As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Syma is one of the most popularly heard names in the world of quadcopters. Over the years, it has produced a number of such devices that have catered to the likes of flyers, both amateur, and experts. Based in China, this company caters to the phrase ‘Technological Innovation & People First’.
All the drones that come out from the Syma factories are well tested to provide the users with the best quality at affordable prices. The products have been observed to be extremely durable, making it an immediate attraction among the users. The ready to fly models have really garnered a lot of publicity and have the ability to surpass its counterparts.
When it comes to the best quadcopter models, a number of names can be heard from the house of Syma. These include Syma X8, Syma X16, X12S and the likes. But one of the most popular names in this regard is the Syma X5 series of quadcopters. This is a series of ready to fly drones that come with very capable batteries with a solid build that gives rise to very stable flights. The drones are specifically suited to meet the needs of beginners as well as professionals. However, if you want to find out more about beginner drones, we suggest that you also read our article about best beginner drones.
Best Syma X5 models available on the market
Syma X5C-1
This is the first of the Syma X5 models we will be reviewing. This is a rather sturdy quadcopter that caters to the needs of beginner flyers as well as part time hobbyists.
Since this is an out-of-the-box fly quadcopter, it comes packed with all the necessary components that can give you some hands on experience on flying. Along with the Syma X5C-1 quadcopter, the package has a 2.4GHz transmitter and a 2 MP camera that gives you the chance to explore your skills in aerial photography.
The 500 mAh Li-Po battery has a voltage requirement of 3.7 V which gives the drone a decent enough flight time. There are also 4 protection frames packed in the box that can help you keep the drone running even in cases of a clash. The set of extra blades adds to the durability of the device along with a couple of landing skids. The other components include a charging cable, a screwdriver and a user manual.
What you get out of the box is a very sturdy and strong flying machine. We say this drone is perfect for beginners. Now, as an amateur flyer, it is but natural that there will be some clashes and collisions here and there. This is one area that the drone excels in. It is made up of anti-collision elastic plastic which acts as the protective frame. So, even in the case of an accident, your drone does not sustain too many issues. Therefore, this drone is known to be able to handle a lot more clashes and collisions as compared to its counterparts.
You will be assured of getting a very durable and controlled flight that works with a lot of power. For instance, the Syma X5C-1 is the revamped and upgraded version of the X5. So, in this form, it comes with a highly improved flight power that also leads to better control. The stability of flights is one of the most noticeable things in this drone.
The 6 axis flight has indeed a very strong resistance against the wind. Thus, this device works well even in situations of slightly disturbed weather conditions with winds blowing at speeds of 20 mph. The 3 accelerometers assure of stable and reliable flight characteristics.
The Syma X5C-1 also leads to very agile flights that help it take a few acrobatic turns in the air. The device is mobile enough to be able to roll, pitch and yaw. Now, we come to the flight time. The 500 mAh battery can last for as long as 5 to 6 minutes which is pretty impressive for a drone of these specifications. This proves to be more than useful for beginners. Here is a look at the flight time test:
The 2 MP camera also gives you sufficient exposure to practice shooting aerial pictures and get some good experience. The footage of the camera is recorded on a pre-installed micro SD card which can be accessed later.
It is advisable to always keep a few extra batteries in hand if you want to have an unhindered flight experience. But it is also imperative that you do not overstrain the drone. Give it a few minutes of rest and let the heat dissipate out after every 2 or 3 flights. One attractive aspect of the Syma X5C-1 is the easy availability of spare parts. For instance, if your motor stops working, it is very easy to replace it.
Overall, this is a very user-friendly drone ideal for beginners and hobbyists, that is easy to control and navigate and comes with super stable flights. Also, if you are a beginner and would like to know everything about controlling a drone, we suggest that you also check out our article about flying the drones, where you will get all the tips on how to become a proper drone pilot.
Syma X5SC
The Syma X5SC is yet another very stylish and elegant product from the house of Syma. Like every other Syma product, this is extremely durable and gives you very stable flight characteristics. It comes packed with a number of other features like Intelligent Orientation Control and others. The HD camera does a decent enough job to give you some fresh flight experience of aerial photography. The main aim of this device is to make flying easy for beginners and amateurs. Let us look into why this drone turns out to be so suitable for the first time flyers.
For starters, the quadcopter is extremely durable. It is the perfect product for beginners who are prone to make a few clashes and collisions. Since this is an upgraded version of the Syma X5C-1, it contains all of those protective measures that make the device durable. The elastic protective circle makes it easy to fly without having to worry about the blades getting damaged in case of a collision.
The size of the rotor guards has been increased to provide the additional protection. Besides, the landing skids have been kept at an even more raised position such that you get a good and effective viewing angle.
Next, we come to the camera. This is a major improvement over the previous model. The device comes with a built-in 2 MP camera that records at 720p. This gives you the opportunity to film your flights and also take a few snapshots. How do you view the recorded footage? Simple, add a micro SD card and you are good to go. The HD camera brings in fresh perspectives of the concept of aerial photography.
The flight stability of the Syma X5SC is one of the most talked about features of this drone. The device comes equipped with a 6 axis gyroscope with the 6 axis flight control systems. This makes it more convenient for new flyers to get used to flying a drone and also helps the experienced flyers try out some new tricks with the copter. This is why there are two different flight modes for this drone: one for the newbies and one for the advanced pilots. Its ability to make 360-degree twirls and flips makes it a rather useful drone.
