FPV Drones have come a long way in recent years. With advancements in technology, drones are now equipped with high-quality cameras, long flight times, and incredible maneuverability.
One of the latest players in the drone space is GEPRC, a company known for high-end FPV racers. They have just released the Cinebot 25, and it looks seriously impressive.
As both an avid drone enthusiast and copywriter for RCHobbyLab, I was eager to test out the Cinebot 25 and provide a comprehensive review. I’ll cover everything from unboxing, specs, flight performance, camera quality, and whether it ultimately lives up to the hype.
Let’s get started!
Table Of Contents
GEPRC Cinebot25 Unboxing and First Impressions
The Cinebot 25 arrived in a premium quality box showing off the quadcopter on the front. Sliding off the outer sleeve revealed some of the standout features like the DJI FPV system, 4S 1500mAh battery support, and 4K/60fps video recording.
Opening up the box, it was clear GEPRC put thought into the unboxing experience. The drone and components all have their own perfectly molded compartments. There’s no worry about anything shaking around during shipping.
In terms of accessories, the Cinebot 25 comes with:
- 4x propeller sets
- Prop mounting hardware
- 2x battery straps
- Battery strap hardware
- USB-C charging cable
- DJI FPV gimbal connector
- External camera mount
- Manuals and documentation
The drone itself comes conveniently pre-assembled. All I had to do was mount the props and it was ready to fly. The quality and precision of the manufacturing stood out immediately. The carbon fiber on the arms felt rigid and durable, while the injection molded plastic body has a clean fit and finish.
Picking up the drone, it has some good weight to it at around 250 grams without a battery. The tilting camera gimbal has silky smooth movement thanks to quality dampers. And the easily removable DJI FPV air unit gives the drone a lot of flexibility for different video setups.
Overall, the unboxing and first impressions exceeded my expectations. The Cinebot 25 looks and feels like a premium FPV drone, especially at its competitive price point. Now it just needed to deliver where it counts – actual flight performance.
GEPRC Cinebot25 Specs and Features
Before taking the Cinebot 25 out to fly, let’s break down some of the key specs and features:
Frame: Carbon fiber/plastic composite construction
- Arms: Carbon fiber
- Body: Injection molded plastic
- Size: 250mm motor-to-motor
- Weight: 250g (without battery)
Motors: 1404 4600Kv brushless motors
** Flight Controller:** TAKER G4 F4 AIO 45A ESC
FPV System: DJI FPV Air Unit (removable)
- Resolution: 720p/60fps, 1080p/60fps, 4K/60fps
- Transmission: O3 Low Latency HD Transmission
- Range: Up to 6mi (10km)
Camera: Compatible with DJI FPV Camera
- 1/1.7” CMOS Sensor
- 150° FOV
- Rocker dampened tilt gimbal (-90° to +30°)
Battery: 4S 850-1500mAh LiPo (XT30 connector)
Other Features:
- 5.8GHz antenna mount
- USB-C charging port
- External camera mount
The Cinebot 25 checks all the boxes for a high performance FPV drone. The 4600Kv motors combined with 4S battery support give it a thrust to weight ratio over 5:1. This much power in a 250mm frame means the Cinebot 25 should have insane agility and speed.
The DJI FPV system is also a huge plus. It provides stunning video quality and an incredible HD low latency feed. And it’s easily removable if you wanted to use an analog setup instead.
Really the only limitation here is battery size. To stay under 250g takeoff weight, you’re limited to 1500mAh 4S packs. While not a ton of capacity, it should still equate to 6 minutes of aggressive freestyle flight time.
Overall the Cinebot 25 looks great on paper. Let’s head out to the field and see if performs as good as it looks!
GEPRC Cinebot25 Flying Experience and Performance
For my first flight location, I headed out a large open park just as the sun was going down. Conditions were cold at around -5°C (23°F). Having flown drones for years here in Canada, I knew the motors would need a little time to warm up and reduce any stuttering in the cold weather.
I installed a fully charged 4S 1500mAh battery and powered on the Cinebot 25. After initializing and getting a GPS lock, it was ready to fly. The DJI FPV goggles linked immediately and gave me a crystal clear HD view from the drone’s camera.
With a simple arm and throttle up, the Cinebot 25 leapt into the air. Right away I could tell the power was immense for the size. It rocketed up with the slightest throttle input, yet still felt well controlled and easy to manage.
doing high speed passes, the Cinebot handled smoothly with no erratic movements. The TAKER flight controller felt well tuned out of the box. Throttling up into a vertical climb, it just kept going like it wasn’t hindered at all by the weight.
