The Syma Z1 is a small selfie drone with an HD camera with optical flow and altitude hold stability. It folds up so you can take it with you and flies via an app on your smartphone. If you are looking for a selfie drone this is one of the better cameras you will find.
The Syma Z1
Like most selfie drones this small Syma Z1 is portable and lightweight. It isn’t much bigger than a large smartphone and is actually a little bit lighter. The 720p camera is pretty crisp and will take good pictures outdoors and in good lighting. It isn’t overly powerful and is probably best suited for indoor flight or for flying outside on days without wind.
The optical flow and altitude hold both works well. The Z1 is a pretty stable drone. It is controlled via a free smartphone app. It will take off and land with the push of a button. All video and pictures are stored on your phone and can be shared easily.
The Syma Z1 Fatal Flaw
The biggest drawback is that the Syma Z1 does not have a dedicated remote control. You must fly it using the app on your smartphone. Smartphone controls typically aren’t quite as precise and this app tends to have a little bit of lag. That means it will take a split second for the drone to respond to your control commands. This typically is a recipe for disaster, especially for a beginner.
Our Recommendation
Instead of picking up a Syma Z1 we would recommend looking into the Ryze Tello. The Ryze Tello is superior on almost every level. It has a better camera, intuitive flight modes and is the most stable non-GPS drone you can buy. The Tello is hands down the best drone you can buy for less than $100. Learn more about the Tello here.
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