BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit (Hands-on Review)

FPV drones are expensive, but don’t feel discouraged. The BETAFPV has come to the rescue of all of us drone fanatics!

The Cetus Pro FPV is a drone kit that comes with everything you need to start your FPV journey. You’ll have extensive hours of flips and high-speed maneuvers to practice while you save for a high-end FPV kit.

This drone will be enough for some of you to have fun in your yards for years.

Why are we so sure? We have tested it for you!

This guide will discuss what we love and hate about this drone and why you should buy or avoid it.

BETAFPV Cetus Pro – What’s in the kit? #

SPECSBetaFPV Cetus ProWeight33 grams without batteryFlight Time3-5 minutes per batteryBatteryBT 2.0 450mAh 1STransmission RangeUp to 80 meters. Safe to fly on a 20 meters radiusFlight Modes Normal, Sport, ManualSafety FeaturesAuto land on low battery; turtle modeDoes it have GPS?NoVTX Power25 mWReceiver ProtocolFrSky D8

✅ Pros #

• Cheap kit to start flying FPV
• It comes with Remote Controller and Goggles.
• Can easily be flown indoors and through obstacles
• It is a cinewhoop-style type of drone; propellers are not exposed.
• You can use different analog goggles or D8 protocol remote controllers.
• Fun to learn FPV
• Resistant to crashes
• Batteries are very cheap, so you can buy many and enjoy this immersive experience.

❌ Cons #

• The analog video from Cetus Pro FPV is low quality.
• Made only for short-range flights
• Can interfere with other devices; low power output VTX
• Requires skill to fly in manual mode. You have to train in simulators before.

You get a complete bundle when you purchase a Cetus Pro.

Once you open the box, you’ll see a semi-rigid case of good quality that is also quite beautiful and handy.

There’s also the transmitter, goggles, accessories, paperwork, and the drone.

Starting with the Cetus Pro, BETA FPV designed this drone with three modes, guaranteeing a learning curve from beginner to advanced flights.

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Firmware #

You get a USB-C to USB-C cable and an L-shaped 8-pin to USB adapter in the drone’s kit.

You connect the L-shaped adapter to the drone via the pins. You’ll see the 8-pin holes on the drone when you flip it over.

Then you connect the USB-C cable to the L-shaped USB-C end. And finally, you connect the other USB-C end to the computer.

Now for your PC to recognize your device, you must download the BETAFPV configurator.

Once you have this software installed, your PC will recognize the drone so you can navigate through the software and update the firmware when necessary.

Our only recommendation is to always run the BETAFPV configuration as an administrator, or it can cause bugs during firmware updates.

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Build and design #

This quadcopter isn’t the most aesthetic FPV drone. However, its sturdy form is intentional for it to last.

The drone has a white propeller guard that covers the body so you can crash it without feeling guilty about damaging it.

It can even fall from decent altitudes, like a home roof, without noticeable damage.

However, we don’t encourage you to crash it just to test. The idea of this drone’s design is to handle some hits while you get used to flying an FPV drone.

If you abuse it, the drone will suffer irreparable damage.

The drone has a robust landing gear for its size that consists of the same propeller guard structure.

This system provides enough support for the drone to maintain the engines and propellers from debris and hits.

The motors are brushless and come sealed.

The only form factor we dislike about this drone is the battery compartment. It’s very tight, and removing or installing batteries is a nightmare.

The reason for this is for the battery to be in place, no matter if you crash the drone.

So the compartment holds the battery in place, making it secure, but removing it is tricky and tedious.

Weight and size #

The drone is compact but visible due to its bright white color. It weighs 45.8 grams, so it’s very light too.

This weight and size, plus its robust design, make this drone perfect for flying indoors.

BETAFPV achieved a very light drone by using plastic and installed brushless motors that give it added weight but huge output for its size.

This drone is all about unstable flying, perfect for doing tricks.

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Camera #

FPV drones don’t shine for their cameras, as they intend to provide a visible live view and not to record cinematics.

That said, the camera on this drone is very poor. The live view resembles a VHS recording with lots of glitches. However, most FPV drones provide a deficient live view far from a 1080p resolution.

What matters is consistent live view quality when the drone is near you. While the drone flies away from the transmitter, the signal becomes glitchy.

The live view can sometimes vanish completely, making you crash the drone.

To avoid it, fly the drone in an open area without division walls, like an indoor court, or in your yard in a light breeze.

You can’t install another camera either, so if a crystal-clear camera view is what you value the most, this drone is a no-go.

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Ease of use #

FPV drones are hard to fly due to their instability.

A beginner flying an unstable drone is often a recipe for disaster, no matter how sturdy it is.

That’s why BETAFPV equipped this drone with beginner-friendly capabilities.

In normal mode, the drone can hover in a fixed position, even when you release the transmitter joysticks. That way, you get used to flying it with VR and goggles.

You can try the sport mode once you feel comfortable in normal. From here, the drone won’t auto-hover but maintain a certain stability.

It would be controllable only if you have practiced enough in normal mode.

You will get the skills to control the drone at high speeds in sport mode. It will also allow you to start feeling comfortable when it turns aggressively.

However, you will only be able to perform tricks in manual mode.

However, we advise you to get into it after practicing enough in the simulator.

