Review of the DJI Avata: An interface for novice drone operators
The DJI Avata's front-facing camera is wirelessly attached 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 novices.
The key selling feature of this device is the ability to record more dramatic video footage by flying close to objects, making fast spins, and doing so.
Due to the weight of last year's FPV drone, flying past obstacles was necessary.
*The new Goggles 2 are more portable because they are lighter and smaller. the author Wilson Wong
The size and weight of the goggles are the other improvement. The new Goggles 2 have been reduced in size and made pleasant to wear for extended durations.
Being at ease with the goggles while flying is crucial here because the drone can stay in the air for around 13 minutes on average during my test flights.
However, the sides of the goggles scratched against my chubby cheeks, so I wished they had better padding. It would be advantageous if the battery pack could be attached to the headstrap as well.
There are built-in dioptres to correct your vision if you are concerned that wearing your glasses with the goggles may be uncomfortable.
The goggles can correct both of my eyes, giving me a clear vision even though I have both long and short sight.
*Because of the dioptre modifications, I can fly without my glasses. the author Wilson Wong
What I appreciate is that the goggles, controller, and drone can all link strongly thanks to DJI's unique communication protocol. During my experiments, I didn't have any video dropouts, which prevented me from losing track of the flight and colliding with anything.
A motion controller that employs a gyroscope to control the drone is also included with the drone. Consider it a joystick that you may use to control the Avata drone as you would in a video game.
It is fantastic for beginners. Squeeze the trigger, and the drone will take off. Before flying the actual drone, if you do want to obtain some virtual flying experience, you may even download the DJI Virtual Flight app.
*Both controllers have benefits and drawbacks, but the motion controller is more entertaining. the author Wilson Wong
More seasoned flyers might opt for a separate remote controller, which offers a more precise flying experience with close control. The antennas on the controller provide a much stronger connection to the drone too.
However, I enjoy using the motion controller better. I'll use the conventional remote control for work purposes, but merely to fly around in the sky? Jog-wheel, please.
What about the caliber of the drone's videos? With good daytime lighting, the DJI Avata's camera performs admirably. This is especially true given the device's ultrawide-angle lens and 48-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor.
With electronic stabilization, it can capture 4K video at 60 frames per second, giving customers exceptional quality for post-editing tasks.
You might want to check out the more somber videos at
*Instead of putting emphasis on image quality, the camera system is made to send video footage quickly. the author Wilson Wong
*Literally difficult to access are the MicroSD card and USB Type-C port. the author Wilson Wong
The Avata gimbal can only point and move vertically, unlike the majority of drones. The nighttime image quality is also not particularly impressive.
Fair enough, compared to the professional-range Mavic 3, Air 2s, or even the Mini 3 Pro that are utilized to record cinematic video footage, these are not the most crucial characteristics on this particular drone. The good news is that electronic stabilization is used, and the films from the new drone appear to be very stable.
There are a few design issues with the Avata that DJI might want to fix. To begin with, it has positioned the MicroSD card slot and USB port directly inside the propeller guard duct, making it difficult for even the smallest hands to access them.
Additionally, the battery is secured by two flimsy plastic clasps that give me pause. Would a collision cause the battery to break? Fortunately, I didn't put that to the test.
DJI should reconsider how the goggles are powered as well. The on/off button is on the battery, not the goggles, which makes no sense, thus they can't be coupled with my battery pack.
After all, you'd need a mechanism to quickly charge the goggles' incredibly clear and brilliant panels.
*Two plastic clasps keep the battery in place. the author Wilson Wong
Last but not least, bear in mind that the new DJI drone needs to be registered with the local authorities before you fly if you're in Singapore. It needs this because it weighs 410g.
The entire kit, which includes the motion controller and DJI Goggles 2, costs S$1,879 for the DJI Avata. If you already own the original DJI FPV drone, you may also just purchase the drone for S$799 instead.
The DJI Avata is undoubtedly not inexpensive. Nevertheless, it provides FPV drone flying experience without the challenging learning curve associated with operating conventional models like a CineWhoop.
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