Flying racing drones is not an easy task, but we all have to start somewhere. It’s highly recommended to fly beginner racing drones before investing in something more powerful.
What are the best beginner drones for racing?
If you’re just starting to fly FPV drones and want to race, the EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle is a fantastic drone kit that’s damage-resistant and perfect for learning to race. Alternatively, you can invest in GEPRC Mark 5 HD or iFlight v2 5-inch as bigger drones for racing.
In this guide, I’ll tell you what you need to know about racing drones, recommend a few to start with, and provide tips to follow for the best experience when learning.
To help, we’ve identified and reviewed the best drone courses for beginners and professionals.
1. EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle 2.5 Inch
EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle 2.5 inch FPV Drone for Beginners Ready to Fly RTF Kit 200mw 2s Carbon Fiber Frame 7000KV
I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t this a freestyle drone?
Yes, it’s a strong carbon fiber drone designed for freestyling, but the EMAX Tinyhawk 2 is also fantastic for learning to race.
The drone has smooth controls, quick acceleration, and can take sharp turns. The motors are pretty powerful for such a small drone, giving you the control you need when racing.
And on top of that, if this is your first FPV drone, the EMAX Tinyhawk 2 comes with a complete kit and is bind-and-fly. This is the perfect choice as the first drone you learn racing with.
| Specs | EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle |
|---|---|
| Size & Weight | 2.5-inch quad, 79 g |
| Battery Type | 2S (2x1s 450mAh batteries) |
| VTX | Analog with Runcam Nano 2 |
| Radio Protocol | EMAX SPI Receiver compatible with FrSky D8 mode |
| Motors | 7500kv |
| Any other notes/specs | – Comes in a kit with EMAX Goggles and Remote Controller – The drone receiver is compatible with any FrSky D8 Controllers – The drone runs with 2s batteries, but the advantage of having 2x1s is that you won’t need a special Lipo charger |
Why do we like the EMAX Tinyhawk 2 as a beginner racing drone?
- It’s fast and powerful enough to have fantastic controls
- It’s lightweight
- This drone is also very cheap and can be easily acquired as part of a full kit, perfect for first-time pilots
- The analog system has very low latency and response time
Why EMAX Tinyhawk 2 may not be suitable for you
- It does not compare to bigger and more powerful racing drones
- You are pretty limited in what you get and may find it challenging to change parts
- The remote controller may not be the smoothest, but any D8-compatible RC should also work fine
- As a pilot, you will have a step down to get into analog images, which will be far inferior in image quality to the digital transmission system of standard GPS drones
The Tinyhawk 2 Freestyle is also a good quad to start flying first-time FPV.
2. GEPRC MARK5 HD Caddx AIR UNIT
MARK5 is carefully assembled and assembled by GEPRC team, with excellent performance.
With this quad, we’re getting into more professional territory, but it’s also a strong FPV drone for a beginner.
Please remember that in this case, the quad will use 6s batteries, and you will have to acquire the batteries, a Lipo charger, a compatible remote controller, and goggles separately if you don’t have any.
We will help you along the way with recommendations.
| Specs | GEPRC MARK5 HD Caddx |
|---|---|
| Size & Weight | 405 g without batteries |
| Battery Type | 6S version with recommended LiPo 6S 1050mAh-1550mAh |
| VTX | CADDX Air Unit (digital transmission) |
| Radio Protocol | TBS Nano RX |
| Motors | SPEEDX2 2107.5-1960KV |
| Any other notes/specs | – Good shock-absorbing structure – The VTX is compatible with DJI FPV Goggles V2 – The RX is compatible with crossfire modules or controllers – Note: Please always research how to charge Lipo batteries and charge them in a metal can or fireproof bag because the slightest charging mistake can set the Lipo battery on fire, and never leave the charging batteries unattended! |
Furthermore, we have to recommend the following compatible parts to fly this drone:
- DJI FPV Goggles V2
DJI FPV Goggles V2 for Drone Racing Immersive Experience.
