Dji Mavic Air Drone Fly More Combo Review
At first glance this sporty-looking drone captured our interest. We so learned all about the DJI Mavic Air and knew we were in for a treat. That was at launch, from that bespeak forward nosotros flew this folding quadcopter, nosotros took a month before releasing our official opinions of the drone. Several years later, we however recollect the Mavic Air is a superb drone for flying, but at that place are absolutely meliorate flying cameras to consider before you spend your coin.
DJI may have had a lot planned for 2018, merely information technology all started with the Mavic Air – if what nosotros are experiencing so far is any indication, it'due south going to be a proficient year. Let'southward dive in, this is our DJI Mavic Air review.
January 2021: With the launch of the DJI Mavic Air ii, which is a far superior camera, and the DJI Mini 2, which is a very like photographic camera for a much smaller price tag, nosotros no longer recommend the DJI Mavic Air for pilots that care well-nigh putting a camera into the sky. If you are looking for a decent flight motorcar without a business organization for the best photographic camera experience, please still look into the Mavic Air, it remains a reliable and fun quadcopter to wing.
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DJI Mavic Air quick highlights:
Pros:
- Meaty pattern
- Fast and fun
- 100 Mbps video capture – great camera
- Competitive cost
- Asteroid and other democratic flight modes
- HDR photo capture
- Three direction obstruction avoidance sensors
Cons:
- WiFi connectivity – No Ocusync
- Skillful, simply not great battery life
- Space focus photographic camera (if y'all like to control that)
Mavic Air overview
DJI Mavic Air Overview
DJI Mavic Air
January 2018
Release Date
DJI institute great success with the Mavic Pro, they followed that up with the far less expensive Spark. The Mavic Air bridges the gap between these 2, offering all the fun features from the smaller Spark as well as all the pro flight features of the Mavic Pro. Amend yet, the Mavic Air introduced a 100Mbps data charge per unit for video capture on a DJI drone under $1500. That sounds similar a mouthful, suffice to say that the Mavic Air instantly took the crown for the best video at the everyman price of whatsoever drone on the market.
As with many DJI drones, the Mavic Air comes in 2 primary purchasing options, you can purchase the drone alone or upgrade to the Wing More parcel to get extra batteries, a conduct example and more.
After the launch of the Mavic 2 series of drones, we had to recommend the newer Mavic line as the best camera on a compact drone, but the Mavic Air yet remains our top selection if ultimate portability is your concern. The Mavic Air manages to pack down to nigh fit comfortably in your pocket.
The DJI Mavic Air is a folding quadcopter that is smaller than the Mavic Pro and larger than the Spark. It is important that nosotros mention those two other drones, as the Mavic Air takes the best of both, improves on it, adds more and hits the heaven as one of the most capable modest drones from DJI.
Folded down, the Mavic Air fits snugly in the palm of my hand. I take larger hands, mind yous, just I doubtable even a kid could palm this machine. The rear propeller artillery fold down and out, the front arms fold straight out and take a piffling kickstand that swivels down.
The propellers of the Mavic Air do non fold. I thought this was going to be a problem, merely it turns out that DJI thought it through. At least when the drone is folded for transport, the propellers sit affluent to the body of the drone, keeping them safe. I did some walking around with the drone unfolded, you lot know, from one flight spot to the adjacent in a flying session, and found the props in my fashion a piffling, not a problem, just worth noting.
If yous find the props in your way, or information technology'south time to replace them, simply push downwardly and twist a little to remove. It's the aforementioned quick release structure as the Spark and Mavic Pro.
Related reading: DJI Mavic Air unboxing and setup
On the front end of the drone is a small horizontal tube of a camera. Information technology looks a little similar the camera from the Spark, which is not a stretch, as it uses the aforementioned 1/2.3-inch sensor. Nevertheless, the Mavic Air is equipped with a total 3-axis stabilized gimbal with rotation that rivals the Mavic Pro.
We take enough to say almost the camera, but we'll save it for subsequently.
