The Best DLG Servo Running At 3.7V (1S LiPo)

What makes a micro servo to become the best DLG servo?

Weight, max. dimensions, torque, speed, reliability, price…?

I bet everyone has their take on it and there is a bunch of choices in the various price range.

But is there the single best servo for a DLG?

A rule of thumb for full-size F3K models is definitely KST X08 V5 and Dymond D47 for 1-meter DLGs.

But are there any alternatives?

Especially, when D47 is going out of stock everywhere…

Let’s find out…

This article is work-in-progress and we constantly update it. If that’s the second time you seeing it in the last few months, the chances are we have added some new chapters here. Check them out!

TLDR: The Best Micro Servo Tests Summary Links

Looking For The Best Micro Servo

As mentioned above, the best micro servo choices for 1.5-meter F3K gliders are KST X08 as well as MKS DS65K / DS75K. Their price tag starts drifting closer to $50, give or take.

Well, this price can be considered for competition planes, when you need that reliability and precision to equip a pricey model and crash the scores.

But what if you are looking for a weekend flyer?

Do you really need to through that much money into servos?

What you’d consider the best micro servo in different circumstances?

Or if you are flying a 1-meter DLG where the price of the servos mentioned above may exceed the value of the entire model?

There are some great alternatives on the market, but usually, you have to crawl RC Groups threads to figure out what to use for your particular DLG setup.

That’s why in this article, I’ve decided to put all these together, doing the dirty work for you.

Learn the data, watch the test videos and you’ll be informed to identify the best micro servo that will fit your needs.

Digital vs Analog Servo

We would not explain the difference between the two, you can find a tone of information on this topic around the web.

Just a quick recap.

Digital servos are more accurate, usually, more expensive, and drain more mAh from your battery.

Analog servos are less precise compared to digitals but also make the work done in a great way. They are usually cheaper and more energy-efficient.

Considering that we are talking DLGs – RC gliders, that have to be light and feature the best aerodynamic characteristics, most pilots care a lot about the size of the batteries inside.

So, why do most DLG pilots use Digital servos while building their gliders, say KST X08?

Precision And Energy Efficiency

Because they are very light, strong, and precise and a 300mAh or 450mah 1S LiPo battery will drive 4 of these throughout a whole round in a competition.

Such batteries are already very light and there is no need to give up the performance of a digital servo for the better energy efficiency of an analog one.

For a new round, they swap it for a fresh, fully charged one and continue.

So for the competition flying, yeah, go digital.

On the opposite, analog servos are simply cheaper.

If you are building a 1-meter balsa DLG from a $90 KIT, that’s insane to invest $120+ into a reliable metal gear digital servo…

Would you agree?

So you can go with some budget analog servos that will bring you an enormous amount of hours in the air with your favorite glider.

But here things are becoming more complicated…

The Price

Above I mentioned that analog servos are usually cheaper than digital servos…

Now, let’s look at a pair of Emax ES9051 [Digilal] and Hitec HS-40 [Analog].

The average price of an Emax is $5 while the average price of a Hitec is $12.

Ha?

Why is this happening?

These two are being built by different vendors which creates room for such anomalies.

If we’d look at a servo lineup of a single vendor, the analog servos are usually the cheapest option you can get.

Glider Build Quality

The build quality of the entire model, not the servo itself, can influence the model’s performance massively.

A purely built control horn or servo linkage along with the sloppy pushrods can ruin all the benefits of the most accurate and durable servos.

This is the main reason why RC models and RC Gliders, in particular, can provide an unbeatable performance with the basic budget servos. If they were built nicely, using the right tools, and are in the hands of an experienced pilot.

So, getting back to the DLG servo choices.

Both digital and analog servos will perform great if the build quality of the model matches the high quality of the radio gear used in it.

Micro Servo Test At 3.7V

For your convenience, we’ve put together some tests to help you find the best micro servo for a DLG.

A lot of pilots nowadays go with the 1S LiPo for their DLG setup and have questions if a particular servo will work on 3.7V.

While manufacturers often don’t specify if the servo is working on a single LiPo cell, we’ll test it out even if it’s not confirmed.

In addition, you’ll find the total height with the servo horn, as sometimes this data is missing in the product descriptions.

For example, the total servo height is critical when choosing equipment for a glider like the Hawk.

We found that spring loading the servo arm to imitate the torsion+cable tail setup does not affect the accuracy of the servo, just the amp draw and “screaming” sound.

Both of these vary a lot from servo to servo, so we just decided to skip it.

Now, let’s check the actual data!

