The Orqa Dream X is Orqa’s first Bind-N-Fly (BNF) drone, designed and manufactured in the EU. This 5-inch FPV drone is marketed as a performance-oriented freestyle quad, combining Orqa’s extensive know-how and technology into a single package. In this review, I’ll be diving into the analog version of the Dream X to see how it stacks up against the competition.
Where to Buy
The Orqa Dream X is available in two versions: analog and HD. The HD version doesn’t come with any camera/VTX, so you can install your own. This review focuses on the analog version.
You can purchase the Dream X BNF 5″ Drone from Orqa here: https://oscarliang.com/product-0c5s
Orqa FPV.CTRL Radio: https://oscarliang.com/product-0zu7
Orqa FPV.One Pilot Goggles: https://oscarliang.com/product-a47q
Note: The LiPo battery is not included. Orqa recommends using a 6S 1000-1500mAh battery. You can see my recommendations here: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/#5%E2%80%B3-Freestyle-and-Racing-Drones
Get some spare props
Selling Points
Orqa touts the Dream X as a high-performance freestyle FPV drone with the convenience of a true BNF (bind-and-fly) experience. The drone is fully tuned at the factory and ready to fly right out of the box. The package is designed for simplicity: take the quad out of the box, unfold the props, attach the battery, bind it to the radio, and you’re ready to fly.
What makes the Dream X particularly unique is its integration of Orqa’s full suite of technology:
- Orqa FPV.One Pilot and Race analog goggles
- Orqa FPV.Ctrl radio controller
- Orqa Flight electronics (20×20 stacks, both digital and analog)
- ImmersionRC Ghost RF system (acquired by Orqa a couple of years ago)
- ImmersionRC RapidFIRE VRX module for the Goggles
- Upcoming Orqa RTR motor line
Most of the electronics in the Dream X are designed by Orqa, with the notable exceptions of the “Toothless” FPV camera and “Lollipop 4” antenna, which are rebranded by Orqa. The maker is not explicitly stated, but I think we can all guess it is.
Specifications
Analog Version:
- FC/ESC: Orqa FC2020-F722 Analog + 60A 4in1 ESC2020 (20x20mm stack)
- VTX: ImmersionRC Ghost Ultimate Hybrid
- FPV Camera: Orqa Toothless
- VTX Antenna: Orqa Lollipop 4
- Control Link: ImmersionRC Ghost
- Motor: Orqa RTR 6S
- Props: Gemfan Floppy Proppy
- Weight (without battery):
360g371g - Weight (with a 6S 1100mAh): 565g
- Weight (with a 6S 1100mAh and GoPro 11): 719g
- Recommended Battery: 6S 1000-1500mAh
HD Version:
- FC/ESC: Orqa FC2020-F722 HD + 60A 4in1 ESC2020 (20x20mm stack)
- Video Transmission: Compatible with any current HD Video System
- Control Link: ImmersionRC Ghost
- Motor: Orqa RTR 6S
- Props: Gemfan Floppy Proppy
- Weight (without battery and FPV system): 340g
- Recommended Battery: 6S 1000-1500 mAh
Frame Specs:
- Multiple mounting options for flight electronics
- 6mm arms
- 3mm bottom plate
- 2mm mid plate
- 2mm top plate
- Designed for 5-inch propellers with a dry weight of 115g
Motor Specs:
- Size: 2207 stator
- KV: 1900KV
- Unibell design
- N55SH curved magnets
- Silver-plated copper wire for efficiency
- NSK684 (4x9x4) bearings
- Titanium TC4 hollow shaft
- 4mm shaft diameter
- 2-6S rated input voltage
- 20AWG silicone motor wires
- Weight: 31.5g (excluding wires)
Design and Build Quality
Orqa has focused on building a no-nonsense, performance-oriented quad. The frame design avoids unnecessary features like side plates and LEDs, which keeps the weight down and improves flight performance. The frame has a simple yet effective design, makes it easier to assemble, repair, and maintain.
