RadioMaster Zorro Max Review: What’s it Updated?

RadioMaster has just released an exciting new version of their popular Zorro radio transmitter – the Zorro Max. This maxed out edition comes decked out with cool upgrades like leather grips, anodized aluminum accents, upgraded gimbals and a pre-installed EdgeTX system.

In this in-depth review, we’ll cover all the features, specs, build quality and flight performance so you can decide if it’s worth upgrading to the blinged-out Max edition.

Overview of the RadioMaster Zorro Max

The Zorro Max takes the customization up a notch with 4 color options – red, blue, black, and gold. But the big question is – how does it actually perform in the air?

Let’s find out!

RadioMaster Zorro Max Radio Specifications

Here are some key specs of the RadioMaster Zorro Max:

Size and Weight	170*159*108mm 350 grams
Frequencies	2.400GHz-2.480GHz
Protocols	4-in-1 Multi-Protocol ELRS
RF Power	250mW (CE and FCC Version will be available)
Channels	Maximum 16 (Rx dependent)
Gimbals	Hall-effect AGO1 Mini
Operating System	OpenTX / EdgeTX Compatible
Ports	External Module Bay Supports TBS / ELRS
Charging	USB-C direct charging
Battery	2 x 18350 (Not included)

Unboxing the RadioMaster Zorro Max

When I first opened up the Zorro Max, I was struck by how incredibly premium it looked and felt. The bold gold aluminum parts really pop against the carbon fiber front.

That gold bling though!

Inside the box, you get the radio itself along with:

• Extra screen protector
• Battery charging cable
• Neck strap
• Batteries
• Manuals/docs

The included batteries are 18650 Li-ion cells. I would prefer 21700 cells for longer flight times, but the 18650’s are tried and true.

Design and Build Quality

Let’s talk about the stellar build quality and design of the Zorro Max. It’s clear that RadioMaster put a lot of thought into the ergonomics and aesthetics.

Premium Materials

The materials used are top notch including:

• Leather back grips
• Carbon fiber front overlay
• Anodized aluminum switches, sticks and trims
• High quality plastics

The leather grips look and feel fantastic. They provide nice cushioning and grip without being bulky or obtrusive.

Fancy leather grips on the Zorro Max

The red stitching gives it a luxury sports car vibe. The gold aluminum parts are perfectly color matched too.

Ergonomic Design

Despite all the fancy materials, the Zorro Max retains the comfortable ergonomic shape of the original Zorro. The grip fits nicely in my medium sized hands. All the switches and sticks are easily within reach.

The overall weight and balance makes it feel sturdy, but not overly heavy. At 390g, it’s a bit heavier than the Jumper T-Lite, but still comfortable for long sessions.

Sturdy Construction

The Zorro Max seems very rugged and well built. The plastics are thick and durable. Seams and joins are tight with no wiggle. The gimbals are buttery smooth and have zero play when centered.

Buttons have a satisfying click and the toggle switches flip positively into place. The antenna, battery bay, and module bay covers fit snugly too.

Overall, the construction inspires confidence that this radio will hold up well for years of abuse out in the field. No worries about parts coming loose over time.

Features and Hardware

Now let’s go over all the buttons, switches, ports and other features packed into the Zorro Max.

Full-Size Gimbals

The AG01 gimbals are a nice upgrade over the stock Zorro gimbals. They use contactless Hall sensors for smooth, precise stick movement.

Tension adjustment is easy with the side thumbwheels. The sticks have no wiggle or play when centered. The rubber grips provide excellent thumb traction.

Having full-size gimbals is a big advantage for pinpoint flying. They allow for small, finite stick movements. I find the shorter sticks on gamepad style radios harder to control precisely.

18650 Battery Bay

The Zorro Max uses a single 18650 Li-ion cell for power. Battery life is 6-8 hours depending on your usage.

The bay opens from the bottom and has friendly polarity guides. 18650’s are cheap and easy to find too.

