by 6 reviews.
Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3 FPV Drone Review: A Beginner’s Dream or Just Hype?
If you’re looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly drone that packs a punch, the Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3 FPV Drone might be on your radar. With features like a 720P HD camera, one-key start, altitude hold, and app control, this drone promises to deliver a fun and accessible flying experience for both kids and adults. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Key Features at a Glance
- 720P HD Camera
Captures decent aerial photos and videos with real-time FPV transmission. - One Key Start/Landing
Simplifies takeoff and landing for beginners. - Altitude Hold
Keeps the drone stable at a certain height for easier control. - App Control
Fly the drone using your smartphone, with features like gravity sensor mode and trajectory flight. - Durable Build
Made from high-quality ABS material with propeller guards for added protection. - 3D Flips and Speed Modes
Offers fun tricks and adjustable speed settings for different skill levels.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Durability: Built to Survive Crashes
One of the standout features of the Syma X5SW-V3 is its durability. Many users have praised its ability to withstand crashes and rough handling. One customer even shared a story about finding the drone in the trash, fixing it with minimal effort, and flying it effortlessly afterward. They mentioned crashing it into snow, trees, mailboxes, and even their car—yet the drone remained unscathed. Another user reported that after getting the drone stuck in a 40-foot tree for seven days (through storms and temperature swings), it still worked perfectly after drying out.
Pros:
- Extremely durable and crash-resistant.
- Easy to repair with affordable replacement parts (motors cost as little as $1.39).
- High-quality ABS material and propeller guards provide excellent protection.
Cons:
- The body feels lightweight and somewhat cheap, which might concern some users.
Ease of Use: Perfect for Beginners
The Syma X5SW-V3 is designed with beginners in mind. Features like one-key start, altitude hold, and app control make it incredibly easy to fly, even for first-time drone pilots. One user mentioned that this was their first drone, and they were able to control it effortlessly after a few minutes of practice. The altitude hold function ensures stability, making it ideal for aerial photography.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly with intuitive controls.
- Altitude hold keeps the drone stable for smoother flights.
- App control adds versatility, allowing users to fly without the remote.
Cons:
- The instructions included in the box are poorly written, which might confuse some users.
Camera Quality: Decent but Not Stellar
The 720P HD camera is a significant upgrade from previous versions, but it’s not without its limitations. While the real-time FPV transmission works well with minimal delay, the image and video quality are only decent. Users noted that the camera performs adequately for casual use but falls short for professional-grade footage.
Pros:
- Real-time FPV transmission with no noticeable delay.
- Good enough for casual aerial photography and videos.
Cons:
- Image and video quality are not high-definition.
- The camera struggles in low-light conditions.
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag
Battery life is a common concern among users. With the camera on, the drone lasts about 6-8 minutes per charge, which is relatively short. Without the camera, flight time extends to around 15 minutes. Many users recommend purchasing additional or upgraded batteries to maximize flying time.
Pros:
- Easy to swap batteries for extended flight sessions.
Cons:
- Short battery life, especially when using the camera.
- Additional batteries are almost a necessity for longer flights.
Performance in Windy Conditions
The Syma X5SW-V3 is lightweight, which makes it less stable in windy conditions. Users reported that it struggles to maintain control in strong winds, making it better suited for calm weather. However, its lightweight design also contributes to its durability, as it tends to bounce back from crashes without significant damage.
Pros:
- Lightweight design enhances durability.
- Performs well in calm weather.
Cons:
- Struggles in windy conditions due to its lightweight build.
Final Verdict: Is the Syma X5SW-V3 Worth It?
The Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3 FPV Drone is an excellent choice for beginners and casual users who want an affordable, durable, and easy-to-fly drone. Its crash-resistant design, beginner-friendly features, and decent camera make it a great entry-level option. However, if you’re looking for professional-grade video quality or longer battery life, you might want to consider other models.
Strengths:
- Durable and crash-resistant.
- Easy to use, even for beginners.
- Affordable and easy to repair.
Weaknesses:
- Short battery life.
- Mediocre camera quality.
- Struggles in windy conditions.
For its price point, the Syma X5SW-V3 delivers exceptional value, especially for those new to drones. If you’re willing to invest in extra batteries and don’t mind the occasional wind-related hiccup, this drone is a solid choice for fun and practice.