Flight time #

Realize you won’t get much flight time with the Cetus Pro, as it is an FPV drone.

You’ll have three to five minutes max of flight time per battery.

The batteries last so little time due to the engine’s needs. The engine must use high power for the drone to accelerate and do tricks. It gets the energy from the batteries, draining them fast.

However, flying an FPV drone is exciting, making you feel many emotions.

You will have 10 minutes of pure joy as you get two batteries.

You can always buy an extra battery four-pack for a very reasonable price for up to 30 minutes of flying.

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Flight range #

This drone has a flight range of 80 meters. It can fly far from the transmitter, but the live view suffers the consequences.

As discussed in the camera section, this drone has a very poor live view. It gets glitchy once the drone gets further from you.

Flying a drone without a camera view is like walking with your eyes closed. We encourage you not to fly this drone further than a 20-meter radius.

That way, you ensure a consistent live view, avoiding crashing your drone unnecessarily.

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Flight speed #

BETAFPV guarantees speed for all types of pilots with the Cetus Pro. All flying modes come with a slow, mid, and fast speed.

As a beginner, the slow speed should be the only one you try while you get used to flying. At this speed, you notice the Cetus Pro moves stably, so it’s easier to control.

At middle speed, you won’t notice too much of a change.

Within this speed, the drone becomes shakier and more reactive to your commands, accelerating quickly, but the end speed isn’t dramatic. It works as a transition between slow and fast speeds.

Fast speed is a challenge, and you must take some precautions, such as flying in a wide, obstacle-free area.

At this speed, the drone responds way quicker than at mid-speed, and the acceleration is instantaneous. It can get very dangerous without experience.

Safety features #

The Cetus Pro isn’t packed with fancy safety functions like RTH.

However, if its battery depletes, it automatically lands in any place, not where it took off.

When it crashes, it automatically disarms the engines, landing softer near the crash site.

With an easy transmitter command, the drone can flip over automatically in turtle mode.

If it’s facing downward in a difficult-to-reach location for you to grab, activate the turtle mode to flip it on the landing gear.

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Price #

This drone can be pricy considering you can’t record or take photos with it.

It also lacks intelligent flight modes like follow me or RTH.

However, an FPV drone should provide you with enough power and durability to perform tricks without damaging the drone on the first attempt.

When you consider these factors, this drone is quite cheap.

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Transmitter #

The LiteRadio 2 SE Radio Transmitter is like a PlayStation or Xbox controller. The controller feels comfortable to most people who have played video games.

Considering the cost, the transmitter feels well-made and durable. The joysticks are comfortable, with a sturdy feel when you move them.

This remote controller can seem peculiar for newbies as it comes with metal switches instead of triggers. If you haven’t used these kinds of switches before, it can take time to get used to them.

Another handy feature of this transmitter is its built-in battery you can charge with any 5V/3A power adapter and the USB-C cable that comes in the kit.

The LiteRadio 2 SE Radio Transmitter has an impressive range, letting you control the drone without issue in an 80-meter radius.

However, this drone’s live feed is deficient, as discussed in the camera section. No matter the remote range, you can’t control the drone safely with such a glitchy live feed.

What do we dislike about this controller?

Most FPV transmitters come with a holder to attach a belt around your neck, so the remote suspends around the belly button.

Then you can focus your thumbs or thumb and index finger to control the joysticks for increased sensitivity, translating into accurate drone control. This one doesn’t have that.

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Goggles #

The goggles are the hardest to get used to of the three main components.

The first thing you notice is that the VR02 FPV Goggles are bulky.

They aren’t aesthetic and comfortable on the nose, as they lack cushioning. People with prominent noses may have a hard time with these goggles.

However, the build and design section has more pros than cons.

As the goggles are plastic, they are incredibly light. You can use them for several flights straight without fatigue.

The camera view is gorgeous, and you can immerse yourself in the experience. It feels so real, giving the impression you’re flying.

However, the transmission between the drone’s camera and the goggles is bad, meaning you’ll face lots of interference.

The goggles lack the means to save footage. Reviewing your flights is critical to improving, so foregoing a goggles recording function is a big downside.

However, for the price of the complete bundle, it seems fair.

Finally, you must charge the goggles via USB-C with a 5V/3A power adapter like the transmitter.

The charging process is convenient, as you don’t need to find the correct side to insert the cable into the goggles, as the USB-C connector has no sides.

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What’s the best way to learn to fly the Cetus Pro? #

The controller USB-C connection isn’t just there for charging the remote.

The idea of this high-end connector is to serve as the connection to a computer. That way, you can practice in the safest way possible with a simulator.

Although there are many FPV simulators, we recommend the one BETAFPV partners with, LIFTOFF, which simulates the Cetus Pro flying experience.

BETAFPV Cetus Pro vs. Cetus X #

Although we can go through extensive reasons you’ll want one over another, the flight experience always wins.

The Cetus X is the premium drone in the Cetus series, so it has an improved camera view with little interference, a longer flight time, and much more speed and maneuverability.

However, it’s harder to fly in sport and manual mode.

From our perspective, it’s only suitable for users who want to become pro-FPV pilots.

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You can be disappointed easily, as it’s a difficult drone to fly for a person who doesn’t commit to daily or regular training in the simulator.

Also, the Cetus Pro is cheaper.