FPV (First Person View) drones come in all shapes and sizes these days, from large racing rigs to tiny “tiny whoops” you can fly indoors. In this article, we’ll be taking a close look at the Flywoo 1.6” Nano Baby V2 – an ultra-light 1S drone that blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor capabilities. Weighing in at just 26 grams in its analog configuration, it packs surprising power and agility into a frame not much bigger than a pack of cards.
We’ll be comparing the different available versions of the Nano Baby V2:
- Analog with 250mW VTX
- DJI HD Zero
- Walksnail HD digital
Including examining the differences in components, build quality, flight characteristics, and video transmission. Read on for the full review!
Table Of Contents
Overview
Out of the box, the Nano Baby V2 makes an immediate impression with its diminutive size but beefy 1002 motors. The frame measures just 95mm motor to motor – similar to a traditional tiny whoop – but those larger motors and 1.6 inch props promise a lot more power and speed in a lightweight package. It’s available with a few different stack and camera options:
Analog – Caddx Ant camera, built-in 250mW VTX, separate ExpressLRS receiver on standoffs
HD Zero – Caddx Vista unit (720p 60fps digital video) + Caddex Turtle VTX, ExpressLRS receiver built into FC
Walksnail – Own 1080p 60fps digital video + 250mW VTX, ExpressLRS receiver built into FC
I ordered versions with both the freestyle and “deadcat” frame options to test if there were any major flight differences. More on that later!
The Nano Baby V2 comes from Flywoo, a fairly new company started in 2021 that’s been churning out well-specced micros at reasonable prices. Let’s take a closer look at what you get with this pint-sized rocket.
Unboxing and Components
Inside the box is a neat little hard case, spare props, prop guards (promptly discarded), USB-C cable, manual, and the quad itself. No complaints about presentation and packaging here!
Frame
The main frame is a flat, 2mm thick plate of carbon fiber with nicely chamfered edges. It feels stiff and durable in a package this lightweight. There aren’t really any complex structures or geometric patterns here – just a basic cage to hold everything together. The camera mounts through the front via a 3D printed “turtle” canopy shell, available in a few different variants depending on your choice of camera and VTX setup. More on those later!
Despite the diminutive size, the electronics layout actually looks fairly spacious and builder-friendly. The square shape does limit camera tilt somewhat, but that’s a necessary concession for keeping propellers out of view with the deadcat layout.
ESC + FC Stack
The heart of the quad is the Flywoo GOKU F411 flight controller and 5A BLHeli_S ESC. It features the STM32F411 processor – not the fastest chip but very robust and reliable. There’s 16MB of integrated flash memory onboard and regulation for up to 6S input voltage.
Notable specs in the context of this micro quad:
- 5 UARTS total – 2 dedicated, 1 softserial, 1 for ESC telemetry, 1 for SmartAudio VTX control
- 30.5×30.5mm PCB with 20x20mm mounting pattern and plenty of room for wiring
- Sets of pads for common mods like buzzer, LED strip, fingertip LEDs
- Standard 2mm pin pitch JST connectors for inputs and outputs
The 5A ESC seems reasonable to handle 1S voltages and 110x motors without issues or excessive heat. All the soldering is clean and there are no obvious issues with manufacturing or component quality from my inspection.
Overall the FC hardware feels up to par for a micro like this. The F411 chip is common at this price range and there’s room for potential mods and stack combinations down the line.
Motors
The Nano Baby V2 comes with Flywoo 1S 1102 10000KV brushless motors. They use N52SH magnets for good efficiency and max rated load is 75g each, giving us a solid 380g thrust ratio for the 26g dry weight. Windings feel smooth and power delivery sounds consistent across all 4 motors. No issues to call out here!
FPV Camera Options
One of the decisions to make with the Nano V2 is which camera + VTX setup you’ll go for. I ordered 1 of each to compare:
Caddx Ant – If you’re sticking with analog video the Ant delivers surprisingly good image quality in a tiny form factor. It has good low light performance even behind the wide angle lens. The range isn’t amazing at 200mW max but perfectly fine for a micro.
