Syma X5 Explorer Drone Review and Analysis
It’s time for our team to take a look at one of the most talked about mini drones on the market – so for today, we’re writing a Syma X5 Drone review. How easy is it to fly? Is it the best option among other drones of its size and price range? What are its specs? These are some questions we’ll answer in the next paragraphs. Without further ado, here’s our Syma X5 quadcopter review in full:
Syma X5 Explorer Drone Specifications
Some people tout the X5 as the best quadcopter for newbies, but how true is this claim? Let’s find out – starting off with a quick rundown of the important specs of this mini drone:
Dimensions | 31 x 31 x 8 cm |
Weight | 910 g |
Battery | 3.7V 500 mAh LiPo |
Camera | N/A, only available on Syma X5C |
Flight Time | 7 minutes |
Inside the Box
When you receive your Syma X5, you’ll get the mini drone, a screwdriver, propeller blades, a charge box, a remote control, and a user manual. It’s a pretty basic setup, but it’s everything you need to fly any RTF UAV.
There are no spare parts some manufacturers offer, but that’s negligible. This is because the parts of the older Syma models like the X1 can fit in the X5. If you have any of these older quadcopters, you’d have an easier time repairing this beginner drone whenever necessary.
Battery
Almost every drone review about the X5 has mixed reactions with its battery – and for good reason, too.
Let’s start with the not-so-good stuff with its power source. It can only fly for around 6-8 minutes – and that could get shorter depending on how strong the winds blow. Also, the battery takes 100 minutes for a full charge. Compared with other drones, the 500 mAh battery life of the X5 falls flat.
On the flip side, the battery compartment of the X5 is a far cry from the other mini drones on the market today. It’s easy to attach and detach from the main body – no need to tinker with wires, compartments, and all that.
Build
Bulky is a good word to describe the X5. It has a wide, thick structure that makes it a little bothersome to use for a mini drone. It’s still very light, though, so it wouldn’t be a big deal when it comes to flying and navigation.
The build, however, does take its toll on the battery life. As the motor needs to churn out more power to keep the machine midair, you get to fly the X5 at a much shorter time than other UAVs. It may be a small thing, but it’s something that affects the way you use the drone.
But it’s not all bad. There are a couple of excellent points with this quadcopter’s design. Firstly, this machine features some superb landing skids that prevent it from incurring damage while heading towards solid ground. It has a pair of skids at the center, plus it has some landing gear on each propeller’s sides as well. The design is simply superb.
It also has protective arms in the area of each propeller. This makes the X5 a little sturdier against minor crashes, not to mention it lessens the repair work you have to do each time there’s an accident.
Camera
By default, the X5 does not have a camera. This beginner drone has a camera-equipped version in the form of the Syma X5C, though.
But even if you buy this iteration of Syma’s quadcopter, note that the camera is still unimpressive. For an entry-level drone, it’s enough to learn basic FPV flying. You’d need to upgrade to a beefier model if you want to capture aerial photographs and videos, though.
Navigation
On to the most important question: how easy is it to fly the X5?
The answer is very easy. That’s all thanks to its 6-Axis Gyro direction stabilizer. This feature keeps the aircraft balanced while in the air. It’s an excellent flight control system other manufacturers cannot easily trump, especially with its 3D lock, scheduled flight, and other cutting-edge features.
The X5’s controller is also intuitive. Regardless of your expertise in flying a multicopter, you won’t have a hard time learning the basics and other nifty features of Syma’s best entry-level drone. You have to be careful with the distance, though, as the range is rather mediocre. And yes, this is the case despite the Spread Spectrum Technology the manufacturer advertises.
The Verdict
The X5 has a sure shot at being the best entry-level drone available on the market today, especially for beginners. Only a few quadcopters – like the Ladybird V2 and Hubsan’s impressive X4 H107D, which we have already reviewed – can truly stand up against Syma’s toy. If you want to start flying without sending your savings flying, this would be your ideal starting point.
That’s it for our Syma X5 quadcopter review. Stay tuned for our next updates. Feel free to contact us for any comments, questions, or suggestions.
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