The SpeedyBee Bee25 is a sub-250g cinewhoop designed with the DJI O3 Air Unit in mind, making it an excellent option for FPV drone pilots looking for a compact, versatile, and feature-rich drone. With its sleek modular design, thoughtful engineering, and solid flight performance, the Bee25 offers a lot in a small package. In this review, I’ll share my experience with the Bee25, discussing its build quality, flight performance, and overall value.
New to FPV? Check out my buyer’s guide for cinewhoops: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
Where to Buy
You can purchase the SpeedyBee Bee25 from the following retailers:
Battery is not included, check out my recommendations here: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/#4S-LiPOLiHV. Get the 4S 650mAh if you want to stay under 250g limit, or get the 4S 850mAh if you want longer flight time.
Don’t forget to get some spare propellers too: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u
The Bee25 package includes a user guide, a set of stickers, spare hardware, antenna holders, and two screw drivers— a nice touch, considering many BNF drones don’t usually come with any.
I am reviewing the ExpressLRS version.
Specifications
- Frame: SpeedyBee Bee25 Standard Version
- Wheelbase: 120mm
- Flight Controller: STM32F405 with ICM42688-P Gyro, 8MB Blackbox, Bluetooth Support
- ESC: 35A 8-bit ESC (BlueJay firmware)
- Motors: 1404 4600KV
- Propeller: HQprop DT63mm-3 blades
- VTX: Not included (Compatible with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Camera: Not included (Compatible with DJI O3 Air Unit)
- Receiver Options: ELRS 2.4G / TBS Crossfire Nano / Without Receiver
- Battery Connector: XT30
- Battery size: Supports 4S 650-1100mAh batteries, Maximum 64*31*40mm (Vertical), 75*31*40mm (Horizontal)
- LED System: Meteor LED with 88 LED beads (fully customizable via SpeedyBee app)
- Receiver: ELRS 2.4G / TBS / None (choose based on version)
- Weight:
- Without DJI O3 and Battery: 123g
- With DJI O3: 172g
- With DJI O3 and 4S 650mAh: 248g
- With DJI O3 and 4S 850mAh: 266g
Build Quality and Design
The Bee25 drone boasts a sleek design with a transparent tinted plastic frame that houses its components. This gives the Bee25 a unique and modern aesthetic, while also allowing you to see the internals, especially those beautiful LEDs around the frame.
The built-in Meteor LEDs not only add visual appeal but are also functional. They display the drone’s status, such as whether it’s armed or in fail-safe mode, and help with locating the drone in low-light conditions. This feature, along with the ability to control the LEDs through Betaflight or the SpeedyBee app, adds another layer of practicality and usability.
Despite the lightweight materials, the Bee25 feels sturdy. SpeedyBee has implemented smart design choices to protect sensitive components, such as the hard-mounted XT30 connector and protective housing for the GPS. However, my review unit didn’t come with a GPS module, so I couldn’t test the Rescue mode. Additionally, the easy-access USB-C port on the flight controller makes changing the drone’s settings much more convenient.
Weighing around 165g without the battery, the Bee25 is designed to stay under the 250g limit with a compatible 4S battery. This is important for complying with drone regulations in some regions. If you’re adding the DJI O3 Air Unit, be mindful of the battery weight to stay within this limit. The largest battery you can use to remain under 250g is a 4S 650mAh, which brings the total weight to around 248g.
The elastic battery band, though unconventional, works surprisingly well to secure batteries of various sizes. A minor issue arises with longer batteries (over 60mm), which may have trouble fitting properly due to the fixed XT30 connector placement. You can work around this by rotating the mounting brackets to fit the battery sideways. While a small inconvenience, it’s worth noting if you plan to use larger batteries.
Made For DJI O3
The Bee25 is specifically designed to house the DJI O3 Air Unit, though my review unit didn’t come with one, so I had to install my own. Fortunately, the installation process is straightforward. The modular camera mount for the O3 might seem a bit complex initially compared to minimalist designs like the BetaFPV Pavo20 Pro, but it’s well thought-out. It provides excellent protection for the O3 Air Unit, which is key for durability and reliability.
