Autel Robotics - EVO 4K Drone with Controller - Orange

==== Summary ==== The Autel Evo is an impressive drone that takes fantastic videos & pictures. It's very easy to fly with its excellent controller & safety features, flight is stable & smooth, and comes with many cool flight modes. The fit-and-finish is excellent ensuring long-term durability. Autel has created a very compelling & quality drone and app ecosystem. I love it~! *Pros: -Good-looking design with nice colors. -Quick & responsive flyer. -Easy to control. -Remote is well-designed & has a 330-nit 3.3" OLED screen. -Can fly without a smartphone & still have a live video feed. -UHD 4K video at 60FPS looks stunning. -3-axis stabilized gimbal = stable videos and pictures. -Obstacle avoidance (front, rear, & below). -Comes with a nice carrying case. -"Intelligent Flight" modes are cool, such as Dynamic Track and Orbit. -No "No-Fly Zone" restrictions & forced firmware updates. -Charger charges the drone & the controller at the same time. -No privacy & security scandals like Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) drones. *Cons: -The drone is a bit sensitive to magnetic interference. -No automatic obstacle avoidance function when flying in reverse (just a warning). -Too easy to accidentally press the buttons on the back of the controller. ==== Design & Function ==== The Autel Evo drone is my first drone experience & I love it. Whether it's folded up into its compact travel form or stretched out for flying, I think it looks really cool with its striking color combo of glossy red orange with matte black color. Build-quality & build-material of the Evo are top-notch as well. The drone has been constructed with tight tolerances & all the seams and lines are clean and even. In other words, it has excellent fit-and-finish in a durable package. It's kind of embarrassing to admit but my first two flights ended in a crash - first inside the house & once outside during nighttime (not recommended by Autel). The Evo survived both crashes with no damages except some cosmetic scruff marks and a bruise to my pride. :P Handling the Evo is a simple & frustration-free affair. The folding front & rear arms actuate smoothly and the propellers fold and tuck away neatly. Gripping & carrying around the Evo one-handed is effortless thanks to its light weight and folded-up portability. The LED lights on the legs provide a quick visual status & orientation of the Evo. As for buttons & ports, there is a microUSB port (for file transfer) & a controller pairing button hidden underneath a plastic flap right below the two rear IR sensors. On the battery itself, you have a Power On button as well as a concave button you depress to slide off the battery from the Evo. Finally, there is a microSD slot on the right side of the Evo underneath a pull-back tab. Besides the drone and the controller, Autel also includes a carrying case with an adjustable shoulder strap that has ample room for the drone, the controller, extra batteries, and cables. Although the Evo is my first drone, I can still tell that it is a highly-crafted machine that has been meticulously designed with good durability in mind. It's stylish, very easy to handle and fly, and all the parts work harmoniously. 10 out of 10. ==== Controlling the Evo ==== The Evo can be flown in two ways - with just the remote controller & the embedded 3.3" live video screen or with the controller paired with a smartphone via a cable. The controller is quite a remarkable. The handles fold in and out smoothly from the body and is comfortable to hold. The smartphone holder can easily accommodate larger smartphones such as my Samsung Galaxy S9+ housed inside a case with its grippy rubber and secure clamping force. My S9+ was never once in danger of accidentally falling or popping out. There are many buttons on the controller that make it easy to operate the Evo. The four main ones are the "Take Off/Land" button, "Power On/Off" button, "Pause aircraft" button, and the "Hold to Start Go Home" button. On the shoulders are the "Record video," "Take photo," and "Screen navigation (DISP)" buttons as well as two Dial Switches - one switch controls the gimbal pitch/angle & the other is used to scroll through Settings & to select your choices by pressing down on the switch. On the back of the controller are the "A" and "B" buttons that are currently used to set Waypoints inside the Autel Explorer app. Per Autel, they will be customizable in future firmware updates. Due to their location, I found myself pressing them accidentally numerous times. I'm getting better at avoiding them with each flight session but they're still kind of annoying nonetheless. On the left and right of the screen are the two controller joysticks that you use to move/fly the drone. They work great and I had no issues with them. On the top are the two antennas that neatly fold