META-REVIEW: Complete list of Mavic Pro features & what people are saying about it

msinger · July 1, 2018, 4:00am

Mavic Pro Features

Battery

Max Flight Time: 27 mins (0 wind at consistent 15.5 MPH) [DJI specs]
Average Flight Time: 21 mins (in normal flight with 15% remaining battery level) [DJI specs]
Battery Type: LiPo 3S (43.6 Wh) [DJI specs]
3830 mAh LiPo battery charges in about 1 hour [Scott Simmie]
Charger includes 2 USB ports; can charge remote controller at same time [Scott Simmie]
Can charge with advanced charging hub plus Phantom 4 100W charger (takes 130 minutes to charge 4 batteries from 15% to 100%) [Dr Turbo]

Camera

Stabilized 4K camera [DJI]
2x digital zoom [blade strike]
Smallest-ever 3-axis gimbal for shake-free photos & video [DJI]
Autofocus camera with minimum focusing distance of just 19 in (0.5 m) [DJI]
Turn camera 90 degrees for vertical selfies/video [DJI]
Records 4K video at 30fps & full 1080p HD at 96fps [DJI]
12-megapixel camera with Adobe DNG RAW support has been tuned for aerial images [DJI]
Can shoot 2-second-long exposures [DJI]
Camera Sensor: 1/2.3” (CMOS) [DJI specs]
Effective Pixels: 12.35 M (12.71M total pixels) [DJI specs]
Camera Lens: FOV 78.8° 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.2; Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to ∞ [DJI specs]
Shutter Speed: 8s -1/8000s [DJI specs]
ISO Range: 100-3200 (video); 100-1600 (photo) [DJI specs]
Max Image Size: 4000×3000 [DJI specs]
Photo Modes: Single shot, Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames, Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7, EV Bias, Interval [DJI specs]
Video Recording Modes: C4K: 4096×2160 24p, 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p, 2.7K: 2704×1520 24/25/30p, FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/96p, HD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p [DJI specs]
Max Video Bitrate: 60 Mbps [DJI specs]
Gimbal Tilt: Pitch: -90° to +30° [DJI specs]
Camera has same 1/2.3 inch sensor as P3/P4 [Dr Turbo]
FOV is smaller (78.8 degrees) [Dr Turbo]
Autofocus with nearest focus range of 0.5 meters [Dr Turbo]
Camera Cover: Leave off for best quality & on when transporting [blade strike]
How to set Focus: Works just like an x5. Tap area you want focused and it focuses. If you focus on something 50m out, it’s pretty much set to infinity. [blade strike]
Streams at 1080p to phone/goggles (rather than 720p on P4) [Scott Simmie]

Flight Modes

Sport Mode: Allows speeds of up to 40 MPH [DJI]
TapFly: Direct Mavic to go wherever you want, avoiding obstacles along the way [DJI]
Can control Mavic with hand gestures [DJI]
Gesture Mode: Use gestures to have Mavic locate you, center you in the frame and take the perfect shot as Mavic’s flashing lights count down to the photo [DJI]
Terrain Follow Mode: Can race up a slope behind a subject while remaining at a constant height between 1 ft (0.3 m) and 33 ft (10 m) [DJI]
Tripod Mode: Slowing & fine-tuning Mavic’s position & angle based on controller movement inputs to allowing for precision framing & safe indoor flight [DJI]
ActiveTrack: Recognizes common objects (e.g. people, bicyclists, cars, boats & animals); send Mavic to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside the subject, keeping the camera focused on the subject while you concentrate on flight maneuvers [DJI]
ActiveTrack: As the Mavic is tracking, you can even select exactly where you want the subject in the frame [B&H]
Trace: Follow behind or in front of your subject, or circle it as it moves [B&H]
Profile: Fly alongside your subject [B&H]
Spotlight: Keeps camera trained on your subject while you fly almost anywhere [B&H]
Selfie Mode: Put the Mavic in Gesture Mode and walk in front of it. Mavic will auto detect you. Raise your arms or wave to it to make it follow you. Make a box shape with your fingers when ready to take a photo. The lights under the Mavic’s front arms will start to flash, and you’ll have 3 seconds before it takes a photo [B&H]
Tripod Mode: Caps Mavic’s maximum speed at just 2.2 mph, while the control stick sensitivity of the remote controller is dulled to give you the precision for accurate framing. Great for flying indoors or in small spaces. [B&H]
Terrain Follow: When you’re flying over changing terrain, this mode uses height information gathered by the on-board ultrasonic system & its downward-facing cameras to keep you flying at the same height above the ground even as the ground moves. Just set the height from the ground you want (from 9 to 33’) [B&H]

