Parrot Mambo, analysis of a mini drone that surprises

The world of mini drones is a real madness when it comes to choosing a model because the variety of specifications and prices is enormous, and on many occasions the huge disappointment. Not all the drones that we can find at affordable prices meet expectations, either for manageability or autonomy and many cases shortly after using them are stored in a box to forget them. The Parrot Mambo does not fall into this category, because Although its price is somewhat higher than the average, it will not disappoint anyone looking for an easy-to-handle drone and that offers hours of fun.

An acceptable autonomy, enough speed to be fun but at the same time not lose manageability, the possibility of using it with your iPhone or iPad, a stability envied by most drones of its category and accessories such as a small plastic pellet gun or tweezers to pick up and drop objects light are some of the characteristics of this mini drone that is more than ideal for those looking for an affordable model but with superior features.

Design and Specifications

Used to other more original Parrot designs, this Mambo will not surprise anyone, looking quite conventional, but that does not have to be a bad thing. Of course, as soon as you have it in your hands, you notice that it is not a model that is bought in the Chinese. Compact and resistant, it is an ideal size for indoor use, at only 18x18cm and a weight of 63 grams.

One of the aspects that most surprises when you start to handle the drone is its stability, especially indoors. This is due to the good number of sensors that this little drone has: XNUMX-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, inertial sensor, ultrasonic sensor, barometric sensor and even a camera on the bottom which not only serves to capture photographs but also helps the entire sensor system to maintain horizontal stability.

In the Parrot Mambo box we will not only find the drone but we will also find a small pistol, a bag with plastic pellets and some tweezers, as well as the battery and the charger cable with microUSB connector. This pistol and tweezers are the most differentiated elements of this toy and help the fun go beyond simply enjoying the operation of the drone. They fit together like Lego pieces on top of the drone. Its functions are as expected: the pistol fires the pellets, the clamps allow low-weight objects to be carried and released.

Configuration and operation

What we will not find inside the box is a control knob. The Parrot Mambo is controlled by your smartphone or tablet, thanks to the Freeflight Mini application that is available for both iOS and Android. The connection between both devices is made via Bluetooth, with a distance that reaches up to 20 meters according to the manufacturer's specifications. The configuration is very simple and the connection between smartphone / tablet with the Mambo is done from the application itself.. Turn on the drone, open the application on your phone or tablet and wait for the link to occur, and you can start to operate the device.

The application gives you information about the remaining battery of the drone, it will allow you to view the photos taken with the lower camera and download them to your device and of course you will be able to control it through on-screen controls that perfectly simulate a conventional control knob. You have certain configuration options changing the type of control and the speed of some movements of the drone, in case after a while the handling seems too simple.

It is very easy to handle this little drone even if you have never had experience in controlling these devices. As simple as that the application It even allows you to take off and land automatically by pressing a button on the screen of your smartphone or tablet.. As if this seems not enough, you can even launch your Parrot Mambo from your hand and let it start to fly. As we indicated before, the stability of the drone is really surprising without twists or oscillations in height when you are indoors. Outdoors things change a bit, especially if there is some wind. In the video I show you in more detail all the functions offered by the control application.

It is an ideal drone for indoor use due to its size and manageability. Even a 10-year-old can handle it after a little training and perform pirouettes without fear of hitting walls or any other object. Of course, you have to get used to that small lag between the order that you transmit from your iPhone and the action of the drone. There is a small delay in the orders you give the Mambo that at first is annoying, but to which you soon get used to and learn to compensate. Apparently this is solved with the optional control that you can buy for just € 35, but I have not been able to verify it because it is not available.

The virtues that you enjoy indoors do not carry over to the outdoors, unless there is no wind at all. Due to its size, it is not yet a drone that tolerates winds very well, not even light, which does not mean that it is not manageable outside the home, but you will have to learn to control it well and compensate for the effect that the wind will have on the small drone. . The icing on the cake are the pirouettes you can do with the push of a button on your phone screen, a delight for the little ones in the house. The battery complies with what is expected, about 9 minutes if you do not put any accessories, which makes the purchase of another extra battery almost mandatory if you do not want to stay with the honey on your lips. In the model that they have sent us for review, a second battery with a charger was included.

Barrel, clamps and camera

It is quite common to find a drone with a camera, almost mandatory even in the cheapest ones, but having a small barrel and tweezers is something absolutely unexpected. They are two accessories that will not be decisive for the purchase of the Parrot Mambo, or at least they should not be, but that add a plus that allows you to enjoy it even more. They also pose a challenge for the handling of the drone, because aiming and hitting with this small plastic pellet gun is not easy, the same as picking up any element with the tweezers.

These small accessories are placed in just a few seconds on the top of the Mambo using the drone's battery for its operation. It should be taken into account that in addition to the energy consumption of these accessories, the increase in weight means that the Parrot Mambo's battery suffers considerably when it is in place. They are fun to use, especially for the little ones at home, but remember that the plastic pellets that come are limited and that you will have to search and collect them for the fun to last.

We cannot say the same for the camera, which is almost anecdotal with a resolution of only 0.3 Mpx, which is not enough. The photos are almost always shaky, with very muted colors and as soon as there is little light, there is a lot of noise. But for this price we can't ask for an HD camera either, so the best we can do is use it as what it is, a toy with which to take curious and funny photos that you will not use as your computer's wallpaper but that can give a laugh.

Editor's opinion

The Parrot Mambo is a mini drone that stands out from the rest thanks to its stability and ease of handling. Ideal for driving indoors, not so much outdoors, and perfect for those who want an easy-to-handle drone that guarantees hours of fun, it also has the addition of a small plastic ball cannon and tweezers that help to enjoy it. even more. The customization of the controls within the application for iOS and Android allows adding a bit of difficulty for those who want something more advanced. For an approximate price of € 99 in Amazon It is a highly recommended purchase for those who wish to start in this world or make a good gift.