The Skyzone SKY04X is their latest OLED FPV Goggles, and it beats the Fatshark HDO2 in many ways. Although they both have the same 1280×960 display and a massive 46° FOV, the SKY04X offers more user-friendly features that are hard to miss.
New to FPV? Check out my FPV Goggles buyer’s guide.
Table of Contents
Where to Buy Skyzone SKY04X?
You can get the Skyzone 04X FPV Goggles from the following vendors. These are affiliate links, if you purchase using these links, I get a small commission that keeps this blog going.
- Banggood – https://oscarliang.com/product-9voe
- RDQ – https://oscarliang.com/product-j1cf
- Amazon – https://amzn.to/30262FJ
- NBD – https://oscarliang.com/product-h12o
Skyzone SKY04X is available in red, white, grey and black colors. Mine is grey, but it actually looks slightly gold.
Accessories include the following: Menu, AV cable, XT60 to barrel connector cable, USB-C cable, two dipole antennas, two face plates and two face foam pads.
You can take a peek at the online menu here.
Eachine EV300O and SKY04S are ALMOST the same
From the outside, the Eachine EV300O might look the same as the Skyzone SKY04S and have the exact same OSD menu system. For someone who has never used these goggles before, might assume they are the same goggles, but there are actually a few differences.
Note that the EV300O is not the EV300D (with a D), which has problem with latency. So do not worry, neither the EV300O nor SKY04X suffer from the same latency issue.
The main difference between 04X and 300O is the display.
The SKY04X resolution is 1280×960 with a FOV of 46°, while the EV300O only has a 1024×768 resolution and 38° field of view.
The SKY04X costs only $10 more than the EV300O at the time of publishing ($490 from Banggood vs $500 from RDQ), so it’s definitely worth getting the SKY04X.
SKY04X Specifications
- OLED Display Panels
- Resolution: 1280X960
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 and 16:9 selectable
- FOV: 46° in 4:3
- Focal Length Adjustment: -6 to +6
- IPD Adjustment (Inter-pupillary distance): 58-71mm
- Receiver Module: Skyzone SteadyView (5.8Ghz 6 Bands 48CH)
- Power Supply: DC6.5-25.2V (2S to 6S) or USB-C 5V
- Power Consumption: about 8.6W, 720mA at 12V
- DVR: H264 encoding, 30FPS, MOV format, 6Mbps bitrate
- Supports SD Card up to128Gb
- Built-in Head Tracker: 3-axis Accelerometer, 3-axis Gyroscope
- Dimensions: 185*75*67mm
- Weight: 267g
Check this page to compare FOV to other goggles: https://oscarliang.com/js/fpvgogglefov.html
Closer Look at Skyzone SKY04X
The Skyzone SKY04X has a wider head strap than the one that comes with the Fatshark’s, For me it’s more secure and comfortable to wear. I see a lot of people with the HDO2 spent extra just to get a wider strap like the Skyzone’s.
Two types of face plate are provided for different face profiles. You also get two faceplate foam pads of different material. They stick to the faceplate by Velcro, so it’s easy to remove or replace.
Menu navigation is done by roller wheel buttons, like the ones used in the Eachine Cobra X we recently reviewed. They are much easier to use than push buttons.
It has all the usual connectors you’d expect on a high end FPV Goggles: HDMI input, AV in/out, Headphone jack for audio output (listen to motor sound during flight), USB-C for power and firmware upgrade, head tracker output, and power input.
Having HDMI input, means the SKY04X also supports Fatshark’s SharkByte FPV system, and you can also connect them to your computer as a screen to play FPV simulators.
The SKY04X can be powered from a 2S – 6S LiPo, basically most FPV drone batteries you have should just work. It also supports 5V power through the USB-C input, so you can use your powerbank if you want.
I really like this long XT60 cable they provide, so I can put this heavy battery in my pocket and not strap it next to my head.
Every time you press any of the buttons, a status bar shows up on top of the screen that tells you the voltage of your goggles’ battery, what channel you are on, and SD card status etc.
The settings menu (user interface) is the same one Skyzone use in all of their FPV Goggles, it’s super easy to use, and there are a ton of options.
Image settings: Brightness, Contrast, Saturations, Hue and Sharpness.
DVR settings.
Display settings.
System settings: power input (cell count), voltage calibration, fan speed etc.
Oh, did I mention it also has a proper On / Off button with LED? :D Remember back in the days, we had to spend a whole afternoon just to do it on our Fatshark :)
External Module Bay
The Skyzone SKY04X has 2 Fatshark style video receiver module bays. It’s designed to house two diversity modules for “quad-versity” to enhance signal reception. I have yet to test this (a later post perhaps) but it’s nice that it’s possible with the 04X.
Note: For quadversity, you have to use Skyzone’s own receiver modules, third party module like Rapidfire and Fusion won’t work because they don’t output RSSI to the goggles.
The left module bay, and the included “SteadyView” module.
The right module bay, currently empty.
