Pros & Cons
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- Stable flight platform.
- Reasonable base price.
- Very capable when combined with add-on accessories.
- Allows you to choose your own video camera.
- Gimbal tilt control on remote.
- Useful Return-to-Launch function.
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- Camera gimbal and first-person view are pricey add-ons.
- Takes a few seconds to cut motor power.
- Remote control can be intimidating.
- Limited flight time.
3D Robotics Iris+ Specs
| Dimensions | 8 by 21.7 by 21.7 inches |
| Integrated Camera | Gimbal Mount for Removable Camera |
| Live Video Feed | 0 |
| Remote | Dedicated with App |
| Rotors | 4 |
Everything about the 3D Robotics Iris+ ($750) is intimidating. Its large footprint, angular lines, and humongous remote control take part of the blame, but a design that makes you disconnect a power cord running to the battery to turn the drone off certainly doesn't help. The Iris+ is ready to fly out of the box, but if you want to record video while in flight you'll need to invest in a gimbal ($210) and a GoPro Hero3+ ($300)—and if you want to see what's being recorded while the drone is in the air, a first-person view (FPV) kit is another $350. That puts the price over $1,600, and while the video quality from a GoPro is a bit better than the integrated camera in our current Editors' Choice, the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, the price difference isn't insignificant. 3D Robotics is attempting to alleviate some of these issues with its new Solo drone ($999.95), which has integrated FPV transmission—but you still need to buy a Gimbal ($400) and a GoPro separately. Meanwhile, DJI is set to ship its Phantom 3 Professional ($1,259) next month, which includes an integrated 4K video camera. All of this makes the Iris+ a tough sell, especially given some of the issues we ran into during testing.
Design and Features
The Iris+ looks a bit like a large, mechanical insect. Its curved body has four struts—two blue and two black— that extend out from its corners, each housing a motor to drive a propeller. It's got a pretty big wingspan—it measures 21.7 inches from motor to motor on the diagonal, and its body is about four inches in height, without taking the landing gear into account. The gear adds about four inches.
The Iris+ is a bit awkward to carry—certainly more so than the DJI Phantom series, which is smaller in comparison (its wingspan is 13.8 inches). 3D Robotics provided a hard carrying case for review. It's huge (24.5 by 19.5 by 12 inches) and heavy (19.75 pounds), but it's extremely well-padded, with precut foam inserts for the drone and accessories. It has wheels and a handle, and I'd have no concerns checking it as luggage on a flight given the protection it provides. The case isn't inexpensive, however—it sells for $280.
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