a. After attaching the 360° Propeller Guard, the service ceiling is reduced to 1500 m as there are some weight-related safety concerns when flying with this accessory at high altitudes. You shouldn't fly above 400 feet, nor within close distance of airports, but you can still encounter situations where you're sharing the air with another pilot. I received a Manned Aircraft Notification on my very first flight with the Air 2. The bump in video resolution from 2.7K to 4K is welcome. Sure, technically, there’s no reason we can think of that 4K capture wasn’t built into last year's model, but in well-lit scenes, the extra recorded pixels mean more scope for zooms and crops.

Finally, there are three different options for creating a panorama. "Sphere", which resembles a tiny planet, captures twenty-six images. "180º" captures seven images for a landscape perspective while wide captures a 3x3 tile consisting of nine images. Unlike the Mavic Air 2, there isn't an option to create a vertical panorama. Unedited footage can look a bit flat and underexposed in overcast scenes; it’s clear DJI processes footage cautiously and with video editors in mind. The clarity is respectable. Digital zooming is limited to about 2x if you’re shooting in 4K, though you can get usable 3x zoom footage at 1080p. As soon as the light drops, though, so too does the Mini 2’s usable zoom range, and indeed usable footage. Another highlight feature is the ability to shoot 48MP stills with the 12MP sensor. The output images taken in this mode are in JPEG format, and the results are unfortunately much softer than Raw files and standard size JPEGs, plus images appear washed out and desaturated in comparison. Beyond the safety improvements, the Mavic Air 2 has inherited many advanced features from both the Mavic Pro 2 and professional drones to provide smart capabilities in automated flight modes for capturing still and video.

The second-generation DJI Mavic Air 2 drone offers a number of new photo and video tricks and excellent flight time.

I'm very disappointed in the MA2 (love the MM2, but different class of drone). While I fly it a fair amount, it's mostly to get to features that aren't available on the MA1 (hyperlapse being something I use a lot on the MA2). The MA2 would be perfect if it was the same as it is -- basically a smaller Mavic Pro 1 with a better camera -- but with all the features of the MA1, plus (i.e. product advancement). The Mavic Air 2 uses the DJI Fly app, introduced with last year's Mavic Mini. If you're upgrading from the original Air, you'll find its interface similar enough to the older DJI Go app. It's available for Android and iOS platforms; I tested the drone with an iPhone 8 Plus running DJI Fly. The best thing about the new DJI Mini 2 is its controller. Revamped in its entirety, simplicity is the name of the game here. Only the DJI Mavic Air 2 has the same advanced controller so far. The obstacle detection and avoidance system—DJI calls it APAS—works quite well. I took the drone to a local park and attempted to crash it into trees, but the Air 2 automatically altered its course to fly around them. I was brave enough to test it on my own person and walked away uninjured. The DJI Mavic Mini is a lightweight drone that you don't have to register, but spotty connectivity makes it hard to recommend wholeheartedly.

With the launch of the Mavic Air 2, DJI has produced a drone that will undoubtedly have a wide appeal thanks to its impressive smart flight features, stills and video functionality, alongside the upgraded design, motors and battery that provide significant performance upgrades over the previous model. There are people who might be averse to buying a DJI drone, for any variety of reasons, in which case the Autel EVO and Parrot Anafi are good alternatives. The EVO has a built-in display in its remote, so you don't have to connect your smartphone for flight, and the Anafi offer USB charging for its battery—something you don't get with any Mavic drone. This means the Mavic Air 2 measures a tiny 180 x 97 x 84mm when folded – roughly equivalent to a 500ml bottle of beer – and just 183 x 253 x 77mm when unfolded. On the left side of the controller is a micro USB port for charging and connecting it to your phone. The drone also ships with Lightning, micro USB, and USB-C cables, so whatever smartphone you have, provided its software is compatible with the DJI Mavic Mini's Fly app, you're catered for. Mavic 3 features a totally upgraded transmission system that provides a perfectly clear and stable 1080p/60fps live feed at distances of up to 15 km.That's not the end of the safety features either. You also get Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0, which when enabled will reroute the drone when obstacles come into its path. The idea behind this is that pilots can confidently fly in more complex locations without fear of crashing. DJI decided it was time to do away with the remote from the first Mavic Mini. Replacing it is a remote that replicates the design and functionality of the controller on the Mavic Air 2. This upgrade makes sense for a lot of reasons; it's easier to hold and despite the fact that I still find it challenging at times to clamp my smartphone in, its placement above rather than beneath the remote makes viewing the display screen way more convenient.

The overall design has been dramatically changed and with improved connection to the controller, noticeably longer battery life, 4K video at 60 fps, 48MP stills from the new 1/2-inch Quad Bayer sensor and a whole host of new functionality, this is a significant upgrade on the previous Mavic Air. That's impressively small for a device that features enough battery power to stay aloft for about 26 minutes in my testing. Wind and temperature will be factors in how long you can fly, and most of my testing was done in temperatures ranging from 35 to 60 degrees, which might be why I got a little less life than the 30 minutes DJI claims (lithium batteries do not like cold weather). Similar to previous models, the Mavic Air 2 can take HDR photos, but the Air 2 takes a series of seven photos to blend together, versus three for the original Air. DJI Mavic Air 2: Video features The Mavic Mini 2 is an excellent drone for hobbyists and beginners alike. One particular line that resonates is that this is 'a drone that grows with you.' The original Mini had its limitations with JPEG-only imagery, 2.7K video footage, and a Wi-Fi signal. DJI took the logical next steps to ensure that anyone purchasing the Mini 2 could accomplish a lot more with their investment.

The palm-sized DJI Mini 2 is still a fine 4K drone

Deciding whether the extra cost is worth it when it comes to the Air 2’s undoubtedly longer feature list is a little more involved but a good starting point is deciding what you’re planning on using the drone for.

To recap, both the Mavic Mini and Mini 2 feature 12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensors with a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 (or 16:9, 4000 x ×2250). The Mavic 2 Pro's images are more lifelike and show more depth. A longer focal length and Hasselblad color science are important, but so is physical aperture—you can stop down and snap shots with well-defined sunstars with the Mavic 2 Pro, something that you don't get with the Air 2's lens. Smooth, Stable Video New to the series is AirSense, an ADS-B transponder. It warns you when there are manned aircraft near your drone—it's your responsibility as a pilot to cede airspace to a passing helicopter or plane.With the Mavic Air 2, DJI gets just about everything right. The drone is as small as it needs to be, stowing in a small bag with ease so you can roll some footage at the end of your favorite hiking trail. We've come a long way from the days where you needed a drone as big as a Phantom 4 to net quality results. Trust me, you can handle the Mavic Mini without the collision-avoidance sensors. You'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way: by practicing and becoming a better drone pilot. I strongly suggest starting in an empty field, well away from obstacles. As you get better you can attempt more difficult scenarios.