The DJI Mavic Air 2 Quadcopter is a foldable drone with a comprehensive controller, 34 minute max flight time, and a sensor that shoots jaw-dropping photos and videos in 4K, 2K, 1080p, or 8K Hyperlapse. That’s just scratching the surface of what this drone can do. I’ve been flying the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone steadily for almost two weeks and I’m absolutely blown away by it.
Make no mistake, this drone is not just for drone hobbyists; the DJI Mavic Air 2 is a drone for everyone. Even if you’ve never even watched someone fly a drone, you can easily fly and take advantage of all of the amazing features on the DJI Mavic Air 2. From one-touch take-off to multiple photo and video options, the app and remote control make everything so simple.
Design and features of DJI Mavic Air 2
The DJI Mavic Air 2 quadcopter drone is compact enough to pop into your backpack or bag for easy transport. The drone itself only weighs 1.25 lbs (0.57 kg).
The remote control is larger than some I’ve seen with other drones, but it’s easy to handle and carry too. I love the design that stores the controllers and the plugs for your phone.
- Easy to set up and fly
- Includes remote control, 2 control sticks, and 3 pairs of propellers
- 500-metre max elevation, depending on area
- 10 km (6.21 mile) max distance
- 64kph max speed
- Rechargeable 3500mAh lithium-ion battery gives you 34 minutes run time
- Three-axis gimbal with stabilization keeps your video and photos smooth
- 1/2″ CMOS sensor captures brilliant images and video including 48MP pictures, 8K hyperlapse, 4K Ultra HD/60fps, and 1080p/240fps videos
- Normal, Tripod, and Sport modes make flying easy or let you take over the the controls completely
- Several photo features including SmartPhoto, Hyperlight, Panorama, and HDR
- Auto-follow lets you lock onto a subject and follow them
- Auto-take off, auto-land, and automatic return to home point on low battery
- Voice prompts let you know what the drone is doing without looking at the screen
- Micro SD card slot holds cards up to 256GB as well as internal drone memory of 8GB
Unboxing and setting up DJI Mavic Air 2
There isn’t a lot of a set up required for this drone. The arms fold in and out easily, and all you’ll need to do is attach the propellers and control sticks. Everything is marked right on the drone with stickers, so you’ll know you’ve set it up correctly.
Once you’ve set it up you’ll need to charge it. It takes about an hour and a half to charge the battery on the drone from 0%. There are four lights on the top of the battery that show how much battery you have left to charge, and I was usually between 1 and 2 when I plugged it in.
I really liked how you could charge the remote and the drone battery with the same charger. Some drones I’ve used have disposable batteries in the remote and you only charge the drone, but with the DJI Mavic Air 2, you charge them both at the same time.
Flying DJI Mavic Air 2 drone
This drone is so easy to fly, anyone with any skill level at all can get it up in the air, fly it around, and get great footage. It also has enough tech on board to keep mid to expert level drone enthusiasts happy, and there are a few upgrades you can add to get even more out of your drone.
The first thing you’ll need to do before flying is to become familiar with Canadian drone rules. DJI makes it easy to see fly zones by adding a screen right on the app. You touch it and it will show you spots you can fly near you. In my case, I have a 12-acre property to fly on, so I stuck to my home quarter and we had more than enough room to test it out.
One-tap remote control
The remote control that comes with the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone has a slot for your phone. You’ll plug the phone into the remote, and there are plugs for Apple and Android. Once your phone is plugged, you’ll power on the drone, open up the app, and connect.
There are several buttons right on the remote. You can choose between Normal, Tripod, and Sport modes, and you can switch flight modes mid-flight if you’d like to. There’s a photo button so you can just tap to take a photo or start recording video, and behind the controller, there is a dial that lets you adjust the gimbal up and down.
Auto-take off and landing
On the app screen, you’ll see a “Take Off” button. All you have to do is tap and hold to take off. When you want to land you can tap and hold to land. The drone will automatically register its home point, so if the battery becomes low it will automatically fly itself back to you. If you’re new to drones, that’s a great feature. It helps you avoid crashing.
