The DJI Phantom made a big splash of things in the pool of quadcopters over the last few years, allowing it to take its place near the top. This year, however, they have a lot of strong competition coming their way thanks to companies like Hexo+, but they aren’t stepping back just yet. Towards the end of last year, they launched their new Inspire 1 drone to 1-up their Phantom series.
The new Inspire 1 offers an upgrade on all angles including:
- 360-degree gimble with arms that lift the feet away giving you a clear view.
- 4K video and image recording.
- Enhanced GPS giving you a much stronger lock with an average of up to 18 satellites.
- The ability to fly without the need for GPS and still be able to hover in place and know its height from the ground.
- The ability to use two controllers so that the drone and camera can be controlled separately, allowing the pilot to focus solely on flying.
- Modular design allowing you to remove the camera and gimble for travel or even upgrade it (this is important). – We have a Phantom Vision 2+ here at the office, and the only thing we regret about it, is the fact that we can’t upgrade the camera to something better. This limits our use of it and the lifespan of the entire unit.
- Lightbridge system allowing you to maintain live HD video at more than a mile’s distance.
- Auto take-off and landing.
- Up to 18 minutes of flight time.
This is by far, the best product that DJI has developed. Answering most, if not all, the issues Phantom owners brought to their attention in the past.
Just like the Phantom, it is easy to fly. This doesn’t mean that anyone can grab that controller and have a go at it, but it does mean that if you have flown a quad before, you are more than likely going to be natural at this one. The controls are smooth and each movement is predictable to your expectations.
We have mentioned a fun comparison in the past by pointing out to gamers, that if you can drive a “Warthog” or “Banshee” in the game “Halo” (in a high-stress situation at fast speeds) and survive with minimal damage to your vehicle (or without flying off the ledge of a cliff)…you can pilot a DJI quadcopter. The Inspire 1 feels no different to this theory. Members of our office, with no RC experience at all, have flown our Phantom 2 Vision+ without any troubles (taking to it within the first few minutes of flight).
Inspire 1’s ability to lock onto the ground to determine its height and position is amazing. So accurate, you can fly it indoors without (as much) fear. No more having to worry about a GPS lock-on, this allows you to take the drone to additional places that you couldn’t before (without having to place an increased amount of effort into controlling it and a decreased chance of smooth video). Now it can smoothly capture its video just about anywhere.
The 4K camera is also a major player in this, as the resolution and frame rate is obviously much better than that of the Vision 2+. If you are looking for a solid 1080 video, then capture it at 4K and compress it down. Both in video and photography, we always recommend shooting at a higher resolution than you plan to deliver. The end result almost always comes out looking a little better. The gimbal also feels a bit smoother than the Phantom’s. Maybe this is because we have crashed our Phantom a few times during various benchmarks…
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The modular capability of both the camera and gimbal happens to be one of our favorite highlights. As mentioned above, we cannot replace the camera on our Phantom without making major modifications. Even if we went that far, we would be switching to a GoPro mount/gimbal (which is actually better anyway, but also really expensive) vs upgrading to the next-gen DJI camera. For example, the Inspire 1 camera is not compatible with the Phantom as it maintains proprietary connections and on-board firmware. With the Inspire 1, you will be able to swap the camera with whatever they come out with next (assuming the next model they release continues down that path, and they don’t change their mind about supporting the Inspire 1).
Sadly, we weren’t able to demo nor observe the option of connecting two controllers to control the camera and drone apart from each other. We find this to be a fun feature as any drone lover will tell you that it’s not easy to babysit both the flight of the drone AND the angle of the camera at the same time. Giving the responsibility to someone else is always more successful in obtaining a better shot. However, previously when you did that, you also lose the view for yourself so you are essentially flying by line-of-sight, while whoever has the cellphone or tablet has FPV of the camera. Now, both individuals can have their own controller AND have a downlink with what the camera is seeing. This way the pilot can see more than just line-of-sight, and still not have to worry about messing with the camera angle or settings. Superb.
Speed and handling is great. Like the Phantom, it can take off and soar through the sky. It also handles the wind very well. We couldn’t benchmark it on speed so much since we were limited in our trials, but it did feel fast than the Phantom and there was a bit of wind a few hundred feet up and it didn’t seem to bother it much at all.
The design of the Inspire 1 is also impressive. Like Parrot, they decided to go with something unique vs the same design everyone else in the quadcopter market has molded theirs to look like. The Inspire 1 instead looks like something out of Terminator. Now, all it needs is the abilities of the Hexo+ and you will truly have your own Skynet Drone.
