The thrill of operating a drone used to be reserved for experts. Nowadays, even kids can operate a drone. There are plenty of easily operable drones available for those with little hands. Drones make an excellent gift for any kid, but how do you pick one if you don’t know anything about them?
To help us assemble this list, we worked with our team, who have kids aged 8-14, to help us identify which hand-controlled drones are worth checking out and which should be avoided. We also utilized data science to analyze the latest consumer sentiment to get an idea of which drones are loved across the board by the market as a whole.
The best thing about these hand-controlled drones is that they can be used very easily by younger kids and don’t require the use of a phone, and our less prone to damage from crashes, as many include protection.
Based on our analysis, these are the 3 best hand-controlled drones:
In-depth review of the best hand-controlled drones for kids:
1. AMERFIST Flying Ball Toys Magic Controller Mini Drone
This is a spherical hand-controlled mini drone with some amazing RGB lights. The orb can be thrown in any direction and flies at different speeds, allowing the users to create different ways of playing. The ball is lightweight and easy to carry around. Each unit comes with a USB charging cable and charges to full charge in around 20 minutes. You can play with the flying orb whether inside or outside.
What we love:
❤️The lights are amazing when you want to play at night
❤️It is highly sensitive to hand gestures
❤️It has an auto shut-off feature that switches it off when no movement is detected
We don’t like this as much:
💔It only runs for 10 minutes on a full charge
- High-Tech Hand Controlled Drone Toy With Cool RGB Light: The flying orb toy provides intelligent flight. Different throwing angles and speeds will create different flight lines and boomerang effect.You can use your ingenuity to create your unique way of playing.The colorful led at night will make your magic ball cooler
- Lightweight And Portable: This hover ball has undergone rigorous testing, made of high-quality materials, which are soft but durable, drop resistant, lightweight and flexible.You don’t have to worry that the flying toy will be damaged easily by your kids. It will stop automatically when it hit the furniture or any other pieces of stuff
- USB Charging: About 20 minutes full charge, 8-10 working duration. It enables various charging options such as charged by computer, power adapter, mobile phone, portable charger etc. The indicator light comes on when charging and goes off when fully charged. Rechargeable and can be played over and over again
- Endless Fun with Hover Ball:Experience uninterrupted fun with USB Charging feature of this flying orb ball.Achieve a full charge in just 20 minutes and enjoy 8-10 minutes of continuous flightIt supports versatile charging options,including computers,power adapters, mobile phones,and portable chargers.The indicator light provides real-time charging status updates, ensuring you're always ready for the next adventure
- Exceptional Customer Service: We pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service. If you encounter any issues or have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is available 24/7 and will promptly respond to your inquiries. Your satisfaction is our utmost priority, and we are committed to ensuring that your flying experience with our hand controlled drone exceeds your expectations
2. Force1 Scoot Hand Operated Drone
This is a small hand-controlled drone for kids and adults. It launches with ease as you only need to toss it up. The drone offers a 360-degree rotating flight design and you can direct it in all directions. Outward, the orb is covered with a shell that protects it when children play rough with it. It has a powerful sensor and a powerful motor to detect your hand movements and fly at different speeds.
What we love:
❤️Kids find it easy to launch by just tossing it up
❤️The outside has a protective shell that enhances its durability
❤️he ball is highly sensitive for easy flying
We don’t like this as much:
💔It doesn’t have charge protection features, so you have to observe as it charges
- Original Scoot Drone for Kids: Here’s the first and the most-loved hand operated drone in Force1’s Scoot drone family! Toss to launch this hand drone into the air and enjoy vibrant LEDs light up this UFO flying toy with every flight
- 360° Rotating Flight Design: Indoor hover drone for beginners is equipped with powerful motors to fly in all directions; flying with smart, obstacle avoidance motion sensors, simply use your hand to guide its flight and catch this hand drone “hamburger-style” once you’re done.
- Durable and Kid-Safe Webbed Shell Design: This flying toy drone is designed with nontoxic, high quality webbed shell that protects hands, walls, and furniture from the propellers; this webbed shell also keeps the drone safe from damages as it fly around any indoor space
- US-Certified STEM Toy for Boys and Girls: This UFO drone toy is super easy to fly, making it a great beginner drone for kids and kids at heart ages 8 and up; drone measures 4.7” D, runs on built-in rechargeable drone battery, and includes a USB recharging cable
- Quality Assured: Fly this cool self flying sensor drone with family and friends for 8 minutes with every 50 minutes charge; We’ll provide a full refund if you’re not thrilled with these hand operated drones for kids and adults
3. ATHLERIA Pro Hand Operated Drone
This is an orb for kids and adults. It comes with a simple operating button that you press and then shake the orb to get it started. It has the shape of a globe, and you will have a lot of options on how you play the hand drone from the different speeds to directing it in different directions. You can play with this orb indoors and outdoors.
