When BetaFPV announced the original Pavo Pico in 2023, it generated huge excitement in the FPV community, as it was the first sub-100-gram drone capable of carrying an HD digital FPV system with onboard 4K recording. In this review, we take a close look at the newly released Pavo Pico II, which offers compatibility with both the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro and the O4 Air Unit Lite.
Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for these small-sized whoops. They strike the perfect balance between fun and practicality. Their compact design makes them much safer to fly outdoors, even in tight or crowded spaces where larger FPV drones would be risky or outright impossible to maneuver. During the winter months, they really shine — thanks to the 360° ducted propeller guards, you can easily practice with the Pavo Pico 2 indoors without worrying about damaging furniture, walls, or the drone itself.
The Pavo Pico II takes frame design and assembly to a whole new level of simplicity. Thanks to embedded nuts, securing the frame requires just four screws, creating a solid connection that withstands crashes while making building and maintenance hassle-free. Complementing the frame, the next-generation O4 Bracket II is purpose-built for one goal: flawless, jello-free video.
BetaFPV Pavo Pico II review
Disclosure: I received this TinyWhoop in a product review collaboration with BetaFPV. Product specs and quality may vary according to the manufacturer’s reliability, so I cannot guarantee that you will get a drone that performs the same as in my article.
Along with the Pavo Pico II PNP kit, BetaFPV sent me four pairs of Gemfan 45mm propellers (white, gray, blue, and black) and a pair of LAVA 2S 550mAh batteries. As usual, they also included a bunch of brand stickers. The Pico II comes in the same type of foam-padded black box as all models in the Pavo series. The PNP kit includes:
- O4 Air Unit Pro mounting bracket
- Bottom plate and mounting bracket for O4 Air Unit (Lite)
- Set of spare Gemfan (GF) 45 mm 3-blade propellers
- Type-C to SH1.0 flight controller USB adapter with SH1.0 4-pin cable
- Six shock-absorbing balls for O4 Air Unit Pro bracket (6.6 mm)
- Twelve shock-absorbing balls for O4 Air Unit (6 × 8.8 mm and 6 × 1.5 mm)
- Bag of screws (6 × M2 × 10, 6 × M2 × 4 flat head, 6 × M2 × 4 socket head, and 8 × M1.4 × 6)
- Two 5.8 GHz VTX antennas with TPU mounts
- Phillips screwdriver and H1.5 hex screwdriver
BetaFPV Pavo Pico II: First Impressions at a Glance
Upon unboxing, I immediately noticed two FPV mounting brackets — one designed for the O4 Air Unit Lite and the other for the O4 Air Unit Pro. It’s a thoughtful inclusion that gives you the flexibility to equip either setup or easily swap between them when needed.
The BetaFPV Pavo Pico II is built around the new generation F4 AIO flight controller, which features dual BECs (9V@2A and 5V@3A), a serial ELRS RX, a built-in barometer, a current meter, and a more powerful onboard ESC (20A vs 12S). The new FC supports 2S and 3S batteries, while its predecessor was designed for 1S and 2S builds. Rather than having a built-in Type-C connector, the FC has a 4-pin socket linked to a small USB adapter board. This approach saves a few grams and allows compatibility with various frame layouts.
Similar to its predecessor, the second-generation Pavo Pico also features a two-part frame design. The carbon fiber bottom plate integrates the AIO flight controller and inverted motors, and provides structural rigidity. The PA12/PP injection-molded duct guard surrounds the propellers, offering excellent impact resistance during indoor or proximity flights. For easy maintenance, the two main parts are held together by only four screws. The drone has a wheelbase (diagonal motor distance) of 80 mm and weighs approximately 53.7 g with the O4 Lite onboard or 78.6 g with the O4 Pro.
Its new LAVA 1102 | 14000KV motors, first introduced with the Pavo Femto, are paired with GF 45 mm three-blade propellers. This setup promises a 6.35:1 thrust-to-weight ratio. It’s important to note that while the flight controller and other electronics support 3S batteries, the motors are rated for 2S only.
At the center of the underside is the battery bay, designed to accommodate packs with a 14 × 15 mm cross-section. By trimming the bay and securing the LiPo pack with a Velcro strap, you can use higher-capacity batteries than the recommended 550 mAh ones.
