When DJI’s Avata got here out in 2022, its agility and people-safe propeller guards made it an on the spot hit — particularly with video professionals and content material creators. It was hampered by poor video high quality, although, and gave customers no capacity to see the surface world when utilizing the Goggles 2 pilot headset. It was additionally much less maneuverable than different FPV drones and fairly costly.
Now, the corporate has launched its successor, the Avata 2. The digital camera now makes use of the identical 1/1.3-inch sensor because the Mini 4 Professional, so video high quality is extremely improved. The Goggles 3 have passthrough cameras to indicate the world round you and the Avata 2 can now maneuver extra like an actual FPV drone. Battery life has improved and it’s cheaper besides.
DJI / Engadget
The Avata 2 improves nearly every part from the very talked-about unique whereas shaving some {dollars} off the fee
- Improved video high quality
- Higher maneuverability
- Cheaper
- Longer battery life
- Goggles 3 could lack consolation for some
$999 at Adorama
It sounds nice, however how is it in the true world? With my drone and FPV pilot pals, we examined it in quite a lot of situations and occasions. Basically, it is a lot improved from its predecessor, however there are some things to know when you’re contemplating shopping for one, particularly across the Goggles 3.
Physique
The Avata 2 has been utterly redesigned to enhance flight traits. It’s extra rectangular, much less top-heavy, comes with a much bigger battery and weighs 30 grams much less at simply 377 grams. It additionally simply appears to be like much less toy-like and extra skilled.
The up to date propeller guards and in depth impediment detection make it much more crash-resistant than different drones. Up to date binocular fisheye sensors cowl each the underside and rear views to detect hazards whereas rising flight stability. It additionally encompasses a “turtle mode” that flips the drone again to a standard stance for takeoff if it hits one thing and flips over throughout flight.
The propellers have the identical 3-inch measurement as earlier than, however engine noise is decreased to 81dB, making it extra appropriate for occasions like weddings.
The digital camera unit and gimbal are bigger and the protecting overlaying is simpler to put in and take away. The USB-C and card slots, notoriously onerous to entry on the Avata, are a lot simpler to get to right here. One other welcome replace is the beneficiant 46GB of onboard storage, greater than double the final mannequin and significantly greater than most different drones.
The 18-minute battery life was an enormous challenge with the Avata, however the brand new mannequin now boasts 23 minutes max flight time, up 28 %. The batteries might be charged rapidly utilizing the charging hub, too, from 0 to one hundred pc in 45 minutes with a 60W charger — a bit quicker than earlier than, contemplating the upper capability. The hub additionally helps DJI’s new energy accumulation characteristic, letting you utterly drain the 2 weakest batteries to switch energy to the strongest.
Transmission and controls
Just like the Mini 4 Professional and Air 3, the Avata makes use of DJI’s newest O4 transmission system that enhances vary to 13km within the US and 10km in Europe — spectacular for an FPV drone. It streams a 1080p video feed at as much as 100 fps, with latency as little as 24 milliseconds utilizing the Googles 3.
Talking of, the Goggles 3 have a built-in battery just like the Goggles Integra whereas updating to O4 functionality. Together with the improved transmission, they now include higher-resolution 1080p MicroOLED shows and improved eye consolation in comparison with the Goggles 2 that shipped with the unique Avata.
The large replace, although, is the Actual View pass-through cameras. With a double faucet on the facet of the headset or facet button on the RC Movement 3 controller, you’ll immediately change to a ahead view outdoors the Goggles 3. The decision isn’t very excessive, however at the least you possibly can see outdoors with out eradicating them. A setting lets you see the drone view as a picture-in-picture to spice up situational consciousness.
The Goggles 3 now lets you seize as much as 1080p video on to a microSD card on the headset itself and you may even stream reside to a different Goggles 3 headset concurrently. Video high quality remains to be greater when capturing on to the drone, after all, but it surely does present a backup. You may also file a view exhibiting the on-screen controls — helpful for reviewing flights.
One other new characteristic is head monitoring to manage the plane and gimbal with head features, permitting higher management for knowledgeable pilots.
There are a number of downsides. It nonetheless doesn’t assist glasses, so of us with astigmatism might want to buy customized lenses. When you have the Goggles V2, which does assist eyeglasses, it’s sadly not suitable with the Avata 2.
DJI hasn’t fairly nailed the consolation half, both. The padding isn’t mushy sufficient, so the sides pushed in opposition to the bridge of my nostril, creating some discomfort. It was higher after putting in the extra (included) pad, however nonetheless not excellent.
The RC Movement 3 controller has been significantly revamped for the higher. It’s smaller, lighter and has a extra comfy grip. Controls are additionally extra exact, with a brand new sidelink wi-fi resolution boosting the standard of the joystick’s sign. And for FPV fanatics preferring a basic drone controller, the Avata 2 additionally works with the brand new FPV Distant Management 3.
Efficiency
The place the unique Avata dumbed down FPV efficiency, the Avata 2 goes all in. It’s extremely maneuverable, and in contrast to most FPV drones, extremely crash-resistant.
Most speeds are the identical because the Avata at round 60MPH in guide mode with impediment detection turned off. That is perhaps slower than purpose-built open-propeller FPVs, but it surely’s quick for a client product and received’t slice up bystanders like common drones.
