Summary
If you need the best drone for sale, then the Mavic Air by DJI is among the top on the market. It has got the brilliance of the high-end Phantom UAVs, the foldable aspect of the DJI Mavic Pro plus the gesture controlling of the DJI Spark.
Pros
- It folds up, with a quick twist of the prop shafts, in a bundle that sits comfortably in your palm.
- The image specs are not just straight pictures though, you now can use much more smart flight modes, but more on that later.
- Put the quadcopter in Sport’s mode so that you can soar it close to 42 MPH.
- You can also land and take off with gestures, leaving the remote control out of your video selfies or photo.
- The inclusion of 8GB onboard storage, as a DJI’s first, means you could capture footage with no SD card.
Cons
- You can store it inside a backpack but is yet a tad too bulky to get crammed in your pant pocket.
- This drone does not have side sensing unit, so in case the quad is swinging round you do need to assure there is not anything in the path.
- It is somewhat expensive for an RC drone and might be a little more challenging to take flight for the novice pilot. However, do not let that put you on the back foot.
Introduction
DJI is creating a buzz with their highly intelligent, powerful, and portable aircraft to date.
And the best part?
They have taken the most popular features from the Spark and the Mavic Pro and thrown it into highly excitable, new DJI Mavic Air drone.
We will compare the Pro, Air, and the Spark in detail shortly.
We are going to discuss on why MyDearDrone believe this drone is worth buying on our in-depth & honest DJI Mavic Air review.
Let us get started!
Specifications
- Model: Mavic Air
- Manufacturer: DJI
- Style: Quadcopter / Foldable
- Size: Folded – 6.5 x 3.3 x 1.9 inches / Unfolded – 6.5 x 7 x 2.5 inches
- Weight: 0.95 lbs (430 g)
- Camera: 12MP / 4K
- Stabilization: 3-axis
- Photo Resolution: 4056×3040
- Video Resolution: 3840×2160
- Video Bitrate: 100Mbps
- Flight Ceiling: 16,404 feet (5000 m)
- Flight Time: 21 minutes
- Wind Speed Resistance: up to 23mph
- Range: 2.5 miles
- Charging Time: 55 minutes
- Control Modes: Remote controller / mobile device / gesture
- Top Speed: 42.5 mph (68.4 kph)
- Operating Temperature: 0°C – 40°C
- Storage: microSD card / 8GB internal
- Indoor or Outdoor: Both
- Price range: $$
Air Model Design
The DJI Mavic Air weighs in only a mere 430g, which seems like a tablet weight once in the palm.
It is a portable copter that folds up into something so small you can stick it inside your trouser’s pocket and travel anyplace with it.
This drone is the lightest and smallest smart flying machine you will find. That means it is not as large as the DJI’s Mavic Pro yet it is still a little bulkier when compared to the Spark quadcopter.
It comes in three colors: Flame Red, Arctic White, and Onyx Black.
The Mavic Air by DJI has an elegant and sleek look because of the upper covering of the multirotor and the brand-new air vent structure for increased cooling and airflow.
If you get the propellers in your direction, or it is time to change them, push down then twist slightly to remove.
The front camera is not the just one single on this quadrotor though; you will find location scanning cams as well. You got 2 on the front side, 2 on the rear, and 2 in the bottom.
They integrated the antenna into the drone’s fold-out feet directly, thus leading to enhanced connectivity.
However, pointing the radio antenna is one thing to always keep in mind.
When you think about how much technology has got packed into this rig, it is impressive to see.
The point that it looks like a badass small fighter plane once folded down is just a bonus.
Overall, we love the Mavic Air’s design.
Air Camera
Without a doubt, what all we care about is how good the camera.
The Mavic Air camera is a 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, recording at about 100 Mbps along with outstanding UHD quality.
Because of the 3-axis gimbal which means the camera’s videos and pictures are crystal-clear even when you are hovering in the breeze or flying at full speed.
What is unique now is the many camera choices that allow you to get high-quality video clips for the cost of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
From swooping shots to motion tracked videos, to the eye-opening panoramic picture, it has plenty to provide. The drone’s flashing lights to validate videos and pics is another nice touch.