Dymond D47 [Analog]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 4.7g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Plastic
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 23mm
Average Price: $22
8.4V Capable: No
Detailed Dymond D47 data

D47 is probably the only servo out there that is was widely used with both 1- and 1.5-meter (for tail controls) DLGs and has brilliant reviews all over the place.

We decided to start with it to set up the baseline of the great in all senses DLG servo.

It has a lot of substitutes which may be named as follows:

• HEPF D47
• Ripmax SD100
• Robbe FS31 Pico
• Modell-Expert X-31
• Exact 4.7
• Topmodel 1118
• X-Micro
• Midget 4.7

Pilots like its precision, high quality of materials, durability, and relatively low price point considering its reliability, so a lot of 1-meter models use a set of four D47 servos to control all the surfaces.

For the full-size F3K models, these servos are often used to control the tails.

These feature low height with the servo horn installed, making them a great addition to the Elf and Hawk as they easily fit in the fuse.

These servos have great centering and work smoothly powered with a 1S LiPo bat.

P.S. One of the latest additions to the KST servo lineup can be another Dymond D47 alternative, as it has the same outer dimensions, but better specs. Check the KST A08 test below.

AGF RC A06CLS V2 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 7g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Metal (Titanium)
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 28mm
Average Price: $62 USD
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It From Amazon

Now, I’d like to introduce a newcomer, sort of…

AGF RC is a known brand in the RC Car market, but not that well known within the flying community.

And tbh, I feel that the last is missing out…

The reason is the A06CLS servo.

It is a small, powerful, high-precision servo with outstanding specs.

It is also programmable with the provided software (for Windows OS only) and enclosed into an aluminum casing.

The manufacturer, also mentions titanium gear packed inside the casing, and given the torque this little beast generates I will easily believe in it.

The servo will work great at 3.7v, fast and very precise, with perfect centering.

In addition, you can configure the servo neutral position, rotation direction, angles, overload protection, and other settings with an AGF-SPV3 USB programming card.

So, this is a great little servo, that is worth each penny paid for it.

KST X08 V5.0 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 8g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 27mm
Average Price: $45
8.4V Capable: Yes

Given the popularity they have in the DLG community worldwide, KST servos deserve the top spot here as well.

It supports a high voltage of 2S LiPo directly, so seems to be slightly slow on 1S LiPo, however, it centers precisely no matter what.

Thanks to its performance on single-cell LiPo this one is usually used for the full-size (1.5-meter wingspan) DLG models actuating all 4 control surfaces.

Great choice if you are up to paying the price as it is worth every penny.

KST X08 V6 [Digital]

Luckily, servo development goes on, and as soon as KST released an updated V6 version of their servo, we can’t stand but give it a shot.

The results, of course, are in the video below.

Check it out!

KST A08 V6 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 7g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 23mm
Average Price: $45 USD
8.4V Capable: Yes

A08 is one of the latest additions to the KST servo lineup.

And, what a good addition I have to say!

Looking at the dimensions of this little servo, you can notice, that they are just the same as the famous Dymond D47.

On the opposite, it features metal gear and casing, it is digital vs analog for Dymond, provides higher torque, and is heavier than D47.

Well, it’s twice the price, but if you are ready to pay for it, you won’t be disappointed.

In addition, KST A08 is programmable with a dedicated KST tool. This can make your model setup easier when everything is assembled and may be hard to reach.

It looks like KST A08 provides a performance of KST X08, packed in the size of Dymond D47.

So, if you are looking for a Dymond D47 alternative, check out KST A08.

For more information, please, watch the following video to see how it performs.

Spoiler alert – it’s great!

CHAServo LV06 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 5.8g
Thickness: 6mm
Gear Type: Hardened Steel
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 22mm
Average Price: $53
8.4V Capable: No
Detailed CHAServo LV06 Data

CHAServo is a relatively new manufacturer in the hobby market. However, it looks like right from the start, they managed to provide a great quality product for competition flying.

LV06 is a sub-micro size servo, which weighs just under 6 grams. At the same time, it’s capable of providing a torque that some bigger-size servos can’t reach…

All this performance is enclosed in a shiny aluminum casing that also ensures a secure mounting of the servo into your RC glider.

LV stands for Low Voltage, meaning that this servo is designed to run on the single-cell lipo at its best. Worth mentioning that the High Voltage (HV06) servo of the same size is also provided by CHAServo.

The general feeling is that the servo is undoubtedly thinner than a previous “size champion” – KST X06, and will be a great option for any DLG glider.

And last, but not least, it is provided with standard mounting tabs, and wing-mounting tabs, as well as without those, and can be programmed, similar to KST ones.

