Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0 Aerial Review: The Ideal Drone for Beginners

Ehang is a Chinese drone company that has recently been on the headlines for its luxurious and easy to fly Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0 Aerial model. It is dubbed as the easiest drone to fly in the world today due to the reliance on an easy to use Android or iOS application. The manufacturers made it in such a way to make it sound more like a flying camera which requires little if any human control.

The Ghostdrone has been designed in a way that encompasses most of the specs that are found in other drones in the market. You will enjoy a 4K camera, a 3-axis gimbal, VR Google camera control, a smartphone tilt control as well as some cool boilerplate autopilot algorithms.

Product specifications:

Buy Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0 Aerial on Amazon

This drone is unique as its control doesn’t feature the usual RC transmitter. The control of this drone relies on a smartphone or tablet app with the help of a G-box. You can use either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to facilitate the communication between the G-box and the Ghost which it is flying in the air. It is a drone that has been tailored to meet the needs of the general population, especially individuals who are on the lookout for a drone that has an easy to use interface and one which requires little or no experience at all.

These are just some of the features and aspects of this cool drone that this article will explore. You will also be taken through a comparison of the Ghostdrone 2.0 to other similar drones in the market to allow you to make a prudent and informed selection.

Build specifications

Packaging

The box that holds this drone is nicely packed with all the components being tucked safely in their respective slots. Below are the parts that you expect to see:

• A ghost airframe
• 3S 5400mAH Li-Po battery
• A battery charger
• 8 3-blade props
• A 3-axis GoPro Camera Gimbal
• iOS G-box Module
• 4 prop guards
• A hardware and Alan tool
• The manual and Documentation

The final assembly of this quadcopter drone can be undertaken in no time.

Design & durability

The dimensions of the Ghostdrone are 480 x 480 x 100mm and carbon fiber has been utilized as both the body and the rotor material. This quadcopter drone has a wingspan of about 14.2 inches and its weight is above average at 1.4 pounds. It is available in a number of colors: red, black as well as white.

Camera

The Ehang Ghostdrone has an external camera and accommodates some great cameras like the GoPro Hero 3, GoPro Hero 3+, GoPro Hero 4 as well as the Ehang Sports camera. You can pretty easily attach these compatible cameras to the drone’s main body with the help of a compatible stabilization gimbal.

The stabilization gimbal of this particular drone is able to support 2 axes of rotation, which in simple terms implies that the steadiness and focus of the camera will be maintained in case the drone rotates during the times it pitches or rolls.

The drone also features a spherical camera that will enable you to shoot videos at 4K resolution with photos being crisp and of high-quality courtesy of the 12MP. This camera has an aperture of 2.8 as well as a 93-degree wide-angle lens.

Battery & flight time

The Ghostdrone uses a Lithium Polymer 3S, a 5,400mAh battery, that has a power of 11V. This is a powerful battery, but you should also note that this increases the overall weight of the drone and it has an impact on any other extra weight that you might want the drone to carry around. If you want to get more familiar with RC batteries, how they work, and how to know which one to choose, we suggest checking our article about drone batteries and all you need to know about them.

This drone can fly for a maximum of about 30 minutes, a time that is higher than the average flight of similar drones in the market. The drone is also able to carry an extra weight of about 2.20 pounds or 1000 grams, which means the Ghostdrone Aerial has a slightly above average capacity compared to the normal payload capacity.

This implies that you can comfortably carry an average GoPro camera with this drone, this being inclusive of the integrated housing of the particular GoPro camera.

It is good to note that the maximum flight time of about 30 minutes is applicable to the situations when the drone is not carrying any extra weight. This might thus be significantly reduced with the addition of any extra weight.

Controller

The Ghostdrone utilizes a Phone or Tablet which provide the control system using the GHOST drone application, a feature that makes it stand out. The operating range for the drone is for up to 1000 meters and the minimum operating system compatibility is either iOS 7.0 or the Android 3.0.