away when not in use. Then in the middle of the controller is that nice 3.3" OLED screen. It gets as bright as 330 nits and that's where you will be viewing the Evo's "Flight Information Panel" data or a live 720P HD video feed, all without a smartphone attached. Sweet~!! The Flight Information Panel offers lots of condensed data in a straight-forward and easy-to-understand manner. It's a LOT of data but I never felt overwhelmed. By flying the Evo with just the controller, you won't be able to use the Evo's Intelligent Flight Modes (Dynamic Track, Viewpoint, Orbit, Waypoint, VR). Plus you won't have access to the more advanced drone settings. Pair up the Evo to a smartphone and launch the Autel app, however, then you'll have full access to ALL the flight modes & the advanced settings. In addition, your smartphone's display will now act as your live visual feed (1080P resolution). My phone gets much brighter than the controller screen so it was my preferred way of viewing the live feed. With that said, I think it's wonderful that Autel provides the user with such flexibility to allow flight without a smartphone and still offering a live video feed. It's a very thoughtful & brilliant design by Autel. ==== How Does It Fly? ==== The Evo is one smooth operator and it flies great~! It performs all flight maneuvers very well - smooth take-off, graceful landing, quickly making turns and orbits, speeding forward, quick reverse, etc. With the built-in safety measures augmented by sensors and obstacle avoidance, the Evo is a great drone for novices and first-time fliers such as myself. More experienced users will have a blast thanks to modes like the "Ludicrous" mode which changes the top speed of the Evo to 45 MPH. 10 out of 10. ==== Video & Photo Quality ==== I was BLOWN AWAY by the quality of the UHD 4K 60FPS videos the Evo took. I've never before seen such high-quality, well-stabilized, and splendid video from any of my tech gadgets & toys. Auto-exposure & white balance are handled very well & 4K 60FPS is simply awesome. Here are two short videos I took & uploaded to YouTube - one in a residential neighborhood with mild wind & one at the beach during windy conditions: https://youtu.be/D8uh64AebFU https://youtu.be/MsI4W0Banuc When it comes to photo quality, the Evo was pretty good as well. The 12MP 94-degree camera in Auto Mode takes good consistent pictures with good dynamic range, exposure, and contrast. For more control, Autel offers many customizable settings within Settings. Low-light scenarios introduce some granniness and noise in the pictures but that's to be expected. Still, photos came out decent and useful. Overall, I'm very satisfied and happy with both the video & photo capabilities of the Evo. 10 out of 10~!! ==== Autel Explorer App & Intelligent Flight Modes ==== The Autel Explorer app is well-designed, comprehensive, and simple to use. Besides granting the user access to ALL the drone settings & the special Flight Modes, firmware updates are handled here as well. Inside Settings, there are 8 main entries on the left column & inside the "Intelligent Flight" menu, there are 6 modes to choose from - Camera (default startup mode), Dynamic Track (Evo follows a subject), Viewpoint (Evo flies toward a subject), Orbit (Evo flies in a circular pattern around a subject), Waypoint (Evo flies a predefined flight path), and VR (Virtual Reality goggles). I had lots of fun playing around with all the special flight modes (except for VR) & they all worked very well as intended. My favorite one is Dynamic Track, which I used often to chase around my hyper toddler. ==== Wish List ==== I'm very happy with the Evo but I wish it could do a little bit more. The highest on my list is for the automatic obstacle avoidance system to work while the Evo is flying in reverse. Please, Autel, include this feature in an upcoming firmware update~! Second, I wish it was less sensitive to magnetic interference. At times, the Evo's compass had to be recalibrated because I put the Evo down on some concrete (such as my driveway) & the metal inside caused a calibration error. Third, I wish the Waypoint Flight Mode will let me select flight points on the map first then having the Evo fly toward them instead of me having to fly the Evo to each Waypoint first. ==== Conclusion ==== Flying around in the skies while recording videos and taking pictures with the Autel Evo has been a highly fun and joyful experience, filling me up with child-like wonder and delight. I now have an additional tool to capture wonderful memories of my family and pets. I highly recommend the Evo to everyone for its user-friendly design & flight control, excellent build quality, and all the fun flight modes & safety features that work harmoniously together. Autel has engineered a high-quality drone & app ecosystem and I look forward to their future endeavors and products.

