I’m at the moment out there for a brand new micro FPV drone that includes the DJI O4 Lite Air Unit. Whether or not it’s a tiny whoop or an open-prop 1.6-inch or 2-inch ultralight toothpick quad, I believed this might be a wonderful alternative to share my decision-making course of and assist others resolve which mannequin would possibly greatest go well with their flying type.
Why Select DJI O4 Lite?
The DJI O4 Air Unit (Lite) is good for micro FPV drones if professional-grade footage isn’t your precedence and also you’re flying primarily for enjoyable. As talked about in my DJI O4 Professional assessment, the Professional model is best in practically each side however is considerably heavier, bigger, and virtually double the value. The O4 Lite is lighter, extra compact, and simpler in your pockets in case you count on frequent crashes and repairs.
Sub250 Nanofly20
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 2inch tri-blade
- Motor: 1002 14000KV (not the advertized 21000KV)
- Weight (with out battery): 42g
- Value: $279.99
The place to Purchase:
The Sub250 Nanofly20 is an open-prop drone designed for open areas. Open-prop drones are usually quieter, extra environment friendly, sooner, and considerably extra responsive than whoop drones with propeller guards. With a typical 2S 550mAh battery, count on roughly 5 minutes of flight time. One factor to bear in mind is the motor KV score, which feels excessive for 2-inch tri-blade props. This will result in hotter motors if pushed aggressively. Be cautious when adjusting the grasp slider in your PID tuning settings to keep away from overheating or injury.
A big disadvantage of the Nanofly20 is its video. Sub250 mounts the DJI O4 Lite digital camera instantly inside a TPU cover with none mushy mounting. For the reason that DJI O4 digital camera is delicate to vibrations, you’ll discover appreciable jello and shakiness within the goggles. Though it data in 4K, the gyro knowledge is simply too noisy for dependable stabilization, making cinematic footage tough. Moreover, the quad reveals wobbling throughout aggressive maneuvers, probably because of a PID tuning challenge or motor overload from these heavy tri-blade props.
One other level of consideration is the value tag. At $279, the Nanofly20 feels barely overpriced given its comparatively easy construct and video high quality considerations.
Total, the Nanofly20 is constructed for enjoyable and freestyle flying reasonably than cinematic work. Whereas it excels in agility and pace for park flying, the noticeable vibration, jello, and excessive price ticket make it a difficult advice.
Sub250 Nimble65
Specs:
- Battery: 1S
- Prop Dimension: 65mm Tri-blade
- Motor: 0702 27000KV
- Weight (with out battery): 27g
- Value: $229.99
The place to Purchase:
I can not advocate this mannequin.
The motor and prop mixture is severely underpowered for a digital construct that weighs 27 grams. Count on sluggish efficiency, poor responsiveness, and an general unenjoyable flight expertise.
The true deal-breaker is how Sub250 determined to energy the DJI O4 Lite instantly from the battery—a serious challenge for 1S O4 builds. As I’ve repeatedly emphasised in my weblog posts, the DJI O4 Lite struggles when enter voltage drops beneath 3.7V, leading to unstable video and even full lack of sign. A correct 5V BEC ought to have been used to make sure constant energy for the O4 all through the flight. Sub250 clearly rushed their DJI O4 releases this time, and the Nimble65 is proof of that.
Flywoo Flybee 16/Flylens 75
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 40mm (1.6inch) 3-blade
- Motor: 1003 14800KV
- Weight (with out battery): 45.7g
- Value: $249.99
The place to Purchase:
The Flywoo Flybee16 is basically the Flylens75 cinewhoop with out prop guards—I assume that’s Flywoo’s simple solution to making a brand new mannequin with out a full redesign. As anticipated, eradicating the prop guard reduces weight by over 10 grams, enhancing flight efficiency, effectivity, pace, and noise ranges.
Nonetheless, the pusher design will not be superb for a freestyle drone that you just fixed crash and need to take off anyplace within the discipline. The props are so uncovered and near the bottom it complicates takeoffs and landings, notably when utilizing turtle mode, as props can simply get caught by grass or particles. Moreover, inserting the O4 Air Unit on the underside, even with protecting plastic, raises sturdiness considerations since you are repeatedly touchdown/crashing on it.
On a constructive observe, Flywoo’s methodology of mounting the DJI O4 digital camera seems among the many cleanest, most dependable for Rocksteady or Gyroflow stabilization. Different methods of mounting the O4 digital camera, just like the one within the BetaFPV Meteor75 Professional, tends to provide barely extra inconsistent outcomes (though it did work nicely for me many of the instances).