Not only that, it has infinite focus too. Anything from the people in lens front all the way up to the hills on the distance shall remain focused. On the flip side, in Mavic Pro, you touch to select it focuses what.
With slow-motion filming, you get 1080p quality at 120 frame rate, great for recording a high-speed action. You could share all your videos over the Dji GO 4 application directly to social networks.
Whipping around edges or stopping midair at top speed does not appear to have a lot of an impact on the video camera.
Once you capture the film, experience easy and fast editing.
Touch the option in the software and your video will get edited down automatically to as fun and quick footage, music included.
Gestures are a nice addition too. To grab a pic, use the typical V sign using your hands and off the drone goes capturing.
Or should you do a film, you form a framing outline, like if you are a director looking at the frames of a snapshot, and the quadcopter will film.
Besides the microSD memory card port, you receive an extra 8 gigabyte of internal memory that stores your photos and videos straight to the quad. You could export all these files using the USB-C port.
Air Mavic Batter & Flight Time
The Mavic Air offers a 21-minute battery life (better than 16 minutes flight time of the DJI Spark, although not breaching the Mavic Pro’s 27-minute battery life) with a maximum speed of approximately 68.4 kph while in Sport mode.
While we did not get to test this using the DJI FPV Goggles, we wonder that will be quite an intense experience.
If it is windy, you will find yourself chewing through charge faster. With merely a single battery supplied in the base model, ensure you buy at least 1 or 2 spare ones to do not never miss out flying because you are out of power.
Fortunately, the Fly More Combo of the Mavic Air includes 3 batteries altogether, so that resolves the problem.
My Dear Drone guarantee you may experience some nervous moments when the battery alarm is blaring, you are bringing the craft down as quickly as possible and wondering whether you will make it.
Try not to ignore the inbuilt emergency Return to Home (RTH), and it is pretty accurate.
Controller’s Features
Speaking of foldability, the remote controller is also collapsible, too! It has a low-profile, ergonomic design that keeps your smartphone device.
The control handles are removable to make sure that you could store the transmitter just as easily on the run as the DJI Mavic Air drone itself.
They left the control sticks in older versions holding out.
It is a minor, but convenient feature as we have had lots of situations in which we have nearly snapped off our remote controller’s dials, and acquiring a remote control guard was a quick, but unpleasant repair. However, watch out – these sticks are so tiny that they are pretty simple to lose.
The fold-out remote control is as convenient as any game console joystick and even features more controls for super complicated handles if you want them, yet is still easy to gain access to newbies.
If you wish to fly over 19 feet away or take the landscape, you are going to require the remote controller and other intelligent modes.
Also, it facilitates a 720p real-time transmission viewing from about 4 km aside.
It is an excellent addition when you are experimenting with this costly piece of equipment.
It will make you feel much safer, so you shall enjoy the flight instead of worrying about losing the thing.
Connectivity has become far better compared to what we had expected.
We have stayed connected with live streaming footage for each trip.
Connectivity is accessible in the 5.8 or 2.4 GHz range.
You may manually choose between the both, but by default, the connections get managed automatically.
Do not mistake us, the best method to pilot this quadcopter is by using the remote controller.
Expect a distance of around 260 feet if you decide to ignore the remote and take flight directly linked to your smartphone.
Flight Time & Performance
When it comes to flight performance, the numbers look pretty average, until you recall just how little the dimension of this beauty.
It can view the world around it to help make flying effortless for beginners.
We are enjoying flying this multicopter, and we believe you will as well.
GPS keeps your drone constant, and the downward, backward, and forward sensors permit you to voyage inside when GPS system not presented.
You can soar the Mavic Air using your phone through Wi-Fi, use it along with your remote controller and the phone jointly, the remote control itself, or perhaps just your fingers with straightforward gestures.
You will get about 21-minutes of battery life with a maximum speed of around 68.4 kph.
It is most likely to do because of the new speed controller and rotor design that is more effective than before.
From our experience, we get about 17 to 18 minutes for each trip, landing with a minimum 10 percent battery remaining.