What we love:
❤️You can unlock different tricks to have hours of fun
❤️The LED lights are interesting for kids
❤️It flies at different speeds and can hover in place spinning at fast speeds
We don’t like this as much:
💔It takes some time to get used to flying the toy
- ▶【How to Play】- Turn on the power button, shake the flying toy to start. With the magic controller infrared sensor and target-seeking magnet, the controller lets you unlock a new level of tricks and hours more fun. All with just the press of a button. Get greater precision for your old tricks by using the controller as a launch pad. Or unfurl a whole list of new moves. (Please watch the video to learn how to play it). It needs to practice for several times to make it fly properly.
- ▶【Unlock More Fun】- The Pro’s reimagined globe shape and more powerful motor mean one thing: more mind-blowing tricks than ever. Flex your skills with these advanced stunts and maneuvers that will push your creativity and test your accuracy - with or without the magic controller.
- ▶【Safe & Fun Design】- Pro designed to be fun and safe, especially for kids. The spherical design and protective casing mean it’s completely safe to grab with your hands. And the material is surprisingly soft and light, so getting a bump from the Pro is like a pat on the shoulder. The Pro is the perfect way to get kids up, moving, and entertained for hours.
- ▶【Have Fun Anytime, Anywhere】- Pro hand drone is fun and easy to control anywhere. It is designed to work indoors as well as outdoors with a smooth flight pattern and boomerang effect. It’s the perfect backyard activity but can easily be used indoors as well. Perfect for play at office, home, garden, park etc.
- ▶【Perfect & Unique Gift】- Christmas is coming! Pro Flying toy is the perfect present for your friends and family. Make your gift stand out with something that will surprise them when they open it and keep them smiling all day long. Pro will liven up Christmas by getting your whole family involved in the fun. It can fly anywhere, perfect for kids, teenagers, adults. (If you have any questions about the product, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service.)
4. Force1 Scoot LED Hand Operated Drone
This is a mini-drone for kids and adults. It features ultra-bright LED blue and red lights that make flying it fun. It flips in different directions, and you can flip it from one hand to the other. Its 360-degree rotating flight design gives you several options to enjoy your flight. Its webbed design ensures that it lasts for a long time.
What we love:
❤️Kids can play rough with this toy, and it will last for a long time
❤️Different flying options for fun when playing
❤️It produces ultra-bright blue and red lights for fun flying
We don’t like this as much:
💔It might take some time learning how to control the drone
- Ultra Bright LED Scoot Drone for Kids: This hand operated drone is the ultra-bright version of the original Scoot drone; enjoy multiple, super-bright red and blue LEDs light up this UFO flying toy with every flight
- Scoot Drone that Flips: Place both hands on both sides of the drone, swipe a hand under when the lights start to blink rapidly, and see this LED drone perform a 360° flip; easy, fun, and great beginner drone for kids ages 8 and up
- 360° Rotating Flight Design: Indoor hover drone for beginners is equipped with powerful motors to fly in all directions; flying with smart, obstacle avoidance motion sensors, simply use your hand to guide its flight and catch this hand drone “hamburger-style” once you’re done
- Durable and Kid-Safe Webbed Shell Design: This flying toy drone is designed with nontoxic, high quality webbed shell that protects hands, walls, and furniture from the propellers; this webbed shell also keeps the drone safe from damages as it fly around any indoor space
- US-Certified Quality Assured STEM Toy: The Scoot LED hand drone measures 4.3" D, includes a USB recharging cable, and flies for 8 minutes with every 50 minutes charge; We'll provide a full refund if you're not thrilled with these hand operated drones
5. Jinmenengone Hand-Operated Mini Drone for Kids
No products found.This is a simple hand-operated drone that offers you three remotes to make the action more fun. It has a watch remote, a standard remote, and a water drop remote. It features different LED strips to create a glow while the drone spins at high speeds. The magic hand control is highly advanced with powerful sensors to make the action even better. You only need to toss it up to start it and then it offers three-level speed.
What we love:
❤️There are endless ways to play the hand-operated drone
❤️ The sensors are powerful enough to enable easy control
❤️ It has a powerful motor, allowing fast speeds and fast spins
We don’t like this as much:
💔The gears might need fixing once in a while
No products found.
6. GOOLY Flying Spinner Mini Drone
This orb uses advanced spinner sensor technology, allowing you to spin it with ease. To start the orb, you only need to toss it up and then start the hand gestures to get the action up. It features a high-quality ABS plastic construction to withstand the rough play that kids might put it through. It charges using a simple mini-USB for 15 minutes.
What we love:
❤️It is capable of flying at very high speeds
❤️It charges to full charge for only 15 minutes
❤️ Its amazing lights make it fun to play
We don’t like this as much:
💔There is a simple delay just before the orb launches
- 【Smart Sensors & 360° Rotating Flying】The flying fidget spinner adopts advanced sensor hovering technology which can intelligently sense height and distance. The built-in gyroscope can control the precision and sensitivity to balance it, keeping the mini drone rotating 360°smoothly.
