Ever wanted to fly in the first-person view? As the drone technology is changing the way we fly the drones as well as how we see through the eyes of the camera. Parrot launched one of their latest and most popular racing drone called the Bebop 2. This is a lightning-fast racing drone built for beginner and experienced remote pilots who want to experience the thrill of flight in a first-person view. While the drones are relatively new, the FPV racing quadcopters are getting popular quickly.
In our Parrot Bebop 2 review, we will go through the details. I will talk about its design quality, performance, features, camera quality, remote controller and such. The purpose of our Parrot Bebop 2 review is to help shoppers like you make an informed decision. Because the Parrot Bebop 2 drone is an incredibly popular gadget. We want to help you understand and know what this nimble drone has to offer in the store for you. Without further ado, let’s get the propellers spinning!
In The Box
To kickstart the Parrot Bebop 2 review, we are going to talk about what is included in the package. I always like to talk about parts that come with the drone because it is my favorite part. But, it is also the most important part of all reviews. Before you plan to shop yourself a brand new Parrot Bebop 2 drone. You need to know what is included in the box. Since it is a ready-to-fly drone, it doesn’t require any assembling and can be flown right out of the box.
I have included an image showcasing what to expect when you receive the package. You should get the following items below:
- Parrot Bebop 2
- Intelligent Flight battery
- Extra Propellers
- FPV Goggles
- USB Charger
- Battery Charger Hub
- Remote Controller
- User Manual
A battery on a single charge provides flight time up to 25 minutes. For the best flight experience, I highly recommend buying at least two extra batteries to extend your flight session beyond one hour. In the next part of the Parrot Bebop 2 review, we are going to talk about its design quality.
Design & Build Quality
First and foremost, the Parrot Bebop 2 drone features sleek white coating around its body framework. Combined with a jet black coating on its side to the rim of the camera. It certainly gives out a nice color contrast between white and black. Although, this drone isn’t foldable compared to the Parrot’s most recent and anticipated launched drone the Anafi. The Parrot Bebop 2 drone features brushless motors that reduce the friction for smoother and better performance.
In addition to that, it comes with an intelligent flight battery which provides an average flight time of 25 minutes. At its price value, it is pretty good for a smart camera drone when you compare it to a popular DJI Spark drone. The Bebop 2 drone is equipped with a powerful 14MP camera that can record videos and take stills at an impressive 1080P HD resolution setting. Although, there is a minor drawback to that.
The camera is fixed which means it can’t be adjusted in the direction you want to point at. Let’s alone the fact that Bebop 2 drone is built and designed for FPV racing. There is a catch though that it is built with a very powerful 5.8GHz receiver. Which means it transmits video to the transmitter in real-time instantaneous. There is no need for you to use your smartphone or tablet since the drone’s camera is already connected to the transmitter.
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Performance
In the next part of the Parrot Bebop 2 review, we will talk about the drone’s performance. When it comes to shopping for the best FPV racing drone, performance is the key factor. Fortunately, Parrot Bebop 2 is an intelligent quadcopter packed with punch. Because it is built with a GPS module that enables precise hovering position in addition to incredible flying speed. According to the specifications, the Parrot Bebop 2 has a maximum flight speed of 31 miles per hour.
Most importantly, the Parrot Bebop 2 drone can perform a set of intelligent flight modes such as Follow Me, Orbit Mode and even Waypoint Mode. You will have a lot more options than just flying the drone for FPV racing alone. Plus, this speedy drone comes with a set of beginner-friendly features such as Smart return to home function, automatic landing, and takeoff. As well as the ability to capture and record footage.
For those pilots who are concerned about the quality of the camera. The Parrot Bebop 2 drone is built with a 1080P HD camera that uses an anti-vibration feature that ensures smooth footage. As shown in the video trailer below taken by the drone. Whether you plan to fly the drone for recreational against other friendly drone pilots. Or just to produce cinematic and quality videos for fun. The Parrot Bebop 2 drone meets all your needs. Check out the Parrot Bebop 2 review video below!
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Camera Quality
Let’s not forget about the quality of the camera that Parrot Bebop 2 drone brings to the table. At the price tag that this drone is going for, it has a lot of nifty camera quality to offer for beginners and experienced drone users. It features a 1080P HD camera mounted on a 2-axis gimbal stabilizer that encompasses smooth and fluid video experience. On top of that, it is incredibly capable of capturing stills with a 14MP camera which boasts vibrant and beautiful aerial shots.
