AM32 vs Bluejay vs OX32 in 2026: BLHeli_32 Is Officially Dead — Here's What to Run on Your ESC
BLHeli_32 development ended in 2024. Three firmware options now compete for your ESC. Here's what each one actually is, what it costs you, and which to choose based on your build and values.
The ESC Firmware Landscape in 2026
For years, BLHeli_S (8-bit) and BLHeli_32 (32-bit) dominated FPV ESC firmware. Both came from the same developer. BLHeli_32 development stopped in 2024 — no new features, no new hardware support. What replaced it is a three-way split between community-developed alternatives.
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Pre-2024BLHeli_32 dominant32-bit ESC standard. Proprietary, maintained by original developer.
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2024BLHeli_32 development endsOriginal developer stops updates. No new ESC hardware certifications. Existing hardware continues to work but no future development.
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2024–2026AM32 emerges as primary successorOpen-source 32-bit firmware. Active GitHub development. Supports most hardware that BLHeli_32 supported.
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OngoingBluejay active on 8-bitOpen-source fork of BLHeli_S for 8-bit ESCs. Still widely deployed on budget stacks.
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2025–2026OX32 enters marketProprietary 32-bit firmware from OXBot. Shipped on SpeedyBee F405 V5 and other new stacks.
The Three Options Explained
✅ AM32 — The Open-Source 32-bit Standard
AM32 is the most actively developed 32-bit ESC firmware as of 2026. Open source on GitHub, community-maintained, with broad hardware support. It supports bidirectional DShot (required for RPM filtering), telemetry, and configurable PWM frequencies. Configuration is handled through AM32 Configurator.
AM32 is the correct choice for any new 32-bit build where you have hardware choice. It has the most transparent development, the broadest community support, and the clearest long-term trajectory of the three options.
✅ Bluejay — Still the Best for 8-bit ESCs
Bluejay is a community fork of BLHeli_S for 8-bit EFM8BB-based ESCs. It adds bidirectional DShot and configurable PWM frequencies that the original BLHeli_S lacked. If you have older budget stacks with 8-bit ESCs (F405 V4, most pre-2025 budget stacks), Bluejay is the right firmware to run. It's actively maintained and significantly better than stock BLHeli_S.
⚠️ OX32 — Capable but Closed
OX32 is a proprietary 32-bit firmware from OXBot, shipped as default on SpeedyBee F405 V5 and some other new stacks. In-air performance is comparable to AM32 for freestyle flying. The issue: it's closed source, meaning no community visibility into how it works, no community-driven bug fixes, and no guarantee of long-term support. Configuration is through ESC Configurator with an OX32 compatibility layer.
🚨 The key concern with OX32: When BLHeli_32 stopped development, pilots with BLHeli_32 ESCs were left with working but frozen firmware. OX32 is a different company, but the same pattern applies: proprietary firmware can stop development at any time. AM32's open-source nature means the community can fork and continue it regardless of what any single organization decides.
Performance Comparison: Honest Assessment
| Feature | AM32 | Bluejay | OX32 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESC type | 32-bit | 8-bit | 32-bit |
| Source code | Open (GitHub) | Open (GitHub) | Closed |
| Bidirectional DShot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RPM telemetry | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In-air performance (freestyle) | Excellent | Good (8-bit ceiling) | Excellent |
| Community support | Large, active | Active | Limited |
| Long-term viability | High — community-driven | High — community-driven | Depends on OXBot |
| New hardware support | Active | 8-bit only | OXBot-controlled |
What to Choose
Building new with hardware choice: Get a stack that ships with AM32 or supports AM32 flashing. This is your most future-proof option.
Have a stack with OX32 (e.g. SpeedyBee F405 V5): Run it. The in-air performance is fine for freestyle. Monitor whether AM32 flashing support for your specific ESC hardware gets added by the community over time.
Have 8-bit ESCs on an older stack: Flash Bluejay if you haven't already. The bidirectional DShot support alone is worth the 10-minute flash process.
✅ Practical note: For standard 5-inch freestyle, you will not feel the difference between AM32, Bluejay, and OX32 in normal flying. The difference is in transparency, community support, and long-term viability — not in what your quad feels like in the air today.
Build clean with a LUCEED Build Mat. Whatever stack you choose — the Ferrum 50 takes a standard 30.5×30.5mm FC/ESC. Spare Arms and Motor Wire Guards always in stock.
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