I do wish RadioMaster offered a 21700 battery option for even longer flight times. But the 18650 capacity is still pretty decent.

18650 battery bay with polarity guides

You can use dual battery mods for 24+ hours of operation if needed. There’s even a strap slot to mount mods on the rear.

Transmitter Power

The Zorro Max pumps out a solid 10mW of RF power for good range with antennas upgrades. It uses a standard RP-SMA connector for attaching aftermarket antennas.

I got over 2km of range testing it with the TBS Crossfire Micro TX module and VASA RHCP antennas. Impressive performance!

Large Color Display

Having a big 4.3” LCD makes the Zorro Max easy to read both indoors and outdoors. The 64×128 pixel resolution provides sharp graphics too.

The backlight can be cranked up nice and bright for sunny day visibility. Display info is well organized and uncluttered.

Crisp, vivid 4.3″ LCD display

The only downside is no option for diversity module bay OSD like we see on radios like the TBS Tango 2. But the built-in display is great.

Versatile Switch Options

There are 2 toggle switches and 2 momentary push buttons on the rear topside. These are handy for arming, flight modes, turtle mode, beeper etc.

The toggles have bold gold accents that match nicely with the other aluminum parts. They feel very sturdy and snap in place positively.

EdgeTX Support

Having EdgeTX pre-installed is awesome. With the full-featured OpenTX fork, you get tons of options for menus, mixes, curves etc.

Loading EdgeTX is simple – just plug into your PC via the USB-C port. Configs can be managed through the EdgeTX Companion app.

EdgeTX may seem daunting for total beginners. But the full manual and online guides make learning it fairly easy.

Headphone Jack

FPV pilots will appreciate the 3.5mm headphone jack built into the lower front. Just plug in your favorite headset to get real-time Rx audio feedback from your quad.

This is super helpful for troubleshooting video issues, checking motors and feedback for long range.

Other Hardware Features

Here are some other handy hardware features of the RadioMaster Zorro Max:

• External module bay for Crossfire, R9, ELRS etc.
• USB-C port for simulator training and firmware updates
• MicroSD card slot for backups and extra storage
• Built-in speaker for voice alerts and prompts
• Comfortable rubberized antenna with RP-SMA connector
• Lanyard anchor point
• 18350 Li-ion battery charger cable

Programming and Configuration

Since the Zorro Max comes pre-loaded with EdgeTX, getting it set up to fly is really straightforward. Here’s an overview of the process.

Using EdgeTX Companion

To configure the Zorro Max, you’ll need to download the EdgeTX Companion utility on your Windows, Mac or Linux PC. This lets you create/edit models and flash firmware.

Configuring models is easy with EdgeTX Companion

With Companion you can:

• Create/delete/organize model files
• Edit mixes, rates, switches etc.
• Flash OTA firmware updates
• Back up model files and radio settings
• Simulate stick inputs
• Monitor receiver outputs

It offers a clean, well organized interface that’s powerful but also beginner friendly.

Steps to Program Models

Follow these basic steps when creating model files for your drones:

1. Plug radio into computer via USB cable
2. Launch EdgeTX Companion
3. Create a new model file
4. Select your transmitter type
5. Configure basic parameters – name, protocol, outputs etc.
6. Set up flight modes, switches, channels
7. Adjust sticks, curves, trims
8. Simulate stick inputs to test
9. Write model to SD card
10. Load model file on radio

The Companion docs explain each step in more detail. It may seem complicated at first, but takes just minutes once you get the hang of it.

Helpful Programming Resources

Besides the official EdgeTX manual, there are some great forums and videos for learning about models setup:

• Oscar Liang tutorial – Step-by-step guide for mini quad models
• FPV Know It All YouTube – EdgeTX tutorial videos
• RCGroups Forum – Tips from experienced users

The programming experience is very similar to OpenTX. So OpenTX guides and resources are helpful as well.

Zorro vs Zorro Max – What’s Improved?

Now let’s directly compare the new blinged out Zorro Max versus the original Zorro to see the differences.

