Last Updated on September 10, 2023
Put an eye in the sky with one of Ruko’s easy to use and high-performance drones. Ruko is known for intuitive, well-made products at an affordable price in the fun technology department. They make robots, RC cars, and of course, drones.
We’ve compiled a list of six of their top-selling foldable drones, which we’ve thoroughly tested in the past in our in-house evaluations. In this compendium you’ll find drones ideal for multiple purchase groups; drones for adults, families wanting to make memories on vacation and new professionals who want to register their drone and shoot commercially.
First, we’ll break down each drone model on its most important quick metrics in a comparison table. After that, we’ll have a list of shared features before we dive into the individual mini reviews. Whether you’re a complete beginner, an intermediate looking to shoot pro, or a pro shooter wanting an upgrade, we hope our comparative list will help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Ruko Drone Comparison Table – Base Models
**FFA Registration Not Required
Is Ruko a good drone brand?
We think so, check out some of the common features across each model:
- 4K photo results from camera.
- Folds up to less than half the size.
- Use your phone to operate your drone the smart way.
- 5GHz Wi-Fi Signal – First person view transmission without lag or delay.
- One-touch takeoff and landing command.
- Follow Me mode keeps you in frame at all times to get multiple hands-free flight shot selfies.
- Point of Interest option lets the drone fly in a radius around an object automatically.
- Tap fly path design allows you to map multiple points for the drone to follow.
- Carrying case and battery included.
- Comes with extra propellors too, in case of damage.
Ruko Drone Comparison – Upgraded Models
What should I do with a new SD card?
Ok, you have an SD card now, what should you do with it? Format it of course! More common questions related to SD Cards:
Do you have to format a new SD card for camera?
If your SD card has not been preformatted, you will need to format your SD card before it will work as a form of storage. In the process of formatting your SD card you will creates a file system, or directory structure, to store files. If you format your SD card a second time, the formatting uses the same file system but deletes the files.
Which format is best for SD card?
You should Format your SD card to have an exFAT file system with a 4K Allocation unit size. Your SD card should have a minimum speed rating of UHS-1, however for better performance find a card with a speed rating of UHS-3.
Is it OK to leave SD card in camera?
It’s ok for short periods of time however if you don’t plan on using it for an extended period of time (month or more) leaving your SD Card in can lead to corrosion leaking from the batteries and eventually working into your camera. Also, the camera will draw minimal amount of power to maintain the time/date clock and other information stored in volatile memory.
How long will SD cards hold data?
You should be able to get five years, but you should check with the SD card manufacturer for the specifics on your SD card. In general, you want to copy to a more reliable storage medium as quickly is convenient to avoid loss of your valuable pictures/video.
What happens when SD card is full?
You might think it would just stop recording, but it actually replaces the oldest video and recording will continue.
Ruko F11 MINI Drone with Camera
The Ruko F11 model is a small drone with 4K photo camera and 2K video camera capabilities at an affordable price. Its small frame weighs around 245g and opens up to span 11.8L x 8.5W x 2.1H inches and folds down to be about half that size. This compact design means you aren’t required to register the drone with the FFA.
This set comes with everything an adult or adolescent beginner needs. The features are easy to use and intuitive. We love the phone holder on the controller that comes in the box, it fits even the larger phones that people have today.
Some of the F11 Mini’s best features include Waypoints fly mapping and Follow Me modes. Using these modes, you can either create a point-by-point pattern for your drone to fly in, as well as follow you around. The smart return function allows your drone to return to you once the battery is low, a signal is lost, or you command it to do so. We found the GPS feature did well even on a windy day.
Other functions include Point of Interest and one-touch takeoff and landing features. With Point of Interest, you can simply select a point of interest and the drone will orbit that point/object and collect amazing video footage. We must say, we did find the orbit feature a little flaky, sometimes it worked sometimes it couldn’t find the object. We all so noticed the camera positioning was a little shaky, having a camera with a gimble would have been smooth. But at this price point its more than adequate.
Fitted in a clever carrying case, the drone comes with two batteries that last roughly 30 minutes each for a total of up to 60 minutes of airtime per session (note this isn’t continuous you need to break to swap out batteries).
Pros of Ruko F11 Mini Foldable Drone with Camera
- Compact with a full set of features on all Ruko drones like Follow Me, mapping, Real-Time Transmission, and more.
- 90-degree rotation adjustable camera.
- Compact footprint and lightweight, doesn’t require FFA registration
- Comes with two batteries to extend fly time to 60 minutes total.
