The GEPRC Darkstar22 is a small cinewhoop that makes use of 2.2inch propellers. The additional thrust from barely bigger props makes a noticeable distinction in flight efficiency, particularly when carrying the heavier DJI O4 Professional Air Unit — with out rising the general dimension in comparison with typical 2inch counterparts. On this evaluation, I’ll break down my impressions of the Darkstar22’s design, construct high quality, flight efficiency, sturdiness, and the way it compares to the Pavo20 Professional II, and who this drone is finest suited to.
New to FPV? Study cinewhoops on this purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
The place To Purchase
Get the GEPRC Darkstar22 from:
There are two variations obtainable:
- A model with DJI O4 Professional pre-installed
- The “WTFPV” model the place you put in your personal FPV system
It comes with these equipment:
- 1 × Spare prop guard (gray)
- 1 × Spare O4 Professional mount and digital camera cowl (gray)
- 1 × Battery pad
- 1 × Spare set of Gemfan 2219×3 props
- 1 × L-shaped 1.5mm hex wrench
- 1 × Battery protector with touchdown toes
- 1 × Further battery strap
- 1 × Damping ball punch software
- 1 × Binding pin
- 1 × USB adapter
- All required screws, instruments, grommets, and rubber dampers
- Stickers and quick-start sheet
Specs
- Body: GEP-DS22
- Carbon Fiber Plate Thickness: 2.5mm
- Wheelbase: 100mm
- FC: TAKER F405 20A ELRS 2.4 2–4S AIO Board
- MCU: STM32F405
- Gyro: ICM42688-P
- FC Firmware: GEPRC_TAKER_F405 AIO
- Flash: 16MB
- ESC: 8-bit 20A
- Motor: SPEEDX2 1104 7500KV
- Propellers: GEMFAN GP2219-3
- Energy Connector: XT30U-M
- VTX: None
- Digicam: None
- Antenna: None
- Receiver: Constructed-in ELRS 2.4GHz
- Advisable Battery: 3S 720mAh LiHV
Design
The GEPRC DarkStar22 is a compact cinewhoop operating 2.2-inch propellers:
- Sufficiently small to fly in tighter areas and shut to things
- Geared up with prop guards, designed for flying close to folks, vehicles, and property with decreased threat
- The ducts make it surprisingly robust — gentle bumps are far much less catastrophic
- Highly effective sufficient to hold the DJI O4 Professional
- The digital camera is soft-mounted to scale back vibration and jello, ideally suited for cinematic footage
The cover and ducts are injection-molded plastic. They really feel inflexible, stiff, and robust. On a quad this dimension, the plastic feels beefy — not low-cost or brittle. The motors and flight controller are mounted on a 2.5mm thick carbon fiber base plate, which reduces flex and improves flight efficiency.
The XT30 connector is built-in into the rear duct utilizing a neat 3D-printed holder. It’s effectively protected and properly built-in, however your battery lead have to be lengthy sufficient to achieve it. One draw back is that unplugging batteries could be barely annoying as a result of it stretches your battery wire.
The digital camera lens is comparatively effectively protected with none plastic showing the digital camera’s view. Nevertheless, I’d nonetheless suggest utilizing an ND or UV filter for extra lens safety, because the digital camera mount itself is totally plastic.
An LED strip is built-in contained in the ducts. It’s not RGB — only a single shade (blue). You may flip it on or off utilizing a swap in your radio. It’s already configured in Betaflight and assigned to Channel 8 (AUX 4) within the Modes tab.
That stated, it does add further weight (roughly 10g). In case you’re not a fan of LEDs, you possibly can merely swap to the spare duct as a substitute of ripping out the LED strip from the unique body.
Mushy-Mounted Digicam Cover
Just like the Pavo20 Professional, the Darkstar22 soft-mounts each the digital camera and the air unit, it really works very effectively at isolating vibration and minimizing jello within the footage.
Nevertheless, in contrast to the Pavo20 Professional, which secures the cover with bolts, the Darkstar22 depends on 5 rubber grommets to carry the cover in place. In more durable crashes, the cover is prone to pop off.
It’s additionally fairly fiddly to take away and reinstall. It’s important to push the grommets via very tight gaps, and putting in or eradicating them — particularly when becoming the DJI O4 Professional — could be tedious.
Restricted FPV System Choices
Like many BNF producers, the cover and digital camera mounting just lately seem optimized primarily for the DJI O4 Professional air models greater than anything.
DJI cameras use totally different screw spacing in comparison with conventional analog or Walksnail cameras. In case you plan to mount digital camera aside from DJI, you could have to do some DIY modifications.
That’s not essentially a deal-breaker, however it’s value understanding before you purchase a “no FPV system” model anticipating common drop-in compatibility with analog or Walksnail or different methods.
Digicam Angle Limitation
The utmost digital camera angle is proscribed to roughly 0° to about 30°.
