The SpeedyBee Bee25 is a sub-250g cinewhoop designed with the DJI O3 Air Unit in thoughts, making it a superb possibility for FPV drone pilots on the lookout for a compact, versatile, and feature-rich drone. With its modern modular design, considerate engineering, and strong flight efficiency, the Bee25 provides so much in a small bundle. On this evaluate, I’ll share my expertise with the Bee25, discussing its construct high quality, flight efficiency, and general worth.
New to FPV? Take a look at my purchaser’s information for cinewhoops: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
The place to Purchase
You should buy the SpeedyBee Bee25 from the next retailers:
Battery will not be included, take a look at my suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/#4S-LiPOLiHV. Get the 4S 650mAh if you wish to keep below 250g restrict, or get the 4S 850mAh if you’d like longer flight time.
Don’t overlook to get some spare propellers too: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u
The Bee25 bundle 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 Customary 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 (Appropriate with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Digicam: Not included (Appropriate with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Receiver Choices: ELRS 2.4G / TBS Crossfire Nano / With out Receiver
- Battery Connector: XT30
- Battery dimension: Helps 4S 650-1100mAh batteries, Most 64*31*40mm (Vertical), 75*31*40mm (Horizontal)
- LED System: Meteor LED with 88 LED beads (totally customizable through SpeedyBee app)
- Receiver: ELRS 2.4G / TBS / None (select based mostly 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 modern design with a clear tinted plastic body that homes its elements. This provides the Bee25 a singular and trendy aesthetic, whereas additionally permitting you to see the internals, particularly these lovely LEDs across the body.
The built-in Meteor LEDs not solely add visible enchantment however are additionally useful. They show the drone’s standing, reminiscent of whether or not it’s armed or in fail-safe mode, and assist with finding the drone in low-light circumstances. This function, together with the flexibility to manage the LEDs via Betaflight or the SpeedyBee app, provides one other layer of practicality and usefulness.
Regardless of the light-weight supplies, the Bee25 feels sturdy. SpeedyBee has carried out good design decisions to guard delicate elements, such because the hard-mounted XT30 connector and protecting housing for the GPS. Nonetheless, my evaluate unit didn’t include a GPS module, so I couldn’t take a look at the Rescue mode. Moreover, the easy-access USB-C port on the flight controller makes altering the drone’s settings way more handy.
Weighing round 165g with out the battery, the Bee25 is designed to remain below the 250g restrict with a appropriate 4S battery. That is vital for complying with drone laws in some areas. In case you’re including the DJI O3 Air Unit, be aware of the battery weight to remain inside this restrict. The biggest battery you should use to stay below 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 assorted sizes. A minor concern arises with longer batteries (over 60mm), which can have bother becoming correctly as a result of mounted 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 should you plan to make use of bigger batteries.
Made For DJI O3
The Bee25 is particularly designed to deal with the DJI O3 Air Unit, although my evaluate unit didn’t include one, so I needed to set up my very own. Happily, the set up course of is simple. The modular digital camera mount for the O3 may appear a bit complicated initially in comparison with minimalist designs just like the BetaFPV Pavo20 Professional, nevertheless it’s properly thought-out. It supplies wonderful safety for the O3 Air Unit, which is essential 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 activity, 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, keep on with the DJI O3 Air Unit.
Flight Efficiency
The Bee25 flew rather well, higher than I anticipated to be trustworthy, probably 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 supplies wonderful efficiency for clean, 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 in a position to get about 5.5 minutes of clean, cinematic flying. After 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 the whole lot with ease. I did discover some minor prop wash right here and there, however nothing vital sufficient to impression the general expertise.
However as a 2.5″ drone, it’s simply as noisy as different cinewhoops of comparable dimension – you’ll draw some consideration should 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 try to be conscious of.
Areas for Enchancment
First off, the Bee25 doesn’t include spare propellers, which may very well be inconvenient. You’ll wish to choose some up right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u.
From a efficiency perspective, I’d recommend eradicating the LED strip to avoid wasting weight, and probably make the DJI O3 “bare” as properly utilizing this equipment: https://oscarliang.com/flywoo-naked-o3-lite-ultra-kit/. This may can help you use a bigger 4S 850mAh battery whereas nonetheless staying below the 250g weight restrict, supplying you with longer flight occasions and improved efficiency.
GPS isn’t needed for indoor or close-proximity flying, however should you’re flying open air or need an added layer of safety, I’d advocate including GPS and organising 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 case you anticipate frequent crashes, it’s sensible to choose up some spare body elements to keep away from downtime.
SpeedyBee all the time 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 additional screws for every sort, however this complexity may not enchantment to everybody. In case you admire distinctive, aesthetically pleasing frames, SpeedyBee is a superb possibility, however should you choose simplicity, it will not be your most suitable option. On a optimistic observe, I do love that they embrace screwdrivers within the bundle, which is nice for novices.
One other limitation is the Bee25’s lack of compatibility with FPV techniques outdoors of DJI. If you wish to use one thing just like the Walksnail system, it might require modifications and tinkering, which may very well be a trouble for some customers.
Learn how to Setup
Organising the Bee25 for its first flight was easy:
Unique CLI Diff may be discovered right here.
Closing Ideas: Is the SpeedyBee Bee25 Price It?
The SpeedyBee Bee25 is well considered one of my favourite 2.5-inch cinewhoops for 2024. It flies exceptionally properly proper out of the field, provides nice worth with its considerate design, and pairs completely with the DJI O3 Air Unit. Whereas there are a number of areas for enchancment as talked about within the evaluate, the general efficiency and construct high quality of the Bee25 make it a standout possibility within the sub-250g class.
In case you’re on the lookout for a light-weight cinewhoop that provides nice flight efficiency, the Bee25 is a implausible alternative. Whether or not you’re flying indoors, filming cinematic pictures open air, or just need a dependable sub-250g drone, the SpeedyBee Bee25 delivers on all fronts.