- Get everything you need to start working with or using a drone for fun including carrying case and phone holding controller.
Cons of Ruko F11 Mini Foldable Drone with Camera
- A gimble would have made the camera rotation smoother.
- Orbit feature sometimes had trouble finding the object to orbit.
Ruko U11 Pro Foldable Drone with Camera
The Ruko U11 Pro model is a great beginner level foldable drone with 4K photo camera and 2K video camera capabilities at an affordable price. Its small frame weighs just under 10 ounces and opens up to span 9.25 by 7.68 by 2.36 inches and folds down to be about half that size.
This set comes with everything a beginner needs and clever technical points that would impress even intermediate drone flyers. We love the phone holding control center that comes in the box, so you can see what your drone is capturing in real-time, whether it’s crisp photos or stable videos.
Some of the U11’s best features include Waypoints fly mapping and Follow Me modes. Using these two modes you can either create a point-by-point pattern for your drone to fly in, or you can simply have it follow you around. Its smart return function allows your drone to return to you once the battery is low, a signal is lost, or you command it to do so. You can also find a lost drone easily with GPS positioning located on the Ruko app.
Other functions this base model includes are the Point of Interest function and one-touch takeoff and landing features. With Point of Interest, you can simply select a point of interest and the drone will orbit that point/object and collect amazing video footage. With one-touch takeoff and landing your drone fly time is efficient.
Fitted in a clever carrying case, the drone comes with two batteries that last roughly 20 minutes each for a total of up to 40 minutes of air time per session. Charging lasts for just 2.5 hours due to its upgraded 7.4V lithium polymer battery.
Pros of Ruko U11 Pro Foldable Drone with Camera
- Affordable price with a full set of desirable features on all Ruko drones like Follow Me, mapping, Real-Time Transmission, and more.
- 90-degree rotation adjustable camera.
- Compact footprint and lightweight.
- Comes with two batteries to extend fly time to 40 minutes total.
- Get everything you need to start working with or using a drone for fun including carrying case and phone holding controller.
Cons of Ruko U11 Foldable Drone with Camera
- While camera is 4K, the video is only 2K.
- Maximum control range in the best conditions is 1,640 ft, which may not be enough for more advanced uses.
Ruko F11 Foldable GPS Drone with 4K Camera
The Ruko F11 is another excellent beginner’s drone model with a longer control range than the U11. For just $50 more than the U11 model, you’ll get more than double the control range at a maximum of 3,937 ft. The drone itself is larger, but still more than manageable at 17.5 by 15.9 by 3.15 inches in size and 18.34 ounces in weight.
The Ruko F11, similar to the U11, folds up small and tucks away in an included carrying. Like with the U11 and all of the drones on this list, you’ll also get an awesome phone carrying controller and additional propellors. You’ll also get all of the same great features including follow me, finding lost drones, point of interest, auto return, and one-touch takeoff and landing – But with even more.
The Ruko F11’s Tap Fly is an improved version of the U11’s Waypoints system, now allowing you to set up to 16 mapping points for the drone to automatically follow your unique path. Stability for filming has been improved with the GPS and Altitude Hold function added, as well as a Level 7 wind-resistance feature.
On top of that, the F11 also has a new function called Gesture Shooting; this allows the drone to capture anything it recognizes as a gesture, so no important memories are missed. It also has an improved battery included, which actively monitors and tells you with an LED indicator how much power and fly time remains.
Pros of Ruko F11 Foldable GPS Drone with 4K Camera
- 90-degree rotation adjustable camera.
- For only a little bit more money, you get a lot of added features.
- Intelligent Modular Battery tells you exactly the remaining power and fly time.
- Hover stably with GPS and Altitude Hold.
- Level 7 wind-resistant brushless motor for added stability.
- Map up to 16 points on your custom drone flight map.
- Gesture Shooting captures your movements, so you never miss an important moment.
Cons of Ruko F11 Foldable GPS Drone with 4K Camera
- While camera is 4K, the video is only 2K.
- Only 1 battery on this model, it gives you 30 minutes of airtime and takes 3.5 hours to charge.
Ruko F11 Pro Drones with Camera
The Ruko F11 Pro is a direct sibling of the Ruko F11, notably improving upon the video capture quality. It’s the exact same size and weight and folds up the same as the standard F11, but it has a better camera lens on it. The 120-dgree field of vision lens with 90-degree adjustments captures ultra-HD photos and 2.9k video, in comparison to our previous two models on this list which capture 2k video.
The Ruko F11 Pro’s camera is the sole change, but it gives you an update without spending hundreds more, as the Pro comes in at just $40 more than the standard F11. Plus, the F11 already has a wonderful suite of features.
