Quadcopter Vs Hexacopter – For Recreational Or Professional Purposes?
The following is our quest to compare quadcopter vs hexacopter while providing an overview of both. Hexa is the Latin word for “six”, while quad means “four”, so the hexacopter is a drone with six propellers, while the quad has just four.
A Guide to Finding Your Way Between Hexacopters and Quadcopters
It seems that drones are everywhere you look, and chances are your eyes were drawn to mall shelves heaped with flashy, sleek drones wherever you go. No matter if you’ve used one before or this will be your first venture out there if you happen to be in the market to grab a drone for professional photography, inspections, or just to pilot it around for fun, what should you focus on? Buckle up! It could be a rough ride!!
Generally speaking, a hexacopter is more stable, suited for veteran use and sturdier all around, while the quadcopter is easier to pilot, more maneuverable and lighter.
Deciding to buy a drone is fun, but should you just rush in and buy the first make and model you find? I think you should rather take an in-depth look around to get the right mix of value and money on the drone that suits your needs and skills at the time of purchase.
The Quadcopter
This is basically a helicopter lacking its tail, as its four propellers make it airworthy on its own, and it’s a pretty fast machine. If you’re a beginner in this arena, wishing to try your hand at piloting, wielding and controlling this awesome drone thingy for recreation, you would be better off buying a quadcopter. Due to the fact that it’s simpler, cheaper, easier to control, more user-friendly in narrower spaces such as between buildings and among trees, as well as easy to assemble. On the downside, they can’t carry heavy loads, so if one of the motors fails, it’ll crash. It also can’t go as high as the hexacopter, of course.
The Hexacopter
The hexacopter is the obvious choice for the skilled user or the professional working, for example, in aerial photography. This is because it’s heavier and thus more stable. Its six motors can carry heavy equipment in relative safety up there even if one of them happens to fail. It can fly at higher elevations compared to other drones.
However, it’s noteworthy that it’s much more expensive than the quad, comparatively heavy, not as easy to maneuver, and does poorly in narrow spaces.
Top Picks for Best Quadcopters
1. Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100
Description
This high-end drone has live video feed camera and GPS return, with WiFi camera follow me and an altitude-hold feature. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but we think it’s a good choice as to price vs. value.
It has a return to home function to direct it home when the battery is low or when it gets out of range, which makes it awesome for longer flights.
Specifications
- Flight time: 12-15 minutes
- Flight range: 500 meters, 120m height, 150m FPV
- Camera: 720p, 120° FOV, 90° adjustable angle from the transmitter
- Sensors: GPS, 6-axis gyroscope and barometer
- Size: 50cm * 50cm * 18cm
- Weight: 700g, including battery
- Battery: Li-Po, 7.4V 2500mAh
- Charge time: 3-6 hours, this depends on the charger
- Transmitter: 2.4Ghz with a 500m range and 300mAh Li-Po battery
Bonus features
- One-key takeoff/land
- Headless
- Altitude hold
- FPV, VR
Pros
- Excellent value for money as to range, camera, stability, and mobile application
- Good quality transmitter
- Easy to handle
- A battery indicating charge level which is rare at this price range
Cons
- Pretty expensive
- Camera recording isn’t sharp
- Lengthy charging time from 3-6 hours
- A bit on the heavy side
HS100-Quick Start – Video
2. Yuneec Breeze
Description
At its price, the Yuneec Breeze it’s the choice to make for low budget, beginner, and fun users. Putting it together is a “breeze” indeed, forgive the pun.
It’s compact, lightweight, controlled by smartphone or tablet, and with decent camera specs. But despite looking just like a toy, the Yuneec Breeze hides many features. It is less powerful than other models, but it has many advantages and features that you will find on larger and more expensive models. This drone becomes a surprise when you choose to fly in manual mode.
Specifications
- Flight Time: 12 minutes
- Range: 80 meters
- Speed: 5 m/s
- Battery: 11,1V 1150mAh LiPo
- Dimensions: 7.7″ x 7.7″ x 2.7″ (196 x 196 x 65 mm)
- Weight: 0.85 lb (385 g.)
