Redpawz R010 review: Speedy Whoop

A couple of days ago, I received to test and review the Redpawz R010, a mini quadcopter with ducted propellers. Although the basic design was first introduced by Blade Inductrix, Tiny Whoop was the one who made the concept famous.

The design not only offers improved efficiency of the propellers but also makes the aircraft very safe for children. The ducted propellers can’t produce major injuries or damages if they bump into something.

I know that featuring a basic flight controller (without Acro mode) and closed radio protocol, the Redpawz R010 can’t be a real competitor for the TW, but honestly, for only $15.99, we can not expect that.

Redpawz R010 drone highlights

• Tiny Whoop-alike ducted propellers;
• High speed 49000 RPM 716 brushed motors;
• 6-axis gyro stabilization;
• Headless flight mode;
• Ultra-fast 3D Flips and Rolls;
• High and Low-speed rates;
• Up to 6 minutes of flight time;
• Two color options (red and blue).

Redpawz R010 quadcopter review

Disclosure: I received this Redpawz R010 as part of a product review collaboration with GeekBuying. Although the product was offered for free, all the words in this review remain my own, and I was in no way influenced by them.

Inside the box I found, besides the Redpawz R010 Mini quad and its transmitter, a complete set of spare propellers (2 x CW and 2 x CCW, all the same color), a USB battery charger, and user manual (EN, FR, DE, and CH). BTW, I received a red one, but it is also available in a blue version.

My first impression was that it smells like shit… After a few minutes, the strong plastic smell disappeared.

The ducted fan design of the R010 nicely copies the Tiny Whoop. The black uni-body propeller guard serves as an airframe. The 7 mm motors and the receiver board (K2KK2RX-1) are mounted on the propeller guard. A black piano finish canopy protects the mainboard.

Compared to the JJRC H36 and Eachine E010, the Redpawz R010 has a bit better build quality and hopefully also better impact resistance.

Removing the canopy, I found on the flight controller 4 soldering tabs (V+, GND, SWCLK, SWDIO). So, is there a chance that we can fine-tune some flight parameters, or they have only debugging purposes?!

Powered by a 30C, 260 mAh battery, the advertised flight time is about 6 minutes. The battery is swappable, which is nice because you can have a charged spare one ready for a more fun time.

Usually, even the smallest quads have at least 4 orientation LED lights, so I was surprised that this R010 Mini features only two red LEDs in the front and a blue one in the rear.

Redpawz R010 review: Remote controller

The black/red transmitter with a size of only 10 x 6 cm may be small in my hands,  but all the controls can be easily accessed even by adults.

Besides the usual control sticks and power buttons, there are only 3 trim switches. No shoulder buttons.

Control sticks also act like buttons. By pressing the left one (throttle in mode 2) you can engage the “Return to home” feature. 3D flip mode can be activated by pressing the right control stick.

Toggling between speed rates (40% and 100%) can be done using the left trim switch.

According to the specs, the RC has a range of about 30 meters, of course, only in optimal conditions (open field without much radio interference).

Redpawz R010 test: Flight performance

WOW, this little bird is damn fast and agile. Even without altitude hold it is very stable and easy to control. Two speed rates are available – “High” and “Low”- and rates change accordingly. Both first-time and intermediate pilots will love to play with it.

3D flips are performed quickly and accurately without losing too much altitude.

After about 5 minutes of flight, when the battery was nearly empty, the LEDs started to flash, notifying me that it was time to land and refuel.

After a few crashes, the propellers started to pop off. I would recommend gluing them to the motor shaft.

If it starts to fly abnormally, you can try to perform aircraft calibration by moving both sticks to the lowest-right position and then to the lowest-left position.

Pricing and availability

If you are a newbie and decide to start your journey into the world of drones with this affordable mini quad, you should know that it can be found here with free shipping for $15.99. You can also purchase it in a bundle with 1 spare battery for $18.99.