Earlier this year we received a demo version of the recently launched Autel EVO Lite+ drone, released at the same time as the sub 250gram EVO Nano+ drone. Since then we’ve been using the EVO Lite+ more and more for landscape photography, real estate, travel, etc. As a previous Air 2S owner (we sold our Air 2S when we realized we had too many drones lying around) we realized the EVO Lite+ was giving us features we felt were lacking in the Air 2S.
If you’re familiar with Autel drones, you’ll likely remember their release of the ground-breaking EVO II series in 2020. We actually got to spend some time with the EVO II at CES2020 in Las Vegas and it was impressive, far exceeding what DJI was offering at the time.
Since then, DJI has made 3 versions of the Mini series of sub-250 gram drones and 2 versions of the mid-sized Air series of drones, both of which have been extremely popular.
With the Lite+ and Nano+ drones, Autel firmly asserts itself as the #2 drone maker with a now-established suite of high quality, pro-sumer UAVs.
Commercial-grade Aircraft
The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up the EVO Lite+ is how robust it feels. None of the DJI thin-skin plastic that we’re all accustomed to. The Lite+ feels solid and robust. Literally like it was born to be commercial-grade, which is no surprise given Autels broad experience in commercial electronic and diagnostic tools.
There’s little about the Lite+ aircraft to complain about. It’s solid, compact and familiar.
Even the simplicity of how the arms fold out horizontally without being impeded by forward or rear arms (ahem, DJI) is so simple and so appreciated. And the fact that all four arms have legs to keep the aircraft and gimbal modestly elevated above ground is worth noting as well.
Most of DJI’s current drones land the aircraft body directly on the ground, which can be impractical at take off and landing. Often the most epic droning comes with challenging landscapes to take off and land on. We’re pleased to report that EVO Lite+ is as easy to hand launch/land as any drone we’ve flown.
Best in Class Battery Life
DJI’s Air 2S drone seems to have captured the ‘mid-sized’ market with it’s 1″ sensor and 20MP stills and a 2.4µm pixel size. Exactly the same camera spec as the Lite+. Exactly.
So it’s always amazing to us when we meet an Air 2s owner that a) didn’t know this fact and b)wasn’t aware that the Lite+ has 30% longer flight time.
All other things being equal, who wouldn’t want 10 more minutes of time in the air from each battery? Seriously!
You might think that’s an obvious question, but if Autel focused more targeted messaging around this fact there would be a lot less Air 2S owners saying “hmm, I didn’t know that”.
For most recreational drone flyers the decision usually comes down to price point, camera spec, and battery life.
Pro Level Images & Video
The list of Lite+ features that are superior to the Air 2S keeps growing, But what stands out beyond battery life is the fact that the Lite+ camera, with it’s 1″ sensor has a variable aperture. Anyone who has done any level of serious photo and video work, especially using ND filters, knows the important role that aperture plays in capturing the highest quality images and video.
The ND filters for the EVO Lite+ attach to the camera by firmly screwing on, unlike DJI’s ‘wrestle, twist and pull’ connection that leaves finger smudges on the lens cover or filter and puts strain on the filter and the gimbal system.
As familiar as it gets
Everything about the recreational or pro-sumer drone market is modeled on similar platforms and user interfaces.
From the moment you pick up the Lite+ controller and open the Autel SKY app everything about the experience will be second nature to you, including firmware updates, charging hubs and image transfers.
Even the ergonomic feel of the x-box shaped remote control and how it intuitively nestles into your grip, ready to go, is appreciated.
From the location of the SD and USB-C ports on the aircraft to the user experience of connecting your smartphone and powering-up, everything about the Lite+ is easy and predictable.
Stops Just Short of Perfection
Since we titled this review ‘Almost Perfect’ it’s time to share exactly what would make the EVO Lite+ perfect in our view.
But before we do, we have to be honest and say it’s not really a deal-breaker for us, it’s just a personal preference. You see ever since we started using the Mavic 2 Pro with it’s Smart Contoller we’ve gotten very accustomed to the simplicity and convenience of a dedicated controller with a built in screen.
Autel has produced three different versions of it’s own ‘Smart Controller’ and we would love to see a firmware update for any one of them that adds support for the EVO Lite+.
But like I said, it’s not a deal-breaker. EVO Lite+’s controller is robust, familiar and as reliable as any we’ve used. It’s just a personal preference.
We’d also add a storage slot in the remote controller for the removable joysticks. Once unscrewed they don’t have a proper ‘home’ unless you park them in a pocket of the shoulder bag. Screw holes for connecting a lanyard would be handy too.
Adding EVO Lite+ To Our Drone Buyers Guide With ‘Buy Now’
EVO Lite+ doesn’t just pack the best features of a much larger, more sophisticated, drone into a mid-sized aircraft on par with the DJI Air 2S. With over 30% longer battery life as well we have to say that for $100 less than the Air 2S the EVO Lite+ will have you flying longer and taking superior images.
If you’re thinking of buying a DJI Air 2S, you owe it to yourself to take a serious look at the EVO Lite+.
With Autel’s Black Friday promotion (on now) the basic EVO Lite+ bundle is just $1079…only $80 more than the Air 2s despite having a variable aperture and longer battery life!
The Premium EVO Lite+ bundle, that includes 2 extra batteries, charging hub, ND filters and more is only $1199. Actually $100 less than the similarly equipped Air 2S Fly More Combo.
Comparing the EVO Lite+ Premium Bundle with the Air 2S Fly More Combo, both of which have three batteries, the EVO Lite+ bundle gives you 30 minutes more flight time for $100 less. It’s like having an extra battery versus someone flying the Air 2S.
EVO Lite+ is available at the at the Autel Online store. Black Friday sale runs until December 5th.