Features
- Cam App
- Selfie Mode
- Manual control Pilot Mode
- Orbit Mode
- Follow Me
- Propeller protectors
Pros
- The price
- Quality of camera compared to its price
- Stability in spite of its low weight
Cons
- Short flight time
- Limited range
Breeze: Compass Calibration – Video
3. DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter with Remote Controller
Description
The DJI Mavic Air is a high-end foldable and compact drone that just fits the niche of the semi-hobby and the semi-professional user. Its camera quality is superb and has one of the all in all best reviews.
Specifications
- Flight Time: 21 min
- Flight Range: 10 Km
- Top speed 68 km/h (42 mph) in the sport mode
- Battery: 11,55V 2375 mAh LiPo 3S
- 100 Mbps 4K video up to 30 fps
- 8GB of internal storage
- Dimensions: 6.6 x 7.2 x 2.5 inches (168 × 184 × 64 mm)
- Weight: 15 ounces (430 g)
Features
- 1/2.3″ 12 megapixel CMOS sensor
- Equipped with 3-axis stabilized gimbal
- 85-degree FOV (24mm equiv)
- DNG Raw support
- Forward and back-facing APAS obstacle avoidance provided
- Novel intelligent flight modes
Pros
- Great obstacle avoidance
- Delivers as expected of much more expensive counterparts
- Size, features, and mobility are superb
Cons
- WiFi controlLimited range
- Shrill propeller sounds
Mavic Air First Flight – Video
4. Eachine E010 Mini Quadcopter
Description
This might be the better choice to kick off your passion for flying a drone, and the thing for children too. Affordable, easy to use, fun, and games all in one package.
Specifications
- Flight Time: 5 min
- Flight Range: 30 m
- Battery: 3.7V 150 mAh Li-ion
- USB charging cable
- Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 2 inches (80 x 80 x 50 mm)
- Weight: 0.11 lb (50 g)
Features
- One-key return button
- 360° roll-over
- Compass mode
- Night LED lights
Pros
- Price
- Easy to assemble
- Super fun
- Batteries are cheap
- Can be equipped with a camera
Cons
- Flight time under 5 minutes
- Doesn’t do well in windy weather
Eachine E010 Mini Quadcopter – Video
Top Picks for Best Hexacopters
5. Yuneec Typhoon H
Description
This is a go-to drone, with its 350 gimbals, and folding legs, it’s just a thing from star wars, with a superb camera, top speed and built-in screen too.Specifications
- Flight time: 25 minutes
- Range: 1.6 Km
- Speed: 5 m/s
- Battery: 3.6V 8700 mAh Li-ion
- CGO3+ 4K Camera Video Recorder Bundle including drone
- 16 GB Flash Drive
- 64 GB MicroSD Memory Card
- Dimensions: 20.5 x 18 x 12.2 inches (520 x 457 x 310 mm)
- Weight: 23 lb (2 Kg)
Features
- Sonar collision prevention
- Advanced obstacle navigation
- Orbit me
- Point of interest (flying around a subject)
- Journey mode
- Capability to fly with a damaged engine
- Return home
- Cleaning kit
Pros
- 360-degree rotating 4K camera giving good video
- It has a sonar-based tool for object detection
- Provided with retractable landing gear
- Option to control the drone and camera separately
Cons
- Flimsy build
- Weak camera mount
- Sketchy smartphone control
Yuneec Typhoon H – Video
6. Top Race Hexacopter DroneUFO
Description
Made by Top Race, this is a hexacopter drone with a unique UFO design which you can control up to 20 meters. It can do seven minutes of flight time and can be charged up again in about 15 minutes.Specifications
- Flight time: 7 minutes
- Charge time: 20 min
- Range: 20 m
- Speed: 3 Speed Options High/Normal/Low
- Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 1 inch (127 x 127 x 25.4 mm)
- Weight: 2 lb (0.9 Kg)
Features
- Six separate motors
- Full range movement: hovering, 3D tumbling action
- USB cable for charging
- Spare blades
- Red and Green Led Lights
Pros
- Great price
- Lightweight
- Unique design
- Good charging time
- Compact and sturdy
Cons
- Short flight time
- No camera
Your Guide on How to Choose a Drone
What should we consider when hovering around the decision to purchase one of these sci-fi artifacts? It’s a complex question, but we can break it down into sections that we can then sift through.First of all, budget-wise, there are about a gazillion options out there, all with their merits and drawbacks. However, your beacon is always your budget and what you want the product for. Quadcopters are basically helicopters missing a tail, designed to be remotely flown using a controller or a smartphone. They might come with a camera or not.They can also be complicated, costly, high-end technology gadgets that earn the user a living.You might want to consider all the pros and cons, and subsequently reach a decision based on the following:
- Price range
- Is it for fun or work?
