Both are good drones but for me, in more than 2 years since the release of the Mavic 2 pro, DJI have already developed a number of advanced drone features which they may have now incorporated on the Air 2S thus giving it an edge over the older Mavic 2
@@guyhanoi8561 do u get aperture mode or shutter mide in the m2pro ? Or will I have to keep changing the aperture manually like a moron to keep the 180 rule during videos ??....
Honestly your drone channel is by far the best! I'm a professional photographer and the biggest help is providing the unedited files to compare side by side. Other videos are very lackluster in this regard or the image is highly processed and you really don't know how to judge the image vs another. Thanks Billy! Keep up the good work!
The Air S2 is definitely my new favorite drone, but you get way more dynamic range if you shoot in the log profile. I even made a LUT for the D-Log footage on it, check out my tutorial posted April 19th on my channel :)
Quick question have they fixed the issue where the gimbal moves downward when flying in sports mode or going against the wind via software update or does it still happen?
Now I'm not sure which drone I should upgrade to. The Air 2S is a good upgrade, as good as like having a mavic 2 pro. But then knowing how well they did on the Air 2S, you're somehow expecting they'll give the same justice to the Mavic 3. If only we have leaks on when the Mavic 3 would be out, at least I'll be able to weigh on the 2 drones properly
Great comparison Billy, I love my Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom they were my upgrade from the Spark two years ago. I know you mentioned the battery issue with the Mavic 2's and I know Ken from Originaldobo has had issues with the Mavic 2 batteries as well. I'm going on 2 years of ownership of both the M2P and Zoom and have 4 batteries and I have never had an issue with them. As far as going to the Air 2S, I'll stick with my Mavic 2's since I fly for fun and both of mine are more then enough for me. My next drone purchase will be the DJI FPV drone. Thanks Billy for what you do for us and have a great weekend.
This is an EXCELLENT comparison. Thank you! Even if I did have to slow it down to 0.75 playback. lol My Air 2S was delivered to my door as I was watching this video! And I am now even more satisfied with my purchase. I might be crouched under my desk coddling "my precious" for the rest of the day. But had to crawl out long enough to say thanks for the comprehensive comparo.
I made this same type of comment, on another channel, but with a little more detail as to what I feel it will be able to do, the day after this came out. I only got 1 thumbs up, and then a hater replying. There are still so many people that think DJI will not make a Mavic 3. My answer is, why would someone think, that DJI's highest rated, most loved drone as well as the most sales, just be left the way it is after three years? David? I'm totally with you. Once that comes out, which I feel will be this year, it's going to decimate every other drone in it's class. Skydio, Autel, Parrot, Fimi, whoever, are going to be left in the dust.
To be honest, I am thinking the totally other way around. Expectations are way to high. The could only showing of with eg 8k but due to the fact nearly no one has even UHD/4K, I think this is useless and I can not imagine that it gains in capability.
Great comparative analysis Billy. As to what I expect DJI to include in the Mavic 3 Pro, ADS-B, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, native 6K resolution with a 1.25-1.50 inch sensor, OcuSync 3.0, and a 35-40 minute flight time.
I own the Mavic 2 Pro and won't switch to the Air 2S at this point. But for a new purchaser, these are close enough that it would be really hard to justify the added cost of the Mavic 2 Pro. This says to me that the Mavic 2 Pro sales will plummet and DJI knows it. So like you say at the end - this portends something different in the near future. There will either be a new flagship Mavic 3 Pro, or the Mavic line will be allowed to fade away and be replaced by the Air line.
Thanks for the comparison of the two drones definitely a hard decision but for now I think I’ll stay with the Mavic 2 Pro until the next upgrade to the pro series if there is one
Thanks, Billy! My 2 cents: the usage perspectives of Air 2 and Air 2S remain seriously limited (vs M2Pro) because the absence of WPT missions and 3rd party developer support (Pix4D, Litchi, etc - no SDK from DJI side). W/o any doubt, it’s mostly a marketing/product positioning decision, than a hardware limitation. You know, not everyone needs and wants an P4RTK for some simple ortophoto/3D work.
Hi Billy Nice comparison and imo the Air 2S is an interin replacement of the M2P because the delay on the M3P, as the M2P has reached the 2 years life cycle of this kind of products. As the M3P will have to have greater features and include Remote ID. Remote ID may be the reason why the M3P is delayed. Unfortunately the Air 2S in Europe isn't worth buying because it lacks the EASA C class marking making it useless after December 31st 2022. And it's a pity because the Air 2S can be C1 class drone and can be flown like the Mini, even over people.
As a primarily old school ground based stills photographer, there's no way I'd sacrifice the variable aperture on my Mavic 2 Pro, but exactly as you said: it all depends on what you need.
The variable aperature is my need as well. I photograph aircraft (air and on the ground) and it looks like the Mavic 2 Pro is the way for me to go. I only need it to fly 30 to 50 feet above my airplane subject and I'm not really interested in video thus far. However, the stills have got to be right on (good depth of field, no blown highlights, great detail).
i was flying in downtown toronto when my M2P lost connection out of nowhere and got completely demolished from dropping hundreds of feet up. One second I had great reception, next second I was driving to where I last saw the drone hoping that it would reconnect. The new air 2s just arrived, and I took it down to the exact same spot. No problems at all. Sticking with this drone all the way. No point in having a drone when you cant fly it far away.
I dunno Billy - I feel like DJI is now in that Apple Vortex of just releasing incremental product improvements and blurring the lines between all of it. Small to big iPhones and iPads, pro versions, mini versions, color variations, minor spec shifts, etc. Do you think anyone could tell the difference between photos or videos shot on the Mavic 2 Pro and the Air 2s?
