The original BetaFPV Pavo Pico was one of the smallest FPV drones capable of carrying the DJI O3 Air Unit. BetaFPV has now upgraded it with support for both the DJI O4 Lite and DJI O4 Pro — meet the new Pavo Pico II! In this review, I’ll walk you through the design, how to install the O4 and O4 Pro, how it flies, and help you decide whether this is the right drone for you.
Learn more about cinewhoops in this buyer’s guide: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy
You can get the BetaFPV Pavo Pico II from:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c2QDH69p
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-2un2
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-zokc
It’s available in two versions:
- With DJI O4 Air Unit (Lite) pre-installed
- PNP version (no Air Unit included)
I’m reviewing the PNP version here. It comes with two canopies — one for the DJI O4 Lite and one for the DJI O4 Pro, so whichever Air Unit you choose, you’re covered.
Oh! And don’t forget to grab some spare props and batteries.
Spare Propellers (Gemfan 45mm 3-Blade):
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3HvUaRl
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-hdy3
Batteries (LAVA 2S 550mAh):
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-kwdr
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3iMvcvh
Accessories in the box:
- 4 × Gemfan 45mm 3-Blade Propellers
- 1 × USB Adapter (Type-C to 4-pin SH1.0 Connector)
- 1 × Phillips Screwdriver
- 1 × H1.5 Hex Screwdriver
- 1 × Canopy for DJI O4 Air Unit
- 1 × Canopy for DJI O4 Pro Air Unit
- Mounting hardware for the DJI O4 Pro and O4
Specifications
- Wheelbase: 80 mm
- Frame: Pavo Pico II Brushless Whoop Frame
- Flight Controller: F4 20A AIO FC
- Propellers: Gemfan 45mm 3-Blade
- Motors: LAVA 1102 14,000 KV
- Battery Connector: XT30
- Input Voltage: 2S
- Receiver Options: 2.4GHz ExpressLRS or DJI SBUS
- Weight:
- Without FPV Setup: 41g
- With DJI O4: 54g (84g with 2S 550mAh)
- With DJI O4 Pro: 78g (108g with 2S 550mAh)
Design & Build
I really liked the original Pavo Pico — paired with the DJI O3, it was capable of capturing surprisingly beautiful footage for its size. So I was genuinely excited to see BetaFPV upgrade it to support not only the DJI O4 Lite, but also the O4 Pro Air Unit.
The Pavo Pico II ships with two canopy options, letting you choose based on which DJI Air Unit you plan to use. Interestingly, the canopy for the O4 Pro is the exact same one used on the Pavo20 Pro, while the O4 Lite canopy is a new design.
At first glance, the Pavo Pico II looks quite similar to the Pavo Femto, but there are a few key differences. The Pico II uses larger 45mm propellers compared to the Femto’s 40mm props. Despite the size increase, the Pico II remains extremely compact — still much smaller than the Pavo20.
Left: Pavo Pico II; Right: Pavo20
One of the biggest improvements on the Pavo Pico II is the redesigned camera mounting system for the DJI O4 Lite, aimed specifically at eliminating jello in footage. On the Pavo Femto, the O4 Lite camera was held by small rubber strips, which often led to unwanted vibration. On the new Pico II, BetaFPV completely reworked the design — now the entire camera cage, including the Air Unit, is soft-mounted on four large rubber grommets.
How to Install the DJI O4 Lite
Mounting the DJI O4 Lite on the Pavo Pico II isn’t the most straightforward process, especially since BetaFPV doesn’t provide any instructions. It took me a bit of trial and error, but here’s how I managed to install it successfully.
Install the 4 o-rings on the pillars underneath the canopy. These help cushion the Air Unit’s main board.
Place the O4 main board into the canopy, resting it on the o-rings.
Replace the stock antenna with the shorter antenna included with the Pavo Pico II. The shorter one fits better and keeps the build compact.
Attach the plastic case to the camera (this piece comes with the DJI O4 Air Unit but isn’t pre-installed). Make sure it clicks securely in place.
Mount the camera into the canopy using the self-tapping screws provided.
Install the 4 rubber grommets onto the plastic bottom plate of the camera cage. Note that the grommet ends are different sizes — a smaller side and a bigger side. The smaller end should face the camera cage, while the bigger end faces the drone frame.
Secure the bottom plate to the camera cage with the 6 tiny screws provided. Tighten them evenly but don’t over-torque them — they’re very small.
