Amazon
Choose the Loolinn Z3 if:
- Budget is tight and $50 is meaningfully better than $99
- You want long flying sessions without constant battery swaps
- Indoor flying on hard floors is your main use case
- You want a foldable drone that packs small
- Camera quality doesn't matter (both are 720p anyway)
Choose the Ryze Tello if:
- You want the best flight quality under $100
- Scratch or Python programming is part of the plan
- Indoor stability and predictable controls matter to you
- You plan to upgrade to a serious drone later and want real stick skills
- Brand support, community, and accessories matter
Our Verdict
Neither drone is the wrong choice. They're good at different things and the right pick depends on your priorities. The Z3 makes more sense for casual flyers, kids who just want time in the air, and anyone for whom $50 versus $99 is a real consideration. Nearly 50 minutes of flight time for $50 is genuine value, and the optical flow hover makes it flyable indoors. The Tello makes more sense for people who think drones might become a hobby. The DJI flight controller builds real piloting skills. The Scratch/Python support adds an educational dimension. And the brand support means you're not on your own if something breaks. If you told me you wanted to buy one drone, fly it for a month, and then decide whether to invest in something better, I'd say the Tello. The flight quality gives you a more accurate preview of what drone flying actually feels like. The Z3 is a better value on paper, but the Tello is a better introduction to the hobby.
Ryze Tello
3.5/5 overall · $99
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13