This quadcopter is very popular because it is a perfect fit for beginners and it preforms wonderfully for its size. The X5C-1 Explorers is the upgraded version of its younger self, the X5C. The small increase in price for the upgraded model is well worth it!
Drones are a popular toy this year and even though this model is over a year old, it it still widely recommended for beginners or casual flyers. It has the necessary 6-axis stabilization that every beginner quad usually has. This keeps the drone level which is great for new pilots and it is also nice for taking photos and video.
The SYMA X5C-1 features a removable 720p camera that can take photos or shoot video that records to a micro SD card. Mine came with a 4GB card, some sellers may not include a card. The 720p resolution is acceptable for a drone in this price range. The camera can produce content worth sharing and it looks best on cell phones and smaller screens. This camera isn’t good for long distance shots or producing a HD image. If you do elect to use the camera, it is a good idea to also install the landing gear so that you dont land on your camera! I actually recommend leaving the landing gear on permanently as it also protects your props in grass and any landing surface that is not perfectly flat and solid.
This model also comes with removable propeller guards that work quite well. You will want these if you are flying inside! They protect your props from the inevitable damage that they will receive if a beginner is flying. You can also do flips with this SYMA! Another good way to break a prop but it does do very nice flips. In the box you will get a full set of replacement props and they aren’t expensive should you need to purchase more.
Before setting up your new SYMA, get the 500mah battery on the charger. It takes over an hour to fully charge and you will get about 7mins of flying. Grabbing a few extra batteries and a charger that can charges more than one at a time is a good idea. Keenstone is one of my favorite brands for small drone batteries. Check out these replacements+charger kit HERE. That is not a paid endorsement for Keenstone. But they did send me some batteries for my other mini drone. Check out the review of the Hubsan H107C 2MP and my review of the Keenstone batteries for the Hubsan.
The manual is quite good for this toy quadcopter. There are calibrations that need to take place before flying. I recommend calibrating the gyro sensor before every flight. YouTube is your best friend for learning everything about your transmitter. You can do flips,take photos, take videos, and fully control the drone from the transmitter. A small display will tell you how much throttle you are applying and some other very basic control data.
If you are thinking about jumping into the drone hobby or know someone who wants to, this is the perfect starting point. This quad will provide a great learning experience and it can give you some cool videos. Its great for the backyard or the park and it does ok indoors. If you are looking for drone that is better indoors check out some of the smaller Cheerson or Hubsan brand quadcopters. The SYMA X5C-1 is a great all-around beginner drone!
Keenstone did send me some free batteries in the past for review, but the SYMA X5c-1 was a birthday gift and I have no affiliation to any sellers of the SYMA X5c-1 at the time of this review.
Comments and questions are welcomed!
ZJ
Jensen Tech Media 