Many have asked what tablet mount I’m using. It’s the PolarPro Flight Deck, designed for tablets and Crystal Sky and it costs $99. They actually make one just for tablets, and it’s only $30. Find it here: amzn.to/3gdIJj9
51 Drones My iPad is wifi only. I haven’t been able to find any info on whether the DJI controller works with a wifi only tablet. Can you help? Is your iPad wifi only or does it have a cellular connection?
Scott Walters I have used my MAVMOUNT for my Mavic Pro 2 for a long time. My iPad is WiFi only. I turn on cell phone hot spot only if I want to use maps or certain automated flight modes. Otherwise WiFi only is perfectly fine.
What many people didn’t consider is that the mavic mini is 100 dollars cheaper than the Mavic Air, 500 dollars cheaper than the Mavic Air 2, and almost 1200 dollars cheaper than the Mavic 2 Pro. That goes to show how powerful the drone really is, and that unless you fly it in horrible wind conditions, that drone is truly awesome
first of all, depends when and where you got your mavic air (1st gen) been plenty of sales even early on where fly more bundles where $150-$200 off, infact got my mavic air bundle on amazon for $800 (plus tax) ~6 months after it launched. second of all: i had a mini and honestly i wanted to love it because is such a small charming drone and its quiet and checked alot of boxes, my 2 complains..biggest complains actually: 1. Wifi, i dont care what anyone tells me otherwise, wifi doesnt beleong in a drone and is a safety hazard since connectivity can become really poor really fast and you as a pilot cant pilot if too much lag or no video. 2. poor wind resistance.. i mean 10mph it stays where u left it sure but moves about too much like being knocked about and 15 mph its at end of its ability to hold on.. 15mph in my opinion isnt an extreme condition, its one that my mavic 2 pro has no issue with and i suspect mavic air 2 wont either..mavic air 1st gen for was also pretty stout in the wind tho video stabilization ws another thing..drone could hold its place but gimbal couldn't..
meehhhe Of You - I own a Mavic Mini myself, so I know what you mean, however I’m not a pro flyer I’m a personal flyer, and I don’t really fly in high altitudes and far away ranges since you’re not allowed to leave line of sight in the US. For me, for the price, the drone is great, although I agree with what you are saying. Battery life much better than og Mavic air and just is overall better.
Rus, I'm a rookie to the hobby. Your videos are extraordinary. I appreciate them immensely and l appreciate your insights, your honesty and your sense of humor.
The wind profile app is UAV Forecast, available in both free and subscription versions. Very detailed in both general flight conditions and wind profile. Heartily recommended.
I have to say you are a lucky person to get this as your first drone. I have been flying drones for almost 10 years and I own every DJI model and others and the mavic air 2 is by far the best drone hands down even for the camera quality in my opinion but the flight characteristics alone make it so far ahead of every other drone more expensive or inexpensive.
Hey Russ.. Informative video. My local flying field has just reopened. Pulled out both drones and ran a check on firm ware updates, and other important parameters. There was an update available so did that. Got a NFZ warning and geo fencing note. Hmmmm... Was able to unlock the system, once I jumped through the DJI brief check list + asking for a phone contact. Unlocking code came through. Agreed to all the questions. Geofence unlocked. Guess this is something to look forward to, every time I do a firm ware update. Oh JOY!
I fly a Phantom 4 Pro.I am having constant problems with the controller.I just got my Mavic air 2.Have not done flight time tests but I think you are right.Will barely get 30 mins.As for wind.Very impressed with it.
Russ, great video as always. Love the part when geo fencing became an issue. This is why you should pick up an Autel drone, for the times you can’t get the DJI drones up in the air.
@@MarcoTheHEXican Aha... I was wondering if others had seen and felt like Autel had issues. I had one on order and thankfully it got delayed so I have a MA2 and as Russ said, this thing is just awesome! (Of course I have little to base that on due to being a rookie, but still think its awesome!)
Marco Vega-Yan they aren’t dropping like rocks out of the sky. People just don’t know how to fly. I have yet to see a video to back up these claims of the Evo 2 just “falling” out of the sky.
UAV Forecast does a good job of showing what it may be at various altitudes. The other day I went out to fly and it was gusting to 24 mph at 33ft but I had to go above 200 ft to safely clear the trees and the UAV app showed the gusts at 59 mph. Just flew around under the trees.
Russ, I love your videos, but I wish you'd have shown the landings. I was very interested in seeing the landing accuracy, but you were standing in the way so I couldn't see where they landed. But thanks for the video. Have fun with the MA2! I got mine 2 days ago and I love it.
Got my Mavic Air 2 a couple days ago. Got to say, it's fantastic performance in high winds blew my mind. Had barely ANY issues flying it around in bad conditions.
One thing to consider is the number of cycles on the battery. Comparing an old Air 1 battery with a lot of cycles vs. a brand new Air 2 battery might not be a fair comparison. Still a cool test!