Finally, mount the camera cage to the drone. There are no screws needed here — simply slot the grommets into the carbon fibre frame’s cutouts. Once in place, the rubber holds the cage securely.
How to Install the DJI O4 Pro
Installing the DJI O4 Pro is much simpler — it follows the same process as the Pavo20.
Replace the stock antennas with the shorter versions included in the kit.
- This step is optional, but I highly recommend it. You’ll save almost 3 grams, which is substantial on such a lightweight drone.
- The smaller antennas are also more compact, less likely to snag on branches, and better suited for tight spaces.
- Unless you’re flying long range, these shorter antennas still provide plenty of signal range — easily a couple of kilometres outdoors and more than enough for indoor flying.
Install the Air Unit inside the canopy. It simply clips into place — no screws required.
Secure the camera into the canopy using the screws provided.
Insert the 4 rubber grommets, followed by the bolts that go through them.
Connect the Air Unit to the flight controller using the existing 4-pin cable.
Finally, mount the camera cage on top of the drone. Don’t worry about overtightening the bolts — they’re only threaded halfway. Just keep turning until they stop naturally.
Battery and Charging
Because of the rigid battery mount design — made from non-flexible, injection-molded plastic — the Pavo Pico II only supports batteries of a specific size. The slot comfortably fits packs with a width and height of roughly 25.5 × 24 mm, which limits compatibility somewhat.
BetaFPV recommends their LAVA 2S 550 mAh packs, and they fit perfectly. Other batteries of similar dimensions may also work, but anything larger won’t slide into the mount easily without modification.
Get the LAVA 2S 550mAh here:
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-kwdr
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3iMvcvh
You can clip off the battery holder, and loop a strap through, so you can use batteries of other sizes. But you need to get your own battery strap as it’s not included.
For charging, I’ve been using the Vifly ToothStor, a simple LiPo charger designed for 2S packs. It really simplifies charging small batteries in the field.
Flight Performance & Video Quality
I tested the Pavo Pico II using BetaFPV’s LAVA 2S 550 mAh LiPo packs, flying with both the DJI O4 Lite and DJI O4 Pro Air Units.
With DJI O4 Lite
Flight time: around 5 minutes (cruising)
Video quality: The redesigned soft-mount system completely eliminates jello in my testing. Also both DJI Rocksteady and Gyroflow stabilization worked beautifully, delivering smooth, cinematic footage. Even without any stabilization applied, the raw footage looked surprisingly clean and vibration-free — perfectly usable for casual flying.
Handling: With the lighter O4 Lite installed, the Pavo Pico II feels nimble and agile, ideal for tight spaces or fast-moving shots. It’s quick, responsive, and fun— perfect for park flying.
With DJI O4 Pro
Flight time: around 4 minutes (cruising)
Video quality: As expected from the DJI O4 Pro, image quality is outstanding. You get crisp 4K footage with rich detail and excellent color depth, even in breezy conditions. I strongly recommend adding an ND filter, both to improve image quality and protect the lens. The O4 Pro camera sits slightly forward of the prop guards, making it vulnerable in crashes. BetaFPV sells a dedicated ND filter set for the O4 Pro: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-nd-filters-dji-o4-pro/.
Handling: Despite the added weight, the Pico II still performs quite well. The LAVA 1102 motors handle the load with ease, giving the drone enough thrust for smooth cruising. It’s noticeably slower and “tankier” than with the O4 Lite, and slightly less responsive. I think it’s ideal for slow, flowing, cinematic shots rather than fast, acrobatic maneuvers.
PID & Filter Tune
The Pico 2 appears to have a custom PID tune, but it’s quite conservative and also the filters are mostly left at default values which I think can be optimized further. Despite this, the Pico 2 still flew pretty well in my testing, I think most people would be happy with how it performs. Anyway I will try to create my own filter and PID tune for this quad and publish it on my patreon maybe in a week or two. Let me know in the comment if you want to see the tune for the O4 Lite or the O4 Pro.
Update – I have made the tune for the O4 setup you can check out on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/custom-pid-tune-140766407
How to Setup for the First Flight
Connecting the Pavo Pico 2 to Betaflight Configurator using the provided USB-C adapter (the port is located at the rear of the drone).
FC / ESC / RX Firmware:
- Flight Controller Board Target: BETAFPVF405 (preloaded with Betaflight 4.5.0). Original CLI Diff available here.
