The SpeedyBee Bee25 is a sub-250g cinewhoop designed with the DJI O3 Air Unit in thoughts, making it a wonderful possibility for FPV drone pilots searching for a compact, versatile, and feature-rich drone. With its glossy modular design, considerate engineering, and strong flight efficiency, the Bee25 presents rather a lot in a small package deal. On this overview, I’ll share my expertise with the Bee25, discussing its construct high quality, flight efficiency, and general worth.
New to FPV? Try my purchaser’s information for cinewhoops: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
The place to Purchase
You should purchase the SpeedyBee Bee25 from the next retailers:
Battery shouldn’t be included, try my suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/#4S-LiPOLiHV. Get the 4S 650mAh if you wish to keep beneath 250g restrict, or get the 4S 850mAh if you would like longer flight time.
Don’t neglect to get some spare propellers too: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u
The Bee25 package deal features a person information, a set of stickers, spare {hardware}, antenna holders, and two screw drivers— a pleasant contact, contemplating many BNF drones don’t normally include any.
I’m reviewing the ExpressLRS model.
Specs
- Body: SpeedyBee Bee25 Commonplace Model
- Wheelbase: 120mm
- Flight Controller: STM32F405 with ICM42688-P Gyro, 8MB Blackbox, Bluetooth Assist
- ESC: 35A 8-bit ESC (BlueJay firmware)
- Motors: 1404 4600KV
- Propeller: HQprop DT63mm-3 blades
- VTX: Not included (Suitable with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Digicam: Not included (Suitable with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Receiver Choices: ELRS 2.4G / TBS Crossfire Nano / With out Receiver
- Battery Connector: XT30
- Battery measurement: Helps 4S 650-1100mAh batteries, Most 64*31*40mm (Vertical), 75*31*40mm (Horizontal)
- LED System: Meteor LED with 88 LED beads (absolutely customizable by way of SpeedyBee app)
- Receiver: ELRS 2.4G / TBS / None (select primarily based on model)
- Weight:
- With out DJI O3 and Battery: 123g
- With DJI O3: 172g
- With DJI O3 and 4S 650mAh: 248g
- With DJI O3 and 4S 850mAh: 266g
Construct High quality and Design
The Bee25 drone boasts a glossy design with a clear tinted plastic body that homes its parts. This provides the Bee25 a singular and fashionable aesthetic, whereas additionally permitting you to see the internals, particularly these stunning LEDs across the body.
The built-in Meteor LEDs not solely add visible attraction however are additionally practical. They show the drone’s standing, equivalent to whether or not it’s armed or in fail-safe mode, and assist with finding the drone in low-light situations. This function, together with the power to regulate the LEDs via Betaflight or the SpeedyBee app, provides one other layer of practicality and value.
Regardless of the light-weight supplies, the Bee25 feels sturdy. SpeedyBee has carried out sensible design selections to guard delicate parts, such because the hard-mounted XT30 connector and protecting housing for the GPS. Nonetheless, my overview unit didn’t include a GPS module, so I couldn’t check the Rescue mode. Moreover, the easy-access USB-C port on the flight controller makes altering the drone’s settings rather more handy.
Weighing round 165g with out the battery, the Bee25 is designed to remain beneath the 250g restrict with a appropriate 4S battery. That is vital for complying with drone rules in some areas. In the event you’re including the DJI O3 Air Unit, be aware of the battery weight to remain inside this restrict. The most important battery you need to use to stay beneath 250g is a 4S 650mAh, which brings the overall weight to round 248g.
The elastic battery band, although unconventional, works surprisingly properly to safe batteries of varied sizes. A minor difficulty arises with longer batteries (over 60mm), which can have hassle becoming correctly as a result of fastened XT30 connector placement. You’ll be able to work round this by rotating the mounting brackets to suit the battery sideways. Whereas a small inconvenience, it’s price noting when you plan to make use of bigger batteries.
Made For DJI O3
The Bee25 is particularly designed to accommodate the DJI O3 Air Unit, although my overview unit didn’t include one, so I needed to set up my very own. Happily, the set up course of is simple. The modular digicam mount for the O3 might sound a bit complicated initially in comparison with minimalist designs just like the BetaFPV Pavo20 Professional, nevertheless it’s properly thought-out. It offers glorious safety for the O3 Air Unit, which is vital for sturdiness and reliability.
