BetaFPV Pavo20 Pro O4 Pro: Tiny 4K Cinematic Monster

When I started working on this review, I couldn’t help but notice that this Cinewhoop comes with not one, but two ‘Pro’ labels in its name — the Pavo20 Pro frame paired with the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, arguably the best components in their class. Suppose you’re considering the PNP (Plug-and-Play) version. In that case, I’ll show you exactly how to install the O4 Pro system into the Pavo20 Pro, set up everything for your first flight, and even add a GPS module for failsafe recovery and real-time telemetry like flight speed, altitude, and distance. Now, let’s dive in and see what this compact powerhouse can do.

The BetaFPV Pavo20 O4 Pro is the fourth in the series, reviewed here on FirstQuadcopter. Back in 2021, we tested the Pavo30 — a larger CineWhoop available with analog FPV and Caddx Vista — followed by the Pavo25 in 2022 and the Pavo Pico in 2023. Each model had its advantages, and the Pavo20 Pro somehow combines them, making it the “ultimate” CineWhoop for me.

Although I was eagerly waiting to test this drone, it took a few weeks before I could finally get it in the air. Finding a DJI O4 Air Unit Pro in stock at a reasonable price was very difficult. If you don’t want to wait like I did, going directly with the pre-installed version might be wiser for an extra 250 bucks.

BetaFPV Pavo20 O4 Pro review

Disclosure: I received this cinewhoop 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.

After publishing the Meteor75 Pro O4 review, BetaFPV contacted me about reviewing their new Pavo 20 Pro, optimized for the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro. As I had already built some drones with this digital FPV system and was impressed by the image quality and range, I happily accepted the collaboration. In addition to the Pavo20Pro O4 PNP, they also sent me a pair of 3S LAVA 3S 550mAh batteries and a set of O4 Pro filters.

The Pavo20Pro O4 box has foam padding for extra protection. It includes a set of HD VTX bracket screws and damping balls, a 4-pin to Type-C adapter board, a set of Gemfan 2218 spare propellers, a digital VTX cable, and a COB LED strip (included only in the Night Fire edition). No assembly or configuration instruction manual is included.

At a glance

Like most CineWhoop-style FPV drones, the Pavo 20 Pro features a two-part frame design. The carbon fiber bottom plate integrates the AIO flight controller and inverted motors, providing structural rigidity and component support. The injection-molded duct guard encloses the propellers, offering impact protection during indoor or proximity flights.

The drone is easy to take apart. The two parts are held together only by four screws. The motors, digital VTX, and LED strip have dedicated connectors for easy maintenance.

The BetaFPV Pavo20 Pro is built around the new generation F4 AIO flight controller, which has dual BECs (external RX and digital VTX), serial ELRS RX, a more powerful onboard ESC (20A vs 12S), and double the UART ports compared to its predecessor. The new FC supports 2S and 3S batteries, while its predecessor was designed for 1S and 2S builds. It has dedicated solder pads for an external buzzer and RGB LEDs. Rather than having a built-in Type-C connector, the FC has a 4-pin socket linked to a small USB adapter board. This design allows compatibility with various frame layouts.

The LAVA 1104 7200KV motors are mounted upside down, and the propellers push air downward. This design offers several key advantages: it lowers the drone’s center of gravity, improving flight stability and handling, especially in tight or indoor environments. It also increases efficiency by reducing airflow turbulence caused by the frame and ducts, resulting in smoother performance and longer flight times. Additionally, placing the propellers below the main body helps keep them out of the camera’s field of view, which is crucial for capturing clean, cinematic footage.

When I opened the drone to solder the GPS wires, I found the connector for the LED strip inside. Instead of being soldered directly to the LED tabs, it was connected via UART6, making it configurable. This allows you to turn the LED strip ON or OFF from your radio. By default, I left it OFF to save a few extra seconds of flight time. The LED strip has self-adhesive tape and cut marks to trim it to the desired length.

When fully assembled, it measures approximately 130 × 130 × 50 mm (excluding the VTX antennas and battery) and weighs just 155 grams, including the recommended 3S 550mAh battery.

Price, availability, and options

The Pavo20 Pro is available with or without the onboard FPV system (O3/O4 Pro). The PNP version featured in this review is priced at $104.99, while the RTF version (with onboard O4 Pro) is available for $354.99. You can choose between an onboard ELRS or SBUS (DJI) radio receiver. Additionally, there’s also a NightFire Limited Edition featuring cool RGB lights. A pair of LAVA 3S 550mAh 75C batteries is priced at $26.99. For the best cinematic results, I recommend purchasing a set of compatible filters (ND8, ND16, ND32, and a UV filter for protection) along with the drone.

