Although the Avata captures exciting video, we do not advise flying it near people or in crowded areas because that does not allay our concerns about safety. The DJI Avata’s front-facing camera is wirelessly connected to a set of goggles that give you a first-person perspective of the drone as it soars through the air. First-person view (FPV) drones, which literally give you a bird’s eye perspective of things while in flight, are not new to the Chinese drone manufacturer. The DJI Avata, which replaced the DJI FPV last year, has made advancements over the earlier model, turning this new drone into one of the most thrilling consumer-friendly drones for beginners. The main selling point of this device is the ability to record more dramatic video footage by flying close to objects, making quick turns, and doing so. Due to the weight of last year’s FPV drone, it was frequently difficult to fly through obstructions. Additionally, there was a greater risk of damage to the exposed propellers in crashes, which were frequent with FPV drones. also you will learn our article on DJI Avata review.
DJI Avata review: Design
The DJI Avata looks different from all of its previous drones. To begin with, the Avata’s four rotors are fixed in place beneath the main body and are shielded by shrouds; whereas its other drones’ propeller guards are optional and detachable, the Avata’s are fixed in place. The Avata has a dark grey frame that resembles latticework rather than the light grey body that is typical for its other models; this, undoubtedly, reduces weight. A strange design decision was made in order to fit everything in: a USB-C port and a microSD card slot are crammed inside one of the propeller shrouds. To get to it, you have to pull the propeller out of the way, which is a little annoying. The Avata weighs more than the FAA’s 250 gramme limit at 14.3 ounces (405 grams) with its battery, so you’ll need to register this drone with the government. A microSD card can be inserted to add more storage to the Avata’s 20GB of internal storage.
DJI Avata review: Feature
The DJI Goggles, commonly known as headsets, are used almost exclusively for FPV flying. The new Goggles 2 are one option included with the Avata, although it is also compatible with the previous Goggles V2. We don’t understand why DJI termed these the Goggles 2 given they already have a Goggles V2, but it appears that DJI’s customers will be confused as a result. The Goggles 2 are a little strange in that they are generally better than the Goggles V2, but not always. The Goggles V2 had Micro-LED panels with an 810p resolution for each eye, whereas the Goggles 2’s fastest frame rate is 100 frames per second. The Goggles 2 also have 1080p Micro-LED panels for each eye. Importantly, the transmission bandwidth is still up to 50Mbps, so the new Goggles 2 prioritizes resolution over frames-per-second in a resolution-framerate trade-off. The most recent iteration of DJI’s transmission technology, Ocusync O3+, is used to connect the drone and the Goggles 2. O3+ can offer a video and control link at up to 10km depending on where you are flying, or only 2km if you are based in Europe. A word of caution for those countries where the maximum range is permitted. The Avata’s maximum flight range is only 11.6 km, therefore any journeys longer than 5 km may result in the drone running out of energy before it can return. Due to the drone’s design to fly low or around trees, which can disrupt the signal, we believe you would be lucky to reach farther than a few hundred meters. Since DJI’s Goggles have a scaled-down version of the DJI Fly app, you can fly the drone without a mobile phone or tablet attached, which is the main distinction between them and the ones you might use with a standard FPV. The Avata can be connected to a phone via USB-C and used to manage recordings and update firmware, but it is not required to fly or record video. The Goggles 2 has a touchpad on the right side that can be used to change controls, capture quality, and other settings to control the limited interface.
Controller
By simply twisting your wrist, you can move the drone up, down, and left or right. DJI sent the drone to me with the motion controller, which functions like a joystick. It takes very little time to feel rather natural, much like flying an aero plane. The drone’s speed is controlled by a trigger on the front, and the camera is operated by three buttons and an emergency stop button on the thumb rest. Especially if you’ve used a flight simulator, we found the motion controller to be very intuitive and very responsive to even the slightest touch. We quickly began weaving the Avata through the trees of a nearby park, startling the squirrels.
DJI Avata review: Camera
Due to the 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor’s ability to handle contrast and highlights similarly to the devices we carry in our pockets, image quality, which tops out at 4K60 and has a wide angle of 155°, is comparable to most smartphones currently on the market. Not that it’s better or worse, but it lacks the Mavic 3’s 4/3″ sensor’s level of clarity. However, you already have a high-definition camera as a built-in camera, whereas most typical FPV mods naturally do not. The majority of shots must be taken with manual exposure, but if you’re more concerned with getting where you’re going, it’s difficult to care if the highlights are blown out. Although shooting in D-cinelike is still an option, it’s probably best to stick with standard since this camera isn’t exactly the best for the most cinematic experience.
Performance
We had anticipated for a better out-of-the-box experience because the Avata is designed for more casual pilots. But let’s be honest, using the Avata can be a little frightening at first. For instance, there is no glitzy quick-start manual; all that is provided is a brief list of instructions in an impossible-to-read font and a QR code leading to a selection of getting started videos. Although the main video you must watch is excessively long and we had to watch it multiple times to make sure we understood everything we needed to know to get up and running, the videos are still very good. Even worse, DJI tucked the microSD card slot between the rotor’s blades. How difficult it is to put in and take out the memory card, or to use the neighboring USB-C port to upload footage to your computer after a flight, cannot be adequately described. The Avata turns out to be a lot of fun after you figure out how everything works, though. The majority of the drone’s settings are controlled by a screen menu in the goggles that you can touch to navigate. If you’ve played video games before, the motion controller is also fairly simple to use; just use it like a joystick to move up, down, left, and right. The technique is simple to learn, but as the video shows, you must grow used to manipulating it by pivoting your wrist rather of raising and lowering your arm. You’re in for a treat if you’ve never flown FPV before. It’s nearly impossible to get lost because you can point the small reticle in the direction you want to go, just like you would in a fighter jet, and a small H will always mark your take-off point over the surrounding area. The video is clear and fluid, and the heads-up display also constantly shows other information like battery life and recording status. you can check our article on DJI Avata review.
Flight Performance
The newer (and more expensive) of the two compatible pairs, the Avata, was paired with the DJI Goggles 2. During our test flights, we only noticed one weak signal message flash across the screen when a group of trees stood between me and the drone, which was about 700 feet away at the time. The Goggles support O3 transmission for a fairly strong control range. With regard to comfort, the goggles come with an adjustable head strap that makes it simple to guarantee a tight fit. But you have to take off your spectacles if you wear them. Additionally, you must deal with the long coiled wire that connects the external battery pack to the headset in order to power it. If you don’t like having wires run into your pants, you might want to consider keeping the battery in your pocket during flights since it doesn’t really get in the way. The eyepieces have an adjustable pupillary distance in addition to a diopter adjustment to set the focus to match corrective lenses. They do a decent job, but if you have severe visual astigmatism like we do, you won’t ever really be able to see a clear image. No matter how many times we adjusted the settings, the text and menus still appeared a little bit fuzzy. But if you’re an FPV pilot with poor vision, DJI includes frames to hold prescription eyepieces, so you have options. DJI was unable to provide any information regarding how to obtain the lenses, though. A representative advised interested clients to speak with their optometrist about getting custom lenses made for the frames. During our review period, we were unable to conduct additional research or make an appointment with an optometrist.
Battery life
Fast, high-performance drones have a lower battery life than regular versions, which is one disadvantage. The Avata’s flying time of about 18 minutes is less than half that of DJI’s other drones, although being longer than that of a normal FPV drone. Even so, it’s comparable to the DJI FPV’s 20-minute flight time. During our testing, the Avata could be flown for about 15 minutes before returning to the barn.
Price
Beginning on August 30, the Avata will be sold at DJI.com and other significant retailers. It is offered in three variations: AU$799 DJI Avata ($629): This configuration is designed for DJI owners who already own a remote controller, goggles, or motion controller and does not include any of these items. also you will read our article on DJI Avata review.
Conclusion
Despite its high cost, DJI’s Avata is a fantastic FPV drone for beginners. It’s inviting and enables virtually anyone to take excellent footage. It’s the drone to own whether you simply want a fun toy or require additional video for a professional project. We really wish we had a drone like the Avata to begin with because we had to start our drone journey from scratch, crash our brains out, and almost burn down our apartment while charging batteries.
