DJI O4 Pro and O4 Lite Air Units: What You Need to Know Before Buying

The FPV community is abuzz with excitement about DJI O4 Air Units. There are two versions: DJI O4 Pro and DJI O4(Lite). DJI is expanding its lineup in a way that could shake up the FPV market, as the new Air unit offers exciting upgrades, improved performance, and competitive pricing. Here’s a breakdown of the most interesting details about the DJI O4 Pro and O4(Lite) aerial units.

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Where to buy

DJI O4 Air Unit Pro:

DJI O4 Air Unit Light:

What is the DJI O4 Air Unit?

The DJI O4 Air Unit is a camera and video transmitter module that can transmit HD video while recording high-quality footage comparable to high-end action cameras. Reduces the weight and cost of your drone and simplifies setup without using an action camera. The 04 Pro focuses on advanced features, while the 04 Lite offers a lighter, more budget-friendly alternative. Both devices are expected to support Betaflight OSD, improved image quality, and DJI’s RockSteady 3.0 stabilization technology.

DJI O4 Pro

The O4 Pro’s camera is a significant upgrade over the DJI O3, featuring a 1/1.3-inch sensor for improved low-light performance. The O4 Pro shares similar image quality to the Avata 2 drone, but its larger sensor provides significantly better low-light capabilities than the Avata 2, which only has a 1/1.7-inch sensor.

Here’s a sample video of Avata 2:

In terms of FPV live feed, the 04 Pro can transmit 1080p video at 60Mbps to DJI Goggles N3 and G3 (1080p 50Mbps on Goggles 2 and Integra), similar to Avata 2.

specification

• FPV Live Feed:
  • 1080p 30/48/50/60/100fps
  • 60 Mbps on Goggles 3 and N3, 50 Mbps on Goggles 2 and Integra
• lowest latency:
  • DJI Goggles 3 in Racing Mode: 15ms
  • DJI Goggles N3 in Racing Mode: 19ms
  • DJI Goggles 2 or Goggles Integra: 30ms
• Onboard recording: Supports up to 4K 60FPS, D-Log M at 130Mbps
• save: Built-in 4GB + MicroSD card slot (up to 512GB)
• OSD support: Betaflight and iNav
• antenna: dual antenna
• Built-in stabilization: Rocksteady 3.0
• camera:
  • image sensor: 1/1.3 inch CMOS
  • Viewing angle: 155°
  • Aperture: f/2.8
  • Camera FOV modes: standard, wide angle, ultra wide angle
• video resolution:
  • 4K(4:3): 3840×2880@30/48/50/60fps
  • 4K(16:9): 3840×2160@30/48/50/60/100/120fps
  • 2.7K(4:3): 2888×2016@30/48/50/60fps
  • 2.7K(16:9): 2688×1512@30/48/50/60/100/120fps
  • 1080P(4:3): 1440×1080@30/48/50/60/100/120fps
  • 1080P(16:9): 1920×1080@30/48/50/60/100/120fps
• operating frequency:
  • 5.170~5.250GHz
  • 5.725~5.850GHz
• Maximum RF output:
• Input Voltage: 7.4-26.4V
• Mounting options: 20×20mm and 25.5×25.5mm
• size:
  • Transmission module: 33.5 × 33.5 × 13 mm (L × W × H)
  • Camera module: 25.55 × 20 × 23.30 mm (L × W × H)
  • Coaxial cable: 140mm
  • 3-in-1 cable: 100mm
  • Antenna: 110mm
• weight:
  • Air unit (excluding camera module): 15.6g
  • Air unit (including camera module): 32.0 g
  • Antenna: 2.1g each

O4 vs O3

Below is a comparison table between the two products. DJI O4 Pro and DJI O3 Air Unit:

* DJI’s FPV system is known to have hard range limitations, which are more related to software limitations than hardware. The exact hard limits of the DJI 04 Air unit are currently unknown. Avata 2, which also uses O4, has a maximum range of 13 km, but is expected to exceed this. For reference, the DJI Avatar (V1) using the O3 system is advertised as 10km, but the actual hard cap is 23km. Testing the true range of the O4 system using the Avata 2 is not possible because the battery will not last long enough at that distance. We’ll have to wait for further testing to confirm after launch.

