AUTEL EVO NANO+
This titchy drone boasts the best camera ever fitted to a sub-250g model
Video transmission quality is an area where this drone excels
When the standard Autel Evo Nano came out, it blew us away with its smooth flight characteristics and unbelievable camera. The Evo Nano+ is the exact same drone bar the camera, which puts it in a whole other class when it comes to shooting aerial videography and photography.
Before we get to flight performance, we should address an issue that has had some critics in a bit of a tizz – namely the Evo Nano+’s ability to fly in strong winds. We can appreciate their concern to some degree because we know what it’s like getting a drone back in a headwind. But this titchy thing only weighs 249g – how could it possibly fly efficiently in a gale where tree branches are in full sway?
Wind aside, what’s this drone’s control system like? In a word, amazing. For a drone of this size and weight, the Evo Nano+ is as smooth as smooth can be. The control stick resistance feels perfect and the power-to-stickinput ratio is as good as any DJI drone. In short, this bird is easy enough for your cat to fly.
Aside from the smooth flight controls, the gimbal control wheel allows for precise camera positioning without any sudden changes in speed. We haven’t had one issue with this: basically, the more pressure you apply to the wheel the faster the camera tilts. Well done, Autel!
Unlike the DJI Mini 2 SE, which ships with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, the Nano+’s camera is equipped with a 0.8-inch CMOS sensor. It’s capable of delivering 50 megapixel images and a wide range of video resolutions, from pin-sharp 4K (3840x2160) at up to 30 frames per second all the way down to 1080p at up to 60fps.
Video transmission quality is another area where this drone excels. Unlike, say, the DJI Mini 2 which transmits visuals from the drone’s camera in 720p, this one is in 2.7K for up to 1km away and 1080p beyond that. You’ll come to appreciate this extra clarity when flying in areas with complex lighting and lots of obstacles.
While the Evo Nano+ is a lot more expensive to buy than the DJI Mini 2 SE, its overall specification is much closer to that of the DJI Mavic Air 2 and, to some degree, the much more expensive DJI Air 2 S. For a small sub-250g drone that ships with three-way obstacle avoidance, a mini smorgasbord of autonomous flight modes and a stunning 4K camera, the Autel Evo Nano+ is nothing short of sensational.