The Yuneec Typhoon H may finally hit the market. The long-awaited hexacopter drone was a darling of this past Consumer Electronics Show. Set for release in early April, Yuneec’s flagship was quietly postponed to mid-April, then late April, and now May 5.
There’s indication that the May 5 release could be for real. The Yuneec Typhoon H has been back on the news-wire, with its remote being featured on The Verge and the drone itself showing up at the Security and Counter-Terror eXpo (SCTX) in London. That appearance at SCTX hints that Yuneec International is looking to other targets beside the general consumer market.
And that isn’t a “unique” (see what we did there?) trend, either. 3D Robotics recently shifted–or expanded, depending on who you ask–focus from general consumers to industry with the Solo. But at least the 3DR Solo appeared on the market–the Typhoon H has been an absent figure almost a month after its promised launch.
That absence may have a lot to do with its modest specs. On one hand, the Yuneec Typhoon H camera shoots 12 MP photos and 4K UHD video. It also has retractable landing gear for uninterrupted 360-degree filming. On the other hand, the Typhoon H can fly at just 22 MPH max and has a mere 1-mile video transmission range. By comparison, the Phantom 4 hits 45 MPH and transmits to 3 miles—5 miles if you use a Phantom 4 Range Extender.
Then there’s the legal front. DJI sued Yuneec International for patent infringement in early April. That, along with the Phantom 4 debut in March, surely altered Yuneec International’s plans for US sale–the former suspending distribution, the latter forcing Yuneec to reconsider strategy.
The H is the fourth entry in the Yuneec Typhoon Series. The other Typhoons include the G, 4K, and Q500+ quadcopters. Yuneec also sells the pro-grade Tornado H920 hexacopter. Yuneec currently retails the Typhoon H for $1,300.
Does it stand a chance against DJI’s Gen 4 wunderkind? Check out our comparison page a judge for yourself.