Specification Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3 FPV Drone with 720P Camera for Adults and Kids, One Key Start, Altitude Hold, Custom Flight:
Comments from Amazon:
This was my first drone purchase, I wanted a decent fpv drone to start out with. Figured I'd give syma a shot. I work at a local Amazon warehouse and couldn't tell you the amount of these I saw shipped out. With a $45 price tag decent fpv camera you can't go wrong. Took it for a test flight the day it came even though there was poor weather. It doesn't fair to well in strong wind but it's still fine for good days. I got roughly 9 minutes of flight time with the camera till the leds began to flash(already ordered the upgraded batteries). I have already crashed it more times then I would like to admit and got it caught in a tree, but it hasn't taken a bit of damage not even a scratch. Signal from the remote and camera are fair. I had issues flying it at a apartment complex only got about 10 feet in the air before it lost signal and crashed, though I haven't had the same issue in a field or open area. Went to my local hobby store and bought slightly bigger propellers and upgraded motors, it's now able to lift a small action cam I mounted underneath the fpv cam. So far I have no complaints or issues with the drone I will update the review later (update!!!) I have since bought updated batteries bigger blades and motors. along with doing range/antenna mods and replacing the camera with a better fpv one. the drone is perfect, its taken a beating and shows it but it still flies great with no issues. with mods done im able to get about 100ft up and have full control. if i somehow manage to break this thing beyond repair i will buy another one in a heartbeat
The Syma X5SW's body feels cheap, but is probably to reduce the weight of the drone. I had to put together the legs, blade guards, and camera myself, but with the included screwdriver, too easy. The instructions were horrible, but that in itself did not affect the quality of the drone. The camera's quality was decent (See attached). The distance so far for the drone appears to be about 50 feet, but I have not had much space to try further. The battery life depends on whether or not the camera it used. With the camera, close to eight minutes, but without the camera, I usually get around 15 minutes of air time. It was very easy to pair the drone's camera to my Android phone. I used it to and let my kids try to shoot it with Nerf guns. It takes a beating but flies well afterwards. I had only managed to operate this drone for 24 hours before I got it stuck on top of a 40 foot tree. Seven days, three severe storms, and temperatures ranging from 90°F to 50°F later, it was found on the ground (a forty foot drop). Without any hope or expectations, I still allowed it to dry out then inserted a battery. It came to life. The body itself suffered some damage which I easily fixed, but the motors, electronics, camera, and Wi-Fi still worked. And it worked as if nothing had happened. I am not saying this will happen to every drone which undergoes this experience, but mine did. PROS: Good quality for the price; great starter drone for beginners; resilient; easy to pair to phone; fairly easy to control. CONS: Video quality/image quality not great; batteries drain too quick; instructions are poor. If you are looking for a drone to film HD videos or for advanced users, look somewhere else. If you are a beginner or want a drone for practice, this is it. This may be one of the cheapest on the market, but every kid and beginner adults will love it. I would and have recommended this drone to others.
Es mi primer dron y quedé fascinado es super fácil de usar y muy resistente, ve un tutorial o algo y comienza despacio sin alocarse, es el mejor dron para comenzar en este mundo, aparte llegó rápido y con todos sus componentes, tal vez debas corregir la calibración pero es normal y muy fácil, sólo hay que tener cuidado si hace mucho viento ya que es muy muy liviano.
Hard to manipulate and to learn.
Facil de armar, facil de volar y bastante resistente. Desde el primer momento le he dado varios golpes y varias caídas y sigue funcionando como si nada, la camara no es espectacular pero cumple. Las piezas son faciles de conseguir y muy baratas. Recomiendo comprarlo junto con unas baterias de repuesto con mas capacidad porque la que trae solo te da aprox unos 6 mins de vuelo.
Muy buen drone para empezar en el mundo de los drones. Fácil maniobrabilidad y estabilidad. No le doy las 5 estrellas porque no quede conforme con las patas, muy frágiles y tiene unos pequeños plásticos que se quiebran con pocos golpes. Por lo demás, muy bien
I gave this quad 5 stars because of the durability and how easy it is to work on/replace parts. Parts are also extremely cheap. That being said let me explain that I didn't purchase this drone from Amazon, I actually saw it as someone was throwing it away in the apartment complex that I work at. He said that the "motors burned out" I see a lot of complaints about "burned out motors" and it makes me laugh because 1: the motors were not burned out, and 2: replacement motors are as cheap as $1.39 right here on Amazon. I charged the battery and then turned it on to see what was wrong with it and quickly realized that two of the blades weren't spinning with the others, so I took a closer look, removed one small screw and instantly saw that the gear from the motor was no longer aligned with the gear for the blade (picture 3) easily fixed by pressing down on the blade until the gears realigned. After doing this to both of the "broken" blades the quad took off effortlessly. Back in business! I think it's also important to say this is the first drone I have ever flown! I have wanted one for some time so I was very happy to find one that someone was throwing out. This quad is very easy to fly (after a few minutes of getting used to it) and to my surprise I could control it outside during snow and medium winds. The camera was better than expected and there is no delay whatsoever on the wifi transmission to my phone which is super important for flying when you can't see the drone. (Sometimes it takes a while for my phone to connect to the wifi of the camera though) It takes about two minutes and 16 small screws to take this drone apart and expose the circuit board and wires. I removed the two red LEDs and two green ones (picture 1) and replaced them with one single white spotlight in the front (picture 2) I did this by cutting the wires of the existing lights and attaching those to the white led, then I drilled an led sized hole in the frame and inserted the new light. Done! It was fun and easy to tinker with this and I plan to do more. Finally, I have crashed this quad into the snow, down several flights of stairs, into my car, my cat, trees, mailboxes, you name it I've crashed into it several times and haven't even had to replace a blade yet. I am now ordering bigger batteries for this quad and going to get extra blades and motors for it because they are so cheap and I never want to be done flying this quad! Take it from someone who pulled this quad out of the trash. I did not spend a dime and therefore have no reason to lie or bend the truth. This copter is fun and for the price it is outstanding