The explosion of first-person-view (FPV) drones has revolutionized the world of flying, giving drone pilots the ability to have a bird’s-eye view of the sky. While most FPV drones in the past have been designed for racing, DJI has released two FPV drones that help you capture cinematic visuals from a first-person perspective. Both the DJI FPV and the recent DJI Avata have offered people a wider field of view than ever before, with immersive visuals in DJI Goggles providing you with a one-of-a-kind flight experience.
Both the DJI FPV and the DJI Avata are FPV drones, but they each have many differences in design, camera, and features that make them two starkly different options. We’ll go over the basics of each FPV drone to help you see which one best fits your needs.
The DJI FPV has an aerodynamic design that sets it apart from other DJI drones, giving it a sleek appearance that’s both attractive and functional. The modular design allows you to replace the main parts of the drone quickly and easily. You can swap out the gimbal camera unit, landing gear, and top shell of the aircraft to make cheap repairs whenever needed without having to replace the drone entirely.
The DJI Avata is designed to be both agile and tough, with a compact and lightweight design that allows you to navigate tight spaces. Unlike other, bulkier Cinewhoop drones, the Avata is easily small and light enough to take it with you wherever you go. The most notable design feature of the Avata is the built-in propeller guard, which protects the Avata from damage whenever it bumps into anything. With the guard and the Avata’s durable frame, you’ll be able to fly the drone indoors and in tight spaces without fear of damage.
The DJI FPV drone has a wide-angle camera capable of shooting up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It supports up to 120Mbps video bitrate, giving you crystal clear photos and videos. The 150-degree field of view allows you to capture wide-angle shots that capture a broad scope of cinematic beauty. The FPV also features RockSteady Electronic Image Stabilization technology that ensures smooth footage throughout your flight.
The DJI FPV drone has a wide-angle camera capable of shooting up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It supports up to 120Mbps video bitrate, giving you crystal clear photos and videos. The 150-degree field of view allows you to capture wide-angle shots that capture a broad scope of cinematic beauty. The FPV also features RockSteady Electronic Image Stabilization technology that ensures smooth footage throughout your flight.
The DJI Avata FPV drone has incredibly high visual quality that rivals other FPV and non-FPV drones on the market. The camera has a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor that supports 4K ultra-wide-angle recording with an f/2.8 aperture. Its field of view is extended to 155-degrees, giving you immersive visuals and a high-grade imaging performance. The Avata uses RockSteady 2.0, which actively reduces camera shake in real-time. It also comes equipped with HorizonSteady, which locks your footage to a level horizon throughout filming. Another visual feature of the Avata is D-cinelike mode, a separate mode that allows you to maximize natural colors and capture the true-to-life colors of the world.
The DJI Avata FPV drone has incredibly high visual quality that rivals other FPV and non-FPV drones on the market. The camera has a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor that supports 4K ultra-wide-angle recording with an f/2.8 aperture. Its field of view is extended to 155-degrees, giving you immersive visuals and a high-grade imaging performance. The Avata uses RockSteady 2.0, which actively reduces camera shake in real-time. It also comes equipped with HorizonSteady, which locks your footage to a level horizon throughout filming. Another visual feature of the Avata is D-cinelike mode, a separate mode that allows you to maximize natural colors and capture the true-to-life colors of the world.
The DJI FPV drone is designed to be used with the FPV Goggles V2, which provide digital image transmission with low latency, strong anti-interference, and strong immersion. These goggles offer HD video transmission up to 120fps, giving you an immersive first-person-view on high-speed flights. A full charge allows you 110 minutes to immerse yourself in the view coming from the DJI FPV. The goggles also work in Audience mode, which allows you to connect to other DJI FPV Goggles V2 units so that other users can see the same footage as you do.
The DJI Avata FPV drone is made to be used with both the FPV Goggles V2 and the upgraded DJI Goggles 2, which are designed with next-level comfort and convenience in mind. These upgraded goggles are smaller and lighter than previous models. They’re also equipped with a new head-tracking feature as well as Micro-OLED screens that deliver the utmost clarity throughout your flight. The DJI Goggles 2 have a foldable antenna and lightweight design that make them compact and ultra-portable.
These goggles have a 2-hour battery life and charge at super fast speeds. The two HD Micro-OLED screens have a refresh rate of up to 100 Hz, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted live feed. The goggles offer dipoter adjustment from +2.0 D to -8.0 D, allowing you to customize them for better viewing and comfort. To keep the diopter fixed in place, just lock the adjustment knob once you’ve set it to your desired specifications.
The DJI FPV drone uses OcuSync 3.0 to help you transmit high-quality video across long distances with lower latency. OcuSync 3.0 allows for a transmission range of up to 10km and a latency of only 28ms. By working through a dual band system operating on either the 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz bands, the transmission system switches back and forth automatically. This ensures your video transmission remains stable and works at a high performance. The FPV drone comes equipped with high-gain antennae that support three onboard transmitters as well as four onboard receivers that reduce stutter and video compression artifacts.
The DJI Avata is equipped with OcuSync 3.0+, which uses an all-new solution and upgraded dual antennae to offer better transmission than ever before. O3+ brings FHD video transmission at up to 10km, using anti-interference capabilities to keep transmission stable even in cities or other complex environments. The Avata has a max video transmission quality of 1080p and a max video transmission frame rate of 100 fps. It also uses 2T2R omnidirectional antennae to enhance stability and responsiveness during flight.
The DJI FPV has three modes: Normal (N), Sport (S), and Manual (M). N mode is designed for new users, giving you traditional flight controls but retaining safety features. The top speed for N mode is 15 m/s, while it’s 27 m/s for S mode. In S mode, intermediate users can operate the FPV drone with simplified controls while still shooting dynamic footage. M mode is meant for experienced pilots, enabling them to set their own custom parameters to shoot footage based on their own specifications. M mode has the highest speed of 39 m/s. It has the ability to go from 0 to 100km/h in only 2.0 seconds, giving you the ability to fly quickly and agilely towards your destination.
The DJI Avata has the same three modes, with the top speed being 8 m/s for Normal mode, 14 m/s for Sport mode, and 27 m/s for Manual mode. The built-in propeller guards weigh the drone down more than the FPV, which results in a slower speed. However, as the Avata was designed to be flown in and out of tight spaces (as well as indoors), it trades a high speed for greater safety and agility.
The FPV has a max flight time of 20 minutes. This is shorter than most DJI drones, but still enough to shoot a decent amount of footage from a bird’s eye view.
The DJI Avata FPV drone has a slightly shorter flight time of 18 minutes. This is again mainly due to the extra weight provided by the built-in propeller guards, as its Cinewhoop design prioritizes safety and agility over a lengthy flight.
Both the DJI FPV and the DJI Avata come with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2, an ergonomically designed remote controller that fits perfectly in your hands. The Hall effect joysticks allow you to delicately and quickly maneuver the FPV drone with highly accurate responses. It also comes with a convenient switch layout that features dedicated controls for each of its features. This includes a control for positioning the gimbal, controlling the camera, switching between flight modes, and using the Smart Return to Home feature.
Both FPV drones also have the option to work with the DJI Motion Controller, a separate accessory that allows you to control the drone with nothing but your hand movements. This controller has a convenient trigger for acceleration as well as ergonomically placed buttons. Thanks to the DJI Motion Controller, you can fly the FPV with just one hand.
The FPV drone has a series of safety features that protect the drone during the flight. It’s equipped with forward and downward obstacle avoidance sensors as well as a ToF sensor for positioning. If you’re looking to land the drone in low-light conditions, then you can make use of the auxiliary bottom light to illuminate the landing zone as you bring the drone down safely.
Additional safety features include Smart Return to Home, which allows you to bring the drone back to the starting point with the touch of a button. Low Battery Return to Home brings the drone back automatically in the case of the signal being disconnected or the battery running out.
The FPV drone has a series of safety features that protect the drone during the flight. It’s equipped with forward and downward obstacle avoidance sensors as well as a ToF sensor for positioning. If you’re looking to land the drone in low-light conditions, then you can make use of the auxiliary bottom light to illuminate the landing zone as you bring the drone down safely.
Additional safety features include Smart Return to Home, which allows you to bring the drone back to the starting point with the touch of a button. Low Battery Return to Home brings the drone back automatically in the case of the signal being disconnected or the battery running out.
The FPV also comes with an onboard Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver that notifies you when there’s a manned aircraft in the area. The last safety feature is emergency brake and hover, which allows you to halt the aircraft with the touch of a single button. This will force the drone to stop and hover within seconds of activation no matter how fast you’re going or what mode you’re in.
The Avata has quite a few safety features as well. The Avata has the same obstacle avoidance sensors as the FPV with the exception of a forward-facing sensor. It also includes both Smart Return to Home and Low Battery Return to Home, and the motion controller includes the same emergency brake and hover button as the FPV.
The features the Avata has that the FPV doesn’t is the presence of built-in propeller guards that keep the propellers safe from harm and allow the drone to bump into walls and the ground without damaging itself. It also includes Turtle mode, which allows you to get back in the air in case the Avata falls on its back. Unlike the FPV, the Avata is designed to fly in tight spaces without fear of crashing into anything, as it was made to handle a few bumps and tumbles.
The Avata has quite a few safety features as well. The Avata has the same obstacle avoidance sensors as the FPV with the exception of a forward-facing sensor. It also includes both Smart Return to Home and Low Battery Return to Home, and the motion controller includes the same emergency brake and hover button as the FPV.
The features the Avata has that the FPV doesn’t is the presence of built-in propeller guards that keep the propellers safe from harm and allow the drone to bump into walls and the ground without damaging itself. It also includes Turtle mode, which allows you to get back in the air in case the Avata falls on its back. Unlike the FPV, the Avata is designed to fly in tight spaces without fear of crashing into anything, as it was made to handle a few bumps and tumbles.
The presence of internal storage is another big feature that sets the two FPV drones apart. While the DJI FPV drone lacks any internal storage, the DJI Avata has an internal storage of 20 GB. This allows you to house footage within the drone itself, keeping it safe until you’re ready to transfer it elsewhere for post-processing and editing.
While both the DJI FPV and the DJI Avata offer a first-person view of the skies, their differences make each a better fit for different pilots. The FPV has a shorter range and slightly lower quality camera, but its flight time and max speed both exceed that of the Avata. Both drones have access to the same remote controllers and the DJI Goggles V2, although the Avata can be used with the upgraded DJI Goggles 2 for an even more immersive experience.
Pricewise, the FPV is slightly less expensive than the Avata at only $1,269 CAD for the FPV Combo as opposed to $1,519 CAD for the DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo. However, this slight price difference isn’t big enough to make one a better choice than the other. The true distinction between these FPV drones comes down to whether or not you’re looking for something for wide open spaces. While the Avata can be flown anywhere, its design makes it best suited for indoors and other complex environments. If you’re just looking for a simple outdoor FPV drone, the DJI FPV should provide you with everything you need to get the job done. If you want something more durable that can bump into things or fly indoors without damage, then you’ll need the DJI Avata.
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DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.