Obstacle avoidance
In both Normal and Tripod modes, you’ll be able to avoid obstacles automatically. The DJI Mavic Air 2 has an Advanced Pilot Assistance System 3.0 (APAS) that lets the drone create a new path around, over, or under obstacles. The forward vision sensor will work up to 22 meters, the backward vision sensor will work up to 23.6 meters away, and the downward vision sensor has an infrared sensor and light that kicks in for safe landings.
You can use Sport mode if you want to turn off obstacle detection and take your chances, but APAS gives you the freedom to fly and shoot photos without worry.
We took the drone down a mountain bike trail that was covered with trees, and we used both Normal and Tripod modes. While the drone didn’t get a lot of speed, it managed to navigate easily around the trees and follow my husband down the trail. We also tested out the APAS out in the yard when the drone was flying low and around buildings, and it rarely hesitated when cruising under hanging lights or around my little barn.
Flying in low light
In situations with low light, there is an auxiliary light under the drone that will improve your visibility. It kicks in automatically so you can clearly see what’s under the drone in low flying situations, and you can turn it off manually. As the drone flies higher in low light and it gets darker, you can adjust the ISO to lighten up the view. That will make any footage you capture grainier, but you’ll still be able to fly if you need to.
Max altitude
Testing out the max altitude was a bit of a hair raising experience, not because anything happened to the drone, but because we literally couldn’t see it or hear it anymore. When you reach the maximum altitude of 500 meters, the drone will stop ascending on its own.
While the video footage doesn’t timestamp the data from the drone, we managed to hit 460 meters and we captured video and images at that height. Even at that distance, there was no lag in connection. The video seemed a bit shaky but we could comfortably navigate it, tilting the gimbal down for a full view of our property.
Just a note: while I have a max elevation of 500 meters in my area, your own max elevation may be different due to legal airspace restrictions. The serviceable ceiling of this drone is 5000 meters above sea level.
Max speed and distance
The max distance you can fly this drone away from the remote is 10 km. We didn’t want to venture off our property so we only sent it 2 to 3 km in one direction and the other. It handled well at that distance for us, maintaining a full connection to the controller, and it’s nice to have obstacle avoidance on when you’re flying long distances with nothing more than your phone screen to guide you.
The max speed on the DJI Mavic Air 2 is 68kph. We managed to hit 61 on a stretch from one side of our property to the other. If you’ve never seen a drone fly that fast, I recommend trying it out. It’s pretty amazing.
Connection to drone
The DJI Mavic Air 2 uses DJI’s proprietary OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. It gives you a very stable HD video feed at distances up to 10 km away, supports both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands, and will auto-switch between the two depending on signal strength. It also features anti-interference technology so it will block other signals to keep your connection strong.
No matter how far or how high we flew, we never dropped a connection to this drone. The only case where it paused was when we tested auto-follow and the subject we were following took off too quickly. The drone paused and the app told me it lost connection, and we had to reframe the subject to start tracking again.
Image and video capture
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Video |
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Photo modes |
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You can shoot video and photos in Auto or Manual mode. The max resolution is 48 MP 8000×6000 pixels. For both, the ISO values are: Video Photo (12 MP) |
Single: 12 MP and 48 MP Burst: 12 MP, 3/5/7 frames Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 12MP, 3/5 Frames at 0.7EV Bias Timed: 12 MP 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 seconds SmartPhoto: Scene Recognition, HyperLight, and HDR HDR Panorama: Vertical (3×1): 3328×8000 pixels (Width×Height) Wide (3×3): 8000×6144 pixels (Width×Height) 180° Panorama (3×7): 8192×3500 pixels (Width×Height) Sphere (3×8+1): 8192×4096 pixels (Width×Height) |
The app makes it easy to switch between 4K, 2K, 1080p and adjust your frames per second. I spent most of my time shooting 4K 60fps, and you can tap to turn on HDR. I loved using Tripod mode to capture landscapes from high in the air, and I found the gimbal adjust on the back of the remote made it very easy to capture a beautiful sunset. The gimbal is three-axis and will tilt, roll, and pan.