Thanks Billy. I feel like the M3 is just around the corner and for many reasons I still like the M2pro and therefore will hold on to my M2pro and keep chugging along until the M3 comes out.
There is only one reason I wouldn't buy the Air 2S and its the lack of adjustable aperture. ND filters are a coarse workaround at best. You only have to change direction slightly for a shot, facing towards the sun or away from the sun and very quickly you need to be able to change the aperture setting, with an ND you'd have to land and change the filter. I bought the Phantom 4 pro+ about 3 half years ago, carrying it long distance doesn't figure in my usage. My son has the M2pro. The phantom still holds good and I prefer the colours to the M2pro, less of an orange tint plus 4k 60. The Air 2S is a phenomenal piece of kit, 5.4k just one brilliant upgrade but most of my commercial customers want their footage delivered in 1080p as its easier to stream and smaller file sizes to send. I'll stick with the Phantom for now, covers all the bases and is an absolute work horse, just keeps going and going.
I've heard the Mavic line is 'discontinued'' - in terms of using the Mavic prefix. Not that it matters really, because the same people are designing and building the next drone... everything else is marketing. But your video showed me how little is the difference between the two drones. Other videos not as much. You are more instructional, and quick. Others do great at video comparisons, at least in regards to these two drones. I just think I can gain a ton of information from you because you are so quick at disseminating it, and really - I would not switch from my Pro or my Mavic Air 2 for this drone... unless I just needed another drone right now. Either way, thanks Billy.
this video gives me serious homesick vibes for Philly - moved out to the bay area last year and def didn't expect a dose of nostalgia when looking up DJI videos. Love your channel, man - just subbed!
I have M2P and Air2 so no, I think I'll sit this drone out. I really believe the M3 Is going to knock our socks off considering what they have added to Air2s. Now that we have seen 2 drone upgrades of previous drones, within a year and I'm referring to Mini2 and Air2s and seeing how they hiked the prices by $200 to $300 per upg, I think it's safe too say the M3 will list for about the same over the current M2 price. Worth waiting for it tbh.
I have the original Mavic Pro and a Mavic Mini 2. I had a Mini 1 but I underestimated the tree height in my area and now it sit 100' up in a tree across the street from my house. I am clueless when it comes to photography, it just isn't my thing and probably why my Mini 2 get more air time than the Pro. For some reason I need this, I don't know why but I just need it, I'm drawn to it.
Since you broached the subject of what's next toward the end of the vid I'll speculate: I have a Nikon DSLR and 11 lenses. 1 body, 11 lenses. There's really no reason to have to purchase a new drone body with every DJI release, and they've (finally!) shown that with the Air 2s release. Interchangeable batteries! At last! I think DJI's next release will be a multi sensored bells and whistles release with the absolute potential to be the last body we'll ever need to buy. There could be a vast multitude of lenses offered - from fisheyes to various zooms to fleer to fixed and adjustable apertures, etc. There's ALOT of money to be made in various lenses and the camera (lens) is the biggest selling point of a drone for most people. Oh, and as an aside: another great comparison review you've put together here. Much appreciated!
Great overview of the two drones. As someone who has a Phantom 4 Pro+ I have been waiting to retire it for something smaller but still have the camera features of it. Very tempted by the Air 2S but keen to see what replaces the Mavic 2 Pro
Very underrated RUclipsr, definitely deserve more subs! Probably one of the best and honest comparison video between these two drones. Keep up the good work!
and here I am still debating whether to change to the MS2 o or Air 2 ...... and honestly I don't know. I do mainly video, but eventually once I get my licence I guess I'll be looking into photography as well. I'm still flying my Mavic Pro 1 and I can see that in 3 years things have changed massively. Yet, I don't know which one to get next. Regardless, Billy, mate, seriously thank you for this all the different video you've got on drones. I agree with your statement, what will the MP3 look like..... well..... especially now the the FPV out there. Thanks for the vid and keep it up, greeting from Spain
Have ordered Mavic Air 2S and keeping Mavic 2 Zoom because all the Intelligent Flight Modes it has compared to Air 2S. Was really surprised DJI apparently has not kept Intellegent Flight Mode Waypoints! This is a horrendously practical application. My goodness, one can sit at kitchen table and plot out points to make a route and specify for each waypoint along the way speed, location elevation of waypoint, direction drone pointing at and between waypoints, camera on or off at each waypoint and in between, point of interest at each waypoint or along the way. And specify RTH landing point at end. Am buying Air 2S because Ocusynct 3.0 better assures not losing communication with drone in city. and a especially it notifies when and where Manned Aircraft is nearby.
I hope they'll keep telemetry screen on the remote in the next pro model. I had phone disconnected from remote couple of time mid-flight and it is especially helpful in such cases. Although it happened 2 times in 3 years, it was a big enough reason for me not to upgrade from mp1 to air2 when it was released
If the Air 2S had a variable aperture, I would have considered selling my Mavic 2 Pro and sharing batteries with my Air 2....but that's not happening. I'm personally not interested in this drone, even with how jealous I am of 4K60p, but my Air 2 does that for me.
It would be very valuable for RUclipsrs to start disclosing that this is 100% not a 1-inch sensor camera when shooting in 4K at any frame rates. It crops in while shooting in all 4K modes. This certainly isn't a huge issues, by any stretch, but it does mean that the quality will be reduced over the full advantage of the 1-inch sensor theoretically provides.
Being following Billy for many years and he improvised on every single video. Great drone reviewer. Not like some other overhyped self claimed reviewers or influencer who got free product to review and don't know what they're saying...and yet they have millions of followers...hmm...
