The Autel Robotics Evo Lite is a strong drone that brings collectively most of the classes that Autel has realized through the years, mixed with acquainted options that we’re seeing in most shopper drones at the moment. The result’s a succesful digital camera drone that we get pleasure from flying.

The upgraded digital camera within the Evo Lite+ affords enhanced low-light efficiency, and now we have to say, it definitely creates clear photographs, with minimal noise in darkish scenes.

Word: We examined the Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ with the 1-inch digital camera sensor.

Evo Lite overview

We invite you to take a look at our hands-on protection of the Evo Lite for a radical overview of this folding drone. Summing that up, you’re looking at a comfortably sized folding drone that’s affordable to haul round, affords the entire flight security and options that one would count on from a contemporary drone, and produces higher aerial imagery than we had been anticipating to see for this caliber of plane.

Regardless of feeling prefer it weighs a bit of an excessive amount of for its dimension, the massive battery provides as much as 40 minutes of flight time, which is unbelievable.

The drone feels highly effective and balanced, although the default settings really feel a bit of spongy. That is truly deliberately easy flight traits. The drone eases into motion, and involves a cease easily. This feels spongy, because the drone continues to be shifting whenever you’ve already eliminated your fingers from the controls, however you’ll be able to swap to totally different flight modes and alter charges to alter the texture. Nonetheless, by default, the drone captures good and easy video from the sky, so we propose simply getting used to it.

Talking of easy video, we principally opted to seize footage in 4K at 60fps, however the machine is able to 6K footage at 30fps.

Evo Lite specs

Evo Lite efficiency

With a prime velocity of over 40 mph, a spread of over 7 miles, and a flight time nearing 40 minutes, there’s not a lot you’ll be able to’t do with the Evo Lite. We discovered the drone to deal with easily and precisely, with a steady hover with GPS steering.

The impediment avoidance sensors prevented collisions properly. When flying in direction of ourselves, it got here to a halt at about 8 ft away, then was allowed to slowly inch towards us till about 6 ft away, which was the placement of our touchdown pad.

Earlier than the winter climate cooperated to permit us to fly exterior, we tried flight indoors. The rain clouds and wooden roof of my home had been sufficient to forestall enough GPS connectivity, requiring me to enter the settings to manually allow ATTI mode. The drone was steady sufficient, however is highly effective sufficient that even in an empty room, the prop wash created uncomfortable turbulence. I simply painted these partitions, so I landed instantly. I don’t think about the Evo Lite to be an excellent drone for indoor flight.

Again exterior, the drone navigated the obstacles within the again yard with ease. At no level did the drone really feel uncontrolled, nor did I lose connection or video sign.

Evo Lite+ digital camera

The primary cause we fly drones, personally, is to seize nice aerial imagery from the sky. The Evo Lite+ accomplishes this. Specifically, we’re very, very happy with some photographs we took of the setting solar with a tree within the foreground. Capturing in 6K at 30fps was high quality, however we discovered the 4K footage at 60fps to be the perfect output from the drone.

Pictures had been equally crisp, producing properly balanced photographs from the 20MP, 1-inch sensor.

To not be taken as complaints, however there are three issues that stood out for us that may very well be improved. First, we observed lots of focus looking, because the digital camera zooms out and in to search out an automated focus within the scene. This can be a actuality of an autofocus digital camera, however it was evident sufficient when it was occurring that we regularly gave the drone a second to complete up earlier than we snapped any photographs. Even then, we did find yourself capturing a number of photographs out of focus from this. No huge deal.

The second merchandise we might enhance on the digital camera is the yaw stabilization. We aren’t certain if it was digital camera jitters, or the gimbal attempting to compensate, however we at all times spin a drone round in a full circle to see what the ensuing video seems like. On this case, the Evo Lite+ produced jittery video because the picture bounced side-to-side attempting to maintain up with the drone’s rotation.

Third, we had been confused at first by drastically altering visible facet ratios once we modified seize settings. We had framed up a pleasant shot, meaning to seize it in several resolutions with a view to evaluate, however it was as if we had zoomed in once we swapped to a brand new decision. We got here to understand having totally different views with the totally different settings, however this prevents us from evaluating 1:1 between the resolutions.

You’ll need to determine if these are deal breakers for you, for us, the general digital camera efficiency is unbelievable. We just like the photographs and video captured by the Evo Lite+.

Evo Lite competitors

The Evo Lite launches right into a aggressive drone section. Specifically, virtually all the line of Mavic drones from DJI have additionally been described as compact, folding drones with nice cameras. At time of launch, nonetheless, the Evo Lite+, specifically, finds itself in a strong place located between the DJI Air 2S and the Mavic 3 drones. Whereas all three sequence provide a 1-inch digital camera, the value and general picture high quality instantly correspond, with the Air 2S being probably the most inexpensive.

The low mild options of the Evo Lite+ are a welcome addition, nonetheless, we reside in part of the world wherein only some licensed pilots can fly after the solar has set. Low mild efficiency definitely makes a distinction on cloudy days, however the true worth is misplaced on the common shopper.

As a flight platform, the Evo Lite sequence operates in the identical primary method, with the identical general flight really feel, because the DJI drones. Construct high quality is comparable, which is to say that all of them really feel strong and present no indicators of an absence of design or high quality management. Carbon fiber is a nice materials on the Evo Lite, providing power and rigidity with a decreased weight. Even with that huge 6,175mAh battery, the general weight continues to be rather less than the Mavic 3 sequence.

Ought to I purchase the Autel Robotics Evo Lite?

The Evo Lite and Evo Lite+ are compelling drones. The airframe is a steady platform that performs admirably, and the digital camera output is nice. Total flight stability and flight options are on par with the perfect shopper drones in the marketplace at the moment, and the vary and flight time are higher than common. People who search a dependable digital camera drone for private use needn’t look additional.

Skilled photographers and videographers might require the 10-bit seize that the Evo Lite doesn’t at present provide, and a few might require the additional vary and flight time of some costlier drones. Nonetheless, the Evo ought to present greater than the common yard pilot wants to take a look at their neighborhood and seize some strong imagery from the sky.

If you happen to refuse to purchase a DJI drone, we’re excited to say that the Evo Lite is a aggressive different. If you happen to don’t thoughts what model you buy from, evaluate the DJI Air 2S, Evo Lite, Evo Lite+, and the DJI Mavic 3 to determine which price-point is greatest in your wants.

The drone is out there in crimson, white, and orange. The preliminary MSRP begins at $1,249, however restricted availability has elevated the value at many retailers.

We’ll be holding tabs on the Autel Robotics Evo Lite platform. We like what we’re seeing to this point, now we get to see how properly the airframe ages.

(9.5)

• 40 – Minutes
• 6K – 60 FPS
• 42.5 – MPH

December 2021

Launch Date