Like many travelers, I’ve long been a fan of DJI’s lineup of drones, making it possible to capture incredible aerial photos and videos at a fraction of the price of a helicopter charter.My long-time go-to has been the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, thanks to its 2x zoom lens. But, thanks to its smaller size, longer battery life, improved safety features and lower price point, the brand-new Mavic Air 2 is the better pick for newbies, and even some advanced users, too.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxe-x2ZniBi/While I’m eager to try out the Mavic Air 2 on my next trip, I did have a chance to test it out in the backyard during my at-home quarantine in Pennsylvania. It’s more compact than the Mavic 2 Zoom I’m used to, and, thanks to a handful of new features, it’s even easier to fly.Perhaps most exciting to aviation geeks is the addition of AirSense, which uses an ADS-B sensor to identify nearby airplanes and helicopters, which appear on the main control screen. Due to current supply chain limitations, ADS-B support will only be available on drones sold in North America at first, though DJI plans to ship compatible drones globally as soon as it’s able.The Mavic Air 2 also includes Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0, which uses 3D mapping to adjust the drone’s path and avoid collisions during autonomous flying. There are also additional sensors and auxiliary lights on the bottom of the drone, to aid automated landing in poor lighting conditions.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.A sample photo captured with the Mavic Air 2. Photo courtesy of DJI.Some of the Mavic Air 2’s other notable features include:570-gram total weight (1.26 pounds)Battery flight time of up to 34 minutesOcuSync 2.0 for up to 10km transmissionThe drone has some major photography chops as well, including:1/2-inch sensor (vs. 1/2.3-inch on the Mavic Air)12-megapixel photo capture48-megapixel high-resolution mode3-axis image stabilizationHDR capture (7-image merge)Hyperlight for low-light captures8K Hyperlapse videoAuto scene recognition to help make details pop4K video capture at 60fps and 120 Mbps1080p slow-motion capture (120fps and 240fps)HDR video supportPhoto courtesy of DJI.Mavic Air 2 is available to pick up in China today, and available to pre-order in other countries, including the United States, with an estimated ship date of mid-May. A standard package with the remote controller, one battery and necessary cables costs $799, while a Fly More version which adds two more batteries, a charging hub, ND filters and a shoulder bag is available for $988.
