It’s a solid performer all around, but, the $669 DJI Mini 3 Pro, which provides greater video quality for less money, is more refined. We’ve had the chance to fly the EVO Nano+ sub-250g drone for a few hours and miles now that the weather has improved, and Autel has been busy releasing upgrades for it, so we’re ready to share our opinions. you can read our article on Autel Evo Nano+ review. The EVO Nano+ is a fantastic drone for weighing less than 250 grammes. Thanks to its front, back, and downward-facing object avoidance sensors, it is compact, fairly straightforward to fly, and a little less likely to crash than its nearest rival. The sensors have been tested and are functional, but we view them more as a backup than as something we would rely on.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: Design
The DJI Mavic Pro pioneered the folding arm concept back in 2016, and the Evo Nano+ initially appears to follow in its footsteps. In terms of size, it’s pretty comparable to the DJI Mini 2, although Autel has made some intriguing design decisions, perhaps to lighten the design. The Nano+ is noticeably less robust than the Lite+, and the body flexes more than is optimal in a couple places where the Lite+ felt sturdy and able to withstand the occasional knock. The battery accounts for a large portion of the design’s natural stiffness; hence, the Nano+ should be handled cautiously when the battery is not present. The DJI Nano+ doesn’t have a rear battery cover door like the DJI Mini 2, and the power button is easily built inside the battery. The batteries, which weigh 83g and have a capacity of 2,250mAh (17.32Wh), account for around a third of the Nano+’s overall mass. These have a stated flight time of 28 minutes, which typically translates into 25 minutes of practical operation. Although it’s a little less than the DJI Mini 2 or Mini 3 Pro’s flight time, it’s still long enough to operate the drone before considering going back to the takeoff location.
Features
The Autel EVO Nano+’s collision avoidance system, which uses three-way binocular vision sensors on the front, bottom, and back of the drone, is its standout feature. In order to avoid a collision, the drone will first slow down when impediments are identified and then brake. Although collision avoidance is quite sensitive, which makes it perfect for beginners, it can be challenging to fly in challenging areas like woodlands when it’s activated. Additionally, these sensors enable automatic flight patterns so that polished footage can be recorded at the push of a button. These work particularly well with the option to capture video in either Auto or Pro (manual) mode, and include Rocket, Fade Away, Orbit, and Flick. Another capability provided by collision avoidance sensors is Dynamic Track subject tracking, which is claimed but is not yet operational due to a pending firmware upgrade. The Autel EVO Nano+ camera has a 12.5MP 1/1.28-inch RYYB (red, yellow, yellow, blue) sensor, an equivalent focal length of 23mm, a fixed f/1.9 aperture, and is a key component of any drone. With a sensor pixel size of 2.44 m and a fast aperture, the drone is perfect for shooting in low light. When shooting 12.5MP stills, you have the option of utilizing Raw, JPEG, or both, however when using the 81926144 Photo Resolution to capture 50MP images, you are only able to use JPEG. Along with 50MP, which is exclusively accessible in Single Shot mode, the available shooting modes include Single Shot, Burst Timer, Interval, HDR, and AEB (auto exposure bracketing).
Autel Evo Nano+ review: Controller
At first sight, we weren’t really excited by the controller. It resembles a cheap off-brand gaming controller that you might buy for a child’s tablet, but once it is in your hands, you notice that it has an incredible amount of weight to it and that the texture of the hand grips is exactly ideal. Although unhappily there is no adaptor for it on the battery multi-charger which is included in the “On The Go” bundle, the control sticks feel fantastic too — nicely sprung but usable — and it charges from the same USB-C which adds a little convenience. But it’s not perfect. The controller comes with a selection of connector cables for an iPhone, a USB-C phone, or a micro-USB phone; however, the connector at the controller end is a little too lengthy to be left in the handset when you remove the phone and depress the phone clamp. As long as you exercise caution, it’s fine. Additionally, the control sticks have no slots to slide into while the controller is not in use. To be fair, the bag itself has a zipped pocket, or you run the risk of damaging your phone by utilizing the rubber phone clamps. Although it would be wonderful if the controller could recharge the phone, especially if you have a current iPhone, this feature is far from necessary. Going back to the positive, the fact that it resembles a game controller also means that it functions like one. That’s advantageous. With a normal push-wheel on the left shoulder and a programmable function button on each shoulder, the button layout is also simple . None of this will make it difficult to either start over or, as we’ll wager Autel is considering, switch from other drone brands.