Out of the box, you get a free receiver module for free – the Skyzone SteadyView. This is a diversity module that can rival Rapidfire in terms of performance.
Kudos to Skyzone for finally adding an external module bay to their goggles, it’s probably the most asked feature after their last flagship release – the SKY03O.
You can use an aftermarket receiver module, such as the TBS fusion or ImmersionRC Rapidfire. It fits the Rapidfire perfectly. But you will need a custom 3D printed module bay, just in case the module falls out. The stock cover doesn’t fit all modules.
IPD & Focal Adjustment
The Skyzone SKY04X has IPD adjustment, as well as focal adjustment! Fatshark HDO2 also has this feature and I absolutely love it as I am near sighted. By adjusting focal length, I no longer need any special diopter lenses to install in the goggles.
Even if you don’t wear glasses, you’d be surprised how much clearer the image can get by adjusting it just a tiny bit (as everyone’s eyesight are slightly different).
But what the SKY04X does better than the HDO2 is the wider adjustment range. Normally in other goggles it goes from -6 to +2, but the SKY04X can go up to +6, which help those who wear reading glasses.
The IPD of the SKY04X measures around 59mm – 70mm, slightly less than the 58mm-70mm advertised range. But still, this is comparable to the HDO2’s 59mm to 69mm (my measurements, which is significantly narrower than Fatshark’s claimed 54mm-74mm).
Fatshark HDO2 or Skyzone SKY04X?
The Sky04X matches the Fatshark HDO2 in many areas including DVR and display. They basically have the same FOV, resolution, sharpness, clarity, IPD etc. And there are many parameters you can change in the SKY04X to personalize your goggles.
The SKY04X comes with receiver module, and it actually works pretty well! With HDO2 you would have to spend another $120 to get a decent module. And don’t forget about antennas. With the SKY04X, I really don’t think you need to buy a new module, the SteadyView performs on par with my Rapidfire. And it has dual module bays for future quad-versity feature.
I’ve probably said this a thousand times already in my past reviews – the Skyzone OSD menu is awesome! Fatshark doesn’t have one yet (they do now with the HDO2, but it’s just screen settings in plain text).
Power option is more flexible with the SKY04S. You can power them from 2S to 6S (as well as 5V powerbank). But with HDO2, only 2S to 3S batteries.
And I think Skyzone’s goggles are more comfortable to wear for most people thanks to the different faceplate and foam options provided. Fatshark only has one standard faceplate and if that doesn’t fit, bad luck for you.
Both goggles are priced the same at $500, in my opinion the SKY04X is better in terms of value.
However, when it comes to repair, Fatshark might be ahead. They have repair centers in different continents, so the turn-around should be quicker than Skyzone, which is fully based in China. Speaking from personal experience, I had my Fatshark HDO fixed twice a couple of years ago, and both times took less than a week. Although it’s not that common that you have to deal with customer service, it’s something to take into account.
By the way, the Skyzone SKY04X is slightly bulkier than the HDO2, just by a little bit.
27 comments
I installed a second Steadyview receiver. Now I want to calibrate RSSI. In the menu there is a LOW option and a HIGH option. What exactly is the procedure? Should this calibration be done with or without antennas? If it is with antennas I guess I need 4 identical antennas, right?
does the 04x do side/side 3d stereo?
or is that only on a 03s goggle?
Hi Oscar, I just received my new 04X goggles, WOW, WOW, WOW, is all I can say. My last pair which were my first pair are the FatShark Attitude V5s, It’s like night and day, those FS don’t even come close. I’m 57 and am far sighted, I had absolutely no issues focusing these in, that was what was most worried about because the FS were never focused in totally. And the fit feels like it was molded to my face, which was another issue I had with the FS goggles. Nope, I’m not going to have buyers remorse from this purchase. I can only imagine what the SharkByte mod. would look through these.
Ok, the rapid fire module works only in the right side receiver bay on skyzone 0x4 which will have the rapid fire display upside down. Not sure if there is an option to flip the RF display or choose to use the left side receiver bay on the sky 0x4 ? Any help would be appreciated…
Hi, i have the skyzone x4 and rapid fire Rx module. I cant get a picture on my x4 with rapid fire module. Rapid fire seams to be working fine i xan go through all the options. Googles work with stock clear view module. Am I missing something? Pls advise any help would be appreciated…
I had to teturn my sky04x because of the screen rolling issues. I had the latest firmware on goggles and receiver module.
I use strictly caddx ratel cameras. Not sure if its caddx only related issue with the rling screen. Other then that amazing goggles, i wish they’d had an option for goggles without receiver module.
It is because of problems with pal cameras. On ntsc ones there isn’t that problem.
I’m thinking on buying sharkbyte. Do you know if it fits into the sky04x? I think Nick Burns has a video on that.
Yes it will fit?
I have astigmatism and so use corrective lenses in my Aomway. Think this adjustment system is enough to get a clear image?
