Best Drone for Total Beginners under $200? Loolinn Z6Pro GPS 4K Cam Drone First Flight Review

In this video, I fly the Loolinn Z6Pro GPS Brushless Drone as my very first beginner drone flight for under $200. You can buy this drone currently for $189.99 from Amazon US 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/47OZf45, for £209.99 from Amazon UK 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/3R2Xpq5, and for €229.99 from Amazon DE 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/45OtSom.

If you’re considering taking up drone flying as a hobby, the Z6Pro is an excellent choice. Weighing in at just under 250 grams, you won’t need a Flyer ID license to operate it. It boasts an impressive total flight time of 50 minutes with the two included batteries. The drone is equipped with a fixed 4K camera at the front, capable of a 90-degree vertical rotation, enabling it to capture 4K photos and 2K videos onto an inserted SD card and save 1080p photos and videos directly over Wi-Fi to your connected smartphone.

Inside the box, you’ll find a multi-language user manual and quick start guide, the Z6Pro drone, a remote controller, two rechargeable batteries with their respective USB charging cables, a micro USB charging cable for the remote controller, and a set of spare blades, screws, and a handy screwdriver to attach them. Everything comes neatly packed inside the included carry case, ensuring the safety and security of the drone and its accessories.

Features & Design

Taking a closer look at the drone’s dimensions, it measures approximately 140mm in length, 65mm in width, and 57mm in height with retracted arms. It weighs 146 grams without the battery and 215 grams with the battery installed. These specifications make it compliant with UK regulations, allowing you to fly it with just an Operator ID, which requires a £10.30 annual fee and you display this ID on the drone. 

Before flying, you first extend the drone’s four arms and ensure all eight blades are properly attached. Spare blades and screws are included for any unexpected mishaps during your first few flights. Your first flight should be in a large open area, anything smaller could potentially risk hitting and damaging the drone.

The Z6Pro boasts two cameras. The primary 4K camera is located at the front and can rotate vertically downward by 90 degrees, providing a wide 110-degree field of view. Beneath the drone, a fixed 720p camera aids in optical navigation and positioning when GPS signals are weak or for indoor use.

Each of its two supplied batteries offers 1700mAh of power, providing around 50 minutes of combined flight time. To recharge them, use the supplied charging cables. Charging from a pre-charged state took approximately 1 hour, while a full charge from empty required between 2.5 and 3 hours.

Remote Control & Mobile App

The controller’s design matches the drone’s compact form factor, measuring 143mm in length, 74mm in width, and 56mm in height, including the non-removable sticks. Before flight, you first need to extend the controller’s arms and antennas. The controller features a retractable smartphone holder, to accommodate a smartphone that runs the drone’s companion app.

On the controller, you’ll find 10 function buttons and a single status LED that tells you its current charge/charging state and connection status to the drone. Charging the controller is easy via the micro USB port at the bottom, and the four bumper buttons control the drone’s front vertical tilting camera and video and photo buttons.

Alternatively, you can choose to fly the drone directly from the mobile App over its Wi-Fi connection to the drone. This makes it perfect for whipping just the drone out of your bag to do a circular shot of you and your surroundings or capture you whilst you walk towards or away from the drone for that cinematic shot. The app features the majority of basic flight and controls, including ways to control the camera’s vertical rotation position. It is the only way to access its automatic flight modes and toggle its more advanced settings, so paring the app along with the manual controls of the controller’s joysticks, will offer the best of both worlds – if a little fiddly to set up every time.

My First Drone Flight

Prior to takeoff, it’s crucial for any beginner to familiarize yourself with the drone’s instruction manual, which covers flight preparation, collaboration, control, and landing procedures. In the UK, due to its weight and camera, you’re required to obtain an Operator ID. I also recommend completing the free 40-question theory test for a better understanding of drone etiquette and how to fly safely.

With charged batteries, I conducted my initial flights in the open space of my backyard to get accustomed to the drone and learn its basic flight manoeuvres. Admittedly, I had my share of collisions with walls and doors of my house and shed, but the drone impressively withstood the impacts without breaking any blades or suffering any substantial damage.

Startup and control of the drone was straightforward, thanks to the manual and app, which assist in sensor calibration before flight. The auto takeoff option smoothly elevates the drone to a hover 1.5 meters from the ground. With a wind resistance level of 3, the drone can handle wind speeds of 8-12mph. However, strong gusts can challenge its stability, leading to some very shaky camera footage. This drone also exhibits some drift, even when connected to the required GPS satellites. The automated return option takes the frustration of landing the drone. I found this places the drone within approximately 2 meters of its launch point, or more experienced users can choose to land it manually.

My initial outdoor flight took place in strong winds, which between 15-25 mph, exceeded the recommended conditions for this lightweight drone. Subsequently, I flew it in calmer conditions, where I had a better grip on its controls. This made flying safer and more enjoyable, with the option to use the return to home button at times when I lost control of the drone or wanted to land it quickly rather than doing it manually.

Beginner Automated Flight Modes

The drone offers various flight modes, but its lack of camera stabilization makes tracking subjects challenging. Waypoint and draw path modes proved more reliable, allowing you to set a specific path for the drone. However, the absence of a 3-axis camera control limited my use of these features.

As a beginner drone, the Z6Pro has altitude and distance limitations of 100 meters and 500 meters, respectively, enhancing safety for first-time pilots. There are two speeds of flight and even a beginner mode in the app that further restricts these distance limits to 30 metres altitude and distance.

My Impressions

To summarize, the Z6Pro is an enjoyable drone for novice pilots looking to explore the world of drone flying without breaking the bank. However, it does have some quirks. Battery levels on the controller are not easy to discern, button presses produce audible beeps, and recalibration is necessary between new locations and battery changes. Connecting the controller to the drone can be inconsistent, whereas the app connection is typically faster. For the best experience, consider using the app for automated modes or pairing the controller with the app for manual controls and additional in-flight information and recording.

Regarding its video quality, it’s important to manage expectations given the drone’s price point. With a fixed 90-degree camera that moves in small incremental steps, and no gimbal stabilization, video footage isn’t as buttery smooth as a 3-axis gimbal, and abrupt changes in orientation are common, especially in higher winds. Colour saturation is also a little too high for my tastes, and the dashcam-like sensor quality can struggle with rapid changes in brightness. Videos and photos are only stored at higher resolutions on an inserted SD card (up to 128GB) and this footage is simultaneously saved at 1080p on your phone too. Mac users will face limitations in accessing these higher-resolution files on the SD card, so you’re stuck with 1080p video from your iPhone or use a Windows machine to share these files.

The Z6Pro GPS Brushless Drone retails for $189.99 from Amazon US 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/47OZf45, for £209.99 from Amazon UK 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/3R2Xpq5, and for €229.99 from Amazon DE 👉🏻 https://amzn.to/45OtSom.

In conclusion, the Z6Pro is a fun entry-level drone perfect for those curious about drone flying. However, if your goal is capturing cinematic footage, its lack of a gimbal-mounted camera and dashcam-like video quality limitations may leave you wanting more. Consider investing a bit more in a drone that offers better image quality and ownership longevity in the long run.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Brief overview
0:45 – Unboxing
1:12 – Z6Pro Drone first-look
2:30 – Flight time, batteries & charging
2:50 – Z6Pro Controller
3:37 – First flight
4:20 – Drone for beginners
5:30 – Automatic flight modes
5:46 – Beginner limitations
6:05 – My Impressions

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