DJI HD Zero – This is DJI’s new affordable HD FPV system, providing 720p 60fps digital video. The camera unit itself is tiny and light compared to older DJI cameras. Image quality is good but does drop a lot of frames when light levels are low.
Walksnail – The most interesting offering, this is Walksnail’s own nano HD camera that boasts 1080p 60fps with decent dynamic range and low light performance. I couldn’t find much technical information but image quality exceeded my expectations.
Video Transmitters (VTX)
The video transmitter you get depends which camera option you select:
- Analog – built-in 200mW VTX
- HD Zero – Requires separate analog VTX like the CADDEX TURTLE
- Walksnail – Has an onboard 250mW VTX
I appreciate that the Nano V2 gives you some flexibility to match components to your existing goggles and receiver. It keeps the analog version light by integrating the VTX while the HD variants let you reuse existing analog gear you might have. Smart design decision by Flywoo there in my opinion.
Receiver
Another nice design feature is the ExpressLRS receiver integration on the HD versions. The Nano V2 has an onboard ESP8266 chip allowing the receiver to bind directly to the FC – no extra wires or mounting required. For the Caddx Ant analog version, there’s a happy model EP2 Rx soldered to the rear standoffs which keeps things neat and tidy. No surprises here!
Props + Batteries
Out of the box the Nano V2 comes with Flywoo branded 40mm 3-blade (analog/HD0) and 40mm 4-blade (deadcat) props which provide a good starting point. Flight times can range from 3-7 mins depending on your battery choice:
- 450mAh batteries slot in easily but the 750mAh packs provided an impressive ~6min hovering gently. Extra capacity does come with some extra weight of course.
The batteries use a new connector called the A-30. It is mechanically and electrically compatible with the BT2.0 but prevents you plugging in batteries accidentally with the wrong polarity. Smart design choice for new pilots!
Initial Thoughts
Before getting to the flying I spent some time just poking around at all the components. The overall build quality aligns with the price point offering no major surprises or let downs. All the parts complement each other nicely – a good sign the company put time into actually designing this quad rather relying solely on off the shelf components.
Comparing the different frame variants, the regular “FR” freestyle version came out lighter as you’d expect at 26g vs 34g for the deadcat analog version. However the center mounted camera on the deadcat variant may provide some advantages for HD recording that I’ll discuss in the flight portion.
Now let’s get these tiny rockets out in the field and answer the real question: how do they fly?!
Flying the Nano Baby V2
To test the flight performance of the Baby Nano V2, I took all three variants out over a few battery packs to get a feel for their handling and capability. Each has slightly different flight characteristics owing to factors like prop geometry, camera placement, and overall weight. Let’s break down the flight experience quad by quad:
Caddx Ant / Analog
This came out as the lightest variant at just 26g dry. And that low mass is immediately apparent carving around the first field test. Despite the tiny props, power from the 1S 1102 motors feels abundant with this 3 blade freestyle setup. Even wide open punch outs don’t exhibit any noticeable voltage sag or power loss before hitting the edge of the throttle range. Nice!
Flip and rolls happen quickly with very little gyroscopic forces acting on the quad. It’s possible to throw combos together rapidly or chop direction with tight flips and splits. Coming from 5” quads, this analog version felt most similar to my expectations of traditional FPV handling. Very playful and quick!
The one place that tiny mass does work against you is hitting high velocity for things like racing lines or high speed passes. Don’t expect the same sense of “out of control” speed you might experience on 5 inch quads. The Nano V2 excels at lower velocity acrobatics.
Speaking of speed, how’s that Caddx Ant analog video holding up? Surprisingly well with the wide angle lens! Despite running 200mW I didn’t experience many breakups flying around tight tree lines and buildings in my spot. Range is limited – no surprises there. But more than enough performance for casual flying.
After a few battery cycles, I’d describe the analog version of the Nano V2 as very fun, nimble, and surprisingly fast sporty tiny whoop. It packs a lot more capability over traditional tiny whoops thanks to the extra thrust. An excellent “backyard basher” if you’re into more playful freestyle flying and don’t need HD recording capability!