I have the Air 2 but I think in general, when it comes to wind tests and ability to fly, heavier is better in this regard. It usually means it takes more wind force to move the drone (this is part of the reason I would never really buy a mini or spark---to light unless you're going to fly it in areas that aren't windy, but the Air/Air 2 is a nice balance between those and the more expensive Mavic Pro/Pro 2 drones.
Nice comparison and times makes sense.. I have the M2Pro as well.. what I do notice is that batteries that have more than 20 charge cycles will get shorter flight times even if you condition them regularly.. a new battery on a M2Pro even in 25 mph steady wind gusts should get about 22-23 minutes. I bought the Mavic Air 2 when I launch from boats and will probably like the extra few minutes for better time safety margin and the fewer tears if I lose it over the cost of a M2 pro..
I have 4 batteries for my Mavic 2 Zoom; ages and number of times charged vary. The batteries vary in usable flight times ranging from 17 minutes to 22 minutes. So can I conclude that as DJI batteries age, their flight time decreases? Your Air 2 batteries are obviously newer than the Pro 2 so this probably affected results.
any battery will loose charge after a while, lipos aren't any exception, can't believe this is never mentioned in all this "tests" etc. get fresh batteries for all different models, and then make comparing. for wind resistance test etc you don't have to wait for right weather, you can make proper test in some closed warehouse and a leaf blower etc.
Very interesting video. I saw one where a Mavic Air 2 couldn't hold its position in normal mode because the sustained wind was so high but when switched to sport mode it could. I was wondering if the Mavic Mini could have held position at the higher altitude in sport mode but of course you couldn't have tried in this case because it would have altered the test results. Good to know you could at least get it back by lowering the altitude. The little guy is a fighter for sure. The worst conditions I've flown my Mini in were 13 mph wind sustained gusting to 25. That was scary enough for me and I probably wouldn't fly in gusts that high again. It held its own pretty well but would get blown a few feet when hit with a strong gust. It was reassuring to see how quickly it would return to the previous position as soon as it was able. Always good to know the limits and how a drone will perform when pushed to or beyond or beyond those limits just in case the weather unexpectedly changes suddenly.
I got my mavic Air 2 on Monday. after dealing with issues with the DJI fly app and phone compatibility problems, I finally got it flying yesterday. I did my first flight indoors in my house, and despite having propwash when you fly a drone that large indoors, the drone was more steady than I could ever get a camera. I'm used to drones that size having some tilt or movement while hovering, that thing, absolutely none.
As Budd said, UAB forcast. I use it all the time! I actually paid for it so it will tell me other than my current location and save favorite locattions! Lors of other stats that are good to know too!
One thing that was not factored in was the age of the batteries & the number of previous charge-drain cycles they've had that would deplete them. The mavic air 2's batteries would without doubt be newer/fresher with fewer cycles on them.. Your Mini has probably been flown loads i bet.
Yeah the advertised max flight time is always on a best case scenario which we won’t experience. My Mavic Air has about 15mins flight time which is enough for getting the shots needed. ☺️
AWESOME video dude and thanks to you I have a great time with my AIR2 have had it a week now and just dig it!! Can you please do a video about the settings for slow mo...rocket...ect... how to access them easily and quickly while in flight? I am all thumbs dude...God Bless and be safe you all
No doubt the ma2 holds its own in the wind so it begs the question why does dji rate the max wind resistance at 23 mph?? Seems kinda low for what the drone can actually handle 🤔 Makes me a little nervous for the gimble
Thank you for great feedback Russ. You keep saying the mavic air 2 is the quietest drone you've flown but you never compared it to the ultimate quiet drone (until now) namely the mavic pro platinum. I'm waiting to hear. Thank you. Best regards. Phil
DJI should offer Mini owners a buy back program to trade up to MA2. The mini is great and fun, but flying in any breeze gives one pause. My wife moved heaven and earth to get me a Mini for xmas, but after seeing how the MA2 performs, I’ve got buyer’s remorse....
For my first run and I was considering in mavic mini. It truly is a great drone. But I did not want to have buyer's remorse a week later so I figured why not jump all the way in. I ordered my mavic air to from DJI on June 27th with the fly more combo kit and also the DJI refresh. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow August 5th. Can't wait.
I’ve started with a mini and love it. It’ll cover indoor shots very well. For outdoors and better video, I’m not sure if I’ll do an MA2 or a used Phantom 4 pro. No remorse on the mini and in the breathless summer air we’ve had lately, it’s been great for outdoors too.
Sorry I didn't check all the comments, but, how far distance does the drone have to be to hit RTHome? I had NO idea this was necessary. Thanks again for a great video.
Here’s what I want to see. Someone doing a video about purchasing their first drone. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced in photography/video this is the first drone you should buy. It would be easier for me to know which drone I should get because I won’t want to upgrade to another drone for a long time
For now with the price point, obstacle avoidance & APAS DJI Mavic Air 2 is a very good beginner drone. There are all side obstacle avoidance drones like SkyDio2 but I would stay with DJI. However, if you don't want to upgrade for a long time, nobody can answer that with the current fast changing technology. Some people are happy with FHD even now and some want 4k and soon they would want 8k. So it is a personal preference.
