DBPOWER X400W Drone

DBPOWER X400W Drone Review

DBPOWER X400W Drone Review 2020 – is the DBPOWER X400W quadcopter worth the money? Review of features, pricing, flight duration, battery, camera and more.

DBPOWER X400W FPV RC Quadcopter Drone with WiFi Camera Live...

$50.99
4 new from $42.49

in stock

Buy this item

Entry-level drones are in demand as more people want to see what the craze is about. Picking a good one is crucial as the experience will largely determine whether a person goes on to become a passionate pilot or gives up on drones entirely. Flying is not always easy for beginners so getting a model that can help novices take their first steps is a must. The DBPOWER X400W Drone is an excellent choice for those in the hunt for a breezy flyer that is fun and simple to control. Let’s take a closer look into this extremely popular model:

Build

This is a tiny quadcopter with fixed arms. Each side is less than a foot in length while the depth is about 3 inches. The all-plastic build will not make any heads turn but it is tough and durable. This drone was built like a tank and that’s a good thing for beginners. You can crash this thing on walls, trees, and hard ground without worries so you can just keep practicing until you become a proficient pilot. The propeller blades are protected by guard rails. The package comes with four extras in case you need to change them.

Camera

Since this is an entry-level drone, you should not expect much from the camera. Its nice that it even has one for the price and with FPV at that. The built-in HD camera can take surprisingly decent pictures and videos. It may be small and cheap but it should serve you well when you are trying to take sweeping shots of landscapes, even if it’s just your neighborhood. You will be able to see the footage in real-time when you pair it with a smartphone via Wi-Fi. However, the video may lag if the drone flies too far from the receiver.

Battery

The unit comes with a single battery that is rated at 3.7V with a capacity of 750mAh. It’s not much but it is enough to keep the drone going for 8 to 9 minutes according to the manufacturer. In real world test flights, users report stretching this battery life from 10 to 15 minutes. Not bad for a tiny flyer. This should be ample time to get a bit of practice every day. However, it would be better to get a spare battery or even two for quick changes and continuous flying. One advantage of having such a small battery is that it weighs next to nothing so the motors don’t have to work so hard keep the unit above the ground.

Price

You will find this drone selling at different prices at various websites. Shop around to find the best deal at any given time. Most will sell this at around $60 which is not a bad price. This is certainly competitive with other entry-level drones in the market, especially when you consider all of the features and package inclusions. Some have it on sale for closer to $50 so keep your eyes pealed. An HD camera is standard at this price range so prepare to spend a bit more if you want better image quality.

Controls

This drone has a remote control that uses the typical 2.4GHz radio frequency for sending commands to the unit. You can place you phone at the top when using first person viewing with Wi-Fi enabled. The power switch is located at the middle. The left stick controls the drop and ascension while the right stick controls the forward and backward motion. There are switches for the light, mode, 3D flip, and speed at the top. The basic operations are easy to learn thanks to the detailed instructions and helpful videos provided by DBPOWER. Keep the drone within 100 meters to prevent it from flying out of range.

Features

The X400W has a headless mode that makes the orientation of the unit a non-issue. It is much easier to steer when you don’t have to keep track of where the nose is facing. It also has a return to home function which is a great feature for beginners. When you lose control or when the unit starts to drift too far, just press one button to make it come back. This saves you from having to run after it on large field. If you like aerial acrobatics, then check out the 3D flip capability. Impress your friends with these tricks when they come to visit.

Comparison with Other Drones

If you are looking for an entry-level drone at this price range, then you might also want to look at the DROCON X708W which is another quadcopter with HD camera. It also has FPV, headless mode, 3D flip, and one-key return. However, the battery is a bit smaller and so the flight time is a little shorter than the DBPOWER X400W. The maximum flying distance is also less at 80 meters. Add more to your budget and you can get the SNAPTAIN S5C drone with voice control and gesture control. This comes with two batteries and the flight time is approximately 16 minutes.

What Others are Saying

The DBPOWER X400W Drone is one of the top sellers in this category. Buyers are happy with its value for money as their cheap toy actually performs better than expected. The camera might be limited but it takes decent images. The build is solid and steady. Crashes don’t matter as the drone won’t get damaged that easily so novices can be confident about flying as much as they want. The battery may be small but the flight time of around 10 minutes isn’t bad at this price point. Users should have a spare if they plan to fly a lot. On the other hand, the controller has flimsy switches and buttons. The range is also shorter than advertised so it’s best to fly it close in an open field.

PROs & CONs Listing

PROS
– Extra propeller guards
– Solid build quality
– Nifty features like 3D flip, one-key return
– Great customer service
– Good value for money

CONS
– Only one battery included
– Flimsy controller
– Short control and camera range

DBPOWER X400W FPV RC Quadcopter Drone with WiFi Camera Live...

$50.99
4 new from $42.49

in stock

Buy this item

Tyler West

Tyler West received a Bachelor Degree in computer science from The University of Texas Austin. Tyler has been working as a full-time computer programmer for the past 3 years. In his spare time, Tyler’s favorite hobby is flying drones. One of Tyler’s life goals is to become a full-time drone pilot.