- TBS Tango 2 Pro RC
- CNHL Black Series 1300mAh 6S Lipo Battery
- Lipo Charger
What we like about GEPRC MARK5
- It’s a professional FPV drone made by a very well-known FPV company
- It’s an excellent drone to freestyle and race with
- It comes with a digital transmission system
- Very powerful motors and high thrust
- The frame is durable and should withstand impacts
- It’s a top-tier FPV drone
- It can carry a GoPro Naked (although we don’t recommend it for racing, only for freestyling)
What we don’t like about GEPRC MARK5
- We don’t recommend it for first-time FPV pilots and as a first drone because you have to charge custom Lipo batteries, which is dangerous if not done correctly
- You will have to invest in other parts such as the goggles, remote controller, charger, batteries, and so on
- It’s a large, powerful drone, but you can quickly lose control
If you’re a beginner with some basic knowledge of FPV racing, the GEPRC MARK5 is an awesome next-generation drone you can acquire to practice racing.
This drone is fantastic for freestyling and racing and should be very durable.
3. iFlight V2 HD 5inch
The iFlight V2 is yet another excellent drone you can learn to race with, similar to the above drone, the GEPRC Mark 5.
The iFlight V2 also has a Caddx HD system and a TBS Crossfire Nano module, making it compatible with the above setup.
The drone is already pre-tuned and ready to fly once it’s bound to the goggles and remote controller.
| Specs | iFlight V2 HD |
|---|---|
| Size & Weight | 400 g without batteries, 5-inch quad |
| Battery Type | 4s batteries |
| VTX | Caddx Nebula Pro Digital HD System |
| Radio Protocol | TBS Crossfire Nano |
| Motors | XING-E 2207 motors |
| Any other notes/specs | – This drone setup is compatible with the GEPRC Mark 5 parts mentioned above (goggles & remote controllers), but please do not use 6S batteries with this drone – The flight controller supports 2-6s batteries, but the motors are designed to work with 4s batteries |
Zeee Premium Series 4S Lipo Battery
What we like about iFlight V2 HD 5inch
- It’s a robust quad to fly freestyle and race with
- It comes pre-tuned and is bind-and-fly
- Good digital system and has the Crossfire Nano RX module
- Very powerful motors
- Has a beeper (if you lose the drone, this will help you find it)
- It’s lightweight for a 5-inch quad
- Good performance and smooth flights
What we don’t like about iFlight V2 HD 5inch
- It may be challenging to fly for beginners without prior experience with FPV quads
- You may have to set up specific rates for racing
- It will require taking risks and charging custom 4s batteries
- On top of the drone, you will have to invest in goggles, a remote controller, a Lipo charger, 4s batteries, and other parts and propellers (if you don’t have any)
Prebuilt with the SucceX-E F4 flight controller and the SucceX-E 45 Amps ESC, and the Caddx Vista digital system, the iFlight V2 HD is a good drone to learn FPV and start racing.
Although it may require binding with other parts that you must acquire (as it does not come as part of a kit), this drone is absolutely fantastic with smooth controls, a robust frame, and a few perks, such as a beeper, telemetry, LED strips, 8Mb black box, and so on.
iFlight is well known for creating quality quads for freestyling and racing and is one of the most known and appreciated companies in the FPV world.
4. EMAX Tinyhawk II
Camera Racing Drone with Goggles and Controller for Kids and Racing Beginners.
Do you want to have fun and learn racing in the truest sense with little investment and in the safest way possible outside of simulators?
The EMAX Tinyhawk II is a special micro-racing drone in the form of a Cinewhoop (the propellers are protected) made for learning racing and flying in tight spaces.