As an FAA part 107 licensed pilot and an owner of several drones, I was very interested to get my hands on the AUTEL EVO. Competition for “the best selling drone company” is very needed in my opinion. With its folding capability and compact shape, I would say that this drone has indeed been released for direct competition. Again, this is good for everyone. These companies will now strive to outdo each-other and therefore the technology will undoubtedly become better, faster. Not to mention it is better for consumer prices. It’s a win, win! After dinking around with this drone for a little while now, I can say that I would easily recommend the EVO to anyone looking for a portable drone that shoots 4K. Sometimes lugging around a bigger drone with a case isn't always feasible, but tossing this in your camera bag or using the bag that they give you with the drone, makes it an easy decision to keep this with you pretty much at all times. Obviously image quality is a very big deal when considering any camera gear. The sensor in this unit is no slouch and captures rich, detailed images in good light. I do highly recommend purchasing a set of ND filters before trying to capture any daytime footage. When shooting at the correct frame rate, you'll definitely need them in any bright condition. That said, the reason I docked one star is that since it is a smaller sensor (Sony 12MP CMOS ½.3”), the low light capability will suffer. It isn’t horrible, but it could be better. While this is true among digital cameras of all kinds, it defeats the purpose of me actually using it in low light (dusk / dawn) conditions. So again, if you are shooting with ND filters at the correct frame rate, during lit daytime conditions, you will be satisfied with this unit. Just try to keep your ISO at 100 as much as possible. The controller and EVO app are really done well. The main controller screen is extremely sharp. The text is so sharp that it's like looking at a retina display. It even works well in bright sunlight. I am using a Note 8 with Android and the app works flawlessly paired with the remote screen. Camera settings are extremely easy to change on the fly. A big bonus over other manufacturers. There is an easy to navigate main bar at the bottom of the app screen that lets you control all camera settings easily with swipes left and right. Another very cool feature of the app software is that it lets you set up a time-lapse to take photos automatically at set intervals as you are shooting your video. Awesome feature! Another really cool feature is the user selectable live video feed. This means you can switch the live video feed between either your device or the remote itself. Very cool if you do not have a device with you, or say your battery is depleted on your phone. The in-flight handling of this unit is really, really nice. So far, I have experienced very smooth flight and tracking of subjects. The unit is also very quiet compared to some of my other drones which is great news. As a bonus, if you are a newb, you can set this up in beginner mode which will help you learn how to fly properly before you turn it off and go into normal mode. Beginner mode keeps the drone at a lower altitude and a little closer to your position. That paired with the obstacle avoidance makes this a very good choice for said beginners. Battery life is also excellent. I have been getting about 25 to 30 minutes per flight which is great. When you are up in the air flying 25 to 30 minutes feels like an eternity. I would also recommend buying one or two extra batteries so you can get all of the footage needed no matter where you are and without having to recharge in the field. Another tip that I can give is to plan your flight when you arrive at your destination to save battery time and drain. If you know what you want to capture before you take off (instead of flying around aimlessly), your footage will be much better when you get back to your editing station. Keep in mind that if you shoot everything in 4K resolution, you will need a very good video editing computer to edit your footage smoothly. If you do not own a high-end computer system, I would recommend that you create proxies of your files before editing. Actually, I would recommend creating proxies even if you do have a high-end system. It makes editing your video and scrubbing through clips like butter. All in all, this is a solid effort from Autel Robotics. With its portability and excellent remote / app, not to mention friendly price point, you really can’t go wrong with this drone. Go get yours now! Lastly, being an FAA part 107 licensed pilot, it is my duty to highly recommend that everyone interested in becoming a pilot (not just hobbyists) to take the course, obtain the license, and learn how to fly safely. This will save you possible disaster circumstances if you are flying in the wrong area (airspace) which I am sure a lot of people do because they simply do not know any better. There are several courses online that you can take to help you study for and pass the test. If you decide to go this route, once you complete the course and receive your license, you will understand exactly what I mean by all of this. Airspace is a tricky thing and warrants you having extensive knowledge on how to navigate it legally, properly, and safely. Studying for the Part 107 is not only fun but very interesting and will teach you everything you need to know to put yourself in the right situation every time. Do yourself the favor. Fly safe, fly smart, and have fun!

