The NewBeeDrone Hummingbird V3 is likely one of the most budget-friendly tiny whoops at present in the marketplace. Regardless of its low value, this tiny whoop provides spectacular sturdiness and a set of options that make it a wonderful alternative for these new to the FPV world. Nevertheless, it additionally has some limitations, which I’ll cowl on this evaluation. I’ll stroll you thru its specs, efficiency, and the way it compares to different well-liked tiny whoops in the marketplace.
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The place to Purchase
You should buy the Hummingbird V3 from:
For $89.99, the Hummingbird V3 package deal contains:
- The Hummingbird V3 drone
- A spare set of Triblade props
- A propeller elimination instrument
- A Nitro Nector 1S 300mAh battery
- A fast-start information and binding directions
Specs
- Propellers: NewBeeDrone Azi 31mm Tri-Blade (1.0mm Shaft)
- Flight Controller: Hummingbird V3 ELRS AIO Flight Controller
- Body: Cockroach65 V3 Body
- Complete Weight with out battery: 21.6g (PP Materials Cockroach65 body)
- Motors: Hummingbird 0802 25000KV
- Cover: Goober Cover v1
- Digital camera: BeeEye Digital camera
- Drone Dimension: 65mm
Flight Controller (FC) Specs:
- MCU: STM32F411
- Gyro: BMI270
- VTX: 25mW with BeeTX 5.8GHz Antenna
- ESC: 12A BLHeliS pre-flashed with Bluejay 0.19.2 Goal: O-H-10 48kHz
- ESC Connector: JST-1.0 3Pin
- OSD: NBD7456 Graphical OSD suitable with Betaflight OSD
- Receiver: 2.4GHz ExpressLRS (SPI)
- Battery Enter: 1S Solely
- Battery Connector: Nectar Connector Gold Plated PH2.0 Stable Pin
Design and Construct High quality
The Hummingbird V3 stands out with its sturdy design and engaging white body accented by black and purple particulars. It’s constructed round NewBeeDrone’s signature Cockroach body, which is famend for its sturdiness.
In contrast to the most recent tiny whoops, the body and cover are thicker, making the drone extra sturdy and appropriate for brand new pilots who’re nonetheless studying the ropes. Nevertheless, this added bulk comes at the price of elevated weight.
Weighing in at round 21.6 grams, the Hummingbird V3 is 20% heavier than the BetaFPV Air65, which weighs simply 17.1 grams. This extra weight considerably impacts flight efficiency, as I’ll focus on additional.
On the constructive facet, the bigger polycarbonate cover not solely shields the inner elements but additionally provides the drone a smooth look. The eye to element is obvious, with small foam foot pads for smoother landings and solder pads on the motor base for straightforward replacements. Moreover, the intense RGB LEDs on the 4 corners of the flight controller add a pleasant visible contact, which could be configured in Betaflight.
Aside from weight, one other notable draw back is the usage of the older PH2.0 battery connector as a substitute of the extra trendy BT2.0 or A30 connectors, which supply higher flight occasions and lowered voltage sag. Whereas the PH2.0 connector isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s one thing to think about in the event you favor to standardize your battery connectors throughout your fleet.
Flight Efficiency
Utilizing the included 1S 300mAh Nitro Nectar LiHV battery, I used to be capable of get round 3 minutes of flight time with the Hummingbird V3. Compared, the BetaFPV Air65 can obtain over 4 minutes, highlighting the influence of the additional weight on flight time. To compensate for this added weight, NewBeeDrone geared up the Hummingbird V3 with bigger 0802 25000KV motors, which ship extra energy however on the expense of effectivity.
You possibly can positively really feel the additional weight, particularly throughout turns. It seems like flying a heavier 75mm whoop however with the ability of a 65mm. The extra momentum requires earlier response and bigger stick actions, making it much less nimble and more durable to fly than the Air65. Nevertheless, the drone flies easily and feels locked in, displaying that NewBeeDrone has accomplished a strong job tuning the whoop straight out of the manufacturing facility.
The ESCs come pre-flashed with Bluejay 0.19 firmware (48kHz PWM Frequency), with the RPM filter enabled in Betaflight out of the field, which boosts flight efficiency. Nevertheless, the ESC settings might use a bit extra optimization, as some motors don’t at all times begin correctly when armed inflicting the drone to flip over at takeoff. That is a straightforward repair, which I’ll cowl within the “Easy methods to Setup” part on this evaluation.
One other minor annoyance is the continually altering RGB LED lights. Whereas they give the impression of being cool, the reflections on the prop guards could be distracting for the pilot, particularly in low-light situations. Thankfully, you’ll be able to disable them within the settings.
The picture high quality from the BeeEye digicam is okay, on par with what you’d count on from different price range choices like Happymodel or BetaFPV.
What NewBeeDrone May Enhance
The Hummingbird V3 would have been a wonderful tiny whoop 2-3 years in the past, however the specs really feel considerably outdated in late 2024. Listed here are just a few solutions for NewBeeDrone to modernize this drone and enhance its efficiency:
- Improve to a BT2.0 or A30 battery connector.
- Use a lighter body and cover to cut back weight (ideally within the 17-18g degree).
- Immediately solder motors to the ESC pads to reduce resistance and additional cut back weight.
- After decreasing weight, think about using barely greater KV motors to maximise efficiency (e.g., 27000KV or 28000KV).
- Change from an SPI receiver to a UART receiver for futureproofing.
One other limitation we now have not touched on is the video transmitter, which is capped at 25mW RF output energy. Whereas this may be enough for many indoor and short-range flights, it’s much less versatile than different newest tiny whoops, which usually provide as much as 350mW and even 400mW. Greater energy output could be helpful when flying by a number of rooms in a home or open air the place further vary and sign penetration are most well-liked.
Lighter LiteAF Racing Body
The Hummingbird V3 makes use of the sturdy Cockroach V3 body. NewBeeDrone just lately launched a brand new “LiteAF” body manufactured from polypropylene materials, with a barely decrease profile, decreasing the burden by about 0.5 grams. That is designed for racing, however I feel most pilot can profit from a lighter body. You possibly can try the LiteAF body right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-oexn.
Easy methods to Setup
The flight controller comes with Betaflight 4.4.0 (launched a yr in the past), with the goal firmware being BETAFPVG473. You’ll find the default CLI diff right here.
To arrange your Hummingbird V3 for its maiden flight:
- Bind the Receiver: Enter your bind phrase within the Receiver tab.
- Load ExpressLRS Preset – what packet fee you’re utilizing.
- Set Your Charges within the PID Tuning tab.
- Configure Switches: Arrange your arm swap, angle mode swap, and turtle mode swap.
- Tweak ESC Settings in Bluejay: Improve the Minimal Startup Energy to 1070 and alter ESC energy settings to 1S. The default of 1020 is simply too low and may trigger some motors to not spin when armed.
Closing Ideas
To be utterly trustworthy, after flying the BetaFPV Air65, it’s arduous to suggest anything at this level. Whereas the Hummingbird V3 has some good options and considerate design touches, its heavier weight and use of the older PH2.0 connector really feel outdated. The Air65 is extra nimble, provides longer flight occasions, has higher specs (like the next energy VTX and a UART receiver), and is even cheaper.
That stated, the Hummingbird V3 nonetheless has its deserves. It might not be my best choice for racers, however it may be a enjoyable tiny whoop for basic use, providing good sturdiness due to its sturdy body. Plus, being a product from a U.S.-based firm may attraction to some pilots seeking to help home manufacturers.
You should buy the Hummingbird V3 from:
