The first unmanned aircraft made buzzing sounds and hence the name "drone" such machines are known as. With the passing of years, commercial grade drones have been taking over the electronic gadgets' market for reasons no one could see coming. You may not believe it but one of those is high-speed battles and the debate of which is the best racing drone has been eating away at fans of this late years' sport. Today we are trying to come up with the definitive top ten drones designed for racing!
Comparison Table
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Product FAQ
Image via Unsplash
1. What Is a Racing Drone?
2. What Does a Racing Drone Do?
3. How Does a Racing Drone Work?
4. Where Can You Buy One?
5. Is Flying a Racing Drone Legal?
How We Reviewed
To provide you with an unbiased list, we spent many hours reviewing each of the items individually. We cross-referenced our own opinion with other online reviews and we finally reached our top ten.
Overall Price Range of This Product (and Similar Products)
The cheapest model in this list costs $$ while the most expensive one is priced at $320. You shouldn't spend more money if you don't need to. Carefully read our review for each of them and choose the one that best meets your requirements. Also, keep in mind that the pricier models usually have better building materials and more capabilities so choose wisely.
What We Reviewed
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Features
Weighing just two pounds the ergonomic design of the Rodeo 110 will let you assure you of its great capabilities. Apart from the motherboard's case, the drone is barebones, meaning that there won't be any extra things weighing it down. Even though it is marketed as an indoors racing drone most users have reported that it is quick and can be fairly hard to control so using it outdoors is advised. It is powered by 850mAh battery which will give you seven to eight minutes of flying time.
The Rodeo 110 comes with a DEVO 7 controller and a 600Tvl HD wide-angle camera with high power real-time image transmission so you can get a clear view of the racing field.
Speed
Not mentioned.
Durability
It could easily sustain damage due to the lightweight materials and the absence of propeller safeguards.
Warranty
1-year extended warranty
Pros
Cons
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Features
It's common knowledge that Holy Stone makes great drones and the HS150 is no different. This drone is perfect for beginners as it is fully equipped with various function. It has a headless mode and a maximum speed of 50km/h alongside 5 different speed modes. You get two 600mAh batteries each providing 5-7 minutes of flight time. The controller is easy to use with dedicated buttons for speed and tricks. Even though it is for beginners, there isn't a camera nor an altitude hold function so be careful not to crash it. The propeller guards should help you out though.
Price
You can find this product on Amazon for around $45.
Speed
50km/h (31mph)
Durability
Superb thanks to the propeller guards.
Warranty
3-month warranty
Pros
Cons
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Features
The SwagDrone 210-UP is no joke. This high-end drone features a carbon fiber body, ABS/PC propellers, and brushless motors. It is a great flying machine that can be used in the dark, thanks to the night vision camera. The 5.8Ghz antenna and the dual receivers make up for an 800m transmission range which when combined with the 1,300mAh battery will ensure a long flight. The 210-UP is equipped with a 700 TVL camera which is also kept safe by its own protective cap.
Apart from the flight mode switch, you can find on the controller you will also get a kill switch you can enable to avoid obstacles that just pop-up out of nowhere. Even though the actual speed isn't mentioned, we have found out that the drone is fast and could easily be used in a high-speed race. It is without a doubt the best racing drone for many users.
Speed
Not mentioned.
Durability
Durable thanks to its carbon fiber body.
Warranty
1-year
Pros
Cons
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Features
Once again Holy Stone offers what could be considered the best racing drone at its price point. The HS200 is equipped with a 6-gyro axis 4 channel technology. It has an altitude hold function, a headless and a one-key return home mode. Due to its lightweight build, it can easily perform tricks such as 360 flips. Connect it with your phone and with the help of the 720p HD camera, you'll be able to take incredible aerial photos and videos. You can use your device to control the drone via the dedicated smartphone app!
There are 4 speed modes and an LED lighting system so that you can easily control your drone in races and dark environments. In the package, you'll also get a 4GB Micro SD card and a card reader. It comes with a small 650mAh battery so if you want to fly for a long time maybe consider buying a spare one.
Speed
Not mentioned.
Durability
Fairly durable thanks to the propeller guards.
Warranty
3-month
Pros
Cons
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Features
Probably not the best racing drone available but if you want to enjoy immersive flying, then this could be a solid choice. The MJX Bugs 6 comes with the G3 goggles which can be used for an FPV VR session. You also get a 4.3-inch LCD display with a holder which will get a real-time signal from the 5.8Ghz transmitter to provide a clear image from the 720p HD camera. Even though the exact maximum speed of the Bugs 6 is unknown but based on our experience, it is quick thanks to the brushless motors. The LED lights make it an absolute blast to fly in dark environments. The battery will last for about 12 minutes.