CHAServo DS06 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 6g
Thickness: 7.4mm
Gear Type: Hardened Steel
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 23mm
Average Price: $33
8.4V Capable: Yes
Detailed CHAServo DS06 Data

Above we just described a high-end of the Chaservo lineup. Now, let’s check what it has to offer for the larger audience.

CHAServo DS06 is probably a great example.

This servo, unlike the previous one, is working in a wide voltage range which makes it applicable to more types of gliders and radio gear combinations.

The servo offers a lower price point as well as the plastic casing, which is a little thicker, compared to LV06.

Different textures on the outside don’t mean that the internals are too different – it’s still a metal gear, coreless motor, and bearings. As a result, the performance of this servo is outstanding.

The servo has good centering and speed which improves with higher voltage though.

However, the size of it is still very tiny which will make it a perfect fit for any DLG or other small glider on the market.

DS06 comes with standard mounting tabs only, unlike LV06 and HV06 which have different mounting versions.

However, there are wing mounting adapters in the package, and since the case is plastic, you can easily cut the tabs if you don’t need those.

Hitec HS-40 [Analog]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 4.8g
Thickness: 8.6mm
Gear Type: Plastic
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 24mm
Average Price: $12
8.4V Capable: No

Get It From Amazon

HS-40 is another small analog servo that has similar specs to the previously mentioned D47.

The exterior is a little different, but the overall height of the servo horn is only 1mm higher than that of the D47.

I stumbled upon Hitec HS-40 while assembling VM’s Elf.

D47 are the recommended ones for this model, but they were out of stock in my local shops and I needed a substitute.

Hitec ended up being a great replacement and fit under a tiny Elf’s nose with ease.

Later I used 4 of these in Hawk DLG as well, and they perform brilliantly. You can notice that one of the ailerons is a little slow while switching between the flight modes, but considering the price of these servos, you can get away with it.

In addition, it centers great and is a fraction faster on 1S LiPo than D47.

FrSky Xact D5701 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 6.5g
Thickness: 6mm *(7mm measured at the motor)
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 24mm
Average Price: $42
8.4V Capable: No* (Xact H5701 is)

Get It From Amazon

FrSky Xact D5701 is different. 

At first glance, it’s a high-precision digital micro servo featuring metal gear and casing. 

But that’s not all! 

Unlike all other servos in this research, it is programmable. 

It is very small, weighs only 6.5g, and is very close by dimensions to KST X06 being slightly larger though.

Inside, it has a hall sensor instead of the potentiometer which you can find in the most high-end servos. 

This might be one of the reasons for its extreme accuracy revealed during our test. 

In addition, you can program various parameters of your FrSky Xact D5701 with a Lua script on a FrSky Radio, and run it through S.BUS or F.BUS. 

How cool is that?

FrSky Xact LD5801 [Digital&Programmable]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 5.5g
Thickness: 7mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 24mm
Average Price: $46
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It From Amazon

FrSky Xact 5800 series of DLG servos is the latest and greatest at the time we are writing this.

And it is not only said on the FrSky marketing materials.

From the whole range of servos in this article, only FrSky units come with a hall sensor instead of a proprietary resistor for identifying the control arm position.

As a result, the centering and accuracy of this servo is exceptional.

It is the fastest of all here at 3.7V and has no competition at 8.2V – the highest we tested it.

In addition, it is programmable in a few ways that opens a whole more possibilities for using it.

So, if you can afford it for your DLG – it is worth every cent paid.

Turnigy TGY D56MG [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 3/5
Weight: 5.6g
Thickness: 8.2mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 29mm
Average Price: $6
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It From Amazon

Get It From HobbyKing

Turnigy TGY D56MG is a great little digital servo with great centering and semi-metal gear.

It’s a little taller than the other 2 above and that’s why it may not fit the fuse of 1-meter DLG models.

However, some people managed to use them with the partially removed outer case on the 1-meter models as well.

I.e. you can take off the bottom part and shrink-wrap the servo before installing it.

They seem to be slightly slow on 1S LiPo as it’s a standard voltage version but still get the job done.

Emax ES9051 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 4.1g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Plastic
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 28mm
Average Price: $5
8.4V Capable: No

Get It From Amazon

Emax ES 9051 ended up being a great tiny servo, which is a little too tall for some 1-meter DLGs but still can be a great “driver”.

It has plastic gear, the same as HS-40 and D47 while being well cheaper.

The speed on a single LiPo cell is excellent, so is the centering.