I am just entering drone flying. I flew a neighbor's drone a few weeks ago, HOOKED. So i have been reading and researching into getting into flying drones. I bought my first drone, believe it or not, the Mavic Air 2. I will follow the advice of don't fly it immediately after unboxing it. Anyway, your video and channel are great. Any other tips for beginners. I am reading a lot on pre-beginner stuff such as "top 5 things" to do before flying, know the FAA rules, different airspace types, where to fly, NOT to fly, and more stuff. Love your stuff.
Is there a way that you can compare the new Air 2 and the old mavic pro. Are they the same in most ways. I believe the pro will go farther and last just as long. Or should I scrap the mavic pro for the new air 2?
It really depends on how much you fly, and how many hours are on the Mavic Pro. My Mavic Pro is retired. It just doesn’t fly safely anymore, even after calibrating everything. If you have only flown the Mavic Pro, then you will be extremely pleased with the handling and image quality difference of the MA2
Btw, I was flying my Platinum around the big kites on the beach in Bali. It takes a lot of wind to keep them things flying. Yet I could position my Platinum anywhere I wanted to take close-ups. That Platinum is heavy enough it won't go anywhere unless in a typhoon.
Hi Russ. Great comparison video. I've been a fan of yours almost since you started 51 Drones. You're a likeable guy! (I just don't comment much to the Vloggers I follow). I entered into the drone hobby about 3 years ago (Mavic Pro Platinum then upgraded to Mavic 2 pro as soon as it was available). I will be the first to admit I'm still learning and still feel like I'm just scratching the surface when it comes to drones and flying experience. (Well maybe I've learned a little something along the way and your videos have helped this Noob a lot! Lol!) If my RUclips name gives you a hint of what my profession is, you are correct. So in getting to my point and why it ties to my profession is that maximum flight time is important to me as I've been asked and have filmed training evolutions with my Mav 2 Pro for my department. My question is this... Since the Mavic Air 2 is new, and the battery you used in the Mav Air 2 is new as well, do you think your somewhat aged Mav 2 pro battery couldn't last as long? In other words, do you think a brand new battery for the Mav 2 pro would have given you a more accurate flight time comparison? Thanks again Russ
No, I don't believe so. My battery life has been consistent on the M2P for a long time. I actually think the Mavic Air 2 will do better with more cycles on it.
Hey Russ! Great video. I was noticing that you are using a tablet with the new Mavic Air 2 controller. How is that working out? I am waiting on my Mavic Air 2 fly more combo to come tomorrow! YEHAW! This will be my first (real) drone. I have such an old small phone (iPhone 5S) I was worried about using it to fly. But I have an iPad Pro 9.7 that looks like it would work, but doesn't have a sim card. Would I still be able to use it? Thanks man!
I like it, but it’s quite top heavy. My IPad doesn’t have a card either. You just won’t have maps, but you can download them ahead of time,or you can use your phone as a hotspot.
Haven’t had a problem with it in mild winds in the mountains but when I try to film kiting it will be a test but looks like it shouldn’t be to bad judging by your video.
Russ, please share the kind of controller mount you are using in this vid. It seems to be universal to your controllers and can hold that full sized iPad. I use my iPad mini 4, rather than my iphone. I'd need to get the longer connector lead too. A couple links to these items would be great. Note - I'm getting 28 minutes on my MA2 batteries; probably because we're a bit warmer here in sunny AZ. Thank so much - keep your great content coming. Poke.
i took my mavic mini out in 30mph winds took it up 100 meters and didn't have a bit of problems it out did my mantis q that's bigger and weights a lot more.
Russ, you continue to give praise to the Mavic Mini, which is the one I have. For the occasional drone pilot, is upgrading to the Mavic Air 2 really worth it? And thanks for your informative videos. You're the best in my book.
Thanks Doug. For the occasional pilot, no. The Mini is more than enough. But if you want professional looking footage and possibly make money with your drone some day, then I would get the Air 2.
Here's a tip for you that you might already know.. AccuWeather only gives you surface-level I think it's 33 ft high sustained wind speed and gusts. I really wish you could have told us what the wind speed and gusts were at how high you were flying.. DOWNLOAD UAV FORECAST from the Play store.. They give you all the information you need at ground level but more importantly after you open up and you click on the ( wind profile at the bottom ) it will give you sustained and gusts of wind at different altitudes!! ALMOST ALWAYS the wind at ground level is not going to be nearly as bad if you're up 100 ft, 200 feet, 300 feet or 400 ft.. I made this mistake in the beginning using AccuWeather and others.. then when I went up 100ft or more MY DRONE WAS GETTING BLOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE!! That's because AccuWeather said it was 15 mile an hour winds with 25 guests. Then at 250 ft it was 25 mile an hour winds AND 40 MILE AN HOUR GUSTS!!! Knowing the wind at different altitudes IS A MUST!! Surprised a lot of drone reviewers either don't know or ignore this.. FYI another thing that's useless that I bought!! Is those wind handheld meters you buy on Amazon . Again it only tells you what the wind is doing where you are standing.. tells you nothing about what's up over a 100 feet.. ;)
I got the air 2 but it just has no range in the tall pines we have. I got it for better range than my old mavic pro but I get less than half the range. Tried with phone signals off and it still didnt help. I love the camera, the speed, size and no wind warnings unless its really windy but my problem is the range through foliage and trees. Few open fields around me.