DJI O4 Lite

The O4 Lite is aimed at the micro FPV market, weighing less than 10g and featuring a single board design, which could be a game-changer for micro quad builds like cinehoops, toothpicks or even small hoops. The 04 Lite is expected to be on par with the DJI Neo in terms of image quality, making it an attractive option for lightweight setups.

specification

• Input Voltage: 3.7~13.2V(1S~3S)
• FPV Live Feed:
  • 1080p 30/50/60/100fps
  • 60 Mbps on Goggles 3 and N3, 50 Mbps on Goggles 2 and Integra
• Lowest latency:
  • DJI Goggles 3 (Racing Mode): 20ms
  • DJI Goggles N3 (Racing Mode): 24ms
  • DJI Goggles 2/Goggles Integration: 35ms
• Onboard recording: 4K 30FPS
• save: Built-in 23GB memory (no SD card slot)
• OSD support: Betaflight and iNav
• camera:
  • Image sensor: 1/2 inch CMOS sensor
  • Viewing angle: 117.6°
  • Aperture: f/2.8
  • Camera FOV mode: standard, wide angle
• Video Resolution:
  • 4K(4:3): 3840×2880@30/50/60fps
  • 4K(16:9): 3840×2160@30/50/60fps
  • 1080p(4:3): 1440×1080@30/50/60/100/120fps
  • 1080p(16:9): 1920×1080@30/50/60/100/120fps
• Built-in stabilization: Rocksteady 3.0
• Maximum RF output:
• operating frequency:
  • 5.170~5.250GHz
  • 5.725~5.850GHz
• Mounting options: 20×20mm
• size:
  • Air unit size: 30×30×6mm (L×W×H)
  • Camera module: 13.44×12.36×16.50mm (L×W×H)
  • Coaxial cable: 50mm
  • 3-in-1 cable: 50mm
  • Antenna: 80mm
• weight:
  • Air unit (excluding camera module): 5.1g
  • Air unit (including camera module and lens mount): 9.2 g
  • Antenna: 0.75g

Racing mode for ultra-low latency

new racing mode When used with Goggles 3 (G3) and N3, latency can be reduced to 15ms on O4 Pro and 20ms on O4 Lite. This can be a game-changer for FPV racers by providing faster response times that improve control and reduce the chance of desynchronization during high-speed maneuvers. However, Racing Mode is only compatible with Goggles 3 and N3. If you use Goggles 2 or Integra, you may experience slightly higher latency.

Pinout and wiring

Pinout and flight controller wiring are the same as DJI O3 (VCC, GND, RX, TX, GND, SBUS). In addition to cables, O4 also offers solder pads for direct soldering, which are great for custom fabrication.

ND filter

ND filters are essential to obtain cinematic images. Learn how to use ND filters in this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/

The original Avata 2 ND filter fits the DJI O4 Pro camera. DJI’s official ND filters are of excellent quality, but quite expensive. These filters can pop out and get lost during a crash, so choosing a cheaper ND filter can be a good option for those on a tight budget.

Get it here:

SD card recommendations

SD cards are not included, so our recommendation is: https://oscarliang.com/sd-cards-fpv/#GoPro-DJI-and-Other-HD-Cameras-4K-Videos. When shooting cinematic footage in hazardous locations, I always carry a few SD cards with me and replace them after each flight. This minimizes the risk of losing all footage if the drone is lost.

How to use O4

I’m working on a how-to guide as we speak. It will be published by the time you get your hands on O4. Stay tuned. If you have any specific questions about how to use O4, please let us know in the comments and we’ll try to answer them in the guide.

final thoughts

The features and specifications of the DJI O4 Pro and O4 Lite air units paint an exciting picture of the future of FPV flight. From premium image quality and low-latency racing modes to user-friendly mounting options and lighter builds, the O4 Series continues to be a versatile solution for a wide range of FPV enthusiasts.

edit history

• November 2024 – Leaked information is published.
• January 2025 – Official specifications and information update