BETAFPV Cetus X vs. Cetus Pro (Here’s My Choice)

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After reviewing these two drones, it’s hard to choose only one.

Both drones are incredible to start the freestyle journey, as they will last an apprentice’s usage.

On one side, the Cetus Pro is cheaper and easy to fly.

The Cetus X is a fun drone to practice freestyling in the long term.

The Cetus X is my preferred choice, as I have some experience flying FPV. But is it for you?

Not all drone pilots are on the same level. I want to give you a comprehensive comparison so you can pick the drone that fits your skills, budget, and needs.

Stay tuned. I’ll start with a quick overview of each drone with the pros and cons. Then, I’ll explicitly tell you when to get one or the other.

BETAFPV Cetus Pro overview #

Dimensions: 4.61 x 4.61 x 1.38 inWeight: 45.8 gMax Range: 80 ****mMax Flying Time: 5 mins per batteryPower System: 1SCamera Tilt Degree: 30°Transmitter Compatibility: LiteRadio2 SEGoggles Compatibility: VR02 FPV GogglesLive View Quality: 800 x 480Video Resolution: N/AInternal Storage: NoExternal Max Storage: NoGPS: NoBarometer/Laser: Yes

✅ Pros #

It comes with auto-hover for a safe beginner experience
It has a turtle mode to flip when it’s upside down
It’s cheaper than the Cetus X
It’s easier to fly than the Cetus X
The kit comes with spare propellers and two extra batteries

❌ Cons #

You can’t record videos with it
The goggles’ live view feed looks like an old VHS tape
The flight time per battery is very short

This is the perfect drone for pilots who want to begin in the FPV world and have zero experience.

The Cetus Pro has speed modes that guide you from a very low to a high speed.

These speeds will gradually increase when upgrading the flight mode from normal to sport to manual.

You have the guarantee that you can progress at your pace in little to no time.

This drone consists of a frame that acts as a propeller guard and as landing gear.

The material is sturdy enough to handle continuous crashes and hits with obstacles, another reason it’s perfect for a complete newbie.

The biggest downside of this drone is that it can’t record any footage, so you can’t review your flight progress.

As a beginner, the feedback a recording gives you is valuable to improve, so it’s a shame to miss out.

**» MORE: **BETAFPV Cetus Pro FPV Kit (Hands-on Review)

BETAFPV Cetus X overview #

Dimensions: 5.35 x 5.35 x 2.13 ****inWeight: 80.6 gMax Range: 80 ****mMax Flying Time: 5 mins per two batteriesPower System: 2SCamera Tilt Degree: 40°Transmitter Compatibility: LiteRadio3Goggles Compatibility: VR03 FPV GogglesLive View Quality: 800 x 480Video Resolution: 480pInternal Storage: NoExternal Max Storage: YesGPS: NoBarometer/Laser: Yes

✅ Pros #

You can record 480p videos with it
It has auto-hover
It has a turtle mode
The kit comes with spare propellers and four extra batteries
It’s more suitable for outdoor flying than the Cetus Pro

❌ Cons #

It’s harder to fly than the Cetus Pro
The goggles’ live-view feed quality is also poor
Its flight time is brief

This whoop has incredibly powerful motors for its size, deploying an aggressive acceleration even in normal mode.

Thanks to this output and weight, this drone is capable of freestyling with little to no effort, two characteristics that make the Cetus X very exciting to fly but hard to maneuver for inexperienced pilots.

With the Cetus X, you will have to spend more time and effort supporting more stressful sessions than with the Cetus Pro.

Once you master this drone, you can consider upgrading to a professional FPV drone.

Another cool point that makes this drone essential for practicing is its ability to record videos.

The recordings are far from being cinematic or ready to use in a professional video, but they help you get the necessary feedback to improve.

It has the same design as the Cetus Pro, consisting of a frame protecting the engines and propeller from debris.

However, this drone is a bit taller, so the engines tend to suck in fewer foreign objects.

**» MORE: **BETAFPV Cetus X FPV Kit (Hands-on Review)

BETAFPV Cetus Pro vs. Cetus X (In-depth comparison) #

If you’re a complete newbie without any drone flying experience, go with the Cetus Pro.

The Cetus X is your choice if you want a drone for practicing long-term that guarantees you a pro-level once you master it.

Let’s compare these drones on all points.

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Build and design #

Both drones look identical, so you can avoid the trouble of deciding which to choose based on aesthetics.

The Cetus Pro and X come with a replaceable frame, which you can change once it breaks.

Even with noticeable chips and lacking parts, these drones fly without losing too much performance.

If you decide to replace the frame, it’s an easy step-by-step process.

The landing gear is part of the frame. Although it seems like some delicate legs, it withstands hard landings.

The reason for the landing gear’s sturdiness is due to the fact the engines sit there, so the mounting structure is solid.

**» MORE: **Best Beginner Drones for FPV

Weight and size #

The Cetus X is bigger and heavier.

This extra weight makes the Cetus X suitable for outdoor flying, as it will withstand wind.

The extra size makes it very uncomfortable to fly indoors, so I only recommend you fly it in your yard while you get enough control over it.

On the other hand, the Cetus Pro is very light and tiny. Even when you feel the wind is calm, the drone will struggle to maintain its position.

That´s why I only recommend flying this drone indoors, like in a garage.

You can also fly it outside, but preferably on a basketball court or in a contained area.

Camera comparison #

Neither of these drones has great cameras, only providing 480p live view on the goggles.

The only differential factor is that the Cetus X camera has a 2.4 GHz module to transmit footage to the goggles and save it via the microSD card you insert in the goggles.