For typical cinewhoop use — indoor flying or relaxed outside cruising — this vary is completely enough. Nevertheless, if you happen to want greater digital camera uptilt for sooner flying, you could want to change the mount your self.
Study how digital camera tilt angle have an effect on your flying: https://oscarliang.com/camera-angle/
GPS Mounting: Nice Concept, Imperfect Execution
In case you don’t use GPS, this gained’t concern you.
When putting in the mounting plate on the O4 Professional air unit, you could discover a sq. slot within the plate. After securing the air unit, this slot faces upward via the cover cutout. It’s designed to carry a GPS module, preserving the construct clear and tidy.
It seems to suit GPS modules with dimensions round 15.5×15.5mm. GPS like HGLRC M100 Mini would match completely.
Nevertheless, as a result of the GPS sits very near the O4 air unit and antennas, there’s potential for interference. This will scale back GPS efficiency — fewer satellites locked and longer time to realize a 3D repair.
In my view, it will have been higher to put the GPS mount on high of the digital camera protector. It might be barely extra uncovered, however GPS modules are typically fairly strong. Extra importantly, mounting the GPS farther away from RF sources would possible enhance satellite tv for pc reception and reliability.
Including GPS means that you can allow:
A Small Annoyance: Exterior USB Adapter
On the DarkStar22, you need to plug in a small adapter to entry the USB port for Betaflight configuration. It doesn’t make the quad more durable to make use of, however it’s precisely the sort of tiny half you’ll finally lose — particularly if you happen to personal a number of quads with totally different adapters. It shortly turns into messy.
It’s the identical state of affairs with the Pavo20 Professional. It appears pretty frequent these days for small cinewhoops to interrupt out the USB port to a separate adapter.
The explanations for this design alternative are apparent: weight financial savings and simpler entry in compact builds.
And there are two similar connectors on the board, which makes it simple to plug into the incorrect one.
Flight Efficiency
The Darkstar22 hovers at round 21% throttle. It doesn’t really feel notably highly effective. A full throttle punch is noticeably slower than the Pavo20 Professional, possible because of the further weight.
That stated, I don’t have complaints about dealing with. It’s a really easy and secure whoop. Turns really feel clear and predictable.
There may be some propwash oscillation throughout sharp turns and when recovering from dives, however that’s anticipated for a heavier micro cinewhoop.
I additionally observed a tiny little bit of vibrations when flying in windy situations (round 15 MPH within the flight footage). Nevertheless, these could be smoothed out simply in publish utilizing Gyroflow.
For a micro cinewhoop, it truly performs surprisingly effectively in for freestyle and acro. Flips and rolls really feel snappy and responsive.
GEPRC recommends a 3S 720mAh LiHV battery. I didn’t have one obtainable, so I examined it with some BetaFPV 3S 550mAh LiHV packs as a substitute.
With a mixture of freestyle and cruising, I used to be getting round 4–5 minutes of flight time. In case you use a 720mAh pack, you possibly can most likely anticipate about one further minute.
Darkstar22 vs. Pavo20 Professional V2
They’re primarily the identical dimension — each use 2.2-inch propellers — however there are some necessary variations.
Weight
The Darkstar22 is heavier than the Pavo20 Professional. With the DJI O4 Professional and LED strip put in, it’s roughly 17g heavier.
- Pavo20 Professional II: 116g
- Darkstar22: 133.5g
That possible explains why GEPRC recommends a bigger battery — to compensate for decreased flight time because of the further weight. Nevertheless, an even bigger battery makes the drone even heavier, which noticeably impacts efficiency.
Takeoff weight together with manufacturer-recommended batteries:
- Darkstar22 (133.5g) + Storm 3S 720mAh (50.5g): 184g
- Pavo20 Professional (116g) + LAVA 3S 550mAh (43.2g): 159.2g
That’s a couple of 25g distinction, which is important on a small cinewhoop.
In case you’re proud of 4–5 minutes of flight time, I truly suppose a 3S 550mAh pack is the higher alternative for general flight efficiency.
Pusher vs. Commonplace Configuration
The Pavo20 Professional makes use of a pusher configuration — motors are mounted the other way up, and the props sit beneath the body.
The Darkstar22 makes use of a regular configuration — props are on high, like a conventional quad.
There are arguments that pusher setups could be barely extra environment friendly, probably translating to marginally higher flight instances. Nevertheless, the draw back is that propellers are extra uncovered throughout landings and crashes. This will result in:
- Extra bent or broken props
- Elevated likelihood of micro vibrations (and jello in footage) over time
- Extra frequent upkeep and prop replacements
With the Darkstar22’s normal configuration, propellers are extra protected. When it lands or tumbles, the ducts and arms hit first somewhat than the propellers.
I’ve written a extra detailed article discussing these configurations right here: https://oscarliang.com/pusher-configuration-explained/
Which One Flies Higher?