The Flybee16 appears to be a reasonably nimble drone for outdoor, it’s not probably the most highly effective drones on the market, and is extra fitted to cruising or mild freestyle flying. And it reveals noticeable prop wash throughout aggressive maneuvers.
Provided that it’s an open-prop micro quad, indoor flight or flying close to individuals isn’t advisable. And on this case, would I contemplate the Flylens75 with O4 Lite? In all probability not, as a result of the O4 digital camera is simply not adequate for any cinematic flying. I might reasonably get the model with bare O3 to be sincere, which provides superior video at related weight.
Flywoo Flybee 20 / Flylens 85
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 2inch 2-blade
- Motor: 1003 14800KV
- Weight (with out battery): 47.6g
- Value: $249.99
The place to Purchase:
The Flybee20 mirrors the Flybee16 however incorporates a bigger 85mm body and 2-inch bi-blade props. The remainder of the {hardware} are an identical, together with motors. And it’s primarily a ductless Flylens85, over 20g lighter, providing means higher flight time and efficiency.
I beforehand reviewed each the Flylens75 and Flylens85, and I most popular the Flylens85. The bigger Flylens85 merely flew higher for me and supplied barely longer flight instances, probably because of its extra environment friendly two-blade propellers. For the reason that Flybee16 and Flybee20 are primarily ductless variations of the Flylens collection, I count on related efficiency variations between the Flybee fashions as nicely. Contemplating their related weights, I’d go for the mannequin with bigger props any day.
Between the Flybee16 and Flybee20, the Flybee20 is the higher general drone. Likewise, between the Flylens75 and Flylens85, the Flylens85 can be the superior choice.
Flywoo Flytimes 85
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 2inch 2-blade
- Motor: 1003 14800KV
- Weight (with out battery): 58.9g
- Value: $269.99
The place to Purchase:
The Flytimes85 is basically a hybrid of the Flylens85 and Flybee20, that includes lighter prop guards for diminished weight and a few degree of propeller safety. Its weight falls between these two fashions, whereas different specs stay an identical.
Until you particularly require propeller safety, I’d advocate the Flybee20 for outside freestyle flying. The Flytimes85 would possibly go well with combined flying environments the place you continuously transition between indoor and outside areas. Nonetheless, realistically, a 2S 2-inch whoop is barely too massive and highly effective for flying in the home in my view. Moreover, the DJI O4’s video high quality isn’t ample for cinematic functions. If cinematic footage is your aim, contemplate upgrading to the DJI O4 Professional.
GEPRC T-Cube18
Specs:
- Value: $269.99
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 45mm 3-blade
- Motor: 1002 18000KV
- Weight (with out battery): 50g
The place to Purchase:
This can be a new providing, and there isn’t a lot data out there on-line but in addition to the specs. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at that.
The very first thing that stands out to me is how heavy the T-Cube18 is for an open-prop micro quad. It’s 2.5g heavier than the Flybee20 which even has larger motors and propellers. Whereas the motors are smaller, they compensate with a really excessive KV score of 18000KV, nonetheless that may be a little excessive and raises considerations about effectivity and potential motor overheating.
The body design is tanky and seems crash-resistant. It additionally retains the props out of the digital camera view, stopping them from showing in your footage. Nonetheless, I nonetheless suppose the load is a bit extreme for my liking given these tiny props. Moreover, its value of $269.99 feels barely excessive IMO.
BetaFPV Meteor75 Professional
Specs:
- Battery: 1S
- Prop Dimension: 45mm tri-blade
- Motor: 1102 22000KV
- Weight (with out battery): 37.2g
- Value: $199.99
The place to Purchase:
I actually loved flying this whoop indoors—it’s in all probability my favourite 1S whoop geared up with the DJI O4 for the time being. I received’t go into an excessive amount of element right here since I’ve written a complete assessment you may try: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-meteor75-pro-o4-whoop/
BetaFPV Pavo Femto
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 40mm 3-blade
- Motor: 1102 14000KV
- Weight (with out battery): 54.8g
- Value: $224.99
The place to Purchase:
The Femto, powered by a 2S battery, is noticeably extra highly effective than the1S Meteor75 Professional and might deal with stronger winds outdoor. Nonetheless, this elevated energy comes with trade-offs: the Femto is noisier and fewer agile indoors because of its heavier weight. The smaller props imply that the motors need to work tougher (spinning at increased RPM) to maintain the drone afloat in comparison with the Meteor75 Professional, making it louder and considerably much less environment friendly. On the flip aspect, the sooner RPM response interprets to better uncooked efficiency and responsiveness.
