Eachine EX5 – Cheap DJI Mavic Mini clone with 2 batteries
The Eachine EX5 is an affordable GPS camera drone with a 4K camera and live FPV transmission. The foldable quadcopter is visually a clone of the popular DJI Mavic Mini – whether the Eachine EX5 can also keep up with the DJI model from its inner values, you can find out in our detailed review.
Design and features
From a purely visual point of view, the differences between Eachine EX5 and DJI Mavic Mini are hard to spot. In terms of shape, size and color, the two drones are really very similar and are therefore hard to tell apart.
With a weight of just 229 grams, the Eachine EX5 is extremely light. When unfolded, the Eachine EX5 comes to dimensions of 24.9 x 29 x 5.5 cm. When folded, the drone measures 14 x 8.5 x 5.7 cm, making it convenient to store and transport.
Unlike many inexpensive multicopters, Eachine has given the EX5 brushless motors. These are noticeably quieter and also more durable than brushed motors, as they are installed in many beginner drones.
The Eachine EX5 has a dual GPS (GPS + GLONASS) and can therefore independently maintain its position in the sky even in moderate winds. The Return-to-Home mode also benefits from GPS reception and lets the foldable drone return precisely to the launch position or drone landing pad at the push of a button. By the way, the drone starts the independent return flight even if the signal is lost or the battery level is too low. This way, you don’t run the risk of accidentally losing the copter.
A small tip: Please note that in Return to Home mode, the drone always returns at the current altitude at which it is currently flying. Therefore, if there are any obstacles between you and the drone, it may sometimes be better to fly the drone back to the launch position manually to avoid collisions.
Photos and videos can be triggered either classically via controller or app, or with simple gestures. However, the gesture control of the Eachine EX5 only works if you stand no further than 6.5 feet (2 meters) away from the drone. To take a photo, simply form the Victory sign with one hand. Videos can be started by holding your outstretched palm towards the camera.
If you have VR goggles, you can also use them with the Eachine EX5.
Flight characteristics
Thanks to GPS, the drone is stable in the air and can be controlled precisely. Thanks to the built-in optical flow sensor on the underside, the Eachine EX5 can be used not only outdoors, but also indoors.
In terms of speed, there are three different levels to choose from. The maximum speed is about 21.7 mph (35 km/h), which is pretty fast for a small drone.
The EX5 can be controlled either via remote control, exclusively via smartphone or also in combination of remote control and smartphone. The mobile device can be easily attached to the smartphone holder of the controller.
For the operation of the remote control, 4 AAA batteries are still needed. To view the live image of the drone on your smartphone, you need to download the Eachine Pro app in advance, which is available for both Android and Apple devices.
Flight time and range
According to the manufacturer, the flight time of the Eachine EX5 is a maximum of 15 minutes. In practice, you can therefore expect about 12 minutes. Responsible for the flight time is a 2200 mAh, 7.4 V LiPo (lithium polymer) battery, which can be recharged within about 300 minutes after a flight.
We generally recommend purchasing additional batteries to extend the flying pleasure in the field even further and not have to head home after just one battery charge. The version currently offered on Amazon even includes two batteries, so you can fly for about 24 minutes with the Eachine EX5 before both batteries need to be recharged.
The range is about 0.62 miles (1000 meters). The relatively high range is made possible by the use of the 5 GHz frequency band. To use this, your smartphone must be capable of 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which is the case with many current phones. Please note, however, that drones in many countries may only be flown within visual range.
Unfortunately, the transmission of the drone’s live FPV image only works up to much shorter ranges of a few hundred yards.
Eachine EX5 camera and gimbal
The Eachine EX5 is equipped with a 4K camera with 1-axis gimbal. The drone records videos in 3840 x 2160 pixels, but unfortunately only at 16 fps. Photos are recorded in 4096 x 3072 pixels.
The Field of View (FOV), i.e. the camera’s viewing angle, is a whopping 150°, making it extremely wide-angled. Once in the air, the camera angle can be adjusted vertically by 90° during flight. This also allows you to change the perspective during flight and take pictures from different angles.
While the quality of the photos is very decent for an inexpensive entry-level drone, the quality of the videos unfortunately can’t quite keep up here. The recordings are more like Full HD videos and due to the lack of stabilization, there are naturally some shakes and jerks.
Since the Eachine EX5 does not have an SD card slot, photos and videos are stored directly on the smartphone.
Intelligent flight modes
Eachine EX5 is capable of several flight modes that will help you create interesting video footage.
In Follow Me mode, the drone follows you every step of the way while simultaneously making video. Switching to Surround mode, you can command the drone to circle an object or person while recording a video.
Waypoint Navigation mode allows you to create a total of up to ten waypoints on a map in the app, which are then flown by the copter independently.
In the so-called headless mode, simplified control of the drone is available to you. If you activate this mode, it doesn’t matter whether the front or rear of the drone is facing you when you command a change in direction. For example, if you move the control joystick to the right, the Eachine EX5 will always fly in that direction as well, regardless of whether its front end is pointing straight toward you or away from you.
This simplified way of controlling is very helpful, especially for drone beginners. Nevertheless, we recommend that you don’t fly in headless mode for too long, but also learn how to control the drone properly. After all, not all drones have such a mode.
Scope of delivery
- 1 x EACHINE EX5 drone
- 1 x remote control
- 2 x 2200 mAh, 7,4 V LiPo
- 1 x carrying bag
- 4 x propellers
- 1 x charging cable
- 1 x screwdriver + 4 x screw
- 1 x user manual
Conclusion
The Eachine EX5 is an affordable camera drone with a 4K camera and live FPV transmission. The quality of the photos and videos is decent for this price range, but of course does not come close to more expensive drones with cameras.
We like the fact that the drone has GPS and is therefore more stable in the air than some other entry-level drones without GPS. Also, the Eachine EX5 has a well-functioning Return to Home mode, which also intervenes in case of signal loss or low battery. Other intelligent flight modes such as Follow Me, Waypoint Navigation or a Surround mode for circling people or objects are also available.
The flight time of about 12 minutes is not much, but for the low price of the copter it is perfectly fine. Since the current Amazon version of the product comes with two batteries, you get up to 24 minutes of flight in total, which is again very decent.
All in all, the Eachine EX5 is an excellent drone with camera for beginners who want to gain their first experience with multicopters and don’t want to spend a lot of money right away.