Image quality
The Nano+ camera has a 12.5MP 1/1.28-inch sensor with a fast f/1.9 aperture and an equivalent focal length of 23mm. Together with the quick aperture and RYYB sensor, the sensor’s 2.44 m pixel size offers exceptional low light photography capabilities. The ISO range for both images and videos is 100-6400, and for a sensor this size, noise control at higher settings is outstanding. As the ISO level is raised, there is a slight incremental increase in noise levels. When shooting stills, the image quality is acceptable, but there is a slight loss of clarity as you get closer to the corners of the picture. Along the edges of the subject, there is also some slight chromatic aberration and vignetting that can be easily corrected in raw processing tools like Adobe Lightroom. Additionally, white balance has a tendency to be a little too cool, but this is readily fixed in post-processing. When shooting 12.5MP stills, you have the option of shooting in Raw, JPEG, or both; however, when shooting 50MP stills, your options are JPEG only. Although Adobe Super Resolution can be utilized to boost Raw file size if you need larger photographs in Raw format, it is hoped that this will be changed in a future firmware update. also you can check our article on Autel Evo Nano+ review.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: Video quality
With no chromatic aberration or vignetting to be seen, the video image quality is outstanding. With drones, video frequently performs better than stills since 4K video requires less of the sensor and lens than still photography does. One thing to keep in mind is that the fast f/1.9 aperture necessitates the use of ND filters in order to maintain the proper shutter speed necessary to capture fluid and realistic-looking movement while using the 180-rule. In essence, this is the situation where video is best recorded at a shutter speed that is nearly twice as fast as the frame rate, for example, 30 frames per second at 1/60 sec. The clip is a touch choppy because rapid shutter rates were used to capture the above video because ND filters were not available, but you can still see how well the camera captured the scene as a whole. The footage is straight out of the camera; no edits have been made.
Flight Performance
Before discussing flight performance, it is important to address a topic that has some pedants on YouTube all worked up: speed performance, especially the Evo Nano+’s propensity to fly in strong winds. Various testing indicate that some detractors have been shocked by how slowly the Evo+ performs in heavier winds, even while in sport mode. also you will learn our article on Autel Evo Nano+ review. We can understand their worry to a certain extent because we are familiar with what it’s like to return a drone in a headwind. However, this tiny object barely weights 249g; how on earth could it possible fly effectively in a wind with fully swaying tree branches? Consider purchasing a larger drone, such as the amazing DJI Air 2 S, the pro-spec Mavic 3, or even the brand-new Autel Evo Lite+, which we will be reviewing next, if the wind is typically too strong in your location. As a result, consumers must consider all options before deciding whether to fly. We simply can’t fly when it’s too windy. In the same way that we wouldn’t play tennis or drive an open-top sports car in the rain, we also wouldn’t fly a lightweight delta kite in a high wind or a power kite in a little breeze. When the weather is bad, do something else. Thankfully, Autel has now released fresh firmware updates for the Evo+, and the majority of problems from critics—including the top speed issue—seem to have been resolved.
Price
Along with the basic Nano drone and two more larger variants, the Evo Lite and Evo Lite+, the Autel Evo Nano+ was introduced in January 2022. The Evo Lite+ has an even larger one-inch sensor than the Evo Lite, which has a camera sensor that is the same size as the Evo Nano+. For simple transportation and storage, all four drones are foldable. The Evo Nano+ has a list price of GBP £799 / USD $949 for the basic configuration. The price of the Premium bundle is $1,099 (GBP £949).
Conclusion
Many photographers of all skill levels have drones on their wish lists, and with good reason. They’re a tone of fun and typically have a big grin on their face. It’s thrilling to rise above the din and observe the world from above. Prior to recently, only individuals with larger wallets could afford to purchase a high-quality drone due to their price tags. Due to their magnitude, those expensive premiums also frequently come with stricter rules. The Autel Evo Nano Plus is a reasonably priced, portable choice. It wants to make photography fun for both enthusiasts and professionals.