I think they're going to struggle with more flight time but I do expect the M3P to have the newer O3, swappable cameras, live flight planning, integration with the FPV goggles and an ADS-B transmitter. Maybe an integrated strobe too. Great video.
My DJI Air 2s came in the mail today. To my utter displeasure....there seems to be no easy way to adjust the ISO setting or Shutter speed. With the DJI Mavic 2 Pro you can click the right scroll wheel to adjust the aperture up and down to make easy "on the fly" adjustments to your total exposure...bc I NEVER shoot in Auto mode. Even with the smart controller you cant use the directional pad for adjustments nor the right scroll wheel. This may seem crazy, but this seems like a deal breaker for me. The touch mechanics to adjust the settings are terrible too. I click over and over and it doesn't work every time. Am I doing something wrong and are there any fixes for the Easy Exposure setting problem of the DJI Air 2s? Also: No ability to take RAW photos only! wtf is up with that. I don't want unwanted JPG's that I never use and slow down my process and fill up the storage.....
It's all window sticker add-ons to me I think. I'm happy right now with the Air 2 and even the Mini 2 for that matter. Like you said the Mavic 3 or whatever it's called will be the talk of the town. No way can I back up to the Mavic 2 pro just knowing that's 3-4 year old tech. That being said I'm just waiting on the Action 2 to come out, it's long overdue to put the GoPro 9 to shame. The same way the first Osmo Action did with the GoPro 6. Hopefully it will have a 1" sensor which I think it will. Color saturation will be the big question with it though.
Very good info Bill 👌 do to your reviews, I am waiting on my Air 2S I am truly a Mavic drone person. I'm not as good as you, knowing about cameras but I am learning. I enjoy flying when I can and all the Mavic drons and DJI makes it easy
I’m about to upgrade from the mini 2 to the air 2s.Should be a huge upgrade for me…really looking forward to that,i’m excited 😎.Good video…thanks for that 👍🏻
It is a very tough question. I will stick with the M2P though. I’m very happy with the sensors, transmission is great and I have no issues, considering we have to keep line of sight in Canada, the range increase doesn’t matter. I’d like to test fly the 2S but I really like having a controllable aperture, and having redundancy just seems like less of a liability issue when explaining to others/clients how safe the drone is. Very good review though Billy!
I've been in love with my Mavic 2 Zoom ever since I bought it. My new Air 2s should arrive today. (in part due to your review) I'm working up an add to sell the Zoom right now. It's going to be tough letting go of that drone........... Thanks for a great review!!!
Good review, but the adjustable aperture is super handy when nailing the exposure really quick without having to guess which exact ND you need to expose correctly. It can be an issue if your shooting a variety of video at diff exposures really quick.
do u get aperture mode or shutter mide in the m2pro ? Or will I have to keep changing the aperture manually like a moron to keep the 180 rule during videos ??....
The Mavic air 2s has some really nice features but I'm not that far into the drone thing so I'm just going to stick with my air2... I personally think the mini 2 upgrades were the best on the newest drones because it's a reasonable price & a badass portable powerful drone
@kyle_XY....You forGoT to mention the Air 2s is not a recommended PIX4d and Dronedeploy Survey Mapping, meaning it does not have the SDK kits or hardware for mapping, which is a major SETBACK for the AIR 2S.
Love my Air2S , came from the Original Mavic Pro. . Wow what a difference, the zoom feature is awesome, pictures and videos are way better and optical avoidance is outstanding. I now have 5 batteries and A nice Lowepro back pack for everything. Next will be the day pack Nd filters from free well and maybe a landing extension kit. Can’t wait to see what the MP 3 will have. Great video Billy. As always thumbs up
Nice break down of the differences between these two drones, and strengths and weaknesses of both. And it is hard to choose just one of these drones, but I guess if I had to recommend just one of them, it would probably be the new Air 2S. That being said I'm still keeping my M2P for now, LOL. Great video, and keep pumping out awesome content.
The Air S2 is definitely my new favorite drone, but you get way more dynamic range if you shoot in the log profile. I even made a LUT for the D-Log footage on it, check out my tutorial posted April 19th on my channel :) Mavic Pro 3 could use the same sensor but toss in like 2x optical zoom as well on top of the 5.4K and overall being a faster drone and possibly weather resistant. Lots of potential upgrades :)
@@Max_Sky2024 If they can fit that on a Mavic that would be cool. But I think staying with a 1 inch is best for this class of drone. Sensor size isn't everything. Watch my latest video. I know how to get excellent color out of the Air 2S DLOG footage. This drone is amazing!
I think ppl do not understand the cost of a variable aperture, it is not software. It is mechanics. It is expensive why should they add it? It would add weight and significant cost. The main cost on a drone is probably the lens. So don't ask for budget drones and variable aperture it is unrealistic.
Billy - by far your drone review videos are the best. Not only do we get honest reviews and in depth analysis, we get information we want and need. Thank you sir. One question: I have been holding onto my P4Pro because I truly feel like the sensor on that camera is better than the Mavic 2 Pro. But I find myself not wanting to take it along anymore, to difficult and bulky. Do you feel that the Air 2s camera is as good as the P4P (excluding the lack of variable aperture)?
You are the best in comparing these Aircrafts and make people think to get this or wait for a better one. I will wait for MAVIC 3, and hopes that it comes out soon :)
Nice comparison Billy! I don't see a need to transition from M2P to A2S... it's not a true "upgrade", but it does have some nice features. I've never had an issue with signal penetration. I bet the successor to the M2 series WILL be a big upgrade. Omnidirectional sensors, variable aperture and maybe interchangeable cameras? Hmmmmmm.
