Parrot Bebop Drone 2 – Faster, Lighter & Longer-Flying

After releasing the original Parrot Bebop Drone last year, Parrot has unveiled its upgraded version, the Parrot Bebop Drone 2.

Like the first Bebop drone, this model will be able to stream 1080p video to a tablet, phone or virtual reality headset. Its 14-megapixel camera is largely the same as its predecessor, but it sports a new stationary fisheye lens.  Instead of a heavy and fragile camera gimbal system that would allow users to physically pan the drone’s camera (as seen on the DJI Inspire), the Parrot Bebop Drone 2 takes in a dramatically wide angled image. This makes for lighter, more mechanically resilient camera design, arguably at the expense of some photographic flexibility.

If you recall, the original Bebop has about 11 minutes of flight time before the battery gives up, which may be the reason Parrot includes an extra battery with each purchase. But thanks to the new 2700 mAh battery, the Parrot Bebop Drone 2 will stay in the air for up to 25 minutes. Even though that’s a significant battery increase, the new Bebop is as sleek as ever, especially considering that the old velcro strap keeping the battery in place is gone. The Parrot Bebop Drone 2 does weigh slightly more than its predecessor (500 grams versus 400 grams), but it’s still lightweight for a drone.

The Parrot Bebop Drone 2 has a max vertical speed of 13 mph, and can climb 328 feet in fewer than 20 seconds. Once it’s up there, no need to worry about high altitude winds, the Parrot Bebop Drone 2 can resist headwinds up to 39 mph. In addition, image stabilizing software will help get the clearest shot. Bebop 2 has a max horizontal speed of 37 mph, but it’ll take 14 seconds to reach that max speed. Still, the Bebop 2 can cover a lot of ground. Check out the Wind Test video below.

The Parrot Bebop Drone 2 is controlled by any tablet or smartphone using the FreeFlight 3 app, but if you’re looking for something with a little more responsiveness, Parrot also makes the Skycontroller for piloting the Bebop. The Skycontroller hooks up to your tablet and uses touchscreen inputs as well as joystick controls. The newest Skycontroller, the Black Edition, is set to be available very soon. The controller can operate with or without a tablet and has a Wi-Fi range of up to 6,561 feet. Just make sure you don’t lose track of your drone.

Aside from the propellers there are no moving parts, which helps its chances of surviving a crash. The ABS body is reinforced with glass fiber to toughen it up even more. Parrot says it has ruggedized feet for shockproof landings and dustproof elements on the lens.

Available now. Head on over to our range of Parrot products to get yours!