So as to be able to use this drone, you are first required to download the application onto your tablet or smartphone which have at least the minimum operating system compatibility. The controller range for the drone is 900 more than the average 100 meters for similar drones in the market.

Flight performance

The top speed of the Ghostdrone Aerial is 10.7m/s or 24 mph, a speed that is slower compared to other similar drones in the market. It is good to keep in mind that this is the horizontal top speed which can be affected by the wind strength and the direction in which the drone is flying to at a given time.

The Ghostdrone 2.0 is capable of flying up to only 1000m above sea level, a distance that is dependent on the operating range of a particular type of Ehang Ghost drone. It worth noting that this drone can fly in ambient temperatures ranging from -15 to 70 degrees Celsius, a range that is quite valuable in case you want to use the drone in extremes of conditions.

Value for money and guarantee

The Ghostdrone aerial 2.0 drone goes for $599.99 on Amazon for the basic model while the one that comes with a camera and a couple of more features costs about $1500. It is quite expensive since you can get other drones that cost less for the same features. Its intuitive and smart control system sets it apart and you could choose to spend some extra dollars to have a great flying experience with it.

The drone has a warranty of one year from the purchase date though this doesn’t include any other damage arising from misuse of the drone.

Unique features

There are a couple of features which set this quadcopter drone apart from other models in the drone market. The Chinese manufacturers of this drone have added some cool specs that will be outlined below.

Virtual Reality Goggles

The Ghostdrone aerial 2.0 is among the few drones that offer their consumers this intuitive and easy to use technology. With the help of this, you can experience a bird’s eye view of the landscape bellow the drone, thanks to the drone’s 4K camera.

What adds zest to this technology is the camera’s unique head tracking feature which makes possible for you to control the orientation of the camera just by moving your head either up or down while wearing the VR headsets. This feature is quite convenient as it will eliminate the need for you to control the camera’s gimbal using the dials on the transmitter.

It is also good to mention that the Ghostdrone has an edge over other drones as it has zero latency during transmission of the video feed and Ehang claims that data is transmitted at a rate of 5.8 GHz for up to 3000 feet away. You will thus be able to fly the drone through tight as well as constricted spaces with the desired precision. For those who want to know more about FPV systems and goggles, we suggest checking out our article about best FPV goggles.

In case one doesn’t need the VR, there is a version that doesn’t feature, the basic model, which is cheaper.

Uses a smartphone or tablet app for control

Running of the Ghostdrone has been made easy as you only need an Android or iOS app to control the drone. Through the use of the app you can be able to conveniently control the orientation as well as the height of the drone by simply sliding the bars on the compatible device that you are using. What is more is that the GoPro camera can also be controlled using the App.

This iOS and Android app will allow you to switch between the downward facing camera and the front one and this will help you to avoid collisions. The app also gives you the opportunity to incorporate some gesture controls. This smartphone has a less intimidating way of controlling your drone during the flight.

This app will also allow you to set waypoints and the follow-me feature has been added to it along with the auto-return home function, pretty convenient features for a beginner or in situations when the battery is about to die.

Weather resistance capabilities

This drone is resistant to unfavorable weather conditions, for instance, windy conditions and it is good to mention that it is waterproof.

Rapidly charges

The Ghostdrone aerial 2.0 offers you the convenience of getting back to your flying experience as its battery is able to charge in about an hour or less. You can thus be able to spend most of your time using the drone compared to other drones that take a relatively longer time to charge.

The Ghostdrone aerial 2.0 operates on an upgraded GPS system and its processor is also more powerful. These features have been linked to the improvement in the overall flight time.

Similar models or main competitors

The Ghostdrone is a good beginner quadcopter but it is a relatively expensive compared to other drones in the market that have almost similar specs. It can also be used as a professional drone in capturing high quality and crisp photos or videos. This section will provide a number of alternatives to the Ghostdrone aerial 2.0.

