ok so ive been watching youtube videos about drones for like 3 months now and i feel like i know less than when i started because everyone recommends something different. my budget is somewhere around 300 maybe a little more if it makes sense. i dont really know if i want to do photography or just fly around for fun, probably both? i keep seeing the DJI mini series everywhere but then people say to start cheaper so you dont cry when you crash it which ok fair point. i also saw something about the holy stone stuff but idk if thats like a toy or an actual drone. anyway i just want someone to tell me what to actually buy and not spend 2 hours watching a sponsored video to find out

honestly the DJI mini 2 SE is probably the move for your budget, you can find it around 250-300 and it flies really well for a first drone. yes you will be sad if you crash it but you'd be more sad buying some cheap thing that fights you the whole time and never actually teaches you anything useful. the stabilization on it is really good and it'll grow with you. the holy stone stuff is fine for flying in your backyard for a week before you get bored of it, but if you want to actually go places and get decent footage its not really in the same category

one thing tho ? check if you need to register with the FAA depending on where you are, the mini 2 SE is under 250g so it has some advantages there in the US at least

i was in the exact same spot last year lol, ended up getting a holy stone hs720 first and i kind of regret it. not because it was terrible but just like... i outgrew it really fast and then bought a mini 3 anyway so i basically paid double. if i had to do it again id just go straight for the mini 2 SE or wait a little longer and save for the mini 3. the camera difference is noticable