The Mavic Air 2 is a new drone that is up for preorder and will ship on May 11. It is a successor to the Mavic Air, which was released in 2018 and has been improved in almost every way. The Air 2 costs less than a grand despite having more technology on board and a better camera system. ..
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is similar to earlier Mavic drones in terms of both appearance and functionality, which is the first thing you’ll notice about it. The Propellers, batteries, and remote controls cannot be switched between the different Mavic models. ..
Design
The Mavic Mini felt wonderfully toy-like in comparison to the much bigger and heavier Mavic Air 2 when they were held in opposite hands. Both drones have the same gray color and DJI’s recognizable folding-arm design, but the Mavic Air 2 is significantly larger. For better or worse, the Mavic Air 2 resembles the Mavic 2 Pro (and the Mavic Mini) much more than the original Mavic Air. The all-gray Mavic Air 2 is less eye-catching and sleek than the original Mavic Air, which had a smoother top and was a blend of black, white, and silver, even though this now unifies the design language of the Mavic line.
The Mavic Air 2 is heavier than both the Mini (249 grams/8.8 ounces) and the Mavic Air, weighing 570 grammes (1.25 pounds). Because the weight of the Air 2 exceeds the FAA’s weight restriction, you must register this drone. The Mavic Air 2 includes sensors on the front, bottom, and back to assist it avoid obstructions, just like the Mavic Air.
When activated, APAS will direct the drone to avoid any object that gets in its way. However, APAS automatically turns off at higher framerates; it is only available when shooting video up to 4K/30 fps. The Mavic Air 2 is also the first DJI drone to be able to receive ADS-B signals from piloted aircraft and display the location of those signals on the controller screen. A version of the Mavic Air 2 without AirSense will be sold in all other regions; however, a version with AirSense will be available globally by this summer. This feature, called AirSense, will initially only be available in North America due to the coronavirus. The Mavic Air 2 has a new feature called “AirSense” which allows pilots to track aircraft nearby using ADS-B signals. This feature is currently only available in North America due to the coronavirus outbreak there. ..
DJI Mavic Air 2 review: Controller
The new drone borrows heavily from its bigger and smaller brethren in terms of aesthetics, but the controller drastically departs from the traditional compact folding grip design. It was first launched with the first Mavic in 2016 and has since been included with every model in some capacity. We must admit that while the new version may raise some questions, we strongly prefer it. The phone is placed at the top and has greater size flexibility with the new Mavic Air 2 remote. A spring grip that clamps your phone in place slides down from the top. Although we anticipated it, the rubber grips did not continue to press the side buttons on our iPhone Pro. The power indication lights are difficult to see in daytime, if we were to complain about anything. ..
A storage space for your preferred phone connector can be found under the grip. It’s secure and tidy, if a little fiddly. Although we find the remote to be cozy, we definitely prefer having the screen above. The only minor drawback is that you must hold your phone above your hands, but this doesn’t seem to be a big deal given the improved perspective. There is a function button next to all the standard buttons, which by default turns on the LED. OccuSync 2 is a far more significant improvement inside, though. Not something we can test in the UK, but we can say that the gorgeous HD 1080p live feedback never seemed to cut out up to 500m, which definitely wasn’t true of the original Air. It automatically switches radio channels to offer up to 10km range.
Image quality
The DJI Mavic Air 2’s superior image quality sets it apart from its predecessor. The JPEG and RAW files’ quality has left us awestruck. The dynamic range is first-rate, especially when the HDR video function is turned on. It can capture a vivid sunset while maintaining sufficient shadow detail to produce a well-balanced picture. It accomplishes this while maintaining a somewhat natural-looking appearance. You can choose to take standard 12 or 48-megapixel RAW or JPEG files when taking still pictures.
The sensor on the drone has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which means that if you take pictures with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the resulting digital files will be cropped. This can result in less resolution, which is why we’re excited about the potential applications of these files - they allow us to give drone photographs that are perfect for any situation and generate larger prints. ..
They can be cropped while preserving a tone of detail, but they may lose some quality or dynamic range.
Video quality
When photographing in low light, the hyperlight mode averages and reduces noise by merging many photos. This can be done manually in Photoshop using Raw processing tools like Adobe Lightroom. Regardless of your level of photography expertise, everyone is catered for here, which is fantastic. ..