As an example, take a look at how Emax ES9051 servos perform on a Malibu DLG, especially the precise movement from speed mode to cruise mode.

They are tiny enough to fit in the nose of a Hawk 1-meter DLG, however, only w/o the lower part of the plastic housing.

Turnigy MX-95E [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 4.1g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Plastic
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 28mm
Average Price: $5
8.4V Capable: No

Get It From HobbyKing

As you may have noticed, a Turnigy MX-95E looks extremely familiar…

You are absolutely right – it’s just the same Emax ES9051 servo with a different sticker on the side.

The dimensions of the servos are completely identical, as well as the torque/speed data and the servo arms and bolts supplied.

Turnigy is a brand that is exclusively available from HobbyKing, and MX-95E is most probably made by Emax.

So, the servo is just as nice, quick, and accurate running in 3.7 Volts. as its twin which you can check in the video below.

Highly recommended, if you will manage to pack it inside your DLG.

PowerHD DSM44 [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 5.8g
Thickness: 8.7mm
Gear Type: Aluminum
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 28mm
Average Price: $10
8.4V Capable: No

Get It From HobbyKing

Power HD is a brand with an established name in the RC industry with a huge fan base.

So it’s not a surprise, that they have some options to offer for DLG pilots as well.

PowerHD DSM44 is the smallest servo in the company’s digital servo range which weighs only about 6g.

Additionally, it features an aluminum gear and works in a standard voltage range making it compatible with 1S LiPo batteries directly.

Unfortunately, these can’t be used with 2S Lipo directly.

We tested it with our 1S LiPo setup and it turned out to be a great value for money – it is faster than KST X08 V5 while pulling around the same torque with great centering and having very similar dimensions.

While the average price is only a quarter of the KST, it will make it for a great budget servo even for 1.5-meter models.

KST X06 V5 [Digital]

Centering: 4/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 6.4g
Thickness: 7mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 21mm
Average Price: $45
8.4V Capable: Yes

KST X06 is a recently (2021) released micro servo by a well-known brand in the DLG space. And considering the success of the KST X08 servo, we were excited to test this little rookie.

It ended up being a great little servo for a DLG or any other small model where you need power and reliability packed into a compact size.

Thanks to its features it became a #1 servo recommendation for a DLG as the pod size is relatively small there. Ofc, it will make a great fit for Hawk DLG as well.

The speed of KST X06 was remarkable, considering that it was running on a single-cell LiPo during the test. Worth mentioning that it is capable of high voltage as well (8.4V).

In addition, it features an aluminum case and a coreless motor for the best reliability scores.

Considering that we used an enlarged ~12cm arm, it revealed an occasional double-centering of the testing unit. However, the other servos we tested the other day were centering great.

Overall, we highly recommend KST X06 servos for DLGs of any size.

Also, if you’d like to get a Hawk DLG or Falcon F5K built up with these servos, just drop us a line!

KST X06 V6 [Digital]

X06 became a very popular choice for F3K, 1-meter DLGs, eDLG, and F5K gliders, so KST improved it recently and released V6.

The servo became noticeably better, “lost” its double centering, and… well, just check the video to see all the improvements.

Hextronik HXT900 [Analog]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 9.8g
Thickness: 12mm
Gear Type: Plastic
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 32mm
Average Price: $4
8.4V Capable: No

Get It From HobbyKing

When I decided to include the test of the HXT900 servo in this research, I realized how many times I used it for building my models taking its accuracy and reliability as an axiom.

HXT900 has proved itself to be a golden standard of a budget micro servo and continues to be so in recent years.

The manufacturer and I strongly encourage you to get them from HobbyKing only, which doesn’t specify that this servo runs on 3.7V.

But, it does.

Considering that the size of the modern DLG parts has shrunk significantly, it will not make a fit with some of them.

However, if you are building some balsa DLG using the old plans or just handed an oldie by your clubmate… In any case, if you have room to fit this servo, it won’t be a waste of money.

The worth thing that can happen with it is stripped gear which you can source online and often from your local hobby stores.

Regardless of the above, just check how fast it moves and how accurate the centering is in the video below.

JX DPI DHV56MG [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 3/5
Weight: 5.6g
Thickness: 8.2mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 29mm
Average Price: $8
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It From Amazon

Does JX DHV56MG look familiar to you?

Well, if you paid enough attention, you might have noticed that it looks very similar to Turnigy D56MG.

And it is true, indeed.

From the outside, the difference is only in the stickers…

Both have plastic housing, metal gear, and ~20cm lead. Both feature digital chips inside.

So everything we said about Turnigy D56MG applies to this servo as well.

