With drone regulations getting increasingly strict, I’m always excited when an FPV drone promises big performance in a tiny package. Enter the YMZFPV Eagle2, a micro FPV drone designed specifically for the DJI O4 Pro Air Unit, weighing under 104g including the battery. In this review, I’ll share my hands-on experience with the Eagle2, guide you through the setup, offer practical tips, and help you decide if this drone suits your needs.
New to the DJI FPV system? Check out my beginner’s guide here: How to Set Up DJI O4 Pro: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy
You can get the YMZFPV Eagle2 from:
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-7470
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oEW9bOW
Get some spare props (Gemfan 1608×3, 1.5mm hole): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBNHbki
Batteries not included, they recommend GNB 3S 380mAh 90C: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_om27LLo
What’s the box:
- 1x YMZFPV Eagle2 FPV Drone
- 8x GEMFAN 1608-3 Propellers
- 1x M1.5 screwdriver
- 1x Phillips screwdriver
- 2x Battery Mounts (3D-printed TPU)
- Spare screws
Specifications
- Wheelbase: 88mm
- Motors: 1002 brushless motors (1.5mm shaft)
- Frame: YMZFPV E2F carbon-fiber and aluminum alloy
- Flight Controller: F411 AIO with integrated 40A 4-in-1 ESC
- Recommended Props: Gemfan 40mm 1608 3-blade or HQ 35mm 3-blade
- Receiver: BetaFPV Nano 2.4GHz ExpressLRS
- FPV Setup (Optional): DJI O4 Pro Air Unit
- Recommended Battery: 3S 380mAh 90C LiHV (not included)
- Total Weight: Approx. 72g (103g with battery)
Overall Design
The YMZFPV Eagle2 has a slightly comical appearance, with its tiny propellers starkly contrasting the relatively large DJI O4 Pro camera and air unit.
Compares to 5inch Quad
However, beyond its looks, the Eagle2 impresses as an exceptionally efficient build, designed meticulously to minimize weight. Short wiring, minimal carbon fiber usage, and lightweight aluminum alloy components all contribute to the drone’s ultra-low weight while maintaining structural integrity.
Despite its minimalistic design, the Eagle2 feels surprisingly robust. The frame is rigid yet lightweight, providing excellent durability.
However, the DJI O4 Pro camera does protrude noticeably from the front, increasing the risk of scratches or damage in crashes. To protect this valuable component, I strongly recommend using an ND or UV filter—even if purely for lens protection.
The battery mount, made from flexible TPU material, is easy to remove and reinstall—perfect for packing in compact cases during transportation. However, note that the battery mount is specifically designed for batteries measuring approximately 17x22x55mm (such as the recommended GNB 3S 380mAh 90C LiHV). You will need to design and print custom mount if you want to use batteries of different size.
Closer Look at the Components
YMZFPV replaced the DJI O4 Pro antennas with dipole antennas to save weight. The downside is reduced range and signal penetration.
However, if you prefer greater range, YMZFPV includes the original antennas in the box, so you can easily switch them back.
The propellers on the Eagle2 are friction-fit on the motor shafts – they are just pushed on. This makes me slightly nervous, particularly given the expensive O4 Pro air unit on board. It’s important to always double-check that the props are securely attached before each flight to avoid potential mishaps.
Another point of concern is the O4 Pro camera, which protrudes noticeably from the front of the frame. Coupled with small, exposed props that may detach upon crashing, this drone isn’t ideal for aggressive freestyle flying or bashing.
Additionally, due to its compact size, the Eagle2 lacks an onboard buzzer, making it challenging to locate in tall grass after a crash. Although DShot Beacon is enabled out of the box, which uses the motors as beepers, they’re extremely quiet. Once again, the best advice is simply: try not to crash!
Flight Performance
I tested the YMZFPV Eagle2 in very windy condition – 15 MPH wind which is far from ideal. Despite some minor shakes visible in the FPV footage, I was genuinely impressed by how well the drone handled the wind considering its micro size. And after applying Gyroflow stabilization, those vibrations were totally gone, great news if you are looking for smooth cinematic footage.
It hovers at around 26% throttle, leaving ample room for aggressive aerobatic maneuvers. The Eagle2 genuinely feels closer to a larger, 3-inch freestyle drone—it’s highly nimble and snappy.
Initially, I didn’t realize the Eagle2 comes with its motor output limited to 80% by default (I guess it’s to prevent beginners from being overwhelmed by its power). However, I found even at this reduced power, the drone felt powerful enough for freestyle flying. Nevertheless, I recommend setting the motor output to 100% in Betaflight. If it’s too powerful for your preference, you can use throttle scaling (e.g., 80%) in the Rateprofile tab instead. This method ensures optimal performance and stability, whereas artificially limiting motor output may negatively impact the flight characteristics.