While the modular system requires a bit more effort to install, detailed instructions are available on SpeedyBee’s website, making the process easier. It’s a one-time task, and once installed, the modular design makes accessing the microSD card and USB-C port very convenient. Additionally, the drone includes a cooling duct integrated into the antenna mount, which helps to prevent the O3 Air Unit from overheating during longer flights—a practical and welcome feature.
I did ask SpeedyBee about compatibility with the Walksnail VTX system, but unfortunately, this model does not support it. For the best user experience, stick with the DJI O3 Air Unit.
Flight Performance
The Bee25 flew really well, better than I expected to be honest, possibly the best 2.5inch cinewhoop I’ve flown this year. It’s tuned straight out of the box for cinematic flying, making it easy to capture fluid, stabilized shots.
The Bee25’s 1404 4600KV motors are powerful and responsive, offering plenty of thrust without compromising flight stability. Paired with HQ 63mm props, this combination provides excellent performance for smooth, cinematic flying. Even with a large 4S 850mAh LiPo, it still managed to hover around 25% throttle giving you plenty of headroom for more aggressive maneuvers if needed which is pretty impressive.
Battery life on the Bee25 is solid. Using a 650mAh 4S battery, I was able to get about 5.5 minutes of smooth, cinematic flying. When I upgraded to an 850mAh battery, flight time extended to about 7.5 minutes.
Whether I was flying slow and steady for cinematic shots or pushing the drone with more freestyle maneuvers, it handled everything with ease. I did notice some minor prop wash here and there, but nothing significant enough to impact the overall experience.
But as a 2.5″ drone, it is just as noisy as other cinewhoops of similar size – you will draw some attention if you’re flying in public areas. It is much louder than even my 3″ open prop drone like the Sub250 Oasisfly25 I recently reviewed, but that’s to be expected for a cinewhoop, something you should be aware of.
Areas for Improvement
First off, the Bee25 doesn’t come with spare propellers, which could be inconvenient. You’ll want to pick some up here: https://oscarliang.com/product-rw6u.
From a performance perspective, I would suggest removing the LED strip to save weight, and possibly make the DJI O3 “naked” as well using this kit: https://oscarliang.com/flywoo-naked-o3-lite-ultra-kit/. This would allow you to use a larger 4S 850mAh battery while still staying under the 250g weight limit, giving you longer flight times and improved performance.
GPS isn’t necessary for indoor or close-proximity flying, but if you’re flying outdoors or want an added layer of security, I’d recommend adding GPS and setting up Rescue Mode. Here’s a guide: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/.
The prop guards are lightweight, which makes them less durable. If you anticipate frequent crashes, it’s wise to pick up some spare frame parts to avoid downtime.
SpeedyBee always delivers unique designs with careful attention to detail. However, the tendency to design frames that require various types and sizes of screws can make repairs and maintenance a bit more complicated. They do provide two extra screws for each type, but this complexity might not appeal to everyone. If you appreciate distinctive, aesthetically pleasing frames, SpeedyBee is a great option, but if you prefer simplicity, it may not be your best choice. On a positive note, I do love that they include screwdrivers in the package, which is great for beginners.
Another limitation is the Bee25’s lack of compatibility with FPV systems outside of DJI. If you want to use something like the Walksnail system, it would require modifications and tinkering, which could be a hassle for some users.
How to Setup
Setting up the Bee25 for its first flight was straightforward:
Original CLI Diff can be found here.
Final Thoughts: Is the SpeedyBee Bee25 Worth It?
The SpeedyBee Bee25 is easily one of my favorite 2.5-inch cinewhoops for 2024. It flies exceptionally well right out of the box, offers great value with its thoughtful design, and pairs perfectly with the DJI O3 Air Unit. While there are a few areas for improvement as mentioned in the review, the overall performance and build quality of the Bee25 make it a standout option in the sub-250g category.
If you’re looking for a lightweight cinewhoop that offers great flight performance, the Bee25 is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re flying indoors, filming cinematic shots outdoors, or simply want a reliable sub-250g drone, the SpeedyBee Bee25 delivers on all fronts.
