UDI U818A Quadcopter: A Drone Guaranteeing Value for Money

If you have been looking for drones in the under $200 price range, you must have come across the UDI U818A since this is one of the most talked about drones in this budget. However, considering its size, the main concern is the durability.

But the producer took a set of safety measures that can actually protect the device from clashes and collisions. Thus, the drone lasts a long time and gives you very stable flights.

Product specifications:

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There are two things to be really careful of before starting off with this drone.

1. Always remember to put in your contact details on the drone body in case you lose it.
2. Keep spare batteries charged in order to lose time between different flights.

The UDI U818A is a power packed device that has gained a lot of positive response from the users. With a decently performing camera, it makes for the complete drone in this price range.

Build specifications

Packaging

This FPV camera drone weighs a total of 5 ounces with dimensions of 16.1 inches x 14.1 inches x 4.3 inches. It is well-packed and here you can get an idea of the contents of the pack on unboxing it:

In general, the contents of the pack includes:

1. The U818A quadcopter
2. 4 GHz controller
3. 2 LiPo batteries of capacity 350 mAh
4. USB charger for the battery
5. Micro SD card for recording the camera feed of capacity 4 GB.
6. 4 sets of spare propellers
7. Power bank
8. User manual

Design & durability

Talking about the design and durability of the U818A quadcopter, this drone has quite a robust build. There are a lot of things that contribute to this. For starters, the high torque motors have proven to be rather powerful for the device.

This allows you to swiftly and spontaneously change directions without hassles. Also, there is a ring structure around the quadcopter that actually protects it at all times especially during crashes or collisions.

The drone, on the whole, has a rigid and compact design that is also very lightweight. This gives the device the required strength. The presence of spare propellers in the kit allows you to take a few risks and embark on a few adventurous flights.

This drone is suitable to be flown both indoors and outdoors. It can even work well on slightly disturbed environmental conditions including a light wind. It is also well structured to for different take-off and landing conditions outdoors.

On the other hand, when you are flying the device indoors, where there’s less open space and more chances of collisions, the rotor protectors might come in handy. These keep the rotors long lasting. Besides, the manufacturers pack a few extra rotors in the drone kit.

In the case of collisions against obstructions or hard objects, the U818A drone can actually withstand fairly strong impacts. The plastic parts make the device even more durable and they can be repaired or replaced whenever required.

However, the drone has integrated a few safety measures in order to protect the parts of the machine in cases of crashes. The safety guards try to prevent any sort of collisions or damage to the propellers.

The plastic components are impact- resistant and thus do not cause much of a trouble.  This gives us an idea of how the company has actually taken up measures to make this drone a very durable one.

Camera

The UDI U818A features a 2 MP camera that comes with the device itself. This is a forward-facing camera that can take some great aerial clips. The photos and videos are taken in HD quality pictures with the perfect combination of intense colors and white balance.

In fact, at this price, the image quality of the camera provided by the drone is rather surprising. Videos are recorded at 720p at 30 FPS. However, you would never be really disappointed if what you are looking for via aerial photography is a set of breathtaking aerial pictures with panoramic views. The lens of the camera is very wide and thus, the view becomes unlimited.

The camera feed can be viewed and accessed in two different ways. Firstly, you can watch them as First Person View or you can view them later as they are recorded on the 4 GB SD card provided.

Even though the video quality really depends on the lighting and the weather conditions around, the feed from the UDI U818A is, in general, is rather crisp and clear. Moreover, the camera can be directly controlled by the controller. But there is no camera preview that will let you adjust the camera before clicking the pictures.

Battery and flight time

The U818A model is made to run on a 350 mAh battery. Since there are two batteries provided in the drone kit, this translates to longer flight times. In this regard, this little drone, at this price, packs quite the punch. The drone can run for as long as 8 to 9 minutes on one full charge of the battery. This is rather impressive, and it also doesn’t take too long to charge.

The time taken would be around 2 hours to get the 3.7 volt LiPo batteries to get fully charged. Besides, the USB charger provided is also quite efficient and convenient.

Here is a real flight time test:

Controller

The remote control that comes with the UDI U818A proves to be rather simple and convenient for the users. As a pilot, it is essential for the users to have sufficient knowledge about the controls before getting the drone out in the air. This is the first step for flying a quadcopter.

In general, the remote control is pretty comfortable in the hands. It comes with a digital screen that displays the battery life, throttle, and other such information. There are two major controls on the remote: left analog stick and right analog stick.

This will help you adjust the direction and the speed at which you want to take the drone along. The camera can be accessed right from the controller by the push of a button. It is essential to have proper coordination between the camera button and the acceleration and direction analog sticks.

Besides, the drone is capable of undertaking some acrobatic turns and flips that might interest the enthusiasts. These can also be done using controls on the remote controller. The lights on the body of the quadcopter can also be controlled by this transmitter. This is especially useful for nighttime travels.

Flight performance

Even if you do not have any prior experience in the field of flying drones, you will still feel familiar with this device. This is because the U818A drone is a very user-friendly product, one that can give you useful flying experiences. The 8 minutes flight time is quite great and allows users to have lots of fun.

Talking about the range, this device provides a power packed performance at about 30 meters from the operator. This translates to approximately 100 feet. Beyond this distance, you are likely to lose signal and thus communication from the drone.

The brand has recently introduced the Return to Home function, which can prove to be very useful in this regard. You can track your quadcopter and it will come back to the takeoff spot even if you lose communication with it.

For the altitude, this drone gives a decent enough performance. It is a small drone and thus cannot expect excessively high altitude flights.

Here is a look on the altitude test:

The UDI U818A can operate in a temperature range of -10 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius which makes it very versatile and well-suited to different conditions.

