Drones, like “hoverboards,” are among the hottest tech gadgets these days. While I’ve given up on the idea of riding around on a two wheeled scooter (having sold a nice one for fortunately more than I paid via a Kickstarter), I’m definitely still fascinated with drones. Unfortunately, drones can get quite pricey and are prone to breaking when (not if) you crash. That’s where something like the Best Drone by the company Get Childish literally comes into play.

Although technically a drone, there’s no on-board camera, so it’s more a remote control flying saucer, and the price of course reflects that. Fortunately, the omission of a camera doesn’t take away any of the fun and may in fact help keep the peace with your neighbors.

The Best Drone, labeled UFO because of the saucer-like design and model number CX-31, comes with the drone itself, a remote control, a user manual, USB charging cable, and a bag with two small screwdrivers and two spare replacement propellers. Setup is simple. Put four AA batteries – not included – in the remote control, plug the 3.7V 500mAH lithion ion battery into the saucer, switch the remote control on, then push up on the left stick to initiate lift off.

The saucer can fly for about seven minutes from a typical charge, which can take up to 60 to 90 minutes. To charge the saucer’s battery, you remove it from the saucer and use the included USB cable with any standard powered USB port.

As expected, flying this drone successfully consistently can be a bit challenging and does require some practice. While you can use it indoors, this is the type of product that really excels outdoors, since there are no pesky ceilings to crash into.

 

The remote allows for multiple speed settings and various acrobatics, including a 360 degree flip. It can really be exhilarating flying this thing. The good thing is, even though I crashed multiple times, this can clearly take a beating. I only lost a propeller once after crashing and was able to pop it right back on.

For the price, this is a great starter drone. There are just enough elements to tweak and fuss with to give you that drone experience without the associated price tag.

Thanks to Amazing Products for Everyone for the review unit.