- ESC Firmware: Pre-flashed with Bluejay (C-X-70, v0.19)
- Onboard Receiver: BETAFPV 2.4GHz AIO RX running ExpressLRS v3.5.6
Setup Instructions:
- Bind the ELRS Receiver: Plug in the USB cable, wait about 60 seconds until the receiver enters WiFi mode (green LED flashing rapidly). On your phone, join the ExpressLRS RX WiFi network (make sure to place your phone close to the drone, as the WiFi signal from the FC is extremely weak). Open browser and go to 10.0.0.1, then enter your bind phrase on the webpage. Detailed instructions can be found here: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/#Method-3-Entering-Bind-Phrase-in-Web-UI
- Pair the DJI O4 Air Unit with your Goggles: Follow the instructions here: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-lite/#Pairing-DJI-Goggles-3-with-O4-Lite. The O4 doesn’t require activation, so you can fly as soon as it’s paired.
- Setup the Modes Tab: Configure your arm switch, angle mode, and turtle mode. For guidance, see this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/#How-to-Setup-Arm-Switch
- In Power tab, set warning voltage to 3.4V, and min voltage to 3.2V – I tend to land when voltage drops to 3.3V due to voltage sag, and when you land the voltage would normally rise to 3.5-3.6V. Also increase Amperage Meter (current sensor) scale to 515 which seems to be more accurate.
That’s it—your Pavo Pico 2 should now be ready for its maiden flight!
Final Thoughts – Who Is the Pavo Pico II For?
The BetaFPV Pavo Pico II fills a unique spot in the Pavo lineup. While the Pavo Femto only supports the DJI O4 Lite, and the Pavo20 only supports the DJI O4 Pro, the Pico II is the most flexible of the three — it supports both air units right out of the box!
Get the Pavo Pico II here:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c2QDH69p
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-2un2
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-zokc
Size-wise, it sits between the Femto and the Pavo20. It’s just powerful enough to handle the DJI O4 Pro Air Unit, and realistically, you can’t get any smaller than this while keeping the drone flyable and well-balanced.
For outdoor flying, the Pavo20 is undoubtedly the more capable platform for carrying the heavier O4 Pro. It’s more powerful and better suited for faster freestyle flying. It also handles the wind better. However, if your goal is slower, stable cinematic footage in the smallest possible form factor, the Pavo Pico 2 absolutely delivers. At just 108g AUW (including battery and O4 Pro), it’s astonishing how much performance BetaFPV has managed to pack into such a tiny drone.
With the lighter DJI O4 Lite, the Pico 2 truly shines. It transforms into a nimble micro ripper — fast, fun, and capable of weaving through tight spaces with ease. The larger 45mm props give it noticeably more thrust and efficiency than the Femto, while the improved camera mount also eliminates jello. Despite being almost the same weight, the Pico 2 performs better in almost every aspects, making it my preferred choice.
If you’ve been looking for a tiny DJI FPV cinewhoop that balances fun and functionality, the Pavo Pico II might just be the perfect fit.
Don’t forget to get some spare propellers:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3HvUaRl
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-hdy3
8 comments
Is it possible to mount Dji 03 pro on Pavo Pico II?
Hi Oscar,
Will the pavo20 canopy fit the new pico frame to run a vista air unit please?
The O4 Pro is bigger than the vista, so it will fit but it will be loose. And the camera may not fit as the original vista camera is 1mm wider than the O4 Pro i think.
I wonder if they finally did something about Pavo Pico jello-effect after I left a review at Amazon platform a month and a half ago, highlighting the insane jello-effect I was experiencing, and the freaky wobbling at free fall.
That, while praising Pavo Femto, and calling Pavo Pico the necessary “jinxed” model of the Pavo line. Perhaps that did land heavy on BetaFPV, calling their Pavo Pico the black sheep of all their models, and a necessary one, if superstition is considered.
How does Pavo Pico II with O4 lite compare with Meteor75 Pro wtih O4 lite?
As in what is best use case for each option? How big differences are… 2s/1s, weight/power, loudnes, price?
Not sure if you’ve seen my review of the Femto, where I mentioned the Meteor75 is more suited for indoor while the Femto is more suited for outdoor because it’s more powerful and heavier and too fast for tight spaces. Well it’s more so for the Pico II – it’s slightly bigger and even faster than the Femto.
Just ordered this and planned to move the O4 from my femto to the pico 2. So I want to see your PID tune for the O4 please.
I just posted my tune on my Patreon, you can check out there!