This $65 High Quality FPV Controller

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🎮 ‪@RadioMasterRC‬ Pocket
‣ www.radiomasterrc.com/product...
The Radiomaster Pocket, the latest FPV controller. Priced at $65, it offers impressive build quality and solves previous battery life issues. It is the Best FPV Controller for Beginners who don't want to invest in a more expensive long term option. While it caters more towards thumb grip users, the Pocket is a solid option for travel or budget pilots. The gimbals may take some getting used to, but overall, it's a strong contender in the FPV market.
0:00:00 Introduction to the Radiomaster Pocket FPV controller
0:00:31 Impressive Build Quality and Hybrid Gamepad Design
0:02:01 Pocket's Nano Gimbals and DJI Inspiration
0:03:11 ExpressLRS Version: More Power and Customization Options
The latest FPV controller from Radiomaster is the Radiomaster Pocket. Priced at just $65, I've had the opportunity to use this radio for a few weeks now, and overall, I've been quite impressed with it. However, as with any product, it does have a few quirks that we'll be discussing.
First off, let's talk about the build quality of the Radiomaster Pocket. As expected from Radiomaster, the build quality is excellent. It feels solid and definitely exceeds its price point. The radio has a unique hybrid gamepad box style form factor, with the empty space in the middle being enclosed to house the main board. This design allows for the use of two 18650 batteries, which has solved the battery life issue that was present in previous models.
The Pocket is clearly targeted as a travel radio or a budget entry-level device. Despite its compact size, it can still be used even after upgrading to a higher-end radio like the Boxer or the TX16S. In terms of ergonomics, the Pocket seems to cater more towards thumb grip users, with buttons and switches falling naturally under the fingers. However, for hybrid or pinch grip pilots, the stick height and switch button placement may pose some issues.
Moving on to the gimbals and sticks, they are quite interesting on the Pocket. The stick ends are removable and can be stored at the back of the radio, but they are M3 sized, so you'll need an adapter to fit longer stick ends available for the DJI FPV Remote 2. The gimbals on the Pocket are smaller than what you'd typically find on other gamepad style radios, and they are called pocket gimbals. While they may take some getting used to due to their shorter travel distance, they are not necessarily a deal breaker, especially for those using this as a travel radio or as their first radio.
It's worth noting the similarities between the Radiomaster Pocket and the DJI FPV Remote 2. From the mirrored button and switch layout to the foldable antenna and nano gimbals, there's definitely some inspiration taken from DJI. The Pocket comes in two versions: CC2500 for FreeSky and an ExpressLRS version. The ExpressLRS version is recommended, as it offers more power and full ELRS support.
Additionally, Radiomaster offers different colored shells for personalization, allowing you to make the Pocket your own. Overall, I believe that the Radiomaster Pocket is a solid package, perfect as a second radio or for travellers. Even for beginners on a budget, the value it offers is undeniable. Despite its quirks, it is certainly a real contender in the FPV market.
** DISCLAIMERS **
Radiomaster provided me this product at no cost with the only requirement to make a review video that was to be published on a certain date. No Contract, No Terms & Conditions, just make a video!

[@DarrenAllatt]

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[@leogao1500]

Already bought my tx12 but this looks so good

[@wavesummit]

Love the edit on this one, and the portrait of the radio is hilarious

[@DarrenAllatt]

I know right. Pretty cool!

[@dustinpugh8222]

Nice!

[@DronePH-2024]

WOW NICE SIR THANKS FOR SHARING 👍

[@DarrenAllatt]

Welcome 👍

[@sebastrianw.4673]

Thanks for the video bro. I am thinking about purchasing this transmitter. Believe it or not I'm still flying Flysky but haven't flown in a while. Getting ready to start back flying. Keep it in the air bro.

[@DarrenAllatt]

Thank you 🙏- welcome back!

[@brettsummers1580]

Love the desk rock!

[@DarrenAllatt]

🤘🏻 Rock On!

[@frangeris]

W for Radiomaster, this brinds better competetion for small controllers! Regarding to similarities with DJI controller? I don't think so, Radiomaster was pretty original with that design being conservative with the size while keeping the main focus (small and flexible) and it looks good tbh, the Jumper T-Pro was the real copy from DJI, a little bit with the Zorro

[@DarrenAllatt]

yes and having the same switch layout (but mirrored), antenna, nano gimbals, removable stick ends stored in the grips is not at all copying dji. the only difference is the shell

[@frangeris]

@@DarrenAllatt antenna and nano gimbals isnt that a standard?, I agree with removable stick ends stored in the grips, but it is a matter of practicity 🤷🏽 not patents

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@frangeris did you not see the size comparison to mini gimbals? These gimbals are smaller than the mini gimbals on the TX12 and Zorro.