Also, they outfitted it with the capability to withstand 10 m/s winds, as many as 16,404 ft (5000 meters) above the level of sea’s surface, and the innovative antenna enables the UAV fly inside a 2.5-mile range.
We do not understand about you, nevertheless, if we are flying legally inside line-of-sight, that is a lot more than what we want.
However, you can likewise control it using your phone although the range falls to 262 ft.
Mavic Air Flight Modes
ActiveTrack
ActiveTrack mode can now sense around 16 subjects autonomously. This mode lets you pick what tracking subject demands more focus, for instance, the trees in your front instead of rock beneath you.
It is one thing the Spark drone had problems with, and lots of users who needed it to pursue them on the bike or when being energetic ran into troubles.
It looks like the Air has already fixed it.
It will not work if you are both heading in different ways – it also will not make the quad lose it is mechanical state and self-destruct – our team tested.
On the earlier models by DJI, it required you to make use of the GO application to pinpoint the objects or people you would like to track.
QuickShots
QuickShots provides you with 6 different flight modes to select between – Helix, Dronie, Asteroid, Boomerang, Circle, and Rocket.
These all take you the ideal selfies with little thought to your composition.
Dronie
The camera confronts the subject then flies slowly up while it backs off from the matter.
Helix
The camera maintains target on your subject matter, and the quadcopter both flies upward, outward and rings around.
It incorporates the Circle and Dronie functions.
Boomerang
Boomerang, gets the aircraft out of the subject, around and up behind them then back again to the beginning as a technique to take the object finally the surrounding region thoroughly.
Asteroid
Asteroid, captures a spherical picture from on height then twists and zooms into the matter on the surface creating an impact as though you are flying straight down from orbit on – you got it – the asteroid.
Rocket
The camera looks down and the UAV rockets upright.
Circle
The camera will keep a focal point on the object, and the quad flies round it within a circle.
SmartCapture
SmartCapture is an interactive, new way of handling the drone by using your palm.
You can control it and launch it with hand gestures.
That is correct; your Jedi training has turned into something improved and fresh.
Also, you can take videos and shoot photos using hand gestures (from inside 6 meters range), too.
TapFly
TapFly presents you the power to fly anywhere you are touching on your smart device’s display or smartphone.
It works backward, forward, and over the Free and Coordinate modes.
You can fine-tune the speed to suit the shot.
Panoramas
Panoramas deliver you the choices for 180-degree, horizontal, and vertical photographs that the drone joins together to you.
In a practical scenario, the edits took a bit longer to show up as finished.
The extreme variation of this, known as Sphere Panorama, merges 25 images for a 32MP panorama in under 60 seconds.
It covers up the entire perspective of the earth below you and records upward not far enough to create a complete 360.
You need a 360° photo viewer to watch it properly.
Mavic Air Features
They build it with a bunch of sensors which help it avert obstacles below, above, and all around the drone.
Unlike the previous models, it does not just stop as soon it senses anything that it will not like to collide into instead it paves a course over it.
This drone comes pre-loaded with DJI FlightAutonomy 2.0 technology that processes information gathered from infrared sensors and 7 onboard cameras to develop a 3D mapping of its ecosystem for more precise flying and advanced flight performance.
Its HDR photo mode assists you to get the proper exposure settings smartly, based on the lighting environment around you.
Therefore, while shooting in conditions where you are trying to take both the details and the shadows in the atmosphere, the HDR function will prove extremely useful. In your usual drone shot, along with the ground below and the skies on top, a non-HDR pic is often too shiny to watch the skies cleanly or very shadowy to look at the field.
It is very accurate and can follow hand gestures, mimicking the actions, even when amazingly far away.
Ability to track more than a single subject, which is an excellent idea if two people are running together, snowboarding, or cycling.
The Mavic Air is the very first DJI quadcopter ever to come with a built-in memory – this one contains 8GB of onboard space.
It is beneficial for folks who often leave their SD memory cards house and so ends up unable to shoot whatever due to that.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not see a reply to your question (s) listed underneath in our Q&A section, contact us and inform us!
Should I buy the Mavic Air?
If you like drones, had been hovering for a while and would prefer an upgrade, it is undoubtedly a model you should check out.
