by 54 reviews.
Remote Control FPV Drone with 1080P Camera: A Fun and Affordable Drone for Beginners
If you're looking for an affordable yet feature-packed drone for kids or beginners, the Oike S101S Remote Control FPV Drone might just be what you need. This foldable quadcopter comes with a 1080P HD camera, brushless motors, and a variety of fun features like gesture selfies, voice control, and one-key takeoff/landing. It’s designed to be user-friendly, making it a great choice for both kids and adults who are new to drones. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Quality and Durability
One of the standout features of this drone is its durability. Many users, including parents and first-time drone flyers, have praised its sturdy build. One reviewer shared how the drone survived multiple crashes into bushes and grass without any damage, thanks to its blade bumpers and robust design. This makes it a great option for kids who might not have the steadiest hands yet.
However, some users noted that the drone struggles in windy conditions. It doesn’t handle gusts well, which can make it difficult to control outdoors. If you’re planning to fly it outside, make sure it’s a calm day.
Ease of Use
The Oike S101S is marketed as a beginner-friendly drone, and it delivers on that promise. Many users, including a 7.5-year-old reviewer, found it easy to operate. The one-key takeoff/landing and altitude hold features make it simple to get started, even for those with no prior drone experience. One user mentioned that the drone hovers nicely and is very responsive to the remote control, though they advised against making sudden movements to avoid crashes.
That said, the app experience has been a mixed bag. While the drone can be flown without the app, using it is necessary for recording videos or taking photos. Some users reported issues with the app, including a lack of live video feed and pop-up windows in Chinese. However, the vendor has since released an update to fix the camera issue, which improved the experience for many.
Camera and Features
The 1080P HD camera is a highlight for many users, especially at this price point. The camera can be manually adjusted up to 90°, allowing you to capture different angles. However, it’s worth noting that the angle can’t be adjusted mid-flight, which limits its versatility for action shots. The video quality is decent, but don’t expect professional-grade footage.
The drone also comes with fun features like gesture selfies, voice control, and 360° flips, which add to the entertainment value. One user mentioned how their kids loved performing flips and taking selfies with the drone. These features make it a great toy for kids and a fun gadget for adults.
Battery Life and Portability
The Oike S101S comes with two batteries, providing a total flight time of 25-30 minutes. While this is decent for a beginner drone, some users noted that the batteries take over an hour to recharge, which can be a bit of a wait if you’re eager to keep flying. The foldable design and included carrying case make it easy to transport, making it a great option for outdoor adventures.
Final Verdict: Is the Oike S101S Worth It?
The Oike S101S Remote Control FPV Drone is a solid choice for beginners and kids who want to explore the world of drones without breaking the bank. Its durable build, easy-to-use features, and fun extras like gesture selfies and 360° flips make it a hit with users of all ages. However, it’s not without its flaws—wind resistance is limited, the app experience can be frustrating, and the camera angle can’t be adjusted mid-flight.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly drone that’s perfect for casual flying and capturing basic photos and videos, this is a great option. Just keep your expectations realistic, especially when it comes to outdoor use and app functionality. Overall, it’s a fun and accessible drone that delivers good value for its price.
Rating: 4/5 Best For: Beginners, kids, and casual drone enthusiasts looking for an affordable and durable option.
Specification Remote Control FPV Drone with 1080P Camera for Kids and Adults Beginners, Foldable Quadcopter with Carrying Case, Adjustable Len, Gestures Selfie, Brushless Motor, Altitude Hold, 3D Flips, Voice Control, One Key Take Off/ Land, Waypoint Fly, Optical Fl...:
Comments from Amazon:
I’m 7.5 years old and this is my first review. I love this drone!!
So for what this drone costs, it's a great little toy. The app that you connect to in order to record video/pictures leaves a lot to be desired but you can use it to skip the included remote and fly the drone from it entirely. The video quality is decent and the camera can be angled but it's not powered so you have to do this manually before liftoff. So there is no mid-flight adjustment on camera angle so that's a little difficult but again at this price point, it's surprising it has a camera at all. You can fly this unit without the use of an app/phone, but you can't record/take photos so just note that. I did find flying the drone was best with the included remote control but I liked having the phone in the attachment point so I could see through the camera and use it. Now for the worst thing about this drone, the wind causes it to be very difficult to control. It doesn't fight the wind very well and can become very difficult to control. I found this out as myself and my kiddos flew it into a neighbor's yard as the wind pushed it there and we could not get the controls to adjust enough to allow the drone to overcome the tint the wind caused on it. I am not a super experience drone user but was able to get the hang of it quickly and it will hover pretty well (if the wind isn't blowing) otherwise it will get pushed quickly and fly with the wind. We did have to emergency stop it a few times to keep it from crashing into stuff so it would land on the grass pretty hard (or in a bush one time) but the blade bumpers/protectors and the overall unit suffered no damage and it seemed very sturdy. The unit comes with three batteries that last about 12 minutes each (very close if not exactly as the documentation states) and they take a little while to recharge (1+ hours per battery) so you can't fly this for an extreme amount of time. Overall, I'd recommend it for a fun toy drone just don't expect to get great video action shots, and try to fly it on a calm day with little to no wind.
This drone is great - maybe not for the absolute beginner on the first day, but for an aspiring novice user for sure. It can be a little finicky at times, but overall it is easy to control. It has enough power to also fly outdoors if there is some wind, as long as the gusts are not too strong. Flight characteristics and ease of control get a five star rating from me. So why 2 stars then? It is the software of the cellphone App. The software and the GUI are designed rather well, and after connecting a cellphone to the drone via WiFi, it can be flown with the software on the cellphone screen alone, even though I personally prefer the sticks on the remote control. But even though the phone was connected to the drone via WiFi, as is evidenced by the ability to control it from the phone, there was no image - nothing. No still picture, no video, no video life stream - nothing. What good is a camera on the drone if the video footage doesn't show up on the phone screen? Moreover, while the main part of the GUI is in English, as soon as one wants to control the drone via the phone, there are windows popping up - all in Chinese. Google translate can help , but... Which software test could possibly miss that? It looks to me as if this software was pushed out the door before it was ready. Not a fan of this app!!! Just for the record: I am using a Google Pixel 6, running the latest Android version (13) and have 92.73 GB of free memory. The App is allowed to use ALL resources on the phone. EDIT: The vendor informed me that a new software version is available, which fixed the camera problem. However, it did not fix the popup windows in Chinese. As this is much less critical than the camera, I revised my review from 2 to 5 stars. Still, I would wish that the software be thoroughly tested before it is released - yes, also for a toy.
As a first time remote control flying drone user, I admit to being rather intimidated to try this thing out. I am glad that I bit the bullet and went for it because this was a really fun endeavor with an easy learning curve. Mind you, I have not even attempted the camera aspect to this, all in good time. For now, I can say just learning to use this and flying it around without hurting either myself, the cats, or the drone was an accomplishment I am proud to have made it through. Next step will be to fly it even higher and take video of my property. The instructions were pretty good and easy enough to follow. I stupidly expected the arms to open on their own, so that faux pas was entirely on me. Once that was done, syncing the remote to the drone and then getting the horizontal sync was a snap. It raises right up on its own and hovers very nicely. The drone is very responsive to the remote, so don't do fast or hard movements because that little guy is fast! I also don't suggest letting it get away from you and smacking into a cat post because it might suck hair around one of the propellers and that might be a nightmare to fix and remove. Otherwise, happy flying and buy more of these for your friends because they're not going to want to watch you play without getting in on the action themselves!
My grandson loved his gift!