Ryze Tech Tello (or simply Ryze) and drone king DJI combined forces to create the Tello drone – a small, lightweight quadcopter that is a very good choice for the beginning pilot. DJI designed the innards (arguably the more important part) and Ryze did the rest.
The Tello is a very basic drone – some would call it a toy – yet its manufacturers didn’t really leave out anything significant. You still get a decent, built-in camera, even at this low price point.
If you’re in a hurry right now and only have time to check the pricing and availability of the Ryze Tello at Amazon, you can click the link just below. Otherwise, keep scrolling and reading to see what makes the Tello one of the best beginner drones on the market today.
- Equipped with a high-quality image processor,...
- Camera features 5MP (2592x1936) photos and...
- Tello has two antennas that make video...
The Ryze Tello – A Lot in a Small Package
The Ryze Tello drone has everything you’d expect in a larger, more expensive model as far as hardware is concerned. You get a sturdy drone with 3-inch propellers, a built-in camera – so no extra purchase needed, and the Tello app for your phone by which you control your copter just as you would with an RC unit.
Since the insides are designed by DJI, there’s no skimping there. You get a range finder, barometer, electronic image stabilization (EIS), automatic takeoff and landing functions, and even the ability to get in the air by the “throw and go” method.
All of the above is packed into a machine that measures 98 x 92.5 x 41 millimeters (about 3.85 x 3.6 x 1.6 inches) and that weighs about 80 grams (less than 3 ounces), even with props and battery included. For recharging purposes, there’s a micro USB port available.
This is not to say that the Tello doesn’t have any faults. Ryze and DJI couldn’t give you “the kitchen sink” at this low price.
The rated flight distance is just 100 meters (about 110 yards), and the flight height is set at 30 meters (about 33 yards). However, you’re likely to only be able to fly about a third of those distances.
Maximum speed is 8 meters per second which is roughly 18 mph. Maximum flight time is about 13 minutes. Both of these specs are decent for such a small craft. You’ll simply have to pay more for a larger drone if you want better performance in these areas.
You may want to keep your drone indoors if there’s any amount of wind outside. This lightweight machine can’t battle the breezes. If you must fly outdoors in anything but a calm, realize that any photos and videos will probably be severely affected, even though EIS is doing its best.
The camera produces 5MP, JPG stills and HD 720p, MP4 videos. Again, for the price and the size of this equipment, this is not too shabby. However, you’ll want to make sure the area is well-lit, or your results will not be what you expected. This camera isn’t designed to take shots in the dark.
Finally, the video you do get is stored on your phone, not on a card in the drone itself, as is the case with many other models. This is another cost-saving choice made by Ryze.
To summarize, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of owning a Ryze Tello drone.
Pros
- Low cost
- Small size
- Camera included
- Range finder and barometer
- Auto takeoff and landing
Cons
- Limited range
- Limited flight time
- Problems with wind
- Quality of video
Conclusions About the Ryze Tech Tello
We said at the top that the Ryze Tello is a very good drone for beginners. That’s true, but that’s not to say that a more experienced pilot wouldn’t enjoy owning one. Such a person might even appreciate the challenge of trying to fly the Tello in a light gale.
For the (low) price, you really do get a lot of drone in a small, lightweight machine. You don’t always need (or want) to take pictures of yourself (or other people and things) outside, so maybe the Tello is what you’ve been looking for to get all those indoor shots in areas that are just too small for a larger drone to navigate.
We recommend getting yourself a Tello especially for the relatively insignificant cost and for the learning experiences it can provide.