DJI HD Zero
With the HD camera payloads, flight feel shifts noticeably from the feathery analog setup. The Caddx Vista + HD Zero combo adds about 6g over the Caddx Ant. And you immediately feel that extra inertia punching out on hard moves or changing direction. Power never feels lacking or sluggish, just marginally less “snappy” in flips and rolls.
The Nano V2 reacts predictably smoothly however – this isn’t a “twitchy” build by any means. The flight controller parameters feel well tuned for the 1S power band and weight of this quad. No tuning adjustments needed for smooth, flowing acro. Plus the extra mass likely makes it a bit more durable in hard crashes once you disable those silly prop guards!
Video quality lives up to the hype on the HD Zero system. 720p footage is impressively clear and colorful, on par with some of the early analog HD systems I’ve tried. There is a noticeable amount of pixelation kicking in lower light conditions. So keep an eye out if you’re pushing dusk flying.
The Caddx turtle isn’t the most powerful video transmitter but it seemed adequate enough at 200mW to keep HD footage solid within line of sight around structures. Further testing warranted there but no immediate issues or complaints!
Overall the HD Zero Nano impresses as a good middle ground between the pure performance of the lighter analog build vs walksnail’s better HD video quality I’ll describe below. A great option if you want nicely balanced handling with good HD recording quality in a small package. Plus it re-uses existing analog VTX gear you might have.
Walksnail HD
And now the most interesting and surprisingly capable variant of the three – the Walksnail HD version!
Walksnail is a smaller video OEM that’s been getting traction in the micro space for their well featured nano cameras and video transmitters. And they went all out for this 1S toothpick mounting a 1080p 60fps camera + 250mW VTX package in the nose of this quad. Extra capability that comes with about an 8 gram weight penalty over analog.
Even moving up to the 4 blade “performance” props this quad feels noticeably heavier and less responsive tossing through complex rolls and split S maneuvers. Power never disappoints though – the 1102 motors have enough torque to pull through when you need it. There’s just additional inertia and gyroscopic forces to fight with this camera payload compared to analog and HD Zero.
The key question is whether that new walksnail camera delivers – and the answer is an emphatic YES! From the second you put on the goggles, it’s clear the analog-stomping quality this HD system is providing. Stunning levels of detail, great contrast and dynamic range even flying under tree canopy. This really feels close to DJI levels of image quality from a nano cam. Very impressive!
The big upside is that integrated 250mW video transmitter seems up for the task as well. Surprisingly solid signal strength and fidelity back the DVR footage moving behind houses and trees. It falls short of the HDZero + Vista combo for outright penetration but held its own better than expected producing very usable HD FPV footage under challenging conditions.
If you’re looking for a dedicated HD recording rig in a tiny and fun to fly package it’s hard to beat what the Walksnail Nano is providing. Yes it loses a bit of agility over the lighter analog build but the superb HD footage is worth the small tradeoff in lower velocity handling. Really nice offering showcasing the quality possible from these smaller HD camera manufacturers.
More Flight Impressions
After some full battery cycles with each variant of the Nano Baby, a few conclusions come clearly into focus:
Props matter – my initial flights were using the 3-blade 40mm props which provide good mid-range thrust. However switching to more aggressive 4 blade 40mm biblade and tri props unlocked a noticeable bump in lower-end power and efficiency. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
750mAh batts are the sweet spot – while the 450mAh packs drop nicely into the skinny profile, I found myself much preferring the punchier feel running 850mAh batteries without a major difference in flight time. Flexibility to move up to 850mAh or 1S HV packs is a nice capability boost.
Prefer the Regular “FR” frame – Unfortunately the “deadcat” frame didn’t provide a huge benefit over the standard layout here. Center mounting the heavy HD cameras raised the CG demoting nimbleness. And frame rigidity is already great with the basic flat plate. The FR frames felt better balanced and more fun to fly for freestyle.
Not for true indoor – This review focused on outdoor flying but tests in a warehouse space confirmed my suspicion that 1.6” open props are too risky indoors without prop guards. Traditional ducted tiny whoops are still king protecting your surroundings once inside. Outside – rip away!