The Autel EVO drone is an advancement in Autel's drone portfolio. The company's R&D have moved on from the X-Star and developed this great little gem. The package includes the EVO drone, remote control w/3.5" OLED screen, AC adapter/charging cables, 2 short control-to-device USB cables, quick guide, safety instructions, packing list, 2 spare sets of propellers (front and rear), re-attachable gimbal/camera cover, and a 32GB microSD card (already in the drone slot). DISCLAIMERS: 1) This is my first drone; however not my first remote controlled craft. I have had numerous RC cars in the past. 2) I ONLY used the configuration with the control and a Samsung Note 9 attached. I did NOT use the drone with the controller by itself. 3) I have flown the drone on 4 flights, all at 400' or lower. The 4th flight I have posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/JXKZZYmZUfM PROS: ----------- * Extremely easy to operate. I enjoy having 2 screens since my phone (Note 9) screen is bigger than the controller anyway. * You can abandon regular mode and go to "Ludicrous" mode, which allows the craft to go 45mph. Yes, I did obtain the 45mph speed according to my controls. This was the most fun mode to play in; however the battery dies much quicker. * 4K@60fps is incredibly good. You can also pick from lesser resolutions down to 720p and higher frame rates. Picture quality is fantastic. I only used "auto" camera/video settings as I did not want to get too involved in that aspect of the system. The "auto" mode worked great for me as it probably will for most people. * GPS locks on well to a given position. If you release all controls, it hovers in its current spot flawlessly. * Drone folds up easily and nicely into a compact package. * Drone is very solidly built with extremely durable plastic parts. It does not feel flimsy or cheap and the arms stay in place well when extended. * Object avoidance works great - almost too good, as I wanted to get closer to objects but could only do so by going into ludicrous mode (which turns off sensors) or by manually turning off sensors. * Customer support via chat was great. I had to chat in a couple of times, and I got a live person immediately (no bots). * Easy takeoff and landing button. From anywhere if you want to bring it home and land immediately, just hold down the button, and the drone does the rest. It literally lands inches from where you take off. * Pictures can be taken while video is rolling - however, taking a picture while the drone is moving may result in a more fuzzy picture as it happened with me a few times. * There are 3 different controller modes you can setup.. with the 2 sticks having different built-in functions. Pick the mode that's best for you. * The charging adapter allows for charging the drone and the controller at the same time. The charging cable for the controller is microUSB while the battery must be taken off the drone to be charged (after it has cooled off from flight) - and it's a proprietary connection. CONS: ----------- * Battery life should NOT be stated as 30 minutes. I did not, nor have I read anywhere, where a person got a full 30 minutes of fly time. I generally got between 20-25 minutes. Another battery would be great to have with limited flight time of the single battery. * I tried the "follow me" mode and had some trouble with the drone staying up with me on a bright yellow 4-wheeler and no obstacles between myself and the drone. Walking had no issues with this mode... as long as tree limbs did not block you while tracking. Once the drone loses you, it stops and hovers. * With a giant 4K picture, I would hope for an OPTICAL zoom instead of a digital zoom or a combination of both. This drone does not have an optical zoom so it only digitally zooms and thus causes eventual pixellation. * As with any device, companies need to upgrade to USB-C connections instead of microUSB. The controller uses a microUSB to connect to the 2nd device and to charge with. Being a high-end device as this, I would REALLY hope for a USB-C connection... the microUSB cable connection is a nuisance especially with hard-to-reach ports such as this (with the attached flap). * The 2 programmable buttons on the bottom of the remote can be depressed accidentally quite often, so don't make them do anything that would cause your drone to do something potentially hazardous to someone/something while flying. * Range was good; however video on my phone would get weak sometimes even with drone not being too far off. I adjusted antennas but at that same distance still had some come/go issues. If you fly in hilly areas, this may be a problem. * 2 device-to-controller cables (microUSB-to-microUSB and microUSB-to-USB-C) are provided but no microUSB-to-Apple connection cable. This may be due to proprietary reasons Apple would not allow (basically Android-to-Apple). I'm quite certain they probably thought of this. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------------------------------- * 32GB memory card does not come with an adapter. You will have to provide USB or SD adapter to read with PC. * The drone separated my extended video (4K@30fps) into 4m:48s segments, each of which were 3.35GB, and in H.264/mp4 format. You'll need a video editor to connect them back together. * I did not test the circling or tripod options. * The drone does NOT record audio - only video. * My EVO came with NEWER firmware than what was even posted on the Autel website. Not sure how or why that is, but I did not downgrade. CONCLUSION: ============== If you're a newbie to drone flying as I was, this drone is a great option. The price point is steep, but based on what I have read about this drone and other drones, pricing isn't bad. For me, the easibility of the controls was a huge plus. For a new drone flyer who is flying just for fun or to take simple aerial pictures, I would definitely recommend this drone. Again, you can view my 4th sample flight on YouTube - https://youtu.be/JXKZZYmZUfM

