If you are searching to buy your first drone, keep this in mind.
Camera
The cameras of both drones sport potent cameras, but there are some differences between them.
Parrot Anafi ($699)
- film in 4K Cinema mode (4,096 x 2,160) with only up to 24 FPS
- hybrid, roll, and tilt are mechanically controlled
- incredible vertical tilt range, it can point straight downwards (-90º) and straight upwards (90º)
- comes with a 16GB microSD (20 minutes of 4k filming)
DJI Mavic Air ($799)
- film in 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) at up to 30 FPS
- slightly steadier camera support for non-shaky filmmaking
- comes with internal storage of 8 GB
- supports up to a 128GB card
Both
- powerful cameras that sit on maneuverable 3-axis gimbals
- sport the same max bitrate – 100Mbps
Design and portability
They are both lightweight, portable and can be carried easily.
Parrot Anafi
- weighs a mere 320g (11.3oz)
- measures at 9.6 x 2.6 x 2.5 in (244 x 66 x 63.5 mm)
- all of the arms flatten outwards, and can be pulled out or pushed in independent of one another
DJI Mavic Air
- weights 430g (15.2oz)
- measures 6.61 x 3.26 x 1.92 inches (168 x 83 x 49 mm)
- fold the front arms back alongside the drone body; then the back arms fold forward on top of the front arms
Flight and control
Options such as a return home feature, “follow-me” tracking and smart shot modes are found in both drones along with boomerangs or dramatic pans upward.
Conclusion
When we said, Parrot Anafi is strong enough to challenge DJI Mavic Air’s dominance we were not wrong. Its comparable tight design, superior camera, and battery, speed and price, make it an excellent choice for a first drone.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.