iFlight Nazgul Evoke 7 First Flight: The Nazgul 5’s Bigger Brother Handles Brutal Wind

The iFlight Nazgul 5 has been one of the most successful ready-to-fly FPV drones ever released, so when word spread that a bigger version was coming, my curiosity was immediately piqued. After spending time with the Nazgul Evoke 7 in some challenging conditions, including wind that had me questioning my life choices, the verdict is in: this long-range beast delivers on its promise, even if it requires a different flying mentality than its smaller sibling.

Fair warning: my review unit is currently looking a bit rough after a crash right after filming wrapped. But here is the thing. It just needs a little love to get back in the air. That alone tells you something about how solid this drone really is.

You can watch my full flight footage and in-depth look at the Nazgul 7 in the video below.

Same DNA, Bigger Ambitions

When you set the Nazgul 5 and Nazgul 7 side by side, the family resemblance is unmistakable. The side plates, panels, colors, and overall design language carry over directly. iFlight clearly understood that the Nazgul 5’s aesthetic was already a winner, so why mess with success? Those sharp corners and thoughtfully designed lines make this one of the most visually appealing FPV drones on the market.

The 7-inch frame uses a deadcat orientation, which means none of the props intrude into your camera view. The VTX is the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, and iFlight made the smart decision to include a UV filter on the front. This serves double duty: it is genuinely useful for shooting in bright sunlight, and it adds another protective layer for the camera lens during those inevitable head-on encounters with immovable objects.

Thermal Management and Antenna Diversity

iFlight moved the air unit to the front of the drone for improved cooling, incorporating a heat dissipation system that keeps temperatures in check during extended flights. The USB-C port for the flight controller sits further back, giving you easy access to Betaflight for customizing your rates and flight modes.

What really caught my attention is the dual antenna setup for ELRS users. There is a vertical antenna mounted near the back and a horizontal antenna positioned just behind it. This diversity configuration maximizes signal strength so you never lose your link between the remote controller and the drone. For a long-range platform, this is exactly what you want to see.

The O4 Air Unit Pro antennas are noticeably longer than what you find on the 5-inch Nazgul, which makes sense given this drone’s extended range ambitions.

The Battery Situation

For my testing, the Tattoo Cine Lifter batteries worked well. These 3500mAh packs with a 150C discharge rate deliver solid performance while keeping weight relatively manageable. One thing to note: they use XT90 connectors, so you will need an adapter cable to connect to the drone’s XT60 port. These adapters run just a couple of dollars on Amazon, so it is not a dealbreaker.

Recently, for my 5-inch and 6-inch drones, the Volt batteries from Zex FPV have become my go-to choice. The 1650mAh packs with 180C discharge rates are technically designed for racing, which makes them overkill for traditional flying, but that surplus power means you can really push the throttle without experiencing any sag. After about six weeks of use, they have been rock solid with excellent charge retention.

Waterproof Straight Out of the Box

Look closely at the Nazgul 7 and you will notice a rainbow-colored sheen across the frame and components. That is the conformal coating, and it means this drone comes waterproof from the factory. No additional work required on your end.

This opens up filming opportunities that would terrify you with an unprotected quad. Light rain, waterfalls, ocean spray, chasing jet skis. The coating repels water and protects the motors and electronics from splash damage. Obviously we are not talking about submarine-level protection here, but for real-world filming scenarios involving moisture, the Nazgul 7 handles it without complaint.

Flying the Wonderful Rocks in Brutal Conditions

My first real test happened at one of my favorite locations, a spot called the Wonderful Rocks. The conditions were far from ideal: strong wind and cold temperatures that had the DVR looking shaky throughout my flights. But this is the reality of long-range flying, and the Nazgul 7 handled it admirably.

The first battery was a reconnaissance flight to understand signal limits and get a feel for the drone’s handling characteristics. Even with the brutal wind, the drone maintained composure. There were moments where strong air currents hit the drone from above, causing visible shaking in my goggles, but it kept flying.

Speed impressed me immediately. The drone was hitting nearly 100 kilometers per hour while covering distance quickly. For fast-paced cruising and getting to distant subjects, this thing is a performer.

The Floatiness Factor

Here is where pilots coming from 5-inch quads need to adjust their expectations. The Nazgul 7 is noticeably floaty. It does not react with the same snap as a smaller freestyle drone, and that is by design. Even with a lighter battery like the Cine Lifter, precision maneuvers require more anticipation.

If you want to execute a split-S or other aggressive moves, you need to account for the fact that this drone does not go exactly where you point it instantaneously. The floatiness takes some adjustment, but it also contributes to incredibly smooth footage. You can tweak the rates in Betaflight to make it snappier, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of a 7-inch long-range platform.

Seven minutes of flight time on a single battery is what I was getting in these windy conditions, with plenty of juice remaining for a safe return. In calmer weather with a conservative throttle hand, you could extend that further.

Who Should Consider the Nazgul 7?

This drone excels at what it was designed for: covering distance and capturing cinematic footage in locations that demand extended range. If you live near mountain ridges, dramatic coastlines, or expansive landscapes, the Nazgul 7 unlocks shots that smaller drones simply cannot achieve.

For pure freestyle flying, stick with your 5-inch quad. But for pilots who want to push boundaries and explore distant subjects while maintaining that beautiful FPV perspective, the Nazgul Evoke 7 delivers. It is one of iFlight’s best-selling platforms for good reason, and spending time with it has only reinforced why the Nazgul line has earned such a strong reputation in the FPV community.

This article was written in collaboration with Mike from Drone Supremacy. The opinions and first-hand experiences shared are entirely his own.