Force1 U45W: Rule the Roost with the Blue Jay

The Force1 U45W Blue Jay is a beginner drone with a lot of good features and its camera takes some of the best still images we have seen from a starter drone. It is stable, it is durable, and it is fun to fly, but is it the right drone for you? Let’s find out…

Blue Jay Features

The Force1 Blue Jay packs in a lot of features under the hood. Altitude hold helps make this drone very stable. The altitude hold on the Blue Jay is one of the better ones we have tested.  It helps keep the BlueJay at a consistent altitude even when pushing full forward at max speed and when changing directions quickly. The same can’t be said for some more recently released drones from UDI.

Headless mode helps the beginner pilot with orientation, we tested this feature and it works as expected on the Blue Jay. It features automatic takeoff and landing. You can even draw a path for it to fly using the app on your smartphone. The drone will connect to your phone via WiFi so you can watch a live feed of the video. The remote has a built-in holder for your smartphone.

The Blue Jay Camera

Most drones under $300 have poor cameras. The BlueJay camera, however, is one of the better ones we have tested. It can take 720p HD video and clear 0.9MP pictures. Most drones in this class and price range have 0.3MP cameras. Some even claim to be HD capable when they are not. The angle on the camera is also adjustable so you can angle the way you want prior to takeoff.

While it is one of the better cameras the horizontal field of view is narrow at 47°. Because of this, we wouldn’t recommend flying it exclusively FPV (first person view). You will have a hard time seeing obstacles on the sides of the drone. It is compatible with a VR headset if you really want to try. The FPV will come in handy to help you line up pictures and video and that is how we would recommend you use it. The video is recorded at 20 frames per second, which is non-standard and a bit slow so, video looks a little choppy.

Built to Last

The Blue Jay was built by UDI. UDI has a reputation for building durable drones. Our Blue Jay may have had a crash or two but it still flies the same as it did on day one.

Force1 Extras

We are a big fan of the Force1 because they consistently include extras with their drones. They really strive to make their customers happy. Not all companies will include little things like an SD card and a card reader, but Force1 does. The Blue Jay comes with two batteries and even a power bank (not pictured), so you can charge the batteries while you are in the field.

Should I Buy a Blue Jay?

If you are looking for a starter drone that is stable, durable and has a good camera then you should definitely consider a Force1 Blue Jay.

Order a Force1 U45W Blue Jay

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Learn More…

If you want to learn more about taking great pictures or flying FPV then check out our comprehensive guides on those topics. Also take a look at our articles on how to choose the right drone for great aerial photos or for getting started flying race drones. Learn more about drones and how to get the most out of them in our Drone Academy. In the Academy we also detail some of the advanced testing we do, including our recent addition, drone thrust testing.

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