DJI Mavic

The DJI Mavic is a series of teleoperated compact quadcopter drones for personal and commercial aerial photography and videography use, released by the Chinese technology company DJI.

Mavic Mini and Mini SE
DJI announced the Mavic Mini on October 30, 2019 as a replacement for the now discontinued DJI Spark and positioning it as a beginner camera drone. Its camera is on a three-axis gimbal and features a 12 MP sensor capable of 2.7K video at 30 FPS. The Mavic Mini shares similar design characteristics with the Mavic Pro and Mavic 2 series, though notable for its portability and overall small size. DJI's marketing behind the Mavic Mini focuses on the weight of the drone at 249 g, allowing it to bypass drone registration regulations in several Western countries like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In Japan, a model was released with a smaller battery weighing 50 g less, to come in under Japan's similar 200 g limit. It has a range of 4 km as it uses Enhanced Wifi. Installed camera identifies in Exif as FC7203.

DJI Mini SE, was released mid-2021, it is basically the original DJI Mini build in DJI Mini 2 shell. It has 30 minutes flight time, 12 MP still camera, 2.7K video, and a 4 km transmission range as it uses Enhanced Wifi like the DJI Mavic Mini. Its main purpose was to be a successor for the old Dji Mini as the cheapest drone option.

Mini 2, Mini 2 SE and Mini 4K
DJI Mini 2, released November 2020, improves upon the Mavic Mini with longer flight time (31 minutes) and the ability to record 4K footage. Weighing in at 249 g, the Mini 2 can withstand level 5 winds. It has 5 quickshot modes, 3 panorama modes, HD, 2.7k and 4k video. It also has the ability to take raw 12 MP photos. The DJI Mini 2 also uses Ocusync 2.0 giving it a max transmission range of 10 km.

DJI released the Mini 2 SE on February 9, 2023. It is very similar to the Mini 2, however it has a downgraded 2.7K camera with 40 MB Bitrate.

DJI released the Mini 4K on April 29, 2024. It is very similar to the Mini 2 SE, however it has a upgraded 4K camera with 100 MB Bitrate.

Mini 3 Pro and Mini 3
The DJI Mini 3 Pro, was made available on May 10, 2022 with Ocusync 3.0, a 48 MP camera, obstacle avoidance sensors and a brand new DJI RC.

On December 9, 2022, DJI released the Mini 3 which was a cheaper version of the Mini 3 Pro. The main differences were the removal of the obstacle avoidance sensors and limited intelligent camera modes. On the controller side, the DJI Mini 3 is compatible with the DJI RC although the drone uses the Ocusync 2.0 instead of O3 used in the DJI Mini 3 Pro and downgrades the video transmission range and resolution from 1080p to 720p.

Mini 4 Pro
Succeeding the Mini 3 Pro, the dji mini 4 release date is 25th of September, 2023. The Mini 4 Pro introduced upgrades in key areas while remaining under 250 g, with 4K/60 fps HDR video, a longer flight time of 45 minutes, and a revamped DJI O4 FHD digital video transmission system transmitting clear footage up to 20 km away. While the Mini 3 offered a budget-friendly option by omitting obstacle avoidance sensors and certain intelligent flight modes, the Mini 4 Pro has retained these features.

Mavic Air
The Mavic Air, which was released in early 2018 can capture 4k video at 30 FPS. The Air has a 3-axis gimbal and 24 mm lens. The Air also has a SmartCapture feature, a three-directional environment sensing system and a max flight time of 21 minutes. It features a 12 MP 4K HDR camera, mounted on a 3-axis gimbal, and has a new panorama mode, which stitches together 25 photos in eight seconds to create a "Sphere Panorama". Due to antennas mounted on its landing gear, the drone has a 21-minute flight time and a 2.5 mile range. Like the Spark, the Air also features the "Smart Capture" mode, in which the drone can be controlled by hand gestures.