You can watch our interview with drone expert Randy Jay Braun with DJI here:
Our Conclusion
Once again, the Inspire 1 is the best drone that DJI has launched. Both look and function, it is unique to the drone market, giving it an edge against everything else. DJI is known for pushing its products further than some of the competing companies, allowing you to get more for your money. It is by far, feature-strong, making it a solid tool for professional drone lovers around the world (as well as hobbyists alike). The only draw-back is the price. Launching at $2899, it is not for weak at heart. It is going to cost you a lot of money to invest in one of these, so make sure that you know what you are doing before you launch it. The last thing you need is to send $3000 right into a wall somewhere. Price weighs heavy in our rating of it since this year does give way to a lot of fierce competition. We decided to go with an 8 out of 10. This will be one of the dominating drones this year, but companies like Hexo+ are hard on its tail to change that. Despite that, do we want an Inspire 1 here at the office? Yes! It won enough attention here to gain win the Editors’ Choice award even.
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Video:
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Specifications:
Aircraft | ModelT600 Weight (Battery Included)2935 g Hovering Accuracy (GPS Mode)Vertical: 0.5 m Horizontal: 2.5 m Max Angular VelocityPitch: 300°/s Yaw: 150°/s Max Tilt Angle35° Max Ascent Speed5 m/s Max Descent Speed4 m/s Max Speed22 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) Max Flight Altitude4500 m Max Wind Speed Resistance10 m/s Max Flight TimeApproximately 18 minutes Motor ModelDJI 3510 Propeller ModelDJI 1345 Indoor HoveringEnabled by default Operating Temperature Range-10° to 40° C Diagonal Distance559 to 581 mm Dimensions438x451x301 mm |
|---|---|
Gimbal | ModelZENMUSE X3 Output Power (With Camera)Static: 9 W In Motion: 11 W Operating CurrentStation: 750 mA Motion: 900 mA Angular Vibration Range±0.03° MountingDetachable Controllable RangePitch: -90° to +30° Pan: ±320° Mechanical RangePitch: -125° to +45° Pan: ±330° Max Controllable SpeedPitch: 120°/s Pan: 180°/s |
Camera | NameX3 ModelFC350 Total Pixels12.76M Effective Pixels12.4M Image Max Size4000×3000 ISO Range100-3200 (video) 100-1600 (photo) FOV (Field Of View)94° CMOSSony EXMOR 1/2.3” Lens20mm (35mm format equivalent)f/2.8 focus at ? 9 Elements in 9 groups Anti-distortion Still Photography ModesSingle shoot Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV Bias Time-lapse Video Recording ModesUHD (4K): 4096x2160p24/25, 3840x2160p24/25/30 FHD: 1920x1080p24/25/30/48/50/60 HD: 1280x720p24/25/30/48/50/60 Max Bitrate Of Video Storage60 Mbps Supported File FormatsFAT32/exFAT Photo: JPEG, DNG Video: MP4/MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) Supported SD Card TypesSD/SDHC/SDXC Micro SD Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required. Operating Temperature Range0° to 40° C |
Remote Controller | NameC1 Operating Frequency922.7~927.7 MHz (Japan Only) 5.728~5.850 GHz 2.400~2.483 GHz Transmitting Distance (Outdoor And Unobstructed)2 km EIRP10dBm@900m, 13dBm@5.8G, 20dBm@2.4G Video Output PortUSB, mini-HDMI Power SupplyBuilt-in battery ChargingDJI charger Dual User CapabilityHost-and-Slave connection Mobile Device HolderTablet or Phone Max Mobile Device Width170mm Output Power9 W Operating Temperature Range-10° to 40° C Storage Temperature RangeLess than 3 months: -20° to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° to 28° C Charging Temperature Range0-40° C Battery6000 mAh LiPo 2S |
Charger | ModelA14-100P1A Voltage26.3 V Rated Power100 W |
Battery (Standard) | NameIntelligent Flight Battery ModelTB47 Capacity4500 mAh Voltage22.2 V Battery TypeLiPo 6S High voltage battery Energy99.9 Wh Net Weight570 g Operating Temperature Range-10° to 40° C Storage Temperature RangeLess than 3 months: -20° to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° C to 28° C Charging Temperature Range0° to 40° C Max Charging Power180 W |
Battery (Optional) | NameIntelligent Flight Battery ModelTB48 Capacity5700 mAh Voltage22.8 V Battery TypeLiPo 6S Energy129.96 Wh Net Weight670 g Operating Temperature Range-10° to 40° C Storage Temperature RangeLess than 3 months: -20 to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° to 28° C Charging Temperature Range0° to 40° C Max Charging Power180 W |
Vision Positioning | Velocity RangeBelow 8 m/s (2 m above ground) Altitude Range5-500 cm Operating EnvironmentBrightly lit (lux > 15) patterned surfaces Operating Range0-250 cm |
DJI Pilot App | Mobile Device System RequirementsAndroid version 4.1.2 or later Supported Mobile Devices* Samsung S5, Note 3, P900 tablet, Sony Z3 EXPERIA, Google Nexus 7 II, Mi 3, Nubia Z7 mini *Support for additional Android devices available as testing and development continues |
*Updated: Included a few more highlighted points as well as a direct link to the item on DJI’s website.
