Ruko U11S 4K Camera GPS Drone

This remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) appears to be the successor to the venerable Ruko F11, which was another great RPV at an incredibly affordable price point. I own the F11, and reviewed it favorable about ten months ago. With the experience gained with the F11, I was in a strong position to review the new Ruko U11.

Immediately upon opening the box the user is greeted by quick start guide (see included picture). Beyond the convenience afforded by printing the guide inside the box, I immediately noticed that the startup sequence, as compared to the F11, is shorter. The steps are similar, but clearly the U11 is able to process data like the remote connection and compass calibration more efficiently. After opening the included carrying case, which neatly and securely contains the RPV and all provided accessories, I also noticed that unlike the F11, Ruko has included a quick reference remote control guide that the user can place on top of the remote control for handy reference (see included picture).

Included in the durable carrying case is the RPV, the remote control, two batteries (one already installed in the U11, a mobile phone mount bracket for the remote control, as well as a complete set of replacement blades for all four motors, screws, and a screw driver. This is a very welcome addition, as mishaps with drones do happen and blade replacement can occur.

The U11 itself is a standard quad-copter, but one that is very small in size and weight. While comparing the new U11 to my F11, I immediately noticed the weight difference. The U11 is much lighter, has cleaner lines and is more aerodynamic. The length of the U11 has also been decreased by about 15%, with the width coming in a bit wider. The height of the U11 is also much lower, perhaps a 20% reduction. This much smaller form factor on the U11 made for a much more nimble flight, with improved battery life. I also noticed that the ground clearance on the U11 has been increased. This is a very welcome addition, as the F11 was very difficult to land on uneven terrain. Although I would’ve appreciated an even greater degree of ground clearance, the improvement was appreciated.

In terms of hardware upgrades in the U11, the most welcome is the addition of a 4K camera. Additionally, the new camera is provided with MUCH more ground clearance. On the F11, the camera was set so low that a user ran the risk of grinding the camera on the ground when starting up the vehicle or landing (again, ground clearance was a real issue with the F11). The U11 has solved this by both making the camera smaller, and setting it much higher in the fore section of the airframe. The camera is also isolated from the airframe by what appear to be rubberized connection points, an approach that has provided increased stabilization for the camera while in flight.

True to the Ruko promise of approximately 20 minutes of flight time for each battery, that’s on par with what I experienced. Since this improved model is smaller, and appears to incorporate a new motor design, it was also very quiet. The U11 flies well in calm winds and is simple to control and responsive to user commands. I haven’t yet flown the RPV in moderate wind conditions, so I can’t offer any insight into it’s handling performance in those conditions. Having experienced it with the F11, I was pleased that Ruko continued to offer their unique ground sensor technology, which offers very precise handling, especially when coming in for a landing.

I’ve only owned the U11 for five days, and so far my experience is very positive, but I can offer one potential area for improvement – I’m a bit concerned about the strength and durability of the remote control mobile phone mount. It held my OnePlus 8T+ just fine, but when the phone is connected there’s a bit of movement between the bracket and the remote control. Given the high price of mobile phones, I would’ve preferred a more robust bracket that instilled more confidence in its strength.

But that issue aside, my view is that the U11 RPV is yet another outstanding offering at an excellent price point. The vehicle is suitable for beginners and well as those with more experience flying RPV. In addition, the refinements made to the U11, when compared to the F11, make for a more solid drone, a better flying experience, and a more compact and weight friendly size, which is perfect for hiking or other adventures where these elements matter. Take it for a spin – you won’t be disappointed.

I have flown drones for years and have owned more than 40 from toys to a DJI Inspiire. I purchased the F11 GPS drone because of the perceived value for a foldable 1080p GPS drone with a case and multiple batteries with a advertised flight time of 30 minutes. All all the drones in this category, so far the Roku F11 is setting a new standard for functionality, features, and flight time at this price point.

First you have to know that it’s not a DJI drone and should not be compared to any of them. First the DJI are the industry best but you paying for it.

I received the F11 today and the packaging is more than adequate. Nothing special but it protects the F11 during shipment. It does come with a very basic case which holds the remote controller, F11 drone, spare blades, and two spare batteries. It has documentation which is better than the average Chinese drone user guides. It was a really good quick start guide though.

Overall, the F11 is light and feels well built for the price point. With the battery removed it’s very light. The arms snap in and out while locking in place. It feels good.

Now for the my initial flights: The startup steps of pairing the F11 drone to the remote and calibrating the compass is pretty simple. However, it appears that it must be done before every series of flights. I’m hoping this is not correct as it will be a slight pain. The remote controller is about the same size of all others and it built pretty well with the basic controls.

The tests were to fly around in the 30 meter perimeter to see how it handles in the wind, how the perimeter works, and see how long the battery actually lasts.

It was very windy with gust of 15 – 25 mph. I was using it with the beginner settings which was nice on this windy day. The F11 would hold position really well during light wind gusts. However, during the bigger gusts it was being blown around and seriously fighting to maintain the position and altitude. The perimeter worked well too.

The battery averaged 23 minutes before the low voltage warning and 26 minutes until it automatically landed.

The video looked good but I didn’t tests the distance as it was to windy and I was using the beginner perimeter.

I did not test the advance app settings as it was too windy. I’ll test it next time.

However, at this price point and 23 minutes of flight time make the F11 a very good buy and keeper.