The best drone for newcomers: DJI Mavic Air review
First-time drone buyers faced a dilemma with DJI's lineup: Do you go for the cheap-but-limited Spark, or the expensive-but-capable Mavic Pro? The new Mavic Air promises to be the best of both worlds -- and we put it to the test.
The Chinese company essentially created the consumer drone with the Phantom. In 2016, they introduced the Mavic Pro -- their first foldable drone -- bringing high-end features in a more portable package. And last year’s Spark was even smaller still.
But if you wanted to buy a drone for the first time, DJI’s lineup left you with a dilemma. At under $500, the Spark was cheap -- but compromised on key features. It didn’t include a remote controller, dramatically limiting range, and can't shoot 4K video. The Mavic Pro had both -- but at $1,000, was a steep price to pay for first-time buyers.
DJI’s latest drone fills that gap. The Mavic Air slots neatly between the two, promising the portability of the Spark with the technical capability of the Mavic Pro.
IT’S REALLY SMALL
I expected the Mavic Air to be small, but seeing it in person, it’s still striking just how tiny the drone is. When folded up, it’s not just significantly smaller than the Mavic Pro -- it’s only slightly bigger than the Spark.
I do wonder how much of a difference this actually makes. The Mavic Pro is certainly bigger -- but still fits comfortably inside a bag. And unless you live in the countryside (or have a particularly scenic commute), a drone isn’t something you’d carry with you every day. Still, it’s hard to complain when something gets smaller and lighter.
A bigger factor for portability is the remote controller. It has removable thumbsticks that can be stored inside the remote itself. Aside from giving it a slimmer profile, the sharp edges of the Mavic Pro’s thumbsticks were sharp enough to tear the inside of bags, so being able to tuck them away makes the remote much easier to carry around.