[@bulufish8208]

Got big hands ✋️. I'm sticking with the radiomaster tx16s Luminier. This is a good starting point 👉 for my kid. Good review 👍

[@DarrenAllatt]

Good choice!

[@bert5376]

Do you think with a little modding the mini gimbals would fit in the pocket?

[@DarrenAllatt]

Considering you can easily replace the shell, I think it is worth having a go and seeing if it works. I’d probably be on the side of caution though, because it’s a big investment in AG01 mini Gimbal if it doesn’t work out

[@ha-media]

Love my Boxer. Might try this out for the portability

[@DarrenAllatt]

Well, I will be using it as my travel radio and in my go-bag. What did you think about the video format / editing?

[@ha-media]

@@DarrenAllatt Always on point with your videos. Straight to the point and very informative 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@bivekdebbarma3363]

For someone who grew fond of Fpv drones recently and had been feeling "this is my thing" , especially the tiny whoops, what will be your recommendation, shall I start with a RTF KIT or I should buy the controller, goggles and drones separately? And of RTF KIT, which kit should I go for, Cetus X or Tiny Go ver 1.3 or WhoopFly 16.

[@DarrenAllatt]

Never buy an RTF kit. Get a Radio, learn on the sim. Get some analog goggles second hand, then learn to fly a whoop & a 5” Then after that and you’ve learned how to fly and not crash as much - go digital.

[@citytouchstudios1144]

Love my tx16 s

[@oisinogorman35]

Yes first comment, looks very ergo and I'm hoping it has the dropped gimbals as standard ;)

[@arthurganz]

Thanks for the video! What do you mean with: full ELRS support? What can i do more with this radio instead of the ones you mentioned during the caugh 😂😂

[@DarrenAllatt]

Some of the BetaFPV Radios use a Betafpv version of ELRS, and you have to use their configurator and wait for them to update the firmware. Lite Radio 2 SE and Lite Radio 3. Jumpers T-Pro doesn’t include support for ELRS backpack.

[@sticky_ricebowl]

not gonna lie, i was planning to make a custom case for the t-lite that looks super similar to this but its a shame that ag01 mini gimbals don't fit in it. You think its worth it to make a custom case for this and have gimbal mounts for a ag01 mini?

[@DarrenAllatt]

If you want to go through the process of it all, sure.

[@PixelSheep]

I currently have the FlySky FS-i6 - do you think this is worth checking out? :)

[@DarrenAllatt]

Absolutely, or buy a Radiomaster Boxer

[@TheDarkstar826]

This radio is going to replace my expensive ones. Reason? Compact. Plus, I hate carrying alot of things.

[@robbiek9016]

Which radio is NOT a travel radio??

[@DarrenAllatt]

Agree, however the reference to a 'travel' radio is more that if you are going on a trip or holiday and didn't want to take a TX16S, Boxer and all your kit, you can take the smallest amount of gear and still get up and fly

[@brianfreland9065]

Those big clunkers are nice but they definitely don't fit in my bag well. I prefer my $70 jumper t-lite with a mini elrs module to my medium sized dji radio for sure. The smaller game remote style radios are great in my opinion. I'm not speaking for this one specifically but my t-lite is my absolute favorite and cheapest I've had lol. Most comfortable, portable, ergonomic, cost effective, coolest looking, customizable, programming capabilities, and can even put cnc milled aerospace aluminum hall sensor gimbals in them if ya want! Can't do that with dji box and it's definitely WAY EASIER to fit it in my bag or even carry on my neck while inbetween flights. Its nit a huge deal but theyre absolutelyconvenientand better to have one than to not have one. Lol I love my t-lite and there are even better ones than that for sure out there. Thankfully quality radios aren't really that expensive or hard to come by like most other quality things in this hobby. The transmitters are the easiest part of it all lol

[@robbiek9016]

Okay now I get it, but I still don't see a point in owning more than one radio

[@DarrenAllatt]

Well, have you seen my video on a go-bag?

[@serang]

​@@robbiek9016there's points. I currently have tx16s and t-pro. As FW flyer, and also fying quad with INAV, radio with more switches is much preferred in the beginning. I need switches for autotune, auto level, auto trim, etc. But when the aircraft is already well tuned and set, bringing tx16s for travel is a pain. That's why t pro is my preferred tavel radio. BTW, I'm pre ordering pocket for more portability.

