A note about the Q9S and Amazon
The first thing to note in this review is that this is a generic Amazon type product, which means it is sold under a host of names, by various sellers on the Amazon platform, and so whilst I’m calling this the Q9S review, it applies equally to a bunch of other Amazon listings, current examples being this drone and this drone.
Essentially, if you see a drone that looks like the picture below, this review will apply to it!
You can buy this drone using the link below. I earn a commission on any purchase made.
DronesWatch Flight Demo – The Hasakee Q9S
Summary of the Q9S drone
**Yes, that’s right, I like to start with a summary as I know you guys don’t necessarily have much time to spare. And yes, this review is based on the assumption that you’re thinking of buying for a child, so it will focus on child-related issues. Ok, let’s do this!!**
The Q9S is a really good kids drone and I think it’s probably my #1 pick for kids around 5-7 years old.
It’s a fairly large quadcopter (by toy drone standards) with decent battery life, a robust build and some pretty cool lights that grab kids’ attention.
What’s in the box?
The drone, 3 batteries, 1 controller (needs three AAA batteries which are not supplied but at least they will last for ages, I guess), 1 manual. IMG
Is the Q9S easy and fun to fly?
The Q9S is a toy grade drone, but it does the fundamental stuff in the same way that larger, more expensive models do.
It’s got four rotors and comes with a 2-stick remote control which means it will handle yaw, pitch, roll and altitude just like a ‘proper’ drone and if you’re new to drones you’ll find that this gives the Q9S the dual benefit of being complicated enough that you will remain interested for quite some time.
Having said that, the Q9S is very definitely a toy. It has no camera (and therefore no gimbal) and this gets rid of a lot of the complexity associated with other drones. It also has a purpose made controller, which means there is no app to download and get accustomed to. Put together, these two points mean that you will be up and flying within minutes of opening the box; no need to study any manuals before getting stuck in.
Aside from flying very capably, the Q9S can do a few other bits and pieces too:
- 3 speeds. Use speed 1 to learn how to control the drone then move up to speeds 2 and 3 when you’re feeling confident.
- One button take-off and landing.
- Headless mode
- Lights adjustment. The default is for all of the lights in the prop guards to be on, but you can turn them off or have them flash in various patterns too.
- Trim the pitch and roll. Allows you to perfect the stability of the drone, and there’s a quick reset button too, in case it turns out you were tuning it to fight a draft and that draft has suddenly disappeared!! See the end of this article for a video about trimming the Q9S.
- 3 types of 360 degree spin; a wide circle, a circle on one spot and most impressively a forwards flip.
Is it easy to set up and use?
The Q9S is about as easy to set up as a drone gets. Unlike most models, you don’t even have to calibrate the gyroscope. You simply plug a battery in (and the batteries generally will have at least a bit of charge straight out of the box) and replace the battery cover, then put batteries in the controller, hit the take-off button (or ‘up’ twice on the left stick) and you’re flying. Here’s my 3.5 year old son doing so, repeatedly!
Can the Q9S be flown outside?
Hmm….. This one kind of depends.
It depends on the weather conditions and your expectations of being able to control the drone!
I tested it on a slightly breezy day and initially I thought it did quite well. I had it on speed 1 and it floated around the garden quite nicely. But I got bored; switched it up to speed 3 and went up to roughly the roofline of the house and all of a sudden was reminded that this is a lightweight drone! The wind grabbed it and it was a fight to keep it from flying over the house and out of sight.
So it’s a qualified ‘yes’, on your head be it if it ends up in the local duck pond.
Is the Q9S good for kids?
This is an important aspect to me. I’ve got three kids under 5 and one of the main reasons I review toy drones is so that they can have a go too.
If you’re thinking of buying a drone for your kids, I’ve got one thing to say up front….. Do not do so, unless you’re prepared to see it get misused, crashed and abused!! AND bear in mind your kids will have no patience for talk of fiddly batteries, calibration or having to recharge batteries; they will want to be flying until they’re bored, period.
Can you deal with that!?
If so, I would recommend the Q9S for usage by kids. In this context, pros and cons are:
Pros:-
- Easy to set up.
- Easy to fly.
- Fun lights.
- Robust build quality.
Cons:-
- Prop covers only go around the blades, not over and under so fingers could get hurt.
- Compared to some toy drones the Q9S is relatively large, heavy and fast. This is sort of a good thing, but could be an issue indoors with smaller kids in control.
I’d argue that this is for 5 year olds and above, but you would probably want them to be closely supervised until perhaps 7 or 8 years old.
Q9S value for money
My Q9S cost me $39.99, but as I mentioned right at the top of this article, the Q9S is just one name given to multiple iterations of this drone, probably all from the same Chinese factory. So if you’re thinking of buying one, I’d recommend clicking this link to the Q9S but then also doing a search for ‘kids drones’ in Amazon. You may well find an identical model for less money.
Assuming you find one around that $39 mark, I’d argue it is great value. The Q9S feels really strong, and aside from the fact that my toddler grabbed a propeller and broke it, I’ve had no problems with it so far.
Q9S Batteries
I’m not sure of the mAh rating on the two batteries that come with the Q9S but physically, they’re about 1.5x the size of standard toy drone batteries, so that’s a good start.
On the negative side (pun intended) they have a fair bit of weight to boost into the air, and they have to power those led lights too.
