TechCamerasAutel Evo Nano+ review: the best sub-250g camera drone money can buyThe titchy Autel Evo Nano Plus boasts obstacle avoidance and the best camera ever fitted to a sub-250g droneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 gramsReasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the marketWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechCamerasAutel Evo Nano+ review: the best sub-250g camera drone money can buyThe titchy Autel Evo Nano Plus boasts obstacle avoidance and the best camera ever fitted to a sub-250g droneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 gramsReasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the marketWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The titchy Autel Evo Nano Plus boasts obstacle avoidance and the best camera ever fitted to a sub-250g drone
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 gramsReasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the market
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 gramsReasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the market
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.
T3 Verdict
If you’re looking for a small, pocket-sized sub-250g drone that shoots phenomenal 4K video footage and aerial photos in practically any light, the Autel Evo Nano+ is the model for you. It’s the perfect drone for amateur film-makers and an absolute shoo-in for travelling. And you don’t need to leap through too many legal hoops to fly it.
Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 gramsReasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the market
Reasons to buy+Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor+Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting+Stunning 4K video+Huge 50MP stills+Three-way obstacle avoidance+Under 250 grams
Large 0.8-inch CMOS sensor
Amazing f1.9 aperture for low-light shooting
Stunning 4K video
Huge 50MP stills
Three-way obstacle avoidance
Under 250 grams
Reasons to avoid-Not the fastest top speed in wind-Not the cheapest small drone on the market
Not the fastest top speed in wind
Not the cheapest small drone on the market
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Autel Evo Nano+ deals
$549View$799ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$549View
$549View
$549View
$549
$549
$799View
$799View
$799View
$799
$799
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Welcome to T3’s review of the new Autel Evo Nano+ drone (or Autel Evo Nano Plus, if you prefer), the better-specced stablemate of the remarkable Nano that we’ve already taken a good hard look at in ourAutel Evo Nano drone review.
Actually, the Evo Nano+ is the exact same drone as the Evo Nano bar the camera, which is a different beast altogether. At a smidge under 250g, it can be flown on the CAA’s most basic and easily obtainable Open A1 and A3 Class license. It also comes with three-way obstacle avoidance and it can fly for up to 28 minutes on a single charge.
For size, weight and price, the standard Evo Nano blew this writer away with its smooth flight characteristics and unbelievable camera (you can see how it fares against two other drone titans in ourAutel Evo Nano vs DJI Mini 2 vs DJI Mavic Air 2three-way comparison). However, this – albeit more expensive – model is in another class when it comes to shooting aerial videography and photography. In fact, in the sub-250g category, this is thebest dronemoney can buy, as well as being one of thebest drones for beginners. Read on for my full Autel Evo Nano+ drone review.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: price, lineup and release date
The Autel Evo Nano+ was released in January 2022, alongside the standard Nano drone (which, as I said before, is the same drone but with a more basic camera than the Plus) and two other larger models: the Evo Lite and Evo Lite+. The Lite has the same-size camera sensor as the Evo Nano+, while the Evo Lite+ has an even bigger one-inch sensor (like the one you’ll find on theDJI Air 2S, T3’s current favourite drone overall). All four drones fold up for easy transport and storage.
For the standard package, the Evo Nano+ has a list price of GBP £799 / USD $949. The Premium bundle costs GBP £949 / USD $1,099.
If that’s too pricey, head to ourbest cheap dronesguide for some more wallet-friendly alternatives. Or, for more basic toy options, check out thebest kids dronesaround.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: design and features
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
The Evo Nano+ isn’t just light, it’s really small too. At 142×94×55mm when folded, it will easily fit into a jacket pocket and that makes it a shoo-in for all kinds of travel. In fact, the Premium Bundle we’re reviewing here includes a brilliant shoulder bag that you will hardly notice, even on a long trek.
One of the Evo Nano+’s key selling points is its ability to avoid obstacles below, fore and aft. This is a great feature to have if you’re flying in close proximity of trees and buildings. It’s also an excellent backup if flying near people – which legally you shouldn’t be doing.
The Evo Nano+’s Xbox-style controller is super comfy in the hands and easy to use(Image credit: Autel)
The Evo Nano+’s Xbox-style controller is super comfy in the hands and easy to use
The Evo Nano+’s Xbox-style controller is super comfy in the hands and easy to use
(Image credit: Autel)
The Autel Evo Nano+ comes with a superb Xbox One-style hand controller with built-in cradle for plugging in a mobile phone so you can view the scene from the drone’s camera along with a range of inflight stats. As to be expected, the controller comes with all the usual buttons, including return to home, image and video taking, and a phenomenally smooth gimbal controller.
