SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?)
The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 is a high-quality drone known for its durability and ease of use in, on, and around the water. It features several advanced features, such as automatic takeoff and landing, GPS tracking, and obstacle avoidance.
It has a 4K camera and can capture high-quality aerial footage and images. Because the drone can land and float on water, it is ideal for aquatic environments while providing enough weather and rain resistance.
Overall, we would rank this as a top drone and consider it worth the purchase. One issue we experienced was when the controller lost connection during a flight above the water in the ocean despite still being within the recommended 100-yard range.
This caused the drone to unexpectedly nose-dive into the ocean. Because of rough waves, we could not locate and recover the drone from the water. We also saw it take too much damage and sink after 30 minutes.
This is worth mentioning because it does provide water resistance, but after 30 minutes, it's likely to wear down too much. After ordering a replacement, we had no issues with the new model, but the software tends to be buggy.
It’s also recommended to avoid flying it over the ocean during rough tides. Any flight issues can lead to drone damage because it’s not really built to handle heavy waves and deep water exposure for too long.
SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Specifications & Features
Before deciding whether to purchase the SwellPro SplashDrone 4, it’s necessary to understand the key specifications and features it can offer. It’s ideal so we can ensure this drone will work for what we need.
This drone outperforms other models in various ways, including superior stability in windy conditions and increased safety due to its waterproof design. It also has a long flight time and is simple to control with an app or remote controller.
Below we have listed the key specs like flight time and flight speed, along with several key features worth noting. These should be considered and compared to other drones when buying.
IP67 Seawater-Proof Body
The IP67 body is tightly sealed and built with 100% waterproof components. Because of this design, customers can confidently expect up to 30 minutes of water resistance if the drone is submerged underwater.
These components include a waterproof set of motors, internal electronics, and a marine-grade ABS exterior construction. This design is also completely corrosion resistant, with an important waterproof air vent to maintain safe temperatures during use.
The design also includes an IP66 waterproof remote control. This controller is extremely durable and easy to use, so flying this drone is not an issue, and it won’t be damaged by water exposure.
Dynamic GPS Tracking
This drone has advanced features and capabilities to make it suitable for various applications such as aerial photography, videography, and more. One example of how this is possible is dynamic GPS tracking.
The constant GPS position tracking is done with the controller, so the pilot can always return the aircraft back to the pilot’s position. This can be done from a distance, making it much easier to fly with less experience.
Various Settings & Flight Modes
Between the two editions of this drone, various settings and flight modes depending on the situation. For example, the Fishing Edition model comes with a sonar fish-finding setting to detect fish at the bottom of the water.
For those using the Filming Edition, Boat Mode allows the drone to go underwater and sail on the water like a boat. There is an extension bar to capture footage underwater without damaging the drone too.
Another cool setting is Smooth+ Mode. This is a flight control option to help the pilot capture smooth and clear footage, which is unmatched compared to other competitor drone options.
High-End Camera Quality
The Filming Edition SplashDrone 4 is impressive, with high-end camera quality. It has a long-range, high-speed, and powerful camera system that can capture stunning aerial shots in any environment.
The 3-axis 4K camera is stable in the water despite the impact from waves or wind. It’s also capable of taking quality underwater shots with raw photo support and various packages of camera filters.
Floating Construction
This drone is lightweight with a floating construction. It’s possible to land this drone on water and take flight from the water’s surface, but we learned it’s more difficult to accomplish in rough ocean waters.
The usual drone requires added accessories like inflatable rescue jackets to get this same floating feature. But there is no need for that when using the SplashDrone 4, and it can land or take off using the water as its platform.
Advantages of SwellPro SplashDrone 4
The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 is a revolutionary drone that provides unparalleled convenience and performance. Below are some of the most notable advantages worth considering.
Solid Wind & Water Resistance
The SplashDrone 4 is fully waterproof and can be used to fly over water or in rainy conditions. But besides the water resistance, it also has enough strength to fly during windy conditions.
The level 7 wind resistance is strong, holding up in winds of up to 31 MPH. The drone also has a long flight time of up to 30 minutes. This allows the drone to cover a large area and capture plenty of footage.
Multi-Use Design
The SplashDrone 4 has a 4K camera and a 3-axis gimbal, allowing it to take high-quality video and photos. It can also be used with various payloads, such as a fishing line release system and a rescue flotation device.
We love this drone because of the various designs available too. SwellPro has created a filming and fishing edition, so there is a perfect drone design depending on the intended use case.
High-Strength Power System & Propellers
Another amazing advantage to using the SplashDrone 4 is the high-strength power system and carbon fiber propellers. They are strong enough to allow the drone to land and take off right from the water’s surface.
This drone is simple to fly and comes with various features, such as GPS, altitude hold, and a return-to-home function, to make it suitable for pilots of all skill levels.
Above Average Payload Functionality
With its powerful brushless motors and cutting-edge flight control technology, the SplashDrone 4 can reach incredible heights while remaining smooth and stable in flight. This also includes a strong payload capacity.
