- 6 Axis Gyro with posture control
- 4 Channel Function
- Video Camera
- Fight time of up to 9 minutes (5-7 is average)
- Battery charging time of 120 minutes
- Remote Distance of up to 30m
Fresh off of testing the Parrot AR 2 Drone and the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter, I wasn’t expecting much from the mid-priced UDI U818A AC Quadcopter. However, after unboxing it and charging the batteries (mine only came partially charged), I was surprised at how well it performed both indoors and outdoors.
The UDI U818A AC Quadcopter is the perfect bridge between toy drones and the far more expensive professional drones. Its sleek design, and large frame ensures that it can function outdoors where most toy drones would be simply blown away and it will look good while doing it. The simple fact that it looks so much better than any other toy drone is in itself a selling feature.
Unlike many other toy drones available, it does come with a system that allows it to stabilize in midair – something that is absolutely essential if you are flying in anything but the most calm conditions. It comes with two modes – one for beginner and one for experienced pilots. You can easily tell which mode it is in through the LCD screen on the controller.
Unfortunately the camera on the UDI U818A AC Quadcopter does not even meet the minimum standards of what a camera should be able to do today. The camera is really only for the most basic of uses, and if you are looking for a drone specifically for the camera, you should consider at the bare minimum a Parrot AR 2 Drone. With that being said, the camera does record video, and it is easily transferable from your phone to other media.
Buy the UDI U818A Quadcopter with Camera at Amazon.com
Personal Experience
After I had unboxed the UDI U818A Quadcopter, and charged up the batteries, it was time to test it out. As usual, I started in the house bumping it off walls, and sending my poor dog fleeing. Between all of the drones and robots I’m testing out, I half expect to see him leaving with a suitcase someday.
After a few minor mishaps, I can say that this is a tough quadcopter. I dinged it off the walls more than once and did a hard landing while I got used to the controls. In some respects, it does seem to be even tougher than some of the high end drones that I’ve tested in that past.
After I was sure that I had completely familiarized myself with the controls, it was time to take it outside. I went to the green space behind my house where I often fly the other drones I’ve acquired, and started to put it through the paces. I tested its forward motions, right motions, hovering and even a few tricks. I will say that it controls well, though hovering does take a bit of getting used to.
I even worked up the courage to try a flip, which I’m quite proud to say that I pulled off damaging the drone or maiming myself. You really do have to be careful about the range, and a few times I really pushed the limit on the controller range. You have to keep the UDI U818A Quadcopter within sight, and also make sure that you don’t send it too high in the air.
Before I knew it, 5 minutes had elapsed, and it was time to bring back in safely. You really don’t want to push this drone’s battery to the limit, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution with this drone. In a few flights after the first one, I was able to push it to 8 minutes without any problems, though I’ve never tried going all the way to the 9 minutes that the manufacturer claims it can fly.
Final Word
For anyone looking for a mid-range drone, this is your best option. It comes with a camera and is a far better flyer than anything comparable in its price range. I would definitely recommend this drone as a buy for the casual hobbyist or new person to drone flying.
Click here to read more reviews at Amazon.com. For our Canadian readers, you can find the UDI U818A at Amazon.ca.
Leave a Reply