Great video cant wait for your review and your thoughts on the air 2...Here in South Africa where i stay we are still waiting for the air 2 placed my order just after the launch.
Was the winds the same for all drones? Were they all flown at the same altitude? Seems like the same speed over approx 2hr period is unlikely. I know this is so hard to duplicate all conditions but fair is fair...
Do you think its worth about 400 USD more from the Mavic Mini? Would be an awesome addon video to a comparison of the Air 2 vs Mini! Lastly, just wondering, if the Mavic Mini(without registering) would have any advantages in places you can fly as compared to where you cannot fly other Mavic drones above 250 grams. Thank you for sharing!
I concur with everything you said about the M2Pro and MA2, I have the Pro and my bro just got the MA2 and we have 3 batteries each and his MA2 consistently gets way more flight time than my M2Pro.
Does the flightdeck feel stable with the MA2 controller? I’m trying to decide if should purchase it or wait for an iPad mount designed specifically for the MA2? TIA!
Been looking at the air 2 for a few weeks. Any idea if it is compatible with the A51 phone and a suggestion on what adapter is needed to go from usb c to the controller. Thanks.
Many have asked what tablet mount I’m using. It’s the PolarPro Flight Deck, designed for tablets and Crystal Sky and it costs $99. They actually make one just for tablets, and it’s only $30. Find it here: amzn.to/3gdIJj9
51 Drones My iPad is wifi only. I haven’t been able to find any info on whether the DJI controller works with a wifi only tablet. Can you help? Is your iPad wifi only or does it have a cellular connection?
Nice video, thanks for sharing! @51 Drones, what is the landing pad you're using?
Scott Walters I have used my MAVMOUNT for my Mavic Pro 2 for a long time. My iPad is WiFi only. I turn on cell phone hot spot only if I want to use maps or certain automated flight modes. Otherwise WiFi only is perfectly fine.
@@kulemt the app will work and all of the functions like RTH will work, the map view wont give you any details though.
What many people didn’t consider is that the mavic mini is 100 dollars cheaper than the Mavic Air, 500 dollars cheaper than the Mavic Air 2, and almost 1200 dollars cheaper than the Mavic 2 Pro. That goes to show how powerful the drone really is, and that unless you fly it in horrible wind conditions, that drone is truly awesome
first of all, depends when and where you got your mavic air (1st gen) been plenty of sales even early on where fly more bundles where $150-$200 off, infact got my mavic air bundle on amazon for $800 (plus tax) ~6 months after it launched.
second of all: i had a mini and honestly i wanted to love it because is such a small charming drone and its quiet and checked alot of boxes, my 2 complains..biggest complains actually:
1. Wifi, i dont care what anyone tells me otherwise, wifi doesnt beleong in a drone and is a safety hazard since connectivity can become really poor really fast and you as a pilot cant pilot if too much lag or no video.
2. poor wind resistance.. i mean 10mph it stays where u left it sure but moves about too much like being knocked about and 15 mph its at end of its ability to hold on.. 15mph in my opinion isnt an extreme condition, its one that my mavic 2 pro has no issue with and i suspect mavic air 2 wont either..mavic air 1st gen for was also pretty stout in the wind tho video stabilization ws another thing..drone could hold its place but gimbal couldn't..
meehhhe Of You - I own a Mavic Mini myself, so I know what you mean, however I’m not a pro flyer I’m a personal flyer, and I don’t really fly in high altitudes and far away ranges since you’re not allowed to leave line of sight in the US. For me, for the price, the drone is great, although I agree with what you are saying. Battery life much better than og Mavic air and just is overall better.
@@Honeypot-x9s Try using S Mode with the mini in high winds.
UAV Forecast does winds at different elevations. Had my first flight with the Air 2 today. The thing is a rockstar.
I second that! I was up at 300+ft in sport mode with 40+ mph gusts trying to get a wind warning Nope!! Didn’t get one I’m very impressed!!!
I love mine too!
Yes it is! Even where I live, which is in the boonies for California.
Ahahahahaha I lost it on the “philosophical difficulties” great video Russ. I agree it’s one of the best drones I’ve flown.
You said "one" he boldly said the best I believe?
UAV Forcaster... use it all the time and have my reading set to 200' AGL
Rus, I'm a rookie to the hobby. Your videos are extraordinary. I appreciate them immensely and l appreciate your insights, your honesty and your sense of humor.