Performance

FlightAutonomy can position, navigate and plan routes for Mavic, enabling it to avoid obstacles in various environments, with or without the help of satellite signals [DJI]
FlightAutonomy provides significant boost in working range & can cope with complex 3D environments [DJI]
Avoids most obstacles at speeds up to 22 MPH [DJI]
Remains stable in winds of up to 24 MPH [DJI]
Max Ascent Speed: 16.4 ft/s (5 m/s) in Sport mode [DJI specs]
Max Descent Speed: 9.8 ft/s (3 m/s) [DJI specs]
Max Speed: 40 mph (65 kph) in Sport mode without wind [DJI specs]
Obstacle Sensory Range: Precision measurement range: 2 ft (0.7 m) to 49 ft (15 m); Detectable range: 49 ft (15 m) to 98 ft (30 m) [DJI specs]
Max Altitude: 500 m above the takeoff point [blade strike]
VPS Range: 1 - 43 feet (0.3 - 13 m) altitude; Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting (lux > 15) [DJI specs]
Once props start spinning, centrifugal force will auto unfold props into the correct position [DJI FAQ]
During takeoff, the Mavic’s stereo cameras record a burst of photos without you even knowing it. It then uses that imagery & GPS info to land within an inch of where it took off when you’re using an auto-land/RTH function. [Scott Simmie]

Aircraft

Easily carried in a purse/backpack [DJI]
Folding design compresses entire drone to practically size of a water bottle [DJI]
Four folding arms and propellers tuck neatly away against its streamlined body [DJI]
Can be set up & airborne in less than a minute [DJI]
GPS & GLONASS navigation systems [DJI]
Redundant sensors [DJI]
24 powerful computing cores [DJI]
Ultra light and aerodynamic airframe [DJI]
Uses DJI’s GEO geofencing system to help identify restricted areas, preventing flight in locations that might raise safety/security concerns [DJI]
Set to automatically return to its launch location if it ever loses contact with the controller or reaches critically low battery levels [DJI]
Precision landing feature records a burst of video with two stereo cameras every time Mavic launches, then uses both video and satellite information when it returns to land within an inch of where it took off [DJI]
OcuSync (new video link system) supports a range up to 4.3 miles (7 km) and live view resolutions up to 1080p [DJI]
New band management algorithm makes OcuSync more robust in environments with many frequencies in operation [DJI]
Equipped with dual-band WiFi as secondary link, allowing easy control via smartphone for close range operation or for quick downloading of content from Mavic to your device [DJI]
Folded Size: H 83mm x W 83mm x L 198mm [DJI specs]
Weight: 1.62 lbs (734 g) without gimbal cover; 1.64 lbs (743 g) with gimbal cover [DJI specs]
Supported Mobile Device Size: Thickness Supported:6.5-8.5mm; Max length: 160mm [DJI specs]
Can be powered on folded [blade strike]
Props designed as a single unit [Joe_DJI]
Arms are heavy-duty, but not metal. They snap into place when collapsed/expanded with no locking mechanism necessary. [Joe_DJI]
Dual compass & IMU for redundancy [B&H]
Folding mechanism has been tested to last at least 5,000 folds [DJI FAQ]

Remote Controller

Can be operated by powerful long range remote controller or with smartphone at shorter range [DJI]
Compact RC designed to provide ergonomic experience with optimum comfort [DJI]
RC can accommodate a smartphone or control Mavic on its own [DJI]
RC’s built-in LCD screen displays essential telemetry data, while dedicated buttons for functions such as Return-to-Home and pausing during Intelligent Flight modes ensure a confident flight every single time [DJI]
Max Transmission Distance: FCC Compliant: 4.3 mi (7 km); CE Compliant: 2.5 mi (4 km) when unobstructed & free of interference [DJI specs]
Transmitter power: FCC: ≤26 dBm; CE: ≤20 dBm [DJI specs]
4.3 mile (7 km) range when flying with remote controller [DJI FAQ]
80m range & max altitude of 50m when flying with WiFi device [DJI FAQ]
Semi-fixed RC connector, you could change between various USB ports and lightning [Dr Turbo]
RC will not hold an iPad Mini, officially. You could figure out a way to do it, but not as comfortable as a mobile phone. [Dr Turbo]
RC only has a USB port (no HDMI port) [Tahoe Ed]
Run Time: About 6-7 battery packs [blade strike]
Charge Time: 1-2 hours [blade strike]
Micro USB port on the side for charging [blade strike]
Antennas click into each other for safe storage [Joe_DJI]
RCs from other DJI aircraft cannot be used to fly the Mavic [Joe_DJI]
Features a small, clear monochrome screen that displays modes, telemetry & other key features. [Scott Simmie]
Gives haptic feedback via vibration to alert pilot about important events mid-flight [RC Groups]

