FIMI X8 SE 2020: Increased potential. Extended capabilities.

Introduction

FIMI, thanks to which such successful UAV models as FIMI A3 and FIMI X8 SE were born, launched a modified version of the top drone – X8 SE 2020. Improvements affected only the hardware part, there are not many of them, but they are all key, which allowed developers to significantly improve the overall potential of the drone.

Improvements

List of improvements of the X8 SE 2020 version. The rest of the characteristics remain unchanged.

Reduced drone weight from 790 grams to 765 grams
Increased maximum flight time from 33 minutes to 35 minutes
Expanded satellite positioning by adding the Chinese Beidou system
A camera has been added to the complex of sensors of the drone positioning system; increased operating range of sensors up to 30 meters; improved positioning accuracy without GPS.
Increased max. distance FPV removal from 5 km to 8 km
Camera: Instead of a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor built on Ambarella ISP, a 1/2.6-inch sensor works in tandem with the top Hisilicon ISP chipset
Reduced focal length from 4.73mm to 3.54mm
Video shooting: resolution changed in 2.7K mode; was: 2560 × 1440P, became: 2716 × 1524P; reduced frame rate in 720P mode: it was 200 fps, it became: 120/100 fps; reduced max. frame rate in 1080P mode: was 100 fps, now: 90 fps
Added HDR mode for photos and videos
Added night mode “Night Shot” for shooting in low light conditions
Added H.265 codec
Fimi Navi mobile app 2020
For users of the 2020 version, the extended Fimi Premium Care warranty is available, which allows, in case of loss of the drone as a result of a crash that made it impossible to continue using the copter (no more than 2 times a year), you can get a new copy for $40. The cost of the extended warranty is $15.

Peculiarities

All key features with improvements:

Weight 765 gr
Portable and foldable design
Positioning GPS + GLONASS + Beidou + visual positioning system consisting of a lower camera, optical and ultrasonic sensors
2 × EMU modules
Brushless power plant
Quick release folding rotors
Noise 7dBm
12MP 4K camera built on a 1/2.6-inch CMOS sensor, working in tandem with a top-end Hisilicon ISP chipset
Pixel size 1.55 µm
3x digital zoom
Image stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
F-Log and DNG RAW modes
Max. bitrate 100 Mbps
HDR mode for photo/video
Night shot mode
H.264/H.265 video compression format
Video streaming through the second generation TDMA HD digital system at a frequency of 5.8 GHz
720p video quality
Max. removal distance 8 km
Max. flight altitude 500 m (electronically limited)
Max. flight speed 65 km/h
Max. flight time 35 min
Sliding design of control equipment with removable sticks, allowing installation from a smartphone to a tablet the size of an iPad mini
4 × pre-programmed Cine shots
3 × Intelligent Object Tracking Modes
Waypoint flight mode with task scheduling
3 × panorama shot options
3 × Motion-lapse options that do not require post-processing
SAR mode
Control of “No-Fly” zones
Fimi Navi mobile app 2020
Fimi Premium Care Extended Warranty

The developer clarifies that those customers who have already ordered the old version of the drone have priority to receive the new version of the drone, and that they will be contacted by the support service to discuss the relevance and terms of the replacement.

Equipment

The updated version is available in two trim levels:

Version X8 SE 2020
X8 SE 2020 Version + Fimi Premium Care Extended Warranty

Specification

Drone

Brand:

Xiaomi FIMI

Model:

X8 SE 2020

Color:

White

Dimensions in flight condition:

20.4×10.6×7.26cm

Diagonal size:

372mm

The weight:

765gr

Max. takeoff speed:

18 km/h

Max. sink rate:

14 km/h

Max. horizontal flight speed:

64.8 km/h

Max. flight altitude:

500m

Max. ceiling above sea level:

8000m

Max. flight time:

35 min (without wind at a stable speed of 28 km/h)

Wind resistance:

≤ 14 m/s

Satellite positioning:

GPS+GLONASS+Beidou

Touch positioning:

lower chamber + optical and ultrasonic sensors

Working range of sensors:

up to 30 m

Position holding accuracy:

Vertically:
± 0.1m (supported by ultrasonic sensor)
± 0.5m (when satellite positioning is active)
Horizontally: ± 1.5m

Food:

3S 11.4V 4500mAh 51.3Wh

Operating frequency range:

5.725 – 5.850GHz

Working temperature range:

0 – 40°С

Control equipment

Dimensions:

20.38×9.1×4.66cm

The weight:

370gr

Operating frequency range:

5.725 – 5.850GHz

Max. FPV Removal Distance:

8 kilometers

Food:

3.7V 3900mAh Li-ion

Charging port:

Micro USB

suspension

Controlled swivel range:

0° to -90°

Stabilization:

3-axis mechanical

Angle Control Accuracy:

± 0.005°

Camera

Matrix:

1/2.6″ CMOS Sony IMX378

Chipset:

Hisilicon ISP (latest generation)

Lens:

FOV 80°

Zoom:

3 × digital

Diaphragm:

f2.0

Focal length:

3.54mm

Equivalent focal length:

26mm

Eff. pixels:

12 million

ISO range:

video: 100 – 3200
a photo: 100 – 1600

Shutter speed:

8 – 1/8000s

Max. bitrate:

100Mbps

Photo resolution:

12MP 4000×3000

Video resolution:

4K: 3840 × 2160 @ 24/25/30 fps
2K: 2716 × 1524 @ 24/25/30/50/60 fps
FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/50/60/90 fps
HD: 1280 × 720 at 100/120 fps

Video Compression Format:

H.264/H.265

File system:

FAT32/exFAT

Photo Format:

JPG; JPG+DNG

Video Format:

MP4

Memory card:

