The Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone has a very easy-to-use flight app, long operational range, and a 30-meter maximum altitude. These specs are ones most people consider when looking for the best drones for beginners. There are some setbacks, such as its stuttering video quality, but, overall, it’s a more than acceptable beginner drone. It may not be able to join the list of highly-rated drones, but it works great.
Why We Like It – Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter
The Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter has a more than the acceptable top speed of 18 miles per hour which allows beginners to ease into the art of flying a drone. It’s very lightweight, so transport is easy, and the 12-minute battery life ensures you get enough flying experience before you have to charge it again.
- 30 Meters Max Altitude
- 100 Meter Operational Range over Wi-Fi
- Tello App is Easy to Use
- Becomes Unstable in Windy Conditions
- Stuttering Video
- Controller Must be Purchased Separately
Speed/Power
The Ryze Tello Drone has a maximum speed of just under 18 (17.9) miles per hour. It may be slow compared to DJI’s other models, such as the DJI Spark, but it’s fast enough for a beginner drone. The Parrot Mambo Fly is another great beginner drone with a similar top speed. The Tello’s maximum altitude is 30 meters, which isn’t the highest we’ve seen, but, again, is more than acceptable for a beginner’s little drone.
Range
Flight time on the Tello is a respectable 12 minutes. This should allow any beginner to get a good feel for the drone before running out of battery. If you want to fly more, make sure you check out the DJI Mavic Air 2. Operational range for the Tello drone is 100 meters, which is more than acceptable. As a new flyer, you wouldn’t want to stray too far from the drone anyway. For a longer flying time, check our Ryze Tech Tello review.
Durability
At 80 grams, the Tello is an incredibly lightweight drone. While this may make it easily transportable, it also makes it succumb to even the slightest wind. And if you live somewhere that’s known to be windy, the drone is virtually unflyable. If you do want something a little more stable for your first drone, check out the Holy Stone HS100.
Camera Features
The built-in camera and video quality on the Tello aren’t the greatest, which is just like the Rolling Spider. It lacks dynamic range and is subject to stuttering and frame rate issues. On the plus side, though, photos and videos are beamed directly to your phone, eliminating the need for an annoying middle-man. And if this is your first drone, chances are video quality isn’t going to be too high on the list. For a drone without a camera, you’ll want to try the RC Helicopter. You’ll probably want something easier to fly and learn on. You may want to go through our Ruko F11 Pro Drone review for a camera that comes with a 2K camera.
Value
The Tello app shines because of its ease of use, with a clearly labeled and minimalist, but not restrictive, set of options. If you’d like, though, you can purchase the T1D Controller separately, which is a little confusing considering most drones come with the controller. Finally, you’ll get a micro USB cable straight out of the box for charging, eliminating the need to have to find one on your own.
Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter Wrap Up
The natural enemy of the Tello is wind. And considering everywhere gets wind at least some time, the Tello’s play days are numbered. It makes me wonder whether they should have used sturdier materials to make it weigh more, even if it did increase the price slightly. But some may find the price the most attractive feature. So to each their own.
