The Wizard X220 from Eachine is one of the designs that best suit a beginner but has the potential to be improved as your skills grow.
The quad is delivered in two main modes: as a PNP (you need to put your receiver on) and as an RTF quad, depending on where you buy it from. Now, if you’re truly a beginner, we recommend the RTF mode, since it comes with all the necessary elements for flying.
Overall, the construction of the Wizard is very similar to the Lumenier QAV-R series. The way the quad’s arms are mounted, the top and bottom plates, and the camera pod are mostly the same. However, the Eachine drone has protective side plates that keep the internals safe in case of a crush. Of course, this also means you’ll have to remove the side plates whenever you want to upgrade or replace a piece.
Still, I think it’s worth having them, especially if you’re just starting in the world of drone racing. The frame also features a side wall that protects the camera and allows you to mount it in three different positions. This is a nice feature, since the camera has a lot of up-tilt, and it may get outside of the frame.
Tech Specs
The main aspects that stand out with the Eachine Wizard X220 are the frame and the lightweight design (535g at takeoff) that promises fast speeds and easy handling. But let’s go through the technical aspects that work to deliver this result.
Design and Durability
The carbon fiber X frame is quite simple in construction featuring sturdy arms bolted in X and top and bottom plates that allow plenty of room for new elements. I already mentioned the side plates, but these can be removed if you don’t fancy their overall aspect and purpose.
Eachine decided to use this type of frame in order to reduce the overall weight of the quad and improve weight distribution for smoother flight performance.
Overall, the X220 is quite durable, but this also depends on your flight skills. Keep in mind that, even though the frame is designed to behave well on a crush, the propellers will most likely get damaged. You also run the risk of damaging the motors, since they feature an open design.
Power
The quad is powered by MN2205 2300KV brushless motors, which in combination with the 20A BLHELI_S ESCs and 3-bladed propellers, make the X220 a fast and nimble flying machine. Each motor has the max thrust of 780g and supports 2-4S batteries. So, if you want more power, my recommendation is to upgrade to a 4S battery for more speed and agility in flight.
Quick note: While some pilots may not be happy with the 3-blade props, they provide better acceleration and a strong lift, even when the weather is not ideal for flying. Furthermore, many pilots have reported that the 3-blade props improve drone stability in flight, leading to less shaky video feeds.
Still, at the end of the day, it’s more a matter of preference, so if you feel happier with 2-blade props, you should get them.
Camera
The 700TVL camera has a wide field of vision, which allows the pilot to see the path even during tight maneuvers and provides acceptable quality in low light conditions.
As I already mentioned, the camera has a lot of up-tilt, which is possible due to an adjustable angle mount. Moreover, you can mount a different camera, such as a GoPro, but keep in mind that this would increase the overall weight of the quad.
I also like that the video transmitter and the antenna are connected, which increases the safety of the device in case of a crush.
Flight Performance
The Wizard X220 can fly for up to 12 minutes, it has a 220mm wheelbase, and has a range of 500m. Overall, the quad is fast and can be easily maneuvered even by a beginner. The drone is capable of changing direction quickly without losing balance (the pitch angle is pretty high), it is self-leveling, and the yaw rate is very good. It hovers nicely and it handles wind rather well.
Since it doesn’t have GPS navigation and there’s no video feed, Eachine fitted the drone with four LED lights that indicate direction. This is necessary because, with the X frame, it’s difficult to tell the front from the back when flying without goggles (goggles must be purchased separately).
The lights are placed below each motor (one for each) and you have green for the right side and red for the left side. However, if this is confusing, you can switch them, and have green for the front motors and red for the rear ones.
Controls
The drone features a 5.8G 200mw 40ch transmitter, paired with an F3 6DOF flight controller, and a FlySky I6 2.4G 6CH remote control. The remote is easy to pair with the drone and supports Unique ID feature to avoid any signal interference when you’re in a race. With this feature, the receiver only responds to your controller’s unique ID after you paired them for the first time.
The control fits well into your hands but it’s lightweight (which is nice when you’re in a race). It operates at 2.4GHz frequency range and a multi-direction antenna, using 6 channels. I like the fact that it was designed to use minimal power, which prevents you from losing control mid-race.
Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable with the included remote control (only for the RTF version) you can always pair it with other compatible models.
Why Should you Choose the Eachine Wizard X220?
If you’re looking for a fancy racing drone, with GPS navigation, telemetry, and HD video transmissions, the Eachine Wizard X220 may not be the right choice for you.
However, if you’re looking for an entry-level racing quad that’s easy to control and fun to fly, this is a great choice! The good news is that Eachine left a lot of room for customization, so you can easily improve the initial design.
For instance, the fact that it doesn’t have an active way to monitor the battery voltage can be solved by adding a battery alarm that goes off when you’re about to lose power. This feature will come in handy during racing competitions, and it is more than necessary if you add weight to the drone.
Users also have the opportunity to add a different camera, install a more powerful battery, change the props, antenna, motors, and more. Overall, this is an affordable platform that can become quite the racing beast with the right components.