I picked this up for less than $50 (roughly 300 RMB). What more could you ask for at this price point? It flies, it takes photos, and you won't feel heartbroken if it crashes—that covers all the essentials. It’s designed as a practice drone for absolute beginners or as a high-end toy for kids. If you buy it expecting "entry-level aerial photography," you’ll definitely be disappointed.

Let’s start with what I like best: it’s light—really light.

The U28W weighs only about 52 grams—lighter than an egg. What does that mean? In many countries and regions, drones under 250 grams don't require registration or a license; you can just pick them up and fly. You don't have to look up local drone regulations or worry about inspections when you're out and about; the peace of mind is real.

Another benefit of being lightweight is durability. During my first few flights, I crashed into walls and trees and dropped it from over two meters up; I just picked it up, dusted it off, and kept flying—it was completely fine. Other users have also described it as "lightweight and crash-resistant." With heavier drones (weighing hundreds of grams), a single crash might mean replacing a propeller or even an arm, but with this one, you don't have to worry about that at all.

Handling: "Responsive" at best, "floaty" at worst.

This is the aspect of the drone I have the most mixed feelings about. Indoors, with no wind, it flies fast and responds quickly—it’s actually quite fun. Other users have noted that it is "quite fast and responsive, making it fun to fly."

But once you take it outside—even in a light breeze—it becomes completely unmanageable. One user put it perfectly: "It’s a bit too twitchy; it drifts whenever there’s a crosswind, so it’s best flown indoors." I’ve experienced this myself; when flying in my residential complex, a gust of wind would make it drift sideways. You have to constantly make corrections, which makes flying it exhausting.

One more thing: it lacks GPS. That means no automatic return-to-home and no position hold; if you let go of the controls, it won't stay put—it will just drift slowly with the wind. If you're a beginner flying for the first time, I recommend finding a windless indoor space—like your living room or an empty basketball court—to get a feel for the controls first.

I also found a piece of user feedback particularly relatable: someone mentioned that during their first flight, the drone just flew off and was lost forever. This isn't an isolated incident; entry-level models without GPS carry this risk. You have to keep a close eye on distance and battery levels—don't let it fly out of your line of sight.

Camera: 720P—passable for sharing on social media when the lighting is good

It comes with a 720P camera and a field of view of about 120 degrees. In bright daylight, the footage is decent enough for sharing on social media or capturing everyday moments. However, don't expect high clarity; details look blurry up close, and the colors are somewhat washed out.

In low-light areas or at night, it’s basically useless; the image is full of noise, and you can't make anything out. Plus, it uses Wi-Fi for video transmission, so there’s noticeable lag. When controlling it via your phone screen, there’s a delay of nearly half a second between the actual movement and what you see, making it easy to misjudge things if you're flying fast. Some users have bluntly stated that the "FPV video quality isn't great," and that’s a fair assessment.

So, regarding photography: it’s fine for a quick "I was here" snapshot, but don't count on it for creative work.

Battery life: 7 minutes—buying extra batteries is a must

The official flight time is rated at 7 minutes, but in reality, you get closer to five or six. It’s truly the kind of drone where you have to land almost as soon as you start flying. I flew it three times, and the low-battery alarm went off before I’d even had my fill of flying.

So, if you really want to enjoy it, I suggest buying a couple of spare batteries right away. The stock battery is 500mAh—not huge—though the upside is that it charges via USB, so you can use any standard power bank. To be honest, though, swapping batteries is a bit of a hassle: you have to remove the propellers, open the compartment, and unplug the connector—the whole process feels a bit clumsy and frantic.

Build quality and durability: strictly toy-grade

It feels very plasticky and lightweight in the hand; the build quality is nowhere near that of drones costing hundreds or thousands. Some users have bluntly commented, "It's not on the level of a serious model aircraft... at best, it's a children's toy with cheap build quality." It might sound a bit harsh, but it’s basically true.

The propeller guards fall off easily. I hit a tree branch once while flying, and the guard flew right off; it took ages to find it again. Other users have mentioned the same issue. While losing them doesn't affect flight performance, the exposed propellers are more likely to strike objects without that protection.

Also, the manual is indeed a bit long-winded—some users have complained that it’s too wordy. I struggled a bit with the initial pairing myself; you really have to follow the pairing steps carefully. If you don't pair it correctly, it might just start flipping over on the ground on its own.

Finally, is it worth buying?

If you just want to spend a few dozen dollars to get a feel for flying a drone, or if you're buying a flying toy for a child, a model like the U28W is worth considering. It’s lightweight, crash-resistant, and easy to operate—it’s fun for indoor play. Just don't pay more than $50 for it; other users have specifically warned about this.

However, if you genuinely want to learn aerial photography, capture great video, and enjoy stable, long-range flight, I suggest skipping this price point entirely and spending a bit more to get a drone with GPS. Entry-level models without GPS simply drift wherever the wind blows them; no matter how skilled your piloting is, you can't fight the wind.

My take is simple: you get what you pay for. For a $50 drone, the fact that it flies, captures some footage, and doesn't break your heart if it crashes is enough. Just don't expect performance that exceeds what you'd get at this price point.

UDIRC 1500mAh/5.55WH 3.7V 905134 Battery for UDIRC i28 drone