The Autel Evo Nano+ is available in four colours – red, orange, grey and white. I would suggest going for the red or orange since both colours really stand out when the drone’s in the air.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: flight performance
The Autel Evo Nano+ handles amazingly well for such a small drone(Image credit: Autel)
The Autel Evo Nano+ handles amazingly well for such a small drone
The Autel Evo Nano+ handles amazingly well for such a small drone
(Image credit: Autel)
Before I get to flight performance, I should address an issue that has had some pedantic YouTubers in a bit of a tizz – namely speed performance and most notably the Evo Nano+’s ability to fly in strong winds. According to various tests, some critics have expressed dismay at how slow the Evo+ is in stronger winds, even in sport mode.
I can appreciate their concern to some degree because I know what it’s like getting a drone back in a headwind. But, come on, this titchy thing only weighs 249g – how could it possibly fly efficiently in a gale where tree branches are in full sway? If the wind is usually too strong in your area, perhaps consider buying a bigger drone like the incredibleDJI Air 2 S, the pro-specMavic 3or even the new Autel Evo Lite+, which I shall be reviewing next.
The upshot is that users need to weigh things up when choosing whether to fly. If it’s too windy I simply don’t fly. Like I wouldn’t fly a lightweight delta kite in a strong wind, a power kite in a light breeze or play tennis or drive an open-top sports car in the rain. If the weather’s rubbish, do something else instead. Thankfully, Autel has since provided new firmware updates for the Evo+ and most critics’ complaints appear to have now been addressed, including the top speed issue.
Now that I’ve got the wind-related bone of contention out of the way, what’s this drone’s control system like? In a word, amazing. For a drone of this size and weight, the Evo Nano+ is as smooth as smooth can be. The control stick resistance feels perfect and the power to stick-input ratio is as good as any DJI drone. In short, this bird is easy enough for your cat to fly.
The Autel Evo Nano+ features three main flight speeds: Smooth, Standard and Ludicrous. Smooth (11mph) is good for beginners in no wind and perfect for shooting really slow video footage. In Standard mode, the top speed is 22mph and in Ludicrous, it’s 33mph.
In terms of flight time, you can expect a very reasonable 28 minutes from a fully charged battery – more than enough time to shoot plenty of video and aerial stills.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: video transmission
(Image credit: Autel)
(Image credit: Autel)
Video transmission quality is another area where this drone excels. Unlike, say, the DJI Mini 2 which transmits visuals from the drone’s camera in 720p, this one is in 2.7K for up to 1km away and 1080p beyond that. You’ll come to appreciate this extra clarity when flying in areas with complex lighting and lots of obstacles. For those who are lucky enough to be able to fly to a distance beyond the line-of-sight rule, this little bird has a video transmission range of 10km (six miles), the same as the DJI Mini 2.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: camera performance
This is where the Evo Nano+ trounces not only the already impressive Evo Nano but also the cheaper DJI Mini 2, the larger, more expensiveDJI Air 2and, to some degree, DJI’s flagshipMavic 3.
Let’s take a look at the sensor first since that is the statistic that people look for first when choosing any camera, be it for land or air use. Unlike the Evo Nano which ships with an extremely efficient 1/2-inch CMOS sensor, the Nano+’s camera is equipped with a 0.8-inch CMOS sensor that’s capable of 50 megapixel images and a wide range of video resolutions, from pin-sharp 4K (3840x2160) at up to 30 frames per second all the way down to 1080p at up to 60fps.
But that’s just the half of it because unlike most drones on the market that are equipped with a fixed aperture of f.2.8, the Evo Nano+’s camera has an even wider fixed aperture of f1.9. In the pantheon of aperture range, f0.9 is a gigantic difference. A wider aperture not only lets in more light through the lens for night-time shooting, it also improves detail when shooting in high contrast areas where there are a lot of shadows. What’s more, the camera also uses a groundbreaking new RYYB colour filter that provides incredible noise reduction when shooting at night so that even the darkest objects that are near invisible to the naked eye can be clearly seen in full detail.