The 12MP sensor in the iPhone 8 Plus captures images with a resolution of 48MP, which is much higher than the resolution of the standard 24MP sensor in most other smartphones. This allows for more detailed and realistic images, as well as greater detail in shadows and highlights. However, the results are not as sharp as they could be, and appear to be washed out overall. If larger images are needed, Photoshop’s Preserve Details Resample option in the Image Size dialogue offers better interpolation results.
The Mavic Air 2 offers features not seen in the flagship Mavic models, including as 4K video at 60 frames per second and slow motion video up to 240 frames per second in 1080p, for videographers. Despite its diminutive size, this drone can nevertheless be used in some circumstances to shoot quality videos. Video can be recorded in Standard format, which is like a JPEG for video, or in the more neutral D-Cinelike profile, which shows more detail in the highlights and shadows and necessitates color grading. At up to 30 frames per second, HDR video is also accessible in 4K, 2.7K, and FHD. Up to 60 frames per second, 4K, 2.7K, and FHD are all available. The maximum bitrate for video in MP4/MOV is 120 Mbps.
DJI Mavic Air 2 review: Fly Performance
The DJI GO 4 control software is noticeably less busy and simpler to use, with a layout more akin to a smartphone camera app. Even just for the battery meter, we prefer the DJI GO 4 over the DJI Mavic Pro’s control software. When you switch between camera modes, a pop-up menu with the available options appears, including Camera, Video, QuickShot, Hyperlapse, and Panoramas. However, you can’t see it right away without scrolling. ..
The camera slips off the top of the drone once you get used to it. The collision sensor “hot spots” at the top and bottom of the screen are helpful without being intrusive, and the mini-tutorials for the QuickShots are convenient and not at all intrusive. It is annoying that you have to save enough battery in the drone and keep it and the controller on for the transfer to the app because the QuickShots can only be captured at 30 frames per second due to the downloading and post-processing requirements.
DJI’s main selling point is that it makes it easy to share your videos and photos with friends and family. However, some of the features of the DJI drone can be frustrating, such as the SD card storage and processing.
DJI Mavic Air 2 review: Performance
The Mavic Air 2 is a drone that is both fun to fly and has features that make it safer for both novice and experienced pilots. The controller has tutorials that walk you through each flying manoeuvre, and the drone also has the Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS 3.0), which enables it to change its course when it encounters something in its path.
DJI’s newest drone, the Mavic Pro, has a new feature called Airsense. This feature uses aero-technology to detect signals from adjacent planes and display a warning on the control panel. If DJI receives the necessary permissions, it can unlock this feature for particular uses. This is a useful feature at a time when the skies are becoming increasingly congested.
The Mavic Air 2 is a great drone for shooting video or still photos in the air. The stability in windy conditions allows the pilot to focus solely on framing the shots. Additionally, the controller retains its strength for a very long time. If you choose to purchase the Fly More package, you will receive three additional flight batteries, giving you plenty of time to fly the drone and produce your videos and still images.
Battery Life
Since the Mavic Pro has increased flight duration by up to 30 minutes, the new Mini 3 drone should not come as a surprise. However, the increased flight time for the Mini 3 now stands at around 34 minutes, which is three minutes greater than that of its younger sibling, the Mini 2. Additionally, with three batteries and a Fly More bundle included, you will have plenty of flight time to capture all of your photos and videos. The charger also allows you to charge all three batteries at once, which is much faster and easier. ..
Price and availability
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is priced in the middle of the market at $799 or $988 as part of the Fly More Combo. In contrast, the recently introduced Mavic 3 costs $2,199 and has two cameras: one with a four-thirds sensor and the other with a telephoto lens. The Parrot Anafi, which has a 1/2.4″ CMOS sensor, is somewhat more comparable to this model and typically costs only about $700. ..
Conclusion
The Mavic Air 2 was undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable drones we’ve ever had the opportunity to fly. When we are driving normally, we worry about breaking any laws or damaging the equipment, but with this system, it just felt so natural and simple that after the first flight, we weren’t at all concerned. It’s a lot of fun to fly, has a tone of simple photo and video modes, fits perfectly in your camera bag with the rest of your photography gear, and produces some pretty good-looking photos. This system was easy for us to use as a casual drone user, making it a great UAV for new and enthusiastic pilots. Particularly considering how the FLY App is designed, which essentially guides you through every feature with clear instructions for each mode. ..
