So I've been flying a Mavic 2 Pro for like 3 years and finally decided to try something different. Pulled the trigger on an EVO II Pro 6K a couple weeks ago, got it used in pretty good condition and honestly I wasn't sure what to expect because you don't see as many people talking about these compared to DJI stuff.

First thing ? the orange color is way more visible in the air than I thought it would be. I actually really like it now but at first I was kind of whatever about it. The camera is genuinely impressive for the price I paid used, the variable aperture is nice and I was getting some really clean footage in a woodland area last weekend with decent lighting.

The app though... SkyHub or whatever it's called depending on your version. It works but it feels a little rough around the edges compared to DJI Fly. Not a dealbreaker but it does feel like the software side is where Autel kind of falls behind. Obstacle avoidance also felt a bit less confident than what I was used to, like it would stop earlier than necessary sometimes.

Wondering if anyone else made a similar switch and if there's any tips for getting the most out of this thing. Also curious if the smart controller is worth getting separately or if the phone mount situation is fine for most people.

yeah the app situation has been a known thing for a while unfortunately. I've had my EVO II (non-pro, the 8K version) for about a year and a half and the software has gotten better with updates but it still has moments where it just feels unpolished. One thing that helped me was making sure I always let both the bird and the RC fully update before any serious flight because mismatched firmware versions caused me some really weird behavior early on.

On the smart controller question ? honestly depends how often you fly in bright sunlight. the phone mount is totally fine in shade or cloudy days but if you're out in full sun the screen glare can be a real pain. I ended up getting the smart controller and it made a noticeable difference just for convenience alone. Also the range on it felt a bit more reliable to me, though I never fly anywhere close to the limits anyway so take that for what it's worth.

the orange thing got me too lol, I almost didn't buy mine because of it but now I kind of love that it stands out. way easier to spot when it's coming back toward you. glad you're liking the 6K footage, ive been on the fence about upgrading from my EVO II base model and the pro version keeps calling my name