GEPRC Tern-LR40 Review: Is It Worth Buying?

You want to fly far and see it all, but don’t want to break the bank on your first long range FPV drone? Look no further than GEPRC’s new TERN LR40! This compact 4-inch prop quad offers surprisingly long flight times from its lightweight airframe and high efficiency powertrain.

In this in-depth review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the GEPRC TERN LR40:

• Key specs and features
• Flying performance
• Image and video quality
• What’s in the box
• How it compares to rivals
• And whether it deserves a spot in your drone hangar!

Let’s get up close and personal with this promising little long ranger FPV drone.

Overview and Key Features

The GEPRC TERN LR40 arrives fully built as a ready-to-fly (RTF) package including the DJI O3 Air Unit digital FPV system. This drone is clearly aimed at intermediate to expert pilots looking to push their exploration boundaries.

Its combination of a 4S 3,000 mAh battery and low airframe weight enables impressively long flight times. Plus it packs excellent HD image quality and a host of “find me” features when you inevitably fly too far!

At just 385 grams (13.6 oz) fully loaded, the LR40 floats through the air with minimal effort. This gives its power system of 1404 3600Kv motors and 5×2.5″ props an easy time. Expect 15-16 minute flight durations from the standard Li-ion pack.

The LR40’s gutsy F4 flight controller runs Betaflight 4.2, providing smooth authority over the quad. This works great with the included GPS and external beeper for out-and-back explorations. Just make sure your FPV antenna can match the LR40’s ambitions!

Let’s summarize the GEPRC TERN LR40’s key features:

• Frame: Compact 136mm wheelbase deadcat style frame, 8.75mm thick arms, 1.5-2mm carbon plates
• Motors: Speedix 1404 3600Kv brushless motors
• Props: 2-blade 5×2.5 HQ propellers
• FC + ESC: TAKER F4 45A 4-in-1 BLHeli32 ESC
• FPV + VTX: DJI Air Unit + linear whip antenna
• Camera: Caddx Vista 1080p 60fps with 120° FOV lens
• GPS: Micro M10 GPS with fast satellite locks
• Beeper: Makes finding crashed quad much easier!
• AUW: Just 385g with 4S 3000mAh battery
• Flight modes: Angle, horizon, acro (rates: low, medium, high)
• Extras: Spare accessories, manual, & stickers!

This compact package offers a lot of performance and functionality for under $500. Nice job GEPRC!

Next let’s see how the LR40 flies in the real world.

Flying Test

To test the LR40’s flying abilities, I ran several 4S 3000mAh packs through it in a variety of conditions. Between slow cruising and aggressive acrobatics, here’s how it handled:

General Handling

This 4-incher feels fast and nimble, while remaining easy to control. Responsive pitch/roll acceleration makes carving lines snappy without too much floatiness. Yaw authority is also decent thanks to the quad’s symmetrical design and smooth motors.

I preferred flying in Acro mode at “High” rates most of the time. This struck a nice balance between agility and accessibility. Horizon or Angle mode works fine for newer pilots though.

Cruising Efficiency

The LR40 absolutely sips juice at half-throttle cruising speeds. This is where flight times really start to rack up! Just beware of sudden gusts at this ponderous pace.

It does get blown around more than expected for a low-profile build. Firming up the default PIDs would likely improve stiffness.

Punch-Outs and Diving

When you goose the throttle, the LR40 brushes off its efficient cruising hat and transforms into a little rocket! It zooms into punch-outs with ample vertical gusto.

Dives also feel pretty locked-in, with minimal traction loss. The HQ 5×2.5 props seem well-matched to the 1404 Speedix motors. This combo provides a nice balance of ripping performance and long flight potential.

Landings

The lightweight construction makes for soft landings without a GoPro-style action cam up front. Just beware of catching your landing a bit sideways – the weak motor mesh offers minimal side-impact protection.