I have both and the 2s is a bit quicker but doesn't handle as well in wind. Granted it isn't as heavy but the gimble in hard direct wind was messed up and the 2si brought back and landed I turned it off and on and it' was fine. The thing I really like about the 2s is it's really small and packs a visual punch that doesn't look any diff than the pro.Great video review.
Great comparison Billy! I don't have either of these drones but they are awesome. At some point when necessary, I will move up from the MA2. It suits my needs at this time. Thanks for sharing.
13:08....Where as, the similarities are very close, the consumer shelf life of the Mavic 2 Pro is going to be winding down in another year or two. Why buy a more expensive drone that will not be supported in another 2-3 years? That, and many other reasons, make me believe I made a good choice getting this drone (Air 2S). And as for the "next best thing"....I think the Mavic line might be on the way out too. The FAA rules that will eventually take effect may be the nail in the coffin of the consumer drone. Good comparison, BK.
Today i bought an air 2s, and coming from a Mavic Pro 1 drone, i can say i am not quite impressed with the photo differences. I really expected way more, especially after i read so many praising the MP2. I.m still happy i changed the drone after 3 yrs of using the ol' dinosaur, but i am.also glad i didn.t switched to the MP2 when it appeared. 😀 I can also say i.m an enthusiastic photographer, i own dslrs and lenses for more than a decade and i.m not a noob in this domain. PS: in Romania, the price difference between MA2s and MP2 is only 250 $
After owning several DJI drones the Pro 2 was a huge disappointment. The picture was super soft, the reception was horrible, it could not follow anything but the most basic targets, and the side sensors were useless (that's how I lost it, hitting an obstacle while orbiting in tripod mode). Air 2 is better in every way except the variable aperture, while being much cheaper. I'm sure the Pro 3 will bring some cool features, but at a very prohibitive price of over 2k. If the 2s had variable aperture it would have been the perfect drone.
After reading about the specs, I was surprised that this was priced a tier below the Mavic 2. I'm trying to decide if to sell my Mavic 2 and get this one. Wish I could test fly it for a few days.
Great video! I love my M2P and have an FPV on back order ATM. If I were encouraging someone into the drone market however; I would definitely encourage them toward the air2s based on your logic demonstrated here. Thanks for sharing
Which one of these Drones will allow the gimbal to turn 90 degrees left or right, this is important because it allows the drone to fly forwards while recording everything to the left or right, because sensors on the side may not be avaliable.
I am keeping the M2P for the Aperture and Redundance in Imu/Compass. my wish list for the M3P or what ever it would be called. Being a Cx cat in europe :) Swapping camera or linses with minimum a 1½ inch sensor or bigger. Dual memory card slots. ADS-B. Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance Would be awesome to enable CinemaDNG/Prores. 50 min flight time 100 mph in super super sportsmode Compliance for night operations. (maybe a mounted option like the enterprise version) as said its a wish list :D
Not in the least bit excited for the 2S but way more excited to consider a DJI Pocket 3 with a 1 inch sensor since DJI tends to pair them together and leap frog them. In the order of Mavic Air/OSMO Pocket, Air 2/Pocket2. So lets hope for 2S/Pocket 3 to continue the tradition of sharing the same sensor. And with that Moaz screen competition, lets see if DJI will use that accessory port to include a flippy screen and a 1 inch sensor!!!!
The lighter, easier to carry Air 2S is really tempting specially if when you like something as simple as a go-to drone
Yup! Good point.
It might be lighter but the larger A2S control renders that moot
@@HansGuichardo i think because the remote is really flat that doesnt really matter. i can stuff it into the front pocket of a backpack
Both are good drones but for me, in more than 2 years since the release of the Mavic 2 pro, DJI have already developed a number of advanced drone features which they may have now incorporated on the Air 2S thus giving it an edge over the older Mavic 2
But no variable aperture... Big downside
@@guyhanoi8561 do u get aperture mode or shutter mide in the m2pro ? Or will I have to keep changing the aperture manually like a moron to keep the 180 rule during videos ??....
@@dronetheworld4k67 You have both mode available in the M2P
Honestly your drone channel is by far the best! I'm a professional photographer and the biggest help is providing the unedited files to compare side by side. Other videos are very lackluster in this regard or the image is highly processed and you really don't know how to judge the image vs another. Thanks Billy! Keep up the good work!
I don't have either of them, but I still like the Mavic 2 PRO more.
yes and don't let the battery swell problem is is Wrong about worry you.
@@nickchivers1820 what
I still cant figure out why this guy has only 101k subscribers, he deserves much more
The Air S2 is definitely my new favorite drone, but you get way more dynamic range if you shoot in the log profile. I even made a LUT for the D-Log footage on it, check out my tutorial posted April 19th on my channel :)
I agree!
My Air 2 does everything I need for now, no rush to upgrade at all.
after 1 year, in April 2022, everyone "goes crazy" with Air 3 or maybe with Air 3s? Maybe then there will be ce marking ...
@@DroneStories Is there no CE marking on the 2S? wtf...
Quick question have they fixed the issue where the gimbal moves downward when flying in sports mode or going against the wind via software update or does it still happen?
I agree. My MA2 is sufficient for my needs as of now. I have 3 drones and I don't need an entire fleet just yet. LOL!
I feel the same way about my Mavic air 2
Now I'm not sure which drone I should upgrade to. The Air 2S is a good upgrade, as good as like having a mavic 2 pro. But then knowing how well they did on the Air 2S, you're somehow expecting they'll give the same justice to the Mavic 3. If only we have leaks on when the Mavic 3 would be out, at least I'll be able to weigh on the 2 drones properly
Since it's now released, I was really looking forward to the Mavic 3. However, the sky high price killed it for me. $3K is just too much.
