DJI Mavic Air review (still worth it in 2023?)

21 min Battery

4km Range

4k Stabilized

Brushless Motors

What to look for in a camera drone

The DJI Mavic Air was one of the sleekest and most capable consumer drones back in its day, but is it still a good drone in 2023?

The Mavic Air is a capable 4k drone with a wide range of flight modes and a compact design that still holds a lot of value even in 2023 if you find to buy it cheaply, as the newer Mavic Air 2s is way superior in every aspect.

If you already own it and are not a professional who makes money with it, it's still worth keeping it. The only good alternatives would be a considerable upgrade to the Mavic Air 2s or a size upgrade to the 250 gram DJI Mini 2, which comes with a longer flight time, believe it or not.

Image stability

Image Stability

Probably the most important factor when choosing a drone that must record video or take good photos is image stability. 

I would always prefer having a lower quality camera, but to be stabilized, instead of a 4k one that shakes all over. Makes sense, right?

You should look for the following in a drone if you want good image stability:

• A 2 or preferably 3 axis gimbal is the best possible way to stabilize a camera. It's usually found in more expensive builds.
• Electronic image stabilization. Drones like Parrot Bebop 2 or even the cheaper Tello have it.
• Get yourself a GO Pro drone and use a very stable Action cam with electronic or optical image stabilization!

Battery life

You should look for the following in a drone if you want good image stability:

• A 2 or preferably 3 axis gimbal is the best possible way to stabilize a camera. It's usually found in more expensive builds.
• Electronic image stabilization. Drones like Parrot Bebop 2 or even the cheaper Tello have it.
• Get yourself a GO Pro drone and use a very stable Action cam with electronic or optical image stabilization!

Drone GPS and stabile flight

You can take very nice shots with a drone that only has the previous items we've talked about, but if you want to be stress free... having a stable drone or GPS is the way to go.

I'm not even getting into the ability to take time lapses, but having a solid stable drone is necessary for not begin stressed by the wind taking it away while you change the camera settings.

Besides that, drones with GPS also come with useful functions like return to home and follow me, that can be super useful for saving time and money.

• Drones with GPS
  • great for stability at higher altitudes and distances
  • Safer with RTH options and if battery is too low
• Drones with Optical flow cameras
  • much cheaper
  • holds position pretty well under 20m height
  • can work indoors too

Mavic air Price and specs

Being well under $800 category of drones, and sometimes much lower if you find it second hand, the Mavic Air is definitely not cheap for everyone, but it certainly justifies its price with a ton of features.

It's on par with some of the most expensive drones out there, basically a combination between the capability of the Mavic Pro and the complex features and size of the DJI Spark.

I think it's perfect for the following categories of people:

1. Professional photographers and videographers (especially weddings)
2. People who like to travel a lot and want to carry a capable yet small camera drone
3. It has a lot of potential for industrial use, in inspection mostly

Mavic Air video Review

Camera and video comparison

Because I got my hands on 3 of the most exclusive drones from DJI, I decided to compare how they record. Keep in mind there's quite a price difference between these three, so don't take everything for granted.

Even when comparing the Mavic Air to a $1400 drone like Mavic 2 Pro it still stood its ground very well, and most people probably can't make the difference from afar.

A few image samples for comparison

If you're undecided between the Mavic 1, mavic 2 and the Mavic air, then I hope the following pictures might help you decide.

As you can see, the Mavic Air is still very comparable for the untrained eye even when put side by side with a drone made for cinematography like the Mavic 2 Pro.

As a conclusion, if you already own the Mavic Air and aren't interested in doing professional work, keep it for the occasional flight or trip.

If you don't want to keep it, just chose to upgrade to the newer Mavic Air 2s model or simply go for the smaller sized DJI Mini 2 instead of the slightly outdated Mavic Air.