DJI Mavic Air

From £768/$919

www.dji.com WEIGHT: 430g DIMENSIONS: 168x83x49mm (folded), 168x184x 64mm (unfolded) CONTROLLER: Yes VIDEO RESOLUTION: 4K 60fps CAMERA RESOLUTION: 12Mp Battery life: 21 minutes (2375mah) MAX RANGE: 10km/6.2miles MAX SPEED: 68kph/43mph

THE MAVIC Air is a capable drone that could be the only flying camera you’ll need. With front, downward and rear-facing sensors, the drone can identify obstacles and not just warn the pilot, but also plot a course to avoid them. The Air’s max 10km range is great, and DJI’S app includes some cool effects.

All this computing power comes with a downside. The battery life is a quoted 21 minutes, and is somewhat less in real-world conditions. Unfolding the Air is also quite fiddly. As with other DJI drones, an extra Fly More pack is available, which bundles useful extras like a case and spare batteries, but you’ll need to part with £180/£200.

The controller folds away beautifully, but it’s a bit awkward, as the grips that hold your phone in place can make it hard to swipe up to activate the phone. It’s also not ideal that the screen is below your hands, but the range is certainly impressive, and DJI’S app includes some cool effects.

VERDICT

PROS: 4K 60fps 100Mbps video; object avoidance sensing CONS: Flight time could be better; carrying case costs extra WE SAY: A clever machine that’s let down by its battery life