Autel Robotics EVO II Review: Is It Better Than DJI?

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In an industry where DJI drones dominate the field and competitors strive to even come close to their success, Autel Robotics releases the second iteration of their EVO line, the Autel Robotics EVO II.

The EVO II is a folding drone that packs a solid punch with its 8K video resolution, a 48 MP camera, and a much longer flight time than most DJI models in the market.

So today, we will be finding out in this dedicated review whether the EVO II drone will be a great, if not better alternative to the well-loved and sought-after DJI camera drones.

See Where The Autel Robotics EVO II Rank In Our List Of The Best Drones For Aerial Photography This 2021.

Overview Of The Autel Robotics EVO II

If you have been shopping for drones to use for your aerial photography for a while now, then you’ll most likely have seen that most stores and online shopping sites carry a ton of DJI drones. Heck, most of them even recommend DJI as the best drone or the best seller for your UAV needs.

While DJI has certainly made a name for themselves with their impressive line of camera drones, sometimes we want something different. Something that will make us stand out from the crowd. And what better way to do that besides coming in with a camera drone wrapped in bright orange colors?

Enter the Autel Robotics EVO II.

For some of you, Autel Robotics may tend to lack the polished features we love about the DJI camera drones. But the EVO II is a pretty solid and well-rounded contender if you’re really serious about your aerial photography. Dare I say, DJI might have even finally found a worthy rival.

But that’s good news to drone enthusiasts. More competition in the market means more options for us to choose from.

So what makes the EVO II stand out?

The EVO II offers plenty of different camera choices and is designed with a bright, eye-catching orange frame. This makes the drone a lot more noticeable and easy to detect in most locations. So unless you’re shooting and flying this drone in an orange set, this one’s pretty hard to miss.

Not to mention, it’s a stark contrast against DJI’s neutral white and grey colors, which can sometimes be hard to find as it blends in a lot of backgrounds.

Upon closer inspection, you will notice that the EVO II is slightly bigger and chunkier compared to other camera drones in the market. However, it makes up for it with a much longer battery life compared to most drones you’ll come across.

To be more specific, the EVO II comes in with a 7100mAh rechargeable EVO 2 battery. It delivers up to 40 minutes of flight time in forwarding motions and 35 minutes when it is just hovering.

If that’s not enough for you, the EVO II is easily capable of shooting 8K video resolutions thanks to its 1/2-inch sensor. Apart from that, you might also want to keep in mind that its 8K resolution is limited to 25 fps, 6K to 50 fps, and 4K to 60 fps.

Features & Specifications

Product Dimensions: 16.69 x 13.94 x 4.33 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Autel Robotics
Item Weight: ‎13.57 pounds
Material: Plastic
Range: 5.5 miles
Max Speed: 45 mph
Battery Life: Up to 40 minutes of flight time.
Battery Type: 3 Lithium Polymer batteries required.
Sensor Size: 1/2-inch CMOS
Camera Resolution: 48 MP
Video Resolution: 8K HDR (25 FPS), 6K (50 FPS), 4K (60 FPS).
Control Type: Remote control with a built in display.
Colors: Orange and black.
Accessories: 1x Battery, 4x Propellers, 1x Gimbal Holder, 1x 32GB SD Card, 1x Remote Control, 2x Extra Batteries, 8x Extra Propellers, 1x Extra 64GB SD Card, and 1x Hard Plastic Case.
Extra Special Features: Auto Return, 4X Lossless Zoom, Smart Photography, and Smart Tracking

What’s In The Box?

EVO II aircraft unit
Batteries x 3
Propellers x 1
Gimbal holder x 1
32 GB SD Card x 1
Remote Control x 1
Extra Propellers x 8
Extra 64 GB SD Card x 1
Hard Plastic Case x 1

Come check out Autel Robotic’s preview of the EVO II series below.

Want To Check Out Other Camera Drones? Click Here To Read our Top Recommendations For The Best Drones For Aerial Photography In 2021.