If you’re an skilled freestyle pilot, the Pavo20 Professional is extra enjoyable. Being virtually 20g lighter makes a noticeable distinction in dealing with, responsiveness, and effectivity for drones on this dimension class. That stated, you gained’t be disenchanted by how the Darkstar flies. It’s nonetheless easy and nimble, and you may completely freestyle with it.
With the identical battery, the Pavo20 Professional provides you virtually a full minute extra flight time, primarily due to its decrease weight.
Vary
The Darkstar has the sting on the subject of vary.
It makes use of an exterior ELRS receiver with a better-positioned antenna. On the Pavo20 Professional, the antenna is only a easy copper wire tucked contained in the body, which considerably limits most vary. Flying inside 300m is usually effective, however past that it turns into more and more dangerous.
If vary and sign penetration functionality issues to you, the Darkstar is clearly stronger on this space.
Sturdiness
Each the Darkstar and Pavo20 has strengths and weaknesses.
I’m not an enormous fan of pusher config and attempt to keep away from it when potential. Props on the underside are inclined to get broken extra usually, and takeoffs could be more durable if the quad will get caught on particles. The O4 Professional digital camera can also be barely higher protected on the Darkstar. The battery protector can also be a really good contact.
Nevertheless, the soft-mounted cover is the primary weak level. Laborious crashes may cause the cover to separate from the body. Repeatedly eradicating and reinstalling the rubber grommets may also harm them over time.
In distinction, the Pavo20 Professional cover is secured with bolts, making it extra strong and safe. For that purpose, I might keep away from aggressive flying that might result in heavy crashes with the Darkstar.
Upkeep
Upkeep largely comes all the way down to how the cover is mounted.
- Pavo20 Professional: 4 screws to take away. Simple to work on and straightforward to reassemble.
- Darkstar22: To entry the underside of the FC, you take away six screws from beneath. For the highest facet, you should take away the cover — and reinstalling these rubber grommets correctly could be irritating.
In case you take pleasure in tinkering and don’t crash a lot, it’s manageable. However if you happen to crash usually and wish fast repairs, the Pavo is simply simpler.
Noise
Noise issues particularly if you’re flying near folks, indoors, or round animals.
- Pavo20 Professional: Quieter, with a lower-pitched sound.
- Darkstar22: Barely louder, with a better pitch.
Neither is anyplace close to as loud as a 5-inch quad. A number of hundred meters away, each fade into background noise. But when stealth is a precedence, the Pavo has a slight benefit.
Value
The Darkstar is roughly $35 greater than the Pavo20 Professional as a full BNF:
- Pavo20 Professional II (O4 Professional + ELRS): $364.99
- Darkstar22 (O4 Professional + ELRS): $399.99
When evaluating PNP variations (with out O4 Professional), the Darkstar is $65 dearer!
You’re paying a noticeable premium for the Darkstar22, so the actual query is: do you get what you pay for?
Putting in the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit
In case you order the model with out the DJI O4 Professional, you’ll want to put in it your self.
I’m barely disenchanted by the shortage of directions on how to do that. For knowledgeable pilots, it’s not an enormous difficulty — you possibly can most likely determine it out pretty shortly. However for inexperienced persons, this might be irritating. On the very least, they need to clarify which screws go the place and the way the air unit ought to be mounted.
The quad features a leaflet within the field, however it’s simply generic info for all their BNF drones — not a correct guide for this particular mannequin. I additionally checked their web site for documentation, however couldn’t discover something. Not essentially the most beginner-friendly expertise.
Anyway, I’ll present how I put in mine right here to make issues clearer.
The right way to Setup
Earlier than the primary flight, I did the next:
- Put in O4 Professional Air Unit
- Put in the battery pad
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board goal is TAKERF405, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware model 2025.12.0-beta. For CLI Diff, see right here
- ESC Firmware: Bluejay, 0.21.0, 48kHz (Q-H-30)
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Goal: GEPRC Nano 2.4GHz RX, firmware 3.5.4
DJI O4 Professional OSD Setup
Betaflight Setup
Guide:
Last Verdict
If dimension doesn’t matter and also you simply need the very best flying cinewhoop, I nonetheless want the GEPRC Cinelog30 V3. It’s extra environment friendly, extra highly effective, extra secure, and surprisingly quiet.
However if you happen to simply desire a small 2-inch cinewhoop with the DJI O4 Professional, it actually comes all the way down to the Pavo20 Professional vs. Darkstar22.
Total, the Pavo20 Professional flies higher and longer because of the lighter weight, and it’s higher suited to close-range freestyle. It’s additionally simpler to keep up and extra reasonably priced.
That stated, the Darkstar22 additionally flies effectively and has a strong PID tune, however the heavier weight makes it higher suited to relaxed cruising. Its higher receiver and antenna setup give it noticeably higher vary.
Get the GEPRC Darkstar22 from:
If you think about worth — with the Pavo20 Professional being $25–$65 cheaper relying on model — the winner is pretty clear.