Speed
Not mentioned.
Durability
Durable.
Warranty
Can be requested from customer service.
Pros
Cons
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Features
What could be considered the absolute best racing drone that's commercially available, the X-Speed 280 is a ready to fly (RTF) drone right from the factory, you only plug in the battery and it's ready to go. It features brushless ARRIS 2205 motors and 5042 propellers to ensure a fast enjoyable session. The main body is made with carbon fiber and comes equipped with a Raptor S-Tower 4-in-1 which is a dedicated wire organizer. You get a 700TVL HD camera paired with a 5.8Ghz 40 channel transmitter and a polarized omni antenna.
The X-Speed 280 can reach a maximum height of 1,500m and a distance of 900m. The controller comes equipped with multiple switches for different modes (manual, lock, altitude hold) and tons of other functions such a channel swap controller, tricks, low battery indicator, locating buzzer, etc. This drone is powered by a 1,500mAh Lipo battery.
Speed
Racing quad speed.
Durability
According to users, it can withstand multiple hits and crashes without a problem.
Warranty
Can be requested from customer service.
Pros
Cons
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Features
You wouldn't expect such a small factor drone to appear in this list but it is the best racing drone at its size. The Inductrix features an FPV system and is sold alongside a monitor which will provide a clear real-time image via the 25mW video transmitter. The battery is fairly small and can hold about 3 minutes of flight time. This drone consumes a lot of power thanks to the powerful motors it has to support the extra weight of the camera. It can be flown in dark environments as well because of the LED lights it packs.
Speed
Even though the exact speed isn't mentioned, according to users the Inductrix is fast.
Durability
Fairly durable as it features propeller guards.
Warranty
6-month warranty
Pros
Cons
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Features
The Vortex 285 is what you'd refer to as a complete barebone racing drone. It comes equipped with a camera that can be titled to ensure efficiency in high-speed racing and a full graphic on-screen display which will provide a live feed from the camera and other parameters such as frequency, channel, and band. The 5.8Ghz 350mW transmitter supports multiple channels so that the signal won't interfere with other devices. However, the drone doesn't include a receiver or a battery and thus you must use your own. In addition, you get LED lights which are controlled by their own dedicated processor. Also, the drone can be connected to a computer to update the firmware or install other third-party plugins.
Speed
Depends on the battery. A 4s 1300mAh will get you a maximum speed of about 60mp/h.
Durability
Since it's foldable, and the body is made with carbon fiber plates and plastic sides and joints, it can absorb a lot of the impact force so it's durable.
Warranty
Can be requested from customer service.
Pros
Cons
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Features
The wizard features a 700TVL camera and a 200mW 5.8Ghz transmitter which can support up to 48 channels. Add a few powerful motors in the mix and you get what many drone fans believe to be the best racing drone available. You'll also get a 3s 1,500mAh 11.1V battery and a battery strap to keep it in place. Besides the controller and the other accessories, you'll get a full King Kong set of purple propellers but you may use your own as they are interchangeable.
Speed
Depends on the battery. The included battery supports a maximum speed of about 65-70mp/h.
Durability
The carbon fiber body makes it durable.
Warranty
Can be requested from customer service.
Pros
Cons
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Features
Parrot was one of the first companies to produce commercially available drones. Parrot now produces best complete racing kit you can get your hands on. The Mambo features FPV cockpit glasses for an enjoyable immersive drone flying experience and fly pads for precise piloting. The battery is fairly big as it will last for at least 10 minutes before giving up. It supports quick charge so you can charge it fully in less than 30 minutes.
Mambo's software also supports live YouTube and Facebook streaming along with altitude hold and hover mode. Combine this with the freeflight mini app and you're good to go. Keep in mind that the drone is quick, so it's hard to use for beginners even if it is marketed as an entry-level racing drone for newcomers. Last but not least, this drone is durable thanks to the propeller guards and its sturdy build.
Speed
Exact maximum speed isn't mentioned, but the drone is fast and is suitable for high-speed races.
Durability
Durable.
Warranty
1-year warranty
Pros
Cons
The Verdict - Which Is the Best Racing Drone?
Image via Unsplash
This depends on what you are looking for. If you want a small affordable drone, we recommend the Holy Stone HS150 for indoor flying and the Parrot Mambo for outdoors. If you have high-speed racing in mind, then select the Eachine Wizard x220 or the ARRIS X-Speed 280. Bottom line, there is no such a thing as the absolute best racing drone. Every entry on our list is great and will meet different requirements. All of them are great racing drones and you will not be disappointed with either of the selections featured here.
Featured image via Pixabay
