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If you are looking for a new DJI drone, the Mavic series drones offer a great combination of power and portability at a great price. The Mavic Air 2 is the latest addition to the Mavic series, which comes with improved performance compared to the original Mavic Air. In this Mavic Air 2 vs Mavic Air comparison, we'll take a look at video and camera performance, smart features, flight performance, and everything in between!
Camera Rendering
The new Mavic Air 2 drone has a larger 1/2-inch camera sensor, 48MP photography and SmartPhoto.
Camera Features
Let's start things off with one of the most important differences between the Mavic Air 2 and the Mavic Air. The Mavic Air 2 has a bigger and better 1/2-inch camera sensor compared to the 1/2.3-inch sensor on the original Mavic Air. The Mavic Air 2 camera is also supported by Quad Bayer technology, which provides stunning 48MP photos, as well as 12MP with pixel binning technology. This type of technology is similar to that used in modern smartphones, effectively turning four pixels into one. The Mavic Air 2 offers more image detail than the Mavic Air, which is especially noticeable when you zoom in on the image.
ISO range
The Mavic Air has an ISO range of 100 to 1600 in auto mode and 100 to 3200 in manual mode. In 12MP mode, the Mavic Air 2 has an ISO range of 100 to 3200 in auto mode and 100 to 6400 in manual mode. Mavic Air 2's higher ISO range gives you better details in different lighting conditions. If you decide to shoot in 48MP mode on the Mavic Air 2, the ISO range is 100 to 1600 in auto mode and 100 to 3200 in manual mode. Check out the ISO comparison below to see how both drones perform at different ISO levels.
SmartPhoto
SmartPhoto is a completely new feature for Mavic Air 2, combining HDR imaging, scene recognition and Hyperlight into one smart algorithm. SmartPhoto captures images quickly and easily, optimizing camera parameters, just like a modern smartphone.
Panorama
One of the coolest features of the original Mavic Air is the 32MP spherical panorama, which automatically combines images to create an epic panorama. Mavic Air can also produce horizontal, vertical and 180 panoramas without the need for in-app editing.
Things get even more interesting with the Mavic Air 2's new HDR panorama feature. Using the most advanced panorama function in any of our drones, HDR panorama produces an extremely wide panorama with excellent dynamic range.
Video rendering
Mavic Air 2 provides excellent video performance with 4K/60fps video at 120Mbps.
Frame rate & Bit rate
In addition to the higher frame rate, the Mavic Air 2 has a higher bit rate that produces better looking video. While both Mavic Airs have FHD capabilities, the Mavic Air 2 offers up to 240 fps compared to the Mavic Air's 120 fps. All of this translates into smoother, cinematic footage.
HDR video
Mavic Air 2 also supports HDR video at 4K/30fps and 2.7K/30fps, which produces stunning footage wherever you are. HDR video performs better than standard video modes, offering a better dynamic range for landscape shots. You no longer have to worry so much about sunlight ruining your epic video!
ISO range
The ISO range in video, offered on the Mavic Air 2, is from 100 to 6400 compared to that of the Mavic Air, which is from 100 to 1600. The higher ISO setting makes the Mavic Air 2 more sensitive to light, to produce videos with more vivid colors and better contrast.
Video encoding
What is the difference between H.265 offered in Mavic Air 2 and H.264 offered in Mavic Air? H.265 is a new video compression standard that processes information more efficiently. This means you can maintain higher video quality on lower storage and bandwidth, which is great when you need to upload and display your content on social media platforms.
Smart features
Mavic Air 2 changes the game with smarter features, taking your movie shooting options to another level.
FocusTrack
FocusTrack is a new series of smart tracking modes for Mavic Air 2, allowing you to get more varied shots. First, we have ActiveTrack 3.0, which supports the best tracking software yet. ActiveTrack 3.0 gives you more control over tracking in high-speed scenes, as well as the ability to automatically track your subject if it's lost behind an object. Point of Interest (POI) 3.0 lets you set an automated flight path around a subject. This feature has improved surface recognition algorithms. Finally, we also have Spotlight 2.0, which is a professional drone tracking feature that locks your subject in the center of the frame while giving you full control over your drone's movement. FocusTrack is an important step for users looking for smart drone capabilities.
8K Hyperlapse
You can now shoot 8K Hyperlapses on the Mavic Air 2, allowing you to control timing and motion in stunning scenes. Whether you're shooting a cityscape transition from day to night, or a stunning sunset over a landscape, 8K Hyperlapse offers you a whole new world of filmmaking possibilities. This new smart feature can only be found on the Mavic Air 2.
QuickShots
Many of us are just looking for a drone that can take epic shots without spending an entire day. If this sounds like you, QuickShots are a great way to add impressive flight sequences to your footage with a few simple clicks. Both Mavic Air and Mavic Air 2 offer five QuickShots: Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang and Asteroid. Mavic Air 2 adds advanced electronic stabilization to QuickShots, making them smoother and more stable than ever before. Check out this Mavic Air 2 review for a more detailed breakdown of QuickShots.
Flight performance and safety
Mavic Air 2 features an upgraded transmission system, increased safety and an impressive battery life of up to 34 minutes.
It's a similar story for flight performance and safety. From mountain peaks to stunning cityscapes, Mavic Air 2 delivers excellent transmission and signal thanks to the new OcuSync 2.0 feature. Compared to Mavic Air's Wi-Fi transmission, OcuSync 2.0 is more stable and offers a tremendous performance in flight.
Battery
Fast forward, the Mavic Air 2 offers a flight time of up to 34 minutes compared to 21 minutes on the Mavic Air. Choose the Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo, which comes with three smart flight batteries to give you more than 90 minutes of pure shooting time!
Remote control
The new Mavic Air 2 remote control has been completely redesigned. You can place your smartphone on the remote control.
The Mavic Air 2 remote control is lighter, more comfortable and has a simplistic design. The new remote also features built-in antennas and a toggle button for Tripod, Normal and Sport flight modes. The Mavic Air 2 remote also has an impressive battery life of up to 240 minutes, and you can charge your other devices on the go with reverse charging. In terms of live view performance, the Mavic Air offers a 720/30fps live view display, while the Mavic Air 2 produces 1080p/30fps live view.
DJI Fly & DJI GO 4
DJI Fly and DJI GO 4 offer users a simple flying experience with many options to choose from.
DJI Fly makes flying a drone a breeze with its easy-to-use settings, templates and easy-to-use editing platform. From QuickShots to 8K Hyperlapse, you can access every function of the Mavic Air 2 with a few simple clicks. In comparison, the Mavic Air uses the DJI Go 4, which has an updated homepage, editor, and playback interface. Both DJI Fly and DJI Go 4 let you capture your adventure with ease.
Accessories
Both Mavic Air 2 and Mavic Air come with a wide range of accessories to help you get the most out of every adventure.
From ND filters that help you capture amazing landscape photography to extra batteries and propellers, Mavic Air 2 and Mavic Air accessories enhance your entire movie-making experience.
Mavic Air 2 or Mavic Air?
The Mavic Air is a great choice for users looking for an all-in-one drone that combines a powerful camera with reliable flight performance. If you're looking for the latest in a camera drone with upgraded performance, the Mavic Air 2 has powerful imaging capabilities, longer flight time and stronger transmission.
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