Yuneec vs DJI
Yuneec and DJI are competing drone manufacturers have a wide range of models on the market. You will find everything from selfie drones that can fit in your pocket, to full-on machines that would make a professional photographer proud. But with more options comes more confusion and doubt.
To make things simple, we have compared all the major models and determined what kind of person would like them best. So if you can’t decide which drone is right for you, we promise you will be able to after a few pointers.
Alright, now we will compare the crucial specs and features of each drone.
Camera Performance
If you want to take excellent aerial footage, then you will need a top performing camera. The higher the Megapixels, the better the photos will be. For video quality, a higher frame rate is ideal, as well as the ability to shoot in 4K.
| Model | Megapixels | Frames per Second |
|---|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | 16 | 30fps (4K) |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | 12 | 30fps (4K) |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | 12 | 30fps (4K) |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | 16 | 30fps (4K) |
| Yuneec H520 | 20 | 60fps (4K) |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | 12 | 30fps (4K) |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | 20 | 60fps (4K) |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 20 | 60fps (4K) |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 20 | 60fps (4K), 30fps (5.2K) |
| DJI Spark | 12 | 30fps (1080p) |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 12 | 30fps (4K) |
The most powerful cameras belong to the H520, Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Advanced, and Inspire 2. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the Spark’s camera, which can’t shoot in 4K, only the less sharp 1080p.
If you consider yourself an avid photographer or filmmaker, then these specs are extremely important.
+1 for the Inspire 2.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Advanced.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Pro.
+1 for the H520.
What’s Under The Hood: Max Speed
Everyone wants to know if their drone would win a race. That’s why we have displayed the top horizontal speeds below. Remember, these are only possible in ideal wind conditions.
| Model | Max Speed (mph) |
|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | 11 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | 30 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | 30 |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | 25 |
| Yuneec H520 | 38 |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | 36 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | 45 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 45 |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 58 |
| DJI Spark | 31 |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 40 |
The Inspire 2 blazes past all the other models with an exceptional 58mph max speed. Somewhat behind are the Phantom 4 Advanced and Pro at 45mph.
The Breeze limps in at last place with a top speed of 11mph.
+1 for the Inspire 2.
Battery Life
The more powerful a drone’s battery (relative to its weight) the longer the flight time. Every minute counts, so let’s find out which is best.
| Model | Flight Time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | 12 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | 22 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | 22 |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | 24 |
| Yuneec H520 | 28 |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | 23 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | 30 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 30 |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 27 |
| DJI Spark | 16 |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 27 |
As you can see, the Phantom 3 Advanced and Pro can stay airborne the longest, with a max flight time of 30min. Runners-up are the H520, Inspire 2, and Mavic Pro.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Advanced.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Pro.
Controller Range
This is the max distance that a drone can fly from its controller before the connection is completely lost. Now obstructions such as hills and buildings can cause interference and reduce the range noticeably. You will also find that regular disconnections will start to occur as you get close to this maximum distance.
To prevent loss or damage to your drone, we don’t recommend trying to hit these maximums. But it is nice to know how far they COULD go.
| Model | Range (miles) |
|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | 0.1 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | 1 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | 1 |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | 1 |
| Yuneec H520 | 1 |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | 3.1 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | 4.3 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 4.3 |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 4.3 |
| DJI Spark | 1.2 |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 4.3 |
The Phantom 4 Advanced and Pro, Inspire 2, and Mavic Pro have significant ranges of 4.3miles. Not too far back is the Phantom 3 Pro at 3.1 miles.Why do these DJI drones have such a long range? Because they utilize DJI’s Lightbridge technology. This allows for a much better connection than the more dated Wifi downlink technology used by the other drones.
+1 for the Inspire 2.
+1 for the Mavic Pro.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Advanced.
+1 for the Phantom 4 Pro.
Controller Design
You won’t find any major differences in each of the DJI drones’ controllers, other than the range that we have already discussed. They all have two control sticks, dedicated and customisable buttons, and a mount for attaching a smartphone or tablet.
However, the Mavic Pro and Spark controllers are much smaller. The Mavic Pro’s controller also has a flight data screen.
As for the Yuneec Breeze’s controller, it looks like it was made by Sony. It just has a very similar design, button layout, and color when compared with a Playstation controller. There is also a mount for attaching a smartphone.
The rest of Yuneec’s drones use a similar controller style. These are rectangular, have two flight sticks, an array of buttons, and a built-in HD screen. There is no mount for a tablet or smartphone; rather, everything can be done using the built-in screen.
