A 4K drone with GPS, follow me and return to home for about 70 euros? In May 2020 I tried the Wingsland S6, a drone that first came out years earlier for about 250 dollars, to see if it was still worth buying.
An old drone at a new price
The Wingsland S6 was about five years old when I made this video. When it came out in 2015 or 2016 it cost around $248, and it probably wasn't a great drone for that money. But at around 70 euros with the coupons you find online, it's a different story.
This drone is the classic example of "the suit doesn't make the man", in reverse. The packaging is great, from the cardboard box to the inner box, with a level of care you rarely see. The carrying case and the build quality of the drone itself are uncommon at this price. As soon as I unboxed it I thought: this is worth something.
Camera and controls
It shoots 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps, and 13-megapixel photos, which are pretty good when there's no wind. It's a great selfie drone. Video is weaker: without a gimbal, only digital stabilisation, the footage is hard to use in a professional project. You also fly it from your phone, by sliding your thumbs on the screen, and if you're used to a real controller you don't have the same control.
The battery bug
The worst part is how the battery talks to the drone's software. You put in a fully charged battery, take off, and after 20 seconds it reads 0%, which isn't real. The drone believes it and tries to land by itself, so you have to unplug and replug the battery. It seems to be a common issue. But once it's flying and the battery reading is right, it's smooth and hovers brilliantly, and it's pocket-sized, so you can take it on holiday as an extra camera.
Is it still worth it?
The test flight was okay, not exciting. I expected more flight time, and you should count on only about three or four minutes per battery, so buy extras. The 4K isn't usable for cinematic or professional video. For that you need to spend way more. But for 70 euros, we can't complain: you get what you pay for.