Key features

• Lightweight Powerhouse: Weighing under 150g, this 2.2″ pocket-size cinewhoop is the perfect gateway for DJI pilots to dive into FPV—now with expanded DJI O4 Air Unit Pro compatibility.
• Freestyle-Optimized Propulsion: The GF 2218 3-Blade Props (co-developed with Gemfan) and LAVA 1104 | 7200KV Brushless Motors offer unparalleled thrust, while the aerodynamic frame adds an 8–11% boost for aggressive maneuvers.
• Extended Flight Performance: Powered by the LAVA 3S 550mAh 75C Battery, enjoy up to 6’40” flight time. The ultra-light F4 2-3S 20A AIO flight controller (5.92g) is optimized for HD digital VTXs. Its improved computing power and rapid response make it an ideal choice for freestyle.
• Cinematic Stability & Capability: The injection-molded HD VTX and Pavo Series’ Classic Rubber Damper ensure jitter-free footage, while the dual cam fixed holes for O3/O4 Pro wide-angle shooting and optimized antenna holder guarantee every frame you capture is perfect. You can easily swap between the O3 Air Unit Bracket and O4 Air Unit Pro Bracket to accommodate your preferred HD VTX. The ND/UV filters for O4 Pro also help you master lighting conditions.

How to Install the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro on the BetaFPV Pavo20 Pro

As mentioned, the Pavo20 Pro has no user manual for installing the FPV system. Instead, BetaFPV provides an online step-by-step tutorial (video below) that guides you through the process.

The new reinforced O4 Pro bracket is mounted to the drone frame using four vibration-isolation damping balls. To prevent overtightening, the securing bolts feature a short thread length. The bracket can accommodate the full-size stock antennas and allows camera angle adjustment to match your flying style—whether aggressive or cruising. The kit includes a perfect-size VTX cable; you should use it instead of the stock one. I appreciate that the bracket provides good airflow for the VTX and easy access to the Type-C connector, microSD slot, and bind button.

How to Install GPS on the BetaFPV Pavo20 Pro

As previously noted, the F4 2–3S 20A AIO flight controller board features two available UART ports intended for external SBUS radio receivers or a GPS module. Since the TX6 port was already used for the LED strip, I utilized the UART1 (TX1 and RX6) pads. GND and 5V+ pins are conveniently located nearby, simplifying the wiring process. Remember: the TX port on the flight controller connects to the RX port on the GPS module, and the RX on the flight controller goes to the TX on the GPS.

The Pavo20 Pro has no dedicated spot for a GPS antenna. When choosing one, remember that the ceramic antenna needs to face the sky. I discovered that the best position to install the GPS is above the O4 Pro camera. A second option could be above the O4 VTX, but this might lead to radio interference and overheating issues. If you have a 3D printer, you can print the GPS mounts yourself. On Thingiverse, there are ready-to-use STL files. You can print the entire canopy or just a GPS mount that attaches to the stock canopy. If the 3D print doesn’t fit your module, scale it up or down.

After everything is wired and put in place, you can connect the flight controller to the Betaflight Configurator. Navigate to the “Ports” tab, locate the appropriate UART port, and enable GPS in the “Sensor Input” column. You must also activate GPS in the “Configuration” tab under “Other Features.” If the “GPS” icon is not lit up in the top ribbon, you’ve misconfigured or miswired something. The same happened to me—after double-checking everything, I discovered that I had accidentally reversed the yellow (RX) and red (5V) wires. I know, a rookie mistake—even though I have a few years of experience behind me. Luckily, I didn’t burn out the GPS module.

The beauty of GPS on an FPV drone is that it provides telemetry data like flight distance, speed, and altitude, and also provides a fail-safe return-to-home (RTH) feature in case of RC signal loss. This feature can be enabled in the “Fail-safe” tab after activating “Advanced” configuration mode.

Flight performance

During the configuration process, I noticed that the flight controller’s temperature can reach risky levels in no time. If the battery is connected and there’s no airflow from the spinning props, the FC can reach 70°C in less than a minute. This makes it difficult to use GPS, as fixing satellites can take 1–5 minutes, depending on your module.

I’ve read many user reports about flight controllers burning out on the Pavo20 Pro, and this could be related to the overheating issue. If you land and forget the battery connected, it could damage the hardware. Another possible cause is using 4S batteries, which are not supported by this drone, or connecting the battery in reverse polarity. If you’re strong enough, it’s possible to force the XT30 plugs incorrectly.

The lightweight design allows for relatively long flight times and doesn’t make much noise, meaning you can fly in public spaces without disturbing people.

My first test flights were on calm, windless days, and the Pavo20 Pro was super stable and easy to keep in position. I averaged 5–7 minutes of flight time using the stock 3S 550mAh LiHV battery. You can fit higher-capacity packs if you cut the two flaps that hold the battery in place. I estimate that with an 850mAh battery, you could get up to 8-10 minutes of light cruising.

The next flight session occurred in windy conditions, with gusts up to 35 km/h (21.75 mph). Due to its small size, low weight, and Whoop-style prop guards, the flight performance was noticeably affected. I had to compensate heavily with the sticks to maintain direction. Flight time was also reduced due to the higher throttle usage.

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