Great scalability platform – One of the best aspects of the Baby Nano V2 is potential for modifications down the line. The 30.5×30.5 FC has room for stacking components, there’s spots to wire up accessory LEDs and sounds. 1S means there’s headroom to drive heavier camera gear as it comes out. Smart future-proof design here by Flywoo.
Overall Impressions
After plenty of packs across all three variants, I’m simply stunned by the capability Flywoo was able to unlock with the 1.6” Nano Baby V2 platform. It goes far beyond what I imagined possible from a 1S toothpick style build in terms of power delivery, efficiency, and flight dynamics. Videos online really don’t do justice showcasing the true brushless whoop experience this chassis enables.
It’s hard not be pretty WOW’ed taking the analog version screams through complex rolls and dives with absolutely effortless bite on the props. Very experienced pilots will still want to enable prop guards flying indoors. But outdoors this thing rips like a mini freestyle master!
I’m also impressed by inclusion of two HD camera options even relatively early in this product’s life cycle. Walksnail really went above and beyond packing amazing image quality into their HD offering here with better penetration than expected. And the HD Zero build feels nicely balanced maximizing handling while still capturing solid HD footage. Nice to have options!
After some Grundos torture testing (RIP walksnail camera) my Flywoo 1.6” quads are still going strong with nothing broken besides props and some scuffed plastic. These are solidly built and durable quads capable of taking some tumbles while providing way more performance envelope than a standard tiny whoop. I had a blast testing them out!
If you’re looking to maximize capability from a 1S platform, it’s hard to see many alternatives stacking up nearly as well as what the Baby Nano V2 is delivering in 2023. This is a true brushless whoop folks – don’t sleep on it!
Pros
- Incredibly powerful on 1S
- Efficient motors and well tuned
- Durable frame and components
- Great HD camera options
- Platform for further modifications
Cons
- Limited protection indoors
- UFL connectors prone to ripping off
- No onboard DVR recording
Models Reviewed
Caddx Ant V2 Analog
- FrSky SPI Receiver
- 250mW VTX
- 700TVL Pal Caddx Ant V2
- 1102 10K KV motors
DJI HD Zero
- Caddx Vista Unit
- 200mW Caddex Turtle VTX
- Built in EP2 Receiver
- 1102 10K KV motors
Walksnail HD
- 250mW VTX Integrated
- Built in EP2 Receiver
- 1080p 60fps camera
- 1102 10k KV motors
Who is it for?
The Nano Baby V2 appeals most to intermediate and expert FPV pilots looking for a extremely agile outdoor basher quad or a scalable HD recording platform in a durable and affordable 1S package. Backyard hobbyists will appreciate the plug and play setup while racers and freestylers can still reap the capability benefits of its standout power on 1S. It challenges what you’d assume is possible on 1S power.
Who should think twice
Pilots completely new to the hobby should consider a tiny whoop or low cost brushed quad to learn on before jumping into the Nano Baby V2. While durable, its power may surprise inexperienced pilots and lead to damage indoors.
Additionally, cinematographers seeking smooth HD video may find the lightweight properties a challenge keeping footage completely steady in windy conditions. For ultimate video stability, a heavier 3-4S rig with damping and adjustable camera gimbal still rules the day.
The Nano Baby V2 convinces by squeezing impressive capability from a featherweight airframe. But that capability deserves respect and a thoughtful approach depending on your skills. Consider what environment and style of flying you’re aiming for before pulling the trigger.
Conclusion
The Flywoo Nano Baby V2 shows what’s possible when you let go of assumptions of what toothpick drones can handle. Combining an ultra durable frame with motors that punch far above their 1S power grade, it delivers an exhilarating flight experience beyond typical “tiny whoops”. Whether blasting around your local field in silky smooth acro mode chasing HD footage, or testing your reflexes on technical race courses, the Baby Nano V2 belongs on any FPV enthusiast’s radar. Once you try it, you might just get hooked on the unexpected rush of flying a tiny rocket!