Stock Zorro (left) vs. Max edition (right)

Here are the main differences between the two models:

Design and Materials

• Zorro Max has leather rear grips vs silicone
• Zorro Max has 4 colorful anodized metal parts
• Zorro Max has carbon fiber style front overlay
• More premium fit and finish on Max

Gimbals

• Zorro Max has AG01 gimbals vs stock plastic gimbals on Zorro
• AG01’s offer improved precision and durability

Software

• Zorro Max comes with EdgeTX pre-installed
• Zorro requires loading OpenTX manually

Price

• Zorro Max costs $219
• Original Zorro costs $99

Aside from those upgrades, the core radio hardware is identical between the two. You get the same transmitter module, hall gimbals, battery bay, and 4.3” display on both models.

So if cosmetics and gimbals aren’t important, the stock Zorro gets you 90% of the performance at less than half the price.

But for the extra bling factor and high-end gimbals, the Zorro Max is pretty appealing!

Flying with the Zorro Max

The most important thing is how the Zorro Max performs in the air. Let’s talk about what it’s like to actually fly FPV quads with this radio.

Feels Great in the Hands

As mentioned earlier, the Zorro Max sits very nicely in the hands. The grip shape and materials make it comfy for long flights.

The sticks rest right under your thumbs and all switches/buttons are easily accessible. The smooth adjustable gimbals really help dial in that perfect feel.

Easy to Flip Switches

I like that the 2 toggle switches on the rear top have sharp actuation and a positive snap in both directions. Makes it easy to flip them precisely even with fat thumbs.

Having switches within quick reach of your index finger is super handy for enabling turtle mode, beeper, flight modes etc while flying.

Excellent Range

With the stock antenna I got nearly 1km of range just line of sight testing. Very impressive power output.

When flying with Crossfire, the Zorro Max delivered over 2km of crystal clear control. The 10mW RF output and receiver performance is top notch.

Handles Wind Very Well

The other day I was flying in 15-20mph winds which usually wreaks havoc with most FPV quads. But the Zorro Max felt rock solid with no glitching.

Even in windy conditions, the gimbals were smooth and precise. The AG01’s lived up to their reputation here.

Easy to Use EdgeTX

Having multiple programmable switch positions makes taking advantage of EdgeTX features seamless. The voice language packs are super helpful as well.

I also like that I can back up model files easily on my PC in case I mess up programming. Flashing in field firmware updates is handy too.

Overall, EdgeTX offers a great blend of advanced features and usability that’s well suited for the Zorro Max.

Who is the Zorro Max Good For?

The Zorro Max is a fantastic mid-range FPV radio that would be a good fit for:

Intermediate Pilots

If you’re beyond the beginner stage and want room to grow, the full-featured EdgeTX system offers tons of customization down the road.

You can really fine tune models and access powerful programming options when you’re ready. It will grow with your skill level.

Racing Pilots

Serious FPV racers will love the smooth hall gimbals and compact gamepad style for tight packed races. The controls are super precise for slicing gates.

Long Range FPV

The excellent RF performance and Crossfire integration makes the Zorro Max a top choice for long range cruisers. You get excellent link reliability at extreme distances.

Anyone Wanting Premium Locals

For pilots who care about aesthetics, the Zorro Max simply looks and feels fantastic. The materials and design ooze quality and luxury.

Final Verdict On the RadioMaster Zorro Max Radio

After extensive stick time with the new Zorro Max, I’m thoroughly impressed with its performance and quality. RadioMaster knocked it out of the park with this upgrade.

The flashy materials and components might seem gimmicky, but they come together into a highly polished package. It looks fantastic and also works fantastically.

The $220 price tag is very reasonable considering everything that’s included out of the box like the great EdgeTX system and AG01 metal gimbals.

For intermediate pilots who want room to grow, long range flyers wanting reliability or anyone looking for style, the Zorro Max delivers on every front.

I can easily recommend the RadioMaster Zorro Max as one of the top mid-priced radios that will serve you well for years to come!