Looking around the outside of the drone, you'll discover down and forward facing obstacle abstention sensors. Then, taking things beyond its predecessors, at that place is rear facing sensors also. Just like that, the Mavic Air takes safe well beyond what we've seen before in a DJI drone under $k.
Over all, I like the design of the Mavic Air. It takes styling cues from loftier-end sports cars, an aesthetic not anybody will intendance for. Structurally, the design lends to a solid flight feel, in that location are few moving parts, and everything springs into identify nicely.
Drone legal and safety
Drone Pilot Training | Drone starter guide
Mavic Air performance
Specifications and functioning
Looking like a sports car is not the end of the thought, the Mavic Air enjoys speeds matching those looks. The drone is rated for 42.v mph, but we've seen it get up over 44 mph ourselves, with help from some wind.
The top speed is not an indicator of how fast you tin become with fully stabilized video, however, that limit is about 22 mph. For my flights, I consistently run into 19 mph at maximum travel while shooting video.
Related reading:
- DJI Mavic Air announcement – specs and features
- DJI Mavic Air first impressions
In terms of size, the Mavic Air measure in at only over 6.5 inches long, just over 7 inches wide and 2.five inches alpine in flight. That'due south a 213 mm frame, for those that measure diagonally. That'due south fairly small, but when it comes time to travel, fold the Mavic Air down to a slender 3.3 inches broad, 1.ix inches tall and all the same half-dozen.v inches long. That'southward the smallest folding drone with 4K photographic camera nosotros've put hands on.
Bated from flight speed, capabilities in the air include the aforementioned sold hover as other DJI drones, and the same service ceiling as the Mavic Pro, that'south xvi,404 feet, or 5000 meters. Vertical ascent speed tops out at four m/s, and descent at 3 m/southward. That is in Sport way, your stabilize flight is 2 m/s upwardly and 1 g/s downwards.
This descent speed is something to be aware of. It's like having a 4×four truck on ice – sure, you've got lots of grip for dispatch, but it means null when yous hitting the brakes. I almost guarantee y'all will feel some panic moments when that battery alarm is blaring, you lot're bringing the drone down as fast every bit you tin can and wondering if you'll make it. Try to non ignore the built-in emergency RTH, it'south pretty accurate.
The same idea is truthful when you are flying on a windy day. The Mavic Air can handle up to 23 mph winds, but if you fly out with the current of air, please account for the extra battery needed to get dorsum. The auto RTH does not, information technology's all you.
Ignoring the extremes, you tin can expect up to 21 minutes of flying time per accuse. For our experience, nosotros're seeing about 17-eighteen minutes per flight, landing with at least x% battery remaining.
GPS, GLONASS and six cameras keep you stable and safety. That'southward forwards, downward and backward facing obstacle abstention sensors. The sensors work best at speeds under 17.9 mph, effectively avoiding obstacles up to 40 feet forward, 33 anxiety backward and 26 anxiety downward. These measures are for precision maneuvering, the sensors can detect obstacles beyond this, up to 78.7 anxiety forrard, 65.half-dozen anxiety out the rear and 98 anxiety downward.
The effectiveness of these obstruction avoidance sensors enables a new characteristic for compact DJI drones, something chosen APAS. We'll comprehend it in detail after, but let me tease that it is smart self-piloting, enabling a new level of follow-me capability.
Connectivity is a big topic with the Mavic Air. The Mavic Pro shipped with DJI'south in-house Ocusync technology. We are passionate fans of this tech, as it allows multiple devices to connect to a single drone, great video streaming and some serious range. The Mavic Air does not take Ocusync, it uses WiFi instead.
As a unproblematic example, you take to use a cable to connect the Mavic Air remote command to the DJI Goggles. Wireless connectivity to the Goggles remains exclusive to the Mavic Pro. This as well ways that you lot go roughly one-half the flight range as the Pro also.
Lack of Ocusync aside, the Mavic Air is rated for 4000 meters connectivity. That's but short of ii.v miles. I don't know most yous, but if I am flight legally within line-of-sight, that's plenty more than I need. If you cull to skip the remote control and fly directly connected to your mobile device, expect range of about 260 anxiety.