The package has the Syma X5SC quadcopter, one remote control and a micro SD card of 4 GB capacity that gives us enough storage to keep our recorded photos and videos. The included card reader makes it easy to view the recordings later. It also has 4 spare blades in case of accidents and 4 sets of blade protectors. Along with the 500 mAh battery, the package also includes the battery charger, a screwdriver and a manual.
The Syma X5SC also comes with some added special features. The Intelligent Orientation Control is worth a mention here. This paves the way for the Headless mode of operation for the drone. By making use of this flight mode, you can control the drone based on your own orientation, instead of the drone’s. This means that the nose direction of the quadcopter is not the same as the forward direction.
The gives the first time flyers a very smooth learning curve to get their hands set on the controller. The drone that gives a very controlled flight performance has a battery that lasts about 6 to 8 minutes. So, it would be a good idea to have a few extra batteries in your kitty so that you do not lose time in between flights.
Syma X5SW
This is the most interesting model in the series of the Syma X5 drones. This is an elegantly designed quadcopter that gives extreme flight stability. It is also rather easy to navigate through the air. The important aspect about this device is its capability to fly both indoors and outdoors making it well suited for a wide range of flyers.
For starters, let us see what the packaging has to offer. Upon unboxing the drone, we find one Syma X5SW RC quadcopter with a 0.3 MP camera attached to it. It is accompanied by a remote control and a mobile phone holder to use the smartphone as a screen for real time transmission. There is also one LiPo battery along with a USB charger. Four spare main propellers and one user manual are also found within the box.
The Syma X5SW is very identical to the previous two models. The only point of difference among these products lies in the X5SW’s ability to provide real-time transmission of the recorded camera feed. The FPV enabled camera is the most important aspect of this device.
The user can view all that the camera sees on the smartphone screen synced with the controller. This is achieved with the help of the WiFi antenna. This makes it really useful for people who opt for a First Person View of all the recordings. To enable this setting on your phone, you need to install the Syma FPV application, available for all Android and Apple iOS devices. Once the app is switched on, it takes the camera about 30 seconds to switch on its own hotspot after which it is all set to transmit the live feed.
The Syma X5SW is not the ideal product if you want to opt for drone racing. It is rather better suited to aerial photography and light flying by hobbyists. You can use the FPV feed to capture the best aerial shots and videos, to get the right frame. Another point of difference between this drone and its siblings is that the X5SW does not record the camera feed onto an SD card. Instead, the feed is recorded directly onto the smartphone via the Syma application.
With the batteries supplied with the drone, this device can record a flight time of about 4 to 5 minutes with the camera on. On the other hand, without the camera working, it can work for a full 8 minutes at maximum. However, larger batteries in the range of 750 mAh could be tried out for better flight time results.
Talking about the range of the drone, it can work well up to a good 50 meters on the remote control. With the help of the Spread Spectrum Technology, this control becomes free from interference with faster reaction speeds. The transistor also allows for two different flight modes, as deemed convenient by the users.
Now, the Syma products have already been established to be highly durable devices. This particular drone in question is no less. The nylon engineering plastics make the device body strong, sturdy and durable. The special security protection framework ensures that the drone does not suffer much harm in case of collisions.
There is a specialized vent design that helps dissipate the heat out so that faster and longer flights can be facilitated. Add to that, the night lights make it more convenient to spot at night with beautiful colors. The 6 axis gyro flight makes sure that the drone has strong wind resistance and can hold itself well in disturbed weather conditions.
A short comparison between models
Each of the three products in this review has been established to be extremely strong and durable drones. The strong and stable flight characteristics are what attract the users to the devices.
The products have nearly identical flight times, all powered by a 500 mAh battery. The Syma X5SW garners special attention here because of its real time FPV transmission, but that is also the reason its flight time decreases on the same battery.
The Headless mode of flight makes the Syma X5SC an especially useful drone. On the other hand, the Syma X5C-1 is a simple device that is capable of performing stable and acrobatic movements in the air.
| Syma X5C-1 | Syma X5SC | Syma X5SW | |
| Flight time | 5 to 7 minutes | 6 to 8 minutes | 7 to 8 minutes |
| Camera | 2 MP camera | 2 MP HD camera | 0.3 MP HD camera |
| Battery | 3.7 V, 500 mAh | 3.7 V, 500 mAh | 3.7 V, 500 mAh |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds | 4.2 ounces | 1.1 pounds |
| Dimensions | 17.4 x 9.6 x 4.3 inches | 12.4 x 12.4 x 1.6 inches | 12.4 x 3.1 x 12.4 inches |
| Special features | Capable of performing some agile movements and stunts in the air |
|
|
| Pros |
|
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
|
The three drones are from the same Syma X5 Series and this is why some of their characteristics and features are identical. However, each drone is suited for a particular purpose.
For instance, if you are an amateur flyer and are looking to get your hands set on flying an unmanned aerial vehicle, starting off with the Syma X5C-1 is a good idea here. This is a budget drone within $50 offering you rather stable flights. This is thus ideal for inexperienced flyers and hobbyists.
The Syma X5SC is another drone in the below $50 price range. This has one advantage over its previous sibling- an HD camera. So, if you are new to flying who wants a simple and stable drone while taking some aerial photographs at the same time, this drone is ideal for you. It can also interest experienced flyers as it has a special flight mode for them.
Lastly, the Syma X5SW introduces the concept of First Person View in aerial photography. This makes the device useful for people who are interested in aerial photography as the real time transmission helps you position your camera in order to take the pictures. Priced at $56, this drone proves to be a good buy!
As you can see, Syma has a lot to offer and we’re sure they won’t stop here. If you like or own any of the models discussed here, please let us know your experience in comments. Also, if you know any similar models from Syma or competitors, please let us know.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