Mavic Air 2
DJI released the new Air series member known as Air 2 on April 27, 2020. Air 2 has a 1/2 inch CMOS camera, 34 min flight time per battery, can travel up to 68.4 km/h. The remote controller of Air 2 features a new design of the Mavic family. DJI's standard controller mounts a cellphone at the bottom, requiring the operator to look down while watching the screen. Detailed illustrations for the new controller show a mount that holds the smartphone at the top, more in line of view. This resembles the mounting on the controller for the Anafi, a Mavic Air competitor made by DJI's French rival, Parrot. The original Mavic Air uses an enhanced Wi-Fi radio control system. But the Mavic Air 2 upgrades to Ocusync 2.0, a dedicated radio system that runs in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz ranges (the system works in single and dual-band mode, 5.8 GHz is not supported in all regions). Drone is available with dji care This promises less interference from ambient Wi-Fi networks. It also offers a better range of up to 10 kilometers. In terms of filming, Air 2 supports RAW format, 48 MP mode, HDR video, and Hyperlapse 240 fps slow-motion mode. Mavic Air 2 has a safety feature that warns users about nearby planes and helicopters via its controller.

Air 2S
The updated version of the Mavic Air 2, now rebranded DJI Air 2S, dropping the Mavic  name, was unveiled by DJI on 15 April 2021 and was designed to feature improvements to the Mavic Air 2 released on April 27, 2020. The Air 2S features a 1 inch CMOS camera capable of shooting 20-megapixel JPEG and RAW photos and up to 10-bit 5.4K video at a maximum frame of 30 FPS as well as 4K video at a maximum frame rate of 60 FPS. The drone also features a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, and allows up to 12 km (7.45 mi) 1080p resolution transmission with OcuSync 3. Upgraded HDR capabilities are also included featuring 12.6 exposure stops for photos. DJI Air 2S also includes new photo and video modes such as SmartPhoto, Hyperlapse and MasterShots allowing more flexibility of the camera capabilities. Upgraded APAS 4.0 obstacle avoidance and detection system making use of sensors on the front, back, upwards and bottom of the drone are included.

Air 3
The DJI Air 3 was released in July 2023 and introduced several updates compared to its predecessor. It includes a wide-angle camera alongside a 3 × zoom camera, both of which feature a 48 MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS stacked sensor. This sensor size is smaller when compared to the Air 2S, but is comparable to that of the Mini 3 Pro. The drone has a weight of 720 g, which is an increase from the 595 g of the Air 2S. Its flight time is rated at 46 minutes and video transmission system transmitting clear footage up to 20 km away. In terms of connectivity, the DJI Air 3 was upgraded to OcuSync 4, and DJI released a new version of its remote controller, the DJI RC 2. The Verge noted that while the drone remains loud during operation, its larger propellers results in a sound that has a lower frequency and is less piercing than its predecessor.

Mavic Pro and Pro Platinum
Announced in September 2016, the Mavic Pro, which was released in late 2016 was the first of the Mavic series. The drone is capable of capturing 4K video, has a flight range of 4.3 mi and a flight time of 27 minutes. Top speed is 65 km/h (40 mph) in sport mode. The brand-new Ocusync transmission system can livestream video at a distance of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) in 1080p. The Mavic Pro is equipped with the same camera as the Phantom 4 UAV, with a 78-degree field of view (FOV) instead of the Phantom's 94 degrees. The camera is a 12 MP camera that is capable of shooting 4K video at 24 frames per second (FPS). It is capable of 96 FPS when shooting in 1080p. Its camera keeps the same 60 Mbit/s bitrate seen in the Phantom 4. The Mavic Pro folds small enough to fit into a small bag (83 mm x 83 mm x 198 mm). Its legs and propellers fold underneath and to the side of the drone to form a compact package.

At the August 2017 IFA trade show, DJI announced the upgraded Mavic Pro Platinum. The upgraded version includes better battery life and improved noise reduction due to new propellers and electronic speed controllers.

Mavic 2 Pro, 2 Zoom, 2 Enterprise, 2 Enterprise Dual and 2 Enterprise Advance
DJI announced in August 2018, the Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom. Both drones have 10 obstacle avoidance sensors on all sides and a max flight time of 31 minutes. Both of the drones could also record 4K video at 30 FPS. The Mavic 2 Zoom has a 4× zoom feature (2× optical and 2× digital) and a 12-megapixel camera. The Mavic 2 Pro features a Hasselblad camera and Hyper Timelapse feature.