It’s hard to determine an overall winner. Some users may prefer the Yuneec controllers because there is no need for a smartphone or tablet, while others may see this as a disadvantage, and prefer being given the option to mount their own device.
Obstacle Avoidance
The latest drones incorporate obstacle avoidance technology to prevent a crash due to user area. Each drone has sensors in different positions, which provide protection for different directions.
| Model | Obstacle Avoidance |
|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | Front and below. |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | Front and below. |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | All directions (Intel Realsense). |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | Front and below. |
| Yuneec H520 | All directions (Intel Realsense). |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | None. |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | Ahead and below. |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | All directions. |
| DJI Inspire 2 | Ahead, below, and above. |
| DJI Spark | Ahead and below. |
| DJI Mavic Pro | Ahead and below. |
+1 for the Phantom 4 Pro.
+1 for the Typhoon H Pro.
+1 for the H520.
Portability
If you want a drone that you can carry around in a small bag or even your pocket, and then whip it out at a moments notice, to take a selfie of you and your friends, then you may be interested in the Spark, Mavic Pro, and Breeze. They are tiny!
Now the other drones are significantly bigger, and you will need a backpack to carry them.
+1 for the Breeze.
+1 for the Spark.
+1 for the Mavic Pro.
Not Going Astray
All drones have a dual GPS/GLONASS navigation systems. This allows them to fly with precision, and also reduces the chance of high winds knocking them off course.
When flying low to the ground, they all take advantage of a vision positioning system. This basically uses sensors to ping vibrations off the ground, allowing them to accurately calculate their position. This allows the drones to fly safely at low attitudes, as well as hover with minimal displacement.
No overall winners here.
Price
Shown below are the approximate prices for each drone. These are always subject to change so check Amazon for the latest ones.
+1 for the Breeze.
What Are The Scores?
| Model | Total Score |
|---|---|
| Yuneec Breeze | 2 (Portability, lowest price) |
| Yuneec Typhoon H | 0 |
| Yuneec Typhoon H Pro | 1 (Obstacle avoidance) |
| Yuneec H920 Plus | 0 |
| Yuneec H520 | 2 (Obstacle avoidance, camera) |
| DJI Phantom 3 Pro | 0 |
| DJI Phantom 4 Advanced | 3 (Camera, range, flight time) |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 4 (Camera, range, flight time, obstacle avoidance) |
| DJI Inspire 2 | 3 (Top speed, camera, range) |
| DJI Spark | 1 (Portability) |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 2 (Portability, range) |
Best Overall Drone
We reckon the Phantom 4 Pro is the best drone. While the Inspire 2 has a slightly better camera, the Phantom 4 has better obstacle avoidance systems. And while the Inspire 2 is faster, the Phantom 4 Pro has a longer flight time. Also, it is much cheaper than the Inspire 2.
You will also notice that the Phantom 4 Pro is similar in some ways to the Yuneec H520. The cameras are similar, and the obstacle avoidance capabilities are similar. However, the Phantom 4 Pro is still the clear winner with a longer range, higher speed, and greater flight time.
If you’re looking for a drone that can do pretty much everything well, and aren’t afraid to spend around $1,400, then we reckon the Phantom 4 Pro is your best option.
Best Drone For Photographers/Filmmakers
The Inspire 2 is the best option for those that are serious about aerial photography and video footage. It has the best camera with 20 megapixels and can shot video at up to 5.2K. Not only that, it is a powerful all-around machine with good obstacle avoidance and flight capabilities.
Best Value For Money
The Mavic Pro is the best value for money. This is a small, portable drone, with a long range, long flight time, decent camera, and obstacle avoidance systems. It’s also one of the cheaper drones at $900.
Best Drone For Those On A Budget
In this category, we have a face-off between the Spark and the Breeze. While the Breeze is noticeably cheaper, this price reflects its abilities. It can’t fly fast, far or for long. Mainly it’s just for taking selfies and videos.
However, here’s the kicker, its camera is much more powerful than the Sparks. So you have to ask yourself do you want to just take photos and videos or do you want a drone that you can actually fly around.
We think most people who want to get a drone want to be able to fly it properly, rather than just use it as a hovering camera, so we nominate the Spark as the winner.
Yuneec Or DJI?
It’s obvious that Yuneec’s H920 Plus and H520 are powerful machines. However, DJI has better and more affordable models, such as the Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2. It also has a wider range of drone types. Overall we feel that DJI wins the drone war against Yuneec.