If you have a larger house, you have the perfect drone to make a track and race indoors.
| Specs | EMAX Tinyhawk II |
|---|---|
| Size & Weight | 31.2 g without battery and 75 mm wheelbase |
| Battery Type | 1s 450 mAh |
| VTX | Analog with Runcam Nano 2 |
| Radio Protocol | EMAX SPI Receiver working on FrSky D8 protocol |
| Motors | 16000kv |
| Any other notes/specs | – Polypropylene frame – VTX Power up to 200mw – LED, which increases in brightness depending on the throttle input of each motor – Unique aerodynamics |
What we like about EMAX Tinyhawk II
- Inexpensive quad made for racing
- Durable
- Very easy to learn and use, a decent beginner-friendly FPV drone for racing
- Perfect for indoor and outdoor race training
- It comes in a complete kit and is ready to fly
- It works with 1s batteries, so you don’t have to invest in a specific Lipo charger
- It’s fun to fly
- Adjustable camera mount
- Low latency
What we don’t like about EMAX Tinyhawk II
- Analog video on lower quality
- The remote controller is not very high quality
- It’s an FPV drone for learning to race, but not suitable for getting into competitions
The EMAX Tinyhawk II is one of the best cheap and beginner-friendly racing drones you can get, a fantastic choice if you want to learn racing.
This drone is extremely small and suitable for flying indoors and outdoors. Polypropylene is a strong material on such a small scale and will resist all sorts of impacts, which will happen while learning to race.
Moreover, this drone is a micro Cinewhoop with the motors and propellers protected, making it suitable to fly near people, objects, and, as mentioned before, indoors.
You can purchase this drone as a kit and receive goggles, a remote controller, two batteries, a charger, and spare props.
We recommend acquiring additional 1s 450 mAh batteries if you want to train seamlessly with this drone.
Original EMAX 450mAh 1S LIHV lipo battery for EMAX Tinyhawk Brushless Micro Indoor Racing Drone and the other Micro FPV Racing Drone.
How to start racing drones
- You can only race with FPV drones, and you must invest in a complete kit including goggles, remote controller, drone, batteries, charger, spare parts, and many propellers.
- Racing drones are dissimilar to standard GPS and FPV drones and may require you to set different rates in BetaFlight or similar software.
- The batteries beyond 1s can be charged only with specific Lipo chargers.
- You must choose a resistant drone because you could often crash while learning to race.
- It’s best to start with simulators such as Liftoff or Drone Racing League before racing outdoors with your quad, gaining as much experience as you can in these simulators.
- Analog transmission is most recommended in drone racing due to low latency and cost, but nowadays, the digital VTX evolved quite a bit to offer a reliable connection to the goggles. However, you still have to focus on obtaining the shortest response time.
- These drones are not long-range, so you should not attempt to fly far, as the connection may break.
- Although 5″ quads are fine for racing, we recommend starting with smaller quads that can sustain more crashes and fly at lower speeds.
- You don’t have to build your quad from scratch when you want to start racing. But eventually, it is best to learn how to repair your FPV racing drone and change parts.
I want to share a video with some pro tips on FPV racing. I hope it helps!
Choosing a beginner drone for racing and a few tips
- Most freestyle drones are acceptable to use for racing and to improve, up to the point where you will be racing in a competition where you need to build your own unique racing quad. Just make sure your FPV drone is robust and can withstand impacts.
- When you choose an FPV drone to learn racing with, consider grabbing a lightweight battery for the drone, and don’t mount any GoPro or camera on top of the drone, as you will need it to be as lightweight as possible.
- Please remember that our recommendation list contains beginner FPV drones suitable for learning racing and NOT special racing drones.
- If you’re a beginner and already have an FPV drone (that’s durable), consider using that for light racing.
- DJI FPV and DJI Avata are NOT suitable for racing at all. They can perform well but are not as crash-resistant as some racing quads, especially the DJI FPV, which is challenging to repair.
Note: We can’t stress this enough, but please acknowledge the danger of charging custom Lipo batteries, especially with a Lipo charger. They can easily start a catastrophic fire if the charge is not set correctly – you must manually set the charging parameters. I recommend watching the following video to learn how to safely charge Lipo batteries.