Syma S107G RC Helicopter

  • USB rechargeable

  • Colorful flashing lights for use in the dark

  • Simple flight controls

  • Nice quality for the price

  • Should be kept indoors

  • Control manuals are difficult to understand

  • No batteries included

The Syma S107G is an inexpensive RC helicopter with easy controls and a durable design that make it great for indoor use.

  • Design
  • Setup
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Price
  • Competition
  • Final Verdict
  • Specs

We purchased the Syma S107G RC Helicopter so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

RC helicopters are a lot of fun for children and adults alike, but with so many options at low price points, it can be difficult to know which choice is going to mean money well-spent. We tested the popular Syma S107G RC Helicopter with Gyro to see if it has enough flight time, durability, and functionality to be a good beginner choice. 

Design: Coaxial design offers stability

The S107G has a coaxial rotor design that stabilizes the helicopter during flight. Blades spinning around the central rotor in opposite directions ensure that neither set of blades produces enough force to knock the helicopter over. On the other hand, this is the primary reason that the helicopter shouldn’t be used outside—it’s sensitive to wind. 

Testing it in a living room, even the wind generated by a ceiling fan was enough to disrupt the helicopter’s function. Its lightweight metal alloy body took quite a beating before we figured that out, but it was never damaged. When the blades break, which is inevitable with any RC helicopter, you can buy replacements in a variety of colors for $5-$10.

Setup: Easy to use right out of the box

The manuals included with the helicopter are not great, but luckily, the controls are pretty straightforward. Six AA batteries are required, but not included, for the controller. The S107G is a 3-channel helicopter, meaning there are three components that you control: the speed of the main rotors, left and right turning (yaw), and a rear rotor. As far as RC helicopters go, that’s almost as simple as it can get. A trimming dial allows for adjustment of the helicopter’s flight. 

Testing it in a living room, even the wind generated by a ceiling fan was enough to disrupt the helicopter’s function.

Giving the helicopter enough power to begin moving along the surface will reveal any problems that can be fixed by trimming. If the helicopter is rotating clockwise, you fix this by adjusting the trim to the right to counter the movement, for example. With no prior experience in remote control helicopters, we were able to figure this out very easily, but it did take a few minutes.

The handling is decent enough to manage some obstacles, but it is probably not going to be stable enough for most users to maneuver it through popular RC helicopter accessories like hoops.

Performance: Stable, responsive flight

The coaxial rotor design leaves the S107G vulnerable to wind, and the signal from the controller to the helicopter is not strong enough to use outside where the helicopter can easily get out of range. The helicopter survived several crashes in the windy outdoor weather, so it is definitely a tough little machine. We stand by the company’s recommendation to use the helicopter inside. Gyroscope stability or no, it just isn’t suited to the outdoors.

Inside, we had a lot of fun with the helicopter. We moved the furniture out of the way while we used the trimming dial to stabilize the helicopter, and then the little S107G was flying all over the place. The handling is simply fine, which is no surprise considering the price range, but crashing is almost as fun as flying perfectly. Through all the crashes, the lightweight metal body was unharmed. The infrared transmitter needs to maintain line of sight with the helicopter to work well, but the helicopter is able to get about thirty feet away before the signal can’t be maintained.

Battery Life: Several minutes of flight and a quick recharge

Mid-range helicopters have a battery life of around five minutes, so the 10-minute battery life of the S107G is fantastic. The company only promises six to eight minutes of flight time, but we never ran it out that quickly. The battery will charge in 45-60 minutes, and can be done via USB from the controller or from an outlet if you don’t want to run down the controller’s battery life.

Price: Incredible value

The Syma S107G RC Helicopter is around $22, so its popularity is no mystery. With long battery life, easy controls and kid-friendly durability, this is the ideal entry-level helicopter. It is inexpensive enough that you can put it in the hands of children without worrying too much, and durable enough that they’ll have a hard time breaking it with regular use.

Mid-range helicopters have a battery life of around 5 minutes, so the 8-10 minute battery life of the S107G is fantastic.

Syma S107G vs. S111G

The Syma S107G helicopter is easy to love with a price barely above $20. The handling is decent enough to manage some obstacles, but it is probably not going to be stable enough for most users to maneuver it through popular RC helicopter accessories like hoops. It’s a good gift idea for young children who aren’t interested in fine control, or for anyone unsure of how long they’ll stick to the helicopter hobby.

If you are willing to spend a little more money for better handling, we suggest the Syma S111G instead. It remains under $30 but is much more stable in the air, allowing you to develop some real skill.

Excellent choice for beginners.

Specs

  • Product Name
  • S107G RC Helicopter
  • Product Brand
  • Syma
  • MPN
  • S107G
  • Price
  • $21.98
  • Product Dimensions
  • 17.7 x 7.6 x 3.1 in.