Although it’s not quicker, it’s faster and extra exact than the Avatar due to the slimmed-down and better-balanced physique. It activates a dime round obstacles and climbs and descends with alacrity. On the similar time, you possibly can plow by way of small twigs or leaves and barely decelerate.
Flying it’s actually enjoyable. The improved Goggles 3 with O4 give a clearer view, and the Movement 3 controller permits for exact and intuitive management. For occasions round folks, you possibly can fly in regular or newbie modes for security, or elsewhere at 35 or 60 MPH in sport and guide modes.
The Movement 3 provides a brand new set off setting that rotates the Avata 2 in place for simpler maneuvers and it now features a devoted mode button for regular or sport flying. The joystick is bigger and the controller extra responsive and exact total.
Head monitoring is a typical characteristic on FPV and Cinewoop drones, and it now works on the Avata 2. I discovered it useful primarily for controlling the digital camera tilt, because it’s a pure technique to regulate that parameter.
If you wish to fly the Avata 2 at high velocity in guide mode, you’ll want the FPV Distant Controller 3, which is offered individually for $199.
The Simple Acro mode is cool, however a bit cumbersome since it’s a must to change it on and off. Additionally, it’s really easy to implement with the RC Movement controller that it is nearly… boring. Methods embrace slides, 180-degree drifts and flips, although you possibly can’t file video in flip mode.
The Avata 2 is best than earlier than in stiff winds, however can nonetheless get buffeted round and infrequently has to lean in opposition to the breeze, inflicting uneven or unlevel footage. Maintaining issues easy, significantly open air, requires extra apply than with a drone just like the Mini 4 Professional.
It doesn’t have forward-facing sensors, so its most important safety is the prop guards and excessive sturdiness. It does detect obstacles from the rear and beneath, and that stored me protected in some tight spots. I nonetheless crashed it at the least 4 to 5 instances although, fortunately simply within the grass or in opposition to small twigs and leaves — with out leaving a scratch. This might make some pilots overconfident, although.
Battery life is noticeably higher than the Avata and eliminates a lot of the vary anxiousness typical with FPV drones. Nonetheless, you solely get 18-20 minutes of practical vary. Most critical pilots will wish to have at the least three batteries with the Fly-Extra equipment, and ideally extra.
Video
The Avata 2 eliminates the Avata’s mediocre video high quality by way of a a lot bigger 1/1.3-inch sensor with 10-bit D-LogM functionality borrowed from the Mini 4 Professional.
As earlier than it gives regular, vast and ultra-wide taking pictures with as much as a 155-degree area of view. It has two stabilization modes, RockSteady 3.0 and HorizonSteady. The latter is finest if you wish to maintain issues stage, significantly in excessive winds — it does are inclined to lean into wind. RockSteady smooths footage extra whereas permitting the digital camera to tilt, all the higher to indicate off thrilling maneuvers.
It helps 4K video at as much as 60 fps or 1080p and a pair of.7K at 120 fps. Nonetheless, it might probably solely seize 12-megapixel JPEG stills, so it’s not ideally suited for pictures.
All that places it leaps forward of the Avata for video. Photos are usually sharper and colours extra correct. The ten-bit D-LogM mode permits for greater dynamic vary in brilliant or contrasty circumstances. The one high quality flaw I observed was often blockiness in video at 4K 60p when flying quick, possible artifacts because of the 130Mbps bit fee (watch out for re-encoding for YouTube).
It’s a lot improved in low mild for cityscapes or interiors as nicely due to the bigger sensor. It’s less than the extent of a mirrorless digital camera, however as with the Mini 4 Professional, it’s effective for nicely lit evening scenes most often. ISO ranges are usable as much as 12800 with noise discount, with the 25600 max setting being for emergency use solely.
Wrap-up
The Avata 2 is certain to be one other hit for DJI. It eliminates almost each flaw on the Avata, boosting image high quality, FPV maneuverability, battery life, vary and extra. Video high quality, particularly, will make it much more fascinating for content material creators, occasion videographers and others (my professional pals, who already personal the Avata, are planning to order one). On the similar time, it’s a improbable FPV drone for inexperienced persons — simply tremendous enjoyable to make use of.
It’s additionally extra reasonably priced. The Avata 2 is priced at $1,000 with a single battery within the Fly-Extra equipment with the Goggles 3 and Movement 3 controller, or $1,200 with three batteries, the two-way charging hub and a carrying case. You may also buy it alone at $490.
That compares to unique $630 worth for the Avata. That mannequin additionally value $1,388 for the Avata with Goggles and Movement Controller, plus one other $279 for the 2-battery/charger Fly-Extra equipment (for $1,667 whole) — so the Avata 2 is almost $500 cheaper in that configuration. As talked about, the FPV Distant Controller 3 is $199, whereas the ND Filters Set is $79.
The Avata 2 doesn’t have a lot competitors, as common FPV drones usually lack propeller guards and rivals like Autel don’t provide comparable merchandise. That doesn’t actually matter, although, as DJI’s newest drone is each highly effective and attractively priced — making it a extremely fascinating product for creators of all stripes.