The wind profile app is UAV Forecast, available in both free and subscription versions. Very detailed in both general flight conditions and wind profile. Heartily recommended.
Mavic Air 2 will arrive tomorrow. This is my first drone.
Mine too! First (real) drone! Have fun man!
Got mine yesterday...first drone...bloody awesome :)
I have to say you are a lucky person to get this as your first drone. I have been flying drones for almost 10 years and I own every DJI model and others and the mavic air 2 is by far the best drone hands down even for the camera quality in my opinion but the flight characteristics alone make it so far ahead of every other drone more expensive or inexpensive.
You're spoiled lol.
dont you need a license to operate that drone like to register it?
Hey Russ.. Informative video.
My local flying field has just reopened. Pulled out both drones and ran a check on firm ware updates, and other important parameters. There was an update available so did that. Got a NFZ warning and geo fencing note. Hmmmm...
Was able to unlock the system, once I jumped through the DJI brief check list + asking for a phone contact. Unlocking code came through. Agreed to all the questions. Geofence unlocked. Guess this is something to look forward to, every time I do a firm ware update.
Oh JOY!
My first DJI drone - MA2. Totally love this thing. I believe it's even quieter than my Anafi.
I fly a Phantom 4 Pro.I am having constant problems with the controller.I just got my Mavic air 2.Have not done flight time tests but I think you are right.Will barely get 30 mins.As for wind.Very impressed with it.
UAV Forecast tells the wind at various levels
Russ, great video as always. Love the part when geo fencing became an issue. This is why you should pick up an Autel drone, for the times you can’t get the DJI drones up in the air.
Autel has to many issues. Dont think you want that thing in the sky anytime soon. They dropping like rocks in the sky
@@MarcoTheHEXican Aha... I was wondering if others had seen and felt like Autel had issues. I had one on order and thankfully it got delayed so I have a MA2 and as Russ said, this thing is just awesome! (Of course I have little to base that on due to being a rookie, but still think its awesome!)
@@sfields6903 Ya Autel is a cool drone but feels rushed.
I'm about to send MA2 back because of geo fencing
Marco Vega-Yan they aren’t dropping like rocks out of the sky. People just don’t know how to fly. I have yet to see a video to back up these claims of the Evo 2 just “falling” out of the sky.
I've flown the P4P in 30+mph winds. Hard to beat, especially when comparing cameras.
UAV Forecast does a good job of showing what it may be at various altitudes. The other day I went out to fly and it was gusting to 24 mph at 33ft but I had to go above 200 ft to safely clear the trees and the UAV app showed the gusts at 59 mph. Just flew around under the trees.
my air 2 is arriving tomorrow. excited!!
Russ, I love your videos, but I wish you'd have shown the landings. I was very interested in seeing the landing accuracy, but you were standing in the way so I couldn't see where they landed. But thanks for the video. Have fun with the MA2! I got mine 2 days ago and I love it.
Fantastic flight time comparison, you have to love the mavic air 2, so glad I chose it over the rest. Keep up with the tests and tutorials fella. 👍
Got my Mavic Air 2 a couple days ago. Got to say, it's fantastic performance in high winds blew my mind. Had barely ANY issues flying it around in bad conditions.
Great Video Russ. UAV Forecast is the go to for weather, worth the price. Surprised by the mini. Thanks
One thing to consider is the number of cycles on the battery. Comparing an old Air 1 battery with a lot of cycles vs. a brand new Air 2 battery might not be a fair comparison. Still a cool test!
Appreciate your advise for the one that handles strong wind better between Mini 2 and Air 2.
WHERE IS THE DJI SPARK! 😥
Dead :(
Discontinued
Great. Looking forward to your complete review of this drone.
What is the attachment that you are using for holding the large iPad?
PolarPro Flight Deck, but they don't have it anymore. I posted the substitute on my kit.co
@@51Drones does the device have to be on cell signal or is it just for display and done adjustments?
@@51Drones I clicked the link but didnt see it. Thanks
Can't wait to get my hands on that MA2!!! Thanks for this comparison Russ! More power!
Sometimes batteries need to get conditioned by been charged a few times before you get full capacity. I do have the Mavic air 2 and love it!
Those published flight times are likely rated at sea level. Flight times may be noticeably shorter at higher elevations. Liking the support of Vortex.
You're a mad man! LOL great video. We live in a very windy area of Wisconsin. I'm always impressed by what these machines can handle.
Russ the app I use for wind at different heights is uav forcast
I have the Air 2 but I think in general, when it comes to wind tests and ability to fly, heavier is better in this regard. It usually means it takes more wind force to move the drone (this is part of the reason I would never really buy a mini or spark---to light unless you're going to fly it in areas that aren't windy, but the Air/Air 2 is a nice balance between those and the more expensive Mavic Pro/Pro 2 drones.