- 【Easy to Operate】Turn on the power button and hold the center axis and spin the wheel to start, then give it a toss to get flying. Different throwing speeds and angles allow different flight paths, tricks, and high-speed maneuvers. Stop the flying by grabbing the mini drone with your hand.
- 【Anti-drop & Safe Design】The hand operated drone is made of high-quality non-toxic ABS material, which is lightweight and flexible, making it able to withstand countless crashes. The enclosed wheel design is aerodynamic and protects your hands while spinning it up and performing tricks.
- 【Portable & USB Charging】 The flying spinner has a built-in and rechargeable lithium battery that powers it up by a Micro USB cable for 15 minutes to get 10 minutes of playing time. Built-in LED lights bloom in the night sky, increasing the fun of night flight and adding more excitement to the chasing game.
- 【Ideal Gift for Kids Adults】The mini UFO drone can be used as exquisite Christmas gift ideas for boys girls and creative birthday gifts for your family and friends. Kids and adults could play with it together, it's also the bridge between kids and adults.
7. FLYNOVA PRO Flying Ball Toy 2022 Version
This gold-colored and gold-lit orb offers the fun kids and adults need. It has three LED light colors, and you can choose any color you want. It features soft material that is easy to use any time of the day. It has a spherical design that can speed at very high speeds. You can play the orb indoors or outdoors.
What we love:
❤️There are different spinning options to enhance the fun
❤️It launches with just a toss with powerful sensors for ease of control
❤️It charges fast
We don’t like this as much:
💔The outer shell is not so strong and can break with ease
- ✈【Dynamic Non-Stop Flying Toy】With three dazzling colored RGB lights,your hover orb will look like a neon shooting star when you launch it across the sky.If you really want to get some attention,practice your tricks at night when your Flynova Pro can light up the dark.
- ✈【Safety For Kids Design】The hover spinner ball is the perfect way to get kids up,moving,and entertained for hours.The cosmic globe features a grab-to-stop function - so it stops flying as soon as it touches something.The orb spherical design and protective casing mean it’s completely safe to grab with hands.
- ✈【Rechargeable Portable Lightweight】The Hand Controlled Drone is only 0.7 ounces,easy to carry.Don’t need a lot of space.Equipped with USB Charging,can charge it up anytime anywhere and play on the go.Fly longer,go further,and keep the good times soaring.
- ✈【Fly as Boomerang】The motorized flying spinner that floats, glides, and climbs through the air,then returns to your hand like a boomerang.Easy to control.Toss the spinning ball into the air, and watch as it circles right back to you. Catch it in one hand and be ready to launch your next trick.
- ✈【Endless Fun to Explore】 This Magic Flying Levitating Ball is easy to control,indoors or outdoors,enjoy anywhere from the living room to a public park. And the boomerang is great for the office too. Use it to de-stress with your colleagues in the breakroom. Or for adding a little fun to your team-building sessions.
8. Tickduck Flying Orb
Its intelligent flight capabilities, brought about by a gyroscope and AI chip, provide fun and enhance skills and creativity. Made from durable ABS, it ensures safety with enclosed propellers and provides up to 10 minutes of flight on a quick USB charge. It’s a great indoor/outdoor toy that also introduces the principles of physics and aerodynamics. This drone is a unique gift for all ages and a perfect blend of enjoyment and learning.
What we love:
❤️The flashing LED lights are fun when you play at night
❤️The orb features durable and safe construction material for rough play
❤️10-minute flight time with only 20 minutes to charge
We don’t like this as much:
💔It is affected by the wind when you take it outside
- Super Cool High-Tech Hand Controlled Drone : Our flying orb ball featuring a gyroscope and smart AI chip that promises intelligent flight. Different throwing angles and speeds will create different flight lines and boomerang effect. This cool stuff not only brings fun to play but also helps to improve children's hands-on ability, operating skills, intelligence, and creativity.
- Durable and Lightweight Body: This flying ball drone toy is made of high-grade ABS material, which is lightweight and flexible, making it able to withstand countless crashes. The propellers are safely concealed within the ball drone. The enclosed propellers cause no worry that children will be hurt by their blades.
- USB Rechargeable: Simply connect it to the USB connector for 25 minutes to fully charge. (Flying time: 8 to 10 minutes, Battery life varies individually due to environmental factors). When the LED indicator flashes, it means that the aircraft needs to charged. The indicator light remains lit when charging, and turns off when charging is complete.
- For Anytime, Anywhere Fun: You don’t need a lot of space to take off with our hand operated drone. It is fun and easy to control anywhere. It’s designed to work indoors as well as outdoors, with a smooth flight pattern and boomerang effect. It’s the perfect backyard activity, but can easily be used indoors as well. This flying ball is a great conversation piece for family, school, and holiday gatherings. It’s a simple way to teach about physics and aerodynamics, even from a young age.
- Perfect Gift: This hand-controlled drone is a fun novelty gift for birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas. This is a great choice for Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day gift toys. It’s a perfect enrichment gift for kids, teenagers, adults, and the elderly.