Talk about a VERY skewed “review”…as if it were written by a DJI executive. First, I am NOT anti-DJI, nor am I pro-Yuneec. I have owned drones from both companies, and will equally consider drones from both companies (as well as the possibility of those from other manufacturers, although these two do currently make the best consumer & prosumer-grade drones) in the future. That being said, this “review” ignores certain facts, lies about certain facts, etc. While rating the cameras on pixels & framerates is of some importance, there is something FAR more important – image quality. You can have the highest number of pixels, and the highest framerate, but if the image quality is garbage, then the camera is garbage. Case in point, the lens on some cameras are made of plastic, while others are glass. If you have one camera with a higher pixel count & plastic lens, and compare it against a camera with a slightly lower pixel count & glass lens, a photographer/videographer will almost ALWAYS take the lower-pixel/glass-lens camera, as there is a FAR HIGHER probability that it will produce considerably sharper images. Switching over to the video side of things, the same applies, but there is even more to it. This is where compression, low-light ability, and more are even more important.
Moving away from the camera, and over the controller, there are also things to consider. Just because the range is 4+ miles, that does NOT make it better…in fact, the laws in most countries VERY clearly state you are not allowed to fly further than “line-of-sight”, and anyone doing such on a regular basis is not only violating the law, but is an idiot for doing so. If your drone comes down where you can see it, you have an excellent chance of recovering it. On the other hand, the farther away the “crash site” is, your chances of recovering the drone are greatly reduced. Now, I will admit that I’ve installed a high-power antenna on my controller, as well as more powerful external antenna on the drone, itself, but this is NOT fore the purpose of flying further…it is for increased signal strength. Under “Controller Design”, the author (cough, cough) falsely indicates, “It’s hard to determine an overall winner”, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While it is truthful that DJI’s controllers are virtually identical, when it’s stated that “the rest of Yuneec’s drones use a similar controller style” (compared against the Yuneec Breeze), that is anything but the truth. The Breeze has a controller very similar to those used by DJI, whereas the ST-series of Yuneec’s controllers are considerably more professional. The “built-in screen” isn’t JUST a screen…it’s an Android tablet. Additionally, the controls, themselves, are identical to those you would find on professional R/C controllers, such as those made by Futuba, Spektrum, JR, Hitec & Jeti. DJI’s controllers, by comparison, are closer to being “toys”.
Quickly jumping to a few other features, in the “article”, the obstacle avoidance of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is ‘rated’ equal to that found on Yuneec’s Typhoon H Pro & H520 (which is, essentially, an “industrial-grade” Typhoon H). the TRUTH is, DJI’s system is far less capable than the Intel RealSense system used by Yuneec, as it “sees” FAR more, plus it functions in much lower light. In comparing the Phantom 4 & Typhoon H, since these are, essentially, aimed at the same market, and have similar prices, there’s two features which the DJI can’t even compare against. The first is a 360-degree rotating camera…with the Phantom 4, the ONLY control you have is up/down tilt. The second is the landing gear…with the Phantom 4, the landing gear is “fixed”, whereas the Typhoon H has fully-operational landing gear, similar to the landing gear found on higher-end drones (DJI Inspire 2, Yuneec H920, as well as ALL professional drones). Lastly, there’s the number of motors – the Phantom 4 has only 4 motors, thus, if one fails, your drone WILL come crashing down faster than a bird with clipped wings. The Typhoon H, on the other hand, has 6 motors. If one fails, you can continue to fly safely. Not only that, but, if two fail, as long as they are not right next to each other, you can also continue to fly safely. This “failsafe” is one of the reasons, when upgrading from the Phantom 3 Pro, that I chose the Typhoon H over the Phantom 4. With the next generation, I cannot say whether I’ll stick with Yuneec, or return to DJI. While DJI does currently have the better software, Yuneec currently has the better hardware.
Again, I’m NOT trying/wanting to put DJI down…I’m just relaying the FACTS. The “article” appears to have (purposely???) left out pertinent pieces of information, which I cam only assume were meant to give DJI the “lead” in points.
fantastic response to this article, which was seemingly written by a robot! You covered the ‘real’ statistics that I was more interested in (controller and hardware). I’d also be interested to see if the Typhoon H Pro is going to be compatible with Pix4d Capture any time soon ?
Another point to mention, is Yuneec guarantee no data transfer to external servers. Whereas DJI do send data back to China.