Because there are so many different ways you can take photos and videos with the DJI Mavic Air 2, it will take you quite a while to work your way through all of them. I spent most of my time using SmartPhoto because it always captured the best photos. It records 12-megapixel images after choosing one of three options: HDR, Hyperlight for low-light, and Scene Recognition. With Scene Recognition, the drone will automatically recognize what you’re trying to capture, choosing between blue skies, sunsets, snow, trees, and grass.
There are other image modes you can use including Quick Shots. Quick Shots let you capture the drone in various modes including Rocket, Circle, Boomerang, or Asteroid. Each will perform a set action for you, so you don’t have to do anything but tap and you can create some amazing content.
The app lets you easily switch between image capture and video. You just tap the screen and scroll through your choices or tap the button on the remote. You can save all of your video and image files on a MicroSD card or right to the drone. I recommend MicroSD if you’re shooting in 4K because the drone storage will fill up fast. The great thing with the DJI Mavic Air 2 is that, if your MicroSD is full, it will automatically switch you to drone storage. That way you don’t miss the shot you’re trying to capture.
Battery life on DJI Mavic Air 2
I found the estimated battery life to be very accurate. When flying around the yard, we definitely managed to last for a half-hour before the drone signaled low battery and requested a return to its home location. That happens when you have about 20% left, so you can opt to cancel the auto-return and keep flying if you’re confident you can land the drone before the battery is empty.
I highly recommend picking up an extra battery or two. It’s amazing how fast a half-hour can go by when you’re flying this drone, and extra batteries keep the fun going.
App-based video editing
There is a video editor right in the DJI Fly app. It reminds me a little of iMovie, and you can create trailers or short videos with whatever you capture. There are quite a few set templates, and it’s a great way to create something to share on Instagram or Facebook. Just keep in mind that the file might be too large for the platform you’re trying to share it on.
Should you choose the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone?
Make no mistake, this drone is so fun to fly. If you’ve never had a drone before and you’ve been waiting for the perfect model, this is it. Even if you’ve had a drone and you’re considering an upgrade, you will love this drone. Over the original DJI Mavic Air 2 it has an improved battery life, larger CMOS sensor, and will shoot absolutely stunning photos and videos with almost no learning curve at all.
The obstacle avoidance built into this drone means it’s easy for everyone to handle and you don’t have to worry about taking a dive into the trees. If you want complete control, Sport mode gives you that flexibility. Spotlight, Active Track, and Point of Interest also make it easy to shoot unique video in every situation. If you’re a photographer or videographer, there are also filters you can purchase that will take your drone photos and videos to the next level.
My main recommendation when purchasing this drone is to buy the additional batteries. You don’t want to have to stop when your battery runs out. I also recommend you have the 256GB MicroSD card installed. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it fills up.
You can find the DJI Mavic Air 2 Quadcopter drone and the DJI Fly more combo with the additional batteries on Best Buy right now.
App based video editing will be amazing.
Really excited to try the 8K Hyperlapse mode!
I’d be interested in trying out the max elevation feature!
I’m looking forward to the auto-follow setting. Have it film from behind while snowboarding, mountain biking, etc.
The max speed on the DJI Mavic Air 2 is 68kph. That is a good feature in order to do some good tracking of wildlife.
It gives a very stable HD video feed at distances up to 10 km away, supports both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands, and will auto-switch between the two depending on signal strength. A stable video feed is a must for good photography!
I’d love to see how well this flies when it returns to me!
Amazing drone!!! the only thing that left is to add an FPV mode on it and then everyone would want one.
The auto follow for sure.
This would be awesome to survey land with as a landscaper, love the real time display feedback! thanks for the giveaway!
All these features are great, the best one being the capability this drone has to make me “daughter of the year” if I can gift it to my dad as a slightly late Father’s Day gift.
The automatic take off and landing sounds like a great feature.
I like the 4K at 60FPS and the gimba with stabilization.
I want to test the 10km distance and 68km speed!
My favourite feature is the auto obstacle avoidance. It would be just my luck that I would take down a poor bird along with my new drone.
