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The Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A is a quadcopter drone designed with tactical use in mind. That is, it can fly up high in the air and shoot images through its onboard camera with ease. This drone is ideal for those who want to fly a quadcopter that can go high up in the air and still record images with ease. The 720p camera is great for recording images clearly and cleanly.
Note: The Delta-Recon U818A is an RTF or Ready-to-Fly model that has been properly assembled. You will have to get the microSD card for the camera loaded up and ready for use while also charging up the battery before flying it for the first time. You will also have to check on the blades before flying this. Some spare replacement blades are included.
The amazing part of flying the Delta-Recon U818A is that you can use an Android or iPhone device to view your camera in real time. The transmitter offers support for such a device as it allows you to control your drone and see what’s on the camera. Everything is very easy to control and use.
Product specifications:
- FPV Stream directly to your iPhone or Android Smart Device (All new FPV WiFi feature)
- On-board 720p HD / 30 fps camera with recording.
- Automatic Return Home Failsafe.
- Up to 8 minutes flight time.
- Double flight time with 1 extra Li-Po Battery included.
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More importantly, this quadcopter can be ideal for when you’re looking to get into the world of drones. The design of the drone is simple and easy to understand but it is also sturdy enough to where it will stay protected in the air for a long time.
Build specifications
Packaging
The following items are included in the package for the Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A:
- The full quadcopter
- A 4-channel 2.4GHz transmitter
- A smartphone or tablet attachment feature to place on top of the transmitter
- 2 700mAh Li-Po batteries
- A USB charging cable
- 4 replacement blades
- A 4GB microSD card
- An SD card reader
- The instruction manual
It should be rather easy for you to get the quadcopter ready for your use. However, you will need to make sure you get enough AA batteries for the transmitter. Also, you will need a screwdriver to secure the blades if necessary.
Design & durability
The design of the Delta-Recon U818A is made with a dark-green body similar to what you might see on camo outfits in the military. This is paired with a series of black blades. The design features a series of circular borders around each individual rotor to protect the blades and to keep the drone stable. This allows it to balance itself well in the air.
The drone is about 33cm in length and width and 8.89cm high while being about 0.15kg in weight. This should be light enough to get up in the air rather quickly. The weight is balanced evenly around the entire body of the drone due to equal distribution on rotors.
Also, all frame features are identical on all 4 quadrants. Meanwhile, the camera is situated right in the center in order to not spoil the balance of the body.
The device is designed with a series of small pegs on the sides of the camera. These pegs are used to place the drone on a flat surface before takeoff, allowing you to get the drone to fly up in the air with ease.
The camera is located in the exact middle spot of the drone, secured with a solid black base with the lens being recessed in a small space. This protects the quadcopter camera from being damaged during flight or crashes.
Camera
The camera on the Delta-Recon U818A is made with a 720p HD design. This allows the camera to take in high-resolution images with ease. Even more, the camera can shoot videos at up to 30 frames per second.
However, the camera settings and controls are pretty rudimentary as there are no controls that allow you to adjust the angle in flight. Therefore, you will have to be cautious when piloting the drone.
The camera is also capable of taking high-quality JPEG still photos. However, you will have to try and keep the drone still when taking such photos as there is no gimbal to sweeten the deal.
The most important part of the camera comes from its First Person View feature. This is where you can get a live video feed of what your drone is shooting in real time. For this to happen, a Wi-Fi connection will be created by the drone. This will link the drone to an appropriate app installed on a smartphone or tablet.
You can then mount this mobile device onto the appropriate bracket included with the transmitter. This makes it easier for you to look directly at what’s on the camera so long as the Wi-Fi connection is strong enough.
Battery and flight time
The 700mAh battery on the Delta-Recon U818A helps you keep the drone up in the air for about 8 minutes on a full charge.
The mentioned 3.7V batteries have 2 cells, each cell offering 350mAh in power. The two are paired together to create a stronger battery that will last for a long period of time.
The battery also offers a low voltage warning. This lets you know when the connection for the battery is not working as well as it should or when the battery is about to run out.
Controller
The key point about the controller on the Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A is that it makes it easier for you to stay up in the air. This is a 4-channel 2.4GHz transmitter that offers a clear connection keeping the risk of interference to a bare minimum.
The included 6-axis flight control setup offers an adjustable gyro sensitivity system. This uses a few switches that help you adjust the intensity of individual controls improving the overall control when the drone is in flight.
A convenient digital display is featured at the bottom-middle side of the controller. This helps you see how strong the throttle on the drone is and how you’re steering it. This should also help you get a clear idea of how well the drone is flying.
There are also a few different buttons on the controller that allow you to perform various stunts. For instance, you can use one button to get the drone to flip over while in the air. The controller also comes equipped with a stabilization button that lets you get the drone steady in the air with the rotors powered in the same manner.
Of course, the controller also works with a mounting system on the top that allows you to connect a smartphone onto the controller. This is needed alongside a Wi-Fi connection to help you keep a close look at what’s on the camera in real time.
Flight performance
You have to look at a few critical considerations when flying the Delta-Recon U818A drone:
- The total operating range is about 100 meters. However, the camera transmission only works with a range that is about half that total.
- The drone has Return Home Failsafe implemented and it will automatically return to the takeoff point if it loses connection with the transmitter.
- The standard controller is simple and only has 4 clearly marked buttons for high/low speed, auto return home, headless mode and 360 degree flips.