On October 29, 2018, DJI announced the Mavic 2 Enterprise Series (M2E). Incorporating features from the Mavic 2 line of consumer drones, the Mavic 2 Enterprise includes three modular accessories for both first responder and industrial applications. It includes the Spotlight, Speaker, and Beacon for making drones visible at night.

In December 2018, Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual is added to the lineup, incorporating thermal camera from FLIR.

In April 2021, Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is released. Bringing an improved thermal camera sensor, upgraded 48-megapixel 1/2 in camera sensor, and support for optional RTK (real-time kinematic) module.

Mavic 3, 3 Cine, 3 Classic, 3 Pro, 3 Pro Cine, 3 Enterprise, 3 Thermal and 3 Multispectral
The DJI Mavic 3, released on 5 November 2021, has a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad L2D-20c camera and includes Hasselblad's Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) technology. The camera has 12.8 stops of dynamic range and shoots up to 5.1k video. The transmission range has been improved on since the Mavic 2, increasing to 12 km, as well as an increased flight time to 41 minutes, thanks to improved battery life. Mavic 3 has a 4G accessory which is attached to the drone using a USB-C connection and which is then used to control the drone over a 4G mobile network.

On 27 September 2022 DJI released the enterprise series of DJI Mavic 3, which has either a thermal camera or a camera with a mechanical shutter. The drone has also an accessory USB-C port for adding an RTK module or speaker. The drone's zoom camera also has a higher digital zoom. Enterprise edition uses DJI RC Pro Enterprise controller, which is similar to DJI RC Pro but includes a microphone. The weight of the drone is 915 or 920 g without accessories.

On 2 November 2022, DJI released the Mavic 3 Classic, which was similar to the original Mavic 3. The difference from the original Mavic 3 was that the classic had a lower price and did not have a secondary zoom camera. On 23 November 2022 DJI released Mavic 3M Multispectral, which was enterprise edition but included RTK module and 5 MP multispectral camera system instead of zoom.

On 22 April 2023, DJI released the Mavic 3 Pro, which was similar to the original Mavic 3. The difference from the original Mavic 3 was that the Pro Version does have a third Medium Tele Camera.

Controllers

 * DJI Mavic (1) Controller (GL200A) with Ocusync 1.0 in 2016. *Discontinued.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mavic Pro Series.
 * DJI Mavic Pro Series.


 * DJI Mavic Air Controller (S01A) with Enhanced WiFi in 2018. *Discontinued.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mavic Air.
 * DJI Mavic Air.


 * DJI Mavic 2 Controller (RC1A & RC1B) with Ocusync 2.0 in 2018. *Discontinued.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mavic 2 Series.
 * DJI Mavic 2 Series.


 * DJI Mavic Mini Controller (MR1SS5 & MR1SD25) with Enhanced WiFi in 2019. *Discontinued.
 * In 2019, DJI launched two controllers for the new DJI Mavic Mini.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mavic Mini.
 * DJI Mini SE.


 * DJI Smart Controller (RM500) with Ocusync 2.0 in 2019. *Discontinued.
 * Android-based controller with an internal display and uses Ocusync 2.0 for video transmission. The device uses Rockchip RK3399 chipset and has 4GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage and 5.5" Full-HD 1920x1080px display. The device has HDMI output. The device can run 3rd-party apps. The weight of the controller is 630 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2, Mavic 2 Series. (Ocusync 2.0)
 * DJI Air 2S. (O3)
 * DJI Air 2S. (O3)


 * DJI RC-N1 Controller (RC231) with O2 in 2020.
 * Stock controller which uses smartphones as a display and uses Ocusync 2.0, O3 and O3+ for video transmission. The weight of the controller is 387 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 2 Series, Mini 3 and Mavic Air 2. (Ocusync 2.0)
 * DJI Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S. (O3)
 * DJI Mavic 3 Series. (O3+)


