Eachine

There’s something undeniably magical about piloting, a small, whirring machine through the air. A sense of total freedom - kids and adults alike love the feeling. If you’re keen to introduce that wonder (and some genuinely useful skills), the world of beginner RC drones is a brilliant place to start. For families, hobbyists, and parents looking for a safe, engaging way to inspire curiosity and exploration, Eachine fits right in.

Seriously - the word ‘drone’ gets tossed about for everything from a $20 toy to a $2,000 professional flying camera. But the reality for most families, and kids especially, is a flying toy needs to be manageable, affordable, and easy to control. Eachine’s entry-level and educational models are exactly that. The brand’s ethos is very much about making drones simple and fun right from takeoff. And although Eachine’s catalogue covers some high-end FPV (first-person view) racing and advanced builds, their bread and butter is ultra-accessible flying fun.

Take the Eachine Mini RC Drone 4Ch 6 Axis 2.4Ghz, for example. At a glance, it’s pretty adorable - a little drone with a colourful, soft frame that looks like it’s ready for racing. But this isn’t just a cutesy gadget with propellers. At its core is a micro-sized quadcopter flight system that includes full-tilt three-dimensional flight - not just up and down or left and right, but with full barrel rolls and flips. For kids eager to show off in the back yard, or parents who want to secretly try a few tricks after dark, the fun factor is absolutely there.

Now, a lot of early experiences with drones can be marred by a delicate frame or a complex controller set-up. They get stuck, break easily, or just aren’t fun to figure out. What makes the Eachine Mini RC Drone so appealing is that it’s designed for those inevitable bumps (and yes, full crashes). The foam frame body is super resilient - actually rather satisfying to touch, even when you’re just holding it indoors waiting for the weather to clear up. It bounces off walls and concrete floors with little more than a scuff. If it does land upside-down and a prop does snap, the box includes extras so you’re never stuck on the sidelines waiting for replacement parts.

And let’s get real here - buttons can be intimidating. This one uses a standard 2.4GHz controller, which means it won’t interfere with WiFi or baby monitors at home (always a positive). The remote is small enough for little hands, but perfectly comfortable for adults, too. And it doesn’t make piloting a nightmare for beginners. There’s an auto-calibration function, which is sort of like ‘autopilot’ on those first few flights - even if you don’t have any idea what you’re doing, the drone will stay fairly steady mid-air while everyone has time to practice moving it around safely.

Drone-flying isn’t just about honing hand-eye coordination or developing resilience (although both are huge benefits for kids and adults). It’s also about learning the basics of aerodynamics, directional commands, three-dimensional motion, and fundamental STEM skills. It’s no secret that drone play can boost all sorts of imaginative and logical thinking, while doubling as an introduction to aviation and robotics. In so many ways, RC toy flying is sort of like getting all the benefits of STEM development with none of the eye-glazing maths or lectures. The thrill of flight makes it all worthwhile - plus, it’s fun to chase the cat around without doing any harm.

Compact models like Eachine’s Mini RC Drone are brilliant for families who want to take flying toys out and about with them. Long weekends at the park or grandpa’s house feel a lot more interactive with friendly races and games of dare. And although everyone likes to think they’re the best pilot in the house, it really is anyone’s game - unless you’re up against the family dog who’s intent on catching the drone during its lowest dip.

Pre-teens and teens are especially drawn to things that go really fast, and the Eachine entry-level drones deliver on that front - the Mini RC Drone has a top speed of 12km/h, which is pretty impressive for something that can fit in a jacket pocket. It’s super quick to recharge (via USB) and gets about six minutes of continuous flight time per charge - easily enough for several laps around a large lounge room or the better part of a tennis court outdoors.

The last thing to mention about this particular kind of drone is that it’s sort of a unicorn in the world of drones in Australia - something that can fly outdoors, but is really at its best indoors. The Eachine Mini RC Drone is highly resistant to wind outside, and its protective foam body means there’s no way it can damage windows or furniture inside. That means full playtime whether it’s absolutely pouring it down outside or the power’s cut off at home. Fun doesn’t need to stop with bad weather when there’s a responsive drone ready to go at home.

Parents looking for a clever way to keep their children (and themselves) entertained could do worse than investing in an Eachine flying drone like the Mini RC Drone - they are super fun for everyone from children around eight years old all the way up to adults wanting to try out a flying hobby.