DJI Mavic Air Review: More Advanced Than The Spark

DJI specializes in drones, and their Spark unit from last year remains a solid and relatively cheap option for those whose only desire is to take airborne selfies. However, for those who wish to fly at a higher level, the company’s new drone, the DJI Mavic Air, launched on January 28.

DJI MAVIC AIR REVIEW

A Mavic Air is, at its core, an upgraded Spark, and at $799.99, it costs double of its predecessor. An Air, however, is cheaper than DJI’s Mavic Pro, which costs $999.99. Ergo, if you want a superior drone but don’t want to spring for the highest-end model, the Mavic Air is a nice in-between. The Air will come in three colors: Arctic White, Flame Red and Onyx Black.

According to DJI, the Mavic Air’s flight time can last up to 21 minutes, beating the Spark’s projected 16 minutes. And whereas the Spark could only fly as fast as 12.4 mph, the Mavic Air can move up to 42.5 mph. It also folds up a la the Mavic Pro, making it easier to pack up and transport. As with its siblings, the Mavic Air is built with sensors to help it detect potential hazards.

Additionally, as with its forbear, you can control the Mavic Air with either your smartphone (as long as it has the corresponding app) or the included controller. However, the SmartCapture feature also allows you to commandeer your drone with hand gestures, giving you a hands-free way to take pictures or video.

Mavic Air’s camera is slated to be an improvement from both the Spark’s and Mavic Pro’s, with it capable of capturing 4K resolution up to 30 frames per second. It can also shoot 32-megapixel panoramic photos. 8 GB of internal storage will allow you to keep a decent amount of filmed content on hand, and you can augment your Mavic Air with Micro SD cards to give it additional memory.