5 Best Phone Controlled Drones [2018] Reviews

Phone controlled drones are exactly as they sound – they are drones that are able to be fully controlled just by using your smartphone! The best part about drones controlled by your phone is the fact that they come in all different categories.

For example, there are photography, professional, hobby, and even toy drones that can be controlled simply by using your phone – no transmitter required. A lot of people feel more comfortable using their phone instead of a transmitter, too.

Some of these drones allow you to save your photos and videos taken by the drone directly to your phone, ready to share on your social media platforms. This is just one of the many ways people use phone controlled drones.

Best Phone Controlled Drones

Today we’ll be taking a look at my top 5 picks for the best phone controlled drones. They are in order starting with my top favorite pick and decreasing to my last favorite pick, so keep that in mind!

Altair Aerial AA108

The AA108 by Altair Aerial has a special spot in my heart for many reasons. They offer incredible quality and value, considering they’re only $130 right now. Their customer service is also completely out of this world. They’re based in the United States and always reply quickly.

  • Uses a premium 720p HD 120-degree wide-angle camera with real-time video streaming
  • Able to fly in FPV with goggles (not included)
  • Has a total flight time of up to 10 minutes, doubled by the second battery included for free
  • Features Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, 1-Button Takeoff, 1-Button Landing, Out of Range Alarm, Emergency Landing Function, Low Battery Alarm, Custom Route Mode, and 3 Flight Skill Modes
  • Has a transmission range of up to 100 meters

    • Custom Route Mode is only available if you’re using your smartphone to fly it instead of the transmitter, which should encourage you more to opt for the phone. It makes the flight experience that much better, as well!
    altair aa108 best contolled drone

    If you need more detailed information about this Altair Aerial AA108, you can click here

    Altair Aerial AA818 Plus

    My second favorite is the AA818 Plus, which is also from Altair Aerial! While this one is a bit pricier at $160, the extras you get on top of what they did with the AA108 is so worth what you’re paying.

  • Uses a high-quality 720p HD 120-degree, wide-angle, rubber-damping camera with real-time video transmissions
  • Able to fly in FPV with goggles (not included)
  • Has a transmission range of up to 150 meters
  • Features Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, 1-Button Takeoff, 1-Button Landing, Custom Route Mode, Out of Range Alarm, Emergency Landing Function, Low Battery Alarm, and 3 Flight Skill Levels
  • Has a flight time of up to 15, doubled by the second battery included for free

    • Like the AA108, Custom Route Mode can only be unlocked when you use a smartphone to pilot the drone instead of using the transmitter.
    best contolled phone drone altair aa818 plus

    If you need more detailed information about this Altair Aerial AA818 Plus, you can click here

    Holy Stone HS160 Shadow

    The HS160 Shadow by Holy Stone is another one of my all time favorites. It’ll cost you around $100 flat. Believe me, it’s a sweet deal that comes with a couple of hidden surprises you’ll want to get your hands on.

  • Has a foldable, flexible structure and blades that make it the size of your palm
  • Uses a 720p HD WiFi camera with FPV capabilities and real-time transmissions
  • Takes a 3.7V 500mAh LiPo battery
  • Features One Key Start, One Key Landing, Gravity Sensor Mode, 4 Speed Modes, 3D Mode, and Altitude Hold
  • Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system
  • Compatible with a 3D VR headset (not included)
  • Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with 4 channels
  • Has a flight time of between 7 to 9 minutes, doubled by the second battery included for free
  • Has a transmission range of between 50 to 70 meters and a WiFi transmission range of up to approximately 30 meters

    • I like that the manufacturer offers a free battery if you leave a review once you’ve purchased and flown it. It doesn’t have to be a 5-star review either, by the way! If you do so, you get triple the flight time and will then have a total of 3 batteries, which is pretty awesome.
    phone control drones holy stone hs160

    If you need more detailed information about this Holy Stone HS160, you can click here

    DJI Phantom 3 Standard

    The Phantom 3 Standard by DJI is a favorite among all serious drone users. You can get your hands on one for $550, which is a pretty sweet deal. DJI makes all the biggest and best in a lot of opinions, so after going through the features and specs, let’s see what your opinion will be!

  • Has a 2.7K camera with 12MP stills and 720p HD real-time transmissions
  • Uses a 3-axis stabilization system
  • Features Waypoints, Follow Me, Return to Home, and Point of Interest
  • Comes with an 8GB MicroSD card
  • Has a total flight time of up to 25 minutes

    • This is a great choice for anyone who wants both flight and aerial photography in a decent package.
    phone control drones dji phantom 3

    If you need more detailed information about this DJI Phantom 3, you can click here

    Parrot Bebop 2

    The Bebop 2 by Parrot is one of my favorites for one reason – it’s the bomb when it comes to aerial photography and only costs $450.

  • Comes with the Parrot Cockpitglasses for the best FPV experience money can buy
  • Has a camera that shoots videos in 1080p HD resolution with 14Mpx still photos
  • Uses RAW, JPEG, and DNG formats
  • Takes a 2700mAh LiPo battery
  • Has a total flight time of up to 25 minutes
  • Uses a 3-axis digital stabilization system for smooth, clear videos and photos
  • Has a transmission range 1.2 miles (only when using the Parrot Skycontroller 2)

    • This drone is perfect for those who want one that focuses on aerial photography and videography more than anything. The FreeFlight Pro app unlocks a ton of features and special tidbits that make your flight experience, and footage, that much better.

    phone control drones parrot bebop 2

    If you need more detailed information about this Parrot Bebop 2, you can click here

    Phone Controlled Drones FAQ

    If you don’t see an answer to your question listed below, get in touch with me and I’ll do my best to answer it for you.

    What are phone controlled drones?

    Phone controlled drones are exactly as they sound – drones that are controlled by using a smartphone instead of using a transmitter or controller.

    How do phone controlled drones work?

    Drones controlled by a phone work through applications. For example, the Parrot Bebop 2, when using your phone instead of the Parrot Skycontroller 2, works through using the FreeFlight Pro application.

    Why use a phone controlled drone?

    A lot of drones that give you the option to access additional features that you wouldn’t normally get when you use the transmitter or controller. For example, the Altair Aerial AA108 can only gain access to Custom Route Mode when you use your phone with it instead of the transmitter.

    Phone Controlled Drones Analysis

    Now that you know that a phone controlled drone is a drone controlled with your smartphone and which ones are best, in my honest opinion, which one is your favorite out of my top 5 picks?

    In my opinion, there’s a different drone for everyone out there. For beginners who want to advance their skills gradually, I recommend either Altair Aerial drone. They have what it takes to bring your flight skills to the ultimate level while giving you quality that’s extremely difficult to match.

    For those interested in aerial photography, I recommend either the DJI Phantom 3 Standard or the Parrot Bebop 2. They have the ultimate equipment where drone cameras are concerned and give all else a run for your money.

    If you’re looking for a drone that’s easy to transport and doesn’t cost much, then no doubt the Holy Stone HS160 Shadow is what you want to have.

    5 Best Phone Controlled Drones

    There are a ton of awesome phone controlled drones out there, but I wanted to showcase my favorite picks to help you in your decision in choosing which is best for you!