When BetaFPV told me they were releasing the Pavo20 Pro II (V2), I was expecting a new quad. Turned out it’s basically the V1 with a few tweaks. So the real question is: who is this V2 actually for, and should you upgrade? In this review, I’ll walk you through what’s changed, what I like and don’t like, and whether it makes sense to move from the Pavo20 Pro V1 to the V2.
New to FPV? Start with our Cinewhoop Buyer’s Guide: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy
Purchase the Pavo20 Pro II from:
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-qd0o
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4mVnoGz
The Pavo20 Pro II comes with:
- Camera cage for DJI O4 Lite
- Camera cage for DJI O4 Pro
- 1 set of propellers (4 total)
- NightFire LED strip and controller board
- Mounting hardware
Differences Between V1 and V2
The differences between the original Pavo20 Pro V1 and the new V2 are minor.
Left: V2; Right: V1
Here is the specifications comparison.
| Pavo20 Pro V1 | Pavo20 Pro V2 | |
| Price | $105 | $105 |
| Frame Wheelbase | 93.9mm | 93.7mm |
| FC/ESC | F4 2-3S 20A AIO FC V1 | F4 2-3S 20A AIO FC V1 |
| Motors | LAVA Series 1104 7200KV | LAVA Series 1104 7200KV |
| Props | Gemfan 2218 3-Blade | Gemfan 2218 3-Blade |
| Battery Slot Width | 20mm | 20mm |
| Weight (with DJI O4 Pro, no LiPo) | 106.6g | 107g |
| Compatible FPV Setup | O4 Pro / O3 | O4 Lite / O4 Pro |
The main changes are:
- The V2 includes two different camera cages for the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Pro (the same mounts found in the Pavo Pico II).
- The overall frame design and geometry remain mostly unchanged, with only slight tweaks to the carbon fiber plate and plastic frame to accommodate the new camera cages.
- NightFire RGB LED strip is now included as standard, whereas it was previously exclusive to the Pavo20 NightFire edition. Personally, I don’t care much for LEDs and usually remove them—they add weight without improving performance.
That’s basically it. To learn more about the Pavo20 Pro check out my original review: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo20-pro-dji-o4-pro/
The motors, propellers, flight controller, ESC, and overall weight are effectively identical, so you can expect very similar flight performance and flight time compared to the V1.
Left: V1, Right: V2
Left: Pavo Pico II; Right: Pavo20 Pro II
Added O4 Pro and O4 Lite Support
The only meaningful change in the V2 is the canopy (camera cages).
On the V1, the frame was designed specifically for the DJI O4 Pro and O3. If you wanted to run the DJI O4 Lite, the answer was: buy a different model like the Pavo Pico II or Meteor75.
With the Pavo20 Pro V2, the carbon fiber plate has been redesigned to support both the DJI O4 Pro and DJI O4 Lite, using dedicated camera cages. These cages are essentially the same design as those used on the Pavo Pico II and are fully interchangeable. This means you can move your O4 Lite or O4 Pro between these models.
Flight Performance
Honestly, there’s not much new to say here. The drone feels exactly like the original Pavo20 Pro—except now it supports both the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Pro.
For a detailed assessment of flight performance, you can refer to my original Pavo20 Pro review: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo20-pro-dji-o4-pro/#Flight-Performance
For reassurance, there are no noticeable oscillations or jello out of the box, which is great. BetaFPV provides two separate PID profiles, one for the DJI O4 Lite and one for the O4 Pro, so make sure you select the correct profile for the air unit you’re using.
In terms of speed, it’s not comparable to powerful freestyle drones, but it has enough punch to remain fun for outdoor flying. Being a small ducted cinewhoop, it also works well indoors, although it can be a bit loud and powerful for tight, confined spaces where very precise control is needed. That said, it’s still relatively safer to fly around people or pets compared to open-prop freestyle quads.
O4 Installation
To install the DJI O4 Lite or O4 Pro air unit in the Pavo20 Pro V2, follow my instructions from the Pavo Pico II review—the installation process is essentially identical: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo-pico-ii/#How-to-Install-the-DJI-O4-Lite
How to Setup
Before the first flight, I did the following:
- Installed the two O4 antennas in the antenna mount.
- Removed the protective film from the camera lens.
- Plug in a smoke stopper, and connect a battery and test the drone and see if it powers up correctly. You should hear the ESC/motor initiation beeps.
- Personally I’d avoid installing the LED strip to save weight.
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board target is BETAFPVF405, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware version 4.5.0. For stock CLI Diff, see here.
- ESC Firmware: Bluejay, 0.19 (C-X-70)
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Target: Generic ESP8285 2.4GHz RX, firmware 3.3.0
Betaflight Setup
- Bind the ELRS receiver – The best way perhaps is connect USB cable to the FC, wait 60 seconds until the receiver goes into WiFi mode (green LED flashes rapidly). Then connect to the ExpressLRS RX WiFi network, go to 10.0.0.1 in your browser, and enter your Binding Phrase on the webpage. Detail tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/
- Activate DJI O4 Pro Air Unit – Guide: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/#Activation
- Pair the DJI O4 Pro with your goggles – Guide: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/#Pairing-DJI-Goggles-3-with-O4-Air-Unit-Pro
- Load the ExpressLRS preset according to your packet rate – Instructions: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-presets/#Loading-RC-Link-Configurations
- Set up custom rates – My Rates: https://oscarliang.com/rates/#My-Rates
- Configure the Modes tab (arm switch, turtle mode, etc.): https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/#How-to-Setup-Arm-Switch
- Set up OSD, you can copy my CLI lines: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-osd/#My-OSD-Setup-CLI-Commands
Conclusion: Who Should Consider the Pavo20 Pro V2?
To be frank, this doesn’t really feel like a true V2—more like a V1.1. If you already own the original Pavo20 Pro and don’t plan to use the DJI O4 Lite, there’s no reason to upgrade. They fly exactly the same.
If you’re considering this quad specifically to frequently swap between the O4 Lite and O4 Pro, think twice. The camera cages are mounted to the frame using small rubber grommets, and installing them is fiddly and time-consuming.
However, if you’re new to FPV and want a beginner-friendly 2-inch cinewhoop, the Pavo20 Pro V2 is a very solid choice. It flies well straight out of the box, has prop guards for added safety, and now supports both the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Pro, making it more versatile for newcomers.
4 comments
what is for a beginner better buy this one or but a pavo pico II
If I had to choose, I’d go with the Pavo20, it’s slightly more versatile – more powerful and more stable in windy conditions. But it is always heavier and and slightly bigger.
Please search for Pavo20 pro v1 frame vs new v2. There is definitely something wrong with the V2 frame version. I tested 5 of them…all glide around the place at 0 throttle no matter what tune is put on them, doesn’t drop like normal at all. A lot louder overall vs the v1 frame too. V2 pids work great on V1…nothing works on V2. They really messed this version up. After a bit of trying to tell ppl this, others are finally confirming the same thing.
Great! Now we finally get the Nightfire strip out of the box. But only with some other shit you don’t want added to a drone that is already noisy as hell! Hoo-ray.