Micro Frames

A quadcopter smaller than 150mm motor-to-motor (measured diagonally) is generally considered a micro. This category includes everything from palm-sized Tiny Whoops to 3” prop builds that punch well above their weight class.

Why Micros?

Micros fill a niche that larger quads can’t. They’re light enough to fly safely indoors, quiet enough to fly in neighborhoods without complaints, and durable enough to bounce off walls and furniture without damage. Many pilots keep a micro around for days when conditions or locations don’t suit a 5” quad.

Practical advantages:

• Fly anywhere: Indoors, backyards, parks, parking garages. Places where a 5” would be dangerous or unwelcome.
• Low risk: A 30g Tiny Whoop bouncing off someone’s head is a laugh. A 700g freestyle quad is an emergency room visit.
• Cheap crashes: Props cost pennies and frames are $10-20. You can send it with zero stress.
• Year-round flying: When wind or cold makes outdoor flying miserable, micros let you fly in your living room.
• Practice anywhere: Building muscle memory doesn’t require a field and a full kit. Just charge a battery and fly.

Common Micro Classes

Tiny Whoop (65mm-75mm)

The smallest practical FPV quads. Ducted props (propeller guards built into the frame), brushless motors (0802 or 1102), and 1S batteries. Weigh 25-35g. Originally based on the Blade Inductrix, the “Whoop” style has become its own massive subcategory.

Popular frames: BetaFPV 65mm/75mm, Happymodel Mobula/Moblite frames, Newbeedrone frames.

See the Tiny Whoop guide for a deep dive.

2” Micro (80mm-100mm)

Step up from Whoops. Can run ducted or open prop designs. Usually 1S-2S with 1102-1202 motors. More power and speed than Whoops while still being indoor-friendly with ducts.

2.5” Toothpick (100mm-120mm)

Open prop design, no ducts. Much faster and more agile than ducted micros. Typically 1S-2S with 1103-1404 motors. The “toothpick” name comes from their ultra-thin, lightweight frames. Not indoor-safe due to exposed props, but great for backyard flying.

3” Micro (120mm-150mm)

The biggest micros, and arguably the sweet spot for outdoor micro flying. 3” props on 1404-1507 motors with 2S-4S batteries produce real power. These can handle moderate wind and fly with authority. Many 3” builds come in under 250g, keeping them below regulatory thresholds in some countries.

Popular frames: Diatone Roma F35, Flywoo Firefly, iFlight Archer.

Frame Materials

• Molded plastic (polypropylene): Standard for Tiny Whoops. Light, flexible, absorbs impacts. Breaks eventually but costs $3-8 to replace.
• Carbon fiber: Used on 2.5” and 3” builds. Stronger and stiffer than plastic but heavier and transfers impact to components rather than flexing.
• TPU (3D-printed): Common for canopies, camera mounts, and battery pads on micros. Flexible and easy to customize if you have a 3D printer.

Weight Matters

At the micro scale, every gram counts. A 5g difference on a 30g Tiny Whoop is a 17% weight change. That noticeably affects flight time, agility, and how fast the motors sag under load.

Common weight-saving moves:

• Use lighter batteries (check reviews for actual weights, they vary between batches)
• Trim antenna wires to minimum safe length
• Use lightweight receivers (ExpressLRS 2.4GHz nano RX weighing 0.5-1g)
• Skip unnecessary features (LED strips, buzzers) if weight is critical
• Sand or trim excess carbon from frame arms

Electronics Sizing

Micro builds use smaller electronics than 5” quads:

Component	Typical Size
Flight controller	16x16mm or 20x20mm mounting
ESC	Integrated AIO (all-in-one with FC) or 16x16mm 4-in-1
VTX	Nano/micro size, 25-400mW
Camera	Nano (14mm) or micro (19mm)
Receiver	Nano ELRS or built into FC

All-in-one (AIO) boards that combine FC, ESC, and sometimes VTX onto a single board are very popular for micro builds. They save weight and simplify wiring significantly. The Happymodel CrazyF4 and BetaFPV F4 AIO are commonly used.

Getting Started with Micros

If you’re considering a micro as your first FPV quad, a bind-and-fly (BNF) Tiny Whoop is the lowest-risk entry point. BetaFPV Meteor75, Happymodel Mobula7, and EMAX TinyHawk are all proven options. Pair one with budget goggles and a compatible radio, and you can be flying the same day.

For experienced pilots wanting a micro for variety, a 3” build on 4S is the most satisfying option. It flies like a scaled-down 5” quad with enough power for real freestyle, while being light enough to fly in spaces where a full-size quad would be irresponsible.