Ruko F11GIM2 Drones with Gimbal+EIS 4K Camera for Adults, 96 Min Long Flight Time16404ft Long Range FPV, Auto Return Home with GPS, Foldable Quadcopter, FAA Remote ID Compliant

I’ve had the Ruko F11GIM2 drone for a few weeks now, and I can confidently say this quadcopter exceeds expectations—especially considering its price point. Whether you’re just starting out with drone flying or you’re an experienced pilot looking for a reliable and feature-rich drone without spending thousands, this model delivers serious value.Camera Quality: Crisp 4K with StabilizationThe 4K camera, combined with a 2-axis gimbal and EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), provides incredibly smooth and clear footage. I’ve flown it during both sunrise and midday, and the clarity of both photos and videos is impressive. It captures vibrant colors and fine details, perfect for scenic shots, real estate marketing, or even travel vlogs. You can tell the stabilization system is working hard—no noticeable jitter, even when maneuvering in breezy conditions.Flight Time: Impressive EnduranceThis drone comes with two batteries, offering a combined flight time of up to 64 minutes (32 minutes per battery), which is outstanding for drones in this class. This extended flight time gives you plenty of time to get your shots, practice flying, or just enjoy the experience without constantly worrying about battery life.Flight Performance & ControlThe drone feels solid and responsive in the air. It handles level 6 winds remarkably well, which is a big plus if you’re flying near the coast or in open areas. The GPS and altitude hold make hovering ultra-steady—even hands-free. Return-to-home (RTH) functionality is reliable and accurate, adding a layer of security when the battery runs low or the signal is lost.Transmission RangeWith a digital video transmission range of up to 16,404 feet (5 km), the real-time feed remains stable and clear even at longer distances. I was skeptical of this claim at first, but during my tests, I managed to fly the drone over a wide open field, and the live video remained smooth with very little lag.Ease of UseSetup was straightforward, and the controller feels ergonomic with intuitive button placement. The app is user-friendly and allows for quick access to camera settings, flight modes, and map tracking. Intelligent features like follow me, waypoint flight, and circle fly work well and add creative flexibility for filming.Build Quality & DesignThis drone has a professional-grade look and feel. It’s made from durable materials and feels sturdy in the hand. The carrying case is also a nice touch—compact and protective for travel. The folding design makes it easy to transport, and the included spare props and tools are thoughtful additions.⸻Pros:• High-quality 4K camera with EIS and gimbal stabilization• Long 64-minute flight time (2 batteries)• Strong wind resistance (Level 6)• GPS auto-return and intelligent flight modes• Extended video transmission range• Durable and sleek design with carrying caseCons:• Charging both batteries takes some time (recommend getting a dual charger)• No obstacle avoidance (not expected at this price, but worth noting for beginners)⸻Final Verdict:The Ruko F11GIM2 punches far above its weight in features, flight stability, and video quality. For under $500, it competes with drones twice the price. Whether you’re shooting content, scouting land, or flying for fun, this drone offers professional-level results in an approachable, well-built package. Highly recommended for hobbyists, content creators, and even semi-professional use.

UPDATE: I wanted to amend my review as my drone unfortunately developed a camera issue where it failed to focus correctly. I reached out to Ruko technical support to see if there was any fix that I could perform. I followed steps they asked me to complete, sent them some sample photos, and when we couldn't find a way to remedy it they immediately informed me they were sending me a warranty replacement. I don't normally write in call caps, but TOP NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE! I was already very happy with my experience purchasing from Ruko but this really was above and beyond.PREFACE: If you are purchasing this in the USA keep in mind that you will need to register this drone with the FAA as well as complete TRUST training before you can legally fly it recreationally (as it weighs more that 250 grams). Registration costs 5 dollars and is good for 3 years. TRUST training is free. There are more rules and regs, but this info will get your foot in the door and you will pick it up as you go!ACTUAL REVIEW:I am not an experienced drone pilot. I've flown quad copters before but most of these were smaller ones that bordered on the concept of being considered a toy. This is the first drone I've picked up that felt 'professional'. While you could easily spend 5-10x the amount on a drone as you would on this one I feel this is a solid contender for someone's first mid-tier drone. I'm not going to ramble on about specs and flight time as that has been done ad nauseam. I'd rather talk about my specific thoughts about the pros and cons of this unit.PROS:1. The GPS system is a lifesaver for a new drone pilot. What better way to fly a drone as a newbie than to, in essence, allow the drone to fly itself? Thanks to GPS tracking (along with all of the other sensors) you can set your drone to a specific heigh and location and set your controller down without worrying about it drifting. The drone will self-correct and stay put regardless of wind conditions. Stick inputs are interpreted and executed just as you would expect and you never have to worry about manually correcting for wind shifts or gusts or anything like that. You do, however, have to worry about objects such as trees and wires, but since wind isn't a concern you can focus all of your attention on that. I actually took this drone out into 10 mph winds today with gusts up to 20mph and it performed admirably which gave me a lot of confidence in this drone.2. The remote distance is unreal. I live in a densely populated neighborhood with literally hundreds of wifi routers and still never had an issue with controlling the drone. The furthest I could fly it was about .7 kilometers (due to line of sight requirements) and still had full signal strength to the drone. Even if I didn't, though, I wouldn't have to worry too much because any loss of signal and the drone would return to home.3. The app allows you to limit range of the drone. While experienced pilots most likely don't care about this, it is huge for a beginner as you build confidence in your flying abilities. You can limit it to specific vertical/horizontal distances and should you accidentally send your drone flying in a direction you didn't mean it to go, it will stop itself once it hits the invisible boundary you set. Again, great confidence builder.4. It's fairly zippy. Once you drop it into sports mode it will fly almost 27 mph. Not going to set any drone speed records but that is acceptably fast considering you won't be losing altitude.CONS:(These cons are all going to be nitpicky as I really like this drone and believe it does exactly what it was meant to do, but I feel people shouldn't have misconceptions)1. There is a bit of lag between stick input and actual video of drone movement. This isn't surprising as you have to send the command over wifi, the drone has to interpret and execute the command, then the video data has to be sent back to your phone. This creates a bit of lag which makes precise maneuvering a challenge. If you are expecting video-game-like response times you will be disappointed, but this type of lag is not unexpected.2. The gimbaled camera feels extraordinarily fragile. It works fantastically but I feel nervous even taking the camera cover off and on. That said, this isn't a toy and you also aren't spending 1500 dollars on it so you are riding a fine line of 'works great but isn't expensive to implement'. It is what you should expect on something at this price point and I have no real complaints about it.3. If you want to start taking pictures for your youtube channel, or your church, or maybe make some money taking videos of events or weddings, this is not something you can immediately do. You actually need to pay 175 dollars to take a test to get your Part 107 license before you can do anything other than fly recreationally. This really isn't any con of the drone, but rather just something I wish I knew beforehand.FINAL WORD:Is this an acrobatic drone that you're going to take out to fly stunt maneuvers or weave in and out of obstacles? Definitely not. Is it a drone that is solid, stable, easy to fly and takes some great photos and video? Yes it is.This drone is an amazing value if you are thinking about getting into aerial photography. It definitely checks all of the boxes of features I'd like to see. There are a few weaknesses as I stated earlier (camera feels fragile. No FAA remote ID compliance for certain situations). but if you want those specific things improved upon you can always spend 5 times as much on something else. This drone, however, is nailing it for this segment of the market and if (for some reason) I find I need a second photography drone I will be purchasing a second f11gim2 from Ruko.