If you’re looking for a drone that’s affordable and packs in a 4K camera, you might have come across the Black Falcon 4K drone. But, let me save you some trouble—this drone is one you should skip. While the flashy advertisements might have caught your attention, my experience was far from impressive.
In this review, I’ll break down the pros, cons, and how it compares to other brands, so you can make an informed choice about your next drone.
Introduction over, let’s get into the details.
First Impressions of The Black Falcon 4K Drone
I have to admit, when I first saw the Black Falcon 4K drone online, I was pretty excited.
It seemed like a real steal for the features it promised—a 4K camera, brushless motors, four-way obstacle avoidance, and a variety of flight modes.
It seemed like a perfect little gadget for anyone wanting to try aerial photography without breaking the bank.
Unfortunately, that excitement was pretty short-lived. When I got my hands on the drone, my enthusiasm quickly turned into frustration. What looked good on paper turned out to be much different in reality.
- Design and Build Quality
When I unboxed the Black Falcon 4K drone, the first thing that caught my eye was how lightweight it was. Now, lightweight can sometimes be good for drones—it’s what makes them so agile. But in this case, it didn’t take long for me to realize that this lightness came at the cost of build quality.
The plastic felt flimsy, and the remote controller had that cheap, hollow feeling that didn’t exactly inspire confidence. The phone mount on the controller, for instance, did not secure my phone properly.
It was almost like balancing a book on a pencil—a lot of trial and error and quite nerve-wracking to deal with.
Features & Performance of Black Falcon 4K Drone
- The Camera
The Black Falcon boasts a “4K” camera, but let’s be honest here—the quality was nowhere close to what I expected from something marketed as 4K. The footage looked pixelated, blurry, and lacked sharpness, making it almost impossible to capture anything even remotely impressive.
One of the features I found promising was the dual-camera setup, which lets you switch between cameras for different perspectives. In practice, however, neither camera offered anything close to what I’d consider quality shots. It felt like I was using an outdated laptop webcam.
- Battery Life
Battery life is another major drawback of the Black Falcon 4K. On paper, it says around 15-20 minutes, but I barely got four minutes of flight time before the drone was signaling for a recharge. That meant spending more time charging it than actually enjoying flying it. It’s kind of like bringing a toy car to a race and watching it run out of fuel before even getting on the track.
And to top it off, the battery status light—that little indicator that tells you if it’s charging—stopped working after just a couple of uses. I tried replacing the battery, but every replacement I found didn’t fit right.
- Flight Experience
To put it simply, the flying experience was frustrating. The controls were extremely laggy, and response time left much to be desired. For a drone that claims to be equipped with four-way obstacle avoidance, I was shocked at how easy it was to crash it into a bush.
Not to mention, when it goes out of range—which, by the way, isn’t very far—it just keeps flying without any sense of coming back. I’ll never forget that panicky moment when it drifted off into my neighbor’s yard.
- App Experience and Connectivity
The app is another area where the Black Falcon disappoints. I have used a lot of drone apps, and most have their quirks, but this one felt like a security risk. You have to download it using a QR code that takes you to some obscure page, and every instinct in my body was telling me, “This is probably not safe.” The app demanded its own WiFi network connection, and permissions that made me extremely uncomfortable.
Once I got the app working, I discovered that its user interface was very poorly designed. Navigating through options was a pain, and it seemed to crash frequently. If you’re trying to use this drone for anything serious, the app alone will likely make you reconsider.
Pros And Cons of Black Falcon 4K Drone
Pros
- Affordable Price: Compared to big brands like DJI, the Black Falcon comes at a lower price point.
- Feature-Rich on Paper: Dual camera, gesture photography, brushless motor, and multiple flight modes like headless mode and gravity sensing—all of these are attractive features if they actually worked well.
- Easy to Transport: Its compact size makes it easy to carry around.
Cons
- Short Battery Life: With only about four minutes of actual flying time, the battery performance is highly disappointing.
- Unreliable Connectivity: The app setup is a nightmare, and the drone’s range is extremely short.
- Flimsy Build Quality: Everything from the plastic body to the controller feels poorly made.
- False Advertising: The camera is nowhere near 4K quality, and several advertised features simply do not work as they should.
- Poor User Experience: Between laggy controls, the insecure feeling of the app, and a generally underwhelming flight experience, it’s just not worth the headache.
Comparisons To Other Brands
I have had the opportunity to use several drones over the years, so let’s talk a bit about how the Black Falcon stacks up against more popular options, such as DJI’s Mavic Mini and the Holy Stone HS720.
- Black Falcon Vs. DJI Mavic Mini
The DJI Mavic Mini is obviously more expensive, but for good reason. The Mavic Mini provides high-quality 2.7K video with stable gimbal support, making it far more reliable than the Black Falcon’s shaky, low-quality footage. In terms of battery life, the Mavic Mini easily outperforms the Black Falcon, with a flight time of up to 30 minutes compared to the latter’s few short minutes.
Flight stability is another crucial area where DJI absolutely dominates. Flying the Mavic Mini feels like driving a luxury car—it’s responsive, intuitive, and easy to handle even for beginners. The Black Falcon, in contrast, feels more like driving a shopping cart on a gravel road.
- Black Falcon Vs. Holy Stone HS720
The Holy Stone HS720 is another drone that falls in a similar price bracket as the Black Falcon, but offers a significantly better experience. Its camera, though not technically 4K, delivers crisper visuals than the Black Falcon’s poor attempt at high definition. It’s also equipped with GPS, which means it’s much harder to lose track of.
Holy Stone’s build quality is far superior as well. While the HS720 feels like a robust and well-built gadget, the Black Falcon feels like it’s made from recycled plastic spoons.
Maintenance Tips of Black Falcon 4K Drone
If, for some reason, you’re still interested in this drone or you already own one and are looking for ways to make the best of it, here are some maintenance tips.
- Check the Battery Regularly: The battery on this drone is fickle, and the status light doesn’t always work, so keep an eye on charge times and store the battery in a cool, dry place.
- Propeller Care: With the low build quality, the propellers are prone to damage. Inspect them frequently, and replace them if you see cracks or signs of wear.
- Avoid Windy Conditions: Given the lightweight nature of the drone, even a gentle breeze can send it spiraling out of control. Only fly it in calm conditions to minimize your chances of losing it.
- Use a Smartphone Tether: Since the controller doesn’t hold your phone securely, consider getting a tether or some sort of holder to prevent it from falling mid-flight.
Is It Worth Buying?
Let’s be honest—based on my experience and what I’ve heard from other users, the Black Falcon 4K drone just isn’t worth your money. It may be inexpensive, but even that low price doesn’t justify the level of frustration that comes with it.
If you’re genuinely interested in getting a drone for aerial photography or just for fun, I’d suggest investing in a reputable brand like DJI or Holy Stone. While it might cost you a bit more upfront, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In my experience, it is not worth it. The drone offers low-quality camera performance, very short battery life, and overall frustrating user experience. You can find far better options at similar price points.
The range is disappointingly short—it’s around 50 feet before you lose control. This is one of the biggest problems I faced while using it.
No, the Black Falcon 4K drone lacks GPS. This makes it easier to lose track of, and limits features like return-to-home.
No, the Black Falcon drone is not made in the USA. The packaging and build quality clearly indicate that it is produced overseas, most likely in China.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a quality drone experience, you might want to look elsewhere. The Black Falcon 4K drone is more of a toy than a serious piece of tech.
You’d be much better off saving your money for a drone that delivers on its promises, rather than being stuck with something that’s little more than a headache in disguise.
