Best Beginner FPV Drone Kit

Many drone pilots nowadays want to learn to fly FPV drones, but FPV is complex, drones are more prone to crashes, and until recently, FPV was mostly inaccessible unless you wanted to invest or learn a lot more. 

So what is the best beginner FPV drone kit?

DJI Avata is by far the best FPV drone kit for beginners, as it’s simple enough for new pilots to learn and fly FPV with this drone. That’s followed by DJI FPV, BETAFPV Cetus Pro, EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle, and GEPRC TinyGO 4K.

This guide will review each of these great FPV drones and provide more information on flying FPV.

What is an FPV drone, and how is it different from a standard drone? #

An FPV drone allows a pilot to see live image transmission on a set of goggles that acts as a video receiver instead of a mobile phone.

This creates an immersive experience when flying a drone, and it is designed for pilots looking to create unique cinematic content, freestyle with FPV drones, or race.

To do so, the drone must be flown manually, aka in acro mode. 

This type of flight is specific to FPV drones and will disable active sensors, such as the accelerometer, gyroscope, and any other sensors that make a standard drone fly autonomously, hover, be leveled, etc.

Moreover, the type of remote controllers for FPV drones may be different, and there is always no throttle spring tension where you will control the drone altitude at all times, instead for the throttle to be centered as with standard drones.

DJI Avata – Our top pick as the best beginner FPV drone kit #

Best FPV drone for beginners

Specs #

Takeoff Weight410 gramsSize180x180x80 mmIs It a Cinewhoop?YesType of BatteriesDJI Avata specific batteries – 4S 2420 mAh Li-ion smart batteriesCharging MethodUSB-C, hubVTX Digital Transmission SystemRadio TransmissionVia the VTX moduleOther Functions and Specs– Can fly in Normal and Sport Mode on top of Manual Mode– Return to home and GPS module– Has a complex informative HUD

✅ Pros #

• It’s the simplest way to fly FPV
• Has a fantastic camera that can record at 4k 60 frames per second 
• It’s robust and can withstand moderate impacts
• It can be flown close to people, objects, etc. because it’s a Cinewhoop
• It’s straightforward to configure and fly
• It does not require any additional knowledge to charge batteries as with custom FPV batteries
• It can fly for a lot longer than typical FPV drones
• Has an excellent image transmission to the goggles
• It’s fantastic for long-range flights
• If it loses a video or radio signal, the Avata will perform an automatic return-to-home function
• It’s a well-balanced drone that can fly very smoothly
• Has an emergency stop button

❌ Cons #

• It can be pricy compared to custom FPV drones
• It’s challenging to repair, if not impossible, whereas, with custom FPV quads, you may be able to repair and change internal parts
• It isn’t easy to upgrade Avata’s internal parts (e.g., motors.)
• Avata motors are weaker than other FPV motors
• Avata can tumble in high winds because of a poor center of gravity
• It does not have any avoidance sensors (compared to DJI FPV)
• It’s terrible to freestyle with

Avata is by far the best beginner FPV drone kit and is designed for drone pilots who want to get into flying FPV drones in special Cinewhoops. 

**But what is a Cinewhoop? **

A Cinewhoop is a type of FPV drone with heavy-duty duct guards to protect the motors and propellers from minor impacts.

The advantage of Avata being a Cinewhoop drone is that you can fly it in places where no ordinary drone can fly, but you will be limited in doing any type of freestyling because of a tumbling risk. 

DJI FPV – Another fantastic choice to start flying FPV drones #

Specs #

Takeoff Weight795 gramsSize255×312×127 mm with propellersIs It a Cinewhoop?NoType of BatteriesDJI FPV Specific batteries – 6S 2000mAh Lipo BatteryCharging MethodWith DJI FPV hubVTX Digital Video Transmission SystemRadio TransmissionVia the VTX moduleOther Functions and Specs– Can also fly in Normal and Sport Mode– Has a frontal obstacle avoidance sensor (available in normal mode only)– GPS module + Return to Home function– Auxiliary landing LED

