by 148 reviews.
Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Premium Bundle Review: A Pocket-Sized Powerhouse with Some Flaws
The Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Premium Bundle is a compact, lightweight drone designed for both beginners and intermediate users. Weighing just 249g, this foldable quadcopter is packed with features like a 4K RYYB camera, 3-axis gimbal, 3-way obstacle avoidance, and a 28-minute flight time. It’s marketed as a strong competitor to DJI’s Mini 2, offering advanced capabilities in a portable package. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: A Detailed Breakdown
1. Camera Quality: Stunning 4K Footage
The EVO Nano+ boasts a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor with a 50MP camera and 4K HDR video capabilities. Customers rave about the image and video quality, especially in low-light conditions, thanks to its RYYB color filter array design. One user mentioned, "The camera is amazing. Honestly, they got this right. It takes incredible video." Another praised the HDR mode, which captures rich details even in challenging lighting.
However, some users noted that the FPV mode in the app doesn’t always work, and the live video feed can be slightly scratchy when using a phone. Switching to a tablet resolved this issue for one user, suggesting that the app might not be optimized for all devices.
2. Portability and Design: Lightweight but Flimsy
At 249g, the EVO Nano+ is incredibly portable and doesn’t require FAA registration in many countries. Its foldable design makes it easy to carry in a backpack. However, the included shoulder bag has received criticism for being poorly designed. One user described it as "awful garbage," with compartments that don’t make sense and limited padding. Many customers prefer storing the drone in its original box for better protection.
The drone itself is made of plastic, which some users found disappointing. While it’s lightweight, it doesn’t feel as durable as higher-end models. One user mentioned, "It is light, it is plastic, but it works for what you need it for."
3. Battery Life and Charging: A Mixed Bag
The 28-minute flight time is a standout feature, allowing users to capture extended footage without frequent battery swaps. The premium bundle includes three batteries, which is a big plus. However, the battery charger has been a point of frustration. It only charges one battery at a time, making the additional slots on the charging hub redundant. Users also reported that the batteries self-discharge quickly, requiring frequent recharging before use.
4. Obstacle Avoidance and Flight Performance: Hit or Miss
The 3-way obstacle avoidance system is a standout feature for a drone in this price range. It uses six computer vision sensors to detect obstacles in front, behind, and below the drone. One user praised its ability to handle 30+ mph gusts of wind, saying, "It works well in challenging conditions."
However, the follow-me mode has been a major letdown for some. One customer who bought the drone to film waterskiing found that it couldn’t keep up with a moving boat, even at slow speeds. Additionally, there were reports of the drone attempting to land on its own, leading to crashes—one in the street and another in a lake. This issue occurred despite the drone being fully updated, raising concerns about its reliability.
5. Controller and App: Functional but Flawed
The remote controller is generally well-received for its ease of use and responsiveness. However, it has a significant design flaw when used with iPhones. The phone holder presses against the power button, causing the screen to shut off or even trigger emergency calls. One user described this as "annoying" and suggested that a slot for the power button would have been a simple fix.
The Autel Sky app has also been a mixed bag. While it offers useful features like automatic shooting modes and video templates, some users found it unreliable. One customer mentioned that the app often failed to connect to the controller, and the FPV mode never worked for them.
Conclusion: Is the Autel EVO Nano+ Worth It?
The Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Premium Bundle is a solid choice for those looking for a portable, feature-packed drone. Its 4K camera, RYYB color filter, and 3-way obstacle avoidance make it a strong contender in the mini-drone market. However, it’s not without its flaws. The poorly designed bag, slow charger, and unreliable app detract from the overall experience. The controller’s iPhone compatibility issue and follow-me mode’s limitations are also significant drawbacks.
For beginners or casual users, the EVO Nano+ offers excellent value, especially with its three-battery bundle. However, if you’re looking for a more durable, reliable drone for professional use, you might want to explore other options.
Final Verdict:
- Pros: Stunning 4K camera, lightweight and portable, 3-way obstacle avoidance, long flight time.
- Cons: Poor bag design, slow charger, unreliable app, follow-me mode issues, controller compatibility problems.
If you’re willing to overlook its flaws, the Autel EVO Nano+ is a capable drone that delivers impressive results for its price. But if reliability and durability are your top priorities, you might want to keep looking.
