Today, I’ll be reviewing the DarwinFPV CineApe25, possibly the cheapest CineWhoop on the market. This review will provide an in-depth look at the drone’s specifications, flight characteristics, and overall performance.
Check out other recommended Cinewhoop options: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy?
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeBsdvx
- RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-37f4
- DarwinFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-5tdj
Specifications and Components
The CineApe25 comes with DarwinFPV branded 1504 3600KV motors, HQPROP T63 MMX6 props with six blades, and a two-layer stack featuring an F411 flight controller with an MPU6500. It also has an AT7456E chip for analog Betaflight OSD support and a 30A 4in1 ESC. The drone is equipped with a Walksnail 1S VTX and a Walksnail nano camera.
Construction and Durability
The drone’s motor wires are not secured down, which is something to keep in mind during assembly. The CineApe25 features a quick-release system for its prop guards, but it requires the removal of seven screws. The prop protection is robust and made from a material similar to the GEPRC Cinebot30. Metal screws secure the prop protection to the carbon fiber frame, which is 2.5mm thick. The drone has a wheelbase of approximately 112.5mm.
Battery, Flight Time, and Weight
The CineApe25 comes with two battery straps and slots for placing them on the carbon fiber frame. I tested it with an 4S 850mAh battery, which provided a good balance of flight time and performance. The drone weighs just over 160 grams without an action camera and 253g With a 850mAh 4S battery.
Flight Characteristics and Performance
The DarwinFPV CineApe25 flies surprising well for the low price, with excellent tracking and responsiveness. From the stabilised GoPro footage, you can’t even tell it’s filmed on a cheap drone. Indoors, the drone is quite loud but still manageable in a large space. It’s capable of slow, cinematic flights for filming footage, as well as faster, more aggressive flights. The drone’s flight time varied depending on whether I was flying indoors or outdoors, with the average being around 4:30 minutes.
Crash Resistance and Repairability
The CineApe25 proved to be durable during my flights and crashes. The ducts held up well, and the drone’s construction remained solid. I had no major complaints about the drone’s construction, and replacing parts was relatively easy, thanks to the separate flight boards.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I was impressed with the DarwinFPV CineApe25. Its flight performance, durability, and construction make it a great option for FPV drone pilots of all levels. For as low as $192, this drone is worth considering if you’re in the market for a budget CineWhoop.
4 comments
What are you saying to the RTF kit for this drone, with controller and goggles? (https://darwinfpv.com/products/darwinfpv-cineape-25-fpv-kit-rtf)- maybe I could change the goggles for the “DVR version”.
Is it worth to buy it for beginner and after practicing put an action camera and film some good footage? thanks.
Is there a free UART port in this drone version with Walksnail Avatar to connect GPS? Thanks.
You mention the motor wires, would you do something to secure them better? And do you have any thoughts on running this quad props out? Thanks
Get some cloth tape and secure them under the arms: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-tools/#Clothes-Tape
Smaller whoops like tiny whoops can benefit massively from props out, but it doesn’t make much a difference for bigger whoops like this, actually it can sometimes cause problems with flight characteristics.