Great Video Russ, as always straight to the point and no B.S. keep up the great work and we will continue to watch
Nice comparison and times makes sense.. I have the M2Pro as well.. what I do notice is that batteries that have more than 20 charge cycles will get shorter flight times even if you condition them regularly.. a new battery on a M2Pro even in 25 mph steady wind gusts should get about 22-23 minutes. I bought the Mavic Air 2 when I launch from boats and will probably like the extra few minutes for better time safety margin and the fewer tears if I lose it over the cost of a M2 pro..
I have 4 batteries for my Mavic 2 Zoom; ages and number of times charged vary. The batteries vary in usable flight times ranging from 17 minutes to 22 minutes. So can I conclude that as DJI batteries age, their flight time decreases? Your Air 2 batteries are obviously newer than the Pro 2 so this probably affected results.
any battery will loose charge after a while, lipos aren't any exception, can't believe this is never mentioned in all this "tests" etc. get fresh batteries for all different models, and then make comparing. for wind resistance test etc you don't have to wait for right weather, you can make proper test in some closed warehouse and a leaf blower etc.
Very interesting video. I saw one where a Mavic Air 2 couldn't hold its position in normal mode because the sustained wind was so high but when switched to sport mode it could. I was wondering if the Mavic Mini could have held position at the higher altitude in sport mode but of course you couldn't have tried in this case because it would have altered the test results. Good to know you could at least get it back by lowering the altitude. The little guy is a fighter for sure. The worst conditions I've flown my Mini in were 13 mph wind sustained gusting to 25. That was scary enough for me and I probably wouldn't fly in gusts that high again. It held its own pretty well but would get blown a few feet when hit with a strong gust. It was reassuring to see how quickly it would return to the previous position as soon as it was able. Always good to know the limits and how a drone will perform when pushed to or beyond or beyond those limits just in case the weather unexpectedly changes suddenly.
Just watched your video about air time was thinking about making the Mavic Air 2 my next drone thanks for swaying my opinion
Awesome test thanks for sharing
I got my mavic Air 2 on Monday. after dealing with issues with the DJI fly app and phone compatibility problems, I finally got it flying yesterday. I did my first flight indoors in my house, and despite having propwash when you fly a drone that large indoors, the drone was more steady than I could ever get a camera. I'm used to drones that size having some tilt or movement while hovering, that thing, absolutely none.
As Budd said, UAB forcast. I use it all the time! I actually paid for it so it will tell me other than my current location and save favorite locattions! Lors of other stats that are good to know too!
I enjoyed your video, are all very funny and interesting. Following and thumbs up
"mind numbingly wind"
... That thought never came to my mind, lol.
what is better in the wind? mavic pro or mavic air 2?
Recognized the Vortex Optics shirt before the drones ;-)
One thing that was not factored in was the age of the batteries & the number of previous charge-drain cycles they've had that would deplete them. The mavic air 2's batteries would without doubt be newer/fresher with fewer cycles on them.. Your Mini has probably been flown loads i bet.
Good video Russ! What is the screen recording app you use, Mobizen?
Mark H Nope, I dumped that because of the variable frame rate on Android. I use AZ Recorder now. Works great.
@@51Drones Cool, thanks I'll check it out!
Yeah the advertised max flight time is always on a best case scenario which we won’t experience. My Mavic Air has about 15mins flight time which is enough for getting the shots needed. ☺️
UAV forcast app is what you need to find out the wind condition and where you can fly your drone.
AWESOME video dude and thanks to you I have a great time with my AIR2 have had it a week now and just dig it!! Can you please do a video about the settings for slow mo...rocket...ect... how to access them easily and quickly while in flight? I am all thumbs dude...God Bless and be safe you all
No doubt the ma2 holds its own in the wind so it begs the question why does dji rate the max wind resistance at 23 mph?? Seems kinda low for what the drone can actually handle 🤔 Makes me a little nervous for the gimble
Just got my SPRY+ today, but its windy here in Jersey😩
Russ, the Master of the Sky has been omitted again-the Blue Bird-Skydio 2‼️
Glen M. Danielsen sold mine.
Skydio is junk
Hi, that's a specialised drone for target following. Also, currently not in production and in short supply when it is. which is a pity. BobUK
Thank you for great feedback Russ.
You keep saying the mavic air 2 is the quietest drone you've flown but you never compared it to the ultimate quiet drone (until now) namely the mavic pro platinum.
I'm waiting to hear.
Thank you.
Best regards.
Phil
DJI should offer Mini owners a buy back program to trade up to MA2. The mini is great and fun, but flying in any breeze gives one pause. My wife moved heaven and earth to get me a Mini for xmas, but after seeing how the MA2 performs, I’ve got buyer’s remorse....
I chose to hold on until may for this reason it is a nice drone
For my first run and I was considering in mavic mini. It truly is a great drone. But I did not want to have buyer's remorse a week later so I figured why not jump all the way in. I ordered my mavic air to from DJI on June 27th with the fly more combo kit and also the DJI refresh. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow August 5th. Can't wait.
I’ve started with a mini and love it. It’ll cover indoor shots very well. For outdoors and better video, I’m not sure if I’ll do an MA2 or a used Phantom 4 pro. No remorse on the mini and in the breathless summer air we’ve had lately, it’s been great for outdoors too.