Great comparison Billy, I love my Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom they were my upgrade from the Spark two years ago. I know you mentioned the battery issue with the Mavic 2's and I know Ken from Originaldobo has had issues with the Mavic 2 batteries as well. I'm going on 2 years of ownership of both the M2P and Zoom and have 4 batteries and I have never had an issue with them. As far as going to the Air 2S, I'll stick with my Mavic 2's since I fly for fun and both of mine are more then enough for me. My next drone purchase will be the DJI FPV drone. Thanks Billy for what you do for us and have a great weekend.
This is an EXCELLENT comparison. Thank you! Even if I did have to slow it down to 0.75 playback. lol
My Air 2S was delivered to my door as I was watching this video! And I am now even more satisfied with my purchase. I might be crouched under my desk coddling "my precious" for the rest of the day. But had to crawl out long enough to say thanks for the comprehensive comparo.
I can’t help but think the Mavic Pro 3 will be a huge game changer!
One could only hope
I made this same type of comment, on another channel, but with a little more detail as to what I feel it will be able to do, the day after this came out. I only got 1 thumbs up, and then a hater replying. There are still so many people that think DJI will not make a Mavic 3. My answer is, why would someone think, that DJI's highest rated, most loved drone as well as the most sales, just be left the way it is after three years? David? I'm totally with you. Once that comes out, which I feel will be this year, it's going to decimate every other drone in it's class. Skydio, Autel, Parrot, Fimi, whoever, are going to be left in the dust.
When is it coming?
Patiently waiting on it.
To be honest, I am thinking the totally other way around. Expectations are way to high. The could only showing of with eg 8k but due to the fact nearly no one has even UHD/4K, I think this is useless and I can not imagine that it gains in capability.
Great comparative analysis Billy. As to what I expect DJI to include in the Mavic 3 Pro, ADS-B, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, native 6K resolution with a 1.25-1.50 inch sensor, OcuSync 3.0, and a 35-40 minute flight time.
This is a great comparison video well done Billy.
I own the Mavic 2 Pro and won't switch to the Air 2S at this point. But for a new purchaser, these are close enough that it would be really hard to justify the added cost of the Mavic 2 Pro. This says to me that the Mavic 2 Pro sales will plummet and DJI knows it. So like you say at the end - this portends something different in the near future. There will either be a new flagship Mavic 3 Pro, or the Mavic line will be allowed to fade away and be replaced by the Air line.
Thanks for the comparison of the two drones definitely a hard decision but for now I think I’ll stay with the Mavic 2 Pro until the next upgrade to the pro series if there is one
Thanks, Billy!
My 2 cents: the usage perspectives of Air 2 and Air 2S remain seriously limited (vs M2Pro) because the absence of WPT missions and 3rd party developer support (Pix4D, Litchi, etc - no SDK from DJI side).
W/o any doubt, it’s mostly a marketing/product positioning decision, than a hardware limitation.
You know, not everyone needs and wants an P4RTK for some simple ortophoto/3D work.
Mavic Pro 2 is my baby.
Hi Billy
Nice comparison and imo the Air 2S is an interin replacement of the M2P because the delay on the M3P, as the M2P has reached the 2 years life cycle of this kind of products. As the M3P will have to have greater features and include Remote ID. Remote ID may be the reason why the M3P is delayed.
Unfortunately the Air 2S in Europe isn't worth buying because it lacks the EASA C class marking making it useless after December 31st 2022. And it's a pity because the Air 2S can be C1 class drone and can be flown like the Mini, even over people.
As a primarily old school ground based stills photographer, there's no way I'd sacrifice the variable aperture on my Mavic 2 Pro, but exactly as you said: it all depends on what you need.
The variable aperature is my need as well. I photograph aircraft (air and on the ground) and it looks like the Mavic 2 Pro is the way for me to go. I only need it to fly 30 to 50 feet above my airplane subject and I'm not really interested in video thus far. However, the stills have got to be right on (good depth of field, no blown highlights, great detail).
i was flying in downtown toronto when my M2P lost connection out of nowhere and got completely demolished from dropping hundreds of feet up. One second I had great reception, next second I was driving to where I last saw the drone hoping that it would reconnect. The new air 2s just arrived, and I took it down to the exact same spot. No problems at all. Sticking with this drone all the way. No point in having a drone when you cant fly it far away.
I dunno Billy - I feel like DJI is now in that Apple Vortex of just releasing incremental product improvements and blurring the lines between all of it. Small to big iPhones and iPads, pro versions, mini versions, color variations, minor spec shifts, etc. Do you think anyone could tell the difference between photos or videos shot on the Mavic 2 Pro and the Air 2s?
I’ll wait for the bigger and better version. Thanks.
Thanks Billy. I feel like the M3 is just around the corner and for many reasons I still like the M2pro and therefore will hold on to my M2pro and keep chugging along until the M3 comes out.
I will continue to use my Mavic Pro 2 until the 3 comes out. A fixed aperture for me is a no no with the Air 2s.
Finally! A channel that pronounce the word BOKEH perfectly.
Best drone reviewer out there.
thank you!😎
There is only one reason I wouldn't buy the Air 2S and its the lack of adjustable aperture.
ND filters are a coarse workaround at best. You only have to change direction slightly for a shot, facing towards the sun or away from the sun and very quickly you need to be able to change the aperture setting, with an ND you'd have to land and change the filter.
I bought the Phantom 4 pro+ about 3 half years ago, carrying it long distance doesn't figure in my usage. My son has the M2pro. The phantom still holds good and I prefer the colours to the M2pro, less of an orange tint plus 4k 60.
The Air 2S is a phenomenal piece of kit, 5.4k just one brilliant upgrade but most of my commercial customers want their footage delivered in 1080p as its easier to stream and smaller file sizes to send.
