When the Mavic Air ran out of stock on DJI’s website at the end of 2019, it was an obvious indication that a new model was on the way. Since its release, the DJI Mavic Air 2 had been unrivaled at the top of the best drones list, until its replacement came. While there may be better options available, we’re talking about consumer drones here.
The Air 2 would raise the bar for video, and DJI has delivered. For less than £800 / $800, you can now get a drone capable of shooting 4K footage at 60fps with a greater bitrate than any Mavic yet. It also shoots HDR video at up to 4K/30 and offers a smartphone-like camera experience with scene identification, a “night mode,” and HDR images.
Add in an easier-to-use DJI Fly app, a lot longer flight duration, a great new controller, and some really clever automated flying modes, and there’s no contest: the Mavic Air 2 is the new consumer drone king. The UK, like the rest of the globe, was under lockdown, so flying possibilities were restricted.
What will you see here?
Price & Availability
Pricing, for now, has been $1,049.00* £769The Fly More kit is likewise the same price, at £949/$999. It comes with two extra batteries, a shoulder bag, a charging hub, and ND filters.
Features & Design: DJI Mavic Air 2
The Air 2 has been completely redesigned; this is not the previous model with minor internal upgrades. Everything is new, however, the appearance – especially the very dull grey plastic finish – plainly takes inspiration from the Mavic 2. DJI bills it as the “smartest” civilian drone rather than the “top of the line,” implying that a Mavic Pro 3 is on the way.
DJI updated the motors, ESCs, batteries, and aerodynamics of the drone to boost the flying duration from 21 to 34 minutes. Weight has increased from 430g to 570g, owing mostly to the larger-capacity battery, which, at 3500mAh, is about one-third larger than the Mavic Air’s 2375mAh units.
Rear and down-facing obstacle sensors collaborate with the front-facing pair to keep the drone out of trouble, and APAS 3.0 seeks to figure out a flying route around, over, or under things, as you focus on the film.
Because there are no left/right or upward-facing sensors for all-around sensing, the Mavic Air 2 isn’t exactly the best in this category. However, it does an excellent job at avoiding trees and foliage in general.
The battery now hooks in from the top and features a diamond-shaped LED configuration that isn’t as straightforward as the old straight-line technique for reading the remaining battery life. But you get used to it soon.
Performance of DJI Mavic Air 2
The Air 2 is simple to fly whether this is your first drone or not. The program provides appropriate default settings like maximum height, RTH altitude, and obstacle detection and avoidance.
That is, if you try to shoot a Helix QuickShot and a tree gets in the path, it will immediately pause rather than crash. Despite the lack of left and right sensors, the Mavic Air 2 stops rather well when it detects trees and other big obstacles. Only when flying sideways is it possible to crash with something. As a result, avoid beginning QuickShots while there are trees nearby.
Here’s a DNG file that has been treated to keep information in the shadows although being squarely in the sun. That’s really impressive work.
Expect equal levels of detail and clarity to phones with the same 1/2in the sensor in terms of quality. The Mavic 2 Pro may only shoot 4K at 30fps, but the 1in sensor and ability to record 10-bit color in D-Log make a big difference.
While the Air 2 may be adjusted to record in a D-Cinelike color profile, it only records in 8-bit color, and most users will stick to the automated settings regardless. It’s a good tool to have if you truly would like to color grade your own film.
What is the maximum flight distance of the DJI Mavic Air 2?
The DJI Mavic Air 2 has a maximum range of 10 kilometers and operates on Ocysync 2.0. (6.2 Miles). This is the maximum distance the drone can go from the controller if there are no impediments or signal interference. Local regulations, signal interferences, and barriers, on the other hand, significantly restrict the real range.
Is the DJI Mavic Air 2 waterproof?
The Mavic Air 2 is not waterproof, and therefore not fly in severe rain. However, because the rain was extremely mild in my situation, comfortable flying it about a little bit. Because it was quite windy, some of the films is a little wobbly, and flying in a precisely straight path was occasionally challenging.
Some other FAQ
- Registration required? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires every DJI Mavic Air operator to register before flying.
- Distances range – The Mavic Air 2 flight distance range is 11.49 miles (18.5 km).
- Ruggedness – It has perfect ruggedness that effectively can handle a few crashes and comes with built-in safety software
- How much weight can a Mavic Air 2 carry? 500g of weight
- Does DJI Mavic Air 2 have a zoom feature?
Yes, it has. 4K Zoom mode supports 2x digital zoom up to 4K/30p.
Conclusion
The Mavic Air 2 appears to be the market drone to purchase. It’s small, has a reasonable flying duration, a fantastic controller, and records in 4K60. It’s also incredibly simple to fly and can monitor people, automobiles, and other objects while flying intricate flight courses, making it excellent for novices.