My previous experience with drones was of the smaller, less advanced type, so unboxing and powering up the Autel Evo was like preparing for my first launch into space. First off, the packaging was well thought out and easy to remove, I think the total time it took for me to have this out of the box and charging for first flight was about 5 minutes. Handling the drone itself along with the controller it is apparent that the build and design of each was thoroughly executed. The drone feels heavy and solid, sleek finishes remove any potential resistance on the body. Handling the controller for me is reminiscent of a PlayStation-like controller; it is heavy but balanced enough to alleviate any strain on holding it during flight time. However, if you are using your smartphone in tandem it might be slightly stressful depending on the model and type of phone you are using. For me it is an iPhone 7 Plus so there is some amount of strain but very minor. While on that note, if you do use an iPhone you will need to use your own lighting cable as the Evo does not include one (it does include USB-C and USB-mini). I really enjoy the compact size of both the drone and the controller, they fit easily into the carrying case and really have a small footprint so you can take the Evo anywhere. Prior to your first flight the FAA does require that the drone be registered which you can accomplish at www.faa.gov/dronezone. The registration will cost you $5 and once complete you will need to mark your drone with the assigned FAA registration number (I used a labeler). I also used an app called DroneBuddy to make sure I was out of any restricted flying zones because there is a major airport nearby, however, it is outside of 5 miles from my location so I am OK to fly. Flight operation for me was very easy to adapt to given my experience in video games, I was able to get the Evo flying seamlessly around my yard and then eventually up over the tree tops around 200 feet. At that height I was flying at about 20 MPH. Once up there I started using the camera shooting 4K videos and snapping some photos, I really can’t stress enough how clear the video feed is during flight, on both the phone and the controller display. Using the Autel App I planned out a waypoint path to test GPS accuracy which I was very impressed with the results on my 2 test flights. During these auto pilot flights it is very cool to peer around with the camera. During flight ops, the Evo constantly evaluates battery consumption, taking into account environment factors such as wind that will drain the battery faster. On average you are looking at about 25-27 minutes of flight time but the main benefit of this is that the Evo will alert you of a point of no return if you fly it too far away. At that time it will initiate a return to home maneuver or allow you to manually fly back. That being said, so far my furthest flight has been about 1600 yards – just shy of a mile. At that distance there was plenty of forest between the drone and myself and it did not lose or lag the video feed. I feel confident I could have flown further. Some minor bugs I have seen so far: 1. During a long descent the Evo can become fairly unstable and sort of wobble back and forth. This does not appear to affect camera shots as the gimbal does a great job of compensating. 2. After some sharper turns and moving of the camera during flight, the horizon can be askew when you return the camera to it’s level mark. It has only happened a couple times but it is noticeable. From what I have read both of these issues should be corrected with firmware updates, although the weather has been bad recently so I have not been able to fly the drone to confirm. Lastly – and this is not an issue but a recommendation – I would say that the easiest way to transfer the high-resolution video and photos off the Evo is to buy a USB Micro/Mini SD card reader. Best Buy sells one for $15 that also utilizes USB 3.0 for faster transfer. Overall I highly recommend this drone, it is extremely sharp looking and feels well built. There are enough safety mechanisms and sensors built in to allow a first time user to get up and flying. I brought this to a friends house and I may have influenced this years Christmas list.

In my last ten years of being an avid electronic junkie, very few products have really impressed me to the point where it almost made the moment seem "magical". This is the best way I can describe this product. There were moments were it left me speechless. In the past, I never considered owning a drone or getting into the hobby. After using the Autel Evo, I am hooked!!! After doing some research on comparable drones and using it for myself, this has got to be one of the best, if not the best, drone on the market right now; especially at this price point. I have been using the Autel Evo frequently over the past two weeks and I have never been so eager to write a review for a product. This drone deserves the highest marks. I have broken down my review into several key aspects of what truly makes this drone special... Build Quality: Build quality is top notch. The Evo appears to be a mix of very high quality plastics with some metal components. As soon as you hold it in your hands, you know without a doubt that you're holding a high end product. I have flown this drone almost every other day and have landed it on grass, dirt, and concrete and it looks prestine. With top notch build quality comes long durability. I have no doubt in my mind that this drone will serve me well for long years to come. The controller is also extremely well built. The controller is mainly constructed of a high quality plastic. It feels like a small tank in your hand. Autel gets a 5/5 for build quality. Performance: From it's first ascent, I knew this drone was special. First of all, when you run the motors/propellers by the holding the left and right joysticks in, this drone is EXTREMELY quiet. Likely the quietest drone on the market. The takeoff is so smooth. It's also incredibly fast. I was able to reach speeds of almost 40 mph!!! Flight was also very smooth, controlled, and precise. However, there was definitely a learning curve for me as this was my first time flying a drone. I spent about an hour over an empty baseball field conducting basic flight maneuvers like backing up, going