Best Gas Powered drones in 2022: Top 3 Choices
April 24, 2022
In this article we'll take a look at the best gas powered drones in 2021 and why exactly you might want to pick one instead of a conventional electric quadcopter.
SG906 Pro 2 Complete 2021 Guide
(Cool Specs, GPS, Camera)
4k
26min
1200m
3 axis gimbal
SG906 Pro 2 is one of ZRC's newest drones. Is it going to be a game changer for the brand's lineup? How does it fare when compared to other leading drones in the market?
In this article, I'll discuss every detail you need to know about–from camera specs, battery life, to its accessories and manual instructions–I got it all covered!
Join me as 'til the end as we break down each and every aspect!
Here's what this article will cover:
- Is it still worth it in 2021?
- In-depth specs
- Footage comparison
- How many flight mode does it have?
- Where to buy it from
SG906 Pro 2 Specs and Features
The most obvious improvement of SG906 Pro 2 from its predecessor SG906 Beast Pro is the upgrade from 2-axis gimbal to a 3-axis one. And with this extra feature also comes extra power, thus, longer battery life. From 2500mAh, the Pro 2 now has 3400mAh.
Aside from gimbals and battery, what other aspects have upgraded in Pro 2?
Stick with me and you'll find it all here....
SG906 Pro 2 Battery life
As mentioned above, SG906 Pro 2's battery is made of 3400mAh lithium polymer, a huge leap from Beast Pro's 2500mAh. This upgrade is primarily intended because of the improvement from Beast Pro's 2-axis gimbal to Pro 2's 3-axis one.
Not only that it supports the extra power needed to keep these gimbals stabilized, this improvement in battery life also paved way for longer flight time!
Range (Flight Distance)
SG906's quadcopter can go up to a range of 1200m. Considering its price, this is quite far. But when compared to flagship drone models like DJI Mavic Mini (18km) and DJI Mavic Air (10km), it is quite below the radar.
You should also note that the maximum flight distance is highly affected by the terrain and obstacle obstructions surrounding your area, such as hills, buildings, and vegetation. If you fly in a highly urbanized area with lots of skyscrapers, your range distance may reduce. Meanwhile, its maximum flight height could reach up to 800m.
GPS stability
It has a double satellite positioning system composed of GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and GPS, on top of optical flow positioning system. Taken altogether, it paves way for an exact, real-time positioning data. The GPS connectivity makes it harder for you to randomly lose the drone because you can also track it from an app which shows the drone's autonomous flight modes and automatic return-to-home feature.
This aspect also allows the drone to operate more stably due to its excellent hovering feature. To activate this, you just have to press the "video" button for 5 seconds, then you can choose the GPS-assisted flight mode.
But since this feature is GPS-dependent, expect instability when you operate in an area with weak GPS signal. But do not worry, the lack of a strong signal won't exactly ruin your shot. There's a reason why a backup optical flow sensor is in place, to make sure you could still fly your drone even in these weak spots.
3-axis gimbals
This is the main standout feature of Pro 2 when compared to other models within the $150 price range. With only a handful of other drones in that range that has this aspect, this is already a plus. This aspect gives stability to your shots, resulting in better image and video quality. It is also an improvement from the 2-axis gimbal system that is precent from SG906's previous model.
But realistically speaking, you really can't expect cheaper drones to have it all. To say that having 3-axis gimbals would result in distortion-free shots would be a lie. Of course we cannot compare this to high-end models like DJI Mavic Mini or Mavic Air. But considering its price, I couldn't complain because it this aspect already makes SG906 a frontliner within its price range.
Brushless motors
Another winning feature of this drone are its fast and durable 1806 1700KV brushless motors. For a $150-priced drone, this feature is quite uncommon because you often see this in $200 and above models. To have this feature in SG906 Pro 2 is already a win. Since the motors are brushless, there is less noise in the engines. The seamless operation of engines makes it more stable even in windy conditions and lets the drone hover more accurately, thus resulting in silky-smooth videos. The brushless motors are also more resistant to wear-and-tear as your drone ages, making it more efficient and faster even when adjusting it to several speed modes.
ALSO READ:
Best Cheap Brushless Drones in 2021 (RTF)
Does it come back after losing signal?
Yes! The main selling point of a GPS drone like SG906 Pro 2 is precisely its ability to return-to-home when it loses signal, making it more beginner-friendly and safe to use. For a drone that is below $150, I highly recommend this because not all models under this price range have the capacity to have this feature.
How much does it weigh? (is it under 250g?)
No. Since it weighs 551.8g, you have to secure an FAA registration to be able to fly it.
But if you worry if it's going to be bulky, do not. It may be over 250g, but its dimensions are 174 x 84 x 70mm when folded so it's not much of a hassle when carrying it around.
SG906 Pro 2 max height
This quadcopter can fly up to 800m in altitude. However, bear in mind that FAA advises only to fly a maximum of 400m in congested areas, especially near urban settlements. With this, you could opt for a beginner-friendly mode that would help you stay within the range.
