DJI bills the Mavic Air 2 as its smartest, safest, and easiest-to-fly non-professional drone and a lot of that is thanks to its plethora of obstacle avoidance sensors, the new pilot-friendly controller with a smartphone clamp, and the larger battery that promises an average of 34 minutes of flying time. Despite those myriad sensors, though, the Mavic Air 2 lacks the top IR sensors that still gives the Mavic 2 Pro a professional edge.

A new and larger 48 megapixel image sensor also opens the doors to new content creation opportunities, including 4K 30p video recording as well as 8K hyperlapse. Smart features like updated ActiveTrack 3.0, Point of Interest 3.0, and Spotlight 2.0 ensure that the chosen subject will always be in frame.

Of course, all those photos and footage aren’t meant to stay in the drone. DJI’s OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology utilizes 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz wireless frequency bands to stream HD video feed from drone to a smartphone app. The DJI Fly app, on the other hand, makes short work of editing video clips for quick and easy sharing on social media.

Availability in South Africa will be confirmed as soon as possible. Mavic Air 2 will be available in two purchasing options: a standard package which includes Mavic Air 2, one battery, remote controller and all the required wires and cables for R 18 999, and the Fly More option which includes all items from the standard version as well as a shoulder bag, ND filters, charging hub, and 3 batteries for R 22 999.

The DJI Mavic Mini is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand; it is joined by a camera that can capture up to 2.7K video.

The Mavic Mini is incredibly light with a weight under 250 grams; it features a 360-degree propeller guard and works with a charging base. Despite its small size, the drone comes with multiple operation modes found on larger drones, such as the ability to circle the camera’s subject, spiral away from the subject, and fly backward and upward away from the subject.

The system also features CineSmooth, a mode that extends the drone’s braking time to produce what DJI describes as ‘more cinematic’ videos. There’s also a basic operation mode called Position and a Sport mode described as being pilots who have more experience. Operators are given an HD live feed while operating the drone.

One of the Mavic Mini’s key features is its camera, which features a 1/2.3-inch sensor for 12MP still images and video recorded at either 1080p/60fps or 2.7K/30fps. The camera is attached to the drone using a three-axis motorized gimbal that keeps the footage and images stable and sharp.

DJI presents its new model as ideal for creatives who want to capture their daily adventures, as well as footage and images from unique perspectives. The Mavic Mini is already available to pre-order starting on October 30 from iStore for R6999; there is also a R8999 version that includes extra gear including spare batteries. The drone will start shipping on November 11. Hopefully.