Flight time also pleasantly surprised me, offering 4:00 to 4:30 minutes during gentle cruising flights. However, going crazy on throttle will rapidly drains the battery, reducing flight times closer to 3 minutes.
Lastly, I was getting frequent “telemetry warning” alerts even at close range, something I still need to investigate further. Thankfully, these warnings didn’t affect flying the Eagle2 in any meaningful way.
How to Setup for First Flight
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board target is JHEF411HD, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware version 4.4.3. For stock CLI Diff, see here.
- ESC Firmware: G-H-30 – Bluejay, 0.19, 48kHz.
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Target: BETAFPV 2.4GHz Nano RX, firmware version 3.5.3.
Steps to Setup
- Bind the ELRS receiver – Detail tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/
- 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
- In Receiver tab, enable Telemetry
- 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
- Install propellers, simply push them in – out of the box, motor rotation is reversed by the way!
- Pair the DJI O4 Air Unit with your goggles – Guide: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/#Pairing-DJI-Goggles-3-with-O4-Air-Unit-Pro
Concerns and Improvements
I genuinely love the YMZFPV Eagle2 and appreciate its great potential, but there are definitely areas for improvement.
Firstly, there are two protruding screws underneath the frame where the battery mounts. These screws rub against the battery every time you insert it into the TPU mount, and there’s a genuine risk of puncturing the battery cells—especially considering this is the side the drone typically lands on. Countersunk screws would have completely avoided this issue.
Another minor concern is the exposed receiver antenna connector (U.FL). The antenna can easily come loose during crashes. A slightly longer heat-shrink covering would secure the connector in place better. Personally, if you’re using the DJI Remote Controller 3, this drone would be perfect without the ExpressLRS receiver, saving weight and simplifying the setup. If you’re interested, here’s my guide on setting up the DJI RC3 with the O4 Pro Air Unit: https://oscarliang.com/setup-dji-rc3-o4-betaflight/
The flight controller uses a Micro USB connector, which is less robust and increasingly uncommon compared to USB-C. I’ve previously experienced micro USB connectors coming off FC boards. Additionally, there’s no current sensor on the FC—although neither issue is a deal-breaker, these would have been nice upgrades.
The DJI O4 Pro camera is soft-mounted, and even when the screws are fully tightened, the camera feels somewhat loose. You can easily move the camera by hand and unintentionally change the tilt angle. However, this softness seems to work well and I have no issue with Gyroflow stabilization, so it seems this is intentional. Just remember to double-check your camera angle before each flight. The battery mount is also not especially secure and may come loose in crashes. Combined with friction-fit props, these small details mean you need to carefully inspect the drone before each flight.
I’m still debating whether to add a tiny GPS module, like the Flywoo Nano GPS I used previously on the Cinelog30. Considering the Eagle2’s 4-minute flight time and 1-mile range, adding GPS might be beneficial. If you’re interested in setting up GPS, see my tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Finally, instead of setting a motor output limit, I think YMZFPV should have used throttle scale in Betaflight. With 40A ESCs, the Eagle2 easily handles full motor output, so throttle scaling would be a better way to limit power without compromising performance.
PID Tuning and Optimizations
I have several ideas for optimizing the Eagle2 further and will likely share detailed steps in a future post. As a quick teaser, here’s what I plan:
Given that YMZFPV ships the Eagle2 with a nearly two-year-old Betaflight firmware, it seems they’ve simply updated their previous Eagle model to accommodate the O4 Pro Air Unit without specifically tuning PID. Even the filters are left as Betaflight defaults. Not deal breakers, the drone flies fine as-is. But I intend to upgrade the firmware, remove the motor output limit, and make a custom tune for filters and PID settings to unlock the drone’s full potential. As usual, I’ll share my custom tune on my Patreon page.
Additionally, I plan to remove the ExpressLRS receiver and rely solely on the DJI RC3 for control. I’m still undecided about adding GPS, but it’s a possibility.
With that said, you can simply fly the drone as it arrives—if you’re happy with its performance out of the box, there’s no need to change anything.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the YMZFPV Eagle2 is an impressive drone, offering big-drone performance in an incredibly compact form factor. It does feel a bit expensive though (around $200, plus another $230 for the DJI O4 Pro), but it’s currently the only 1.6inch drone with DJI O4 Pro – delivering 4K 60FPS HD FPV footage in a package under 105 grams, battery included. If your budget allows, and you’re seeking a palm-sized, agile HD FPV drone perfect for flying around local parks or your backyard, the Eagle2 is a genuinely enjoyable and recommended choice.
You can get the YMZFPV Eagle2 from:
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-7470
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oEW9bOW
Get some spare props (Gemfan 1608×3, 1.5mm hole): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBNHbki
Batteries not included, they recommend GNB 3S 380mAh 90C: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_om27LLo