Released on August 25, 2022, DJI Avata created a fuss in the market. What do you think? Is it better than the DJI FPV released a year and a half ago?
I’m here to break down every aspect of DJI Avata and see if it’s worth buying. If you’re on the verge of buying this drone, take a look at the DJI Avata review below.
I have compared the DJI Avata with a few similar drones to see if it can outrank them in performance. Let’s see if we can call DJI Avata the new FPV king!
Specifications
In this segment, I’ve compared and rated the DJI Avata with the industry standard FPV drones.
Specifications | Industry Average | DJI Avata | Rating (Out of 5) |
Video/max frame-rate | 25-30 FPS | 4K/60 FPS, 2.7K/120 FPS, 1080/120 FPS | 5 |
Max bit-rate | 100 Mbps | 150Mbps | 5 |
Battery: | 2000 mAh | 2420 mAh | 5 |
Top Speed | 40-60 mph | 60 mph | 5 |
Hover Rate | 20 minutes | 18 minutes | 4.5 |
Dimensions: | 183×253×77 mm | 142 x 94 x 55mm | 5 |
Control Speed | 87 kph | 54 kph | 4.3 |
Weight: | 865 g | 410g | 5 |
Total Average Rating | 4.85/5 |
Now let’s move to the pros and cons –
Pros
- Comes with built-in interconnecting prop guards that make the drone more durable.
- Has an integrated wide-angle lens camera with a 4K60 video that senses motion.
- Uses intelligent flight batteries that offer up to 18 minutes of flight time.
- Smaller in size and lighter in weight compared to the DJI FPV.
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a manual mode in the standard controller.
- It doesn’t have a gimbal axis. So, the drone gets angled heavily when trying to take photos.
- It gives you a noisy Cinewhoop experience.
You probably could guess the quality of the DJI Avata, right? Well, you got more to learn and we got more to tell.
Follow the sections below to get a detailed explanation of the features of the DJI Avata:
Drone Design And Material Quality
Like any other drone, this DJI quadcopter is also made of sturdy plastic material. But there are interconnecting prop guards molded inside it. So, the construction is more durable than any other drone body.
Well, you might notice that the top of the drone is a bit flimsy. But the battery fits in really nicely giving the whole construction the perfect rigidity.
However, the SD card and USB-C port placement aren’t on the ideal side. They placed them inside the prop guard. But it would have been better if they placed them under the camera.
Camera Construction
Just like they were cautious with the build quality of the body, they gave much thought to the camera too. The Avata has an excellent type 1/1.7 sensor camera that you haven’t seen before.
Speaking of the quality, this camera can click 48-megapixel still pictures. The quality is almost similar to the best action cameras you see around.
And you can also select resolutions from 4K to 2.7K, and 1080 according to your preference. In short, if you want clean and bright drone shots, DJI Avata is the right option for you!
Well, a controversial competitor of Avata in terms of the camera is the Mavic Mini 3 pro. It is just a little behind in the CMOS censor. However, overall drone meets the expected customer satisfaction.
Now get back to the main point. what about the controlling system? Does DJI Avata support the FPV controller or the motion controller?
Controller Compatibility
The good thing about DJI Avata is that it works with both FPV and motion controllers. However, the DJI Avata comes with the newly designed DJI motion controller.
Personally, I think it’s a good option for beginners. It’s because you’ll get to control more intuitive movements with your wrist. But if you’re like me who loves traditional flight controls, you should go for the DJI FPV controller.
Well, there’s another interesting option to land your drone upside down. You just have to turn on the “Turtle Mode” for this. You’re all set!
Well in case, if you want a controller having a bigger screen then I would recommend the DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus V2.0. The great thing about its controller is a big 1080p 5.5” LCD screen.
Alright, these were all about the design and construction quality of the DJI Avata.
Let’s cut to the chase and talk about the real deal – the flying experience.
Flying Experience of DJI Avata
To get a first-person view drone flying experience, DJI Avata just added a new dimension.
Unlike the previous FPV drones, this DJI model is small and lightweight. So, you can easily maneuver it over the trees, through the bowling alleys, factories, and whatnot.
You can get a crystal-clear view through the goggles. The picture is sharp and clear. Also, you’ll have to worry less about losing the video crashing. It’s because there’s almost zero latency.
In short, if you’re an ordinary drone flyer, this DJI Avata will give you a wonderful experience.