[@lcheats656]

I have a Zorro on the way right now. Now this controller is coming out, it might have been better to use these controllers. Or do you think the Zorro is still better?

[@DarrenAllatt]

"Better" is subjective and not measurable. Price doesn't determine better either Consider this: ‣ They both have the same internal ELRS module, so no difference at all there ‣ Pocket uses 18650 batteries, has way longer battery life than Zorro ‣ Zorro uses Mini Gimbals (upgradable to AG01), while pocket has Mini ‣ Zorro is more ergonomic for multiple grip types, pocket favours Thumbs ‣ Zorro isn't as portable as the Pocket, ‣ Pocket is smaller than the Zorro so not comfortable for someone with big hands ‣ Zorro is $119, Pocket is $65, Boxer is $139 This is better vs that is better is just not something that can ever be

[@lcheats656]

@@DarrenAllatt With all the points, I believe that the Zorro was still not a good buy. Maybe then the pocket or the boxer would have been better for me. But now she's on her way and maybe I'll send her back then. I'll have to think about it myself now. I just paid way too much for the Zorro (160€) and it's definitely not worth it and doesn't make it such a good deal

[@DarrenAllatt]

You have to do what’s right for you.

[@mungkey]

Need that folding antenna on the Boxer! :)

[@DarrenAllatt]

Yes agree. Maybe if I can buy it seperate there may be a mod in the future

[@55amps]

Ima get this as a spare tx

[@DarrenAllatt]

yeah mine will be my travel radio or my "mini kit" when I don't want to take everything

[@vishnulion4u]

Which is best tx12 and pocket

[@DarrenAllatt]

What would make one “the best” over the other

[@joelwood.photography]

Do you need batteries to use it as a controller in a simulator

[@DarrenAllatt]

Yes

[@joelwood.photography]

@@DarrenAllatt thanks👍

[@FATAL260]

Im getting into fpv and want to play sinulator, i have budget under 100€, should i cop this radio or try to buy used ans better radio?

[@DarrenAllatt]

who do you mean by 'cop' this radio? the police aren't involved. as I said, buy once cry once is my preferred way of buying FPV stuff; so I'd personally buy a Boxer. However if you wanted to go with a budget radio and upgrade later, than I'd buy this.

[@TheVeganarchism]

I see it’s a pre-order…any idea when it’ll actually ship? Or when it’ll be available from Australian shops? For the unwary buyer, also note that it doesn’t come with batteries, which bumps up the price a little - word to the noob 😉

[@DarrenAllatt]

No idea sorry. Aussie shops are often forgotten by manufacturers

[@icebalm]

Interesting radio for a good price. Jumper doesn't have full ELRS support?

[@DarrenAllatt]

No Jumper don't... The Jumper ELRS radios don't include backpack support.

[@icebalm]

@@DarrenAllatt Eh, the backpack is an extra module and isn't really part of the ELRS spec.

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@icebalm no it's not for TX modules. the current hardware spec for ELRS TX Modules includes backpack

[@AleXianFPV]

1:52 but after "mini" comes "micro" if I'm not mistaken.

[@DarrenAllatt]

Yes you are correct.

[@ibrahimalrabiah1179]

As 65$ it is better budget radio , better than zorro, I have 16s, zorro, and boxer , I love boxer more 16s too bulky, zorro gimbals not good as full size gimbals, maybe you think they are same but they don’t the feelings and movements are better with full sized gimbals , so … boxer is my choice, as I have them all , I’ll not go back go mini or pocket gimbals , and regarding the similarities to the dji I think the form factor is smilar to tango 2 more than dji!

[@DarrenAllatt]

Sorry I can’t compare to the Tango 2 as that’s been out of stock for 2 years.

[@TattedTommysTv]

I would almost take that over my tx16s it's to bulky to be honest

[@DarrenAllatt]

Agree, I use the boxer because it’s the right size. This will be my travel.

[@ibrahimalrabiah1179]

For first time radio you cang give it try, and maybe if you got it as a gift

[@DarrenAllatt]

Sorry what do you mean?

[@ibrahimalrabiah1179]

Sorry about some apelling mistakes, I mean this radio is good for person as a first fpv radio, but who already have 16s, or boxer , definitely will not buy it , unless it gifted from someone else, 🌹

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@ibrahimalrabiah1179 are you saying you want me to give this radio to you ?

