Drone Types
FPV drones come in a wide range of sizes and configurations, each designed for different flying styles, environments, and use cases. Understanding the options helps you pick the right build for what you want to do.
By Size
Section titled “By Size”Drone size is typically described by propeller size (in inches) or motor-to-motor diagonal distance (in millimeters).
Tiny Whoop (65-85mm)
Section titled “Tiny Whoop (65-85mm)”The smallest FPV drones. Tiny whoops have ducted propellers (prop guards that also act as ducts) and typically run 1S or 2S batteries. Light enough to fly indoors without causing damage.
Best for: Indoor flying, office/house cruising, learning to fly, bad weather days.
→ See Tiny Whoops
Micro (2-3 inch, 90-150mm)
Section titled “Micro (2-3 inch, 90-150mm)”Larger than whoops but still small and relatively safe. Often used outdoors in parks or small spaces. Many run 2S-4S batteries. The “toothpick” class falls here — ultralight 2.5-3” builds on minimal frames.
Best for: Outdoor flying in constrained spaces, lightweight freestyle, traveling.
→ See Micro Builds
5-Inch (200-250mm)
Section titled “5-Inch (200-250mm)”The standard FPV size. Five-inch quads are the most popular platform for both freestyle and racing. Huge parts ecosystem, well-understood performance characteristics, and the most community support.
Best for: Freestyle, racing, general-purpose FPV flying. The default choice.
Long Range (6-7 inch)
Section titled “Long Range (6-7 inch)”Larger props on lower KV motors produce more efficiency (longer flight times) at the cost of some agility. Six and seven-inch builds are popular for cruising, exploration, and cinematic long-range flights.
Best for: Long-range cruising, cinematic work, mountain/beach exploration.
→ See Long Range
X-Class (10+ inch)
Section titled “X-Class (10+ inch)”Massive quads with 10”+ propellers. Heavy, powerful, and loud. Used for carrying heavy camera payloads (like a RED or BMPCC) or just for the thrill of flying something huge.
Best for: Heavy-lift cinema, extreme builds.
By Purpose
Section titled “By Purpose”Freestyle Quad
Section titled “Freestyle Quad”The most common type. Built for acrobatic flying — flips, rolls, power loops, dives, and flowing through gaps. Typically a 5” build with a durable frame, a GoPro on top, and a tune optimized for responsiveness.
→ See Freestyle
Racing Quad
Section titled “Racing Quad”Optimized for speed and lap times. Lower weight, tighter builds, sometimes lower camera angles for speed. Racing frames tend to be more compact with less room for accessories. Every gram matters.
→ See Racing
Cinewhoop
Section titled “Cinewhoop”A ducted quad (usually 3” or 3.5”) designed for smooth, cinematic indoor/proximity footage. Prop guards protect people and objects. Cinewhoops sacrifice agility for safety and smooth footage. Popular for real estate, events, and commercial work.
→ See Cinewhoops
Cinelifter
Section titled “Cinelifter”A large quad (7-10”+) built to carry a full cinema camera (RED, BMPCC, Sony FX series). Essentially a flying camera rig. Expensive, complex, and capable of stunning footage.
Long-Range Cruiser
Section titled “Long-Range Cruiser”Efficient builds designed to maximize flight time and distance. GPS, larger props, lower KV motors, and streamlined frames. Some pilots travel 20km+ on a single battery.
→ See Long Range
Fixed-Wing FPV
Section titled “Fixed-Wing FPV”Not a quad at all — fixed-wing aircraft with FPV cameras. Wings and planes are extremely efficient, flying for 30-60+ minutes on a single battery. Popular for long-range exploration. Usually run iNav or ArduPilot.
Pre-Built vs. Custom
Section titled “Pre-Built vs. Custom”Bind-and-Fly (BNF)
Section titled “Bind-and-Fly (BNF)”Pre-assembled drones that come ready to fly — just bind your receiver (or the receiver is included). Good for beginners or pilots who don’t want to build. Eachine, BetaFPV, iFlight, GEPRC, and others sell BNF quads at every price point.
Pros: No build required, tested configuration, warranty. Cons: Limited customization, may use proprietary parts, harder to repair if you can’t solder.
Custom Build
Section titled “Custom Build”You pick every component and assemble it yourself. This is how most experienced pilots fly — you get exactly what you want and learn to repair anything.
Pros: Full control, deeper understanding, easier to repair and upgrade. Cons: Requires soldering skills, time to build, risk of mistakes.
→ See Building a Quad
How to Choose
Section titled “How to Choose”| If you want to… | Start with… |
|---|---|
| Learn to fly indoors | Tiny whoop |
| Do freestyle in parks | 5” quad |
| Race competitively | 5” racing build |
| Shoot cinematic video | Cinewhoop (indoor) or 5” + GoPro (outdoor) |
| Explore mountains/coastlines | 7” long range |
| Fly indoors at events | Cinewhoop |
| Carry a cinema camera | Cinelifter |
| Maximize flight time | Fixed-wing or 7” efficient build |