It has all the things you need in a small bundle and will do the job for you regardless of you are an enthusiast drone pilot, a vlogger, or an amateur filmmaker/videographer.
How do I set up the Mavic Air?
Charge the battery, download the DJI’s GO app, switch on your Mavic Air, connect to the Wi-Fi, and you should have a head start piloting the new aerial vehicle.
You will need to run throughout tutorials and calibrations as well.
Is the Mavic Air a waterproof drone?
No, it is not a water-resistant drone.
How long does it take to charge Mavic Air battery?
It takes about 55 minutes to charge per battery when using a typical USB charger or a charging station.
What type of users can fly the Air drone?
Travelers will cherish it because it is portable and super simple to take anywhere on an adventure.
Photographers will enjoy it because it can capture high-quality video and photo.
Also, beginners will love it since it is uncomplicated to take flight, with built-in safety measures.
At what speeds the sensors work best?
The sensors function best at rates under 17.9 miles per hour, effectively avoiding hurdles up to 40-feet forward, 33-feet backward, and 26-feet downward.
These figures are for pinpoint maneuvering, and the sensing unit can detect obstructions beyond this, close to 98 ft down, 65.6 ft out the back, and 78.7 ft forward.
Are there any new flight modes introduced in the Mavic Air?
All the flight modes found in the DJI Mavic Pro drone are available in the Mavic Air, though DJI has gone an extra mile this time adding two innovative QuickShots, Boomerang and Asteroid.
How do I activate the Advanced Pilot Assistance Service (APAS)?
Default does not activate APAS mode, yet the switch to turn on is right there in the left part of your display.
Also, by standard, APAS only works for manual flying.
The selections are available to activate APAS in “ActiveTrack” and other auto-piloting modes, but you are digging through the interface to reach there.
How do I activate the Advanced Pilot Assistance Service (APAS)?
Default does not activate APAS mode, yet the switch to turn on is right there in the left part of your display.
Also, by standard, APAS only works for manual flying.
The selections are available to activate APAS in “ActiveTrack” and other auto-piloting modes, but you are digging through the interface to reach there.
What is the difference between Phantom and Mavic series?
In case, you have experienced what the bigger Phantom can do; it looks like a whole new definition for prosumer-grade camera drones.
The DJI’s Mavic Air should get you nearer to a dream come reality moment where flying and owning your drone quadcopter is as comfortable as using your smartphone.
Is the Mavic Air quadcopter is suitable for commercial use?
Showing up for work with just the Mavic Air does not make an impression – it could get seen as a plaything, and you, an amateur.
Have this rig at your disposal, for sure, however, consider a drone which can fly along with a top-of-the-line camera underneath such as the Phantom 4 or Inspire 2. The differentiation in the video is noticeable.
DJI Mavic Air vs. Spark: Which is right for you?
For nearly half the cost you will have loads of features crammed into the DJI Spark.
It does not fly as swift or for as long plus does not shoot 4K footage, but when you are just starting out with drones, we highly suggest the DJI Spark drone over the DJI Mavic Air drone.
It is nearly as easy to fly, compact, and about much joy to fiddle around.
We highly suggest the Air drone if you are switching from the DJI Spark and familiar with all the functions it has integrated.
Conclusion
We have got to mention that we are pretty impressed with the Mavic Air by DJI. It indeed is costly, but its abilities other drone companies do not provide with anywhere close to the exact specs and price (at least at the time of writing this review!).
If you are a professional, then you perhaps want to ante up more on the Phantom or an Inspire 2.
Then if you are at the receiving side of the hobby and only need it for a bit of entertainment, the ultra-compact Spark is possibly enough. However, if you need it all, in that case, the DJI Mavic Air drone is the best.
We hope this DJI Mavic Air review helped you. In case, you own the Mavic Air already; we would love to listen to your opinions.
So, now it is your decision! Are you all set to buy the Air drone? Let us know your feedback in the comments box below.
Enjoyed looking through this, very good stuff, thanks.
Thanks, Murphy, for your comment. Do check out our other drone reviews as well. If you want any drone reviewed that is not on this site, request us, and our team will consider it.