DJI Avata, the latest drone from DJI, has a digicam, but it surely’s additionally a Cinewhoop-style FPV drone. Nevertheless it’s not the primary FPV drone to come back from DJI. That award goes to DJI FPV, which launched in 2021.
A 12 months later comes DJI Avata. It’s smaller, lighter than DJI FPV. Some individuals have referred to Avata as a FPV Mini — however mini undoubtedly doesn’t imply lesser.
Each include what’s successfully a VR headset, providing you with a primary particular person view of what the drone sees, making you are feeling such as you’re in its cockpit. For individuals desirous about FPV flying however have been turned off by the truth that most FPV drones require a good quantity of DIY, both drone is nice in that they’re largely ready-to-fly, out of the field.
So with that, which FPV drone is healthier? The brand new, shiny and extra nimble child on the block wins on most ranges — although it is going to be barely dearer, assuming you need and want DJI FPV goggles. Nevertheless it’s not essentially higher for everybody.
Right here’s what you’ll want to know in regards to the two in a DJI Avata vs DJI FPV comparability:
DJI FPV in a nutshell
With its distinctive views and refreshing working strategies, DJI FPV opened up an entire new world for DJI clients used to digicam drones. And it opened up a brand new alternative for FPV fans who needed a well-made, ready-to-fly, out-of-the-box racing drone.
“It could fly like a racer, hover like a conventional drone, speed up like a homebuilt undertaking and cease quicker than any of them,” stated Ferdinand Wolf, Inventive Director, DJI Europe at launch. “DJI FPV lets the world expertise absolutely the thrill of immersive drone flight with out being intimidated by the expertise or spending hours constructing a system from scratch.”
Who DJI FPV is for
Finally, if you happen to actually wish to be a critical drone racer however need a DJI-made, able to fly product, then DJI FPV is healthier for you. With a most acceleration of 0-100 kph in two seconds (whereas flying in M mode), you’re taking a look at a fairly critical racing machine.
It could attain unimaginable speeds of 140 kph (about 87 miles per hour). That’s quicker than a automobile ought to legally be driving on most highways.
All that, and it nonetheless shoots beautiful video footage, all from that first-person view.
And positive, even if you happen to’re not a professional, it’s nonetheless beginner-friendly due to options like an Emergency Brake and a failsafe ‘Return to Residence’ that may deliver the drone again to its dwelling level routinely when activated or if the transmission sign is misplaced.
Associated learn: DJI FPV footage is dizzying and exquisite — so who is that this drone for?
Purchase DJI FPV now from:
DJI Avata in a nutshell
DJI Avata launched this week, with DJI calling it “the primary immersive flight expertise drone with a built-in propeller guard created by DJI.”
It’s a Cinewhoop-style FPV drone that weighs 410 grams, about half the load of the DJI FPV. That stated, it nonetheless exceeds the 249 gram registration threshold, that means you’ll have to register with the FAA if you happen to intend to fly it outside.
Associated learn: DJI Avata drone is a Cinewhoop-style delight — and it’s even higher indoors
Whereas it may be operated by way of a more-standard controller, DJI is selling that it’s flown with the DJI Movement Controller, a one-handed, wand-like gadget that permits you to want it and management the drone.
Who DJI Avata is for
DJI Avata is a Cinewhoop-style, indoor FPV drone for the plenty. Meaning its an easy-to-fly, satisfying drone that doesn’t essentially demand critical, handbook flight abilities (although flying in handbook M mode will help you present these abilities supply, must you select).
Finally although, it’s nonetheless fairly costly. At greater than $1,000 for the Fly Sensible Combo, it’s not only for somebody who is solely inquisitive about FPV, the way in which you would possibly choose up a sub-$100 Cinewhoop-style toy drone from Amazon to fiddle round with. That’s, except you’re curious and have some huge cash to burn.
The fee ought to make it clear, however that is nonetheless not a child’s product. The propeller guards are a welcome security function, however they don’t clear up each potential crash.
It’s additionally not actually for photographers. The cameras on different DJI digicam drones just like the Mini 3 Professional and Mavic Air 2 are nonetheless much better. As an alternative, it is a racing drone for the racing-curious, say, a digicam drone pilot who has been watching the Drone Racing League and needs to get into the FPV membership. And on condition that the digicam remains to be ultra-high high quality, it’s for individuals who wish to have the very best social media feed on the market, with essentially the most fascinating, distinctive movies.
