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Avata is a fresh addition in the DJI’s lineup, a fresh and buzz-generating gizmo that many will love. Basically, it’s a more compact and nimble version of DJI’s full-sized FPV drone. Factors such as the smaller size and ducted propellers design will enable you to get much closer to subjects without worrying about hitting anyone or damaging it if things go south. The Avata’s small size makes it way lighter, while the ducted propellers prevent it from injuring anyone in its flight path.
Let’s see what it’s all about!
DJI Avata Review
This DJI’s beginner-friendly FPV drone feels ground-breaking in many ways. Avata’s one-handed motion controller is very intuitive, making it extremely easy to master in just a couple of minutes. The drone includes a gimballed 4K camera that offers fantastic aerial video.
And while $1,168 isn’t pocket change, the all-in cost is within reach of motivated drone enthusiasts who have disposable income and want to take to the skies from a first-person perspective.
Key Specs | |
Camera | 48 MP |
Battery | Li-ion 14.76 V 2420 mAh |
Charging Time | 48 minutes |
Flight Time | 10-12 minutes |
Control Range | Up to 10 kilometers |
DJI Avata At First Glance
First-person view drones have always been about offering next-level flight experience and footage. These agile drones transmit the feed from their onboard camera to the user’s goggles. This experience puts you in the metaphorical pilot’s seat of the drone.
DJI Avata perfectly captures this kind of experience with its amazing features. If you want to find out more about this incredible, beginner-friendly FPV drone, continue reading!
Flight Time
While the company claims that the Avata can fly up to 18 minutes, the more realistic number pilots can expect is between 10 and 12 minutes - or even less if you fly it extremely fast.
Nevertheless, this flight time is still good for an FPV drone as most drones in this category offer under 10 minutes.
When it comes to the battery itself, it makes up a significant weight of the drone, weighing 162g. Furthermore, sliding the battery into the frame is extremely easy, and it uses a flexible connector designed to limit crash damage.
Charging Avata’s battery is a breeze. The flexible power cable is easily connected to a single charger, and it takes about 48 minutes to charge the battery fully.
One interesting feature of this drone is that it warns you when the battery is running out. If the battery gets really low, the drone starts to fly home. This is a welcomed feature on a FPV drone for sure.
If you wish to fly for extended outings, extra batteries and the multi-charger are very useful accessories to get.
Camera
The majority of so-called Cinewhoop FPV drones utilize external cameras such as GoPro or similar. However, the Avata features a built-in camera that uses a 1/1.7-inch sensor.
Avata's camera features normal, wide, and ultra-wide modes with up to a 155-degree field of view. On top of that, it has the built-in gimbal, RockSteady smoothing, and HorizonView option to keep things level.
The gimbal and RockSteady stabilization keep the video smooth regardless of wind or sudden maneuvers. The HorizonView option works as advertised - it keeps things level even when you are slaloming between obstacles such as trees.
Avata’s camera supports 4K video resolution at up to 60 fps and 1080p and 2.7K resolutions at 120 fps. And if you ever want to shoot photos, the sensor has 48 MP, which is capable of capturing some amazing shots.
Furthermore, Avata’s camera performs well in low-light conditions and also provides an improved dynamic range if you decide to shoot videos and photos in D-Cinelike color and color grade with video editing software.
Avata’s camera has an automatic mode that offers an ISO range of 100-6400. While this range is great for most environments, you can crank that up to a stunning 25600 for night-time recordings if you decide to switch to the manual mode.
Range
DJI claims that this FPV drone will go up to 10 km in outdoor environments clear of interference.
While this might be true in the middle of nowhere without a cell phone tower or power line in sight, the environment and its interference, including deep canyons or concrete buildings, will greatly affect how far you can actually fly this drone.
Nevertheless, the range of up to 10 km should be more than enough for any beginner who is looking to get some experience in flying an FPV drone.
Flying Experience
While the Avata isn’t as fast as some FPV drones, it’s still a blast to fly. It tops out at 100 km/h in manual mode, whereas sport and normal modes are quite slower at 50 km/h and 28 km/h, respectively.
In order to access manual mode, you’ll need an extra controller. However, Avata’s manual mode opens up flips, dives, climbs, rolls, and other tricks. Just keep in mind that there are no sensor safeguards.
So, while this drone is tough, it’s not unbreakable and could potentially hurt someone if you decide to fly it at its top speed.
Avata has awesome maneuverability, allowing you to fly in places you’d never take another drone. The Motion Controller is extremely easy to use – all you have to do is aim it where you want to go and pull the trigger to speed up.
Tilt the controller upward and apply power in order to climb and reverse that for descents. A big button on top brings the drone to a hover, while the red one lets you take off and land.
What Do We Like?
DJI’s idea of simplifying the road to FPV success was absolutely accomplished with the brand’s new small drone. Avata is easy to set up, easy to fly, and its components are affordable to replace. Once the controller, goggles, and drone are all paired together, all you'll have to do is keep the battery full.
Another big positive feature of this drone is the high-quality video feed coming into the goggles, giving pilot’s a clear preview of what’s ahead of Avata and what they need to avoid. This is especially useful when flying the drone through dense woods.
Last but not least, the camera quality is amazing. At this price point, Avata is an absolute bargain considering it can shoot 4K video at 60 fps, 2.7K at 120 fps and 48-megapixel photos.
PROS
What Don’t We Like?
While I really wanted to love everything about this drone, there are certain issues that one should take into consideration before making a purchase.
Firstly, you need fast memory cards. DJI’s list of accepted micro SD cards requires a write speed of above 30 mb/s. That’s without mentioning that Avata records photos and videos to onboard storage in the goggles rather than the SD card in the drone.
However, the main downside of this Drone is that you can’t fly vertically or backward when using its controller. So, to do this, you’d need to get the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2. And for more experienced pilots who wish to fly in Manual mode, the FPV Remote is crucial.
CONS
Advice To Buyers
If you want to capture immersive FPV videos but don’t have the experience to fly a traditional FPV drone, the DJI Avata is a fantastic choice. It can be pricey for some when you consider that you have to purchase the ‘Fly More Bundle’ with two extra batteries, which are necessary with flight times at about the 12-minute mark per battery.
For more experienced FPV drone pilots, the Avata is a fantastic ready-to-fly or bind-and-fly kit based on what compatible accessories you may already have. However, in order to fly in Manual mode, you’ll have to buy the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 separately.
Final Words
If you’re looking to enter the world of FPV drones, the DJI Avata provides the perfect entry point – as long as you can tolerate the higher price tag that comes along with it.
With a smaller and more durable chassis and an improved camera setup with a particular focus on low-light performance, DJI Avata is an incredible drone for anyone who’s looking to get into FPV flying.
With micro-LED displays and a maximum video range of 10km in regions where it’s permitted, the bundled DJI Goggles 2 also provide a leap forward.
The FPV flying experience is truly elevated with DJI’s Motion controller. Although not new, the joystick-shaped controller offers an incredibly intuitive way for beginner FPV pilots to zoom through the air and capture videos.
While there’s a trade-off in terms of functionality and top speed, you can get around this by going for DJI’s twin-stick FPV Remote Controller 2.
Last update on 2024-12-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API This article contains affiliate links which for which the owner of the site may receive a commision.