The DJI Phantom 2 Quadcopter

This is an appropriate professional drone that is safe, easy to use and fly and you can go ahead and mount your expensive camera on it. This drone is also stable and can be able to comfortably carry the high-end cameras and deliver as has been proven by some epic movies that have been shot using it.

You will also be able to enjoy the return home function which will help you to easily recover your drone in case you lose control or in the event that you switch the controls off. It comes as a ready to fly the drone, and all you need to do is attach the propellers, add the batteries to the remote and you are good to go.

This drone also has a great gimbal, the Zenmuse H3-3D 3-axis gimbal, which will see to it that your video streaming is smooth as well as ensuring the camera has the desired stability.

The flight time for the DJI Phantom 2 is almost similar to that of the Ghostdrone aerial 2.0 standing at 25 minutes but its size won’t give you a chance to navigate comfortably in tighter spaces. Its range of control is also shorter compared to the Ghostdrone, a distance of up to 300 meters away.

This drone is also a relatively expensive but many have fallen in love with it. It is safe, stable and it has advanced features as well as a good flight time. It goes for around $400 on Amazon, and you can find out much more about the features it offers, in our DJI Phantom 2 in-depth review.

 

The Blade 350 QX3 RTF

This drone also has a lot to offer if you are looking for a suitable GoPro drone and it was designed to make it easy for you to shoot photos and videos. You will enjoy its GPS features, simple controls as well as some outstanding safety features.

The Blade 350 QX3 features a basic GoPro mount and it is recommended that you get a better gimbal to realize the most out of this wonderful drone. It also has a shorter flight time compared to the Ghostdrone, 10-15 minutes on a single battery and its control range is limited just as was the case for the DJI Phantom 2.

This drone is delivered Ready to Fly and it also features the Return home function just in case something goes wrong during the flight. You can try out its specific flight modes that are quite convenient when taking aerial videos or images, and you can also get a much better idea about what this drone can do, by reading our Blade 350 QX3 review.

These flight modes will enable your drone to self-level and you can also enjoy the use of altitude sensors as well as the GPS to make sure that your drone is in ultimate hover. It goes for about $400 on amazon, with suitable safety features.

 

The 3DR Solo Quadcopter

This is an amazing drone built with GoPro cameras in mind and it is an excellent choice for professional drone pilots interested in aerial photography or cinematography. It is also a new release and had been marketed as the world’s first smart drone. The Solo drone is powered by a twin 1 GHz computers and it offers excellent features for those interested in aerial video as well as photo shoots.

You will enjoy streaming in HD via Wi-Fi straight from your GoPro camera to the Android iOS devices that you are using, in other words, you get the First Person View (FPV) with this drone.

With a function such as the Orbit, you can be able to lock your camera on a single object and take multiple pictures at different angles or orientations. You can also try out the Cable cam which will allow you to lock the drone on a virtual cable and then you will control the camera.

The gimbal of this drone will provide you with steady and smooth videos as well as a good control of your GoPro camera. It goes for about $250, but it is actually worth much more. You can get more familiar with what this amazing model has to offer, by reading our 3DR Solo in-depth review.

 

Overview

Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0 Aerial can also be used for professional purposes as its gimbal is quite stable and suitable for supporting GoPro cameras. It also features a 12MP 4K camera that is capable of taking high-quality videos and photos.

You will also enjoy a longer control range of about 1000 meters away and the flight time is above average ranging from 25 to 30 minutes and the battery is able to charge in a short duration of time.

Pros:

• It is an ideal drone for beginner drone pilots as it easy to fly with absolutely no experience in drone flying being required or any form of training
• It is dubbed as the easiest drone to fly
• You can easily operate it from your smartphone

Cons:

• The drone has a short battery life as you can only fly it for about 25-30 minutes for a single charge.
• The federal and international shipping regulations only allow shipping within specified states limiting its accessibility and availability.

The drone is relatively expensive compared to other similar models which can offer almost similar performance.

But it can be a suitable beginner drone for those who don’t mind the price tag.