This is most notable in the Fishing Edition because the payload release module allows the drone to drop fishing baits with precision. Both of the SplashDrone 4 editions have a 4.5-5.0 pound payload capacity, ranking above average in the industry.
Disadvantages of SwellPro SplashDrone 4
The waterproof SwellPro SplashDrone 4 is intended for aerial photography and videography. However, the drawbacks to this drone should be considered before making a purchase.
Limited Waterproof Capability
This drone is commonly considered because it’s advertised as waterproof but has limited waterproof capability. After about 30 minutes of continued water exposure, it will sink.
As we mentioned, we saw our drone crash into the water, and we could not retrieve it within 30 minutes. We did speak with SwellPro, and they confirmed this theory, so limiting moisture exposure is key.
Buggy Software
Another disadvantage to using this drone is the issue with the controller and software. The connection sometimes tends to lag, and the software needs to be fixed after extended use or when there is a poor connection.
This presents a risk because it can hinder flight control, leaving us helpless if the drone is up in the air when the software starts acting up. With a few software updates, this could become a much more reliable drone and provide better flight control capabilities.
SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Fishing Edition Vs. Filming Edition
The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 is available in two distinct editions - the Fishing Edition and Filming Edition. Both of these editions are designed to meet the needs of different users.
Fishing Edition
The Fishing Edition is made for anglers who need a reliable drone to help them scout for fish, bait, or retrieve their catches. The key difference with this drone is the presence of the PL1-S bait release feature.
It also has slightly better wind resistance up to 38 MPH with sonar and HD video streaming. The drone's design is tailored for lifting fishing baits and includes a 3.1-mile casting range.
The bait release is remote-controlled, so this is a cool wait to try fishing with excellent video equipment, complete flight control, and water resistance.
Filming Edition
On the other hand, the Filming Edition is better for filmmakers or those simply looking for a drone capable of capturing high-quality aerial footage. It has a better camera and less complex features, with a complete focus on filming.
It also includes a cool setting known as Boat Mode, which allows the drone to go underwater to get footage. The return to pilot, dynamic GPS is also helpful, but users should know it’s not as strong with less wind resistance.
How Much Does The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Cost?
There are two types of the SwellPro SplashDrone 4, so we can take a look at each one to find out the cost. This includes the Fishing Edition and Filming Edition.
The Filming Edition drone costs $2,498.00 and includes various accessories, which could cause the price to increase even more. There are options to add extra batteries to increase flight time or extra propellers.
This version is the most expensive option because of the advanced filming features and high-quality lenses and cameras. The Fishing Edition is cheaper, despite the increased payload capacity and flight stability.
The Fishing Edition prices start at $1,868.00. The price can increase with a waterproof camera add-on, extra propellers, and extra batteries too.
Can The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Go Underwater?
Yes, the SwellPro SplashDone 4 is built for water use and can go underwater. It has a waterproof design but cannot withstand excessive exposure to heavy waves or deep underwater submersion.
It’s most commonly used above, on, and in water for filming and fishing reasons. It has a waterproof camera and solid weight capacity, so it has excellent flight capabilities and takes high-quality images and videos.
However, it’s best to avoid dunking this drone in water at all costs. It holds up well against the rain, mist, and saltwater splashing, but dunking it deep underwater can permanently damage its camera and flight abilities.
It has an integrated camera that can capture stunning footage both above and below the water. It also has various accessories and settings like Boat Mode to help capture better underwater footage.
Our experience also taught us the drone could only handle about 30 minutes of water exposure. After 30 minutes, the waterproof ability significantly declines. The manufacturer also recommends this.
How Long Can The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Fly?
The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 has a flight time of 30 minutes on a single battery charge. It uses a slide-in intelligent battery, allowing for increased flight times and more consistent speeds than previous models.
Assuming the drone is flying in stable conditions with low winds, it can maintain this charge long enough to fly up to 3.1 miles before it will need recharging. It can fly farther depending on the speed it flies too.
However, we don’t recommend pushing it because if the battery were to die, it would lose connection and fall out of the sky. This could result in serious damage to the exterior of the drone.
Be sure to keep it within range too. When it flies out of range, the connection weakens and could result in a loss of control and an unexpected crash.
How High Can The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Fly?
The SwellPro SplashDrone 4 is a sophisticated drone that allows users to capture high-quality aerial footage and photos. It also has excellent payload support for fishing.
The SplashDrone 4 can reach heights of up to 400 feet thanks to its sturdy design and powerful motor. Users can capture stunning images from various angles and perspectives as a result of this.
Any higher than 400 feet and the drone will struggle with the altitude, the software will lose connection, and maintaining flight control becomes an issue. This can lead to drone damage and a crash possibility.
Its advanced waterproof design allows it to take off from and land on water surfaces. It’s hard to find a drone with this many features for such a solid price.
There is also an integrated GPS system for precise navigation and a failsafe system that will automatically return the drone to its launch point in the event of an emergency. When it flies too high, however, this is not the case.
