In the box:
-Quadcopter
-USB charger
-1S lipo for quadcopter
-Small instruction booklet
-Soft bag for storage and transport
-Set of spare props (4 props)
-Screwdriver
Pros:
-Lightweight
-Wi-Fi controlled (no need for separate TX)
-LEDs
-Camera
-Can perform flips
-Fairly durable
-Foldable arms to help with storage and transport
Cons
-Lightweight
-Wi-Fi controlled (limited range and latency)
-Gyro control didn't work for me
-Low quality camera
-Drifts way too much in a hover
-Loses a lot of altitude coming out of a loop
-Struggles in winds unless 100% control throw is enabled
-My phone couldn't playback the recorded AVI files
-Images are saved twice on my phone
-Battery compartment door is tough to get locked/unlocked
-Pulling on the battery lead to unplug will eventually damage the battery lead
-Flip button on app got stuck and quadcopter would constantly flip
Unboxing
The box is slightly larger than a dollar bill in length and was taped shut. Inside the quadcopter set in a plastic tray. Under the tray was the storage bag, spare props, screwdriver, USB charger, and small instruction manual. The quadcopter was secure and undamaged and the small items were in a self-sealing plastic bag.
The arms are folded into the quadcopter and the 1S lipo was installed. I find it very concerning that manufacturers are sending r/c aircraft with lipos installed and connected. An accidental bump that can cause the aircraft to turn on will cause the lipo to puff and possible explode. I'd much rather see safer handling by having the lipo in its own compartment within the box.
Charging:
The manual states charge time is about 2 hours. This is typical of these little 1S USB chargers. I found the first charge took this long, but after that flying down to LVC (low voltage cutoff) the charge time is closer to an hour. Charging is simple, plug USB charger into the laptop or wall wart, plug battery into the charger. The light on the charger will turn off when done charging.
JJRC App
The Elfie flies via Wi-Fi controls using the JJRC app. I installed the app via Google Play Store without issue. While the battery charges, be sure to read the manual on the app controls. I found the app to be cluttered on such a small screen. So cluttered that a button icon will hide/expand more buttons and trim tabs. I found I used just a handful of buttons on the app.
To use the app first turn on flight sticks by pressing the off/on icon accordingly. This puts sticks and easy throttle controls (start, stop, emergency stop) buttons on the screen.
Flight
Once charged plug the lipo in accordingly. Press the power button on top of the quadcopter. This will cause the lights on the quadcopter to flash at a fast rate. Now connect your phone to the Wi-Fi signal being broadcast by the Elfie. Open the app and connect.
Once the controlling device is connected to the quadcopter, you will see the video feed on the phone via the app. To take off press the up arrow to start the motors then push the left stick up. To land press the down arrow, this will cause a decent and once on the ground stop the motors. To kill the motors instantly, press the red stop sign.
The app starts you off in 30% rate mode (as noted by the 30 icon). Pressing the icon will cycle you through 60 and 100% settings. At 30% rating the quadcopter felt lethargic to me and the yaw input seemed very mechanical, so much so I couldn't get the nose to point exactly where I wanted. Being an experienced r/c pilot once I got used to the touch screen sticks I moved up to 100% and was surprised to find the quadcopter to be a little sporty.
Since this quadcopter is billed as a selfie drone
2017-02-04
f****a
Other reviewers here seem to think at this price point, you're going to get all the features and quality of an expensive Quad like a Yuneec Breeze (which I own) or a Zerotech Dobby. For what I paid for this, it's a fun little toy. The site I purchased this from advertised it as having 480p resolution. It's actually a little better than that, but not quite 720p. I took a couple of indoor photos at night with 100% artificial lighting. I've had Camera Phones take worse pictures than the JJRC H37. I attached some pictures and information on the photo file. Is a fun little toy and easy to set up. Flying takes some practice and I have yet to take it outside. I'll update this review with some more pictures and information after I get to play with it outdoors.
5 FEB 2017 Update: I'm dropping a star as the outdoor video and pictures are not really that great. It's still a fun toy to fly with for the price and I'm not returning it. Perhaps the model with the 720p HD Camera would be a better choice? I just didn't like pike color on that one which was the only color available at the time. It appears a few more models and labels have popped up since I ordered this.