I'll stick with the Phantom for now, covers all the bases and is an absolute work horse, just keeps going and going.
Yeah I can understand this. The adjustable aperture is a huge help
Great review and comparison. I picked up my Air 2S the other day... absolutely love it!
Having my amazing and well loved mavic air 2 and seeing this video makes me want to upgrade! Wow what an upgrade!!!
Very nice Billy. Thanks for all the info
Just ordered the A2s! Thanks for the reviews 👊🏽
I'm choosing M2pro for its dual gps and imu modules. I think it's a very important feature.
Lipo batteries puff and it is what it is and just a part of the chemistry. Don't fly your batteries below 30% or 3.7v per cell for maximum cycles👍🏻.
I've heard the Mavic line is 'discontinued'' - in terms of using the Mavic prefix. Not that it matters really, because the same people are designing and building the next drone... everything else is marketing. But your video showed me how little is the difference between the two drones. Other videos not as much. You are more instructional, and quick. Others do great at video comparisons, at least in regards to these two drones. I just think I can gain a ton of information from you because you are so quick at disseminating it, and really - I would not switch from my Pro or my Mavic Air 2 for this drone... unless I just needed another drone right now. Either way, thanks Billy.
My DJI Air 2S is 2 day out. Can't wait.
Absolute best quality video review. Love the pace of talk and technical content. Oh, and the unbiased objectivity!! Great work!
this video gives me serious homesick vibes for Philly - moved out to the bay area last year and def didn't expect a dose of nostalgia when looking up DJI videos. Love your channel, man - just subbed!
I have M2P and Air2 so no, I think I'll sit this drone out. I really believe the M3 Is going to knock our socks off considering what they have added to Air2s. Now that we have seen 2 drone upgrades of previous drones, within a year and I'm referring to Mini2 and Air2s and seeing how they hiked the prices by $200 to $300 per upg, I think it's safe too say the M3 will list for about the same over the current M2 price. Worth waiting for it tbh.
I have the original Mavic Pro and a Mavic Mini 2. I had a Mini 1 but I underestimated the tree height in my area and now it sit 100' up in a tree across the street from my house.
I am clueless when it comes to photography, it just isn't my thing and probably why my Mini 2 get more air time than the Pro. For some reason I need this, I don't know why but I just need it, I'm drawn to it.
Since you broached the subject of what's next toward the end of the vid I'll speculate: I have a Nikon DSLR and 11 lenses. 1 body, 11 lenses. There's really no reason to have to purchase a new drone body with every DJI release, and they've (finally!) shown that with the Air 2s release. Interchangeable batteries! At last! I think DJI's next release will be a multi sensored bells and whistles release with the absolute potential to be the last body we'll ever need to buy. There could be a vast multitude of lenses offered - from fisheyes to various zooms to fleer to fixed and adjustable apertures, etc. There's ALOT of money to be made in various lenses and the camera (lens) is the biggest selling point of a drone for most people. Oh, and as an aside: another great comparison review you've put together here. Much appreciated!
great comparison, I am still using DJI Spark. Hope I can upgrade soon!
Great overview of the two drones. As someone who has a Phantom 4 Pro+ I have been waiting to retire it for something smaller but still have the camera features of it. Very tempted by the Air 2S but keen to see what replaces the Mavic 2 Pro
Probably the Mavic Pro 3 but who knows it could be Mavic Pro 2+1...🤣
Very underrated RUclipsr, definitely deserve more subs! Probably one of the best and honest comparison video between these two drones. Keep up the good work!
and here I am still debating whether to change to the MS2 o or Air 2 ...... and honestly I don't know. I do mainly video, but eventually once I get my licence I guess I'll be looking into photography as well. I'm still flying my Mavic Pro 1 and I can see that in 3 years things have changed massively. Yet, I don't know which one to get next. Regardless, Billy, mate, seriously thank you for this all the different video you've got on drones. I agree with your statement, what will the MP3 look like..... well..... especially now the the FPV out there. Thanks for the vid and keep it up, greeting from Spain
Have ordered Mavic Air 2S and keeping Mavic 2 Zoom because all the Intelligent Flight Modes it has compared to Air 2S.
Was really surprised DJI apparently has not kept Intellegent Flight Mode Waypoints! This is a horrendously practical application.
My goodness, one can sit at kitchen table and plot out points to make a route and specify for each waypoint along the way speed, location elevation of waypoint, direction drone pointing at and between waypoints, camera on or off at each waypoint and in between, point of interest at each waypoint or along the way. And specify RTH landing point at end.
Am buying Air 2S because Ocusynct 3.0 better assures not losing communication with drone in city. and a especially it notifies when and where Manned Aircraft is nearby.
I have never had issue with the Mavic 2 Pro's battery swelling, since it was released.. even to this day NO swelling. Maybe I don't fly as much?
Same here, still on the original batteries and no swelling.
Perfect comparison! Thank you
I hope they'll keep telemetry screen on the remote in the next pro model. I had phone disconnected from remote couple of time mid-flight and it is especially helpful in such cases. Although it happened 2 times in 3 years, it was a big enough reason for me not to upgrade from mp1 to air2 when it was released
That's awesome it's more quiet.
Fantastic comparison! 👌🏼
Subscribed!
If the Air 2S had a variable aperture, I would have considered selling my Mavic 2 Pro and sharing batteries with my Air 2....but that's not happening. I'm personally not interested in this drone, even with how jealous I am of 4K60p, but my Air 2 does that for me.
