DJI outs new 4K folding drone

The latest addition to DJI’s lineup of drones is one that picks the best features of the US$999 Mavic Pro and the $399 Spark and sits comfortably in the middle of these two price-wise. The $799 DJI Mavic Air borrows the Mavic Pro’s foldability and gets its smaller footprint from the Spark. It’s now 41 percent lighter than the Pro. If what’s preventing you from getting the Spark was its specs, the Air’s specifications are closer to the pro.

It has a 1/2.3-inch sensor that can shoot 4K video at 24 or 30 frames per second and 12-megapixel stills with its 24mm wide-angle f/2.8 lens. In terms of its flight capabilities, it tops out at 42.5 miles per hour and can withstand winds of up to 22 miles per hour. With its new antenna, it has a 2.5-mile range, within visual line of sight, of course. It also has a new ventilation system to prevent it from overheating and a new 3-axis gimbal casing for better, smoother footage. You don’t have to worry about flying into objects too much with its seven-camera obstacle avoidance system, which can also help it avoid and move past these obstacles instead of just stopping in front of them. And yes, you get a new remote, too. On the software side, DJI promises new shooting modes, including a 32-megapixel panorama option or tiny planet mode, and better gesture controls. Flight time is at 21 minutes.

Source: The Verge