January 23, 2018 – DJI officially announced the new Mavic Air, which again raises the bar for ease of use and safety for aerial drones. Having watched the announcement live this morning, here are the essential details I have noted (somewhat filtered according to what I find most interesting). So, for those interested in aerial drones or aerial photo/video with drones, here is what you need to know in 60 seconds.
Physical
- Half the size of Mavic Pro and 41% lighter
- Antennas concealed within the landing legs (away from the body)
- 8GB internal storage + SD card slot
- USB type C port
- Controller is pocketable, removable control sticks
- Available in black, white, or red
Camera
- 1/2.3″ image sensor (same size as Mavic Pro and Phantom 3 Pro)
- 4K video
- 12MP still photos
- HDR capture mode
- 360-degree panorama, auto stitching up to 25 images
- New 3-axis gimbal, improved vibration dampening, better image stabilization
Flight control
- Intelligent flight modes, including improved auto-tracking moving subject and two new quick-shot modes
- Controllable with hand gestures (up to 19 feet)
- Advanced pilot assist can automatically go around obstacles
- More stable, can withstand wind speeds up to 22 mph
- Fly Safe geo system – information about airspace restrictions
Pricing
- $799 complete
- $999 with accessories (extra battery, extra propellers, carrying case, etc)
Availability
- Shipping Jan.29, 2018.
(I am guessing that demand will be high for this product and it will take some time for DJI to fulfill all the orders.)