DJI Mavic Pro UK Drone Review

The new DJI Mavic Pro could easily seem as a successor to the Phantom series, but this wouldn’t necessarily be true. While the DJI Mavic Pro offers users some new features, it should be seen as more of a mobile equivalent of what’s gone before. This of course can be confusing in the first instance, but once you catch sight of the design of the DJI Mavic, you will have a better understanding of its purpose. In this regard, the Mavic can be seen as a spinoff as opposed to a successor. This is no bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, it just serves a different set of UAV users, namely those looking for a more compact UAV solution.

The Design of the DJI Mavic Pro

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However, the main pulling power of the design is just how compact it is. Rather than planning your drone flights, you can now have one by your side that’s ready to spring into action with a few simple clicks, and can be therefore seen as the smartphone of UAVS.

Those who do want to invest more in the DJI Mavic Pro can also purchase a dedicated shoulder bag, but in all honesty, it shouldn’t be required unless you’re merely looking to treat yourself, or you just want a dedicated carrying solution. For the most part, the drone can be carried with ease, whether it’s within a backpack or on your person.

Controlling the DJI Mavic Pro

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Fortunately, there is another option that can bring a little something extra to the party, and that’s with the purchase of a dedicated DJI controller. Evidently with there already being an app version of the controller in place, some may question as to why they would even be interested in a stand-alone controller, but there are a number of benefits to having this additional controller, despite the additional investment.

The first benefit is that it promises a larger flight path of up to four miles. This is quite impressive when compared to its competitors. If you’re looking to cover large distances then it could be something worth considering. However, the controller alone won’t give you the live feed that the Wi-Fi option delivers, so where do you go from here? Fortunately, you can use the standalone controller in conjunction with your phone, delivering mileage and a great video feed. However, it should be noted that this kind of setup can drain your battery quite quickly, so it may be worth considering as to how immersive you want your drone experience to be. However, for the most part, the DJI Mavic Pro delivers a punch when it comes to the control and flight radius.

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Faultless Flight

Of course, the main purpose of any UAV is for it to fly, and how well it flies can have an effect on how much we enjoy our drone experience. Fortunately, the DJI Mavic Pro comes up tops in this regard. Those who have had pleasurable experiences flying drones in the past may assume that their past experience cannot be surpassed. However, you should approach the Mavic Pro with an open mind, as the control is faultless. Even in winds of up to 20 mph, the drone remains stable.

This isn’t the only selling point of the Mavic Pro’s flight abilities, as the UAV is also abundant with safety features. There are front-facing sensors that ensure your drone is kept out of harm’s way when it comes to everyday objects. Whether it’s a tree or another human being, you can be sure that your drone is not going to be causing any damage soon. However, it should be noted that adrenaline junkies looking to acquire the advertised 40 mph will need to turn on Sport mode, which disables the obstacle avoidance by default. So if you’re looking to capture some high-paced footage, then you need to ensure there are no obstacles nearby that could potentially damage your drone.

There are also sensors placed underneath, which means that the drone can even be flown indoors without it being hindered by a lack of GPS signal.

The drone is also able to fly back to its launch point should there be a loss of signal, and what’s even more impressive is that the Mavic Pro takes a picture of the Launchpad before flight, and uses it the picture to land back within one inch of its launch point.

There are some minor misgivings, such as landing in long grass. Although not in every instance, the DJI Mavic Pro can struggle among long blades of grass and even become tangled. Evidently, flying your drone into uncut grass probably isn’t going to be one of your ambitions, but it can be worth noting if you’re flying around unfamiliar territory.

Pre-Programed Flight Paths

The planned flight paths of drones should come as no surprise, as such a feature is a standard on many consumer drones. However, that’s not to say that the features included on this particular UAV fail to impress, because the Mavic Pro carries out these canned flight paths with true professionalism, making for some truly mesmerising video footage.

The ‘Orbit’ feature allows users to have the Mavic fly around in a circle, while its camera stays focused on a target in the middle.

There is also the ‘Active Track’ feature that allows your UAV to follow things as you carry out some extreme sports. Rather than drone following the controller, it allows you to draw a box around your subject before fight commences, and it will track the subject as it moves.

Another fancy inclusion is the use of gestures. Gestures can inform the drone to take a selfie, or start following you. While it’s not a feature that will be enjoyed by everyone, it’s a nice inclusion nonetheless.

The Mavic Pro Camera

Off the bat, the camera impresses thanks to its 4K resolution, although it is worth pointing out that the camera doesn’t have as wide an angle when compared to other drones, but overall this shouldn’t affect the footage too greatly, and offers footage that easily competes with footage captured on competitors.

Although you can easily view the footage being captured via your smartphone screen, you can have a more immersive experience, albeit at an additional cost. Drone users can purchase a pair of DJI goggles that looks like a VR headset, but actually connects wirelessly to the Mavic Pro offering a first-person view in 1080p. This can be seen as something of a gimmick, but it makes for an interesting flight path if you wish to make that extra investment. However, not having access to a pair of goggles will do very little to hinder your enjoyment.

The camera is compact and is held in place by a three-axis gimble. It’s this combination that allows users of the Mavic Pro to capture images that are stable, without having to make cutbacks in relation to the resolution.

However, there is one slight thing to note in relation to the camera. While not a con, the fact that you have to tap the screen of your phone before attempting to capture footage. While a very minimal requirement, it could be frustrating for those who are used to automated methods seen on other drones.

Battery Life and Recharging

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Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, there can be drawbacks, as you are effectively monitoring the battery life of three separate devices, which individually give a series of warning beeps when power is running low, so can it can initially cause some confusion as to which device is running low on power. However, after a short learning curve, there is very little reason as to why you shouldn’t be able to get used to the warning signals. Evidently, if you’re looking to capture a lot of footage then it could be wise to invest in some additional batteries to ensure that you’re not caught short when out and about.

Conclusion

DJI have again impressed with the Mavic Pro, with its major selling point being its mobility., the The Mavic Pro sets out to appease its users with a slew of options, and even some additional extras that can be purchased should you so wish, but which are not required to fully enjoy what DJI have to offer. As such, you are given access to a portable device that not only looks the part, but will surely turn a few heads when it transforms from a compact device emulating a walkie-talkie, into a ferocious flying machine that is able to capture footage effortlessly. In fact, it’s so effortless you will often be surprised how much fun you can have with Mavic Pro, regardless of whether it’s flying the device, or the satisfying click of unfolding it.

DJI have really stepped up their game with the Mavic Pro and it will no doubt be as successful as its Phantom series. If you need more information you visit the DJI Mavic Pro page here.