Since it is High-Voltage capable, its speed at 3.7V isn’t that great. On the other side, the centering is great!

So, considering the size and the reasonable price of this little beast, it can be a great option for your future RC Glider.

Simply watch the video below.

JX DPI HV0903MG [Digital]

Centering: 4/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 9.4g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 30mm
Average Price: $11
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It from Amazon

JX DPI HV0903MG is one of the numerous clones of the industry standard for modern DLGs – KST X08.

Both of these are digital, feature metal gears, are High-Voltage capable, and have an identical footprint.

However, JX DPI HV0903MG is taller.

The servo horn is identical to the one on KST X08 and can be swapped both ways.

But, the performance of JX at 1S LiPo is not great. It suffers from slight double centering and can’t provide a good speed.

Check it yourself in the video below:

GDW DS1906-B [Digital]

Centering: 4/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 9g
Thickness: 8mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 28mm
Average Price: $25
8.4V Capable: Yes
Detailed GDW DS1906-B data

GSW DS1906 is probably one of the closest clones of KST X08.

The size and design of the outer casing are very close to the performance and the other minor details.

This servo features a metal housing and gears, as well as a digital chip inside – the same as the KST.

Our testing revealed that the performance is also very close – KST X08 V5 centers a little better than GDW, but the speed is spot on.

And considering the price that is just half of KST, this can be a great alternative for a budget build.

Blue Bird BMS-101HV [Digital]

Centering: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Weight: 4.4g
Thickness: 7.6mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 21mm
Average Price: $19
8.4V Capable: Yes
Detailed BMS-101HV Data

Blue Bird is an old dog on the RC servo market as well as the servo we have on the review.

However, in 2021, there were a lot of controversial reviews and messages on various sources that BMS 101 servos are double-centering.

There was a problem: many 1-meter Hawk DLGs we used to build at the factory use these exact servos.

So, it was important for us as well, to give it proper testing.

The unit we have is BMS-101HV which is supposed to work at both 1S and 2S LiPo voltage directly.

Overall, it proves the fact that for the price, BMS-101HV is a great choice.

The only alternative in this size is the KST X06 with a doubled price tag.

So, in case you have the option to replace a faulty servo, if you happen to get one, we would highly recommend these servos.

Especially for 1S setups…

PTK 7308 MG-D [Digital]

Centering: 4/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 8.0g
Thickness: 8.0mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 29mm
Average Price: $22
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It from Amazon

PTK 7308 MG is one of the decent KST X08 clones that can be a drop-in replacement if needed.

It features the same aluminum casing with a sharp green color and a disposed motor on the bottom.

The performance is very similar to the KST X08 V5 with a little double centering.

It looks to be worse at the lower voltage and almost disappears at 8.2V.

However, there is no drift when switching from 3.7V to 8.4V which is great!

PTK 7306 MG-D [Digital]

Centering: 4/5
Speed: 4/5
Weight: 7.8g
Thickness: 7.0mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 25mm
Average Price: $28
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It from Amazon

PTK 7306 on the other side, is a smaller option that looks like KST X06 and Chaservo LV06 had a baby.

The mounting holes measure the same as on Chaservo, however the aluminum servo casing is 7mm thick – the same as KST.

Taking a step back, and looking at it as a stand-alone servo, it feels decent at hand, has no slop in the gears, and comes with a full accessory pack.

Just a gut feeling – it is more accurate and smooth compared to 7308, so for our builds, this would be the preference.

Works great at both 3.7V and 8.2V as advertised w/o any drift while switching the voltage.

So, another decent servo into your collection.

PTK 7350 MG-D [Digital]

Centering: Failed
Speed: Failed
Weight: 5.1g
Thickness: 8.4mm
Gear Type: Metal
Total Height w/ a Servo Arm: 30mm
Average Price: $15
8.4V Capable: Yes

Get It from Amazon

This one is the last from the PTK lineup that we chose to review and the first one to fail on us and refuse to move…

So we haven’t got a chance to check the centering and low voltage performance,

So, purchase at your own risk or get yourself an option to replace it as needed.

Upcoming Tests

So far it is the last test…

But there will be more 🙂

Here is a list of other servos which seem to work great on DLG models but we haven’t run any tests with them.

• Blue Arrow D03013
• Emax ES9052MD
• Emax ES9250MD
• Turnigy TGY D56LV
• Blue Bird BMS A10
• Kingmax C410
• Dualsky DS169
• MKS HV70
• MKS DS65K
• MKS DS75K

Did we miss anything?

If you have other suggestions, please, leave them in the comments below.