forward, and flying in a square motion. I practiced turning the drone to the left or right in a 90 degree angle and then a 180 degree angle and practicing maneuvers while disoriented. Once, I was comfortable and confident, the fun started ( I highly recommend watching Autel Robotics youtube channel as they provide a ton of useful tips and tricks videos on the Evo). I flew it over the entire park and bordered the residential neighborhood. Viewing my city at a 200ft vantage point through the 3.5 inch OLED on the controller left me speechless. The video was smooth and clear thorough the controller's viewfinder. That's another point I'd like to make. I love that I don't need to have my phone synced to the Evo in order to view real time footage. The camera is as good as it gets. 4k @ 60 frames per second. I spent hours looking at footage from other drones with cameras that take 4k @ 30 fps and the difference is night and day. While the image quality is still crisp because of the 4k resolution, I couldn't stand the noticeable choppiness seen with 30 fps. The Evo's camera is capable of full 60 frames per second making for some of the most fluid and smooth video at 4k. No choppiness at all!!! Speaking of the camera, one thing to note was that at first I was a bit concerned with the camera gimbal as it seemed to be somewhat "loose". However, upon closer inspection, this is by design to allow optimal mobility for the camera. I was able to ensure that it's firmly secured/attached. I also love the gimbal guard that Autel provided to help protect the camera when storing your drone. If footage at my local park looks this amazing at 4k @ 60 fps I can't wait to go on some hikes in beautiful locations or take it with me when I'm traveling. Oh, and that's another thing! This drone is incredibly portable! With such a small footprint, this drone can tuck away in a small travel bag with no issues (I highly recommend the soft fabric Autel Robotics Evo bag as the drone and controller fit like a glove in it). The battery is 4300 mAh which gives you about 30 minutes of flight time. For me this is adequate, but I see myself purchasing a second battery for when I travel. Features: One of the features that I really love about this Evo is the ability to automate your ascent and descent. The remote controller includes a button to perform this function if you're not comfortable with taking off or landing your drone (especially helpful for novices). The remote controller also has a "Call Home" feature. This is extremely useful if you lose sight of your drone or don't know how to get it back to your desired landing area. Just press the button and the correct coordinates will be sent to the drone and it will automatically fly back to it's original take off location! The remote controller displays vital statistics on the 3.5 inch OLED like height, distance, speed, gimbal rotation, flight time status, and likely other features that I haven't even discovered yet. You also get shoulder buttons to toggle back and forth between your flight statistics or the camera view. One of the buttons starts your recording. The remote controller also includes a mobile stand for your phone. Why do you need to attach your phone if you can do everything through the included viewfinder? Well, if you choose to download the autel explorer app, the settings become lucratively granular! You can adjust the speed limit, altitude limit, distance limit, turn on/off front LED indicators, turn on/off visual avoidance, calibrate remote controller, change the gimbal mode, perform all the latest firmware updates, and more!! As long as Autel continues supporting and developing their software with the Evo, you have a product that should bring you YEARS of stunning memories if you're into the outdoors. Lastly, I just wanted to mention that Autel also put object detection sensors on the Evo whereby the sensors will automatically detect any near proximity objects during flight and help prevent and avoid any crashes altogether. Talk about a high end drone... Accessories: The Autel Evo comes with a decent amount of accessories. You get a pair of spare propellers, two on the go cables used for android devices (one micro USB cable and one USB-C), a USB to micro USB cable (used to connect from the charger to the remote controller), and a quick start guide. I love that the charger has a USB port so you can charge the drone battery and remote controller at the same time. Another thing to note, is that when not being used, the USB port on the charger can also be used to charge your phone (assuming you have the required USB charging cable for your phone). Overall, Autel completely exceeded my expectations. Well done Autel. I think this might be the first time I don't have anything negative to say about a product..well...maybe longer battery life? That's nitpicking though as that would increase the battery size significantly and I don't see myself flying for over 30 minutes when recording footage in 4k as the SD card would likely be full long before the 30 minute mark anyway because of the large file size produced by 4k video files. If you're the type of person that loves the outdoors, loves to hike in locations with lush scenery, or loves traveling to memorable destinations, I think the EVO is a must. It will drop your jaw. I don't think there's a better drone, in this portable footprint, that can perform nowhere near the Evo's capabilites. ***********If you get the EVO, please do yourself a favor and head to Autel Robotics Youtube channel and watch their videos on the Evo*********. I can't stress this enough. They are short and sweet but were immensely helpful in familiarizing myself with the Evo's functions, capabilities, and limitations. Thank you Autel for taking the time to explain the features and functions of the Evo to your customers. It made the world of a difference to me and I'm sure it will for others as well. Final words of advice - GET IT!!!!!!