In the real earth, my experience with the Mavic Air has been solid. I've had an unstable connection a couple times when the drone reaches maximum altitude. Not problematic, just adjusted the antenna on the remote to smooth things out. Something to be aware of, at least.
I had 1 other hiccup I'd like to mention. I was hit with an update on the drone while I was in the field. I always look for updates before leaving the house, but it was a couple hours from that check until I hitting the sky. This update went smooth, but immediately afterward my phone could not connect to the drone.
I was using the wired connection to the remote, I restarted all devices, reconnected all cables and everything else I could call up of, nothing fixed it. Luckily, I always accept a couple mobile devices on me, and so I slapped in some other phone, boom everything worked immediately. I notwithstanding take no idea what that was about, and the initial phone connected again simply fine the next 24-hour interval, so I didn't dig too deep.
What I learned, what I urge you lot to consider, bring a backup mobile device when you fly a drone. Whatever drone, not just the Mavic Air. Myself, I at present have a dedicated phone just for this, my principal phone is the backup.
Mavic Air camera
Finally, the camera. We're going to demand a total section for this.
DJI Mavic Air camera
Tucked behind a lens with 85 caste field of view is a 1/two.3-inch photographic camera sensor. The Mavic Air camera sounds just similar the Mavic Pro and the DJI Spark so far. Luckily, there is more to the story. The primary update to the Mavic Air camera is the ability to record video at 100 Mbps data charge per unit. If that means zero to you at present, I suspect it might later you see the results.
Earlier we dive into the galleries, allow me to prattle off the rest of the Mavic Air camera specs. The sensor is set to 12 MP resolution, once more measuring one/two.three-inches. The lens is set to 85 degree field of view, with an f/2.8 aperture, 24mm focal length and your picture is auto focused at a minimum altitude of 0.5 meters, or 1.6 feet.
That last bit is important. I will demonstrate what I mean when I exercise a full Mavic Pro vs Mavic Air comparison, for now, know that the Mavic Air is total auto focus. Not only this, it is infinite focus as well. Everything from the person in forepart of the lens all the way to the mountains on the horizon will be in focus. The Mavic Pro, on the other paw, you tap to cull what is in focus.
What we have here, in the end, is perhaps the easiest to use camera of whatsoever DJI drone. The Mavic Air takes bespeak and shoot to new heights… literally.
The bump from 60 Mbps up to 100 Mbps data rate on the DJI Mavic Air does not aggrandize some of the more familiar specs you lot might exist familiar with. Yous are all the same getting a maximum of 30 fps when shooting at 4K resolution. You do get up to 120 fps when shooting in Full HD, still.
There are additional capture modes as well. Stealing from the Spark, the Mavic Air includes the Quickshot features, calculation something new besides. The two new capture modes are the boomerang, which does what the name implies, circling y'all in an oblong pattern. The next is Asteroid, which combines an outward and upward move with a sphere capture, creating a video that emulates an asteroid coming downwards on you lot. Yous'll see what I mean in the videos beneath.
I mentioned a sphere capture, this is a new mode within the Panoramic settings. Previous DJI drones could capture multiple images and run up them into a panoramic image, just the Mavic Air is a vast improvement on the task. Capturing a total Sphere is every bit shut to 360 degree camera capture as you'll find here. Information technology covers the unabridged view of the world below you lot, and captures upward not far plenty to make a total 360. You will need a 360 image viewer to see it properly.
The total suite of follow-me modes and other self-piloting and flight assistance features from DJI are included. Better however, DJI has included HDR photo capture.
HDR snaps a few shots at different exposure levels, so intelligently blends them together to make the best image possible. In your typical drone shot, with the sky on summit and the ground below, a non-HDR shot is typically as well vivid to encounter the heaven clearly or as well dark to see the ground. In HDR, yous will see both with the best available exposure settings. Check it out in the following image:
DJI Mavic Air HDR comparison two DJI Mavic Air HDR comparison i 
Permit's finish talking about the camera, and see what the new 100 Mbps 4K shooter on the Mavic Air can do.
Don't miss our full DJI Mavic Air camera review!
