It has been a while since the first Mavic Air hit the market — about two and a half years. Now, DJI has just announced the Mavic Air 2 and it’s a step up from the original.
The Mavic Air 2 comes with a bigger image sensor and uses DJI’s OccuSync transmission tech instead of Wi-Fi. It also has up to 34 minutes of flight time, a 13-minute boost from the original Mavic Air’s 21 minute flight times. Its controller also has been fully redesigned.
Camera
The new sensor the Mavic Air 2 is sporting is a half-inch “Quad Bayer” CMOS sensor. It’s similar to the 48-megapixel sensor that’s been included in smartphones for the past two years. It can capture 12-megapixel images using the built-in SmartPhoto mode, or the camera can capture shots using the full 48MP resolution. As for the camera’s lens, it’s a fixed 28mm f2.8 lens.
Video shooting
When shooting video, the drone can shoot 4K video up to 60 fps. It additionally supports HDR for video up to 4K 30fps and HDR panorama photos. Also, the drone can export 8K time-lapse videos. It’s important to note though, not all modes will support 8K at launch. We can expect the feature to be available at the end of this June.
Safety features
The Mavic Air 2 has obstacle sensors on the front and rear. These should help avoid collisions. Additionally, it comes with AirSense tech that can detect and warn you when there are nearby aircrafts. The bottom sensors on the drone will help land when there’s little light around.
The autonomous flight modes have also been upgraded. DJI says the new drone will provide a different kind of self-flying experience.
Design
Moving onto the design of the drone, the Mavic Air 2 is somewhat bigger than the original. It’s also slightly heavier at 570g. It looks similar to the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom. As for the controller, these is no visible antenna on top of the controller anymore.
Pricing and availability
The Mavic Air 2 is available for preorder now for $799. There is also a Fly More bundle that includes ND filters with a carry bag, prop guards, charging hub and three batteries. The bundle costs $988.
