SJRC F11 vs ZLRC SG906: Best drone under $200

JJRC F11 vs SG906 Beast side by side comparisson

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 have 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 Beast, in April 2019. While SJRC stuck to 2-axis gimbals, all ZLRC drones are equipped with 3-axis mechanical gimbals since 2020. 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 so that we can 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.

Photo of SG906 PRO 2

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.

Photo of F11 4K Pro

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 3840×2160@30fps 2048×1080@25fps
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.

Camera (image quality) comparison

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.

Range (remote controller) comparison
F11 transmitter on left, SG906 on right

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 the fact 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).

Battery life comparison

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 welcomed 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). 

Verdict: Best drone under $200

If you are looking for the best image quality for your money, I think the SJRC is 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.

I have nearly 25 years of photographic experience and 10 years working as product tester for various websites. I have knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including DSLR\Mirrorless\Action cameras, Computers, Gimbals, Power Stations, 3D printers, and, above all, drones! I’ve flying, reviewing and building drones since 2014. I founded and own FirstQuadcopter a drone blog dedicated to newbie pilots. I authored over 300 articles, helping millions navigate the exciting world of drones!

11 COMMENTS

  1. Question. Can you use the 3400mAh battery in the SG906 beast pro 2 which came with the 2800 mAh battery and thereby increase flight time? More general question, Are the batteries interchangeable in all versions of the beast except the first one which I understand had slightly different dimensions?

  2. None of these two are comparable to the DJI AIR2, but they are nice beginner drones. I owned first the SG906 then the F11. Both are fun to fly!

  3. I am a tester for both SJRC and ZLRC and me personally preferer the ZLRC. The Beast 2 is a winner if you don t have the money for a DJI drone

  4. Hello, my name is Peter and I’m from Poland. For some time now, I have
    been following your reviews on https://www.firstquadcopter.com and on the
    Youtube channel.
    I’m just choosing a new drone for myself. In fact, I almost chose …
    three models. And despite the interesting reviews, I can’t decide.
    Therefore, I would like to ask you for help. I know it’s not easy
    because everyone has different preferences but I count on your experience.
    Until now, I was “flying” a small toy drone. However, it is no pleasure
    because the battery lasted a few minutes and every gust of wind
    disturbed and the drone flew wherever it wanted.
    Now it’s time for a more advanced toy. A toy, because the budget is
    about $ 200.
    My selected models are: SG906 Pro2 or MAX (Pro3), F11 or F11S 4K Pro, M1
    Pro or Pro2.
    All at a similar price. All in a similar weight. All with similar
    functions. Of course, they also have differences. The problem is how to
    judge whether the missing functions of one of them will disturb me in
    any way. Will the lack of Optical Flow be critical when I don’t plan to
    fly indoors? Will the lack of a 3-axis gimbal significantly affect the
    quality of photos or videos? Isn’t the lack of smooth camera control
    worse than the lack of a third axis of the gimbal?
    Lots of questions I don’t know the answer to.
    Why do I need a drone? For amateur flying around, for filming and
    vacation photos … no professional use. Flights outside in relatively
    fine weather. Ease of piloting, functions of autonomous flight, safe
    return to the starting point, so as not to lose the drone while learning
    to fly, counts.
    Accessibility is also important. For example, SG906 MAX will be
    unavailable in the EU for some time and import from China is associated
    with additional customs duties. The F11S is also hard to find for sale.
    So is it worth waiting or giving up these additional functions and
    choosing something that will perfectly meet my expectations now?
    I will be grateful for any comments and suggestions that will help me
    make the right choice.

    Best wishes
    Peter

  5. Hello, which one has better wind resistance? Which is better to fly with?
    I look for my second drone after the toy dron ;) Both are interesting but could buy only one (•‿•)

    • Both have about the same wind resistance. But the F11 is powered by 3s battery, so I expect a bit more power from it.
      Outdoor they are very similar, but without OFP (bottom camera) the F11 fails indoor. It is also important that the SG906Pro2 has only 2K video recording.

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