Cool that it has a 34 minute max flight time… that’s 34 minutes longer than my current drone, which I don’t have.
Love the features of this drone. Great review.
I’d like to try out the 4K 60FPS and 10KM range!
I love the obstacle avoidance feature!
I like that it has 10 km max distance.
A drone would be cool to use while trapped at home during quarantine.
I wold like to try the Auto Take off and Landing
This drone looks amazing. I would love to fly it around the cottage
I currently had a DJI Mavic Pro Drone and after reading about the air 2, i think that the voice prompt would be a very cool and fun feature, as it allows you to control the drone without watching it
Auto follow! Would love to try that out.
4K Ultra HD Video sounds amazing on this drone!
Features are Superb. But Auto-take off and landing awesome feature. Camera is always best. DJI 🙂
How amazing would auto follow be. I have always wanted a drone but this one really tops of everything you want in one. The 10 km distance is phenomenal.
Active track is going to rock ! I need to win 🙂
I like its Obstacle avoidance feature which basically detects objects in every direction and protects the drone in narrow paths.
I want to try out the 8K Hyperlaspe with that newly designed flight controller!!!!
Super stabilization
I love the idea of auto follow. There are so many times I have wanted to video something in action but lose it/them when it’s impossible to keep up.
Hi there, the feature for the Maverick Air 2 I am eager to try that Shelly mentioned is the Auto-take off and landing. This feature is quite astonishing to me to see how technology advancement; in its ability to self function without a person controlling it.
Auto follow sounds interesting
I love the feature that it can help you find safe flying areas near your home.
I like the auto take off and landing !
The programmable flight paths that create a boomerang around the subject would be awesome!
Like the programmable flight paths.
I would love to win this for my boyfriend as his birthday is next month he will be 34, he sadly just lost his in a gust of wind while he was trying to film a thunder storm approaching over the St.Lawrence River in Ontario and wanted to get film/pictures of the dark clouds when a gust of wind sent it crashing into the middle of the river. He was already having a horrible day/year with situations he has been faced with lately, flying his drone was one of the last enjoyments he really had so I feel horrible 🙁 with money being tight we cant replace it right now as he saved up for a very long time to get the previous mavic. We love to capture are adventures together and edit them into a neat little adventure movie, he especially loved the hyper lapse and panorama feature.
Auto follow is pretty neat especially if you are following a certain specie of wild life
honestly, never owned a drone before so taking photo with it would be great!
Auto take off and landing! What!….yeeesss! Great to know about the extra battery too
I’d like to try out the autonomous flying feature when I’m out
Hello! I’m Zayn, a 13 year old nerd from Canada and for a long time, I’ve been eyeing up the DJI Mavic Air 2, because I really want to get into aerial photography and cinematography, and nothing beats a DJI drone in that! I’ve heard nothing but great things about this drone, including from your review. I tried buying a cheap knockoff of the Mavic line, hoping that it would put out some decent photo and video but the “4K camera” looked much closer to 480p. The knockoff proceeded to break down and stop working entirely after just a few weeks of use. Therefore, I would have to pick the ridiculously good camera as my favourite feature among all the amazing ones on this drone. The fact that it can shoot 4K 60fps, 8K photos and hyperlapses, and even being able to shoot 240fps slow motion is mind-boggling to me. The HDR is also a huge plus, since I love higher contrast images. Thank you for reading my entry and I really hope I win!
I love the one button take off and landing, also the drone coming back when its battery gets low sounds like a fantastic feature!
Three-axis gimbal with stabilization is very important since a shaky and blurry video is unwatchable. I’d be a shame to spoil an interesting shot with poor quality video.
I have 400 acres of bush, accessible only by ATV and many parts of the land are only accessible in the winter due to a deep stream and some swamps. I would really love to “see” my property during another season. A couple of features that would be great for my situation is the ability to avoid obstacles automatically and the auto-follow feature. If I see a large animal like a moose or a deer it would be great to follow it to see where it goes and what it does.
I am eager to try the auto take off button on the Mavic Air 2
Using my phone with the controller
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