TWO WEEKS WITH THE DJI MAVIC AIR 2
Air 2 the throne With the promise of pro-grade video, ultra-crisp photos and a non-intimidating flying experience, Stuff finds out if DJI has made the perfect compact drone from R18 800 / dji.com The Air 2 can withstand winds of up to 5 (‘fresh breeze’) on the Beaufort Scale.
Unboxing time… and we re struggling to get our heads around how DJI’s engineers have crammed so many exciting new features into something only a bit larger than the device it replaces – our favourite little mid-range drone, the Mavic Air. At just 570g, the Mavic Air 2 still fits in the palm of a biggish hand, but DJI has seen fit to build on the basic platform of a simple entry-level drone and throw in a
heap of pro-grade features. So those dipping a tentative toe into the waters of aerial photography or videography no longer have to put up with mediocre content. With that in mind, you can think of this drone as a Mavic 2 Pro on a diet. Its external dimensions look as if they’ve been following a Zoom workout for several months and its overall heft is almost half that of its Pro big brother. A new ergonomically
There’s loads of advanced tech to keep drone fans busy, but it’s simply packaged so as not to overwhelm newcomers 76
designed controller, new motors and improved battery life – plus loads of advanced flying tech, onboard obstacle avoidance systems and built-in video modes – ensure there’s a lot to keep drone fans busy; but it’s simply packaged so as not to overwhelm newcomers. First things first, though: it’s time to charge everything. That fancy new controller requires plugging in via a USB-C cable (it runs for four hours when fully charged), while the Fly More Combo we’re testing (R23 300) features two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries and a clever
three-battery charging unit that plugs into the wall. It takes a while to juice everything up, leaving plenty of time to digest the myriad YouTube tutorials that DJI offers in lieu of a handbook. DJI’s updated Fly app will guide you through the setup process, but it pays to watch some of the instructional videos first. Mother Nature seems bent on blowing a gale tomorrow, so we’re going to find our air-legs by launching (with permission) the Mavic Air 2 in an abandoned car park. Bedtime viewing complete, an alarm is set for first light to embark on our maiden flight.