✅ Pros #

• It can fly for a lot longer than custom FPV drones
• DJI FPV, same as Avata, can fly in both Normal and Sport Mode on top of Manual Mode
• It’s simple to set up and beginner-friendly
• It can reach very high speeds with its strong motors
• It’s more accessible than Avata
• Has strong wind resistance because of its form factor and weight
• Unique drone shape and good aerodynamics
• Can freestyle well 
• Has an emergency stop button

❌ Cons #

• More expensive than a standard FPV drone
• It’s quite heavy
• Not so robust on crashes
• Difficult to repair or upgrade components

What about custom FPV drones? What do we have to know? #

We do have to remember that DJI has made only two FPV drone kits, and although they are the best beginner-friendly FPV drones and are easy to set up and fly, custom FPV drone kits are another story.

Before we get further into recommending a few custom FPV drone kits, we have to place a warning label and mention a few critical points about non-DJI FPV drones:

• Having a custom FPV drone means you MAY NOT benefit from functions such as return to home or normal mode, and even may lack GPS modules and the ability to fly in any other mode than full acro mode.
• You will deal with poorer VTX signals and radio links than DJI.
• If you buy an FPV drone kit by parts, you must ensure all the components are compatible.
• Digital video feeds have advanced a lot over the past few years to provide good video to the goggles, but they are still inferior to what DJI FPV and Avata can provide.
• You may have to deal (with cheaper FPV drones) with analog feed, which is similar to a 1990 TV resolution and quality, but provides an excellent low latency time, perfect for racing and even freestyle.
• Charging custom FPV batteries is another story. You must purchase a LiPo charger (except for 1s batteries where you can charge it via USB) and ensure you properly set up the charging parameters, such as voltage, crate, etc. The batteries must have a balanced charge, and you must know how to read each battery cell. 
• Not knowing how to charge custom FPV batteries properly involves risks such as possibly starting a fire. Remember, DJI offers safe, intelligent batteries with many safety measures behind safely charging them.
• The batteries won’t last to fly as long as DJI.
• These drones are generally not made for long-range cinematic flights, and you have to mount a GoPro or similar camera on top of it. DJI FPV and Avata are still the simplest drones for cinematic long-range flights.
• You need to know when to land these drones because over-discharging the batteries will surely damage the cells.

What are the advantages of choosing beginner custom FPV drone kits? #

• Depending on the drone configurations, the drone can cost a fraction of what Avata and DJI FPV can cost.
• Although you may have to buy a set of goggles, you will eventually be able to invest in multiple FPV drones that can pair with these goggles. Beware that analog goggles can receive only analog signals, whereas digital goggles can receive only digital signals, but there are ways to receive both signals with the same goggles (depending on the goggles).
• You can customize the drones as you like with no restrictions.
• You will have no geofence block or limitations where you can fly.
• It’s the best way to get into FPV freestyle and racing.
• Custom FPV motors are exceptionally stronger than Avata and DJI FPV motors, making these drones very powerful.
• The flight performance is increased by a large margin.
• You can build, repair, change parts, and customize these drones.
• They are more robust, making these drones perfect for freestyle and racing.
• You can get into flying micro whoops, which DJI hasn’t produced yet (extremely small drones you can fly indoors and anywhere on a short range).

Now that we’ve reviewed the risks and rewards of custom FPV drone kits, let’s go over our top recommendations, shall we?

BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Drone Kit #

Specs #

Weight45.8 grams with batterySize117x117x35mmIs It a Cinewhoop?YesType of Batteries450 mAh Lipo 1sCharging MethodVia USB adaptor providedCameraC02 FPV Micro CameraVTX AnalogRadio ProtocolFrsky** D8Kit Includes**– Cetus Pro Brushless Quadcopter– Literadio2 SE Transmitter– VR02 Goggles– 2x 1s 450mAh batteries– USB Charger– 4x extra props– Portable storage bagOther Functions and Specs– The quadcopter is brushless and comes with 1102-18000kv motors.– The VTX power is standard 25mw– Has an optical flow, barometer, and laser positioning system– You can fly it in normal mode, sport mode, and acro mode– Max flight distance 80m