- Flying environment, whether forest, trees, buildings or free-range
- Age of user, the older, the more complex
- Sturdiness needed and wind speeds where it’s expected to be flown
- Size, weight, and ease of transport
- Camera quality and stability of recording
- Smartphone control quality
- WiFi range
- Battery life and charge time
So Then, Should We Buy A Hexacopter Or A Quadcopter?
The answer depends on all the above. A hexacopter is:
- More expensive
- Less easy to maneuver
- Heavy
- Less responsive in air
- Quite large
However, that being said, it is
- More stable
- Can carry heavy payloads
- It will probably serve you longer
- They have greater power and thrust
- Can withstand the stalling of one motor and will come back safely to you, which is crucial if they carry expensive gear
As for the quadcopter, it’s more suited to beginners.
- It’s lightweight
- Maneuverable
- Easy to build and repair
- Less expensive
- Useful in crowded areas.
It’s a superb gift. On the downside, they have:
- Less power and thrust
- Less durability
- Limited carrying capacities
- They are more prone to crash and break
Best Drone Brands
DJI (Dajiang Innovations)The sky isn’t the limit represents their motto; they’re one of the leading companies in the field churning out drones left and right with the latest Osma action came out this May. DJI it’s based in China’s equivalent of Silicon Valley and has grown tremendously since 2006.ParrotA leader of designing drone-based HDR cameras, Parrot works out of Paris, France and is currently developing a camera drone with 25 minutes of super quiet, air resistant functionality.YuneecYuneec is an Ontario based company that started as a manufacturer of remote-controlled aircraft and moved from there to the drone market.
FAQs
Do I need a high-end camera?Not really unless you plan to use it professionally to cover the cost that can reach thousands of dollars to get stable, watchable footage.What are the optional features I could use? This varies wildly from basic battery supplements, sophisticated remote equipment, highly specialized camera gear, and all manner of added value stuff. What you need to focus on is your budget versus your needs. Most folks will want the basic, everyday, inexpensive quadcopter to enjoy and mess around with. Tailoring your aim with your target is the paramount issue here. Don’t get distracted; just plot the parameters of your choice and go ahead.Are there any prerequisites for using drones?None whatsoever, except maybe for an open area of sky, care for fellow human beings and a happy heart.Can we take them on a plane?Well, it depends on the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) regulations on that, but batteries usually are an issue, take care if you pack it with your luggage to avoid breakage.Do I really need a complex, expensive hexacopter?No, you don’t, in fact, the simpler quadcopters can deliver most of what the hexacopter would except for the obvious high-end gear for professional use.Do I need to register the drone?FAA regulations mandate registering any drone heavier than 250 grams.Do I need to license a drone?If you’re using it for commercial use, the person supervising its flight needs to be licensed as per FAA regulations.
Conclusion
Now I for one think drones are awesome gadgets offering fun and entertainment suitable for kids, teenagers and adults alike. They can be used to collect scientific data, teasing a friend and for plain racing fun. The best pick might be the Yuneec Breeze for its value to money worth, stability, and all-around best features compared to drones twice its price. If this is out of your range, you might want to check out Eachine E010 which is super suitable for all beginners, children and even older children too. It’s inexpensive, does the job, entertains and is easily fixed as well.
There is no better or worse type here, and it’s a matter of what suits whom at what price, and whether it’s for recreational or professional purposes.
Finally, now that you have an overview of all things to consider when buying a drone go ahead and enjoy.
