Today we will have a detailed overview of the two most popular drones under $200 and make an in-depth comparison of the SRCC F11 and ZLRC SG906 series. Last year we reviewed both of these two GPS-enabled drones, so our comparison is based on real-user experience. Our SJRC F11 4K Pro versus ZLRC SG906 Pro 2 article covers battery life, flight range, and camera performance.

Both F11 and SG906 has numerous revisions. Over time they have been constantly updated. The first F11 model was revealed somewhere in 2018, and the original SG906 or so-called in April 2019. While SJRC stuck with 2-axis gimbals since 2020 all ZLRC drones are equipped with 3-axis mechanical gimbals. In 2021 ZLL introduces the first drone under $200 with an advanced collision avoidance system. The SG906 Max, aka Beast Pro 3, is available with two camera options, with and without EIS (electronic image stabilization).

Firstly let’s have a closer look at each one of these two rivals, and after, we will continue with the comparison.

ZLRC SG906 Pro 2

The Beast Pro 2 was introduced in August 2020 with a starting price of $169.99. Its biggest upgrades compared to its predecessors was the 3-axis gimbal and higher capacity battery (3400mAh). The previous Beast had only a 2-axis gimbal and a 2800mAh battery.

Folded in, the aircraft measures 17.4 x 8.4 x 7cm and weighs 560 grams. The included shoulder bag allows easy transportation and can store all the stock accessories plus a couple of spare batteries.

ZLRC SG906 series comparison

Beast series	Camera Gimbal	Battery Flight time	Flight Range	EVO Sensor
SG906	1080P/4K	7.4V 2800mAh 25minutes	600m	No
SG906 Pro	4K/2-axis	7.4V 2800mAh 25minutes	800m	No
SG906 Pro 2	4K/3-axis	7.6V 3400mAh 28minutes	800m	No
SG906 Max (Pro 3)	4K/3-axis	7.6V 3400mAh 26minutes	1200m	Yes
SG906 MAX V2	4K/3-axis+EIS	7.6V 3400mAh 26minutes	1200m	Yes

SJRC F11 4K Pro

I reviewed the SJRC F11 4K Pro in December 2020, and I was impressed by its image quality, to be honest. It has probably the best true 4K camera that you can under $200. The 2-axis mechanical gimbal, combined with electronic image stabilization (EIS), ensures super-smooth footage.

My only complaint was regarding the lack of an optical flow sensor. It drifts a lot in an indoor environment. Some other reviewers had the luck to receive the F11S 4K Pro with OFP, and they had a much better experience with this upgraded version.

SJRC F11 series comparison

F11 series	Camera Stabilization	Battery Flight time	Flight Range	OFP Sensor
SJRC F11 V1	1080P/EIS	3s/2500mAh 26~28min	1200m	Yes
SJRC F11 Pro	2K/EIS	3s/2500mAh 26~28min	1200m	Yes
SJRC F11 Pro 4K	4K/2-axis+EIS	3s/2500mAh 26~28min	1500m	No
SJRC F11S Pro 4K	4K/2-axis+EIS	3s/2500mAh 26~28min	1500m	Yes

SJRC F11 4K Pro vs ZLRC SG906 Pro 2 comparison table

In the table below, I tried to compare the most important specs of both drones. I highlighted blue where the F11 4K Pro excels and with green where the SG906 Pro 2 shines.

	F11 Pro 4K	SG906 Pro 2
Size	Folded: 176 × 105 × 80 mm Unfolded: 450 × 405 × 80 mm	Folded: 174 x 84 x 70 mm Unfolded: 283 x 253 x 70 mm
Weight	585 grams	546 grams
Camera	3840×[email protected]	2048×[email protected]
Stabilization	2-axis gimbal + EIS	3-axis
Range	1500m	1200m
Active tracking	Yes	Yes
Obstacle avoidance	No	No
Geofence	No	No
Optical flow sensor	No	Yes
Second camera	No	Yes
Battery	3S/2500mAh	2S/3400mah
Flight time	26 minutes	28 minutes
FAA registration	Yes	Yes
Price at RCGoing	$199.99	$150.88

SJRC F11 4K Pro vs ZLRC SG906 Pro 2: Image quality

Despite that both drones are advertised with a 4K camera, only the F11 4K Pro is capable of recording UHD videos. Also, while the F11 combines a 2-axis mechanical gimbal with EIS, the Beast Pro 2 adopts a 3-axis gimbal. Both allow remote camera angle adjustment (PTZ), but I felt the F11’s dial knob control more precise than the SG906’s Up/Down key approach.

Personally, I liked more the videos that came out from the SJRC F11 4K Pro. Maybe on YouTube, they look similar but comparing the RAW footage on a UHD TV, there is a significant difference.

F11 4K Pro sample footage

SJRC F11 vs ZLRC SG906: Flight range

I tested the range of these two drones with the same Android phone (Samsung A51), in the same location at the same altitude (70 meters). On paper, the F11 4K Pro has a range of up to 1500 meters and the SG906 Pro 2 about 1200 meters. I was surprised that the actual control range of the F11 is only half of the Beast and the FPV range it’s even worse. My personal record with F11 4K Pro was 637 meters and with its contender 1120 meters.

As you can see in the image above the SJRC transmitter looks more stylish compared to the ZLRC one. Both remote controllers feature status LCD, folding antennas, and phone holder. Personally, I found the Beast RC’s old-school display handier because it provides detailed telemetry data like flight distance and altitude.

SG906 Pro 2 range test

SJRC F11 4K Pro vs ZLRC SG906 Beast Pro 2: Battery life

When it comes to paying almost $200 for a flying toy, I think battery life is a decisive factor (or at least it should be). Despite that, these two drones are powered by different types of batteries (2S 3400mAh vs 3s 2500mAh) they are advertised with a similar flight time (26min vs 28min).

During my hovering tests, the F11 4K Pro managed to stay in the air for 27 minutes and the SG906Pro2 for 22 minutes. Those extra 5 minutes are more than welcome if you have only one battery, especially since the charging process takes about 5 hours.

SJRC F11 battery life test

Bottom Line

With only 200 bucks in your pocket, you will need to make compromises, for sure. You can’t find a perfect drone in this price range (for now at least). 

If you are looking for the best image quality for your money, I think the SJRC an excellent option. In terms of battery life, the F11 is also superior compared to the SG906.

On the other hand, if price and flight range is most important for you then probably the Beast Pro 2 is your drone.