The Ultimate Beginner Drone for Fun and Exploration

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ℹ️ WTGR Drone Resources

Looking for flying fun for the first time? We stumbled on the Ruko U11MINI, an affordable compact drone for beginners. Founded in 2017, Ruko Innovation specializes in the design, development, and sales of consumer electronics for home life and entertainment, particularly drones.

Ruko holds numerous invention and utility model patents and possesses independent intellectual property rights for flight control, image transmission, and visual perception systems. Ruko is committed to building a world-renowned consumer electronics brand and evolving into a technology-driven brand marketing company.

I don’t like reading user manuals when testing consumer electronics – I should be able to evaluate a device without specific instructions after initializing or connecting/paired with the controller. But this is different as I should have because I was confused for many frustrating minutes while testing…

Return to Home

The U11MINI has an automatic Return-To-Home (RTH) function in GPS mode – it brings the aircraft back to the last recorded home point.

Note, your GPS signal should show at least 3 bars for the aircraft to record the current take-off location.

The default setting for the Return Altitude is 65ft. If your aircraft is flying below 65ft, the aircraft will automatically ascend to the default return altitude before returning home.

So, I was concerned when I hit the RTH button, and the aircraft started to ascend instead of descending!

Only if you are flying the aircraft above the Return Altitude will it logically return from the existing height.

Note, the drone does not come equipped with an obstacle avoidance function.

Beginner Mode

By default, you’re in Beginner Mode. In this mode, the aircraft’s furthest flight distance is 98ft and highest height or altitude is also 98ft – safe mode.

You can turn Beginner Mode OFF and set the Flight Distance up to 9,843ft and the Flight Height up to 393ft.

Camera Cover

Remove camera cover before turning on the aircraft. I watched the recorded videos before I realized that the cover is on – looks like a view through sunglasses.

SD Card

The U11MINI comes with a micro-SD card slot – no SD card included so you’ll have to supply one.

Without an SD card, recorded videos are only 1280x720p (20fps) resolution. For better resolution, insert an SD card to record in 3840x2160p (20fps) and 2976x1680p (30fps). Significant difference!

You can easily download your recorded files from the SD card – remove from aircraft slot and plug it into your computer or an adapter to other devices.

Overview

The Ruko U11MINI is a compact, lightweight drone designed for beginners and casual users. It weighs under 250 grams, which means you don’t need to register it with the FAA or obtain a Remote ID.

Emphasis here is that the Ruko U11MINI is for beginners so set your expectations accordingly.

Design and Build

The U11MINI has a foldable design, making it highly portable. When folded, it measures just 5.9 x 6.49 x 2.36 inches, expanding to 9.25 x 7.68 x 2.36 inches when unfolded.

It’s constructed from durable ABS plastic and features LED lights for better visibility during flight.

Camera Quality

Equipped with a 4K UHD camera, the U11MINI can take high-resolution photos and videos. The camera delivers decent photo and video quality, but it’s not professional grade. It’s good for casual photography, like capturing scenic views or fun moments with friends and family.

You can manually adjust the camera angle to get better shots, but the adjustment is manual, meaning you must set it before the flight.

Ruko U11MINI – Photo using Photo (8MP) from camera
Ruko U11MINI – Photo using Video Snapshot (4K) from camera

Note that the camera is not gimbal mounted, which means footage may be shaky…

Ruko U11MINI – hovering, a little shaky..

Flight Performance

  • Battery Life: The U11MINI comes with two batteries, each providing up to 35 minutes of flight time. This gives you a total potential flight time of 70 minutes.
  • Range: It has an impressive range of 9,800 feet (about 3 km).
  • Stability: The drone uses GPS for positioning and offers good stability, especially for its size class.
  • Wind Resistance: It can manage light to moderate winds, but being lightweight, it may struggle in stronger gusts.

GPS and Safety Features

The GPS equipped Ruko U11MINI provides several useful features:

  • Auto Return Home (RTH): If the drone loses signal or runs low on battery, it will automatically return to its takeoff point. This is a great safety feature to ensure you don’t lose your drone.
  • Follow Me Mode: The drone can follow you automatically, which is great for getting hands-free shots, especially when you’re walking or cycling. GPS Follow or Image Follow.
  • Waypoint Flying: You can set a flight path on the app, and the drone will follow it, which can be fun for pre-planned shots. Route Rules.

Remote Controller

The U11MINI comes with a well-designed remote controller that feels solid and comfortable to hold. It includes a phone holder for FPV (First Person View) flying using your smartphone.

The controller is simple and easy to use, with a comfortable grip. You can attach your smartphone to it, and using the mobile app, you can control additional settings and view real-time footage from the drone’s camera.

Ease of Use

The One-Key Takeoff and Landing (RTH) makes it a breeze – with a single press of a button, the drone takes off or lands, which makes it stress-free to operate.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight and portable
  • No FAA registration required
  • Long battery life
  • Beginner-friendly

Cons

  • No gimbal stabilization
  • Non-professional quality video
  • Limited wind resistance
  • No obstacle avoidance

Recommendation

The Ruko U11MINI offers a good balance of features and performance for its price point. It’s an excellent choice for beginners or casual users who want to explore drone photography and videography without breaking the bank – value for the money.

Perfect for getting started in aerial photography and learning how to fly a drone.

Ruko U11MINI on Amazon

Available for purchase at: Amazon (USA): https://amzn.to/4cyOior
Official Ruko website (Worldwide): https://www.ruko.net/products/ruko-u11mini

Ruko U11MINI versus HOVERAir X1

How does the Ruko U11MINI compare to the HOVERAir X1, both beginners’ drones?

We reviewed the HOVERAir X1 a year ago – the X1 is the ultimate companion for photographers on the move – runners, cyclists, travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, etc. The HOVERAir X1 seamlessly joins your outdoor adventures, ready to capture stunning moments with ease.

The table below provides a clear side-by-side comparison of the key features of both drones, highlighting their differences in weight, flight time, camera quality, control methods, range, and other important aspects.

Ruko U11Mini: Best for beginners who want more manual control, longer-range flights, and exploration at an affordable price.

HOVERAir X1: Best for users seeking ease of use, autonomous flying, and quick hands-free video captures in a highly portable form.

Briefly, the Ruko U11MINI is a natural next stage upgrade from the HOVERAir X1 for those who wants more control and range for their drones.

Ruko U11MINI on Amazon

Available for purchase at: Amazon (USA): https://amzn.to/4cyOior
Official Ruko website (Worldwide): https://www.ruko.net/products/ruko-u11mini

Want to go high end? Go from beginner to advanced drones, please check out the Veeniix V11PRO and the Ruko F11PRO 2. We will review them in the next few weeks.

Veeniix V11PRO on Amazon
Ruko F11PRO 2 on Amazon