- The weight is perfectly distributed so the drone is perfectly balanced while in the air.
- It’s lightweight so it doesn’t require far too much power to get it up in the air. Also, the lightweight nature keeps it from producing too much drag.
- The controls on the standard transmitter are sensitive and allow you to control the drone indoors and outdoors. This keeps the drone from going too quickly if you’re in an indoor setting.
Value for money and guarantee
The Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A is available with a great value attached to it. It can be found for $250 but it can also be found for closer to $150 depending on where you get it.
Kolibri has not specified if there is a guarantee attached to the drone. Fortunately, the device is strong enough to where it will not wear out quickly.
Unique features
The many added features that come with the Delta-Recon U818A drone are certainly important to look into. However, the ones that can be considered unique are as follows:
- The middle part of the drone has a few skidding devices that will protect it when it lands. This allows it to gently land on any flat surface.
- The housing materials on each rotor are used to keep the rotors from being exposed. This allows the rotors to consistently work without the risk of anything being too hard to use.
- The drone especially runs with a simple USB charger that can charge up the battery in a few hours. This can work with many compatible batteries including ones that are not made by Kolibri.
Similar models or main competitors
Voomall JJRC H8D
One alternative to the Delta-Recon U818A is the Voomall JJRC H8D. This quadcopter can be found for about half the total value of the U818A with a base value of about $120.
This offers a bright red body with a series of LED lights. It also has a 2-megapixel camera that focuses more on still photos than it does with moving images. Still, this does have a mounting feature that lets you link to the drone by Wi-Fi to see what’s on the camera in real time (just like the U818A). If you want to find out more about this model and the best ones from JJRC, check out our article about the best JJRC drone models.
The H8D uses two different accelerators on both sides of the drone. These will work together to make it easier for you to keep a strong link going while in the air. This especially helps in keeping control over how the drone moves. A headless mode is also available for when you need to smoother controls, a feature that can also be found in the U818A.
The H8D has a much greater operating range than the U818A in that it can work at up to 300 meters away from the controller. Still, the rotors and blades are not protected as well as with the U818A .
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GoolRC JJRC H25G
At about 605g, the GoolRC JJRC H25G is a little heavier than the U818A. This also has 4 extended landing feet with stoppers that make taking off and landing a little easier to manage. The blades are also protected by strong guards on the edges but don’t come with full circular guards.
An important point about the H25G is that its camera works with a setup that saves videos and images to a connected phone instead of an SD card. This means that you can use the phone to directly link your photos and videos to social media accounts right after you take them.
The drone operates within a 100 meter distance and can work for about 5 minutes on a full charge, thus making the battery weaker than what the U818A has. However, the battery can still be charged in about 2 hours.
The controller also works with its own integrated body that lets you add your smartphone into a proper compartment. This is easier to handle than a more traditional mounting bracket that you would have to affix separately onto the drone transmitter.
This drone is available with a base value of $150 making it a more affordable option than the U818A.
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WLToys V666
The last option to look at is the WLToys V666. This drone’s building style is similar to the U818A but the central unit is more rectangular. The V666 is also equipped with a 6-axis option and works with a camera that can be used with an integrated SD card slot so you can quickly record video files and take photos.
This device works with well-built rotors as well, but it doesn’t offer a sensitivity feature to help you control the drone with a little added support. The frame is made with reinforced plastic.
The battery lasts for about 5 to 7 minutes on average and it can take a few hours to recharge. The battery will drain faster if you are actively using the camera feature. This is why the camera does not start automatically with the drone – you will have to start it manually.
This drone can be found for about $130 which makes it a great deal. Of course, it is not as strong as what you’ll get out of the U818A.
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Overview
Let us now have a look at the advantages and disadvantages offered by this product
Pros
- The frame on the drone is strong and will not break apart.
- The drone can easily be controlled with a variety of sensitivity options to make it easier for you to control whether you are indoors or outdoors.
- This works with an extended variety of different smartphones for your use.
- It is easy to get the battery set up on this. In addition, you can quickly get the battery charged up with a USB connection.
- This can be easily set up for landing and takeoffs thanks to the simple bars on the middle part of the unit.
Cons
- The drone only works for a few minutes at a time.
- This won’t work with as much of a range on the camera when compared with the rest of the drone in general.
The Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A is a great option to consider when you are looking for a stable drone that is easy to control and allows even beginners to have some fun. This device is sturdy and thanks to the all-round guards, it will do well with crashes.
Our recommendation, if you are set on this device, is to make sure you buy spare batteries. The flight time is a bit low, but you can easily swap empty batteries with full ones and continue flying. However, you should get more familiar with drone batteries, in case you decide to extend the drone’s flight time and use stronger batteries. Therefore, we suggest also checking out our article about drone batteries.
Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A
- Design
- Features
- Battery life
- Ease of Use
- Quality
- Value For Money
Summary
The Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon U818A was designed to be an easy to use tactical drone that can help you get lots of videos and pictures regardless of height. This offers a good range of control and will help you take high-quality HD images. The 720p camera is especially efficient and can even be controlled through the use of a remote.
You can quickly get a smartphone linked to your drone which makes it easier to control. Still, if you don’t like controlling the drone using a touch surface, you can also use the standard controller. The control mechanism is rather effectively as you can carefully adjust the sensitivity of each individual control.
User Review
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