DJI Mavic Air 2: Pros And Cons

By Amit Chowdhry ● Apr 29, 2020

DJI Mavic Air 2

  • Are you thinking of buying a DJI Mavic Air 2? Here are some of the DJI Mavic Air 2 pros and cons for you to consider before buying one.

DJI recently announced the Mavic Air 2 — which is a new foldable drone that supports 8K video recording and higher resolution photos and videos. Plus it has a longer battery life than its predecessor.

“Mavic Air 2 is another milestone for DJI, demonstrating that our smartest consumer drone does not have to be the largest,” said DJI President Roger Luo. “While the Mavic Air 2 bears all the hallmarks of the Mavic drone family, we had to completely rethink its design and development process. Our goal was to create a drone that offered the best overall experience possible to even the most novice pilot. We hope our drones can help boost creativity and become a fun yet educational experience that can be enjoyed, even at this unprecedented moment in history.”

Are you thinking of buying a DJI Mavic Air 2? Here are some of the DJI Mavic Air 2 pros and cons for you to consider before buying one.

Pro: High-Quality Video

Not only does the Mavic Air 2 support 8K video recording, but it is the first drone in the Mavic line to support 4K video at 60fps and 120Mbps. Plus the Mavic Air 2 also supports HDR video, 4x slow motion in 1080p at 120 fps or 8x slow motion in 1080p at 240fps. And it has a mechanical 3-axis gimbal for recording stable content.

Pro: Hyperlapse Feature

There is a Hyperlapse feature that brings the appear of timelapse but with the added element of the drone physically moving. And now for the first time, Hyperlapse can be shot in a max resolution of 8K while pilots can choose four flight modes, including Free movement, Circle, CourseLock, and WayPoints.

Pro: High-Quality Photo

The Mavic Air 2 can take 48-megapixel photos. And the Mavic Air 2 supports HDR photos, meaning it automatically captures 7 different exposures of the same photo and merges them together to create a dynamic image. There is a Hyperlight feature for low-light scenarios, which takes multiple photos and merges them together to reduce the noise.

There is a scene recognition feature built into the DJI Mavic Air 2. The five scenes that it automatically recognizes include sunsets, blue skies, grass, trees, and snow. After the drone recognizes the scene, it will make the photograph look better by adding better degrees of color and details.

The high-quality images are taken with a large Quad Bayer 1/2″ sensor.

Pro: 34-Minute Battery Life

The DJI Mavic Air 2 has a maximum flight time of up to 34 minutes. This is about 13-14 minutes longer than its predecessor.

Pro: Maximum Distance Of 10 Kilometers (6.21 miles)

As you are flying the Mavic Air 2, the OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology is able to deliver HD video to a smartphone at a maximum distance of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles). OcuSync 2.0 supports both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands and uses an auto-switching feature for moving between the two based on signal strength while anti-interference technology blocks unwanted signals in order to keep the video feed clear.

Pro: Fly App

The DJI Mavic Air 2 supports the Fly app on iPhones and Android devices. And the Fly app has editing features for photos and videos.

Pro: ActiveTrack 3.0

The Mavic Air 2 has a feature called ActiveTrack 3.0. This allows you to select a subject for Mavic Air 2 to automatically follow around. The feature uses high-tech mapping technology and new flight paths of better subject tracking and obstacle avoidance. And it can quickly reconfigure the subject if it temporarily moves out of sight.

Pro: Point Of Interest 3.0

The Point of Interest 3.0 feature allows you to set automated flight paths around subjects. And the updated version of Point of Interest has better surface recognition to track subjects better.

Pro: Spotlight 2.0

The Spotlight 2.0 feature allows you to fly your Mavic Air 2 freely while the camera remains locked on the subject. All you have to do is select your subject.

Pro: Affordable Price

The Mavic Air 2 has a couple of pricing options. There is a standard package with the Mavic Air 2, one battery, and one remote controller for $799. And there is also a Fly More option with everything included in the standard version along with a shoulder bag, charging hub, and 3 batteries at a price of $988.

Pro: Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0

The Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0 feature adds autonomous flying to DJI drones. When this feature is enabled, the Mavic Air 2 will create a new path around, under, or over objects in order to avoid collisions. And with 3D mapping, the updated version aids in smooth transitions and more fluid movements around the objects.

Pro: AirSense Technology

As part of DJI’s 10-point Elevating Safety vision that was published last year, the Mavic Air 2 is DJI’s first consumer drone designed to include AirSense technology. This provides enhanced safety by warning drone pilots of other aircraft nearby.

AirSense taps into aviation technology known as ADS-B for receiving signals from nearby airplanes and helicopters. And it displays their location on the drone pilot’s control screen. As these other aircraft approach the drone, AirSense will warn the drone pilot with messages, sounds, and vibrations thus enhancing the pilot’s awareness and ability to move the drone safely away.

Con: Slightly Heavier Than Predecessor

This con is a little bit nit-picky, but the Mavic Air 2 is slightly heavier than its predecessor. The Mavic Air 2 weighs 570 grams (1.26 pounds) compared to the 430 grams (0.95 pounds) of the first-generation Mavic Air. This adds a little bit more weight to your bags while traveling and preserving weight for your check-in bags while flying can be important.

Con: 8K Not Available On All Features At Launch

While the Mavic Air 2 can export 8K time-lapse videos, not all of the video modes support 8K at launch. 8K support will not be added across the board until later. Some of the other modes will gain 8K at the end of June 2020.

Pulse 2.0 Score

The Mavic Air 2 is receiving a Pulse 2.0 score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It has received this high of a score because the pros greatly outweigh the cons. It would have received a perfect score if it was more colorful and had greater improvements over its predecessor.

Read More On Pulse 2.0:

DJI Mavic Air 2 Specs

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