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PARROT AR DRONE 2.0 POWER EDITION: DEEPER INTO THE DRONE ZONE.
More: that’s s what you get when you opt for the Parrot AR Drone 2.0. We’re talking more in every respect: from 36 minutes of flying time to smartphone or tablet control, this bird can lift your drone experience to new heights to the tune of 350 bucks.
The “Power Edition” comes with a valuable set of accessories. Here’s what we found in the box, next to the model itself:
- 3 sets of rotor blades: red, orange, blue
- A tool to replace them
- 2 lipo 1500 mAh batteries
- Battery charger
- Protectors for indoor and outdoor usage
- Stickers (yay!)
- Instruction manual
The batteries are the main draw of the “Power Edition”: while the regular version comes with one 100 mAh pack, this one has 2 high-density lithium-polymer batteries, each packing 1500 mAh. You get three times the battery life of the regular stock model, jumping from 12 to 36 minutes.
The bad news here for the Parrot is that you need to interrupt your session and exchange batteries once the first one is dead. Also, you’ll want to plan your RC session well ahead of time: charging a battery takes a couple of hours.
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is coated in black, with the colored rotors adding a solitary touch of color. The design makes them stand out and add vibrance to the the quad’s ninja-style exterior.
FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
Welcome to full Hollywood experience! Even though it’s becoming a more common feat these days, you’ll feel like a secret agent after you turn your iOS (Ipads are great for this but phones work too) or Android device into a full control panel for your AR Drone 2.0. There are apps for everyone.
The quad Parrot has an integrated wifi system that allows you to connect your device like connecting to any wifi hotspot. After you do, start up the control software and you’ll get a live video stream right from the drone. The RC flight range extends to 160 feet (50 meters).
It comes with sophisticated electronics that help you straighten up and fly right: embedded sensors make it easy for you to take off and land just like a helicopter, even if you’re not an experienced drone pilot yet.
The rotors are individually powered and we were impressed with the superior stability the quad’s technology affords it even in particularly windy conditions. When left to hover, it will maintain a very solid distance between itself and the ground. The hull is also very well built and will resist to the inevitable bump in the road.
Be sure to mount the included protectors to keep the quad safe from damage. The drone’s app is nicely laid out and user-friendly, but we sometimes wished it was easier to precisely steer the quad.
Yes, the on-screen controls overlaying the live video stream provide great flexibility, and you can even move the drone using your phone’s or tablet’s accelerometer. It’s precise and responsive most of the time – but still, we had to use the emergency landing function several times during testing, when the quad went off on its own or the app lagged.
In the “pure fun” department, the Parrot AR Drone will perform a badass barrel-roll when you double-tap your screen. Acrobats rejoice! Just don’t do it too often, it costs a lot of energy.
VIDEO FEATURES
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 comes fitted with another 720p camera (meaning a 1280×720 resolution), which provides some truly great video quality.
This guy doesn’t just record video: you can instantly upload content to e.g. Youtube or Picasa straight from the drone. It also features USB capability, allowing you to extend your storage space.Beyond toying around, you’ll find yourself recording memorable digital videos for yourself, your family and friends in no time. The only thing that you’ll want to modify on your video is the sound but we recommend that you add a fun music track to go along with your flight adventures.
OUR CONCLUSION
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition is clearly not the ideal beginner’s choice, but after you’ve cut your teeth and banged up your edges on a strong starter drone, this is a great next step. The experience of steering it using your smartphone or tablet alone is worth the price of admission, and that’s only one among a plethora of extended features. Out of all the reviews, this one was the easiest drone to recommend. It also works well with both Apple and PC systems.
THE PROS:
- iOS/Andriod-compatible (Apple and PC) control app (Ipad & Iphone) is user-friendly, provides intuitive and flexible controls
- Comes with 2 high-performance batteries for 36 minutes of flying time
- Long range of 160 feet (50 meters)
- And here’s what we think could still be improved:
- While ultra-precise most of the time, the controls sometimes get laggy and erratic, forcing you to emergency-land
- You’ll need to change lipo batteries halfway through your session
- Batteries take several hours to charge
At around 350 Dollars, this is a great drone to satisfy your quad hobby, and you’ll love the great videos you’ll shoot for yourself, friends and family.
Get the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition here.
PARROT AR DRONE 2.0 POWER EDITION: DEEPER INTO THE DRONE ZONE Drones Review User Rating: 2.13 (2 votes)
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