The Evo Nano+ features some groundbreaking camera tech, including a fixed aperture of f1.9(Image credit: Autel)
The Evo Nano+ features some groundbreaking camera tech, including a fixed aperture of f1.9
The Evo Nano+ features some groundbreaking camera tech, including a fixed aperture of f1.9
(Image credit: Autel)
As an aerial videography platform for amateurs and casual users, the Evo+ is pretty much matchless. Aside from the stunning camera and smooth flight controls, it’s the gimbal control wheel that equally impresses. Unlike some gimbal controllers I’ve used that are difficult to find the sweet spot between fast and slow, this one allows for precise camera positioning without any sudden changes in speed. Basically, the more pressure you apply to the wheel the faster the camera tilts. Believe me, I’ve screwed up numerous video shots because the gimbal has moved too quickly or not fast enough but I haven’t had one issue with this one. Well done Autel!
(Image credit: Autel)
(Image credit: Autel)
Autel Evo Nano+ review: firmware updates
Autel Evo Nano+ drone review: autel Sky app
The Autel Sky app (iOSandAndroid) provides info on GPS, current altitude, speed, etc, plus access to the camera settings and all flight parameters, including return to home altitude, maximum distance and gimbal control. While you can’t choose different colour settings like D-Log, the app does allow for some decent manual control, including ISO and shutter speed. You can also tap on the screen to adjust exposure and keep it locked so the brightness doesn’t change when you’re tracking or panning.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: what’s in the box?
The Premium Bundle comes with everything you need for travel and beyond(Image credit: Autel)
The Premium Bundle comes with everything you need for travel and beyond
The Premium Bundle comes with everything you need for travel and beyond
(Image credit: Autel)
The Autel Evo Nano+ is available in two configurations, the Standard Package with just the drone, controller, battery and charger (GBP £799 / USD $949) and the Premium Bundle (GBP £949 / USD $1,099). We would suggest going for the Premium Bundle because it includes two extra batteries, a multi charger, spare props and a fantastic shoulder bag to carry it all in.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: Freewell All Day Filter Kit accessory
(Image credit: Freewell)
(Image credit: Freewell)
One of the most important accessories you can buy for your Autel Evo Nano+ drone is a set of snap-on Neutral Density filters from Freewell. An ND filter is like putting a pair of sunglasses on the drone’s camera and it’s far and away the best method to introduce natural motion blur in your footage. Without one, something weird happens to video shot from a drone when it’s moving low and slow in bright sunlight and its camera is angled towards the ground. What you’ll see is an annoying stuttering effect across the frame that ruins what would otherwise be a cracking tracking shot or sideways pan. The problem is too fast a shutter speed and it’s an anomaly that affects every drone camera, especially when tracking or panning close to a subject below.
Freewell’s All Day Filter Kit isavailable to buy from Amazonfor £99.99 and it’s well worth the investment if you want to get the most out of the Evo Nano+’s sensational camera. The All Day kit includes six ND filters – ND 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 1,000 – so it’s all you need to create naturalistic motion-blurred footage in all types of light, from overcast to the brightest, sunniest day. An ND filter will also protect the lens’s front glass element from damage. The super-dark ND1,000 filter is designed for aerial photography purposes and is the filter to grab when shooting running water using a very slow shutter speed.
Freewell also produces aPolarizer Filter(£21) that gives blue sky a deep, rich hue that may otherwise look pale and overexposed. This filter will also reduce glare from reflective surfaces like snow and water.
Autel Evo Nano+ review: verdict
The Autel Evo Nano+ – small but perfectly formed(Image credit: Autel)
The Autel Evo Nano+ – small but perfectly formed
The Autel Evo Nano+ – small but perfectly formed
(Image credit: Autel)
While the Evo Nano+ is a lot more expensive to buy than the similarly-sized DJI Mini 2, its overall specification is much closer to that of the DJI Mavic Air 2 and, to some degree, the much more expensive DJI Air 2 S. For a small sub-250g drone that ships with three-way obstacle avoidance, a mini smorgasbord of autonomous flight modes and an absolutely stunning 4K camera, the Autel Evo Nano+ is nothing short of sensational.
Autel EVO Nano+: Price Comparison
3 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
3 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
$549ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$549View
$549View
$549View
$549
$549
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
Traeger’s new Woodridge pellet barbecues have got me excited for grilling seasonTraeger debuts three new wood pellet grills
Traeger debuts three new wood pellet grills
How to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and what to expectWe should get a deep dive and more details on the Switch 2 in April
We should get a deep dive and more details on the Switch 2 in April
