The NewBeeDrone Hummingbird V3 is one of the most budget-friendly tiny whoops currently on the market. Despite its low price, this tiny whoop offers impressive durability and a set of features that make it an excellent choice for those new to the FPV world. However, it also has some limitations, which I’ll cover in this review. I’ll walk you through its specifications, performance, and how it compares to other popular tiny whoops on the market.
Check out my tiny whoop and related accessory recommendations: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/=
Where to Buy
You can purchase the Hummingbird V3 from:
For $89.99, the Hummingbird V3 package includes:
- The Hummingbird V3 drone
- A spare set of Triblade props
- A propeller removal tool
- A Nitro Nector 1S 300mAh battery
- A quick-start guide and binding instructions
Specifications
- Propellers: NewBeeDrone Azi 31mm Tri-Blade (1.0mm Shaft)
- Flight Controller: Hummingbird V3 ELRS AIO Flight Controller
- Frame: Cockroach65 V3 Frame
- Total Weight without battery: 21.6g (PP Material Cockroach65 frame)
- Motors: Hummingbird 0802 25000KV
- Canopy: Goober Canopy v1
- Camera: BeeEye Camera
- Drone Size: 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 Target: O-H-10 48kHz
- ESC Connector: JST-1.0 3Pin
- OSD: NBD7456 Graphical OSD compatible with Betaflight OSD
- Receiver: 2.4GHz ExpressLRS (SPI)
- Battery Input: 1S Only
- Battery Connector: Nectar Connector Gold Plated PH2.0 Solid Pin
Design and Build Quality
The Hummingbird V3 stands out with its sturdy design and attractive white frame accented by black and red details. It’s built around NewBeeDrone’s signature Cockroach frame, which is renowned for its durability.
Unlike the latest tiny whoops, the frame and canopy are thicker, making the drone more robust and suitable for new pilots who are still learning the ropes. However, this added bulk comes at the cost of increased weight.
Weighing in at around 21.6 grams, the Hummingbird V3 is 20% heavier than the BetaFPV Air65, which weighs just 17.1 grams. This additional weight significantly impacts flight performance, as I’ll discuss further.
On the positive side, the larger polycarbonate canopy not only shields the internal components but also gives the drone a sleek look. The attention to detail is evident, with small foam foot pads for smoother landings and solder pads at the motor base for easy replacements. Additionally, the bright RGB LEDs at the four corners of the flight controller add a nice visual touch, which can be configured in Betaflight.
Apart from weight, another notable downside is the use of the older PH2.0 battery connector instead of the more modern BT2.0 or A30 connectors, which offer better flight times and reduced voltage sag. While the PH2.0 connector isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s something to consider if you prefer to standardize your battery connectors across your fleet.
Flight Performance
Using the included 1S 300mAh Nitro Nectar LiHV battery, I was able to get around 3 minutes of flight time with the Hummingbird V3. In comparison, the BetaFPV Air65 can achieve over 4 minutes, highlighting the impact of the extra weight on flight time. To compensate for this added weight, NewBeeDrone equipped the Hummingbird V3 with larger 0802 25000KV motors, which deliver more power but at the expense of efficiency.
You can definitely feel the extra weight, especially during turns. It feels like flying a heavier 75mm whoop but with the power of a 65mm. The additional momentum requires earlier reaction and larger stick movements, making it less nimble and harder to fly than the Air65. However, the drone flies smoothly and feels locked in, showing that NewBeeDrone has done a solid job tuning the whoop straight out of the factory.
The ESCs come pre-flashed with Bluejay 0.19 firmware (48kHz PWM Frequency), with the RPM filter enabled in Betaflight out of the box, which enhances flight performance. However, the ESC settings could use a bit more optimization, as some motors don’t always start properly when armed causing the drone to flip over at takeoff. This is an easy fix, which I’ll cover in the “How to Setup” section in this review.
Another minor annoyance is the constantly changing RGB LED lights. While they look cool, the reflections on the prop guards can be distracting for the pilot, especially in low-light conditions. Fortunately, you can disable them in the settings.
The image quality from the BeeEye camera is okay, on par with what you’d expect from other budget options like Happymodel or BetaFPV.
What NewBeeDrone Could Improve
The Hummingbird V3 would have been an excellent tiny whoop 2-3 years ago, but the specs feel somewhat outdated in late 2024. Here are a few suggestions for NewBeeDrone to modernize this drone and improve its performance:
- Upgrade to a BT2.0 or A30 battery connector.
- Use a lighter frame and canopy to reduce weight (ideally in the 17-18g level).
- Directly solder motors to the ESC pads to minimize resistance and further reduce weight.
- After reducing weight, consider using slightly higher KV motors to maximise performance (e.g., 27000KV or 28000KV).
- Switch from an SPI receiver to a UART receiver for futureproofing.
Another limitation we have not touched on is the video transmitter, which is capped at 25mW RF output power. While this might be sufficient for most indoor and short-range flights, it’s less versatile than other latest tiny whoops, which typically offer up to 350mW or even 400mW. Higher power output can be beneficial when flying through multiple rooms in a house or outdoors where additional range and signal penetration are preferred.
Lighter LiteAF Racing Frame
The Hummingbird V3 uses the durable Cockroach V3 frame. NewBeeDrone recently released a new “LiteAF” frame made of polypropylene material, with a slightly lower profile, reducing the weight by about 0.5 grams. This is designed for racing, but I think most pilot can benefit from a lighter frame. You can check out the LiteAF frame here: https://oscarliang.com/product-oexn.
How to Setup
The flight controller comes with Betaflight 4.4.0 (released a year ago), with the target firmware being BETAFPVG473. You can find the default CLI diff here.
To set up your Hummingbird V3 for its maiden flight:
- Bind the Receiver: Enter your bind phrase in the Receiver tab.
- Load ExpressLRS Preset – what packet rate you are using.
- Set Your Rates in the PID Tuning tab.
- Configure Switches: Set up your arm switch, angle mode switch, and turtle mode switch.
- Tweak ESC Settings in Bluejay: Increase the Minimum Startup Power to 1070 and change ESC power settings to 1S. The default of 1020 is too low and can cause some motors not to spin when armed.
Final Thoughts
To be completely honest, after flying the BetaFPV Air65, it’s hard to recommend anything else at this point. While the Hummingbird V3 has some nice features and thoughtful design touches, its heavier weight and use of the older PH2.0 connector feel outdated. The Air65 is more nimble, offers longer flight times, has better specs (like a higher power VTX and a UART receiver), and is even cheaper.
That said, the Hummingbird V3 still has its merits. It may not be my top choice for racers, but it can be a fun tiny whoop for general use, offering good durability thanks to its robust frame. Plus, being a product from a U.S.-based company might appeal to some pilots looking to support domestic brands.
You can purchase the Hummingbird V3 from:
