DJI has released its newest Mavic drone to its consumer drone lineup named the Mavic Air 2. The Mavic Air 2 has a 48 MP camera that films 4k video @ 60 FPS. With the release of the all new Mavic Air 2, drone pilots have three Mavic series drones to choose from including the Mavic Mini and the Mavic 2 series, but which Mavic is the right drone for you? Let us break down their differences to help you pick the right Mavic model.
Weight: 249 Grams
Folded: 140×82×57 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded: 160×202×55 mm (L×W×H)
Weight: 570 g
Folded: 180×97×84 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded: 183×253×77 mm (L×W×H)
Weight: Mavic 2 Pro 907 g | Mavic 2 Zoom 905 g
Folded: 214×91×84 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded: 322×242×84 mm (L×W×H)
The Mavic Air 2 is best placed in between the Mavic Mini and the Mavic 2 by providing a perfect balance of high-tech features and cost savings. In terms of weight and size the Mavic Air 2 weighs 570 grams compared to the Mavic Mini, DJI’s lightest drone to date at 249 grams and the larger Mavic 2 drone at 907 grams. When folded, the Mavic Air 2 measures 180×97×84 mm (Length×Width×Height) and when unfolded 183×253×77 mm (Length×Width×Height). Completely folded, the Mavic Air 2 can fit comfortably in a smaller sized case which is perfect for travel photographers. Design-wise, all 3 Mavic models now look the same, and feature a matte, light-grey colour. The main talking point of the Mavic Mini's design is, of course, its weight and size making it fall under the weight class for drone regulations and restrictions in most countries. When folded the Mavic Mini can fit in the palm of your hand. You can not compare flight and camera performance in respects to the Mavic Mini and the Mavic 2. The Mavic 2 is geared towards semi professional users, it is still DJI’s Mavic model with the largest camera sensor giving the best quality picture and video. The Mavic 2 also has the more power in terms flight and tech. The Mavic Air 2 falls right in between the Mavic Mini and Mavic 2 in terms of camera quality, size, and drone flight performance.
The Mavic Air 2 also features a fold-down design and has the surface area of a large Smartphone when completely folded. The drone weighs 570 grams, size-wise, being in between the Mavic Mini and Mavic 2. The Mavic Air 2 follows the same design philosophy as the Mavic 2 and the Mavic Mini.
The Mavic 2 series is comprised both the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom which are identical aircraft but have different cameras. The Mavic 2 series feature a foldable design which is common across every Mavic Series. The drones measure 214×91×84 mm (L×W×H) when folded and 322×242×84 mm (L×W×H) when unfolded. The Mavic 2 series features a dark, matte, grey colour and is the largest drone out of all the Mavics, though it is still extremely compact, portable, and easy to carry around. Due to its bigger camera, the Mavic 2 Pro also weighs slightly more than the Mavic 2 Zoom.
Stabilization: 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
Video Resolution: 2.7 K: 2720×1530 25/30 p
Sensor: 1/2.3” CMOS
Effective Pixels: 12 MP
Photo Format: JPEG, MP4
Stabilization: 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
Video Resolution: 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 24/25/30/60p
2.7K: 2720×1530 24/25/30/48/50/60p
Sensor: 1/2” CMOS
Effective Pixels: 48 MP
Photo Format: JPEG, DNG RAW, MP4, MOV
Stabilization:3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
Video Resolution:
Mavic 2 Zoom: 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p
2.7K: 2688×1512 24/25/30/48/50/60p
Mavic 2 Pro: 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p
2.7K: 2688x1512 24/25/30/48/50/60p
Sensor:
Mavic 2 Zoom: 1/2.3” CMOS
Effective Pixels: 12 MP
Mavic 2 Pro: 1” CMOS
Effective Pixels: 20 MP
Photo Format: JPEG, DNG RAW, MP4, MOV
The Mavic Mini features a powerful camera capable of capturing great aerial footage for its size and weight. The Mavic Mini can shoot 2.7k video at 30 fps and 12-megapixel stills with a 1/2.3 sensor. Unfortunately it lacks 4k capabilities, although its 2.7k video is still great quality for the average user and its 3-Axis gimbal provides smooth, shake-free footage. The Mavic Mini can also only shoot 12 MP JPEG photos which could be a setback for those looking to invest still photography.
The Mavic Air 2 features a stabilized 3-Axis gimbal system for ultra-smooth, shake-free footage and can shoot 4k video at 60 fps. The camera also features a 1/2 CMOS sensor that can capture 48-megapixel stills.
The Mavic Air 2 also features more formatting options and can shoot in JPEG, DNG RAW, MP4, and MOV formats.
The Mavic Air 2's camera is powerful enough to appeal to both recreational and semi-professional users alike.
The Mavic 2 Zoom and Mavic 2 Pro systems shoot smooth, stabilized footage with a powerful 3-Axis gimbal. The Mavic 2 Zoom is DJI's only consumer drone that can zoom in flight. It supports 2x lossless optical zoom, from 24mm-48mm. The Mavic 2 Zoom's camera shoots 4K video @ 30 fps, and 12-megapixel stills. Thanks to its zoom feature the Mavic 2 Zoom also has unique shooting modes including Super Resolution, which enables the drone to stitch together a stunning 48-megapixel photo as well as Dolly Zoom, a cinematic effect that enables users to zoom in on a subject and distort the background outwards.
The Mavic 2 Pro features the largest sensor size out of any Mavic model giving it the best quality camera out of all DJI's consumer drones. Featuring a Hasselblad camera capable of capturing 4K video at 30 fps and 20-megapixel stills with its 1-inch sensor. Due to its 1-inch sensor, images and video captured feature enhanced colour, light, and detail. In comparison to the Mavic 2 Zoom, the Mavic 2 Pro's camera will give users control over their camera parameters which will come in handy post-production.
Max Flight Time:
30 minutes (no wind)
Max Wind Speed Resistance: 28.8 kph
Max Speed (near sea level, no wind):
13 m/s (S Mode)
Range: Up to 4 km
Video Transmission System: Enhanced Wi-Fi
Operating Temperature Range: 0° to 40°C
Max Flight Time:
34 minutes (no wind)
Max Wind Speed Resistance: 29 - 38 kph
Max Speed (near sea level, no wind):
68.4 kph (S - mode[1])
Range: Up to 10 km
Video Transmission System: OcuSync 2.0
Operating Temperature Range: -10° to 40°C
Max Flight Time:
31 minutes (no wind)
Max Wind Speed Resistance: 29–38 kph
Max Speed (near sea level, no wind):
72 kph (S-mode)
Range: Up to 8 km
Video Transmission System: OcuSync 2.0
Operating Temperature Range: -10°C to 40°C
With a flight time of up to 30 minutes and a maximum range of 4km, the Mavic Mini is powerful enough and does not compromise on performance despite having an extremely small and lightweight design. The Mavic Mini maintains a strong connection with the remote controller by automatically switching between 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz wherever available. The Mavic Mini features impressive flight characteristics for its size and can handle winds as high as 28.4 km/h under warranty and can reach a top speed of 68.4 km/h in S-Mode making it incredibly stable in the air while maintaining position accurately. On windy days the Mavic Mini can be a set back, it also not recommended to take it beneath temperatures of 0°C.
The Mavic Air 2 takes it a step further and features a 10km video transmission range that is longer than the Mavic Mini or the Mavic 2. Thanks to the OcuSync 2.0 transmission system, it can switch between channels on the 2.4GHz as well as the 5.8GHz bands to maintain a strong signal for a stable connection and smooth video downlink. Since the Mavic Air 2 has a larger propulsion system than the Mavic Mini, it is able to reach a top speed of 64km/h and under warranty, it is able to withstand higher winds between 29km/h to 38km/h. The Mavic Air 2 can be flown in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 40°C.
The Mavic 2 series have a slightly longer flight time than the Mavic Mini of upto 31 minutes and a range of up to 8km, which is shorter than the Mavic Air 2. The Mavic 2 series also uses OcuSync 2.0 transmission system to achieve stable, long range video transmission by switching between channels on the 2.4GHz or the 5.8GHz band. Due to its larger propulsion system, the Mavic 2 series can fly faster in S-Mode reaching speeds of upto 72km/h in S-Mode. The Mavic 2 can withstand winds between 29-38km/h and can fly in temperatures ranging between -10°C to 40°C.
No Obstacle Avoidance System
Front, Bottom and Rear Obstacle Avoidance Sensing
Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance Sensing: Forward, Backward, Upward, Downward, Side Sensors
*Sensing for left/right directions only available for left/right only available in POI, QuickShot, Tripod Mode
In order to keep the weight low, there is no obstacle avoidance system on the Mavic Mini. Since the Mavic Mini is GPS enabled, the aircraft is able to maintain its position in the air with extreme accuracy and precision which makes the air very easy to fly. This coupled with the responsiveness of the light airframe makes the Mini perfect for new pilots despite not having an obstacle avoidance system. The Mavic Mini has downward facing sensors that it uses to position itself at altitudes below 10m as well as assist in landing.
The Mavic 2 features omni-directional obstacle avoidance in T-Mode which covers the front, rear, top, bottom as well as the sides making it the safest consumer drone by DJI. Dual vision sensors in the front, back as well as downward directions make the Mavic 2 capable of detecting obstacles as far as 20m away in the front direction and 16 meters in the backward direction. The downward sensor system also has dual auxiliary LED lights to illuminate the landing zone to improve landing precision. The downward vision system provides positioning to the aircraft at altitudes below 11m.
Intelligent Flight Modes:
Return-to-Home, CineMode, QuickShot Modes: Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket
Intelligent Flight Modes:
ActiveTrack 3.0, Spotlight 2.0, POI 3.0, Tripod Mode, 8K Hyperlapse, QuickShot Modes: Circle, Helix, Dronie, Rocket, Asteroid, Boomerang
Intelligent Flight Modes:
ActiveTrack 2.0, Hyperlapse, Point of Interest, Waypoints, Cinematic Mode, TapFly, QuickShot Modes: Circle, Helix, Dronie, Rocket, Asteroid, Boomerang
The Mavic Mini features intelligent flight modes like CineSmooth mode and four QuickShot Modes namely Dronie, Circle, Helix and Rocket. With QuickShots, the pilot can capture amazing aerial imagery with a simple touch of a button. CineSmooth mode slows the drone down to make movements smooth for a more cinematic shot. Another intelligent flight mode, which is a standard feature with all DJI drones is Return To Home, which enables the drone to return to the take-off point if the battery is reaching low levels or if the user initiates it. Since the Mavic Mini does not have an obstacle avoidance system, ActiveTrack is not available on the Mini.
The Mavic Air 2 features a wide variety of Intelligent Flight Modes, QuickShots and Tracking features like ActiveTrack 3.0 as well as a feature that was only available previously on larger systems like the Inspire 2, Spotlight 2.0 which allows the user to lock the camera on the subject and fly freely. Among QuickShots, the Mavic Air 2 offers Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang and Asteroid. There is also a new, improved version of Point of Interest mode that helps the drone track the subject more accurately. The Mavic Air 2 also supports Hyperlapse mode to provide an easy way to achieve complex shots without the hassle of post-processing.
The Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom also support various QuickShot modes like the Mavic Air 2, namely Boomerang, Circle, Rocket, Helix, Asteroid, and Dronie. The Mavic 2 also supports Hyperlapse, Waypoints, Point of Interest and Tripod mode with the addition of the TapFly feature. It sports ActiveTrack 2.0 which enables the drone to better track and predict subject movements as much as 3 seconds before by building a virtual 3D map of the environment. The Mavic 2 Zoom gets two unique Intelligent flight modes thanks to the Optical Zoom camera called DollyZoom and SuperResolution wherein it leverages the optical zoom to create dynamic shots in DollyZoom and stitch together a 48-megapixel still image.
For casual users or first-time flyers that are looking for a safe, easy-to-use drone without having to worry about government regulations the Mavic Mini is the ideal choice. With its long range and battery life, the drone delivers exceptional performance while still staying under the lowest weight class for drones in most countries. Although the drone lacks the ability to shoot in 4k its 2.7k 12-megapixel camera is perfect for the average user and will capture smooth, stabilized footage and stunning aerial stills. For any recreational or entry-level user the Mavic Mini is a perfect choice and comes with the freedom to fly without the worries of dealing with flight restrictions.
On the other hand the Mavic Air 2 features the latest technology out of all the Mavic models. From the latest obstacle avoidance system powered by APAS 3.0 to a new ergonomic remote backed with OcuSync 2.0. This is the latest the greatest DJI has to offer. The budget friendliness of the all new Mavic Air 2 is very appealing to new users, travel enthusiasts or professionals who want a perfect balance of price, size, and performance. For users who seek a drone with 4K video and more up to date options to play with, the Mavic Air 2 is a solid investment.
Finally, the Mavic 2 is the most powerful drone out of all the Mavic models and has the 1-inch sensor for superior photo and video capability. The Mavic 2 Pro is perfect for anyone who has the budget and wants the highest performance standards and camera quality, or even commercial users looking to take their first steps in the drone market.
In comparison, Mavic 2 Zoom is a more budget-friendly option compared to the Mavic 2 Pro and ideal for those who want the ability to shoot more dynamic and creative shots, or that need the zoom capability, although they will be sacrificing the 1 inch senor.
In conclusion, each Mavic provides users with powerful features and unique advantages to take their creativity to the next level. Whether you are new to the world of drones or seeking a drone that will take your ventures to all new heights the Mavic series will give you safe, reliable, and powerful options to take to the skies.
Dr Drone
Author
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.