 * DJI RC Pro Controller (RM510) with O3+ in 2021.
 * Android-based dedicated controller. It has an internal display and uses O3 and O3+ for video transmission. Device uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset with 6GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage and 5.5" Full-HD 1920x1080p display. It has an HDMI output. It is possible to add 4G modem to the controller as an add-on. The device can run 3rd-party apps The weight of the controller is 680 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S. (O3)
 * DJI Mavic 3 Series. (O3+)


 * DJI RC Controller (RM330) with O3+ in 2022.
 * Successor for DJI Smartcontroller. It has an internal display and uses Ocusync 2.0, O3 and O3+ for video transmission. The device has 5.5" Full-HD 1920x1080px display; it doesn't have internal storage. The controller uses Android but the user cannot install apps. The weight of the controller is 390 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 3. (Ocusync 2.0).
 * DJI Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S. (O3)
 * DJI Mavic 3 Series. (O3+).


 * DJI RC Pro Enterprise Controller (RM510B) with O3E in 2022.
 * It is a version of the DJI RC Pro controller which was released with Mavic 3 Enterprise Models. It has the least additional microphone as a hardware difference and larger 64GB of internal storage.
 * Supported devices:
 * Mavic 3 Enterprise Series (O3E).


 * DJI RC Motion 2 Controller (RM220), with O3+ and DJI Integra in 2023.
 * Motion controller which released with DJI Integra which uses O3 transmition. The weight of the controller is 170 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S. (O3)
 * DJI Mavic 3 Series. (O3+)
 * DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 (04).


 * DJI RC-N2 Controller (RC151) with O4 in 2023.
 * Stock controller which uses smartphones as a display and uses O4 for video transmission. The weight for the controller is 375 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 (O4).


 * DJI RC2 Controller (RC331) with O4 in 2023.
 * Smart controller which released with DJI Air 3 which uses Ocusync 4. It has foldable antennas compared to DJI RC 1 which had internal antennas. The weight of the controller is 420 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 (O4).


 * DJI RC Motion 3 Controller (TKMO3) with O4 and DJI Goggles 3 in 2024.
 * Motion controller which released with DJI Goggles 3 which uses O4 transmition. The weight of the controller is 118 g.
 * Supported devices:


 * DJI RC-N1C Controller (RC-N1c) with O2 in 2024.
 * Stock controller which uses smartphones as a display and uses Ocusync 2.0 for video transmission. The weight of the controller is 349 g.
 * Supported devices:
 * DJI Mini 4K. (Ocusync 2.0)

Ocusync
Ocusync is the communication system between the remote control and the drone. It is a software-defined radio system. It has the following versions:

•Ocusync 1 was launched with DJI Mavic Pro in September 2016. It has a 7 km range maximum.

•Occusync 2 was launched with DJI Mavic 2 Pro in August 2018. It has a 10 km range maximum

•Ocusync 3 (O3) was launched with DJI Air 2S in May 2021. It has a 12 km range maximum

•Ocusync 3+ (O3+) was launched with DJI Mavic 3 in November 2021. It has a 15 km range maximum

•There is also O3ET, launched DJI Mavic 3E and DJI Mavic 3T, as well as for DJI Mavic 3M. It has a 15 km range maximum as well.

•Ocusync 4 (O4) was launched with DJI Air 3 in July 2023. It has a 20 km range maximum.

3rd party applications SDK support
DJI supports a mobile SDK for developing Android and iOS applications for use with DJI Enterprise drones. Some of the drones are also supported by UX SDK and Windows SDK. In 2022 DJI support has stated they are prioritizing enterprise-level aircraft. SDK version 5 for Mavic 3 and Mini 3 series were released only with Android support. Older drones used SDK version 4 which had support for iOS and Android.

Examples for 3rd party applications are mission planning, photogrammetry and mapping apps such as Lichi, DroneDeploy, Pix4D and Dronelink.

Use by military operators
The DJI Mavic 3 is used by Israel in Gaza (London Review of Books 46(3):19). Despite DJI's own prohibition on the export of their products for military usage, DJI drones have been used extensively by Ukrainian and Russian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are used in reconnaissance roles, as well as being modified to carry light explosives such as grenades, mines and molotov cocktails for utilization in support of combat missions.

It was also reported that the same type of drones with the same modifications are being extensively used in the 2023 War in Sudan by the Sudanese Army.