When Yuneec Mantis Q came out, it had one of the most important features any drone could have, and that is voice control. But that was back in August 2018, and the Mantis Q is not two months short of its 3rd anniversary.
What’s to say that this drone has carried on like a pro or failed miserably amongst its new competitors and new forbearers, for that matter. Well, that’s what we are here for. We will be giving a new face to Yuneec Mantis Q and know everything about it, from A to Z.
Introducing Yuneec Mantis Q
Mantis Q by Yuneec was introduced as a robust travel drone that can do so much more than clicking pictures and floating in the air. The drone came to the market with innovative voice control, sports mode, long flight hours, and auto flight modes.
Some of the features Yuneec Mantis Q has is not available in some of the best drones that we see in this price range. This can be one of the reasons why Yuneec Mantis Q has been marketed as the best drones to buy under 500.
This is an ideal drone for people who love to take their fun outdoors. Moreover, Mantis Q is also a great gadget for those who like to rush and fuel up on their adrenaline. Let’s find out more about the drone with the help of its features.
Features of Yuneec Mantis Q
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Lightweight:
Drones are meant to be lightweight as it helps in getting a good flight. Moreover, this is a small drone, which is also good because you can take care of everything easily. The portable design measures 2.3×7.4×9.8 inches. To fly it, all you have to do is open the drone’s arms.
However, being small and lightweight does not mean that you won’t need an FAA registration. It is still required for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
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Camera:
The Yuneec Mantis Q features a 4K camera, which is a great thing for a drone that came in 2018. But, the camera is not stable, and its does not get the benefit of a 3-axis gimbal. There is however a stabilization feature and turning it on will drop the camera quality to 1080p.
Well, this is not something that you would expect after spending $500, but it is what it is. Having said that, even after toggling the stabilization you will get a 60 fps video, and this is great.
It won’t take an expert to see the barrel distortion and shakiness in the camera of this drone. Dropping down the camera quality to 1080p improves the stabilization part, but what is the use of adding a 4K camera if you cannot use it properly.
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Flight:
The Yuneec Mantis Q is built to perform under pressure, and if you are to take to sports mode, you are in for a surprise. The standard mode is a piece of cake for a beginner and an experienced drone pilot.
But things take an amazing turn when you turn on the sports mode. In this mode, you will find the drone to go much faster and give better maneuverability. The company claims the speed at sports mode to be 47 mph, but from what we have experienced, it won’t go beyond 35 mph. And 35 mph is fast too.
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Voice Control:
This is a welcome addition to a drone. The ability to control your machine with your voice seems downright futuristic. The Yuneec Mantis Q performs well in this category. When you are using the application to control it, say, “Mantis Q, take off,” and it will.
One thing that we don’t like that much is that the drone will ask you to confirm the action. So, after giving the first command, you will have to reassure the drone with a “Yes” to make it do the desired action.
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Battery:
Checking the drone’s battery is one of the most important things you need to check before buying. The Yuneec Mantis Q claims to have a battery life of 33 minutes backed by a 3000 mAh. But that is only on paper and in brochures.
In the real world, when you use the drone, it won’t last for more than 25 minutes. But of course, the conditions you are flying your drone in also matters. The good thing is that it has enough reserve battery to come back before getting dead mid-air.
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Body and Durability:
This is where we see an improvement by Yuneec. The Mantis Q has a metal body, which makes the drone more durable. But it also adds 3 ounces of extra weight, which affects the flight time and performance.
But the tradeoff between a plastic body and a metal one is good because the drone is now more stable and safer.
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Ability to Control (Controller):
For a beginner, this is probably one of the best drones to buy under $500 dollars in terms of handling and control. The drone is built to respond to controller commands beautifully and accurately.
You can use the phone app to control or the physical controller or even your voice. The best out of the three is the physical controller, as it is one of the most precise. The phone application makes things clunky, and the voice control is good, but it requires double confirmation.
Pros and Cons
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Our Verdict
Ok, here’s the deal. If you want to practice your drone piloting skills, then this is one of the best drones you can buy. But if you are expecting anything more than good control, stability, and enjoyment out of the Yuneec Mantis Q, then you are mistaken.
In other words, you should not buy it if you want to get a drone for commercial purposes. However, as long as you want to enjoy piloting a drone and check if a machine listens to you, this is good to go.