DJI Avata vs DJI FPV, side-by-side
Right here’s how the 2 FPV drones look proper up towards one another:
DJI Avata | DJI FPV | |
Beginning worth (with DJI FPV Goggles V2) | $1,168 (Fly Sensible Combo) | $999 (FPV Combo) |
Takeoff Weight | 410 grams | 795 grams |
Diagonal Distance | 120 mm | 245 mm |
Max hover time | 18 minutes | 16 minutes |
Inner storage | 20 GB | None |
Sensor | 1/1.7-inch CMOS | 1/2.3” CMOS |
Lens FOV | 155° | 150° |
Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
Video decision | 4K@50/60fps | 4K@50/60fps |
Max Video Bitrate | 150 Mbps | 120 Mbps |
EIS | RockSteady and HorizonSteady | RockSteady |
DJI Avata vs DJI FPV: which drone is healthier for you?
In some ways, Avata is a superior enchancment to the DJI FPV drone. It’s usually smaller, lighter and extra nimble. Glasses join your cellphone so you possibly can share the expertise with others. It flies indoors, opening up many extra flying prospects.
Some options on Avata are simply wow-worthy. Take these FPV Goggles 2, with the touchpad to navigate the menu. It’s important to admit turtle mode (the place the drone flips over upon crashing and touchdown the other way up) is spectacular. However what else?
The digicam: The Avata digicam is the higher one right here. One particularly huge leg up that Avata has, although is HorizonSteady expertise, which principally takes RockSteady (software program that eliminates image shake, doing what a gimbal manually does in a digital method) and improves it by additionally preserving the image oriented towards true degree.
And don’t overlook the Avata’s 1/1.7-inch sensor, with a 48MP decision and as much as 150Mbps video high quality, versus the DJI FPV’s smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor that may seize 12MP photographs and 120Mbps video.
I additionally admire the interior storage capabilities on the DJI Avata, making it okay for forgetful people like me to fly sans microSD card if obligatory.
Goggles: Whereas the outdated mannequin of Goggles do work with the Avata, it’s arduous to not evaluate the 2 units o Goggles within the comparability too, the Goggles 2 versus the Goggles V2. Weirdly, V2 Goggles are the older ones, and simply the two Goggles are the newer ones. The newer ones are smaller, lighter and brighter, due to that sharp, 1080p show. Plus, new options embrace diopter changes — so glasses-wearing people don’t have to put on them.
One design flaw that I didn’t like in regards to the Goggles V2 that by no means bought fastened within the Goggles 2, both? There’s no excellent spot to retailer the battery. It hangs by a twine, and also you’ll seemingly tuck it in your pocket (hopefully you’ve gotten one!).
Movement versus joystick controller: In fact, it’s additionally arduous to check the 2 drones with out evaluating the 2 varieties of controllers. With Avata, DJI desires you to make use of the Movement Controller, which helps you to management the drone with a flick of the wrist.
If you wish to fly Avata in handbook mode, you will want the joystick controller (which prices an extra $200 with Avata).
The Movement Controller is meant to be extra intuitive (although it may not truly be if you happen to’re used to the sticks on a conventional RC). In the event you’re fully new to drones although, you is likely to be delighted by the Movement Controller.
Velocity and flight: In the event you think about your self an adrenaline junky, keep on with the DJI FPV. It’s loads nearer to a critical racing drone given its excessive speeds and sharp maneuverability. Avata solely reaches 31 mph in Sport mode and 60 mph in handbook mode, whereas the DJI FPV drone is at a far-greater 60 mph in Sport mode and an even-faster 87 mph in handbook mode.
Then once more, with its smaller measurement, Avata can wedge underneath desk legs and between doorframes, which is much less seemingly with DJI FPV (except you’re an especially expert pilot) given its bigger measurement.
In fact, which means Avata remains to be fairly quick, however don’t name this a racing drone (even when it’s an FPV drone).
Even nonetheless, each of those DJI FPV drones are extra about capturing POV movies with sharp and regular footage than actually racing. If it’s true racing drones you’re after, look outdoors of DJI. However for most individuals who wish to get began with FPV flying — or have been in it awhile and wish better-quality photographs than what they’ve been used to on non-DJI drones, the Avata and older DJI FPV impressively match the invoice.

DJI Avata vs DJI FPV: which one do you like? Go away your personal critiques and ideas within the feedback beneath!