Occasionally, there will be introduced a fantastic drone in the market, and by this we mean fantastic in all dimensions, from the looks, flight features and durability. Such is the Scharkspark Thunder drone.
In many resources, it is reviewed as one of the best drone for beginners. However, after reading this review, you will see that this drone is made for everyone who loves getting quality for their money. And talking about your money, this drone will not leave a dent in your wallet. In many of the online marketplaces, you will find that the drone costs less than $90.00. Going by the features that this foldable camera drone comes with, this is quite a steal.
Scharkspark Thunder Features & Technical Details
Design and build quality
This is a stylish, good-looking drone. It has two green lights at the front just below the propellers and two red ones at the back. The differently colored lights make it easy for users to distinguish the rear of the drone from the front. This is a good feature for beginners because drones look the same from the rear or from the front. In addition, they are good for night flights.
Let’s talk about the size of this drone. Now, it is no secret that the Scharkspark Thunder is a big drone. Do not worry though because it is foldable, so you can pack it up nicely when you are traveling. It measures 14 by 14 by 2.4 inches, quite big, but the arms fold nicely so you should be able to squish it down to a small and compact size.
Good size is better for wind resistance, but that does not mean you should fly it in strong winds.
Camera
This is a camera drone. It also has FPV mode, so you will enjoy having a first person view means that you are experiencing what you would if you could fit in the drone and fly in its cockpit. It is actually awesome. To make it even more stunning, you may buy compatible VR goggles and have an experience that you will never forget.
The resolution of the camera is 640 by 480. Now, before you dismiss this, just know that it is going to give you nice and passable videos. You can catch the video on your iOS or android device, which you can attach to the controller.
The battery
You will get an extra battery as a bonus when you buy the Scharkspark Thunder drone. Thus, you will be getting two batteries with large capacity at 3.7V 1000mAh. You can be able to enjoy about 24 minutes of maximum flight time.
The maximum flight distance is about 329 feet. You can fly the drone on one battery for 12 minutes, get it out and take it to charging since it is a modular battery while you fly it on the second battery. You may also buy spare batteries from the Scharkspark website.
The charging time for the batteries is 90 minutes, a bit impressive considering that many other drones in this flight range have long charging times of even more than 180 minutes.
Flight features
The Scharspark Thunder drone has many flight features. The first, and perhaps the most important one is the 6-axis gyroscope system. A gyro is a flight system that is used for stabilizing the drone and keeping it on course. It sends signals to the CPU, where they interpreted and the correct action taken. You will also find that many drones come with a 3-axis gyro. The difference between the 3-axis and the 6-axis gyro is that the latter has more features than the one with three. Thus, the 6-axis gyro drone will be more resistant to loss of direction and altitude.
Altitude hold – This is a very important features especially for beginners. When it is engaged, you just have to worry about the horizontal movement of the drone because it will hold the same altitude vertically.
Headless mode – This is another of the features that helps the beginners. You do not have to worry about where the nose faces. Just punch headless mode and the drone will fly in the direction that the remote controller is facing.
One key return – This is more of a safety feature. If the drone goes out of sight, just punch the one-key return home and the drone will turn and around and head towards the controller, that is, if it had not lost signal.
Speed modes – It has normal, moderate and high speed modes. If you are a beginner, choose the default/low speed mode. Once you gain more experience, you can get the drone flying at high speed.
One key takeoff and landing – This is another of the standard features in most drones today. It means that you can bring the drone to land at a touch of a button or launch it in the air with a touch of a button.
Short Summary of Feedback from Existing Owners
This is a punchy drone, packs so many features for such an affordable price. It was my first drone and I have had it since I bought it months ago. I did crash it a couple of times, but I never broke anything, lucky me! Joan Z.
I loved the packaging and then the fact that such a big drone can fold down to such a small and compact size. I think I will have this drone for a long time before I upgrade to another one. Brian F.
I must say I was not impressed with the video quality. However, all the other boxes check nicely and I think this drone is worth buying for anyone. Sandy J.
Great drone for beginners as well as advanced users. It can do wonderful 3D flips and hold its own against mild to moderate winds. William R.
I love the way this drone hovers. I understand that big drones hover in a much better way even when there is some wind. Aggy M.
I find this drone very stylish and I love its size. It has nice looking LED lights for flying at night and the foldability makes it nice for traveling with. Ray P.
Pros of Scharkspark Thunder
- It is large and stylish
- It hovers accurately
- Sold with a bonus battery
- Does not require to be registered with the FAA
- Has many beginner as well as advanced user features
- Good controller
Cons of Scharkspark Thunder
- Camera could be better
- Battery is a bit hard to push in and to remove
Who Should Buy The Scharkspark Thunder?
Anyone who loves a good and fancy drone should get the Scharkspark Thunder drone. Many people tag it as a drone for beginners, but it is not really for the bare-basic beginners. It packs many features that even the most advanced drone users will love. Besides, the price is quite ok and so you will not feel the pinch at all.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Before you fly the Scharkspark Thunder drone, you should read the user manual so that you see how to assemble it. If you are a beginner, you should start on the slow speed mode and then move on to higher speeds later. It does not come with spare accessories, but you will be happy to know that you can buy them on the official Scharkspark website.