Flying modes
Flight modes
The DJI Mavic Air can be controlled in a handful of ways, which is a manner to command it all in itself. Yous've got the controller, your phone, apps and yous can wing past hand.
The majority of the best flight modes for this drone are controlled through the DJI Get 4 app on your mobile device. Don't get me wrong, the very best style to fly this drone is by using the remote control and little else, only if you desire to employ the fun autonomy functions, the remote tin almost exist left at dwelling.
When we talk virtually the self-piloted flight modes on the Mavic Air, we refer to modes you've seen already, including Active Rails, TapFly, Tripod, Cinematic Mode, and Point of Interest. There is also SmartCapture and Quickshot.
DJI Quickshot includes the following modes commencement found on the Spark:
Rocket – the camera faces downward and the drone rockets straight up.
Dronie – the photographic camera faces the subject and flies slowly up as information technology backs away from the subject.
Circle – the photographic camera keeps a focus on the subject and the drone flies around information technology in a circle.
Helix – the camera keeps focus on the bailiwick and the drone both flies outward, upward and circles effectually. Basically, information technology combines the Dronie and Circle functions.
And then add in the new quickshot modes exclusive to the Mavic Air right now:
Boomerang – Similar to Circle, the drone keeps focus on the subject, then flies around it. This fourth dimension, it flies in an oblong shape, starting close, flying out equally it circles and so returning in close over again.
Asteroid – Starting close to you, the drone flies out, equally if performing a Dronie, at maximum distance the drone stops and begins capturing a full sphere. The resulting video makes it announced equally though the photographic camera is an asteroid, screaming in to run into you.
Once your video is captured, enjoy fast and easy editing. Tap the button in the DJI GO four app and your footage will exist automatically edited downwards to as quick and fun video, music included.
SmartCapture is potentially the most fun you'll accept controlling your Mavic Air. This is the manus gesture controls that we first saw in the Spark. That's right, your Jedi practise has sparked into something new and improved.
Nosotros tin can not quantitatively tell you how much better the Mavic Air is than the Spark at handling your hand gestures, but trust united states, information technology'southward much better. In improver to take off and landing, then moving left and right and snapping your photo, you lot tin now button the drone out and bring information technology back in with accuracy, and take off and state from the footing.
Brand no mistake, the selfie photographic camera capabilities of the SmartCapture manner is fun, just it serves this one function, selfies. The hand gesture controls lock onto y'all – if you lot desire to capture the mural or wing more than 19 feet out, you lot're going to need the remote command and other flight modes.
Asteroid in action
APAS
DJI also introduced the Advanced Pilot Help Service (APAS) with the Mavic Air. In short, this allows the drone to analyze obstacles in front of it and adjust its flight to go around the objects. Simple enough, you lot get to push upward on that correct hand joystick and the drone ensures information technology does non run into anything. It already did this, mind you, just previous compact DJI drones would come to a halt, the Mavic Air, thank you to APAS, volition go on moving frontwards until there is nowhere left to become.
A few things to know, APAS is non enabled by default, but the push to turn it on is always right there on the left hand side of your screen. Also, by default, APAS only operates for manual flight. The options are there to enable APAS in ActiveTrack and other cocky-piloting modes, but yous're earthworks through menus to go at that place.
Last thing to note, while the DJI Go 4 app tells the states otherwise, APAS is simply supposed to piece of work going forward. The rear obstacle avoidance sensors will always bring your drone to a halt, but nosotros're going to have to go dorsum out there when the sun returns in a week to exam. Sorry for the confusion, it's the rainy season, we're at the mercy of the atmospheric condition, and the forecast isn't looking favorable for a while.
If you are flying for pay, or any other form of compensation, yous must operate nether a different set of rules and possess a commercial drone license. We telephone call information technology the Function 107, it's not too hard to get, only information technology will have some fourth dimension to learn all the rules. We want to help you learn the rules and go your commercial license, check out our drone pilot preparation cloth.
Remote command
DJI Mavic Air remote command
DJI introduced a new portability feature – you tin can unscrew the joysticks from the remote and store them nether the phone mount artillery. This is superb for portability.