It would be very valuable for RUclipsrs to start disclosing that this is 100% not a 1-inch sensor camera when shooting in 4K at any frame rates. It crops in while shooting in all 4K modes. This certainly isn't a huge issues, by any stretch, but it does mean that the quality will be reduced over the full advantage of the 1-inch sensor theoretically provides.
Good video Billy. I'll stick with my Mavic 2 Pro
me to. because the Waypoint
As always, great review. Thanks!
Being following Billy for many years and he improvised on every single video. Great drone reviewer. Not like some other overhyped self claimed reviewers or influencer who got free product to review and don't know what they're saying...and yet they have millions of followers...hmm...
Thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate it😁
I think they're going to struggle with more flight time but I do expect the M3P to have the newer O3, swappable cameras, live flight planning, integration with the FPV goggles and an ADS-B transmitter. Maybe an integrated strobe too. Great video.
My DJI Air 2s came in the mail today. To my utter displeasure....there seems to be no easy way to adjust the ISO setting or Shutter speed. With the DJI Mavic 2 Pro you can click the right scroll wheel to adjust the aperture up and down to make easy "on the fly" adjustments to your total exposure...bc I NEVER shoot in Auto mode. Even with the smart controller you cant use the directional pad for adjustments nor the right scroll wheel. This may seem crazy, but this seems like a deal breaker for me.
The touch mechanics to adjust the settings are terrible too. I click over and over and it doesn't work every time. Am I doing something wrong and are there any fixes for the Easy Exposure setting problem of the DJI Air 2s?
Also: No ability to take RAW photos only! wtf is up with that. I don't want unwanted JPG's that I never use and slow down my process and fill up the storage.....
It's all window sticker add-ons to me I think. I'm happy right now with the Air 2 and even the Mini 2 for that matter. Like you said the Mavic 3 or whatever it's called will be the talk of the town. No way can I back up to the Mavic 2 pro just knowing that's 3-4 year old tech. That being said I'm just waiting on the Action 2 to come out, it's long overdue to put the GoPro 9 to shame. The same way the first Osmo Action did with the GoPro 6. Hopefully it will have a 1" sensor which I think it will. Color saturation will be the big question with it though.
Very good info Bill 👌 do to your reviews, I am waiting on my Air 2S I am truly a Mavic drone person. I'm not as good as you, knowing about cameras but I am learning. I enjoy flying when I can and all the Mavic drons and DJI makes it easy
I’m about to upgrade from the mini 2 to the air 2s.Should be a huge upgrade for me…really looking forward to that,i’m excited 😎.Good video…thanks for that 👍🏻
It is a very tough question. I will stick with the M2P though. I’m very happy with the sensors, transmission is great and I have no issues, considering we have to keep line of sight in Canada, the range increase doesn’t matter. I’d like to test fly the 2S but I really like having a controllable aperture, and having redundancy just seems like less of a liability issue when explaining to others/clients how safe the drone is. Very good review though Billy!
I've been in love with my Mavic 2 Zoom ever since I bought it. My new Air 2s should arrive today. (in part due to your review) I'm working up an add to sell the Zoom right now. It's going to be tough letting go of that drone........... Thanks for a great review!!!
Good review, but the adjustable aperture is super handy when nailing the exposure really quick without having to guess which exact ND you need to expose correctly. It can be an issue if your shooting a variety of video at diff exposures really quick.
do u get aperture mode or shutter mide in the m2pro ? Or will I have to keep changing the aperture manually like a moron to keep the 180 rule during videos ??....
Well done..great reviews on BOTH.
The Mavic air 2s has some really nice features but I'm not that far into the drone thing so I'm just going to stick with my air2... I personally think the mini 2 upgrades were the best on the newest drones because it's a reasonable price & a badass portable powerful drone
The video many people are waiting for!
I'd be curious to see a side by side quality comparison between the zoom feature on the DJI Air2S versus that of the Mavic 2 Zoom. Thanks for posting.
Yes me to.side by side which one has a better zoom .
I think the next drone will be called the DJI PRO 3. Great video👍🎥🚁
Great comparison video man! This will definitely help a lot of folks out with their purchase and which one to buy! Great job Billy Boy!
@kyle_XY....You forGoT to mention the Air 2s is not a recommended PIX4d and Dronedeploy Survey Mapping, meaning it does not have the SDK kits or hardware for mapping, which is a major SETBACK for the AIR 2S.
Thanks, Billy, always a pleasure to get your insight. Sold my M2P for the A2S only because I have the EVO II. decisions decisions!
Cool! Great choice. Glad it helped.
Such a professional review thanks
Love my Air2S , came from the Original Mavic Pro. . Wow what a difference, the zoom feature is awesome, pictures and videos are way better and optical avoidance is outstanding. I now have 5 batteries and A nice Lowepro back pack for everything. Next will be the day pack Nd filters from free well and maybe a landing extension kit. Can’t wait to see what the MP 3 will have. Great video Billy. As always thumbs up
Nice break down of the differences between these two drones, and strengths and weaknesses of both. And it is hard to choose just one of these drones, but I guess if I had to recommend just one of them, it would probably be the new Air 2S. That being said I'm still keeping my M2P for now, LOL. Great video, and keep pumping out awesome content.
If the Air2s is like this, I can't imagine how the Mavic3 is gonna be. I can't wait.
Can't imagine what the Mavic 3 is going to be like given the Air2S is already so good.
The Air S2 is definitely my new favorite drone, but you get way more dynamic range if you shoot in the log profile. I even made a LUT for the D-Log footage on it, check out my tutorial posted April 19th on my channel :)
Mavic Pro 3 could use the same sensor but toss in like 2x optical zoom as well on top of the 5.4K and overall being a faster drone and possibly weather resistant. Lots of potential upgrades :)
Mavic 3 Pro will be Micro 4/3 sensor...