Micro SD (U3 or higher) with a capacity of 8 – 64GB (recommended Sandisk, Kingston U3)

Charger

Rated output power:

13.05V 3A

rotors

Removal mechanism:

quick release

Length:

8.5 inches (21.59cm)

Mobile app

APP:

Fimi Navi 2020

Supported operating systems:

iOS/Android

Appearance

Camera and gimbal

On board the X8 SE 2020 is a modified 12MP 4K camera built on a 1/2.6-inch Sony IMX378 CMOS sensor (Pixel size = 1.55μm) with f/2.0 aperture and driven by the top-end Hisilicon ISP chipset. Installed in a 3-axis mechanical gimbal with an angular control accuracy of ± 0.005°. Provides stabilized video recording at maximum resolution: 3840 × 2160 at 24/25/30 fps. Recording at 100Mbps. Max. photo resolution: 4000 × 3000. The footage is stored on a pre-installed microSD card with a maximum capacity of 64GB.

The developer has added the ability to highly efficiently encode H.265 video to preserve quality and detail while taking up 40% less storage space than H.264/AVC video.

HDR mode

The modified model received support for photo / video shooting in HDR mode. Your footage will now look amazing, retaining the original details, highlights, and color tones of the selected scene or subject.

Range of flight

The sensitivity of the second-generation TDMA HD digital system has been increased by 5dB, which has increased the FPV flight range from 5km to 8km.

Ultra portable design

FIMI X8 SE 2020 inherits a light and compact body with the ability to fold from its predecessor. The dimensions of the X8 when folded are 73×106×204mm, making it easy to carry in a small backpack.

Control equipment

The portable remote control has also not undergone any changes. Its original and ergonomic design provides the most convenient and comfortable grip, and removable sticks make the control equipment as compact and portable as possible. The remote is still compatible with all smartphones and tablets such as the iPad Mini.

Flight duration

The drone’s efficient aerodynamic design, lighter body, high-efficiency motors and propellers, combined with an intelligent high-performance LiPo battery, resulted in a longer flight time of 35 minutes.

smart modes

The automatic flight and shooting modes have remained unchanged for the X8 2020 version. The user has 5 different modes for different purposes, allowing you to easily receive cinematic content from the air.

Cine Shot

The mode offers the user 4 options for performing automatic aerial photography with a cinematic composition in one tap:

Rocket – the drone flies vertically upwards and shoots under itself.
Dronie – the drone takes off from the bottom up at an angle, focusing on the subject for shooting.
Circle – the drone performs a circular flight around the object for shooting.
Spiral – the drone performs a circular flight around a given object for shooting, moving away along a spiral trajectory.

Follow modes

The user has 3 options for tracking an object for shooting:

Trace – tracks an object from different angles
lock – tracks an object from a given angle
Profile – follows an object parallel to its movement

Waypoint flight

The “Flight planning shooting” mode with the ability to plan tasks allows the user to plan not only the flight, but also set points of interest (POI) on which the drone’s camera will focus when performing automatic flight.

panoramic shooting

There are 3 options for panorama shooting in automatic mode:

Pano-180°
Pano Horizontal
Pano vertical

Time Lapse

The mode allows you to realize professional time-lapse shooting in one tap without the need for post-processing. Three versions are available:

night shot

The redesigned X8SE 2020 drone is equipped with a Hisilicon chipset and powerful AI algorithm to provide the best noise reduction, preserving vivid details in every shot. Now you can take your drone with you to capture the beauty of the night.

SAR mode

SAR (Search and Rescue) – Provides access to 3x digital zoom and real-time GPS position of the aircraft’s current position. Coupled with an increased flight duration of up to 35 minutes and an increased flight range of up to 8 kilometers, the use of a drone in search and rescue activities has become even more relevant.

APP

The new, more intuitive interface of the FIMI NAVI 2020 application allows you to easily connect the remote control to any mobile device with OTG support, no complicated settings. You can even share live footage with your friends via social platforms.

Precise positioning system

GPS and GLONASS satellite positioning systems provide the drone with precise hovering and fast positioning. Now the sensor positioning system has a camera in its arsenal, and the operating range of the sensors has been extended to 30 meters to ensure that the drone hover is impressively stable even without a GPS signal.

Price

The Fimi X8 SE 2020 quadcopter is available for purchase on various Internet marketplaces. The developer set the following prices for the modified model:

Version X8 SE 2020 – $ 419
X8 SE 2020 Version + Fimi Premium Care Extended Warranty – $439 (temporarily not available)

Conclusion

FIMI X8 SE 2020 $419

Functionality

10/10

Flight time

10/10

flight qualities

9/10

compactness

6/10

Equipment

10/10

Reliability

10/10

Price quality

10/10

pros

Execution quality
Portable (folding arms and props)/Props with quick release mechanism
Powerful, quiet power plant
Controllability and positioning accuracy
Improved camera quality / Added HDR mode for photo / video; Added night mode
Added H.265 codec
Auto flight and shooting modes
FPV flight up to 8 km
Sliding remote design with removable sticks (for smartphone/tablet)
Price

Minuses

Doesn’t fly around obstacles
No 4K at 60 fps
Bulky remote

With the advent of the latest firmware versions, the modified model received the status of a workable product that meets all the characteristics stated in the specification. It would also not be superfluous to note the quality of feedback after the purchase, where not a single client is left without the attention of the developer, which positively characterizes the company. The model fully justifies the money spent and can be recommended to all hobbyists who, for various reasons, do not consider buying full-size drones from the price category above $400, but at the same time want to get a decent long-term solution for high-quality photo and video shooting from the air, capable of confidently moving away to a distance of up to 8 kilometers. Age limit 16+.