For a drone of this size and price, this particular product gives quite an interesting flight performance just to gather some flying experiences. Another aspect that makes this copter suitable for flying enthusiasts is its ability to make some swift flips and rolls in the air, all of which are controlled by the operator from the base.

Value for money and guarantee

When it comes to the value for money, the UDI U818A scores full marks in this regard. It is available for around $50, which includes a number of accessories. These include spare propellers, extra batteries, a power bank and the likes. A drone of this price has a 2 MP HD camera and a controller that can give you the controls of the device.

What more could you expect from it? Also, it has been devised to cater to the needs of both the beginners and the experienced professionals individually. Because of the different flying modes, the device has garnered a lot of positive reviews.  A durable product with interesting features and a decent enough flight performance makes for the perfect quadcopter in this range.

There is no special mention of a warranty on the manufacturer’s website. However, it is only evident that you can get in touch with the company in case your drone fails to work properly or you receive a damaged or defective product.

This also depends on the provider you purchase the quadcopter from. Make sure to always get it from authorized dealers of the manufacturers. The company would not be able to help you out in situations of unauthorized use of the drone and disassembling it on the purchase.

Unique features

When the drone was first introduced, it came as quite a surprise for a lot of flying enthusiasts. It packs a whole lot of interesting features in this small and compact body in this price range. Let us have a look into some of the most exciting features:

1. First Person View – this drone now allows the operator to have a First Person View of the surroundings in which the copter flies. This is all thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity of the device. This gives you a bird’s eye view from the air.
2. Headless mode – this mode is a rather important one now. This is especially useful for beginners who are not very thorough with directing the drone. The Intelligent Orientation Control has made sure that the forward direction of the drone is not necessarily the nose direction. This means the drone can fly both ways without the user having to reposition is every time.
3. Return to Home function – if you are flying a drone, it is but natural for you to lose control or communication with the drone at times. But thanks to this feature, the device can now find its way back to its take-off point such that the user never really loses the drone.
4. Acrobatic flights – the UDI U818A is known for its agile and swift movements across the sky. The user can make some adjustments from the controller and the device can take a 360-degree flip or turn. The fact that the drone has added stability to its flight helps the acrobatic movements in the process.

This drone has indeed quite a few features that the users could benefit from. This is more than what a drone in this price range offers.

Similar models or main competitors

Syma X5

The closest competitor to the UDI U818A, is the Syma X5. This is an elegant and sleek quadcopter that comes with 6 axis gyro stabilization and an inbuilt HD camera to capture the best shots from mid-air. The camera records the images on an SD card, 2 GB of capacity. The camera brings about very stable pictures that can be attributed to the 6 axis Gyro stabilization.

The best thing about this drone is the fact that it can be flown both indoors as well as outdoors. The drone is well equipped for an outdoor flight because of its powerful wind resistance. It is an RTF drone that weighs 2.1 pounds. For more information on this model and other, best ones from this manufacturer’s X5 series, we suggest checking out our article about best Syma X5 models.

The 500 mAh LiPo battery takes about 100 minutes to get fully charged and leads to a flight time of about 7 minutes. As a user, you will be able to keep in touch with the quadcopter even 100 or 200 miles away from yourself; this is how effective the range is.  A low budget drone, this is ideal for beginners who want to get some practice.

JJRC H8D

Another product worth mentioning comes from the house of JJRC. The whole package includes the quadcopter, transmitter, camera, FPV monitor, antenna, protection covers and the likes.

Being made of plastic, this is an extremely lightweight device that is easier to maneuver in the air. It comes packed with a 500 mAh battery that takes about 110 minutes to get fully charged and thereafter can translate to 8 minutes of flight time. For a better insight on models from this manufacturer, we suggest that you also read our article about best JJRC drones.

The most exciting part about this low budget drone is the range of 300 meters. Besides, the camera is worth a mention here. It records videos at 1280x720p with a 68-degree visible angle. The 6 axis gyro system is capable of providing the quadcopter and the camera the required stability.

With the FPV mode, you can now watch the live feed as the drone moves about in the air. The presence of LED lights makes it easy to use at night. Features like the headless mode, 3D mode make the product even more interesting. However, there are no GPS or Position Hold options for this device.

SKEYE Mini Drone

Next up is this amazing drone from Skeye that has done rather well for its size. The first talking point here is the HD camera. This 2 MP camera gives you a bird’s eye view from the viewpoint of the drone.

The motors in this drone are so durable and strong that they can provide the drone with the perfect takeoff and landing processes. Owing to its small size, it can fit in the narrow spaces and bring back good quality pictures.

This lightweight structure is also capable of doing a few stunts in the air, like forward and backward flips, barrel rolls and the likes. The battery is power packed with a 250 mAh capacity that takes 30 minutes to get fully charged, yet gives 8 minutes of flight time! This rather strong and powerful drone has done well in this price bracket and is definitely worth the money!

Overview

Yes, you cannot expect UDI U818A to give you the best pictures, panoramic views, long flight times of 20 minutes but it is more suited for hobbyists to enjoy an occasional spin.

Pros:

• This is an extremely stable and agile drone
• The whole package comes with extra batteries and rotors
• The rotor protectors prove to be useful for rough flights
• The headless mode seems to be aiding the users in flying the drone without worrying about its orientation
• It is ideal for beginners who can practice flying drones and capture a few aerial photographs
• It can be flown both indoors and outdoors

Cons:

• The camera resolution isn’t the best
• One could expect a better battery life from this product

If you are looking for a low budget drone that can stay in the air for a few minutes, give you good practice of flying, capture some aerial photographs, this is ideal for you.

It is totally worth the money, being a durable drone giving you stable flights.