AKK X2/FX2 Ultimate review: Long range 1200mW VTX
Four months ago, AKK announced their new, more powerful, VTX series with up to 1200mW broadcast power. In this review we will have a closer look on the AKK X2 Ultimate and AKK FX2 Ultimate. Unfortunately, US customers are limited to 1000mW power for both versions. AKK has also a much compact VTX dedicated for long range flights called FX2 Ultimate...
DJI Osmo Pocket review: Wingless drone camera
The DJI Osmo Pocket was announced at the end of last year and from the first rumors we wanted to get one and test it here on FirstQuadcopter. The plan was to offer a real user experience based review. I spent the last couple of days with the Osmo Pocket 4K, trying to test it in different situations. From...
HGLRC Sector 5 V3 review: FPV drone with GPS RTH
My HGLRC Sector 5 V3 review covers all my personal experiences from unboxing to first flight. Besides some facelift, the third generation Sector 5 brings upgraded hardware and GPS feature which provides failsafe RTH (Return To Home). Like its predecessors, the Sector 5 V3 also has two power options and multiple FPV setups. While 4S edition comes with HGLRC...
BetaFPV 1506 3000KV motor review: Perfect for CineWhoops
A few months ago, I tested the BetaFPV Pavo 30, a very capable CineWhoop. Unfortunately, I needed to replace the flight controller and two of the motors due to an accident. While the stock motors were 3400KV, I found as a replacement only these BetaFPV 1506 3000KV ones.
Brushless motors in the drone world are marked with a 4- digit...
SIRUI Traveler 5C: Carbon Fiber Field Tripod
I purchased my first tripod together with my first digital camera, about 20 years ago. It was a cheap unbranded model that served me well for many years. A few years later, I purchased a more versatile tripod from a trustworthy Italian brand when I started reviewing drones. It was super OK for inside work, but on the first...
CNHL 4S 2000mAh & 6S 1500mAh: Long-range FPV LIPOs
For long-range FPV flights, you will need much higher capacity batteries than for freestyling and racing. Commonly, 5" LR FPV drones run on 4S or 6S batteries. You must choose the right battery according to your motor's KV ratings. For example, the CNHL 4S 2000mAh is an excellent option for 2000-3000KV, and the CNHL 6S 1500mAh for 1600-1900kV. The...
MEPS SZ2207: Are these FPV motors better than company’s reputation?
The SZ2207 will be the second FPV motor from MEPS reviewed here on FirstQuadcopter. Both motors are intended for 5-6" racing drones. While the SZ2306's stator has 23mm width and 6mm height, the SZ2207's stator is 22 mm/7 mm. The 2207 has a narrower stator width, so you can expect lighter rotational inertia that allows for faster RPM changes,...
RushFPV BLADE F7 AIO: FC for Hassle-free FPV drone building
RushFPV is known for its easy-to-use, solder-free flight controllers. This review will examine their latest BLADE F7 45A AIO flight module with a built-in 45A ESC.
An AIO (All-In-One) flight controller is a type of flight control system used primarily in compact FPV drones. AIOs integrate multiple components necessary for drone flight into a single circuit board. This integration commonly...
JJRC H345 pocket drone review: Pay 1 and get 2
Until recently, remote controlled drones were expensive toys. Now, JJRC H345 offers not one but two drones for the same friendly price. When I say "friendly" I mean less than $30!
JJRC includes in the H345 package, a white drone called JJI and a black one called JJII. Before you get too enthusiastic thinking that you can play in the...
Blade Inductrix FPV Plus review: Best micro FPV drone
Surprisingly, while the Blade Inductrix FPV Plus was one of the most promising micro FPV drone of 2018, I found very few reviews about it. After playing with so many Tiny Whoop clones I was happy to review the upgraded version of the father of all Tiny Whoops, the Blade Inductrix FPV+. I wanted to discover if it's worth the huge price...
ZHIYUN SMOOTH-Q2 review
Like many awesome gadgets, the ZHIYUN SMOOTH-Q2 also started on Kickstarter. While the project goal was set to $100050, they managed to raise more than $300k from about 2300 backers - and the numbers are growing hour by hour. SMOOTH Q2 promises not just to be one of the smallest phone gimbal, but also the most easy to use....