DJI Goggles

Mavic Pro also pairs with DJI’s new immersive DJI Goggles or DJI Goggles RE (Racing Edition), displaying an 85-degree view from the drone in full 1080p for a true bird’s-eye view of the world below [DJI]
Googles have built-in OcuSync, the goggles receive video directly from Mavic Pro in the air and not through the controller, reducing lag to a minimum [DJI]
DJI Goggles allows you to flick between third person view & FPV in under a second [DJI]
Can comfortably wear your glasses while wearing the goggles and quit FPV mode instantly by flipping the mask up [DJI]
Designed to make flying totally immersive. Feature two 1080p LTPS displays with a wide 85° angle of view to give you a bird’s eye view of the world around you. Built-in OcuSync connectivity means that it links directly to the Mavic & not through a cable or a Wi-Fi link to the controller. Connection yields delay of only 120 milliseconds. [B&H]

DJI Care Refresh

DJI Care Refresh is a new optional protection plan, DJI Care Refresh, is available in select countries and provides peace of mind for Mavic Pro owners [DJI]
Covers accidental damage to the Mavic Pro aircraft, gimbal or camera during normal use for up to 12 months [DJI]
For an additional charge, DJ will offer up to 2 full replacements that are new or equivalent to new [DJI]
Plan can be extended for a second year by purchasing DJI Care Refresh + before the original DJI Care Refresh plan expires [DJI]
Easiest to purchase before Mavic Pro is activated or within the first 48 hours after activation [DJI]
You must submit a video like this to DJI in order to purchase DJI Care Refresh for a Mavic Pro that has been activated more than 48 hours ago [DJI]

Other

Live streaming to Facebook, Periscope, or YouTube via DJI GO [DJI]
ND filters are coming [blade strike]
You could also just fly with a tablet over WiFi [blade strike]
Firmware updates can be installed via DJI Assistant 2 [blade strike]
It really wasn’t designed to be a racer. Anyone that has seen or flown a racer will know this. [blade strike]
The aircraft is not user serviceable. It’s honestly built like a Swiss watch. You always have the option to send the aircraft in for repair. If malfunction is shown in the flight logs, the repair will be covered at no cost if still under warranty. [blade strike]

Findings after Flying the Mavic Pro

Camera

Found you need to set focus during or before take off to get the best results [blade strike]
Does not work well as a handheld gimbal. The gimbal hunts around too much. [Newsshooter]
On startup, the camera will usually auto focus on something on the ground. This is why you should auto focus once air born on something about 50m out. That will give you infinity. You can forget about it from that point on unless you want to later focus on a closer subject. [blade strike]

Flight Modes

Sport Mode: Even at these speeds, aircraft is incredibly responsive & nimble. No, it’s not on same level as tweaked-out racing drone, but it’s very impressive for a consumer/prosumer personal quadcopter. [Scott Simmie]
ATTI Mode: There is no remote controller switch and/or other way to manually switch to ATTI mode.

General

The P4 & Mavic are different craft made for different users. Some will have both but this will probably have my phantoms sitting longer just do to the fact you cant take this anywhere with very little spaced used with 95% of the performance. [blade strike]
It does not show props as much as the P4. ONLY at very extreme angles and ONLY in sport mode. [blade strike]
We’ve had no problem with hand catching. Just grab it by the body from underneath. Ensure there is no wind to stop mid-air adjustments. [Joe_DJI]
Incredibly sturdy and our units here, after dozens of hours of flight time, show no signs of sloppiness or wear [Joe_DJI]
It’s not a new Phantom; not a new Inspire. It’s unlike anything DJI has produced in the past. [Scott Simmie]

Performance

Have flown in 15 MPH with solid footage [blade strike]
Handles the same wind as the P4 by my testing [blade strike]
A little bit of wind & piro does cause some altitude drop (about a foot or two) but it does recover. [blade strike]
Gives you high wind warning, but does not issue RTH unless you do or it loses contact with RC [blade strike]
If you are experienced with the P4, it will feel very familiar to you – but it’s even more stable [Joe_DJI]
The Mavic hung there like it was glued in space [Scott Simmie]
Noticeably quieter than the P4 [Scott Simmie]
Flawless, smooth, and highly responsive [Scott Simmie]
Lower weight makes it feel more agile/nimble [Scott Simmie]

Where to Buy the Mavic Pro

The Mavic Pro can be purchased from DJI, Apple, Best Buy, and other authorized DJI dealers.

Review Sources

The following reviews were used to compile the information above:

DJI Mavic Specs: Mavic Pro - Product Information - DJI
DJI Mavic FAQ: Mavic Pro - Product Information - DJI
RC Groups: Official DJI Mavic ***Owner and Developer'sThread*** - RC Groups