The DJI Avata is fun to fly, works well, and captures good video. It’s a little expensive, but it’s easily the best FPV drone out there.
Drones seem to be in a bit of a weird spot. Just a few years ago, they were all the rage, and seemingly everyone wanted one. That hype seems to have died down a little by now. But the tech is still going strong. Drones are better than ever — and becoming more immersive than ever. That’s where the DJI Avata comes in.
The DJI Avata is the latest in DJI’s FPV series, allowing you to see what your drone sees through a pair of virtual reality goggles. The result is an experience that makes you feel like you’re the one flying — not the drone. Yeah, it’s pretty cool.
But just how immersive is the DJI Avata? And how does it compare to the DJI FPV? I’ve been using the DJI Avata drone for a while now to find out.
The DJI Avata isn’t just a minor update to a previous device — it’s an all-new offering with a totally new design. It looks nothing like the DJI FPV — instead offering a small footprint and propeller guards, making flying it that extra bit safer. I definitely felt a little more confident flying it than I otherwise might have.
The bottom of the drone is taken up by the four propellers, with a few sensors on the bottom face. Towards the top, you’ll get the main camera, with a camera guard when you’re not using the drone, and a removable battery.
It’s a relatively intuitive and easy-to-use design. It’s easy to attach and detach the camera guard and battery, and I really like the smaller design on offer here — like I liked the smaller footprint of the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
We’ll go over some of the included accessories below — but there is one thing missing: A carry case. This is a little frustrating, given the fact that there are so many bits and pieces to keep track of. DJI really should have included a bag or case for this drone.
Of course, there are other accessories that work with the drone too. The drone actually works with the DJI FPV Goggles V2, but it’s launching alongside the new DJI Goggles 2, which I’m using with it. The DJI Goggles 2 are smaller and lighter than the DJI FPV Goggles 2, but they’re far from perfect. They’re pretty uncomfortable on my big nose, and they don’t have a built-in battery, meaning that you have to attach an external battery to use them. I understand that the result is a lighter headset, but I wish DJI had come up with a better solution.
Still, generally, the Goggles 2 work quite well. They’re highly adjustable, so you can make sure that they work well for your face and eyes, and see the video feed properly.
