After we spent more than 10 hours on reading reviews, watching youtube videos, and studying real users’ reviews, we think the Force1 drone (U49WF) is a good starter drone for adults who are looking for something to experience the fun of flying or a toy that can play with kids.
It’s easy to set up and fly, and equipped with an HD camera so you can get a live view when flying and taking videos and pictures.
If you want a drone that can help you to advance your flying skills, or take epic aerial videos and photos, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and navigate
- Startup instructions are easy and simple
- Long flight time (12-15 mins)
- Comes with 2 batteries
- Good Durability
- Good customer support
Cons
- It does not perform well in light winds.
- The camera is fixed, not high quality
- App’s not user-friendly
- The RC needs to rest 10 minutes before charging/playing again
The Force1 Drone Review
Key Specs
- Weight: 370 g (2.84 pounds)
- Size: 14.8 x 14.3 x 5.2 inches
- Max Flight Distance: 120 m
- SD card: Support
- Max fight time/charge: 15 Minutes
- Charging Time: 3 Hours
Features and Benefits
Easy of use. 4/5
It features a one-key takeoff and landing that allows you to easily navigate the drone. Altitude Hold allows the drone to hold its position after getting up in the air. Headless Mode can save you the trouble to figure out the direction the drone is facing.
Users said that startup instructions are clear and simple, the drone is very easy to set up, they can control it pretty well after limited practice.
People do have complaints, some said that the app isn’t the most user friendly, and it takes about a minute for the remote controller to establish connectivity with the drone.
Flight Performance. 3/5
The Max flight time is 15 minutes per charge, the force1 comes with 2 batteries, so you can get around 25 minutes of flight time in total which is pretty good.
It offers 3 speeds so you can choose according to your skill level. The max range is 150m and you will get an out-of-range alarm when it goes too far.
One of the downsides is the poor wind-resistant, people said that it can’t hold its position in slight wind. For new pilots who have no flying experience, it’s better to not fly in windy days.
Although you can get a live view from the monitor, the video is laggy, so you can’t fly FPV, not to say fly with a VR headset.
Camera 2/5
It features a 720P 120° Wide-angle HD Camera which enables you to capture videos and photos. Just like all the cheap drones, you won’t get high-quality footage and pictures from it.
Safety 4.5/5
This drone is equipped with integrated propeller guards which makes flying much safer. When it crashes into people or objects, it won’t cause any serious injuries. It can also protect the propellers from breaking.
Durability. 4/5
It’s made of pretty solid plastic. Users said that it comes with good overall durability, but the landing gear should be stronger, and the controller needs a better grip.
Customer Service 4.5/5
The customer service is responsive. Users said when they had a problem with setup or fly, they can get help quickly. For defective units, the replacement is fast and satisfied.
What’s in the box?
- U49WF Blue Heron Wi-Fi Drone x 1
- 120° Wide-Angle 720p HD Camera x 1
- 2.4Ghz Remote Controller x 1
- 7.4V 1000mAh LI-PO Battery (2) + USB Charger Cable
- Micro USB Cable, (4) Extra Propellers, Drone Tools
- User Manual
Alternatives you can consider
The Force1 Drone with camera is a good option for a toy or a starter drone, but we also found a few ones that perform better or pretty much the same. They have similar prices or even cheaper.
Holy Stone HS370
This model has all the features that the Force1 Drone has, and the max flight time is 12 minutes which is a litter bit less than the Force1. Most importantly, it comes at a more affordable price.
SNAPTAIN S5C
The SNAPTAIN S5C is similar to the Force1. They are at the same price level, and users like this one more.
Ryze Tello
Compared to the Force1, Ryze Tello comes with a better camera and flight performance, and the live video transmission is more stable and less laggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size SD card is required for these camera drones?
For most people, a 4 GB micro SD card is enough. If you’d like more storage space, you could use a 16 GB micro SD card.
What is the range?
The max range is 150m, but you can’t go that far because of the interference, also if you go to far, the drone may get blown away.
Where can I find the force1 drone manual?
Here it is: https://force1rc.com/pages/manuals
Where can I get force1 drone accessories and parts?
The package includes almost everything you need. If you crash your drone, you will need to contact the buyer for details.
What is the force1 drone warranty like?
To learn more about the Force1 Drone warranty, check here: https://force1rc.com/pages/dronesaver-warranty
Conclusion
If you are looking for something inexpensive, this is not a bad option. Just keep in mind, you may need to pay more to get features on the nicer quads, such as nice images, stable flight in winds, and return to home with GPS.