What We Love About The Autel Robotics EVO II

Here’s a breakdown of the things we really liked about the EVO II.

Impressive video and camera resolutions

impressive-camera-resolutions-on-the-evo-2

The EVO II is equipped with a camera with a 1/2-inch CMOS Quad Bayer sensor that can capture both Raw or JPEG images at up to 48MP resolution with a fixed aperture F1.8 lens. It also provides an 8x digital zoom along with a maximum of 4x lossless zoom. When it comes to video footage, you can easily shoot up to 8K video resolutions.

The Autel Explorer app also allows you to choose from several camera options that can really add a more interesting layer to your aerial photography.

Longer flight time

Apart from its amazing camera and video capabilities, the EVO II also shines when it comes to providing longer flight times for you thanks to its 7100mAh battery.

While most drones can only deliver 10-20 minutes of battery life on a single charge and DJI usually sticks with about 30 minutes, the EVO II pushes it further and offers you 40 minutes of flight time.

To some, 10 minutes doesn’t seem that much of a stretch. But in the drone industry, it’s a lot. Especially if you think about how most camera drones in the market limit you to 10-20 minutes of flight time. Sometimes even less.

Ultimately, having 40 minutes of your drone remaining airborne is more than enough for you to capture a lot of breathtaking aerial shots.

Eye-catching design

The EVO II couldn’t be any more different from the DJI camera drones in terms of aesthetic and design. The bright orange color it sports all over its foldable frame makes it really stand out from your usual neutral colors. Not to mention, it’s so much easier to sport in the sky as it doesn’t blend in with the clouds.

Phone-free operation

Another great thing about the EVO II is that it doesn’t require you to use your smartphones in order to pilot the drone. The remote controller it comes in with has a built-in display which you can use as you fly the EVO II.

The best thing about this is that you don’t have to worry about using up your phone’s battery as you use it to maneuver your camera drone. In addition to that, you can now also record and take photos to commemorate your piloting skills using your phone’s camera.

No geo-fencing features

A feature that I’m sure a lot of you will appreciate is that the Autel Robotics EVO II has no geofencing features equipped into their model. This is something a lot of DJI camera drones have and it can certainly be a double-edged sword for them.

While geofencing serves to be a safety feature to prevent your drones from flying in restricted areas, it can be quite inconvenient for authorized pilots with secured permission to fly in these certain areas.

Our Least Favorite Things

It’s Expensive

If there’s anything the EVO II shares in common with DJI drones, it’s definitely that both units are really, really pricey.

Though some of you might argue that you get what you pay for, and what you get with the EVO II is a heavy-duty camera and video resolution of the highest quality for the most stunning aerial shots and footage and a longer flight time that can beat most camera drones’ battery life.

Whether you think the EVO II is worth spending a few thousand dollars is completely up to you. But if you were looking for a more budget-friendly alternative to DJI’s premium drones, then the EVO II will certainly disappoint you.

In A Nutshell

Now that we have finished covering the things we liked and disliked about the Autel Robotics EVO II, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular camera drone.

Pros

Can shoot up to 8K video resolutions along with other camera options.
Better battery life than most camera drones in the market.
Can capture raw 48 MP stills.
360 degree sensors.
No geofencing features to restrict you.
The bright orange design is easily visible to most surroundings.

Cons

8K is limited to shooting at 25 fps.
Software can be improved.
Not as portable as other camera drones.

Our Final Verdict

Overall, the Autel Robotics EVO II is an amazing camera drone that may serve as an alternative for people who aren’t too fond of getting a DJI drone.

Despite the many comparisons it’s getting with its direct competition, the EVO II stands out on its own with its bright orange design and impressive camera resolutions that can easily beat other camera drones in the market, including some DJI units.

Do you already own the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom? Or are you still thinking about purchasing it? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights, questions, or experiences to share with us. We would love to hear all your thoughts!