DJI Phantom 4 completely outperforms Yuneec Q500

Yuneec strives really hard to take on DJI – the world’s largest UAV drone manufacturer – with a number of models aimed at different segments. As the competition between the two companies intensified, the Yuneec Q500 was launched in 2015 to compete with the DJI Phantom series.

Initially, Yuneec may have set out to challenge the overwhelming popularity of the Phantom 3 with the Yuneec Q500. That hasn’t quite happened. In fact, the Yuneec hopes of capturing the market with the Yuneec Q500 received a massive blow through the launch of the DJI Phantom 4.

Yuneec Q500 reviews have not been very positive so far. Launched as an expensive drone in the US$700, it was supposed to ‘wow’ pilots and experts. Unfortunately for Yuneec, the underlying R&D behind the Yuneec Q500 hasn’t been sound enough to match virtually no – mostly positive – DJI Phantom 4 review. A lot of pilots have already declared the Phantom 4 as the best ever consumer drone in the under US$2,000 price range. On the other hand, Yuneec Q500 reviews have questioned whether its price tag justifies its actual performance.

Among other issues, the problem that has bothered the Yuneec pilots more than anything else is the GPS issues with the Yuneec Q500. Not only does it take an excruciatingly long time to establish GPS connections when the Yuneec Q500 boots up, a lot of pilots have experienced connection loss. Some users posted on drone forums that the Yuneec Q500 UAV is prone to lose its satellite lock for a few seconds.

The backpack for the Yuneec Q500 – launched to cater to a niche segment of pilots who want to travel along with their drone as a carry-luggage – was also criticised by some customers who thought the soft backpack did not provide the best protection for their drones. Not so surprisingly the Yuneec Q500 backpack edition was quickly pulled back from the market.

In a DJI Phantom 4 comparison, the Yuneec Q500 never really offered any formidable challenge. Compared to the Yuneec Q500, there is an awful much to like about the DJI Phantom birds. DJI Phantom 4 signal loss is rare, because DJI drone connects to larger network of satellites, including some Russian satellites, which provide pilots with GPS and GLONASS connectivity, and augments those with a solid Obstacle Avoidance System.

DJI Phantom 4 also comes with ActiveTrack – a feature not found in the Yuneec Q500 or any other current Yuneec drone models. It’s a feature that allows drones to recognise a subject and follow it with absolute ease and stability. ActiveTrack works in combination with a state of the art Obstacle Avoidance System in the Phantom 4, this means that even inexperienced pilots can perform complex manoeuvres that were once only possible for the most experienced pilots. Plus, the Yuneec Q500 doesn’t have DJI’s TapFly – the option to just tap on your target on the screen, and let your drone fly there.

The Yuneec Q500 has missed the bar by a long margin, it seems.

 

 

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