Hubsan X4

Lore & Background

The Hubsan X4 series began with the H107, an inexpensive quadcopter that appealed to first-time hobbyists due to its low cost compared to other quadcopters available at the time. It had no built-in LED lights, no camera, was easily damaged when crashing, and could easily blow away in light winds. Subsequent models added features: the H107L included four LEDs on the arms for orientation and shorter blade axles for stability; the H107C added a 720p digital on-board camera; the H107D introduced first-person view (FPV) broadcasting to a video screen on the controller. The plus (+) versions of these models added altitude hold mode and screws along the undersides of the arms to prevent the arms from popping open.

The H109 introduced brushless DC electric motors and a 20-minute flight time, nearly three times longer than most previous models, but lacked altitude hold. The H109S Pro came in three versions: a Standard edition with a parachute and 1-axis gimbal, a second version with an upgraded transmitter, and a High edition with a Hubsan H7000 Smart Transmitter featuring a 7-inch 1200x800 screen powered by Android and a 3-axis gimbal. The H111 (Q4 Nano) is the smallest Hubsan quadcopter, marketed as more of a toy, with LED lights, no camera, no altitude hold, a five-minute flight time, and no pre-designed propeller guard. The H111 Q4 FPV added a FPV camera and 5.8 GHz video transmitter, with a larger 180 mAh battery.

Later models include the H501S (FPV brushless) with 20 minutes' flight time, GPS, follow-me mode, and auto return home; the H502E and H502S (Desire series) with brushed motors, 12 minutes' flight time, GPS, and 720p camera; the H501A (X4 Air Pro) with 20 minutes' flight time and 1080p camera; and the H507A (X4 Star Pro) with 720p camera, 10 minutes' flight time, and app compatibility for waypoints.

Reader's Guide

The Hubsan X4 series is significant as a line of quadcopters that made remote-controlled flight accessible to hobbyists through low-cost entry models, while progressively adding features such as cameras, FPV, GPS, and altitude hold across successive variants. The series demonstrates a pattern of incremental upgrades: from the basic H107 without lights or camera, to models with LEDs, then cameras, then FPV, then brushless motors and GPS-based functions like return-to-home and follow-me modes. The plus (+) versions introduced altitude hold and structural improvements. The H109S Pro offered multiple editions with different gimbals and transmitters, including a high-end Android-powered transmitter. The H111 nano quadcopter represents the smallest and most toy-like end of the series, while the H501S and H501A represent more advanced, feature-rich models. The series also includes models sold under other brand names, such as the Revell PULSE and PULSE FPV. The Hubsan X4's legacy lies in its role as a widely adopted platform for hobbyists, with a range of models spanning from basic toys to GPS-equipped drones with FPV and autonomous flight modes.

Did You Know?

• The H107C was recognized as the smallest publicly available 'drone' to contain a camera upon its release.
• The H109S Pro Standard edition includes a parachute.
• The H111 Q4 FPV has a battery almost twice the size of the standard H111's battery.
• The H502E and H502S are the same units as the Revell PULSE #23887 and Revell PULSE FPV #23875, respectively.