The NewBeeDrone Hummingbird V3 is without doubt one of the most budget-friendly tiny whoops at present in the marketplace. Regardless of its low worth, this tiny whoop provides spectacular sturdiness and a set of options that make it a wonderful selection for these new to the FPV world. Nevertheless, it additionally has some limitations, which I’ll cowl on this evaluate. I’ll stroll you thru its specs, efficiency, and the way it compares to different well-liked tiny whoops in the marketplace.
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The place to Purchase
You should buy the Hummingbird V3 from:
For $89.99, the Hummingbird V3 bundle consists of:
- The Hummingbird V3 drone
- A spare set of Triblade props
- A propeller removing software
- A Nitro Nector 1S 300mAh battery
- A fast-start information and binding directions
Specs
- Propellers: NewBeeDrone Azi 31mm Tri-Blade (1.0mm Shaft)
- Flight Controller: Hummingbird V3 ELRS AIO Flight Controller
- Body: Cockroach65 V3 Body
- Whole Weight with out battery: 21.6g (PP Materials Cockroach65 body)
- Motors: Hummingbird 0802 25000KV
- Cover: Goober Cover v1
- Digital camera: BeeEye Digital camera
- Drone Dimension: 65mm
Flight Controller (FC) Specs:
- MCU: STM32F411
- Gyro: BMI270
- VTX: 25mW with BeeTX 5.8GHz Antenna
- ESC: 12A BLHeliS pre-flashed with Bluejay 0.19.2 Goal: O-H-10 48kHz
- ESC Connector: JST-1.0 3Pin
- OSD: NBD7456 Graphical OSD suitable with Betaflight OSD
- Receiver: 2.4GHz ExpressLRS (SPI)
- Battery Enter: 1S Solely
- Battery Connector: Nectar Connector Gold Plated PH2.0 Strong Pin
Design and Construct High quality
The Hummingbird V3 stands out with its sturdy design and enticing white body accented by black and pink particulars. It’s constructed round NewBeeDrone’s signature Cockroach body, which is famend for its sturdiness.
Not like the newest tiny whoops, the body and cover are thicker, making the drone extra strong and appropriate for brand spanking new pilots who’re nonetheless studying the ropes. Nevertheless, this added bulk comes at the price of elevated weight.
Weighing in at round 21.6 grams, the Hummingbird V3 is 20% heavier than the BetaFPV Air65, which weighs simply 17.1 grams. This extra weight considerably impacts flight efficiency, as I’ll focus on additional.
On the constructive facet, the bigger polycarbonate cover not solely shields the interior parts but additionally provides the drone a modern look. The eye to element is clear, with small foam foot pads for smoother landings and solder pads on the motor base for straightforward replacements. Moreover, the intense RGB LEDs on the 4 corners of the flight controller add a pleasant visible contact, which might be configured in Betaflight.
Other than weight, one other notable draw back is the usage of the older PH2.0 battery connector as a substitute of the extra fashionable BT2.0 or A30 connectors, which provide higher flight instances and diminished voltage sag. Whereas the PH2.0 connector isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s one thing to contemplate if you happen to choose to standardize your battery connectors throughout your fleet.
Flight Efficiency
Utilizing the included 1S 300mAh Nitro Nectar LiHV battery, I used to be in a position to get round 3 minutes of flight time with the Hummingbird V3. As compared, the BetaFPV Air65 can obtain over 4 minutes, highlighting the impression of the additional weight on flight time. To compensate for this added weight, NewBeeDrone outfitted the Hummingbird V3 with bigger 0802 25000KV motors, which ship extra energy however on the expense of effectivity.
You may undoubtedly really feel the additional weight, particularly throughout turns. It seems like flying a heavier 75mm whoop however with the ability of a 65mm. The extra momentum requires earlier response and bigger stick actions, making it much less nimble and more durable to fly than the Air65. Nevertheless, the drone flies easily and feels locked in, displaying that NewBeeDrone has carried out a strong job tuning the whoop straight out of the manufacturing facility.
The ESCs come pre-flashed with Bluejay 0.19 firmware (48kHz PWM Frequency), with the RPM filter enabled in Betaflight out of the field, which boosts flight efficiency. Nevertheless, the ESC settings might use a bit extra optimization, as some motors don’t at all times begin correctly when armed inflicting the drone to flip over at takeoff. That is a simple repair, which I’ll cowl within the “How you can Setup” part on this evaluate.
One other minor annoyance is the continually altering RGB LED lights. Whereas they appear cool, the reflections on the prop guards might be distracting for the pilot, particularly in low-light circumstances. Thankfully, you possibly can disable them within the settings.
The picture high quality from the BeeEye digital camera is okay, on par with what you’d count on from different funds choices like Happymodel or BetaFPV.
What NewBeeDrone Might Enhance
The Hummingbird V3 would have been a wonderful tiny whoop 2-3 years in the past, however the specs really feel considerably outdated in late 2024. Listed below are a couple of options for NewBeeDrone to modernize this drone and enhance its efficiency:
- Improve to a BT2.0 or A30 battery connector.
- Use a lighter body and cover to cut back weight (ideally within the 17-18g stage).
- Immediately solder motors to the ESC pads to attenuate resistance and additional cut back weight.
- After decreasing weight, think about using barely increased KV motors to maximise efficiency (e.g., 27000KV or 28000KV).
- Change from an SPI receiver to a UART receiver for futureproofing.
One other limitation we now have not touched on is the video transmitter, which is capped at 25mW RF output energy. Whereas this could be adequate for many indoor and short-range flights, it’s much less versatile than different newest tiny whoops, which usually provide as much as 350mW and even 400mW. Larger energy output might be helpful when flying via a number of rooms in a home or open air the place further vary and sign penetration are most popular.
Lighter LiteAF Racing Body
The Hummingbird V3 makes use of the sturdy Cockroach V3 body. NewBeeDrone lately launched a brand new “LiteAF” body product of polypropylene materials, with a barely decrease profile, decreasing the load by about 0.5 grams. That is designed for racing, however I feel most pilot can profit from a lighter body. You may take a look at the LiteAF body right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-oexn.
How you can Setup
The flight controller comes with Betaflight 4.4.0 (launched a yr in the past), with the goal firmware being BETAFPVG473. You will discover the default CLI diff right here.
To arrange your Hummingbird V3 for its maiden flight:
- Bind the Receiver: Enter your bind phrase within the Receiver tab.
- Load ExpressLRS Preset – what packet price you might be utilizing.
- Set Your Charges within the PID Tuning tab.
- Configure Switches: Arrange your arm change, angle mode change, and turtle mode change.
- Tweak ESC Settings in Bluejay: Enhance the Minimal Startup Energy to 1070 and alter ESC energy settings to 1S. The default of 1020 is just too low and might trigger some motors to not spin when armed.
Closing Ideas
To be utterly trustworthy, after flying the BetaFPV Air65, it’s exhausting to suggest the rest at this level. Whereas the Hummingbird V3 has some good options and considerate design touches, its heavier weight and use of the older PH2.0 connector really feel outdated. The Air65 is extra nimble, provides longer flight instances, has higher specs (like a better energy VTX and a UART receiver), and is even cheaper.
That mentioned, the Hummingbird V3 nonetheless has its deserves. It will not be my best choice for racers, however it may be a enjoyable tiny whoop for normal use, providing good sturdiness because of its strong body. Plus, being a product from a U.S.-based firm may enchantment to some pilots seeking to help home manufacturers.
You should buy the Hummingbird V3 from:
