DJI released a video on its social media accounts teasing an event slotted for April 27th dubbed “Up Your Game.” The event is likely the launch of the DJI Mavic Air 2, which is probably the lower half of the image in the teaser video. Why do we know this? You can thank the FCC who listed an unknown DJI controller in its database along with the Mavic Air 2, as reported by DJ Drone.
The Mavic Air series sits between the Mavic Mini and Mavic 2, with the original Mavic Air weighing 438g, so it's likely the Mavic Air 2 will need to be registered with the FCC if you plan on operating it in the United States. The process is simple, taking roughly 5 minutes, so don't stress. It's best to be compliant than to deal with a fine. Registration details can be found here. If you want to bypass that altogether, consider the Mavic Mini, which falls under the 249g requirement.
Looking at the FCC MPE report, the Mavic Air 2 will have a DC 11.55V lithium-ion Polymer battery with a capacity of 3500mAh, which is larger than the original Mavic Air (2375mAh) but smaller than Mavic 2 (3950mAh). Knowing that, it should have around 30 minutes of flight time. It's also worth pointing out the FCC passed everything January 1, 2020, so you have to wonder how long YouTuber Casey Neistat has had a prototype.
Twitter user OsitaLV shared images of the drone, which provides info about its sensors and motors. The Mavic Air 2 will most likely not have any upward-facing sensors, which allows it to fly underneath structures without crashing. Those sensors are found on DJI's Mavic 2. However, the motors do have the same quick-release props as the Mavic 2.
As for video specs, expect to see nothing less than what DJI has already touted in its original Mavic Air, including 4K UHD 100Mbps video with selectable frame rates of 24, 25, and 30p. What will be interesting to find out is what type of sensor will be on the Mavic Air 2.
The Mavic 2 has a 1" sensor with color space support for Dlog-M 10-bit and HDR video HLG 10-bit. Will that be added to the Mavic Air 2? It would also be great if DJI increased the pixel count on stills, offered a wider field of view, and bumped the internal storage. If DJI wants consumers to up their game, hopefully they up the capabilities of its drone to do so.
What do you think will be on the Mavic Air 2? Will DJI tease anything else like a new Inspire? Let us know below.
