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 |
Photos |
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.
It would be awesome to take high quality photos from this drone! I’m sure I could get some amazing arial shots!
SmartPhoto, Hyperlight, Panorama, and HDR photo capacity is really awesome!
Amazing how much detail there is in your written review and having the videos makes me really want this! I would love to capture images and video with the 4K Ultra HD/60fps camera/video features of this drone now that I have a 4K LG TV.
I think I’d use the 10 km distance.
I like the8k hyperlapse option
I love scene recognition and the quick shot mode (especially the circle).
Great review. I like the34 min fly time
I like the auto features especially obstacle avoidance, I’m not experienced flying drones and I need auto features to help prevent me from making expensive mistakes while learning.
I would like to try the auto-follow feature to make flying the drone easier.
I love the automatic return to home point on a low battery. That feature alone makes this drone very attractive.
I love the quick shot option!
I love that it would be easy to fly – auto take off and landing and obstacle avoidance. Well written review Shelly!
The image sensor for sure!!
Flying in low light is great news!
Thank you for the review. I would love to try the auto follow feature. But I must add that the easy setup is definitely a plus!
Thank you Shelly! I love that the remote can fit in the palm of my hand and I can simply plug in my phone to the remote and connect! 🙂
I like that it’s easy to set up and fly!
Great review. Was a good and informative read. I’m most excited about flying the drone out 10Km! Although that’s causing a sinking feeling in my tummy just thinking about it
The 8K hyperlapse would make for some stunning footages
The Auto-follow function seems really cool!
I am eager to try the 4k video recording, especially at 68kph!
Several photo features including SmartPhoto, Hyperlight, Panorama, and HDR
I would love to use the 8K hyperlapse feature!
Several photo features including SmartPhoto, Hyperlight, Panorama, and HDR
Great review! Thanks Shelly.
The fact that it can transmit full HD video from 10 kilometres away is pretty incredible!
Three-axis gimbal with stabilization keeps your video and photos smooth is a hugely useful feature.
I’m eager to try the automatic return to home point on low battery feature
My family & I are all mountain bikers so one of the features that REALLY stand out is the three-axis gimbal with stabilization to keeps my bike videos & photos buttery smooth, unlike my riding.
I love everything about the DJI Mavic Air 2 Quadcopter Drone. One of my favourite feature is that it helps me find safe flying areas near my home by adding a screen right on the app.
The DJI Magic Air 2 seems to be the perfect drone to bring to those walks exploring the nature… The auto-follow feature is perfect to follow me and capture all the beauty around me.
The Mavic Air 2 drone looks amazing! I think the auto-follow feature will be perfect for capturing moments with my little guy as he runs about!
Love the distance and height it can get to so would make for amazing camera shots/vids. Also I’d need the auto start and land.
i think Auto take off and landing sounds about the coolest thing ever!
This would be an amazing tech toy for my son and I to experience, and create fun memories and hopefully a few fun pictures too!
Auto take off and landing sounds about the coolest thing ever!
This would be an amazing tech toy for my son and I to experience, and create fun memories and hopefully a few fun pictures too!
Great review, I appreciate how in depth you went. My favourite feature is that it can help you find where you are allowed to fly it. I have steered clear in the pay out of fear around having to figure out where I am, and am not allowed to fly it.
Looks like a sweet drone. Thanks for the excellent review. The Advanced Pilot Assistance System feature is my favourite one. How cool is that!
I am eager to try the OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology.
The photo features on this sounds really cool, I would love to see how awesome the Panorama photos would turn out in this.
The drone has a great battery life and I love the auto pilot feature.
Ease of set up and fly is most important to me since I am technically challenged.
Auto Take Off and Landing seems like a great feature considering how I’m messed that part up before on my last drone (RIP…)
Would love to see how the built in obstacle avoidance system (Advanced Pilot Assistance System – APAS) works through busy areas.
Great review Shelly! I’d absolutely love to own a drone of this quality. The distance of 10k as well as quick return option on low battery is fantastic, but how can you even stop at just that…. video quality at 4K/60fps, low light modes…..it keeps going. Fantastic! Definitely be a dream for content creation.
I’ve never flown a drone so I love the Auto-take off and landing feature.
Using the camera features like SmartPhoto, Hyperlight, Panorama, and HDR would be so cool!
Really interested in the voice command and prompts to see the accuracy and real time AI working.
This looks really Fantastic!!
I would love to try out the Quick Shot ” Boomerang” or Helix options.
Such a Beautiful Design.
Includes remote control, 2 control sticks, and 3 pairs of propellers – I love this as I hate Phone control only devices. I would much rather have actual buttons etc.
Omg! I would love to fly this drone and shoot at 4K. Also take some shots at 500 meters must quite an experience
Great review Shelly! I like all the details you were able to provide – sounds like you have the perfect drone testing grounds.
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