ok so ive been watching youtube videos about drones for like 3 months now and i still cant figure out what to actually buy. every video just recommends whatever is newest or most expensive and i dont need anything fancy i just want to fly around outside and maybe take some decent video. my budget is probably like 200-300 dollars maybe a little more if it makes sense. i dont know if i should get something really cheap first to practice or just go straight to something decent. also i have no idea what half the specs mean like i see people talking about obstacle avoidance and return to home and i dont know how important that stuff is when youre just starting out. anyone been through this recently?

honestly just get a mini 2 SE if you can find it on sale or even a refurbished mini 3. the mini 2 SE is like right in your price range and its not so expensive that youll cry when you inevitably crash it into a tree the first week. and you will crash it, everyone does. the obstacle avoidance thing is nice but honestly at your level you want to learn to fly without relying on it anyway. return to home is worth having though, saved me more than once when i lost orientation and panicked.

i was in the exact same spot last year and ended up going with something way too cheap first, like a 60 dollar thing off amazon, and i regret it because it flew like garbage and the footage was useless so i learned basically nothing about actual drone photography. if youre even a little serious about the video side of it just save up and get something from dji. you dont have to go crazy but the cheap stuff will frustrate you fast.