Specification Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Premium Bundle, 249g Mini Drone with 4K RYYB Camera, PDAF + CDAF Focus, 3-Axis Gimbal, 3-Way Obstacle Avoidance, Nano Plus Fly More Combo, Orange:
Comments from Amazon:
I had this drone for 1 year, 38 days. On day 403, despite having 1/3 battery life left, it tried landing on it's own in a lake. Read on for more info. Pros: -Camera is amazing. Honestly, they got this right. It takes incredible video. -Battery life is very very good. However... make sure the battery is full charged before flying. Don't trust the battery indicator on the battery or on the controller. Cons: -App is unreliable. FPV mode never worked, and the app often times wouldn't successfully connect to the controller. -The USB-C cable that comes with the drone caused an error on my phone... making it think it had water in the port. It finally went away after not using the drone for a few months... but the second I plugged it back in, the water indicator lit back up again. Every other USB-C cord I've used works just fine with my phone. -The power button on the drone is on the end of the battery. No big deal, except the carrying case they sell orients the drone vertically and the power button can be pressed by the weight of the drone on the floor. Poor design that has the potential to overheat the drone -Controls are less than smooth. -No usable way to program flights from within the app. -Follow me mode absolutely does not work at any speed more than walking (almost not at all in reverse). I bought this drone to follow a boat while my children waterski. No matter what setting I chose, it would not keep up with the boat unless I ran the drone manually. With the controls being jerky, the videos were less than desirable. -And the biggest of them all... despite being fully updated, the drone tried twice to land without being commanded to. First time, it landed in the street, where I could retrieve it... this was within the warranty time frame. The second time... it landed in the lake... in 18 feet of water. See below for more on that. Company review: I purchased this drone in May of 2019. I wanted a high quality drone from a manufacturer that would stand behind the product (unlike DJI). I was wrong, on both accounts. I only used this thing for two months in the summer of 2019. The first time I fired it up this year (exactly 1 year and 38 days from the purchase date), it sank itself. I thought, "crap... well, at least I know I purchased it through a decent company, they'll take care of me... as it was nothing I did that caused it to fail". I was wrong. I inquired of Autel through their support email. Their support manager took no interest in resolving the issue for me. It took days to get a response each time... and at that, I would have to email multiple times to receive a response. I explained the issue, that i hardly used the drone and that the issue showed up within the warranty period, but I thought it a fluke. He asked if I'd updated the drone, which I had... and if I had flight logs from my phone, which I did not because the app is garbage and the cable causes an issue on the Samsung S8. From there, he told me that because I was 38 days past the 1 year warranty, and didn't have flight logs... there was next to nothing he could do (warranty mentions absolutely nothing about flight logs). He offered me a lightly discounted, refurbished drone package (which I didn't need... I still had the controller, charger, and everything that wasn't on the drone when it crashed). Because I live in the northeasts US, and only use it during the summer...I'd flown their product about a dozen times. I lost recordings, my SD card, and accessories when it tried landing in the lake. All I wanted was a bare, replacement drone. I told them I'd pay the difference for the accessories (blade guards, ND filter, battery) that I had to replace . They absolutely refused. On top of that, the customer support manager refused to escalate the issue to his superior. Additionally, through some research on Glassdoor, I found that Autel isn't the American/German company they present themselves as. They're 100% Chinese owned and operated. Look it up for yourself. Save yourself. Buy a Chinese drone that's sold at a Chinese drone price. If it dies, throw it away and by 4 more before you'd hit the price you'd pay for this drone. Don't waste your money on garbage wrapped in an American flag... supported by a garbage company.
I've never flown a drone before and I felt like I had perfect control right from take off. I'm happy with the quality of the controller and the app along with the camera. Everything has worked perfectly so far. I took amazing photos and some nice video. I need to dig into the video more but it looks very promising. The one thing I have to question is the bag this comes with. It would be a tight fit to get everything in there and it's not even padded that well. I think I'll be storing my drone in the original box because it's padded better and fits better. I'm starting to experience some battery issues after just a couple months. The batteries do self discharge as well so you have to charge them within a day or two of when you want to fly. I was wondering why the battery level was not staying full after a few days.
Easy to use and great for taking pictures 👍
I use the android phone and the set up is as easy as can be. The drone flies beautifully and records awesome video. I'm very pleased with it. The sound is somewhat like bees a few feet away from you, but hardly noticeable 100' up. My only gripe is the return (live) video is slightly scratchy with the phone attached (with lines in the view) , but perfect off of it's control screen. It might be a software issue, but the recorded video off of the memory card is exceptional. I will live with this only issue. I bought this because the DJI drone I purchased was defective. If Autel continues to build them like my example, they have a customer for life. Enclosed is a picture 350 feet up. Update: 8-30-2020 I replaced my Android phone with an 8" Samsung tablet. I needed to add an tablet extension to hold it in place of the phone. The Tablet uses the other cable. Perhaps the phone was too slow or the cable was not fast enough. The reception and playback is now superb on the tablet. There is no distortion on the live view from the drone in flight. I'm so impressed with the drone I purchased a used one off of an on-line auction site and now have 2 drones. The used one is for night flights with it's add on night time aviation strobe lights. This is an awesome hobby and I enjoy these drones.
I didn't have much hope for this guy, but it is better than I thought it would be. I have a ton of FPV drones for having fun and battling the funk. It works great for treatment all my homies from the service. But I wanted something that I could take some imagery with that would look good. This fits the bill for way less than that DJI "stuff". Three batteries, spare props (that I don't see me needing anytime soon), a charger. The only dings I have against this is: the bag is awful garbage, opens on the wrong side, stuff has it's place, but that's the only place. The charger is okay for what it is, but it is slow and only charges on battery at a time, so the other slots are pointless and only there to make you wonder. The app...there are two, so don't do what I did and think you have the correct one. Finally figured it out and it connected up without any issue. The controller is the biggest issue. And this is the only reason I am withholding a star. The way the phone (iPhone 12) sits in the controller has the controller pressing on the power button the entire time. Hopefully your phone won't make a emergency call in doing this. It is annoying, and there isn't a way to prevent it on iPhones unless you want your phone hanging out. A slot for the power button to rest in would have been nice. Instead I have to battle with the screen shutting off if I adjust my image. Not a deal killer, unless I knew this first. Then I might have gone with the other non-DJI maker of these. It is light, it is plastic, but it works for what you need it for. It also works well in 30+ mph gusts of wind that I was filming in. I can't wait to travel and utilize this more.