F19832
JJRC H37 Elfie selfie drone Review
Equipment Used:
-Motorola Moto X Gen 1
In the box:
-Quadcopter
-USB charger
-1S lipo for quadcopter
-Small instruction booklet
-Soft bag for storage and transport
-Set of spare props (4 props)
-Screwdriver
Pros:
-Lightweight
-Wi-Fi controlled (no need for separate TX)
-LEDs
-Camera
-Can perform flips
-Fairly durable
-Foldable arms to help with storage and transport
Cons
-Lightweight
-Wi-Fi controlled (limited range and latency)
-Gyro control didn't work for me
-Low quality camera
-Drifts way too much in a hover
-Loses a lot of altitude coming out of a loop
-Struggles in winds unless 100% control throw is enabled
-My phone couldn't playback the recorded AVI files
-Images are saved twice on my phone
-Battery compartment door is tough to get locked/unlocked
-Pulling on the battery lead to unplug will eventually damage the battery lead
-Flip button on app got stuck and quadcopter would constantly flip
Unboxing
The box is slightly larger than a dollar bill in length and was taped shut. Inside the quadcopter set in a plastic tray. Under the tray was the storage bag, spare props, screwdriver, USB charger, and small instruction manual. The quadcopter was secure and undamaged and the small items were in a self-sealing plastic bag.
The arms are folded into the quadcopter and the 1S lipo was installed. I find it very concerning that manufacturers are sending r/c aircraft with lipos installed and connected. An accidental bump that can cause the aircraft to turn on will cause the lipo to puff and possible explode. I'd much rather see safer handling by having the lipo in its own compartment within the box.
Charging:
The manual states charge time is about 2 hours. This is typical of these little 1S USB chargers. I found the first charge took this long, but after that flying down to LVC (low voltage cutoff) the charge time is closer to an hour. Charging is simple, plug USB charger into the laptop or wall wart, plug battery into the charger. The light on the charger will turn off when done charging.
JJRC App
The Elfie flies via Wi-Fi controls using the JJRC app. I installed the app via Google Play Store without issue. While the battery charges, be sure to read the manual on the app controls. I found the app to be cluttered on such a small screen. So cluttered that a button icon will hide/expand more buttons and trim tabs. I found I used just a handful of buttons on the app.
To use the app first turn on flight sticks by pressing the off/on icon accordingly. This puts sticks and easy throttle controls (start, stop, emergency stop) buttons on the screen.
Flight
Once charged plug the lipo in accordingly. Press the power button on top of the quadcopter. This will cause the lights on the quadcopter to flash at a fast rate. Now connect your phone to the Wi-Fi signal being broadcast by the Elfie. Open the app and connect.
Once the controlling device is connected to the quadcopter, you will see the video feed on the phone via the app. To take off press the up arrow to start the motors then push the left stick up. To land press the down arrow, this will cause a decent and once on the ground stop the motors. To kill the motors instantly, press the red stop sign.
The app starts you off in 30% rate mode (as noted by the 30 icon). Pressing the icon will cycle you through 60 and 100% settings. At 30% rating the quadcopter felt lethargic to me and the yaw input seemed very mechanical, so much so I couldn't get the nose to point exactly where I wanted. Being an experienced r/c pilot once I got used to the touch screen sticks I moved up to 100% and was surprised to find the quadcopter to be a little sporty.
Since this quadcopter is billed as a selfie drone
Other reviewers here seem to think at this price point, you're going to get all the features and quality of an expensive Quad like a Yuneec Breeze (which I own) or a Zerotech Dobby. For what I paid for this, it's a fun little toy. The site I purchased this from advertised it as having 480p resolution. It's actually a little better than that, but not quite 720p. I took a couple of indoor photos at night with 100% artificial lighting. I've had Camera Phones take worse pictures than the JJRC H37. I attached some pictures and information on the photo file. Is a fun little toy and easy to set up. Flying takes some practice and I have yet to take it outside. I'll update this review with some more pictures and information after I get to play with it outdoors.
5 FEB 2017 Update: I'm dropping a star as the outdoor video and pictures are not really that great. It's still a fun toy to fly with for the price and I'm not returning it. Perhaps the model with the 720p HD Camera would be a better choice? I just didn't like pike color on that one which was the only color available at the time. It appears a few more models and labels have popped up since I ordered this.