Does the SG906 Pro 2 have obstacle avoidance or follow-me mode?
No. This feature would only be available in its upgrade in the SG906 PRO 3 MAX.
However, it does have alternative intelligent flight modes such as follow-me (check my best drones that follow you), orbiting a point of interest, waypoint, and flying along an indicated flight path.
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SG906 Pro 2 Camera, Footage and Photos
In this portion we're going to talk about the real deal when it comes to this drone's visual department. How does it fare in today's market? Does it live up to the expectations of a below $150 drone?
Find out all about that here!
What camera resolutions does the SG906 Pro 2 record in?
In general, SG906 Pro 2 has a 4K HDR camera with Sony IMX179 image sensor that allows you to capture videos in SD or HRD resolution. These are composed of two cameras, one in the front and one in the bottom.
For videos, the front cam has a 2048 x 1080p @ 24fps resolution while the bottom camera records at 1280 x 720p.
For photos, front cam registers at 4096 x 3072 while the bottom one produces 1280 x 720p resolution.
How good is the footage?
Now let's be real. Do the camera resolutions mentioned above live up to expectations? I'd honestly say, it doesn't deliver to its promise. While it says it has a 4K camera resolution, the quality is actually of a 2.5K camera.
As mentioned previously that it's highly GPS-dependent, operating in areas with weak signal often results in unstable and shaky movements. To avoid this, you just have to make sure that the area you're flying in has a strong signal.
Camera Settings
It has two cameras: one in the front and one in the bottom. If you want to change the camera angle from front to ground view, you only have to click the left shoulder buttons (up & down) to give you a better angle.
It could also record simultaneously in micro SD as well as on your mobile device, a feature that's not present in its predecessor, SG906. For mobile recording, there is an additional feature that allows you to perform digital zoom up to 50x.
Can you take DNG Raw Photos with the SG906 Pro 2?
No. It could only take photos in JPG compression format.
Parts and Accessories
On this part I'm going to break down the parts of the drone from macro to micro perspective. From the overall look to the parts that make up the whole, I'm giving it to you detail by detail.
Scroll down to learn more about the backbone of this drone.
Design & Material
The drone's all-black matte finish, giving it a sleek, modern design. If your purpose of using it are for recreational and professional usage, this look can be versatile to blend in both casual and formal events.
It also comes with LED lights on its rotor arms. Although they are not bright enough to illuminate the surroundings at night, they have the ability to flash when the drone compass has been fully calibrated.
The material is made of durable matte plastic, making it more beginner-friendly because of it could resist minor scratches during unexpected falls and budges.
When compared to more expensive models that are in the front lines of best drones, like DJI Mavic Air and Mavic Mini, SG906 Pro 2 is clearly behind. But considering its price of $150, it could actually be my top choice within this price range.
Parts
- Battery
Pro 2's battery has a 7.6V/3400mAh power, a slight improvement from its predecessor's 7.4v/2800mAh. However, these two LIPO packs are of the same size so they can be interchanged if you want.
There is also an option to charge the battery through a micro USB port. For faster charging, I'd personally suggest this so you could instantly remove and insert it to the drone. The battery also flashes the remaining amount of charging time.
- LED screen
A small monochrome LED screen you can find at the bottom part will let you know of certain details like the quality of the GPS signal, number of satellites, altitude, range, flight modes, and battery level.
- Joystick
This quadcopter comes with two remote control joysticks on the front, top side of the drone. At the top of the joystick you'll find a telescopic connection where you can install your smartphone to monitor the view while operating the drone.
- Remote Controller
Aside from controlling the forward and backward movements of your drone, you can also adjust the front camera's view from the remote controller.
The package also offers the following accessories:
- Type-C power cable
- gimbal protector
- micro SD card
- USB cable
- flight battery
- spare blades/propellers
- soft shoulder/hand bag with zippers in the front, side
Transmitter, mobile app
and flight modes
What apps do you need to download to control your drone? With $150, do you have as much flight modes to choose from?
The answers to these questions are right below!
Transmitter
The transmitter comes with two foldable dummy antennae that serve as a phone holder. To use it, be prepared with four pieces of AA batteries. It has an 800m FPV range, not bad for its price. It is also equipped with 5G technology that lets you stream live video footage.
The only downside to this is that after quite some time, the removable sticks may fall out due to wear-and-tear, according to complaints from users.
What phones/tablets work with the SG906 Pro 2?
Any would do! There isn't really a specific phone or tablet model that is solely compatible with SG906 Pro 2. Whether Apple or Andorid, you can control the drone with a navigation app called HFun Pro. I'll discuss more about that in the following point.
Navigation App
HFun Pro is available for both Android and Apple users. This app gives you access to navigate features like flight modes, flying using a VR headset for drones, and speed modes.