@@Max_Sky2024 If they can fit that on a Mavic that would be cool. But I think staying with a 1 inch is best for this class of drone. Sensor size isn't everything. Watch my latest video. I know how to get excellent color out of the Air 2S DLOG footage. This drone is amazing!
I think ppl do not understand the cost of a variable aperture, it is not software. It is mechanics. It is expensive why should they add it? It would add weight and significant cost. The main cost on a drone is probably the lens. So don't ask for budget drones and variable aperture it is unrealistic.
I’m excited to replace my M2P with the A2. But the most exciting thing about this new drone for me, is what the M3P will deliver 😍
Billy - by far your drone review videos are the best. Not only do we get honest reviews and in depth analysis, we get information we want and need. Thank you sir. One question: I have been holding onto my P4Pro because I truly feel like the sensor on that camera is better than the Mavic 2 Pro. But I find myself not wanting to take it along anymore, to difficult and bulky. Do you feel that the Air 2s camera is as good as the P4P (excluding the lack of variable aperture)?
Thanks for not making this choice any easer!! I guess I’ll just have to buy them both!
Great comparison summary! Thanks, Billy!
You are the best in comparing these Aircrafts and make people think to get this or wait for a better one. I will wait for MAVIC 3, and hopes that it comes out soon :)
It's in the mail, will get it in two days!
Wow!
Another great video, Billy. Kudos. I'm so glad I bought the Air 2S. Posted my maiden flight yesterday.
Thanks Ray! It's a great drone!
Nice comparison Billy! I don't see a need to transition from M2P to A2S... it's not a true "upgrade", but it does have some nice features. I've never had an issue with signal penetration. I bet the successor to the M2 series WILL be a big upgrade. Omnidirectional sensors, variable aperture and maybe interchangeable cameras? Hmmmmmm.
All the great points are noted , good job William
So starting out, I'm thinking a 2S and then add the Mavic Pro 3 after I bank some coin with the 2S.
I have both and the 2s is a bit quicker but doesn't handle as well in wind. Granted it isn't as heavy but the gimble in hard direct wind was messed up and the 2si brought back and landed I turned it off and on and it' was fine. The thing I really like about the 2s is it's really small and packs a visual punch that doesn't look any diff than the pro.Great video review.
Billy!!! Just got an Air 2S with 1hr flight time and new stickers on drone for $400 usd
My favorite channel !!
Thanks Perry!
Great comparison Billy! I don't have either of these drones but they are awesome. At some point when necessary, I will move up from the MA2. It suits my needs at this time. Thanks for sharing.
13:08....Where as, the similarities are very close, the consumer shelf life of the Mavic 2 Pro is going to be winding down in another year or two. Why buy a more expensive drone that will not be supported in another 2-3 years? That, and many other reasons, make me believe I made a good choice getting this drone (Air 2S). And as for the "next best thing"....I think the Mavic line might be on the way out too. The FAA rules that will eventually take effect may be the nail in the coffin of the consumer drone. Good comparison, BK.
Thanks Billy 👍💪
Today i bought an air 2s, and coming from a Mavic Pro 1 drone, i can say i am not quite impressed with the photo differences. I really expected way more, especially after i read so many praising the MP2. I.m still happy i changed the drone after 3 yrs of using the ol' dinosaur, but i am.also glad i didn.t switched to the MP2 when it appeared. 😀
I can also say i.m an enthusiastic photographer, i own dslrs and lenses for more than a decade and i.m not a noob in this domain.
PS: in Romania, the price difference between MA2s and MP2 is only 250 $
Excellent presentation, a joy to watch!
After owning several DJI drones the Pro 2 was a huge disappointment. The picture was super soft, the reception was horrible, it could not follow anything but the most basic targets, and the side sensors were useless (that's how I lost it, hitting an obstacle while orbiting in tripod mode). Air 2 is better in every way except the variable aperture, while being much cheaper. I'm sure the Pro 3 will bring some cool features, but at a very prohibitive price of over 2k. If the 2s had variable aperture it would have been the perfect drone.
After reading about the specs, I was surprised that this was priced a tier below the Mavic 2. I'm trying to decide if to sell my Mavic 2 and get this one. Wish I could test fly it for a few days.
Great video! I love my M2P and have an FPV on back order ATM. If I were encouraging someone into the drone market however; I would definitely encourage them toward the air2s based on your logic demonstrated here. Thanks for sharing
Which one of these Drones will allow the gimbal to turn 90 degrees left or right, this is important because it allows the drone to fly forwards while recording everything to the left or right, because sensors on the side may not be avaliable.
I am keeping the M2P for the Aperture and Redundance in Imu/Compass. my wish list for the M3P or what ever it would be called.
Being a Cx cat in europe :)
Swapping camera or linses with minimum a 1½ inch sensor or bigger.
Dual memory card slots.
ADS-B.
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance
Would be awesome to enable CinemaDNG/Prores.
50 min flight time
100 mph in super super sportsmode
Compliance for night operations. (maybe a mounted option like the enterprise version)
as said its a wish list :D
Not in the least bit excited for the 2S but way more excited to consider a DJI Pocket 3 with a 1 inch sensor since DJI tends to pair them together and leap frog them. In the order of Mavic Air/OSMO Pocket, Air 2/Pocket2. So lets hope for 2S/Pocket 3 to continue the tradition of sharing the same sensor. And with that Moaz screen competition, lets see if DJI will use that accessory port to include a flippy screen and a 1 inch sensor!!!!
Great work man! As always.
Watching this after the release of the Mavic 3, and every single point you said they would have to put on the 3 to be an upgrade, was done, hahahaha