Sorry I didn't check all the comments, but, how far distance does the drone have to be to hit RTHome? I had NO idea this was necessary. Thanks again for a great video.
Awesome video! Thank you!
Here’s what I want to see. Someone doing a video about purchasing their first drone. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced in photography/video this is the first drone you should buy. It would be easier for me to know which drone I should get because I won’t want to upgrade to another drone for a long time
For now with the price point, obstacle avoidance & APAS DJI Mavic Air 2 is a very good beginner drone. There are all side obstacle avoidance drones like SkyDio2 but I would stay with DJI. However, if you don't want to upgrade for a long time, nobody can answer that with the current fast changing technology. Some people are happy with FHD even now and some want 4k and soon they would want 8k. So it is a personal preference.
Manoj Hey thanks for your help. I bought the air 2 after reading this. It’s what I thought I would want anyways. Thank you
Great wind test....thanks!!!!!
Hi Russ, thanks for that, helpful. What's the clamp you are using to hold your tablet? BobUK.
Thanks for the video! What microphone are you using? It sounds great even with the strong wind!
Rode Wireless Go. And I didn't even use a windscreen!
51 Drones perfect sir! Thank you!
I am just entering drone flying. I flew a neighbor's drone a few weeks ago, HOOKED. So i have been reading and researching into getting into flying drones. I bought my first drone, believe it or not, the Mavic Air 2. I will follow the advice of don't fly it immediately after unboxing it. Anyway, your video and channel are great. Any other tips for beginners. I am reading a lot on pre-beginner stuff such as "top 5 things" to do before flying, know the FAA rules, different airspace types, where to fly, NOT to fly, and more stuff. Love your stuff.
Send it! Great video, thanks Russ.
Is there a way that you can compare the new Air 2 and the old mavic pro. Are they the same in most ways. I believe the pro will go farther and last just as long. Or should I scrap the mavic pro for the new air 2?
It really depends on how much you fly, and how many hours are on the Mavic Pro. My Mavic Pro is retired. It just doesn’t fly safely anymore, even after calibrating everything. If you have only flown the Mavic Pro, then you will be extremely pleased with the handling and image quality difference of the MA2
Good video Russ
UAV Forecast. And I'm loving the Vortex optics shirt!
Btw, I was flying my Platinum around the big kites on the beach in Bali. It takes a lot of wind to keep them things flying. Yet I could position my Platinum anywhere I wanted to take close-ups. That Platinum is heavy enough it won't go anywhere unless in a typhoon.
Good sharing bro
Russ you have a DJI Phantom? How would that compare in these conditions?
Great Lakes Drone Service I don’t. I only got to use it for 2 weeks.
Hi Russ. Great comparison video. I've been a fan of yours almost since you started 51 Drones. You're a likeable guy! (I just don't comment much to the Vloggers I follow). I entered into the drone hobby about 3 years ago (Mavic Pro Platinum then upgraded to Mavic 2 pro as soon as it was available). I will be the first to admit I'm still learning and still feel like I'm just scratching the surface when it comes to drones and flying experience. (Well maybe I've learned a little something along the way and your videos have helped this Noob a lot! Lol!) If my RUclips name gives you a hint of what my profession is, you are correct. So in getting to my point and why it ties to my profession is that maximum flight time is important to me as I've been asked and have filmed training evolutions with my Mav 2 Pro for my department. My question is this... Since the Mavic Air 2 is new, and the battery you used in the Mav Air 2 is new as well, do you think your somewhat aged Mav 2 pro battery couldn't last as long? In other words, do you think a brand new battery for the Mav 2 pro would have given you a more accurate flight time comparison?
Thanks again Russ
Oh sorry I just read deeper into the comments and saw another person asked about aged battery life as well. Sorry to re-ask the question.
No, I don't believe so. My battery life has been consistent on the M2P for a long time. I actually think the Mavic Air 2 will do better with more cycles on it.
@@51Drones Thanks for the reply Russ! Keep up the great work!
For wind speeds at diffirent heights I use Ventusky. Apple App store has it
Hey Russ! Great video. I was noticing that you are using a tablet with the new Mavic Air 2 controller. How is that working out? I am waiting on my Mavic Air 2 fly more combo to come tomorrow! YEHAW! This will be my first (real) drone. I have such an old small phone (iPhone 5S) I was worried about using it to fly. But I have an iPad Pro 9.7 that looks like it would work, but doesn't have a sim card. Would I still be able to use it? Thanks man!
Steve Waller yes no cellular or wifi connection required to fly it uses gps between remote and the drone your good to go
I like it, but it’s quite top heavy. My IPad doesn’t have a card either. You just won’t have maps, but you can download them ahead of time,or you can use your phone as a hotspot.
Chris W thanks!