What you’re left with is a pair of batteries that last around 7 minutes 23 seconds each, according to my experimentation. That’s with the lights turned on and with the drone just hovering. I guess you would buy yourself a few more seconds if you turned the lights off, and I’m sure you lose a bit of time by actively flying rather than passively hovering, but all-in-all you should have around 7 minutes per battery, which is fairly average for toy drones.
Q9S Maintenance
This is a toy drone and as such, when something breaks, it’s broken. It just isn’t valuable enough to justify repairs.
The only exception here are the propellers. They are thin and easily breakable (see comments above re toddler-induced destruction) although the prop guards save them from most damage. However, unlike a lot of mini drones, the props on the Q9S have been designed to be replaceable. It is a simple process, and the screwdriver required is supplied with the drone. The only thing you need to be aware of is that quadcopter propellers come in counter-balanced pairs, so you need to make sure you are replacing like with like. You won’t struggle, as the pairs are marked up; and nothing actually bad will happen if you get it wrong, you’ll just notice a slight decrease in functionality!
The other good news with regards to maintenance is that, based on my experience so far, the Q9S is really quite sturdy, so with a bit of luck you should get a good few hours out of it without this even becoming an issue.
Accessories
I haven’t bought any accessories for this drone (yet). So all I’ll mention is the below power bank. I routinely suggest this for use with small drones as it works really well and saves you from uglifying your kitchen via a semi-permanent drone battery charging station.
Q9S FAQs
Here are the answers to a few questions that people tend to ask on Amazon, Google etc:
Q: How do I replace the motor?
A: You don’t! That would require micro-soldering and precision tools, and it just wouldn’t be worth it. Unless you’re actually into that sort of thing which I assume you’re not. Are you? You weirdo.
Q: How big is it?
A: 6.9 * 6.9 * 2 in.
Q: Can I buy extra replacement propellers and batteries?
A: Yes, here https://amzn.to/3Yt7lt7 and here https://amzn.to/3Jq3dWL (this listing doesn’t specifically state that these work with the Q9S, but they do).
Q: Can you trim the drone’s controls?
A: Small drones drift around a bit due to their lack of weight and the absence of clever software. The Q9S has a really handy set of trim controls though, right there on the front of the controller. So it is easy to rectify any unwanted movement. And I accidentally made a video about it if you have a minute to spare….
Summaries of online reviews
My review above is subjective and other people won’t necessarily feel the same way. So, in order to provide an alternative point of view, the below sections are summaries of a bunch of other online reviews for the HS210. The first section will summarise some positive reviews and the second will be based on negative reviews.
Online love for the Q9S
After evaluating multiple user reviews of the Q9S drone, it is clear that the majority of customers find the drone to be an excellent value for its price. The drone is lauded for its durability and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for children and beginners.
The drone’s design is praised, particularly for its protective features that safeguard the propellers and minimize damage from crashes or hard landings. The learning curve, though real, is quite manageable, even for children as young as 6. Users commend the drone’s capabilities including bright LED lights and a good quality camera (note: requires a 5G phone for the Q9C model), along with neat trick features.
Several users mention the drone’s ability to handle winds reasonably well and the remote is described as comfortable to hold. The drone is also small enough and equipped with an easy landing feature to make it safe to use indoors. Additionally, customers appreciate the inclusion of extra batteries, propellers, screws, and a screwdriver, attesting to the manufacturer’s attention to customer experience and product longevity.
However, a consistent critique across multiple reviews is the short battery life, despite the provision of an extra battery for continual play. The charge time is reportedly long compared to the actual flight time, which can be around 8-16 minutes depending on usage. Although one user suggests turning off the LED lights to extend battery life, this remains a significant concern among users.
Another minor drawback noted by some users is the drone’s white color, which makes scratches and stains easily visible.
In conclusion, the Q9S drone is generally well-received as a great starter drone or a gift for children due to its durability, ease of use, and neat features. Improvements to battery life and consideration for color options could further enhance user satisfaction.
Online hate for the Q9S
The Q9S Drone appears to leave a lot to be desired based on these numerous reviews, with common issues noted by customers including poor build quality, quick battery depletion, and a propensity for the drone to malfunction or disappear during outdoor use.
A significant problem raised by most users was the flimsy construction of the drone. Customers noted the use of cheap materials, including weak propellers that easily bent. This poor build quality resulted in an unstable flight experience and a feeling that the device might disintegrate at any moment.
Battery life also emerged as a critical issue. The reviews highlight that the drone’s battery drains rapidly, often in under 10 minutes, far below the advertised flight time. This issue is compounded by a lengthy charging process, leaving users frustrated with the limited playtime.
Several reviewers expressed serious concerns about the drone’s tendency to ‘fly away’ during outdoor use, with some losing the device entirely. Despite their prior experience and caution with drones, these users were surprised when the Q9S Drone autonomously flew beyond their control range, even with nearly depleted batteries.
A common issue among reviewers was also the short lifespan of the drone. The drone seemed to break down or malfunction shortly after purchase, often within weeks or even days. One of the recurring malfunctions was the drone propellers ceasing to function, making the drone unusable.
Despite these numerous drawbacks, the Q9S Drone’s lighting seems to have been appreciated by younger users, serving as the sole redeeming feature. It was also noted to be fun to use indoors, provided it wasn’t flown too high or near walls due to its fragility.
In conclusion, while the Q9S Drone might attract initial interest due to its lighting effects and indoor usage, its low durability, poor battery life, and malfunction tendencies severely undermine its overall value and reliability.