✅ Pros #

• It’s a very inexpensive FPV drone kit, fantastic to start learning FPV outside simulators
• It’s a tiny whoop that will allow you to fly and practice indoors, in your garden, outdoors at close range, etc. 
• The batteries are 1s and can be charged with the provided charger, so no hassle for you
• The radio protocol is well known and can be used with many FrSky and other remote controllers
• It’s a fantastic experience to start flying FPV drones at a fraction of DJI prices
• It is an entire kit with manuals to help you get in the air as quickly as possible
• You are also provided with a carry case where everything can fit easily
• On top of acro mode, it has the normal and sport modes where you can easily fly it
• It has an altitude hold function, allowing you to hover (normal mode)
• It does come with turtle mode, where if you crash your drone and it is upside down, this mode will flip the drone back into position, and you can continue flying it
• It has an excellent self-protection function, where it will auto land in emergency mode if getting a low battery, avoiding damage to the batteries
• Can auto disarm on impact

❌ Cons #

• It has a low flight range (normal for tiny whoops) of a maximum of 80 meters
• It comes with an analog VTX, which some FPV pilots may consider a disadvantage (hence the low price)
• The goggles and remote controller are by far not the best on the market, but they are good to start flying FPV
• Two batteries won’t be enough to have an uninterrupted flight experience

The Cetus Pro brushless quadcopter is a fantastic, affordable FPV drone that comes with a kit, an easy way to learn to fly FPV drones, practice in the real world, and enjoy the immersive experience of flying FPV.

Although analog and with limited transmission power, it is a fantastic FPV drone to fly indoors, close to people, in your backyard, and so on. 

The Cetus Pro quadcopter is a tiny whoop drone known as a micro-Cinewhoop. The drone should withstand regular crashes, making it perfect for training.

You won’t be able to create cinematic or other types of content as with DJI drones, but flying such a drone is a fun experience.

Betaflight is also one of the most known FPV drone companies, specializing in drones, parts, FPV software components, etc.

EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle 2.5 inch  #

Specs #

Weight79 grams with 2x1s batteriesIs It a Cinewhoop?NoType of Batteries2x1s batteriesCharging MethodUSB charging boardCameraRunCam Nano 2 1/3″ 700TVL CMOSVTX AnalogRadio ProtocolEMAX SPI Receiver compatible with D8 protocolKit Includes– EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle 2.5 drone– EMAX Tinyhawk goggles– EMAX Radio System Transmitter– 2x 1s batteries (that will have to work together to power up the quad)– USB 1s charging board– 4x extra propellers– Carry caseOther Functions and Specs– Carbon fiber durable frame– 1103 7000kv motors– The quad is 2.5 inches– Adjustable camera angle– All-in-one flight controller– VTX power up to 200mw

✅ Pros #

• It has a robust carbon fiber frame to withstand impacts
• It’s a fantastic drone to start freestyle 
• Decent VTX power for good penetration and longer-range flights
• Video resolution of 1080p
• Embraces using 2x1s batteries instead of a 2s battery for simpler charging
• It’s lightweight
• It comes with a complete kit ready to fly
• An excellent beginner FPV drone to practice freestyle outside of simulators
• Inexpensive FPV drone kit
• Fantastic flight performance

❌ Cons #

• It may have very sensitive rates out of the box
• It is not suitable for very long-range flights and for creating cinematic content
• The drone doesn’t have prop or duct guards as a Cinewhoop does, and although you can fly it indoors, it’s risky as props can harm others or damage objects
• The analog video may be a disadvantage for flying FPV as a standard drone pilot

The EMAX Tinyhawk 2 freestyle is a fantastic 2.5-inch FPV drone to get started flying acro freestyle with little investment.

The advantage is that the frame is durable (made of carbon fiber) and should withstand impacts, which often happens when learning acro freestyle.

It comes in a ready-to-fly complete kit with a remote controller, goggles, and a few accessories. 