Having the ability to record your flights is fundamental to growth. You can critique your decisions and plan a reaction that improves your flying experience.

Neither the Cetus X nor the Pro have a mechanical gimbal, as their cameras aren’t for use in a professional environment.

Their cameras can tilt, and the Cetus X drone has a more pronounced tilt angle of 40° against the 30° of the Cetus Pro.

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Ease of use #

The Cetus Pro is quite easy to fly compared to the Cetus X.

The Cetus X accelerates with such aggressiveness, making you feel insecure about destroying it on the first flight.

Both drones are relatively easy to fly in normal mode thanks to the auto hovering feature. In this mode, these drones hold their altitude even when you release the transmitter joysticks.

Why do I say the Cetus Pro is easier to fly than the Cetus X?

The difficulty is in the transition between modes. Going from normal to sport mode on both drones will take you some time.

However, the Cetus X has so much power, accelerating rapidly.

Also, the Cetus X has more power per size than the Cetus Pro. So the Cetus X flips and rolls with little stick movements easily, making it hard to maintain a stable flight in manual mode.

I only advise the Cetus Pro for the total beginner, as it will help you grow.

Transitioning between modes in the Cetus X is so dramatic that it feels like a completely different experience.

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Flight time #

If there is a feature FVP drones lack, it’s a proper flight time per battery. The Cetus Pro and X have the same issue, lasting only five minutes per battery set.

Consider that flying an FPV drone is an experience that triggers adrenaline. It’s a very exciting activity, and having five minutes per battery is acceptable for most inexperienced pilots.

BETAFPV is aware of the flight time each battery gives you, and that’s why you get two more in the kit for a total of 15 minutes of flying.

Flight time is only interrupted by the battery replacement procedure, which can be quite troublesome.

The batteries are kind of soft to the touch, and you need to fit them in a tight battery compartment, so it’s somewhat tricky to insert them without deforming them.

With practice, it becomes easier to remove and install them.

You surely have noticed that the Cetus X needs two of the Cetus Pro batteries. The reason is that the Cetus X needs more power, as the engines demand.

Installing the battery on the Cetus Pro is easier, as you only deal with one. Again, it’s only a matter of getting used to the removal and installation procedure.

**» MORE: **Top 5 Drones with the Longest Flight Time

Flight range #

If you compare these whoops with most commercial drones on the market, 80 meters of flying range seems a joke.

However, flying drones that weigh less than 100 grams at high altitudes and distances isn’t safe, as the wind moves them easily.

Also, they lack GPS modules, and you can’t recover them with an RTH feature.

So 80 meters of flight range is ideal for a drone used for practicing freestyle before getting a more advanced FPV drone.

Also, as these drones lack top-notch antennas, you’ll find too much interference if flying outside that range.

That said, the Cetus X has better signal stability at longer ranges than the Cetus Pro.

That’s also a good reason to only use the Cetus Pro indoors or in a basketball court area.

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Smart features #

Both drones come with turtle mode. This feature lets you flip the drone remotely when it’s upside down in a hard-to-access location.

The other safety feature I love about these two drones is that they stop the engines once they collide or when the battery is critically low.

This feature can appear risky as the drone will fall like a rock without engine power. Remember that these drones weigh little and tend to land softly on the ground.

**» MORE: **Best Autonomous Drones

Price #

The Cetus X is pricier than the Cetus Pro, as it has more powerful engines and an improved transmitter and goggles.

From my perspective, the increased price of the Cetus X is negligible thanks to these improvements.

If you’re on a very tight budget, the Cetus Pro will be enough for a long time until you can upgrade to the Cetus X.

**» MORE: **Best Beginner FPV Drone Kit

Why choose the BETAFPV Cetus Pro over BETAFPV Cetus X #

As someone with previous experience flying drones, the only reason I would prefer the Cetus Pro over the Cetus X is the price.

Sometimes we aren’t eager to spend extra money on a device we lack confidence in.

So if that’s your case, doubt no more and buy the Cetus Pro. It’s also easier to fly and transition to sport and manual modes.

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Why choose the BETAFPV Cetus X over BETAFPV Cetus Pro #

The Cetus X is a no-brainer if you want the ultimate FPV experience on a budget.

This drone can perform all the tricks you see on the internet easily. This ability is due to its powerful engines and weight, which also make it incredibly fast, accelerating in no time.

With its goggles, you can record your sessions and study those recordings for feedback to improve your decision-making.

**» MORE: **DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Holy Stone HS720E (Here’s My Choice)

What’s better: the BETAFPV Cetus Pro or BETAFPV Cetus X? #

The Cetus X is better, as it has more engine power, allowing it to be more responsive to transmitter commands.

Also, the compatible goggles have DVR recording, so you can study your footage.

The transmitter has an increased signal, allowing you to get a more stable signal at longer distances without glitches.

However, these improvements come at an increased cost, which from my point of view, is worth every extra penny.

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Where to store BETAFPV Cetus X footage #

The drone lacks internal storage to save your videos, like the VR03 FPV Goggles.

The good news is you can still store your footage on a microSD card. Insert one of the recommended cards by BETAFPV in the slot near the antenna.

BETAFPV recommends any that are compatible with a FAT 32 file system.

The ones I use the most are the Lexar E-Series 32GB, SanDisk Ultra microSDHC 32GB, and SanDisk Extreme microSDHC 32GB. I love these cards, as they don’t tend to corrupt easily and have high writing speeds.

Our Top Pick

The videos the VR03 FPV Goggles records are relatively poor, maxing 480p. Don’t expect a cinematic, crystal-clear recording.

However, a viewable VHS-level recording without glitches is guaranteed if you use one of these cards.