However, the app is not perfect. With a review score of just 3.1, it certainly has a lot to improve on, like the random screen freeze, crashes, restarts, bug in battery level reporting.
How to connect with it?
1. First, you have to install a charged battery.
2. Afterwards, you press the power button to calibrate the compass.
3. Then, you press the photo button on the joystick and hold it until the signal pops up.
4. Rotate four times vertically and horizontally around the axis until the Bee signal lights up.
You can have access to the following settings:
- instructions
- calibration
- setup
- flight records
- 4K correction
- live-view settings
- firmware upgrade
- turning on stabilization
What flight modes does the SG906 Pro 2 have?
For its price, I'm quite impressed to know this drone has seven (7) flight modes. This is more than what I've expected. And to me, this sets the bar higher for other models in its price range.
Here are the following smart flight modes the SG906 has:
- Follow-Me mode
The drone can follow you within a 30-meter diameter distance while also adjusting its speed relative to your location. However, this feature is not so flawless so expect some glitches along the way.
- Wind Resistance
Fair enough, this drone can withstand low-intensity winds, just not the storm-level ones, cause it will certainly be swayed.
- Gesture Shooting mode
Simply put, this could be your perfect assistant to your selfies.
- One Key Return-to-Home
If you want to summon your drone to go home, you only need to click one button.
- Headless mode
Tracking where the nose of the drone could be a challenge when you operate it on a long-range basis. When you turn this one, the drone automatically adjusts itself to the position relative to the pilot. If you want to learn more about this check out my article on the best headless drones.
- Waypoint Flight
This is one of my favorite features because it's fun to use. With the help of the HFun Pro app, you just draw the route where you want your drone to follow, and just like that it will capture all footage within the path. Amazing, right?
- Surround Flight
This instructs your drone to circle around you while it captures photos or videos from all angles. Just imagine your drone being your halo, but moving and capturing everything you do.
In addition, this drone also has 3-speed modes that lets you use a drone VR headset to give you a more interactive flying experience.
SG906 Pro 2 Price, Manual and Instructions
And just like that, we're now in the last section of this review.
If you haven't decided yet to buy this drone or not, this could be your deciding moment.
Now let's get you started with operating the drone–if you wish to buy it.
SG906 Pro 2 Manual - How to fly it
How to start your drone?
- First off, you need to make sure that you have removed the gimbal protector to avoid any foreign object from obstructing your operations.
- Next, you have to conduct gyro-calibration as indicated in the HFun Pro app. To start this, you have to pick your drone about one (1) meter above the ground and rotate it anti-clockwise until the transmitter creates a beep sound. From that, you have to repeat the step but now with the drone's nose facing the ground. This is to make sure the drone will be stable before take-off. If in case it still isn't, repeat the steps mentioned.
- To make sure that the return to home function works properly, you have to wait until the "mode" indicator in the controller shows the number "2," which signifies that the GPS positioning is already active and working.
How the features work?
The are four (4) control buttons (from left to right) found on the front panel:
The are four (4) control buttons (from left to right) found on the front panel:
- Return to Home
- Speed/Calibration
- Photo
- Video/GPS
To activate the gyroscope and gimbal level correction: long-press the "speed" button for 5 seconds.
To turn on/off the GPS-assisted flight mode: long-press the "video" button for 5 seconds.
The LCD screen at the bottom of the controller shows real-time telemetry data of:
- flight distance
- altitude
- RC & GPS signal strength
- RC & drone battery level
And lastly, the "mode" icon shows the status of the aircraft
mode 0 - no connection
mode 1 - altitude mode
mode 2 - GPS mode
mode 0 - no connection
mode 1 - altitude mode
mode 2 - GPS mode
Who should buy it?
I would recommend this drone to both beginners and veterans who would like to save themselves some pennies. The fact that it's a $150 drone and it has all of the above-mentioned features, it is indeed a cheaper alternative of more posh, talk-of-the-town drones like DJI Mavic Mini or Mavic Air.
The standout features for me its various flight modes, the GPS system, and the 3-axis gimbal update from its predecessor. If you're a beginner and you're just about to learn the ropes of drone-flying, the seven flight mode options SG906 Pro 2 has are definitely a good start to help you navigate through various terrains and experimental shots.
But do take note, this drone is nowhere near perfect. As with the other drones, it certainly has its limitations and glitches, such as its tendency to lose stability when faced with strong wind gustiness. Nevertheless, the pros outweigh the cons.
Where to buy it from?
Perhaps I've pretty much detailed multiple times that this drone costs $150.
But where can you get it? Since it's a newly released model in 2020, you'd find it easily available online in Banggood, Geekbuying, and Amazon.
Please take note that price may differ from one store to another because of the promotional discounts offered.
Paul Posea
Hi, I'm a long-time drone reviewer and I hope my articles and comparisons on this site as well as Dronesgator's youtube channel are of as much help as possible.
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