FPV Gear Matching

The DJI Air Unit performs flawlessly. Its low-latency HD FPV feed never skipped a beat, even when diving behind trees and buildings.

However the TERN LR40 has longer range ambitions than that stubby whip antenna can provide. I’d strongly recommend swapping it for a quality RHCP cloverleaf or spiral model. This will let you push exploring boundaries way past default video range.

Do note: any FPV Antenna changes will impact HD video recording range too. But exploring drones are all about the experience not recording!

Overall

GEPRC’s TERN LR40 offers an engaging flying experience with well-tuned handling. Efficiency-focused cruising reveals its long range talents, while its agile acrobatic abilities still impress. This is one Explorer-style quad that lives up to its ambitions!

Image Quality Test

The DJI digital HD FPV system provides a wonderfully immersive viewing experience. Streaming 720p footage direct to your goggles eliminates interference and latency, for a crisp clear picture:

• Resolution – 720p looks perfectly sharp on the headset’s screens
• Dynamic Range – Dark shadow details resolved well by Caddx Vista cam
• Low Light – Noise creeps in when lighting dims but remains very flyable
• Latency – Felt perfectly in sync with stick inputs at all times

If you want to record your flights, the Vista cam captures video at up to 1080p 60fps. Footage is stored on the Air Unit’s 32GB internal memory card. Quality remains detailed with accurate colors in all but the most challenging light:

• Sharpness – Excellent clarity maintained across entire frame
• Contrast – Handles bright skies and dark shadows well
• Saturation – Natural color rendition, not oversaturated
• Motion – Very minor distortion visible on rapid direction changes

For this compact long range explorer, the DJI FPV system checks all the right boxes. It provides a beautifully clear view while opening exciting possibilities for streaming telemetry and future upgrades. Just bring a quality RHCP antenna to match the LR40’s ambitions!

Image Quality Score : 9.5

What’s in the Box

GEPRC kits are always packed with extras, and the LR40 is no exception:

• Spare propellers
• Alternative camera mounting plate
• Extra battery straps & grip pads
• Motor screws & grommets
• Foam landing pads
• Wiring diagram
• Manual & stickers
• Bonus GEPRC keychain!

This kit comes with everything you need to start flying besides batteries and an RC transmitter. Binding up my Radiomaster TX16S took just seconds too.

Let’s move onto some higher level analysis next, seeing how the TERN LR40 stacks up to key rivals. Is it your next long range explorer? Read on!

How Does It Compare for Long Range?

The long range FPV drone space keeps expanding. So where exactly does the new GEPRC TERN LR40 fit into the landscape? Let’s compare it to some of the latest rivals:

VS IFlight Chimera4LR

The Chimera4LR from IFlight is another new long range explorer, priced very closely to the TERN LR40. Both share compact 4-inch frames with 30+ minute flight potential.

However the Chimera lives up to its name by packing modular functionality to suit multiple users. Alongside an HD air unit option, you can specify analog, DJI or CADXX Vista cams plus either GPS or non-GPS versions. There’s even an HDZero LR choice!

The TERN LR40 offers no such flexibility. Its configuration stays locked in around GEPRC’s integrated choices. So while the Chimera wins on customization, the LR40 provides tidier all-in-one installation without jumping through spec sheet hoops first.

In terms of flying performance, these two match up very closely. Sub-400 gram flying weights translate into effortless soaring flight times. The LR40 ekes out a few more minutes though thanks to its slick deadcat frame. Plus it includes a beeper which really should be standard for all long range drones nowadays!

• TERN LR40 Pros
  • Optimized frame for max flight times
  • External beeper for finding crashed quad
• Chimera4LR Pros
  • Highly customizable options
  • Choose HDZero long-range digital system

For most users, the optimised LR40 is probably the smarter choice here. But experimental hobbyists should check out the Chimera4LR’s vast flexibility.

VS Flywoo Explorer LR

The Flywoo Explorer LR set the benchmark for 4-inch long range drones a couple years ago. This veteran builder keeps evolving with 2023’s HDZero Explorer LR model.