So far, DJI Avata shows positive signs in all aspects. It seems like it’s almost beating all the FPVs of DJI. Is it so? If you think so then why not bring a DJI Avata to your home!!!
But before that here also get a vision of the first take-off of DJI Avata –
Is it Going to be the Best FPV of DJI?
If you consider the visual difference between DJI Avata and DJI FPV drones, it’s the size and weight. But there are also some similarities in the functionality between the two.
For example, they both have the same flight modes, GPS, auto-stabilization system, and battery type. So, it’s pretty competitive to choose the best FPV.
Well, I won’t say which one’s the best here. I’ll leave a head-to-head comparison below in detail. By going through it you’ll understand which one is the best option for you.
DJI Avata Vs DJI FPV
You’ll find four major differences between the DJI Avata and the DJI FPV. I’ll put them in a table below so that you can get a quick glance at them.
Factors | DJI Avata | DJI FPV |
Size | 7 x 7 x 3 inches | 12 x 10 x 5 inches |
Weight | 410 grams (0.9 pounds) | 795 grams (1.75 pounds) |
Prop Guards | Built-in Prop Guards | No Prop Guards |
Obstacle Avoidance Sensors | Detects obstacles through sensors on the bottom of the drone | Has four stereoscopic sensors and one auxiliary light |
Camera Type | 48 MP, 1/1.7 (7.6 x 5.7 mm) CMOS sensor | 12 MP, 1/2.3 (6.3 x 4.7 mm) CMOS sensor |
Flight Duration | 18 minutes max | 20 minutes max |
Speed | 60 mph (97.2 kph) | 87 mph (140 kph) |
Transmission | Live digital video feed at 1080p/100p | Live digital video feed at 810/120p |
Price | Check Price from Amazon | Check Price from Amazon |
The DJI Avata is much smaller and lighter than the DJI FPV drones. So, you can easily control the Avata in smaller areas. You can’t do it with the DJI FPVs.
Another good thing about DJI Avata is that it has built-in prop guards but the FPV doesn’t. So, the Avata has a sturdier construction than the DJI FPV.
Speaking of the obstacle detection sensors, the FPV has four stereoscopic sensors built into the drone. It also has an auxiliary light detection technology. But the DJI Avata only has sensors on the bottom.
Also, the DJI FPV allows more flight duration than the DJI Avata. So if the concern is the flight time you can give a second thought to DJI FPV
If you compare the DJI Avata speed with the FPV, you’ll see that DJI Avata is slower. In manual mode, the DJI FPV is capable of going 60 mph where
Moving on to the camera and transmission technology. The DJI Avata has a camera of 48 megapixels whereas the DJI FPV has only a 12-megapixel camera. The FPV’s camera is also smaller than the DJI Avata’s one.
However, DJI Avata allows live digital feed at 1080p/100p whereas the resolution is only 810/120p for DJI FPV.
So, what I suggest is that if you want a better-quality drone for smaller area coverage, DJI Avata is the best option. But if you want to shoot a longer video covering a wide area, you should go for the DJI FPV.
Winner: Except for speed and flight duration, the DJI Avata wins in every category. So, you can declare the DJI Avata as a winner in the DJI Avata vs DJI FPV contest.
DJI Avata vs Mini 3 Pro vs Mavic 3
Here’s a quick comparison among the three fantastic DJI drones.
Specifications | DJI Mini 3 Pro | DJI Mavic 3 | DJI Avata |
Size | Small | Smaller | Smallest |
Camera Quality | Cine cam quality | Cine cam quality | Action Cam quality |
Speed | Fast | Faster | Slow |
Price | Check Price from Amazon | Check Price from Amazon | Check Price from Amazon |
Now, if you compare DJI Avata with Mini 3 Pro or the Mavic 3, you’ll see the Avata is even smaller than these models. Though this tiny gem is pretty expensive than these two!
Mini 3 Pro or Mavic 3 are midrange drones with higher quality cameras. In this case, Avata is lagging behind. It doesn’t have such exclusive camera quality but is speedier than these two drones.
So, in short, the Mini 3 Pro or Mavic 3 are like flying cinema cameras. But DJI Avata gives you the vibe of an action cam in this case.
Winner: If you consider having a cine-camera quality drone, the Mini 3 and Mavic 3 are the winners. Though the DJI Avata is slower in speed, it’s a winner in the action cam category.
Parrot Anafi FPV Drone Set vs DJI Avata
Get a quick overview of the differences between the Parrot Anafi FPV Drone and DJI Avata below.