The Autel Robotics drone is not quite what I expected. The unit comes in svelte packaging and includes a carrying tote that allows for easy travel with all necessary accessories. Accessories Removable Battery - This unit comes with a removable battery which can only be charged while detached from the drone. The battery itself has LED to indicate charge level. Two-in-One Charging Brick - The charging brick comes equipped with ports to charge the drone's battery as well as the drone's controller. The all-in-one device means I don't have to carry around extra chargers. Though the controller charging port uses standard USB, the interface for the drone battery port uses a proprietary interface. Drone carrying tote - The carrying tote is well made and allows for easy packing and safe transportation of your the drone, its charging accessories, spare parts, and a few other tid-bits. It's about the size of a standard lunch box. It's remarkably convenient and inconspicuous. Spare Parts - The unit ships with two pairs of replacement blades in case you have a mishap and damage your blades. Additionally, there are a few extra interface adaptors to allow connecting your phone to the controller (USB C, mini, micro, etc). You'll need to use your own lightning cable if you're using an iPhone. Huge bummer as the supplied adaptors for other ports are cut-to-length and provide just enough slack to connect the devices and mount them. Drone Controller - The controller is something to behold. It feels substantial and it feels great in hand. A quick glance and you might mistake it for a PS Vita. The controller has the usual joysticks, some fore finger ready buttons to control various aspects of the drone such as flight and camera swivel controls. The controller also has a built-in sturdy telescoping phone grip for easy and secure placement of your mobile device (we tested with iPhone 8 Plus). You can see the drone's viewscreen from the controller or your phone. The phone, when connected to the controller via a standard USB accessory cable, grants enhanced feature access via the free iOS and Android app. Be sure to download the correct app as Autel has a few out there; they are not all compatible. Please refer to the documentation for the correct one. Use This drone is beyond the others I've used before. I was wary of another drone because I'm just not that great at controlling them using the controls provided. But Autel has done a great job of making their premium controller feel comfortable and responsive. I'm still getting used to it, but the convenience features such as launch, hover, and return to home are also great to have and work great. The unit's lights help make the unit clearly visible and also help communicate status. Mechanically, you can just hear the power behind the propellers. My dogs go nuts for the unit! There is a lot of power driving this unit. The foldable arms bring propeller arms in tight to the body of the unit and make handling the unit easy and comfortable. Camera The camera on the unit seems super flimsy! But it is made that way as the unit is made to swivel and rotate almost every which way. It comes with a plastic cover/guard to protect the unit while it is stored and not in-flight. The control of the unit is remarkably precise even if a little awkward. Choosing between watching the drone or the screen of your controller/phone can be tough! Unfortunately, I am only able to attach two pictures with my review or I'd try and post some of the unit in action in nicer weather. I'd also love to post a video of it in action. If that becomes an option, I'll revisit my review and make the appropriate additions. I'd also post some pictures captured by the drone (if they're worth while). I'm headed to the Rockies this weekend and should be able to replace the posted pictures with views of just what exactly this device can do! In the meantime, I think I can quite comfortably say that this drone is everything I could expect for it's price point. Cons I think the only cons I feel the unit has are that I wish ports were more clearly labeled. Either via icons, or engraved/raised text. I like to figure out use before referencing the manual (with unit off) and while most are completely obvious others, like the microSD card slot, are not so clear (sitting directly above an exhaust fan). There isn't really anything I can complain about from a functionality perspective.

I’m really thrilled on all the capabilities that the Autel EVO offer. I attached 2 photos but I would of like to have been able to attach more. My initial process: I did the unboxing and the EVO was packed with care. To my surprise a shoulder bag was included as a bonus. After removing everything I almost missed the quick setup and manual box because it was on the very bottom which blended in with the interior of the EVO box. This is a premium drone with a bigger but fair price tag so I read every single line of the manual to make sure I know important things about it. When I got to the charging section I decided to start the charging before I continued my reading. FYI you need to remove the battery from the drone before charging. Pushing the button on top of the drone while sliding the battery does the trick to remove the battery. What’s great about the charger is it charges both the drone EVO battery and remote simultaneously in 3 hours. To be clear the instructions indicates the drone charges fully in 1 hour and the remote controller is fully charged in 3 hours but my initial charge was faster. Register: It was always recommended to me to register drones https://faadronezone.faa.gov/#/ so I would like to extend the recommend this to all drone owners. It took me 5 minutes and cost me $5 for 3 years registration. App: To get the full experience I decided to download the “Autel Explorer” app. It has easy instructions to pair your phone,drone and remote controller to each other. Design: The EVO design is a few steps towards the future and it looks great. I was not too sure about the color but the more I look at it and being able to spot it in the air made me fall in love with the orange/black color. This Autel EVO drone arms folds which makes very easy to pack up and take with you to anywhere you want to explore without taking much space. Picking up the drone and unfolding the arms I can feel the quality. It has many sensors that helps a beginner and even a pro be a better pilot. A 4K camera that has a 3 axis gimbal assures that I have clear and stable image during every flight I take with my EVO. Remote controller: I think I’m more hooked on the design of this remote because it looks like a gaming controller with a 3.3 inch OLED screen so I can clearly see what my EVO see in HD. Just like the EVO the remote controller allows you to fold the handles to make it easier to hold or pack to transport. The EVO remote have a lot of features and since there are a lot I will only list a few. I can take pictures or videos with a touch of a button. Easy land or take off with auto pilot, return home with auto pilot, it allows you to turn sensors on or off, GPS and plenty of indicators of your drone and remote controller health, it has a beginner mode so it reduces the speed and height for novice pilots or at least until you get the hang of the controls. Using the remote control and your phone together gives you the most option to take advantage of the many advance features. Flight performance: Flying the EVO is easy if you have some experience. I find it so much easier learning and flying the EVO after using another top drone company. I had plenty of space around me because I drove to a nearby field. I had room for error and was expecting a few crashes but luckily I did not have any crashes yet. I want to try the ludicrous mode but I want to give myself more time to get really familiar with the controls to handle the EVO safely at faster speeds. Something that I found most interesting was the dynamic track because it follows around a subject and it’s accurate. Take off and landing can always be easy if you use auto pilot but with practice it’s also easy to do it on your own. My final thoughts: At the end of the day I think this EVO drone is packed with much more features than we are used to in a consumer level drone. I like that firmware updates will be available to help with bugs or even add new features to the EVO. I would of prefer that the EVO had a longer battery life after a full charge so I can have more time and more fun. I think 1 and a 1/2 hours to fully charge the EVO and only get 30 minutes of flight is not the right balance. Knowing this I plan on buying a spare battery but I want to wait to see if a bigger battery that holds a longer charge will soon be available. That’s my only negative feedback about the EVO and I know I will enjoy it the more I use it. I’m looking forward into taking beautiful pictures and videos using my EVO when I take future vacations.

