The AstroRC Carbonfly 80: Pocket-Sized HD, Pint-Sized Battery

Let's be honest, the phrase 'pocket-sized HD drone' usually ranks somewhere between 'military intelligence' and 'a quiet toddler' on the list of things that don't exist. AstroRC decided to challenge that notion with the Carbonfly 80, a tiny 2S quad with an optional DJI O4 unit pre-installed. We had Painless360 take one for a spin to see if it was actually any good, or just another paperweight with propellers.

The good news? The tune is surprisingly solid, the vibration-isolated camera mount actually kills jello, and getting ExpressLRS and O4 in a pre-built package is undeniably convenient. The bad news? Flight times are tragically short—think two to three minutes if you're having any real fun. Also, the F411 flight controller feels a bit like putting a carburettor in a 2024 car; it works now, but you can feel its retirement party approaching.

Beyond the specs, there are… quirks. The O4 unit's USB port is buried so deep you'll need a team of spelunkers to update it, and the manual seems to have been translated by a malfunctioning food processor. If you're after a grab-and-go quad for quick rips and don't mind a few rough edges, it’s a tidy little machine. If you measure your self-worth in flight time, you might want to look elsewhere.

Don't just take our word for it. Watch Painless360's full, unabridged breakdown below. For those who enjoy reading every last detail, our full blog post has all the nerdy specs you could possibly want. You've been warned.