Are you a manufacturer or distributor that would like us to test something out for review? Contact us and we can let you know where to send the product and we will try it out.
67 Comments
Someone give me three grand so I get one…
Beautiful.
Nice video and Drone this Inspire 1. I bouth my first drone fore 3 month ago Dji Phantom 2 vision+. Its a fantastic machine to make film and Picture With. Price of Inspire 1 is maby high but Its New tecnology and It coust. Everything whoo film in 4K today are exspencive. DJI makes the best drone out there fore RC Hobby!
Do want. Do very want.
Great Information!! Inspire 1 drone has lots of stunning new features like enhanced GPS system, good quality video and image recording system etc that makes it suitable for aerial photography.
look nice but the only thing I don’t like is it only 20 mins battery juice on the drone
Until it flies into a garage door
DJI Inspire 1 – “Soar”: https://youtu.be/zaHfCHuCedk
I run a DJI S1000 with the Blackmagic production 4K, and there is definitely 4K AND 4K…
Look at these patriotic pictures of your heroes, Americans, and buy our drones!!!DJI- a company created and owned by the Chinese, the drone designed and made in Shenzhen…
?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ? ?????.?? ??? ??? ?? ??.?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???.??? USD $3,399???.???? ??? ????.. ?? ???? ? ??? ? ?? ? ????…
U guys should make a version where it attaches to fpv gogles where if u turn your head the camera moves
At first I was like, “Holy shit this is expensive…” Then I saw what came with the package…
Imagine a RED Scarlet-X attached to that …
Have you guys considered a pedal system for camera control? Perhaps with a set of floor buttons for changing camera modes? I’ve got a concept in mind for an entirely different function, but in this case it would eliminate the need for a separate cameraman. Just a thought
???????? DJI, ????????????? ????????? ?????? Phantom, ??????????? ????????????? ????? ?????? Inspire One. ??????????? ???????? ??????????? ?? ?????? ????? 300 ?????? ? ??????? ????? ? ?????????? 4?.??????? ????? ??????????? ? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ? ??????? ????? ????????. ????? ?? ??????? ?????????????? ???????????? DJI Inspire One ???????? ??????????? ??????? ????? ? ??????, ????? ? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ???????????? ????????.?? ?????????? ??????????? ??? ?????? – ???? ????????? ?? 360 ????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ??? ?????????? ?????????????. ?????? ???????? ??????? ????? ? ??????????? 4K ? ???????? 30 ?????? ? ??????? ? ?????????? ? ??????????? 12 ???????????? (? ????? ? ??????? RAW).Inspire One ????? ????????? ???????? — ? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ? ??????. ??????????????, ??? ? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ??????.«????????????» ?????????????? ????????? ????? ????: ???? ????????? ???? ??????, ?????? – ?????????. ??????? ????? ? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????? ?? iPad ? ??? ?????? ????? ???????????? ? ?????????????? ?????????, ????????? ?????????? GPS-??????.?????? Inspire One ?????????? ?? ??????????? ???????, ??????? ?????? ????? 2,9 ??. ? ????? ????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ???????? ?? 4 ?/? ? ??????? ?? ?????????? ?? 4,5 ??. ?? ????????????? ?????? Inspire One ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ? GlaDOS – ????????????? ??????????? ?? ???????????? ??? ????? Portal.Inspire 1 ? ????? ??????? ????? $2900, ? ????? ???????? — $3400. ???????? ????? ?????? ??????????? ???????? ? ??????? ????? ????.https://youtu.be/zaHfCHuCedk
Wondering what gopro will come up with with their flying camera :-)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaHfCHuCedk
Want to meet @DJIGlobal Founder and CEO? Don’t miss @HYSTA’s Maker’s Series: Meet DJI in the Silicon Valley #HYSTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaHfCHuCedk#t=29
Habe gerade meine Phantom 2 Vision+ verkauft und freu mich auf meine Inspire. Das Ding ist echt genial.
