Sharper Image - Drone For Kids with LED Lights - Drone Toy, Flying Toys, Cool Gadgets, Drones for Kids, Girls and Boys Toys, Christmas Gifts for Kids, Remote Control Toy - 5 inches Mini Drone

This is my first drone ever, so I was quite nervous to attempt to fly this thing as drones are really complicated to fly. But I couldn't have been more wrong! They make flying this drone so easy, and rightfully so, as it's for children. This drone is small enough and light enough that you do not need any certification to fly it, so you can freely use this in your back garden/parks etc. This drone has a lot of features which are super useful for first-time flyers such as the gyro stabilisation and auto orientation; these features alone make flying this drone a lot easier. The assisted landing is also a nice touch but I still struggled landing with that, but that's just something I will get used to the more I use it. The drone has quite a good range, but not enough that I'd be comfortable flying it anywhere outside of my garden. The battery doesn't last very long at all, I think just about 30 minutes or so from my testing. This drone is SUPER fun though, and I have genuinely enjoyed flying it and get more confident using it every time. The lights are a nice addition too, it would make a perfect gift for a young kid or any first time flyers.

Don't do what I did, don't cut the 'Test me' lead', pull the whole cable out of the drone before usingI made the mistake of thinking that the lead of the Sharper Image Glow Stunt Drone which is attached to the button to test the lights when boxed was actually tying the drone to the well-presented packaging so cut it. I wish I hadn't, I then tried to cut it as if it's a lead, not packaging. Clip it out of the drone and don't do what I did and compound the mistake by trying to cut the wire further, thinking that's where you plug in the cable - that whole section needs pulling out and it's not easy to do especially if, like me, you got it wrong and end up with just the port top of the test cable sticking out of the port which you need to charge the drone. It's not easy.To switch it on, there's a small black button on the top of the drone which is both hard to see and even harder to switch off once the blades are turning – I caught my finger a few times trying to switch it off.The instruction manual isn't as helpful as I'd have liked, especially when it comes to remove the test cable, I had to look it up on YouTube.The remote control is good, it needs a small Phillips screw to undo it and the screw stayed in, I had to release the catch on the other side of the battery lid, then add 3 x AAA batteries (not included).Pairing took a couple of goes but the manual is clear what to do, including if it doesn't work first time – switch on the drone first, then the remote, then press the left joystick of the controller up and down – and repeat again if necessary, which it was. The remote control is very clearly marked.The green lights are at the front, blue at the back and there are light effects, including slow fade and you can also switch the lights off completely, as well as different effects such as pulsing, waves and flashing.I haven't laughed this much for ages. My attempt to test it indoors ended up in it crashing into bottles and then hitting the floor. Outside, it got stuck in a rose tree, then caught up in bushes and had to be rescued. This will take plenty of practise but I love the bright green and blue lights which help you to find it. The blades stop spinning when it crashes, then you can switch if off easily with no risk to fingers. It does come with a spare set of all 4 blades.It's very, very light so don't use it on a windy day. And keep it above dog height, great for chasing – and catching... My dog barked at it, he wasn't a fan. It has three different speeds and the flipping adds a new dimension to play. You can also click buttons for landing and take off, you don't just have to use the joysticks. There's also an emergency stop button.The drone's huge fun, it even flips and whirrs at it flies but it's advertised as a camera drone and I couldn't see a camera on the drone itself, instructions to use one on the remote control or in the manual itself – or a video I watched in case I missed anything.I actually ordered it to find things in my garden using a camera but it doesn't have that facility, despite being sold as such. As a drone to fly and play, it's great but, for my purposes, it's not as described on the sales page and, together with the annoying whirring, I've scored it accordingly - but a great Christmas present for someone who just wants to fly a cool-looking object, especially at night, 3*