That said, more than once I found myself in the field having to interrupt my flow because I forgot I had to put the joysticks on before I could fly. Non a problem, and I eventually got used to it, just I have the addiction of prepping the drone and then reaching for the remote. With this machine, that meant setting the drone down, wasting precious battery, as I take the time to put the controller together.
Connectivity has been great. Mostly. I explained in a higher place the one hiccup we experienced, otherwise we've remained connected with streaming video for every flight. This is non to say we've been without stutter.
Related reading: Mavic Air unfiltered first impressions (reactions to the annunciation)
With the Mavic Pro, it fabricated footling difference which style you lot pointed the antenna, the connection from remote to drone remained solid for us. (The app is another story, but that'south non for today.) With the Mavic Air, pointing the antenna is something to always be enlightened of.
For example, nigh of the time I fly to 400 feet I do so directly higher up my caput. The vast majority of times I do this, I go an interference warning when I exceed about 350 anxiety. I then rotate the antenna so that they are perpendicular to the drone and the alert goes away. So I fly away from my cocky and have to change the antenna over again to point toward the drone.
There is a long way between the warning and complete connectedness loss, but it's even so unnerving to experience.
Connectivity is available in the 2.4 or v.8 GHz range. You can manually select between the two, but by default the connection is managed automatically. In that location are no feature differences betwixt the 2, these are simply extra options to ensure you lot can connect on a non-crowded channel.
Mavic Air specifications
Specifications
FLIGHT TIME 21 MIN
Photographic camera 4K 30 FPS
SPEED 42.five MPH
RANGE 2 MILES
Gallery
Toll and availability
Mavic Air toll and availability
We've put some serious consideration into this drone, in the stop, nosotros feel DJI has a great offering on their hands. The Mavic Air proved to be one of the easiest to setup and wing drones from the visitor, besides one of the almost capable in the air.
Portability has been superb, admitting that the travel pocketbook that comes with the Fly More combo is nearly the same dimensions as the Spark and Mavic Pro numberless. Ignoring the bags, folding the Mavic Air downward and breaking downward the remote control make for the smallest package from DJI to date.
We really were worried that the modest size and low-cal weight of the Mavic Air would make for poor wind resistance. I think the sports car aerodynamics assist out, only in-flight performance has been quite skilful. Without the wind, I've yet to get the Mavic Air upwards to its full top speed, but it covers ground nicely at its average of nineteen mph while shooting video.
We've seen folks fly the Mavic Air in cold weather condition and feel a bad shudder, we have non been cold enough to duplicate this.
WiFi connectivity has always scared u.s. – information technology works great, until information technology doesn't. The Mavic Air has calmed some of those fears for us. Connectivity has been far better than we had expected, particularly we have been stumped by the range the drone gets. With all that said and washed, I take no fears at all flying the Mavic Air to the border of what my eyes can see. Worst example, DJI'south RTH functionality is pretty solid.
Should you buy this drone? I can't say that the Mavic Air volition satisfy everything you are looking for in a hobby shipping, but if the features are in line with your want, aye, buy this drone. Overall build quality is superb, flight features are some of the best on the marketplace, the camera is as good as you lot'll find under $g these days and the machine is just apparently fun.
We volition exist exploring in-depth the Mavic Air vs the Mavic Pro next, there is much to consider between the two. Stay tuned for that.
For at present, we are happy to promote the DJI Mavic Air for $799 as the drone alone, and we recommend the Mavic Air Fly More combo for $999 to get extra batteries and more. (Spotter for sales, we've seen $549 and $799 so far, with normal pricing around $729 and $899 but prices are ever slowly edging downward.)
Jan 2018
Release Date
Is it worth it?
The DJI Mavic Air remains a fun and reliable drone, it shoots great images from the sky, and offers nigh of the best flight features from DJI. That said, newer DJI drones offering similar and amend specs and features, some with lower price tags. We're not proverb the DJI Mavic Air is not worth purchasing, simply you might practise ameliorate with ane of these alternatives:
Source: https://dronerush.com/dji-mavic-air-review-12248/
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