DJI Announces Mavic Air 2 Drone With 8K Support, Larger Camera Sensors, and Longer 34 Minute Flight Time

DJI this week announced the Mavic Air 2, a new foldable drone that features 8K functionality, a larger 1/2" camera sensor for higher resolution photos and videos, and upgraded flight modes. The Mavic Air 2 can also stay in the air longer thanks to better battery life.

mavic air 2
The company said that this is the first drone in the Mavic family to offer 4K video at 60fps and 120 Mbps. The drone supports HDR video, 4X slow motion in 1080p at 120fps or 8x slow motion in 1080p at 240fps. It can record images with up to 48-megapixels and has a mechanical 3-axis gimbal to create stable footage.

The Mavic Air 2 weighs about 570 grams and features new motors, electronic speed controllers, enhanced battery technology, and an aerodynamic design. DJI said that all of this helps provide a maximum flight time for the new drone of up to 34 minutes. While it's in the air, OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology delivers HD video to a connected smartphone at a maximum distance of 10km.

When connected to an iPhone or Android device, users will be able to take advantage of DJI's updated Fly app, which has more advanced functionality. This includes new in-app editing features for videos and photos, all of which DJI described as user-friendly so that anyone can pick up the DJI Fly app and interact with the Mavic Air 2.

mavic air 2 2
More features of the Mavic Air 2 include:

  • HDR photos: Mavic Air 2 automatically captures seven varying exposures of the same photograph, merging them together to bring out a highly dynamic image.
  • Hyperlight: Hyperlight is designed for low-light scenarios, taking multiple photographs and merging them to bring out a clear image with less of the noise which usually occurs in low-light scenes.
  • Scene Recognition: Mavic Air 2 can recognize five categories of scenes including sunsets, blue skies, grass, snow, and trees, then optimize settings to make the photograph pop by bringing out the highest degree of color, detail, and tones.
  • ActiveTrack 3.0: Select a subject for Mavic Air 2 to automatically follow. The third iteration of ActiveTrack uses state-of-the-art mapping technology and new flight path algorithms to offer improved subject tracking and obstacle avoidance, along with the ability to quickly re-engage the subject if it temporarily moves behind an object.
  • Point of Interest 3.0: Set an automated flight path around a specific subject. The updated iteration improves surface recognition to better dynamically track subjects.
  • Spotlight 2.0: Found in professional DJI drones, Spotlight locks a subject in the frame while the user has free operation of the drone’s movement.

The company also mentioned the safety features of the Mavic Air 2 in its announcement post, including obstacle sensors on the front and rear of the drone. Additional sensors and auxiliary lights on the bottom of the drone assist with automatic landing, and geofencing features help keep the Mavic Air 2 away from high-risk flying locations.

Due to current shipping restraints happening across numerous industries, the Mavic Air 2 is available today in China, while other regions will be able to pre-order the drone today with an expected shipping date in mid-May.

The Mavic Air 2 will be available in two purchasing options: a standard package with the Mavic Air 2, one battery, one remote controller, and all the required wires and cables for $799. Then there's the Fly More option with all items from the standard version as well as a shoulder bag, ND filters, charging hub, and 3 batteries for $988.

There are several DJI drones available to purchase on Apple.com, but it's not clear yet if the Mavic Air 2 will launch on Apple's website soon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with DJI. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Tag: DJI

Top Rated Comments

northernmunky Avatar
45 months ago
Well this thread turned into paranoia central pretty quickly.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacNut Avatar
45 months ago

It's already a known fact that DJI equipment and apps send data back to China. Everyone needs to stop buying or using anything from DJI.
And your iPhone was made in China. Will you stop buying those now?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clayj Avatar
45 months ago

And your iPhone was made in China. Will you stop buying those now?
I trust Apple more than I trust DJI -- but I do want Apple to move their iPhone assembly out of China, along with everything else.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mdracer Avatar
45 months ago
I only have one recommendation with these Drones being from China.

Download the app on a separate cheap iPad mini, set up the drone and immidialaty disconnect it from the internet and do not let it connect online. I love my Mavic 2 Pro but I will never trust it and the information it may or may not be sending back to its homeland.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clayj Avatar
45 months ago
It's already a known fact that DJI equipment and apps send data back to China. Everyone needs to stop buying or using anything from DJI.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clayj Avatar
45 months ago

Genuinely curious- do you have any links on this?
Here's a New York Times article from 2017 -- hardly tin-foil hat stuff:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/technology/dji-china-data-drones.html
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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