Would be nice if you guys could give me one… Pretty please? 🙂
DJI makes an awesome product… they definitely need to work on their keynotes though. Great product deserves a great introduction.
I don’t know if anyone actually sees posts I make on this page, but for anyone that does, the future is here. This quad can fly, and film at 50mph. This was a thing of the movies for the far future, just 10 years ago. If that doesn’t impress you, think of this. If a random consumer can buy this, what do you think the military has?
Die Livedrohne für #hangoutsonair
..redefining boundaries, the Wright brothers would be so proud (^^ 😉
DJI Inspire 1 – “Soar”: https://youtu.be/zaHfCHuCedk
hi werten wir an 8.12 in denn heden haben und dann los
DJI Inspire 1 – “Soar”: https://youtu.be/zaHfCHuCedk
Here’s to the crazy ones…
THE SONG USED , please 🙂
Ok then I’ll take one with extra flight battery, hmm to keep or sell my phantom one and two fully equipped hmmm ? Hope I can use my fatshark goggles and an iosd mini with this new inspire for full pilot immersion I’ve used a mounted screen once but the ipad in daylight is tough to see very well … Guess i will use both as other flight and camera settings are done on the iOS device .Flying with goggles puts you on board in real time and that experience is fantastic , if you haven’t flown your quad this way you are missing out big time ! Give it a try you’ll soon see how important it is if your going to do much decent camera work .????????????????????????????
4 motors is way too few for safe operation, there’s no redundancy at all! There’s no way I’d even try flying it over people or properties. Filming fields isn’t that interesting, is it?
Better to build your own multirotors for aerial photography and save a couple of money!Seriously why should i invest 3500$ in a “multirotors” which will have an upgraded version in 6 months for flying more good and more longer, probably at the same price lolWhat a joke! Finally i am disappointed like i was expected it…
DJI Inspire 1 Ecco l’erede del Phantom!! Spettacolare!
DJI, can I have my heart back please?
?????
Tohle už vypadá hodn? futuristicky, t?ším se až vyzkouším.
Bähm. #DJI hat es mal wieder geschafft allen Mitbewerbern die lange Nase zu zeigen. Unglaublich! O.o*360 Grad 4K Kamera, einfahrendes Gestell…* und ein Design zum niederknien! Haben will!
very impressive, i am headache now …
sent link to my china friends)
The legs raise up, allowing the 12MP, 4k camera to swivel 360 degrees.
So do they cover that $3500 I’m about to blow with a fly away?
Not bad pricewise…$2,889 complete package, $3,399 with dual controllers, and $650 for extra controllers. Yeah, give a controller to a bunch of folks so they can help you crash it. I like it, the price is steep for the average modeler and it’s against the law in the U.S. presently to use a drone commercially. So it is an expensive adult “toy” for the average Joe who assumes the risk of possible flyaways. They should have put a GPS “homer” device on it like the ones made for pets so you could find it if it went haywire for some reason. But they sell those pet finders on Amazon and other places for less than $100. It won’t help if it lands in the water though. Reported to fly at 49 MPH top speed, 1.5′ H x 8′ W hover stability, and weighs in at a hefty 6.5 pounds.
From what I understand if it loses connectivity to does return to Home (location where launched). Now that could still be problematic if there are obstacles enroute.
Thankfully, it has a setting where you can control the return to home “height”. Meaning, when return home kicks in, it stops moving and begins to climb to a height you set. Once it has reached it’s height, it flys home and comes back in to land. This was there solution to avoid trees and other obstacles. The firmware updates have a lot of wiggle room on that model (and it has some nice location/distance/obstacle awareness tech built in that could be made use of), so don’t be surprised if you see a firmware update in the near future that adds even more fail safes for these kind of things.
wiiiiiiiiiiiiii
For $3000+ the camera better be better then a Vision+
YES!! I wanna film my new INSPIRE 1 with my P2V+ – lol – or Visa versa? !
What’s the highest 1080p frame rate? That’s the make it or break it thing for me.
That is a hot looking camera.
Yyayaya it’s only $3500 lol