DJI Avata Drone Review 

With many drone options on the market, which one do you buy? This DJI Avata drone review unlocks some facts to allow you to make an informed decision.

Verdict: The DJI Avata has cool features! It has limited battery life, but the size, safety features and accuracy make it more than worth it in my opinion!

If freedom and fun had a baby, I think the DJI Avata drone would be it! The feeling of flight is a sensory joy often only tightly held by trained pilots in control of real aircraft, but with the DJI Avata drone everyone can find out for themselves. Drones have been around for a while but in reality, they came with a few challenges that may not have been worth the risk. The DJI Avata drone designers have addressed the challenges head-on including handling in tight corners, and measures to reduce the chance of breaking your machine. Put this together with the additional feature of VR goggles and you have got yourself all the fun without the risk. To be honest, in reviewing the DJI Avata drone, I am tempted to get one.

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What is the DJI Avata Drone? 

The DJI Avata drone is a user-friendly option perfect for personal use to enhance, relive or share all your experiences when out and about. It weighs around 410 grams, internal storage of 20gb, 18-minute battery life, and smart handling characteristics that make it easy to fly safely. Of course, it comes with a 4K enhanced camera which makes you fly like a bird. All drones have small propellers which may seem harmless, however, if flown into a human can be a risk to crucial areas like eyes. The DJI Avata drone has fully encased propeller blades with bump technology allowing for minor collisions, features that not only protect humans but allow the operator to squeeze through smaller gaps ensuring that they are less likely to damage the equipment … or the extremities of the gap.

“Compact and lightweight, DJI Avata is nimble in tight spaces. Every aspect of its design was made for you to be bold. The built-in propeller guard means that if Avata comes in contact with an object, it can bounce back, stay in the air, and can keep on flying.”

dji.com/au/avata

Is DJI Avata a beginner drone?

In my opinion … yes. The DJI motion controller has effectively taken away a step from the operator’s brain. In many more complicated and even older drones, the operator needed to use their thumbs on two different axes’, a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach. The DJI motion controller has overcome this by automating the function into an intuitive feel response meaning you tilt your hand to the right, it goes right, push your hand forward, it goes forward and so on. This capability is a reason why I believe the DJI Avata is a great option for beginners. Blend this with being bump-proof, and let’s get started today!

What type of drone is the Avata? 

The Avata is a FPV drone (very aviation to use a three-letter acronym!) which stands for ‘first person view’. As the name indicates, this means when connected with the DJI FPV goggles, you fly like you are the pilot in the seat. In the spirit of using cool words, it also has the ‘cinewhoop’ experience when you ‘whoop’ through gaps like a boss.

What are the features (specs) of the DJI Avata Drone?

There are many cool features of the DJI Avata drone:

• Fun
• Built in safety features
• Compatible DJI goggles for an immersive experience (pilots view)
• Built in propellor guard – good for the machine, good for wildlife
• Almost fits into the palm of your hand
• Very manoeuvrable – can achieve advanced flight movements
• Awesome intuitive motion controller – lean into it and it will oblige
• Downward binocular vision (supports downward obstacle sensing)
• Accurate hovering to as good as 0.1m vertically and 0.3m horizontally
• Hover time up to 18 minutes in nil wind
• 4K stabilized video
• Access to DJI virtual flight app to practise virtually for confidence (only on FPV remote controller 2)
• Sensors to keep the unit horizon or rock steady
• Portable and lightweight

“With the DJI Motion Controller, intuitive flight is in your hands. Squeeze the trigger and bolt forward or turn a corner with the swivel of your wrist. The controls are easy to use and provide a totally unique way to fly.”

dji.com/au/avata

Are there any drawbacks to the DJI Avata drone? 

All fun comes with responsibility and some drawbacks so you will need to weigh up what you want out of it and accept or put simply, pay more.

• Indoor limitations depending on light, signal and space
• Comfort of the goggles depending on your head size
• Goggles do not correct vision limitations
• Affected by wind and outdoor elements
• 18 minutes of battery life makes me sad
• Not waterproof – good to know! – (You can read our review of SwellPro waterproof drones HERE)
• No ‘follow me’ mode
• Video transmission latency varies
• Video transmission bitrate varies

How much does it cost?

All 18 minutes of battery life fun comes at a cost of USD$1428 unless you find it on sale somewhere. To put that into some perspective, if you flew it once a week, that is USD$27.46 of fun per week or USD$1.52 per minute per week. If you are remote, then the fun stops when you need to re charge.

You can read our article on The Most Expensive drone HERE.

How far can the DJI Avata drone fly?

With all the right conditions such as still air and a fully charged battery, the DJI Avata can fly up to a maximum range of 11.6km or 7.2 miles.

FAQs about the DJI Avata drone: 

Do you need a Licence to fly a DJI Avata?

This is a great question and one that you must be clear on before operating any unpiloted aircraft. Although the DJI Avata has several safety features when operating around people, it is not free from risk. Therefore, the type of operation dictates if you need a license or not such as if you are operating on a commercial basis. If you are operating away from people and for personal use, then you may not need a license. However, to operate in the vicinity of people, you will most likely need to fly under your local law Certificate of Competency which you can attain from drone training organizations, such as UAVHub or The Pilot Institute. The unit comes with a FAQ to seek more information about your local laws.

Generally, if you are wanting to fly closer to people (but not overfly them) then training is required.

The competencies that pilots of real aircraft need to achieve, also apply to drones. Some of these are around knowledge, procedures, problem-solving and decision making, and flight path management.

Can you take pictures with the DJI Avata?

You can take videos and pictures with the DJI Avata however you need to be mindful of local laws. You should always use your drone in a responsible and ethical manner to not disturb the community and respect privacy and personal space. Never forget the animals and wildlife, do not allow your drone to frighten an animal or startle into danger.

Does DJI Avata use GPS?

Yes, the DJI Avata uses GNSS which stands for global navigation satellite system. GPS is often used interchanged with GNSS. Both use satellite signals to determine position on earth. The DJI Avata supports GPS, Galileo and Beidou.

 Does DJI Avata have night vision?

DJI Avata does not have night vision modes available.

Where can you buy the DJI Avata Drone?

You can buy the DJI Avata Drone directly from the DJI store, or you can try online drone stores such as Banggood and Very Drone. You can also buy directly from Amazon.

Verdict: The DJI Avata has cool features! It has limited battery life, but the size, safety features and accuracy make it more than worth it in my opinion!

Conclusion

There is no doubt that drones can be fun and the DJI Avata is a great option for personal use for beginners, and even pilots of real aircraft. The price when broken down into weekly use is fairly reasonable and the weight keeps it simpler when it comes to licensing. What must be remembered however is that just because it is fun does not mean you are absolved of responsibility to be a decent operator and respect where you are flying. On top of that, there is associated risk, so you can consider whether drone insurance might be an option for you.

To mitigate the risk, it is always recommended to seek more knowledge, talk to other drone operators, and even speak to a pilot to understand what they fear about drones operating in shared airspace. When you understand the risk and apply competencies that licenced pilots demonstrate, then you are up for a long (well 18 minutes at a time) of fun. If freedom and fun are your thing, then the DJI Avata is worth looking at.