Pros of Ruko F11 Pro Drones with Camera
- Shoot videos in 2.9K versus 2K.
- 120-degree field of vision lens with 90-degree rotation adjustable camera.
- Intelligent Modular Battery tells you exactly the remaining power and fly time.
- Hover stably with GPS and Altitude Hold.
- Level 7 wind-resistant brushless motor for added stability.
- Map up to 16 points on your custom drone flight map.
- Gesture Shooting captures your movements, so you never miss an important moment.
Cons of Ruko F11 Pro Drones with Camera
- Only 1 battery on this model, it gives you 30 minutes of airtime and takes 3.5 hours to charge.
Ruko F11Gim Drone with Camera
If the Ruko F11 Pro is a sibling to the F11, the F11Gim is more like the wealthy cousin in the family, who always has the latest gadgets. It’s not much heavier than the F11 Pro, at just one and a half ounces more in weight, likely due to the significantly improved camera.
The Ruko F11Gim has a 4K camera with full 4K video capture and five times the zooming capability. The camera has a 2-axis gimbal with a -80-degrees +0 adjustable angle. The stunning 4K video will be saved to a now up to 128GB SD card (SD Card not included). The previous models on our list only support 32GB cards, which is fine for the standard user, but if you’re looking to start a business, the Ruko F11Gim is the ideal model for you.
Other qualities that make it a great intermediate or professional user model include the two batteries, one inside the drone and one extra in the carrying case. Each battery gives you roughly 28 minutes of flight time, for nearly an entire hour total of shooting, which is ideal for professionals shooting a property or area. You’ll have an improved control range too, at a maximum of 4,921 ft or 3,900 ft using your phone.
Coming in at just $100 more than the Ruko F11 pro, the F11Gim gives you a lot more features including Intelligent Flight Mode for a stable fly time and the best tracking and GPS assistant features. The new app even includes voice prompts for easy operation.
Pros of Ruko F11Gim Drone with Camera
- 4K video footage on a stable 2-axis gimbal.
- 5x Intelligent Zoom without any unflattering fisheye.
- GPS-assistant features including upgraded mapping and tracking functions.
- Two batteries for up to 56 minutes of total flight time per session.
- Store up to 128GB of footage and photos.
- Long control range at a max of 4,921 feet.
Cons of Ruko F11Gim Drone with Camera
- Batteries take around 4.5 hours to charge.
Ruko F11Gim2 Drone with 4K Camera
If you’re a pro that needs an even further distance control than the F11Gim can give, then the F11Gim2 is for you. With the Ruko F11Gim2, you’ll have a maximum video transmission range of 9,000 feet. Plus, video transmission is its best yet, with smooth 5G performance offering uninterrupted live video in those areas of service.
Another major upgrade on the F11Gim2 as compared to the $100 cheaper original F11Gim, is the high-tech controller. The all-new rechargeable controller has an improved transmit antenna signal, a built-in rechargeable Li-po battery, plus a gorgeously contrasted LED screen to show you real time analytics on your drone.
Along with the better control distance and transmission plus a sleek new controller, the F11Gim2 also has an amazing set of features – the same as the F11Gim. It has a 128GB storage slot for the stunning 4K video it captures like the F11Gim. It’s the same size and folds down to the same size, too. It comes with two smart batteries as well.
Pros of Ruko F11Gim2 Drone with 4K Camera
- Up to 9,000 feet of transmission distance.
- Improved rechargeable controller included.
- 4K video footage on a stable 2-axis gimbal.
- 5x Intelligent Zoom without any unflattering fisheye.
- Two batteries for up to 56 minutes of total flight time per session.
- Store up to 128GB of footage and photos.
Cons of Ruko F11Gim2 Drone with 4K Camera
- Most expensive option on our top 5.
Final Thoughts
If you still can’t decide which drone is for you, think about what you plan to use it for most. Will you mostly just be taking photos? In that case you don’t need drones with the 4K video capabilities, like the F11 Gm or Gim2, so you can choose from the other three. How long will you use your drone at a time? If it’s close to an hour, then you want to choose something with two batteries.
Some things to note regardless of which drone you choose; since most of the cool features of these drones are accessed via the Ruko Drone smartphone app, you need to have a smart phone either IOS version 9 and up or Android version 5 and up. Additionally, you will need to register your drone with the FAA in the United States to fly, unless you opt for the F11 Mini model.
We hope you’ll enjoy your new portable Ruko drone – Happy flying!