Rekon 3 nano FPV quad: more of a “flying battery” than a drone

Via social media, we found a nice new drone: the Rekon 3 Nano Long Range FPV quad. Quite a mouthful for an FPV drone that is so small and light that it is better to speak of a “flying battery”. The device weighs less than 190 grams and can remain in the air for 15 minutes. The range of the video transmitter is said to be a few miles, hence the “long-range” designation.

Rekon 3 nano FPV quad: more of a “flying battery” than a drone

The Rekon 3 comes from the stable of Rekon FPV, a manufacturer of – you guessed it – first-person-view drones. The focus is on very small devices, not so much on the larger and more powerful racing drones. For example, the company offers micro-size 4 ”and 5” long-range cruisers, which have just enough load capacity to carry a “naked GoPro” so that you can still take fun video recordings with it.

But it can always be smaller and lighter, according to the forthcoming introduction of Rekon 3. It is a nano-sized FPV quad that looks more like a flying battery holder than a regular quad. The holder can accommodate a standard 18650 LiPo cell. The body is made of PETG, the engine mounts of carbon fiber.

Small drone but complete

Despite its lightweight, the Rekon 3 offers everything you need to fly FPV, including an FPV camera and analog 350 mW video transmitter (according to the manufacturer, the range of the video signal is a few miles). The heart is formed by a Zeus5 AIO flight controller. The quad is powered by 4 brushless motors and offers a flight time of up to 15 minutes.

The Rekon 3 is primarily intended for carefree flying and practicing the FPV phenomenon. Because the drone is so small and quiet, you will not bother many people with it. And changing the battery is as easy as inserting a new battery into your TV remote control.

Cons

There are also disadvantages: the drone is quite vulnerable, several reviewers flew the drone during their test flights. The drone is not very powerful, so if the wind blows a bit you should not fly it outside. And because there is no buzzer provided, you can easily lose the drone if it lands on the ground somewhere out of your sight.

Furthermore, you cannot make video recordings with the drone, unless you have linked a DVR to your – analog – video glasses. In that case, don't expect nicely stabilized images like with the DJI FPV drone or a CineWhoop with naked GoPro, but it's better than nothing.

Price and availability

Depending on the version, the price starts at 150 dollars. That does not include the receiver, batteries, video goggles, and transmitter. You can also order a suitable receiver (Crossfire Nano, Frsky, AC2000) directly. According to the manufacturer, the first orders will be delivered from the end of May.

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This article first appeared on Dronewatch and is written by Wiebe de Jager who is also a DroneXL contributor.