First off the unboxing. You can tell Autel wanted this to be a nice added touch. Everything is well laid out, with power and controller icons so you know what is in each box, and all separated. There is also another box under the 2 with other accessories. The drone itself is very well protected with nice matte foam on top, and each propeller individually wrapped. The upper orange part of the drone has peel away plastic protecting it from scratches. In the box you of course get the EVO drone, the OLED display controller, the battery charger, 2 sets of spare blades, a USB cable for charging, and another USB cable that has the older USB connector for some older phones, and USB C. This cable is for connecting the controller to your phone. Its nice that they made sure it had both types. And you also get a Quick Guide. The drone itself very well built and solid. Its obvious Autel put a lot of work into this thing. Multiple collision sensors, an amazing gimbal and a very high quality camera. The camera has a nice removable plastic cover to keep it safe when not in use. It easily snaps off with a press of the sides. The legs have nice rubber pads at the bottom, and are very sturdy. The arms fold and and lock solidly in place, and while closing them they fold back in place on their own after pushing them in to a certain point. This is an amazing solid, well built drone. The controller is perfect for anyone use to video game console controllers. Its got some heft to it and is also well built. It has foldable handles that pull out and snap in place, making it feel almost like an XBOX controller. The phone holder also folds out and is fully adjustable. I had no problem getting my large Galaxy S9+ in it. And once it was in, it stayed in place no problem. The thumbsticks are a bit small, but have well designed grooves to keep your thumbs from slipping. It doesnt take long to get use to. The antennas fold out and can be turned and adjusted to your liking. The buttons on it are power, pause, take off/ land, 2 rollers, “bumper” buttons for record and taking pictures, and on the back are A and B buttons. It might seem like a lot, but considering most standard console controllers have even more buttons its not that difficult once you get used to which one is which. The controller even has cooling fans, how “cool” is that? Pun intended. The OLED display is awesome. Very bright, crisp, with very nice colors, and easy to read even in moderate sunlight. But if your going to rely on your phone I recommend a shade for it. Set up is very easy. Charge the battery for the initial flight. Download the app if you are going to be using your phone as well, although this isnt required. You can fly it just using the included controller, although it is a much nicer experience and easier using your phone as well. Once charged turn on the controller and press the power button for 3 seconds. You can also hold it for just one second to check the battery level. Mine came with about 1 out of the 4 LEDs lit up. It should auto connect to the controller. Then connect your phone to the controller with the cable and set up the app. Once done with that your'e ready to fly. The drone itself has multiple flight, camera, and speed modes. If you are new to flying I recommend starting at the lowest speed and working up from there. Flying this thing is a joy. Extremely stable, fast when you want it, and has so many safety features and collision sensors to make flying a blast, yet safe at the same time. A low battery warning lets you know when your'e cutting it close. But thankfully while its in that mode you can override it if it is trying to land somewhere unsafe. So better safe then sorry. Get it home before that even happens. The return to home feature is also very accurate. Within a foot or so. So if your in a park or wide open area you should have no problem getting it to land where you launched from. It runs up to 30 minutes, but might take a few charges to get that full amount. The camera is AMAZING!! Along with the gimbal it takes amazing smooth videos, and very high quality pictures. It has optical zoom to get in close when you cant fly closer, and several follow modes for sporting, etc. Once I am a little more experienced with it and buy another battery I plan on getting some aerial footage of me on my motorcycle. It also came with a nice carrying case as well. Didnt expect that. It has excellent protection and separation to store all your stuff while out and about. Overall Ill say again what I said in the title. This is by far the best drone I have ever had. With a ridiculous amount of features, solid build of the drone and controller, safety features and sensors, AMAZING camera this is the one to get. High, High, Highly recommended.