Straight out of the box, the Explorer LR still can’t match the GEPRC TERN LR40 though. Its overweight analog setup needs upgrading to meet the LR40’s 30 minute flight potential and HD digital video feed. Oddly for an “LR” model, even GPS is omitted!

You certainly pay for the privilege of the TERN’s optimised setup. But buying upgraded parts for the Explorer negates some cost difference. And the LR40 still includes bonuses like that vital beeper the Flywoo lacks.

When specced-up with DJI Air Unit or HDZero, the Explorer LR catches up on capability. Yet it remains a burlier, draggier airframe versus the svelter TERN LR40 design. This newer creation ekes out noticeable advantages in flight duration thanks to its lighter, tighter chassis.

Don’t overlook the Explorer LR’s incredible Tuning Flexibility though. Its stack accommodates various FC, ESC, Rx combinations for experts. This makes it very trial-friendly for performance tweaks beyond a beginner’s interest.

• TERN LR40 Pros
  • Lighter and optimized from the box
  • Higher performance digital setup
  • Integrated beeper included
• Explorer LR Pros
  • Expert-friendly stack combinations
  • Experiment with HDZero system

The GEPRC TERN LR40 sets a fresh benchmark in integrated 4-inch long-range flying. But experienced pioneers should still examine the Explorer LR’s incredible customization scope before deciding.

Who is the GEPRC Tern-LR40 FPV For?

Aerial Photography and Surveying

The GEPRC Tern-LR40 HD FPV could appeal to those looking to use it for aerial photography or surveying large areas. With the DJI HD camera and long flight times exceeding 15 minutes on a 3,000mAh battery, it can cover a lot of ground while capturing high quality video.

The GPS enables tracking the drone’s position during mapping tasks. Its wind handling isn’t superb, so very windy conditions may impact image stability for photography/videography though.

Large Property Monitoring

As mentioned in the text, some rc hobbyists have a large property or farm that they want to monitor periodically.

Instead of driving all over the land or walking extensively, the GEPRC Tern-LR40 HD can be sent up with its long flight time to survey fences, buildings, livestock, fields, etc. The GPS also gives peace of mind in locating it if the video signal is lost.

With the beeper accessory, it can signal its position from up to 50-80 meters away if downed in tall grass.

Prioritizing Flight Time

For hobbyists focused on maximizing airtime per battery charge, the 15+ minute flights achieve this goal.

Even the 850mAh battery test flight lasted over 8 minutes. The ability to equip larger lithium-ion packs for further extended airtime is a plus too for fliers wanting to do more long-range exploration without frequently swapping batteries.

GEPRC Tern-LR40 FPV Drone Alternatives

The GEPRC Tern-LR40 HD is far from the only ready-to-fly long range FPV drone option out there. Let’s highlight a few other models worth considering:

Final Verdict On The GEPRC Tern-LR40 FPV

After many packs thrashing this long range flyer, would I recommend GEPRC’s TERN LR40? Absolutely!

It’s tidy frame encapsulates some very clever designing for maximizing flight endurance. A lightweight yet robustDeadcat layout distills quad essentials down to their most efficient forms. There’s no wasted bulk hampering what this machine was made to do – fly far!

But, is the Tern-LR40 HD worth the $500+ price tag?

I believe so for pilots who want an all-inclusive long range FPV package that they can fly immediately without any complex assembly or configuration. It strikes a great mix of user-friendliness and high performance potential.

The choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. But with so many options now available, finding the ideal long range FPV drone is easier than ever. The segment will surely continue expanding rapidly in the coming years.

So that wraps up this in-depth review of the GepRC Tern-LR40 HD FPV drone! Let us know if you have any other questions. And please share your own experiences with this quad or similar long range models. The insights help other pilots make informed decisions.

Happy and safe flying!

FAQs About the GEPRC Tern-LR40 FPV