51 Drones thanks Russ!
51 Drones thanks Russ. I just received my MA2 today. All charged up and waiting to close my shop for the day. Yehaw!
I like your video I’m so curious about get a drone
No one is comparing it to the phantom 4 pro... I would like your thoughts on that
Haven’t had a problem with it in mild winds in the mountains but when I try to film kiting it will be a test but looks like it shouldn’t be to bad judging by your video.
Fuck me everybody is peddling Ridge Wallets 😂
Great video btw,
Great video, and great iPad holder, I’m looking for a holder for my iPad mini, something that has good adjustment screws to keep it sturdy.
Russ, please share the kind of controller mount you are using in this vid. It seems to be universal to your controllers and can hold that full sized iPad. I use my iPad mini 4, rather than my iphone. I'd need to get the longer connector lead too. A couple links to these items would be great. Note - I'm getting 28 minutes on my MA2 batteries; probably because we're a bit warmer here in sunny AZ. Thank so much - keep your great content coming. Poke.
Never mind - I spotted your reply to another viewer. Take care.
i took my mavic mini out in 30mph winds took it up 100 meters and didn't have a bit of problems it out did my mantis q that's bigger and weights a lot more.
tks for sharing the experience Russ, it will help us a lot
Russ, you continue to give praise to the Mavic Mini, which is the one I have. For the occasional drone pilot, is upgrading to the Mavic Air 2 really worth it? And thanks for your informative videos. You're the best in my book.
Thanks Doug. For the occasional pilot, no. The Mini is more than enough. But if you want professional looking footage and possibly make money with your drone some day, then I would get the Air 2.
Got mines today have not flown it yet charging up all the batteries and doing all the updates first
UAV Forecast is wat i use it
Thanks looking forward to getting mine
Here's a tip for you that you might already know..
AccuWeather only gives you surface-level I think it's 33 ft high sustained wind speed and gusts. I really wish you could have told us what the wind speed and gusts were at how high you were flying..
DOWNLOAD UAV FORECAST from the Play store..
They give you all the information you need at ground level but more importantly after you open up and you click on the ( wind profile at the bottom ) it will give you sustained and gusts of wind at different altitudes!!
ALMOST ALWAYS the wind at ground level is not going to be nearly as bad if you're up 100 ft, 200 feet, 300 feet or 400 ft..
I made this mistake in the beginning using AccuWeather and others.. then when I went up 100ft or more MY DRONE WAS GETTING BLOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE!!
That's because AccuWeather said it was 15 mile an hour winds with 25 guests. Then at 250 ft it was 25 mile an hour winds AND 40 MILE AN HOUR GUSTS!!!
Knowing the wind at different altitudes IS A MUST!!
Surprised a lot of drone reviewers either don't know or ignore this..
FYI another thing that's useless that I bought!! Is those wind handheld meters you buy on Amazon . Again it only tells you what the wind is doing where you are standing.. tells you nothing about what's up over a 100 feet..
;)
I got the air 2 but it just has no range in the tall pines we have. I got it for better range than my old mavic pro but I get less than half the range. Tried with phone signals off and it still didnt help. I love the camera, the speed, size and no wind warnings unless its really windy but my problem is the range through foliage and trees. Few open fields around me.
I am experiencing the same thing. 🤨
Great video cant wait for your review and your thoughts on the air 2...Here in South Africa where i stay we are still waiting for the air 2 placed my order just after the launch.
Great video as usual Russ.
Nice rig for the ipad
It's the uav forecast russ. From your grappling buddy in Colorado. Good vid
I saw that you had the mini in P mode, maybe test it in sport. I have the mini my self and it performed better in sports mode.
Enjoyed the video. Thanks Russ.
Nice desktop you have clamped to your RC. lol
Was the winds the same for all drones? Were they all flown at the same altitude? Seems like the same speed over approx 2hr period is unlikely. I know this is so hard to duplicate all conditions but fair is fair...
Yes and yes. As consistent as it could be. Not a scientific test though.
Do you think its worth about 400 USD more from the Mavic Mini? Would be an awesome addon video to a comparison of the Air 2 vs Mini! Lastly, just wondering, if the Mavic Mini(without registering) would have any advantages in places you can fly as compared to where you cannot fly other Mavic drones above 250 grams. Thank you for sharing!
I concur with everything you said about the M2Pro and MA2, I have the Pro and my bro just got the MA2 and we have 3 batteries each and his MA2 consistently gets way more flight time than my M2Pro.
Any chance you can dig out your lifting box rig and do a lift test to compare the ma2 to the results from your other video ?
Rob Lackie I threw it away, but I think I can engineer a similar model! 😂
Tks for the information.
Hey! Which Samsung drones work with the dji mavic air 2?
Does the flightdeck feel stable with the MA2 controller? I’m trying to decide if should purchase it or wait for an iPad mount designed specifically for the MA2? TIA!
Been looking at the air 2 for a few weeks. Any idea if it is compatible with the A51 phone and a suggestion on what adapter is needed to go from usb c to the controller. Thanks.
dji mavic air 2 activation error 1112 DJI no help at all a lot of people getting this.