Whereas the modular system requires a bit extra effort to put in, detailed directions can be found on SpeedyBee’s web site, making the method simpler. It’s a one-time process, and as soon as put in, the modular design makes accessing the microSD card and USB-C port very handy. Moreover, the drone features a cooling duct built-in into the antenna mount, which helps to stop the O3 Air Unit from overheating throughout longer flights—a sensible and welcome function.
I did ask SpeedyBee about compatibility with the Walksnail VTX system, however sadly, this mannequin doesn’t help it. For the perfect person expertise, stick to the DJI O3 Air Unit.
Flight Efficiency
The Bee25 flew very well, higher than I anticipated to be trustworthy, presumably the perfect 2.5inch cinewhoop I’ve flown this yr. It’s tuned straight out of the field for cinematic flying, making it straightforward to seize fluid, stabilized pictures.
The Bee25’s 1404 4600KV motors are highly effective and responsive, providing loads of thrust with out compromising flight stability. Paired with HQ 63mm props, this mixture offers glorious efficiency for easy, cinematic flying. Even with a big 4S 850mAh LiPo, it nonetheless managed to hover round 25% throttle supplying you with loads of headroom for extra aggressive maneuvers if wanted which is fairly spectacular.
Battery life on the Bee25 is strong. Utilizing a 650mAh 4S battery, I used to be capable of get about 5.5 minutes of easy, cinematic flying. Once I upgraded to an 850mAh battery, flight time prolonged to about 7.5 minutes.
Whether or not I used to be flying gradual and regular for cinematic pictures or pushing the drone with extra freestyle maneuvers, it dealt with all the things with ease. I did discover some minor prop wash right here and there, however nothing important sufficient to impression the general expertise.
However as a 2.5″ drone, it’s simply as noisy as different cinewhoops of comparable measurement – you’ll draw some consideration when you’re flying in public areas. It’s a lot louder than even my 3″ open prop drone just like the Sub250 Oasisfly25 I not too long ago reviewed, however that’s to be anticipated for a cinewhoop, one thing you have to be conscious of.
Areas for Enchancment
First off, the Bee25 doesn’t include spare propellers, which could possibly be inconvenient. You’ll wish to decide some up right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u.
From a efficiency perspective, I’d recommend eradicating the LED strip to save lots of weight, and presumably make the DJI O3 “bare” as properly utilizing this package: https://oscarliang.com/flywoo-naked-o3-lite-ultra-kit/. This may assist you to use a bigger 4S 850mAh battery whereas nonetheless staying beneath the 250g weight restrict, supplying you with longer flight instances and improved efficiency.
GPS isn’t obligatory for indoor or close-proximity flying, however when you’re flying outdoor or need an added layer of safety, I’d suggest including GPS and establishing Rescue Mode. Right here’s a information: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/.
The prop guards are light-weight, which makes them much less sturdy. In the event you anticipate frequent crashes, it’s clever to choose up some spare body elements to keep away from downtime.
SpeedyBee at all times delivers distinctive designs with cautious consideration to element. Nonetheless, the tendency to design frames that require numerous varieties and sizes of screws could make repairs and upkeep a bit extra difficult. They do present two further screws for every kind, however this complexity won’t attraction to everybody. In the event you admire distinctive, aesthetically pleasing frames, SpeedyBee is a good possibility, however when you choose simplicity, it is probably not your most suitable option. On a optimistic notice, I do love that they embrace screwdrivers within the package deal, which is nice for learners.
One other limitation is the Bee25’s lack of compatibility with FPV methods outdoors of DJI. If you wish to use one thing just like the Walksnail system, it could require modifications and tinkering, which could possibly be a trouble for some customers.
The right way to Setup
Organising the Bee25 for its first flight was easy:
Authentic CLI Diff might be discovered right here.
Closing Ideas: Is the SpeedyBee Bee25 Price It?
The SpeedyBee Bee25 is definitely one in all my favourite 2.5-inch cinewhoops for 2024. It flies exceptionally properly proper out of the field, presents nice worth with its considerate design, and pairs completely with the DJI O3 Air Unit. Whereas there are just a few areas for enchancment as talked about within the overview, the general efficiency and construct high quality of the Bee25 make it a standout possibility within the sub-250g class.
In the event you’re searching for a light-weight cinewhoop that gives nice flight efficiency, the Bee25 is a improbable selection. Whether or not you’re flying indoors, filming cinematic pictures outdoor, or just need a dependable sub-250g drone, the SpeedyBee Bee25 delivers on all fronts.
