Every are back again in a big way with their brand new smart controller. Today I am discussing the Aeroo Pro alongside this brand new smart controller, how it works, what my experiences have been like, and whether this is worth the upgrade. All of my thoughts expressed throughout this review are entirely my own.
Table of Contents
Build Quality of the Smart Controller
Immediately, the first thing I noticed when I picked up the smart controller is just how well it is built. It feels sturdy, it has a nice amount of weight to it, ergonomics are on point, and everything just feels great.
I am really impressed with the build quality. The screen is great as well, the responsiveness of it, the brightness of it, all of which I will get into shortly. But just the overall feel and build of it are genuinely impressive.
A couple of comments I did want to make relate to the antennas. They feel great overall, but they do feel like the cheapest part of the controller. I just wish they felt a little bit more premium. There is something slightly off about them. They feel a little too flimsy or plasticky for my liking. That said, the build quality overall on the controller still feels really nice.
The sticks themselves are detachable and you can store them in the back of the controller. For me personally, I have left the sticks on at all times. The way it is set up in the bag, you can leave the controller like that and it sits perfectly in its position, which is a thoughtful design touch.
Flight Experience and Handling
The big thing I wanted to comment on, which is not necessarily specific to this controller but more to do with the way Aeroo has programmed the flight experience, is that it takes a little bit of getting used to in order to get those smoother movements with the drone.
Even a slight stick movement can result in a jagged turn or a slightly awkward transition. I did eventually get used to it and got into the flow, but that initial movement when you are trying to get a smooth shot feels almost jagged before it settles.
I realize the Aeroo Pro is not hugely designed for the cinematic video and photo world. It is definitely more focused on its wind rating and payload capacity. That said, this is something worth mentioning because it did take me some time to adjust to, even with the previous controller.
I believe it is simply the way the drone is programmed rather than a controller-specific issue. For most people, though, it will likely be perfectly fine. If you are using it primarily as a fishing drone, you are probably not even going to notice or care.
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Camera Quality
On the topic of camera performance, I did test the Aeroo Pro further and my thoughts remain similar to my initial impressions. The camera quality is not its strongest point, and it is clearly not designed to be a camera drone. The video looks fine and is usable if you simply want a visual overview of an area.
You do have a fair amount of control to customize the image through the app, which is quite nice. However, I found that the image was either too yellow or just not entirely there in terms of quality. Again, this is not a cinematic drone, so managing expectations here is important.
Where the Aeroo Pro Truly Excels
Where the Aeroo Pro really shines is in its payload rating and wind resistance. I flew it in extremely windy conditions and had absolutely no issues. It commands the sky confidently and the performance was impressive throughout. Testing the payload release with this new smart controller was genuinely a fun experience. I dropped a pet toy and a shoe during testing and it felt very natural from the controller.
I also love that you can save a drop location to replicate it each time. For fishing use cases, being able to return to the exact same drop point every single time is a fantastic feature. It felt very authentic and natural on this controller with no issues in functionality or operation.
Screen Performance
Moving on to the screen, I was very impressed with the peak brightness. At 2,000 nits, it is genuinely outstanding. I tested it at its lowest brightness setting and it was still perfectly usable in direct sunlight.
Bumping it up to peak brightness in direct sunlight, I found there was not a huge amount of glare and I barely had to adjust my position at all. That 2,000 nit peak brightness is a strong standard in the market and in real-world conditions, it delivered.
Startup Time and Workflow
Startup time was something I paid close attention to, and for the most part, I was getting everything connected within about the one-minute mark. That includes satellite connection, controller and drone pairing, all of it. That is very impressive, especially in the context of how this drone is most likely going to be used.
If you are heading to a fishing spot, launching the drone, dropping your bait, bringing the drone back, and then powering everything down, you want that fast turnaround when you are ready to go again. Knowing you can get everything powered and ready within a minute gives great peace of mind and supports a fast, efficient workflow.
Battery Life
Aeroo claims up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge, and based on my experience, that seems very accurate. Across all of my tests, which I estimate to be around 4 hours of use, I never once had to charge the controller.
It still had a decent amount of charge remaining. Battery life on this smart controller is genuinely impressive and stands up well against the claim.
Ports, Storage, and Connectivity
At the bottom of the controller, there is a full-size HDMI port, a micro SD slot, and a USB-C port for charging. The full-size HDMI is a great inclusion and really adds to the versatility of the controller. The micro SD slot allows you to save footage directly to the controller and play it back, which is a smart feature in theory.
During my tests, I did run into some issues accessing video playback through the app, though I believe this is likely a software update or a bug specific to the unit I was using rather than a widespread problem. I was able to demonstrate micro SD playback using some Splatoon gameplay footage directly from the card, so that functionality does work as intended.
Operating System and Software Experience
In terms of the operating system, it appears to be running some form of an Android hybrid. It runs fine, launches the Aeroo app immediately, and includes basic settings along with a file management system through the storage options. You can play back videos and photos without any trouble.
Outside of that core experience, you cannot seem to download additional apps, and there is no internet browser accessible that I could find. The experience at its core, however, feels natural and easy to use.
When you drag down from the top to bring up the quick menu, it is fairly basic. It would be nice to see a screen record option or a screenshot shortcut in that panel.
The screenshot option is available when you swipe up into multitasking mode, which is a little counterintuitive, but it is there. The touchscreen itself is extremely responsive and navigating the interface is smooth and effortless throughout.
Is the Aeroo Pro Smart Controller Worth It?
This smart controller from Aeroo is genuinely hassle-free. You do not have to worry about cables or your phone. Everything is ready to go within a minute, the 2,000 nit peak brightness screen is excellent, the interface is responsive, and the core experience is solid across the board.
The small areas I mentioned, such as the antenna feel, the minor software quirks, and the learning curve with flight movements, are all things that can be addressed or adjusted to over time. The core experience is 100% there and I have really enjoyed using this smart controller. Aeroo has done a really great job here.
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