One of the best features that Parrot Bebop 2 drone has is the ability to create stills both in JPEG and RAW formats. This means when you capture stills with the drone, you can easily edit it using Photoshop and Lightroom to create masterpieces. This gives you the advantage and luxury of being able to create beautiful and special moments from the skies without spending too much money. Quality-wise, the Parrot Bebop 2 is on par with DJI Spark drone.
Skycontroller
The Parrot Bebop 2 utilizes a unique transmitter called the Skycontroller. It is a transmitter that comes with a built-in mount holder for your smartphone. However, if you do prefer to upgrade your transmitter to Skycontroller 2.0 which can support tablets and comes with Sunshade so that you can see the screen. Anyway, this remote controller is good for smartphones only. It does look like an Xbox One controller given the fact that it has a color inscription and letters.
If you are a video gamer, then it will come across you completely naturally. Also, I liked how it shows a green pulse light that shows the power of the transmitter. It certainly does add some futuristic feeling to the design. On the left side of the remote controller is a button for settings and return to home function. While you can’t see the details, there are actual buttons on the shoulders of the transmitter.
You can adjust the speed mode, capture and record footage with a push of a button. For advanced functions like intelligent flight modes, camera settings and such. They can be accessed via using the Parrot AR app. The Skycontroller is bulky, but don’t be scared by its design which is made specifically for beginners to intermediate remote pilots. Overall, Parrot did a good job of keeping the remote controller simple and easy enough for beginners to fly the drone right out of the box.
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Battery Life & Range
In the next part of our Parrot Bebop 2 review, I am going to talk about the drone’s battery and remote control distance. As the price tag of the drone goes up. We expect that the drone has more flight time and of course bigger control range. But few things make the Parrot Bebop 2 an exceptional racing drone for beginners and experienced remote pilots. Its battery is packed with so much juice that it gives you around 25 minutes of flight time.
Pretty swell right? But wait! It only takes 55 minutes to recharge a single battery. Most of the expensive drones that you normally see will have a charging time between 90 to 120 minutes for the same amount of flight time that the Parrot Bebop 2 has. Which makes this FPV racing drone one of the best quadcopters for long flying sessions. For some of you who prefer to fly more than waiting, I recommend you purchase at least three to four more batteries.
At least four batteries will give you around two hours of flying sessions which is more than enough to do a professional project. Speaking of the remote control distance, you can fly the drone up to 1.8 miles away. It is quite reasonable for a drone at its price value which I would put it above the average. Considering that the best consumer drone you can get right now has a maximum control distance of up to 5 miles.
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Smart Autopilot Features
Before we wrap up the Parrot Bebop 2 review, it is essential to mention that this drone has smart autopilot features. Like every other professional-grade camera drones, it is equipped with GPS/GLONASS positioning systems that enable smart flight modes. This means you can command the drone to perform a set of preset flight paths and have it record video to create professional-level video content.
This feature is incredibly useful if you are a beginner and just starting. The intelligent autopilot simplifies the flight modes by creating smooth and professional videos that you can easily edit and serve to your audience. Because of that, it doesn’t require that much piloting skill. However, if you are going to really wow your audience, you should learn how to fly the drone and perform tricks such as close quarters and the like.
However, it is important to note that while the Parrot Bebop 2 drone is a smart camera quadcopter. It doesn’t encompass state-of-the-art sensors that advanced drones have like Phantom 4 Pro or Mavic 2 does. On the other hand, the Parrot Bebop 2 drone makes an ideal choice for anyone who wants to experience the thrill of FPV flight.
Bottom Line
In conclusion of the Parrot Bebop 2 review, we think this is a high-quality FPV racing drone crafted for beginners and experienced remote pilots. It is built with durable material and with incredible performance that makes it the ultimate drone for outdoor activity. Not only it fills in the purpose of FPV racing, but it is also equipped with a high-quality camera. This allows you to become an aerial photographer and produce cinematic videos that document your entire journey experience.
In addition to that, the drone comes with FPV goggles included. So, not only you will have at least three ways to control the drone. You can command the drone using FPV goggles thanks to the built-in digital head tracking feature. Immerse yourself into the world of drones and feel like you are flying on the Planet Earth. This is truly an incredible quadcopter packed with power, speed, functions, features and of course ease of use. You can check its price here to see for yourself.