Coming back down from high altitudes, the Cinebot 25 maintained stability and composure. The prop wash turbulence never disrupted the video feed thanks to the DJI FPV system’s resistance to interference. Slowing to a stop and hovering was also rock solid with no drifting at all.
Moving into some freestyle, the Cinebot lived up to its fun size and power combo. Flips and rolls came out clean with just the right amount of hang time. The low camera latency meant I could see upcoming obstacles and make corrections mid trick. Tight punches and funnel splits were also a blast with the direct feel of the controls.
All in all, I couldn’t have been more impressed by the flight characteristics. The Cinebot combines precision and agility in a way few drones can match. It definitely earns its “cine” name by providing an extremely fluid and dynamic flying experience. Any FPV pilot is going to have an absolute blast tearing up the sky with this quad.
Camera Quality
Aside from pure performance, the camera is arguably the most important part of an FPV drone. Even with great flight capabilities, poor video can ruin the experience.
The Cinebot 25 supports the DJI FPV camera, which shoots up to 4K/60fps video and boasts a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor. Combined with the O3 transmission system, this camera should deliver stunning images to the goggles or transmitter.
To test things out, I shot several battery packs worth of footage in different conditions. Shooting at sunset highlighted just how good the low light performance is. Even with fading light, the image remained crisp and colors stayed accurate. The wide 150° field of view also easily captured the surrounding scenery.
Cranking it up to 4K, the additional resolution provided impressive detail. Flying low through grass and trees showed individual blades and leaves with surprising clarity. The advanced DJI camera and transmission tech certainly delivers on its promises.
The only sacrifice of the fixed lens camera is the lack of adjustable aperture. This meant dealing with overexposure on bright scenes, though DJI’s auto-exposure algorithm did a decent job compensating.
Slowing things down and trying out some cinematic sweeps, the footage really shined. The dampened tilt gimbal provided silky smooth camera movements in all axes. And the precision of the Cinebot’s flying translated perfectly into elegant video.
So in summary, the DJI FPV camera and air unit equip the Cinebot 25 to capture stunning 4K video. Crisp detail, vivid colors, and adjustable shooting angles let you grab truly cinematic shots. It lives up to its namesake and gives you incredible creative potential.
Flight Time and Distance
Two other key factors for FPV drones are flight time and range. Long flight duration and distance ultimately determine where and how you’re able to fly.
As mentioned earlier, the 250g weight limit of the Cinebot 25 restricts batteries to around 1500mAh capacity. I flew multiple flights with a premium 4S 1500mAh pack to see what the flight time averaged out to.
Doing a mix of cruising and moderate freestyle, flights consistently lasted between 5 and 6 minutes. This is actually very respectable given the battery size and power output. Easing off the throttle could stretch it even farther.
In terms of range, the DJI FPV system delivered in full. I was able to fly well over half a mile distance before any major breakup occurred. The O3 transmission brings a level of connectivity that analog systems simply can’t match.
The only limiting factor became the battery capacity. In most cases, I’d drain the 1500mAh pack before ever going out of range. But for those wanting to maximize distance, the Cinebot 25 definitely has the legs to reach a mile or more.
Between the flight time and range, the Cinebot 25 hits the sweet spot for its size and weight class. You can comfortably explore around your local flying spot without worrying about the battery unexpectedly dying. And the DJI FPV system means you cut out connectivity dropouts that analog drones often suffer from.
Final Thoughts
After many packed flights, it’s clear the Cinebot 25 deserves all its hype. GEPRC nailed it by combining a powerhouse drivetrain, DJI FPV system, and nimble airframe. It simply flies amazingly well and captures stunning 4K video.
However, the Cinebot 25 isn’t just about all out performance. It remains beginner friendly with its durability and intuitive handling. Novices will feel comfortable progressing their skills without fear of crashing. Yet experts will never feel held back by the drone’s capabilities.
For the price, it’s frankly hard to find any major faults with the Cinebot 25. The only minor downside is the limited flight time due to battery size. But extending flights would require a larger and heavier battery at the cost of agility.
So at the end of the day, the Cinebot 25 hits the optimal balance between weight, power, and flight time. It brings elite performance and cinematic video capture at a mid-range price point. For anyone looking to dive into FPV drones, it earns my highest recommendation!
I hope you enjoyed this review of the GEPRC Cinebot 25 FPV drone. Please feel free to reach out with any questions in the comments section below. And make sure to check RCHobbyLab for more drone reviews and flying tips in the future!