Specifications | Parrot Anafi FPV Drone Set | DJI Avata |
Video Quality | Good | Great |
Indoor/Outdoor Flying | Indoor | Outdoor |
Size | Small | Smaller |
Hover Rate | More | Less |
Price | Check Price from Amazon | Check Price from Amazon |
Now, let’s see if the DJI Avata is better than the Parrot Anafi FPV Drone set. Both of these drones are smaller and lighter compared to other drones in the market.
The Parrot Anafi FPV can shoot 4K videos in 24/30fps whereas the DJI Avata shoots at 60fps. Considering the 1080p camera resolution, the DJI Avata is also better in this case.
Again, in terms of recording speed, the DJI Avata outranks the Parrot Anafi FPV by 50 Mbps. However, the Parrot Anafi is capable of flying in no GPS-signal areas whereas the Avata is better used as an outdoor drone.
If you compare the batteries, you’ll both have nearly the same capacity. But the Parrot Anafi FPV has better runtime (30 minutes) than the DJI Avata (18 minutes).
Considering the price, the Parrot Anafi FPV is more expensive than the DJI Avata.
Winner: Depending on the specifications and experience, both of the drones seem to be a tie. But if you consider the price, the DJI Avata is the clear winner.
DJI Avata vs Autel Robotics EVO Lite Plus
Specifications | Autel Robotics EVO Lite | DJI Avata |
Gimbal | Yes | No |
Time Endurance | More | Less |
Size | Big | Small |
Weight | Heavy | Light |
Intelligent Flight Sensors | 4 | 3 |
Price | Check Price from Amazon | Check Price from Amazon |
I’ll go for a final comparison to check if DJI Avata is a really good drone. This time I’ll compare it with one of the best 6K video shooting drones – the Autel Robotics EVO Lite Plus.
The EVO Lite Plus comes with a 3-axis gimbal whereas the Avata doesn’t have any gimbal at all. Moreover, the Avata also falls behind since it has less time endurance than the ECO Lite Plus.
Speaking of the intelligent flight sensors, the Avata only comes with 3 sensors. However, the Autel EVO Lite Plus has one extra sensor in it.
But if you think about size and weight, the Autel EVO Lite Plus is heavier. You can’t maneuver it in small areas just like you can do with the DJI Avata.
Winner: Well, this time the DJI Avata loses the battle. You can see the ECO Lite Plus has a lot of competitive aspects that are better than the Avata.
So, comparing DJI Avata with a few FPV drones, it seems like Avata is a winner in most cases. Now, it’s time we compare the price to see if the drone is really worth buying.
DJI Avata Price: Is It Worth the Performance?
Let’s talk about the main concern now – the budget. DJI Avata comes in three different packages.
The drone alone is about $629. But if you take the DJI Googles 2 and Motion Controller with it, you’ll have to pay $1,388. The second package is called the Avata Pro-View Combo.
Finally the third combo, Avata Fly Smart Combo comes with DJI FPV Goggles V2 and a Motion controller. It’ll cost you a bit around $1,168.
Now, the question is, is it worth buying a drone at such a hefty price?
If you think about it, the DJI Avata gives the vibe of a DIY (Do-it-yourself) small-scale Cinewhoop experience. Again, having a 14m/s in Sport Mode ensures a good racing speed.
Well, if you go for building a DIY drone with premium parts, you’ll need a total of $1,300. It’s pretty close to the second package of the DJI Avata. But Avata lets you have Goggle experience.
So, to me, it’s a pretty good deal to buy DJI Avata. The price seems worth the performance.
Here’s a YouTube video of DJI Avata –
But I won’t encourage you to buy one if you don’t have the budget. And it also won’t be a good choice if drone racing is your ultimate target.
Purchasing the New Avata: Your Golden Ticket to DJI Day 2022
Finally, I got some exciting news for you! Buying the new DJI Avata will get you a golden ticket to DJI Day 2022. Pretty awesome, huh?
All you have to do is go to DJI’s website and the drone to your cart. You’ll see a Golden ticket right on the confirmation page. So, you’ll be officially eligible to enjoy the exclusive experiences of DJI Day 2022.
Final Verdict
So, DJI AVATA IS THE NEW FPV KING!
After inspecting many features and comparing them with other FPV drones, DJI Avata seems to be the best deal. But I think it’s only good for beginners. Pro drone flyers won’t get much out of it.
So, that’s it! Leave me a comment below if you want to know more about DJI Avata. Adios!