It’s hard to say without trying it if you have eyesight issues. Get them from a seller that allows return so you can just try them, if not working just return them :)
It depends on how bad your astigmatism is. My right eye has a more severe astigmatism than my left, and there’s a very narrow focus range that works well for me – but that said, it *does* work well, and better than my Fat Shark HD3.
If that’s a concern for you, I’d check out the Skyzone Cobra X. They’re box goggles with the same menu system, a single top-mounted module bay, and most glasses fit into them without trouble. I’ve used my friend’s, and they’re great for that purpose.
I still choose HDO2 because of the horizontal control of appearance. There is a small problem, that is, sometimes the image of the receiver cannot be transmitted to the glasses, so I need to replug the power for several times. I wonder why
I got the new skyzone 04X…. Within 2 weeks of usage it smoked up when i connected the battery.. I am devastated… I live in a country where it is impossible to repair fpv goggles.. Contacted Skyzone on facebook to be just left on seen :( .
I think mine came with a defective board and will need to replace it.. Do i have any luck in getting it repaired?? Maybe if i was in china i may have had a chance. Feeling hopeless..I had to pay 600 dollars in my country for this.
Did you buy the goggles from a reseller? You could contact them and see if they can make some arrangement with Skyzone on your behalf?
Try emailing skyzone as well, they might not read/respond as fast on Facebook. Sorry I haven’t had a single broken skyzone goggles so I haven’t tried to repair them yet.
Can I use Eachine Rapidmix for quadvesity feature of this goggles? Thanks
Yes, it’s basically just the rebranded Skyzone Steadyview, same module :)
Hi Oscar,
Answering previous of your replies, I have quadversity with steadyview receivers. I can see rssi of 4 receivers. I use mix mode and diversity when the image roll was happening. March firmware update seems fixed rolling image. To add to my dvr complain, now it is working. I tried a 5th sd card (new one) and dvr worked. So, it worked all the time, I was just not using right sd card, my fault. Weird because the other previous 4 cards work on other devices / drone stuff. Anyways, goggles are perfect now. I just posted here with hope to give a little public pressure to skyzone for the lack of dvr release. (I had reached to customer support already). I am loving the goggles now (just wanted to get dvr issue solved).
Maybe you already tried this, but did you format the SD inside the goggles? Sometimes these DVR are picky about formats.
I keep hearing that Fatshark has got excellent customer service and repairs centers. And I agree that they do. But from my own experience and other peoples, it’s because a lot of their goggles keep breaking down. I think that’s a fact that FPV community seem to ignore. I’ve also had a pair of Skyzone O2X and I’ve had no issues with it for nearly 2 years now. I’m looking forward to getting the O4X, knowing how reliable their goggles are. What would top that, would be Skyzone coming out with a digital FPV system that would compete with DJI. Not a “analog plus” HD system like the Sharkbyte.
Well, I bought my sky04x goggles at the end of January. I have really liked their form factor in comparison to my dji goggles. They have worked almost perfect with a few exceptions. I cannot record dvr and I have been having some video rolling issues with my custom made meteor65. I have the latest firmware updates and I’m using quadversity. At the moment there is no firmware available for the dvr. It seems mine could have got damaged because I did the DVR FW upgrade option in the system menu.
Also, I’m not sure if quadversity is better than rapidfire. I have done some tiny whoop racing recently and the rapidfire performed better in multipath.
About DVR and rolling issues, please contact Skyzone directly they should be able to sort it out for you :)
And about quadversity, you have to use the modules from Skyzone, any third party modules like the Rapidfire won’t work as quadversity.
I would like to chime in on the customer service of Skyzone and it is very good.
My sky02x came with a defective hdmi output. They quickly sent me a new board. Yes I had to wait about 2 weeks to receive the board… But it worked and worked well.
I think there’s a difference in repair startegy between FatShark and Skyzone. The latter has designed it’s goggles with ‘plug n’ play’ chips that make it super easy for the standard user to open and replace the broken chip. You don’t need to bring the goggle to a repair shop.
Hopes this helps.
I have not been able to play the dvr the last few weeks. I believe it might be recording, but I have not tried to use the sd card in the computer to see if it recorded something. I set up the automatic recording and formatted the sd card in the goggles. I have not tried firmware updates yet. They fit much better in my face than the dji goggles.
These glasses look unbelievable, in fact I almost bought them at the beginning of the year.
If there are many reports of malfunction of the SteadyView module, mainly in fusion mode.
According to other reports, the external module compartment does not support TBS Fusion. The compartment appears to be slightly smaller than the module.
In the end. It seems that Skyzone needs to polish the product. I think they could sell a version with correction in the size of the module compartment, but without SteadyView, and ask for a lower price for those who prefer to use another module.
It was a compatibility issue with camera format i think, It’s been fixed by firmware updates. Rapidfire had similar issues at the beginning and it was fixed quite quickly too.
I can’t confirm fit with Fusion, I only have Rapidfire.
The malfunction you are refering to could be the desync problem, i.e. fading image moving to the right side. It can be easily avoided by turning on the goggles after connecting the battery to the drone.