DJI FPV Combo Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product DJI FPV Combo | |||||
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Awards | Best Drone Overall | Best for Traveling | A Budget Option for Kids | ||
Price | $999 List $1,182 at Amazon | $1,279 List $1,279 at Amazon | $1,000 List $894.00 at Amazon | $759 List $729.00 at Amazon | $164 List $159.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A drone that offers a more friendly introduction to first person view piloting | This compact drone offer fantastic video, responsive controls, and great programming, making it a go-to for serious drone cinematographers | The is a great do-it-all drone that has 5K video, a highly capable sensor, and user-friendly controls making it one step below the prosumer class | A travel-friendly drone that's small enough to take on almost any trip | A perfect low cost introduction to flying or incredibly entertaining toy for the kids |
Rating Categories | DJI FPV Combo | DJI Mavic 3 | DJI Air 2S | DJI Mini 3 Pro | DJI Tello |
Video Quality (45%) | |||||
Flight Performance (35%) | |||||
Portability (10%) | |||||
Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
Specs | DJI FPV Combo | DJI Mavic 3 | DJI Air 2S | DJI Mini 3 Pro | DJI Tello |
Video Resolutions | 4k, FHD | 5.1K, DCI 4K, 4K, FHD | 5.4K, 4K, 2.7K, FHD | 4k, 2.7k, FHD, Slow Motion | 720p |
Weight | 1.75 lbs | 1.97 lbs | 1.31 lbs | .54 lbs | .17 lbs |
Maximum Speed | 87.2 mph | 42.5 mph | 42.5 mph | 35.7 mph | 17.89 mph |
Maximum Claimed Flight Time | 20 minutes | 46 minutes | 31 minutes | 34 minutes | 13 minutes |
Diagonal Size (no props) | 10.5 in | 8.75 in folded 16 in unfolded |
11.9 in | 6 in | 8.12 in |
Video Format | MP4, MOV | MP4 / MOV | MP4, MOV | MP4, MOV | MP4 |
Maximum Video Bitrate | 120 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 150 Mpbs | |
Camera Sensor | 1/2.3" CMOS | Hasselblad: 4/3 CMOS Tele Camera: 1/2" CMOS |
1" CMOS | 1/1.3" CMOS |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The DJI FPV Combo is an excellent drone for pilots seeking a model that's suitable for learning how to fly in first person view. With a relatively approachable price point, this option will help you get into the air without denting your wallet too badly.
Performance Comparison
Video Quality
The DJI FPV Combo shoots in 4k at 60fps and offers decent video quality when considering it's also the transmitting camera. We were impressed with this drone's details and sharpness, though it doesn't handle dynamic lighting scenes as well, with overexposed clouds and a lack of detail in the shadows. There is some annoying propeller intrusion when looking through the headset, but this can be adjusted in settings and it won't show up in recorded video.
While we appreciated the video quality in well-lit scenes, this option struggled in our low-light tests, with noisy footage and textbook graininess. Similar to other learning FPVs, this drone offers decent video and photo performance when the lighting is just right.
Flight Performance
The DJI FPV Combo offers decent flight performance in certain areas, including the return home function and the modes that range from self-stabilizing to fully manual. This is an extremely high-powered FPV, with top speeds of 87.2 mph when in acro mode. With slightly shaky take-offs and landings, this drone scored about average in this metric.
When testing the return home function, this drone returned within two feet of its take off, and it boasts excellent hover stability as long as the wind isn't too strong. While the responsiveness was touchy after unboxing, we were able to adjust our rate settings to make drone piloting more amicable.
Portability
The DJI FPV Combo and its propellers don't fold up, and it's not the lightest option available, at 28 ounces. Fortunately, its diagonal size is 10.5 inches, so its dimensions might not be a deal breaker for some. If portability is a priority, we'd steer you towards other options.
This model comes with the large Goggles V2 headset and its antennas don't fold up. For many users, this option will be a FPV learning drone and will find an effective way to transport this option to and from your flying area, just make sure to buy a camera bag that'll work.
Ease of Use
The setup of the DJI FPV Combo is relatively straightforward, with no pairing required. The propellers will need to be installed, but the overall time from unboxing to first flight should be a modest 30-45 minutes. While this is a great learning drone, it still has a learning curve and doesn't score the best in this metric.
With the included DJI Remote 2, this option boasts an excellent remote control design and is intuitive to use. The included Goggles V2, however, don't fit well and have some light leaks.
Should You Buy the DJI FPV Combo?
This option is worthy of your consideration if you're hunting for an FPV learning drone that you can take on more advanced, high-speed flights later on. With relatively modest video quality, you'll want to look elsewhere if content creation prowess is your priority.
What Other Drone Should You Consider?
The best learning drone for FPV flying is the DJI Avata Pro-View Combo, which also boasts propeller guards and better flight performance for indoor use — a rarity amongst the drones tested. If you're looking for a better-performing drone that can be paired with a headset, look at the DJI Mini 3 Pro for a more travel-sized option or the DJI Mavic 3 Pro for a top-of-the-line product. Neither of these would be true FPV drones, but you can still enjoy the immersive flying experience of first-person view.