U45 Blue Jay Short Review

The U45 Blue Jay drone is a beginner friendly drone that comes with a lot of features that provide a lot of fun for all level of drone flyers. It comes with a 720p HD camera with FPV capability and can take 2 megapixel still images. The drone can also be paired up with compatible VR headsets for a more immersive flying experience. You can also draw custom routes on the mobile app and the drone will fly along the route unassisted. Other features include one-touch take off and landing as well as 360º flips. This is a fantastic drone for beginners.

Key Features

  • 720p Camera
  • 360 Flips
  • One-Button Take-Off
  • Compatible with VR Headsets
  • 6 Axis-Gyroscope for better flight stability
  • 9 minutes flight time

Welcome to another drone review, today I will be reviewing the U45 Blue Jay drone.

The U45 Blue Jay Drone is an ultra-newbie-friendly drone that combines ease of use and great looks with premium features like an HD camera with VR capabilities. It also comes with some cool features like one-button takeoff and landing and even allows you to create your own custom route for the drone to fly along.

This is a good drone that is cheap and suitable for beginners, however, even though it is a toy grade drone, you may still need to register it if you live in the UK. Please check what the rules and regulations are by visiting the CAA website. 

Since the drone weighs less than 250g, you will not need to register the drone if you live in the USA, still, I advise you to regularly check what the rules and regulations are wherever you live and comply with the law.

U45 Blue Jay Drone Review

U45 Blue Jay Drone Review

The U45 Blue Jay’s sleek and sporty appearance is easy on the eyes at first sight. The drone itself looks sturdy and feels sturdy, but it’s surprisingly lightweight. Being lightweight is a good thing in a drone, because it increases flight time by requiring less energy to fly.

One thing that sets the Blue Jay apart from competitors is the fact that it synchs with your smartphone and is compatible with a few VR headsets, allowing you to get a live 360-degree view of what the drone sees—this is the first-person-view (FPV) feature.

I was surprised that a drone that is relatively inexpensive came with VR capabilities. However, even though it may not provide the experience that the more expensive VR drones give, the fact that you can synch a VR headset is worth the money alone.

The onboard 720p HD camera can record video and take pics and store them to a 4GB MicroSD card(Which is included with the drone). This great for those looking to take aerial photography but do not want to dish out on

Plus, since it’s FPV, you can easier get the shots you envision and make your artistic dreams come alive. I know that sounds corny, but it’s really true—it’s a great way to make videos. It’s as simple as that.

Altitude hold allows the drone to hover. You can get some great shots that simply wouldn’t have been possible without this feature, so it’s a definite winner. Better still, it’s a one-key feature.

Headless mode (also known as Intelligent Orientation Control or IOC) is another one-key feature that promotes ease of use. I personally prefer this flight mode because it just feels more natural: forward is forward, backward is backward. This makes it easier (and more fun) to do all of those cool-looking tricks like rolls and flips.

The drone having a headless mode makes it great drone for beginners.

The custom route feature is, hands down, one of the best on the U45 Blue Jay. You simply trace the route you want it to take on your smartphone screen and the Blue Jay will fly it. It makes you feel like a wizard or something and is another tool that promotes immersion.

The Blue Jay comes with two batteries and a power bank. I’m a big fan of this, because as I have stated in my other reviews, you will need to purchase extra batteries because drone flight times for these types drones are just not enough.

U45 Blue Jay Drone Features

FPV drone

The U45 Blue Jay is a first-person-view (FPV) drone, which provides for a far better flying experience. The FPV capability is experienced through your smartphone which is held in place by a holder on your controller.

Altitude hold-capable

The Blue Jay is capable of altitude hold, which means with the press of a button that it can hold its altitude, hovering in place, while you get the pictures and video you need to make your creative vision come to life. It also allows you to get a closer look at things when using the drone to explore new places.

Headless mode

Headless mode (aka Intelligent Orientation Control or IOC) is a feature that lets you control the drone more easily so that its orientation is based on your orientation. That means when you press forward, the drone goes forward based on where forward is to you. This is a perfect tool for beginners, because it allows for a more natural feeling of control. Headless mode can be activated with the press of a button.

Custom routes

Custom routes are a big feature that sets the U45 Blue Jay drone apart from its competitors. If you’re using your smartphone as a view screen docked onto the drone’s remote control, you can trace your desired flightpath on the smartphone screen and the Blue Jay will fly it. In other words, it is very similar to the tap fly mode you find on many DJI drones (although obviously not as advanced)

HD camera

The 720p HD camera on the U45 Blue Jay allows for crystal clear pictures and video and pairs perfectly with the altitude hold feature for quality shots and video footage. Additionally, it’s VR-capable, so when you synch your compatible VR headset with the drone controller, you can create a truly custom 360-view—all in rich HD resolution.

Like I said in the beginning, you really do get some awesome features at a decent price.

Flight time and range

Like most other toy drones it doesn’t have a long flight time, you can get around 8 minutes but the good thing is, it comes with extra batteries, so you will not need to wait around for one to charge to start flying again.

Its range on a good day is around 100m, if the weather isn’t that clear, the range will be decreased.

I would advise against flying any type of toy drone in rough weather.

Conclusion

This drone is one of the best toy grade drones I have reviewed and if you are a beginner and looking to purchase your first drone, this will be a great choice.

Not only is it good for beginners but it will also make a great drone for kids, it’s one-touch acrobatic manoeuvres and FPV capability means there is something for everyone with this drone.

Some of the features within the U45 Blue Jay drone are features you would expect to see in more expensive drones. Like for instance, it can be paired with a compatible VR headset.

When you add custom flight paths to the mix—drawn by your hand on your screen—the result is a drone that provides for a fun experience. Plus it is durable and its design and material make-up means it will not break up easily. It’s definitely a drone to check out whether you’re a novice or an experienced pilot—I recommend it. 

If you want other options, click on the button below for the best drones for beginners.