How to Install the O4 Air Unit (Pro & Lite) on the Pavo Pico II
As you see in the photo below, there is a slight difference between the two bracket types, which results in different installation methods. Instead of a user manual, BetaFPV provides detailed assembly instruction videos for both types of brackets. Just follow along, and you can get everything installed in under 15 minutes — even if you’re a complete newbie to the hobby or not the kind of “garage MacGyver” who uses duct tape as a universal fix. It’s nice that no soldering is required — you just need to plug the connector into the digital VTX.
Maybe the O4 Pro kit is a bit heavy for the Pico 2, but I still prefer it over the O4 Lite due to the better signal and larger FOV. When you install this system, you can opt to use the stock antennas or the included mini dipole antennas. As the Pavo Pico II uses the O4 Pro bracket like the Pavo 20 Pro O4, they share the same assembly video.
The reinforced O4 Pro bracket is mounted to the frame using four vibration-isolation damping balls. To prevent overtightening, the securing bolts have a short thread design. The camera mounts in the bracket with four screws, allowing easy angle adjustment to suit your flying style — whether you prefer aggressive freestyle maneuvers or smooth cruising.
Pavo Pico II Flight Impressions: Tiny Whoop, Realistic Expectations
The next day, after finishing the O4 Air Unit installation and completing the bench configuration in BetaFlight, I was ready for the maiden flight. But when I stepped outside and saw how windy it was, I decided to postpone until the following day. This is where the downside of ultra-light whoops really becomes evident — no matter how aggressively you push the sticks in one direction, the wind can easily carry you away.
In calm weather, the Pavo Pico II flies beautifully — not too fast, but perfectly suited for tight spaces, allowing you to capture smooth 4K footage. Its quiet operation lets you fly almost in stealth mode, without disturbing wildlife or drawing attention from nearby people. With the O4 Air Unit Pro and a 550 mAh battery, you’ll need to keep the throttle above 30% to maintain a hover. The average flight time was around 4-5 minutes. If you want a compact yet agile Whoop, I recommend pairing it with the O4 Lite kit and 450 mAh batteries.
While the ELRS antenna is just a simple wire, it still delivered a surprisingly good range when paired with my RadioMaster TX15 set to 250 mW. I flew several hundred meters away without triggering a single failsafe.
Price, availability, and options
The second-generation Pavo Pico is available in PNP ($104.99) and BNF ($224.99) versions, with onboard O4 Lite Air Unit package options. You can choose between ELRS 2.4G and SBUS radio receivers. Since none of the kits include batteries, I recommend purchasing at least a pair of Lava 2S 550mAh packs—or the lighter Lava 2S 450mAh if you prefer agility over flight time. If you’re a newbie, a spare frame set for $11.76 is a good idea. BetaFPV also offers bundle discounts, making it cheaper to buy everything together.
Considering that the Pavo20 Pro PNP costs the same as the Pavo Pico, many O4 Pro owners will probably choose it, as it offers more power with 3S batteries and can be equipped with GPS.
Pavo Pico II vs Pavo Pico V1: What’s New and Improved?
Released in 2023 and claiming to be the first HD digital FPV drone under 100 grams, the original Pavo Pico (V1) — previously reviewed here on FirstQuadcopter — was designed for the DJI O3 Air Unit, Caddx Vista/RunCam Link, and Walksnail Avatar HD, offering wide brand compatibility. The new Pavo Pico II, however, supports only the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro and O4 Air Unit Lite.
The redesigned bracket requires fewer screws for assembly, allowing faster maintenance and easier FPV system swaps. Featuring new LAVA motors, the second-generation Pavo Pico claims to have 10% more power and more flight time (6:30 min vs 4 min) compared to its predecessor.
| Features/Spec | Pavo Pico II | Pavo Pico V1 |
| FPV system | O4 Pro or O4 Lite | O3 |
| Wheelbase | 80mm | 80.8mm |
| Flight controller | F4 2-3S 20A AIO FC | F4 1-2S 12A AIO V3 |
| Radio receiver | Serial ELRS or DJI SBUS | Serial ELRS or TBS |
| Motors | Lava 1102 14000KV | 1102 14000KV |
| Propellers | GF 45mm 3 Blade | GF 45mm 3 Blade |
| Battery | LAVA 2S 450mAh LAVA 2S 550mAh | LAVA 2S 450mAh |
| Weight PNP | 39.1g | 34.6g |
| Release date | September 2025 | July 2023 |
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