There are 3 places for your electronics: a 20×20 mount at the front, a 20×20 or 30×30 mount in the middle, and a 20×20 or 25×25 mount at the rear.
While many frames now come with arm guards to protect the carbon fiber when crashing against concrete, Orqa has opted not to include them, based on their testing they believe they are not needed for this frame.
Both the camera and VTX antenna are mounted using 3D-printed TPU holders, and the quad comes with a universal GoPro mount.
The radio receiver antenna is mounted under one of the rear arms using a rubber band – a simple yet effective method.
The build quality is excellent; and the attention to details is admirable – all screws on the frame and motors have threadlock (blue loctite). However, the screws could be tightened a bit more to ensure they don’t loosen over time.
Aesthetically, the Dream X is sleek with its black frame and red accents, sticking to Orqa’s trademark colors. Hence the one red prop and 3 black props which is done on purpose.
Taking it apart for repair is easy.
Motors and Props
The motors on the Dream X are impressive, delivering plenty of power and responsiveness. These are Orqa’s new RTR 2207 1900KV motors, with single strand motor windings and unibell design.
The included foldable Gemfan Floppy Proppy F5135 tri-blade props are convenient for transportation, but they aren’t the best choice for performance.
They generate less thrust, are less efficient than standard props. The only advantage I can see is that the quad can be shipped with props installed, but really it’s not that hard to install 4 propellers. For a drone marketed as performance-oriented, I would have preferred standard props out of the box.
They are also less durable – one of the props broke in the hub after a few crashes.
In my review unit, there were no spare props included, although Orqa has stated that the retail package will include extra propellers.
FC and ESC Stack
The Dream X comes with a well-built FC and ESC stack. However, one downside is that the USB port does not power the receiver, meaning you’ll have to plug in the battery to bind and configure the quad.
FPV Setup
You can use any analog goggles to fly the Dream X, including Orqa’s FPV.One Pilot goggles. I reviewed these goggles a while a go: https://oscarliang.com/orqa-fpv-one-pilot-fpv-goggles/
The FPV setup is solid for short range freestyle flying and racing, but the camera protrudes slightly from the frame, making it vulnerable in crashes.
The VTX and receiver are combined in a single board to reduce complexity of the build, but it only benefits Ghost users who fly analog.
The VTX is capable of up to 1.5W of RF output power, which is great for long range. However, the VTX antenna is quite short and can easily get blocked by the battery during flight. For short range this is usually not a problem, but it’s not ideal for longer range. This can be resolved by using a longer antenna, however the antenna is not easily removable, which could be a limitation for some pilots. This could be addressed by using a UFL to SMA extension cable.
For those interested in digital FPV, the HD version of the Dream X comes without camera and VTX, so you can install any FPV system of your choice. According to Orqa the HD version is compatible with most current HD systems, although fitting a DJI O3 system might be a tight fit.
Radio Controller
The Dream X uses the ImmersionRC Ghost system, which is easy to use and set up. Everything can be configured via Orqa’s mobile app (search FPV.CTRL in Play Store), allowing you to bind, update firmware, and configure the radio with ease. However, it’s important to disconnect the radio from your phone after setup, as it can mess with your phone’s keyboard when connected.
The FPV.CTRL radio controller is basic but functional, making it ideal for beginners. However, advanced pilots who prefer open-source options like ExpressLRS might find the lack of receiver options a downside. The Ghost system is closed-source and not as versatile as some other options on the market. Get it here: https://oscarliang.com/product-0zu7
For newcomers, you can either get the FPV.CTRL radio controller, which comes with a basic Ghost RF Lite module (installed on the back and removable).
This radio is fine for beginners, however, experienced pilots might prefer higher end radios. Personally I find the gimbals on the FPV.CTRL a bit loose around the center sticks, affecting control feel. And the end points and mid point are a bit off even after calibrations which affects precision.
You can use the Ghost radio system by opting for their full-size Ghost RF module and use your own radio with a JR module bay. Here are my radio recommendations: https://oscarliang.com/radio-transmitter/#Radio-Recommendations
While you can also use ExpressLRS or TBS Crossfire by connecting a separate receiver in the drone, these receiver options are not available for purchase directly from Orqa, which is a limitation.
The receiver status LED is an RGB one, despite being capable of displaying a range of colors, can be confusing for users.
Flight Performance
The Dream X delivers a powerful and smooth flight experience. It hovers at around 21% throttle when fully charged, the thrust to weight ratio is insane. It was so power it made low throttle management quite hard, it can surely benefit from some throttle expo. For beginners, I think putting a motor output limit to reduce the power would be a good idea before you get good at flying 🙂 Flight times are decent, I got around 4:30 to 5:00 minutes of freestyle flying.
Switching to standard props noticeably improves both power and flight time, with the quad hovering at even lower 19% throttle and 5:00 to 5:30 minutes of flight time after the change.
Here are the gyro/dterm noise graphs from PIDToolbox for your reference (stock tune using stock props).
The stock tune from Orqa is pretty good, with minimal vibrations or wobbles, even in windy conditions. However, there is room for improvement in the PID and filter settings. Perhaps they were being conservative, filters are basically left at default. After spending just 30 minutes optimizing these settings, I was able to further enhance the quad’s performance and propwash handling. Learn about PID/Filter tuning in this guide: https://oscarliang.com/pid-filter-tuning-blackbox/
User Experience and Considerations
While the FPV.Ctrl radio works fine, it lacks some of the features and quality found in more advanced radios. The lack of a screen means most configurations have to be made through the mobile app.
For those heavily invested in open-source software such as EdgeTX and ExpressLRS, the FPV.CTRL radio and ImmersionRC Ghost system might feel over simplified and restrictive. However, for newcomers or those looking for a more plug-and-play experience, the ease of setup and use with the Ghost system can be a significant advantage, eliminating steep learning curve. Performance wise it is a very capable system for freestyle and racing.
A few things could be improved: the ability to change VTX settings directly from the OSD menu (right now you can only do this in the android app), including spare props in the package (currently it only comes with 1 set), adding a buzzer for lost drone recovery, and including GPS for Rescue Mode.
How to Setup
Setting Up the Radio
Binding the radio to the drone is done through the FPV.Ctrl phone app. Follow the prompts to bind the radio and set up your controls. The endpoints and midpoints may need slight adjustments in Betaflight, but this won’t prevent you from flying the drone.
Setting Up Betaflight
Orqa has done a solid job with the Betaflight configuration, and not much needs to be changed. Default CLI diff can be found here.
- Configuration Tab:
- Set Arming Angle to 180
- Enable DShot Beacon is a must since there’s no beeper onboard
- PID Tuning Tab:
- Set your rates
- You can try my custom PID/filter tune (ensure you back up the existing config first in case you want to go back)
- Modes:
- Set your arm switch
- Remove Horizon mode if not needed
- Power:
- Current sensor scaling seems a bit low, setting it to 116 is more accurate for me
Useful reference about Ghost RC link and receiver:
Conclusion
The Orqa Dream X 5″ FPV drone offers a compelling package for both beginners and advanced pilots. It comes optimized as a freestyle/racing drone and flies exceptionally well right out of the box. The setup is straightforward with Orqa’s own radio and FPV goggles, but you still have the flexibility to use your own radio and goggles if you prefer.
However, the lack of GPS, buzzer, and a short non-removable VTX antenna makes it less ideal for long-range and cinematic flying. The Dream X is a solid platform, and users can add these missing features to make it a more versatile FPV drone. I do hope Orqa will offer a version with all these features in a more advanced BNF configuration in the future.
While there are a few areas for improvement, the overall experience is positive, and Orqa’s commitment to quality and performance is evident. If you’re in the market for a BNF drone that requires minimal setup and delivers strong performance, the Dream X is worth considering.
