DarwinFPV CineApe20 review: Tiny, Smooth, and DJI O4-Ready!

The DarwinFPV CineApe20 O4 is the latest iteration of the popular CineApe series, upgraded specifically for DJI O4 Air Units. This compact 2” Cinewhoop promises a perfect balance between agility, durability, and cinematic stability, making it an excellent choice for FPV pilots looking for smooth indoor shots and dynamic outdoor flights. With a lightweight yet sturdy frame, modular design, and multiple VTX mounting options, the CineApe20 aims to deliver top-tier performance while keeping maintenance simple. But how does it perform in real-world conditions? Let’s dive into the details and see if it’s worth the money!

Last month, DJI released their fourth-generation Air Unit with two variants. The O4 Pro features 4K@120fps onboard recording and a range of up to 15KM, making it the perfect choice for long-range FPV. On the other hand, the O4 Lite still has an incredible range of up to 10 KM, but weighing just 8.2 grams, it is perfect for ultra-compact CineWhoops.

The DarwinFPV CineApe20’s ingenious design makes it possible to use both O4 Air Units by simply switching the TPU canopy—no other modifications are required. As you can see in the photo below, there is a significant difference in appearance between the two versions. The O4 Pro has a visible GPS module in the front and dual VTX antennas on the back. In contrast, the O4 Lite has the GPS module hidden under the canopy, a single dipole VTX antenna, and the option to install a T-type external ELRS antenna on the tail.

DarwinFPV CineApe20 DJI O4 hands-on review

Disclosure: I received this 2″ CineWhoop FPV drone in a product review collaboration with DarwinFPV. Product specs and quality may vary depending on the manufacturer’s reliability, so I cannot guarantee that you will get a drone that performs the same as seen in my article, especially since I received a pre-release unit.

DarwinFPV is a budget-friendly FPV drone brand known for offering affordable yet capable quads for beginners and enthusiasts alike. The company focuses on durability, modularity, and ease of maintenance, making its drones accessible to many pilots. They offer analog and digital FPV models, including cinewhoops, freestyle quads, long-range drones, and waterproof setups. They offer BNF (Bind & Fly) and PNP (Plug & Play) drones.

DarwinFPV initially contacted me to review the O3 version of the CineApe 20, but knowing that DJI would soon release the O4 series, I postponed the collaboration until they released a compatible model. A few weeks later, I was contacted again, and they informed me that they had released the O4 edition.

Three weeks later, I received the CineApe20 O4 Pro version and an extra TPU O4 Lite canopy, allowing compatibility with both Gen 4 DJI FPV systems. Additionally, the box includes a bag of spare screws, some zip ties, antenna tubes, self-adhesive bumper strips, and a bunch of goggled-monkey-head stickers. No printed drone manual is included; it is just a card with a QR code that provides online access to the manual after scanning it with your phone.

At a glance

The CineApe20 comes fully assembled, and you only need to remove the canopy to install the FPV system. It roughly measures 125x125x90mm and has a wheelbase of 90mm. Depending on the FPV kit you choose to install and the battery used, you can expect a takeoff weight between 100-150g. The frame comprises four parts: top plate, bottom plate, 360° prop guard, and TPU canopy.

The heart, brain, and ears of the CineApe 20 is the DarwinFPV F411 AIO flight controller with onboard 15A BlueJay ESC and 2.4G ELRS V3.X radio receiver. The onboard SPI RX has an IPEX MHF connector, so it is possible to use an external T-type antenna for improved range. The motors, GPS, and digital VTX have dedicated connectors for easy plug-and-play maintenance. In the VTX cable, the S.bus wire is disconnected, so if you want to use it with a DJI FPV controller 2/3, you will need to solder it to the FC. The boot button and micro USB port are easily accessible through the frame.

Its tiny Bling 1103 8000KV motors promise a thrust-to-weight ratio 6:1 and are equipped with Gemfan 2023-3 propellers.

The flight battery is installed underneath the drone. The bottom plate has anti-slip padding for a more secure attachment. The stock Velcro is relatively short, and if you want to use bigger batteries, such as a 3S 850mAh, you will need to replace it with a longer one.

Assembly, BetaFlight setup, and Binding

As mentioned, DarwinFPV sent me the CineApe20 O4 Pro version, but with a spare canopy that also allows installing the O4 Air Unit Lite. Removing the stock canopy was easy; you just need to loosen a few screws. Installing the new canopy is also straightforward. The O4 Lite camera is secured with four screws and allows for angle adjustment. Honestly, I prefer the BetaFPV Femto’s camera mount more as it provides better isolation from the frame vibrations. The O4 Lite VTX’s Type-C port and bind button remain accessible through the canopy.