The receiver is D8-compatible and can be used with various remote controllers, in case you don’t like the remote controller or want to have an FPV kit with RC based on this protocol to bind multiple quads. 

GEPRC TinyGO 4K FPV Whoop #

Specs #

Weight54.8 gramsSize79mm between motorsIs It a Cinewhoop?YesType of BatteriesUses 2x1s 530mAh batteries to flyCharging Method1s USB Battery Charger (can charge up to 2 batteries at the same time)CameraCaddx Baby Turtle v2 with 1/2.7″ CMOS sensorVTX Analog Transmission and Digital RecordingRadio ProtocolFHSSKit Includes– GEPRC TinyGO FPV Drone (the 4K version)– GEPRC G8 Remote Controller– FPV Goggles– Charger– 4x 1s batteries– Carry caseOther Functions and Specs– This Caddx camera is dual– Although it has an analog video transmission, it can record in resolutions up to 4k and can directly accept a microSD card– GR1102 10000Kv motors

✅ Pros #

• Yet another fantastic robust tiny whoop that can fly up to 6 minutes
• It comes in a ready-to-fly kit and does not require much setup
• Has an angular mode that will stabilize the drone, similar to the normal mode
• Although it has analog transmission, the camera can record in 4k and has a decent sensor for a micro FPV drone
• Is a Cinewhoop safe to fly indoors (advertised as an excellent drone to fly indoors) or outdoors at close range
• It removes the hassle of charging another type of battery, as it supports 2x1s batteries which can be charged via the USB charger provided
• It has turtle mode
• Can record up to 4k

❌ Cons #

• It doesn’t have a long-range RTX signal 
• Has analog transmission 
• The goggles and remote controller are not the best in their class
• It may get tricky to configure for non-experienced pilots (but the tutorials should help you)

GEPRC TinyGO 4k is yet another fantastic tiny Cinewhoop to learn to fly FPV and comes in a simple but fantastic drone kit.

The TinyGO has the second version of the Caddx Baby Turtle, which can record in 4k with an adequate memory card, which is surprising for an FPV drone so small.

You may need to grab a few more packs of batteries to fly longer, but just so you know, although this drone supports a 2s battery instead of 2x1s with a proper adapter, we recommend that beginners stick to 1s batteries for charging simplicity.

But there are quite a few videos and guides on how to set up the TinyGO 4K and how it flies/records, and it is considered a fantastic small FPV drone to both learn and practice FPV.

What are the rules and laws of flying FPV? #

In most countries and territories worldwide, the same laws and regulations apply to FPV drones as to standard drones.

But generally, to fly FPV, you may need to have a spotter to fly legally.

A spotter is a person who has to be with you if you fly FPV with the headset on and has to observe the drone at all times.

This may be an issue for FPV pilots who cannot bring someone with them whenever they fly an FPV drone.

How do you train to fly FPV drones? #

You will likely crash if you try to fly an FPV drone without prior experience in manual mode (acro). This is a new skill that has to be learned.

Typically, a couple of hours into a simulator should be enough to learn the tactics and movements of an FPV drone.

Still, we recommend at least a dozen hours to gain more experience and skill, and even more if you want to learn freestyle (with more expensive drones).

There are many FPV drone simulators, such as Liftoff, DRL, Velocidrone, and DJI Virtual Flight if you have Avata or DJI FPV drones.

I learned to fly FPV in Liftoff Simulator, and even now, I train daily. Before I first flew my DJI FPV drone, I had about a few dozen hours in Liftoff and Virtual Flight to ensure I won’t crash my drone the first time.

You can learn to fly FPV simulators with almost any remote controller. For instance, I often fly in Liftoff with my FrSky Horus x10s Express and DJI FPV Remote Controller 2.

Here is a video about training in Liftoff with DJI FPV Remote Controller 2

Furthermore, if you have DJI FPV and DJI Avata, you can train in DJI Virtual flight with your headset on, such as with DJI FPV Goggles V2, DJI Goggles 2, or Integra, which will give you a glimpse of how FPV flights look like. 

» MORE: 9 Best Drone Flight Simulators (FPV and Commercial)