Since I started flying my Mavic Mini, I have been hooked. Almost immediately, I knew I wanted to upgrade. The biggest question was, “which drone?”
The more I have flown, the more I have learned what I wanted. I started looking on Facebook Marketplace at some used drones thinking I could pick up a good deal. I targeted the original Mavic Pros. But the technology is five years old. A new Mavic Air 2 far surpasses the original Pro for just a little bit more. The Air 2 has a longer battery life, faster speed, better video transmission to the controller, and an improved camera. Camera technology has come a long way since 2016. And that is ultimately the deciding factor for me.
DJI Air 2s
And now rumors are starting to fly that DJI will soon be releasing the DJI Air 2s (dropping the Mavic name). Earlier today, there was a video that surfaced, previewing the Air 2s. The tag line was “coming soon.” My guess is that it will be released before the end of April.
Camera
The new DJI Air 2s video showed a one-inch sensor compared to the half-inch sensor on the current Air 2. Why is that important? The bigger the sensor, the more light can be captured, which renders a better quality image. The Mavic Pro 2 also has a one-inch sensor too. So it seems that there may be little incentive to get the more expensive Pro 2 over the rumored Air 2s. Of course, there are other advantages to the Pro 2 camera, like adjustable aperture and the Hasselblad lens. But how much are those extra features worth?
Anti-Collision
Another great feature that appears to be included with the Air 2s is ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. This is a feature that will detect manned aircraft in the area. I am all for this extra safety feature.
Object Avoidance
One thing that the Air 2 has that my Mavic Mini does not have is extra object avoidance sensors on the front and back. The Mini only had a downward sensor. We will see if the Air 2s will receive any extra avoidance sensors added to the top or sides.
The Decision
I am excited to see more on the DJI Air 2s. And I have a strong feeling that this might be my next drone. It is all just rumors right now. We are not certain of these features yet. The whole thing could be nothing more than a rumor. Things could still change. But it seems more and more like this is a certainty. And it sounds like a great upgrade. What will I decide?
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