Next, I connected the drone to my computer through a micro USB cable and checked the factory settings in BetaFlight configurator. Remember to activate ‘ Advanced Mode ‘ to review the GPS fail-safe tab. In the ‘OSD’ tab, I configured the desired telemetry data to display and the layout I’m used to. I configured the controller’s switch layout in the’ Modes’ tab to match my preference. I made no PID adjustments, assuming DarwinFPV had already fine-tuned it to provide the best flight performance.

The next step was to pair my ELRS remote control with the drone receiver by following the standard procedure—connecting and disconnecting the battery three times to enter the binding mode. After repeating the process three times, it still did not bind with the radio. Initially, I thought it was a compatibility issue or a hardware problem, but after checking the user manual, I discovered that the ELRS TX’s packet rate must be set to 250Hz. After changing it, they paired in seconds.

From unboxing to maiden flight, it took less than an hour and did not require advanced knowledge or specialized tools.

Battery options and flight time

The CineApe20 supports both 2S and 3S batteries. DarwinFPV recommends using 3S 500mAh batteries for optimal flight performance. During my tests with a 2S 500mAh battery, I got a flight time of 2-3 minutes, and with a 3S 800mAh battery, 5-6 minutes. Flight time may vary greatly due to your flight style and wind conditions.

Flight performance

The DarwinFPV CineApe20 is a fantastic tool for cinematic indoor flights and light outdoor cruising. It’s perfect for capturing 4K videos in tight spaces where larger drones would struggle. However, being small and light, it is unsuitable for flying in windy conditions. Despite its small size, it is surprisingly fast and agile, even with 2S LIPOs.

While the TPU camera mount reduces the drone’s vibrations, the DVR footage still has a lot of jitter, even with RockSteady stabilization enabled. As I read, others have the same issue with the O4 Air Unit Lite. DJI suggests changing the ESC PWM control frequency to 48 or 96 kHz to fix the trepidations. Curiously, the FPV footage is stable; only the onboard recording suffers from this problem.

The GPS fixes six satellites in about 60-90 seconds on a cold start and a few seconds on a hot start. Cutting a window in the TPU mount could improve these times.

Pricing, availability, and options

The CineApe20 is available in many package options, with a starting price of $145.99 for the O4 Lite and Pro versions without a flight battery. For the fly more combo with onboard O4 Pro, four sets of propellers, and four batteries, you will need to pay $471.99. If you want to build your own CineApe20 with different parts, a complete frame kit is priced at $19.99, and the TPU mount alone is $4.99. Compatible 3S 500mAh 100C batteries are available for $13.99 each, $27.99 per pair, or $55.99 for four.

Key features

• The CineApe20 is palm-sized and highly portable, making it easy to carry. Its versatility suits both stable indoor shooting and dynamic outdoor flying, making it ideal for beginners looking to enter the world of FPV.
• The frame features an integrated, closed design with smooth lines for improved flight stability. This also reduces the risk of damage from debris, enhancing its durability.
• The all-new Bling series 1103 motor features a specially reduced motor shaft stiffness, making it more crash-resistant. It supports 2-3S batteries, offering up to 5.5 minutes of flight time and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 6:1, striking the perfect balance between endurance and performance.
• The entire drone features a modular, full plug-and-play design, making the camera, VTX, and motors easy to install and replace. This simplifies maintenance and component swaps, offering a smoother experience for beginners. The top plate includes two sets of mounting holes, 20×20 and 25.5×25.5, allowing compatibility with various VTXs such as O4 Air Unit series, O3 Air Unit, RunCam Link, Walksnail Avatar HD, OpenIPC, and 5.8G analog.
• The CineApe20 series has GPS, and the front installation reduces RX/VTX antenna interference. In an emergency, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

DarwinFPV CineApe20 series comparison

The CineApe20 is available in seven versions, one analog and six digital (3xBNF and 3xPNP)—the table below shows their differences. What’s important to note is that digital FPV has finally become affordable—the price difference between analog and O4 Lite is just 54 bucks.

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Since 2014, FirstQuadcopter has reviewed, thoroughly tested, and rated hundreds of products, including drones, gimbals, power stations, action cameras, 3D printers, video lights, and other high-tech gear to help you make better buying decisions.

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