Whereas the Femto’s enhanced energy is interesting for outside flying in calm circumstances, it’s in an ungainly place. For indoor flying, I nonetheless suppose the Meteor75 Professional provides superior dealing with. Open air, the Femto flies nicely, solely when the climate is calm; as quickly because the wind picks up, I begin to discover some wobble and jello within the footage, and the drone could be pushed round extra simply than bigger fashions. Take a look at my assessment to study extra: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo-femto/
HappyModel Mobula7 O4
Specs:
- Battery: 2S
- Prop Dimension: 45mm 3-blade
- Motor: 1102 10000KV
- Weight (with out battery): 38.2g
- Value: $272.99
The place to Purchase:
The Mobula7 O4 presents an fascinating setup. It’s primarily in the identical class because the 1S BetaFPV Meteor75 Professional regardless of being 2S. That’s as a result of its motor KV is lower than half that of the Meteor75, they usually have the identical prop measurement, the motor RPM could be related since RPM=KV*voltage. Their weights (with out batteries) are additionally fairly shut.
Nonetheless, do not forget that 2S batteries have two cells, making the battery weight at the very least double—and certain even heavier as a result of XT30 connector in comparison with BT2.0. This elevated battery weight considerably raises the takeoff weight, affecting general flight efficiency.
When it comes to precise flight efficiency, the Mobula7 O4 seems to fly nicely, each agile and secure. But, regardless of its mild body, it lacks ample energy for critical outside freestyle, which is anticipated from a tiny whoop of this measurement. You’ll be able to fly it outdoor, however solely in calm circumstances, and also you shouldn’t anticipate distinctive freestyle capabilities.
For me the first disadvantage is video high quality, which reveals noticeable jello and vibration—even earlier than any stabilization is utilized. This seemingly stems from the digital camera being mounted instantly inside the cover with out vibration isolation. One other draw back is that the digital camera angle doesn’t look like adjustable.
Conclusion – Which is the Finest DJI O4 Micro Drone?
2S or 1S for DJI O4?
A 2S setup is absolutely the candy spot for the DJI O4 Air Unit as a result of it may be powered instantly from the battery, simplifying the construct considerably. In distinction, a 1S setup requires powering the O4 by way of a BEC or devoted voltage regulator to make sure reliability. At the moment, most 1S AIO flight controllers lack a sufficiently highly effective 5V BEC, which means producers should develop new flight controllers particularly geared up with sturdy BECs. As of now, BetaFPV is among the many few producers offering this selection (particularly the 3in1 Matrix FC board).
For Indoor Flying
For indoor flying, my best choice is the Meteor75 Professional. Personally, a light-weight 1S setup is good indoors—2S drones really feel too heavy and too highly effective for snug flying in the home. The 1S batteries are additionally cheaper, simpler to cost, and the setup produces much less noise general. Some pilots dislike the digital camera mushy mounting on the Meteor75 Professional, believing it introduces jello in footage. Nonetheless, in my expertise, it labored completely superb, so the precise reason behind their challenge stays unclear.
Get the Meteor75 Professional right here:
One other good choice is the Mobula7 O4, however it’s a 2S drone, and also you’ll want to contemplate in case your house comfortably accommodates its additional energy and weight. Though extra highly effective than the Meteor75 Professional, if you end up flying at solely 30-40% throttle, the lighter and cheaper Meteor75 Professional makes extra sense, particularly given the Mobula7 prices $73 extra.
Get the Mobula7 O4 right here:
For Outside Flying
For outside use, an open-prop, 2S setup is important right here, and my advice could be the Flywoo Flybee20. Whereas I’m not a giant fan of its inverted design, it delivers the cleanest video high quality I’ve seen on this class, with little to no jello current in most footage I’ve seen. Flight efficiency additionally appears to be stable; it’s not absolutely the strongest 2-inch quad out there, however it’s greater than succesful for informal freestyle flying in your native small parks.
Get the Flybee20 right here:
The following most suitable choice could be both the Nanofly20, or the T-Cube18 – not my superb picks however we have now run out of choices 🙂 I lean barely in the direction of the T-Dice, simply wished it was both lighter, or has barely larger motors and run bigger 2inch props would make it a extra succesful freestyle park ripper.
For each Indoor and Outside?
For those who’re searching for one thing versatile sufficient for each indoor and outside flying, it must be a whoop in fact. Many choices just like the Happymodel Mobula7, BetaFPV Femto, and Flylens85 are all succesful—however they don’t excel at both class. I extremely advocate selecting a drone that excels in a single surroundings reasonably than settling for mediocrity in each. As an illustration, whereas the Meteor75 Professional can even deal with outside flying underneath calm circumstances, it’s slower than 2S quads and higher suited as an indoor whoop.