[@ibrahimalrabiah1179]

No,thank you, 🙏 I’m already own 16S ,zorro, and boxer, to be clear I think this is a good radio for newbies who just strated the hobby.

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@ibrahimalrabiah1179 or are you saying that if you have a friend or family member who wants to get into FPV - it would make a great gift, like a birthday present?

[@GAMINOES]

You're talking about 30km range of the radio? So what vtx can give same range of video transmission to the goggles? 😂max of 3km video transmission would be great. I have dji O3 which said to have 10km of video transmission but about 2km the video signal starts dropping significantly and note there are not many huge building that would block transmission but some trees

[@DarrenAllatt]

O3 is good for 20kms of video, Walksnail & HD-Zero is good for 50kms. You also need to increase altitude as you increase distance as that’s how radio waves travel.

[@brentsheldon8667]

No real benefit to this radio unless you don't have a radio or you want a more compact radio. But at the end of the day you can't beat Radiomaster tx16s with a module bay in the back so you can run different protocols.

[@DarrenAllatt]

This has a module bay And “different protocols” from a MPM I’d pointless in 2023 with everything on ELRS or CRSF

[@RookieRay]

Why so cheap compared to the zorro?

[@DarrenAllatt]

It's probably simply price positioning rather than actual cost. An iPad with 64gb is priced at $449 while the 256gb is $599, there extra storage doesn't cost $180, far from it. So its really just price positioning to make sure you buy a Radiomaster instead of other brands, so then when you go to buy your next radio to upgrade, you'd go for the Zorro, the Boxer, the Tx16S instead of looking elsewhere

[@crash_lander]

Crap!! Why not mini gimbals?? 😢 wish it had mini’s

[@DarrenAllatt]

Me too! It seems that's there to make sure it's different enough from the zorro or tx12 so if people really wanted the mini's, they'd choose one of those instead

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

The copy here is as follows...... TBS Tango 2 DJI And the rest.........

[@DarrenAllatt]

yes and DJI get's the mention in the video due to youtube algorithm.

[@scootsmcgoots1]

​@@DarrenAllattThat's kind of a sell-out move. You could have mentioned DJI and Tango 2 in the same breath and not hurt the algorithm.

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@scootsmcgoots1 yes and the tango 2 has nano gimbals, or removable gimbals that store in the body, a momentary button and a scroll wheel on top… oh wait no it doesn’t. The similarities with the tango 2 are the antenna and the 3 position switches. And remember, I make these videos for free, the cost to produce far exceeds any ad money I’ll get over the next 12 months, so if I want to play the algorithm a little that’s my prerogative So am I a sell out?

[@DarrenAllatt]

@@scootsmcgoots1 forgot to ad, there is also no point comparing to a radio that has been perpetually out of stock for the last 2 years. So, it’s not getting any breath if you can’t buy it.

[@cpfpv6410]

I don’t understand why EVERYONE recommends the ELRS versions of these radios. The 4 in 1 version is cheaper and the higher performance 1W nano Ranger ELRS module is cheaper than the external 4 in 1 modules. You can get better radio transmitter performance for less money by choosing the radio version with the in built 4 in 1 module and adding the ELRS module after.

[@DarrenAllatt]

4in1 isn’t “higher performance” than ELRS regales of power output. Why save $10 to then have to spend $40 to get ELRS There isn’t a 4in1 version, only CC2500 which is Frsky & Flysky 4in1 is pointless today anyway, everything is ELRS or crossfire. 250mw is good for 30kms and is not 4x more powerful than 1w anyway 1w is 30dBm, while 250mw is 24bm You don’t need the extra power and if you do, then get the external module, sure it’s $10 more but you are not having to always have an external module on your radio.

[@DarrenAllatt]

Further regarding performance- the reason why ELRS is preferred over frsky is even at lower power outputs it still far out performs frsky in range & penetration.

[@TheVeganarchism]

For what it’s worth, I have the Tango 2 Pro and I absolutely hate having to put an extension module on the back to use ELRS. The radio doesn’t sit properly when you put it down, it has two antennas unless you keep removing them, and it just generally messes up the weight and ergonomics. I’m looking at this purely to avoid having an external module. Hope that experience helps someone out there to decide!

[@blackwater7183]

Disappointed it can't even do what it's advertised. Can't even fit in any of my pockets.

[@DarrenAllatt]

But you can give it to someone and say “hold my pocket”

[@420247paul]

lool you youtubers will say anything with a straight face "high quality"

[@DarrenAllatt]

well you go and buy it and tell me it doesnt feel 'high quality'