DJI Avata
DJI's first FPV cinewhoop drone, announced in August 2022.
Kyu3a · CC BY-SA 4.0
The DJI Avata is a small quadcopter FPV drone from the Chinese firm DJI. It debuted in August 2022 as the company’s first FPV cinewhoop model. Weighing 410 g, it is more compact than the earlier DJI FPV and includes integrated propeller guards. Unlike most DJI camera drones, it lacks a three-axis gimbal and collision avoidance system, though it does have downward-facing cameras and infrared sensors for altitude control. Its camera uses a 48-megapixel 1/1.7" CMOS sensor and records 4K video at 60 fps, while the O3+ transmission system sends footage to the pilot’s goggles. An ADS-B receiver alerts the pilot to nearby aircraft, and 20 GB of internal storage lets it record without a MicroSD card. A “Turtle mode” can flip the drone upright after an upside-down landing. A 2420 mAh battery provides 18 minutes of flight time.
Three flight modes are available: Normal, Sport, and Manual. Normal and Sport modes rely on GNSS and downward sensors for stabilization; Normal mode also uses GNSS for position holding and caps speed at 8 m/s. Sport mode uses GNSS only for stabilization, boosting agility and a top speed of 14 m/s. Manual mode disables both GNSS and downward sensors for maximum maneuverability, reaching 27 m/s.
An upgraded version, the Avata 2, arrived in April 2024. It has a flatter, wider polycarbonate frame, weighs 377 g, and features a 12MP camera with a larger 1/1.3" sensor. It adds downward and rear-facing collision avoidance sensors, 46 GB of internal storage, and an O4 video transmission system. Its battery capacity dropped to 2150 mAh, but flight time increased to 23 minutes.
In November 2025, leaked promotional images showed a new model, the Avata 360, which will be DJI’s first drone with a 360-degree camera and a potential rival to the Antigravity A1.
Variants include the original Avata (Model QF2W4K), the Avata 2 (Model QF3W4K), and the Avata 360 (Model DVN3NT). The People’s Liberation Army used the Avata in a 2024 training exercise. The Israel Defense Forces employed it during the Gaza war to map Hamas tunnel networks and track Palestinian detainees used as human shields.
- Weight
- 410 g
- Camera
- 48-megapixel with 1/1.7" CMOS sensor
- Video
- 4K at 60 frames per second
- Transmission system
- O3+
- Internal storage
- 20 GB
- Battery
- 2420 mAh
- Flight time
- 18 minutes
Lore & Background
The Avata was announced in August 2022 as DJI's first FPV cinewhoop drone. It is a quadcopter weighing 410 g with built-in propeller guards. Unlike typical DJI camera drones, it lacks a three-axis gimbal and collision avoidance system, though it has downward-facing cameras and infrared sensors for maintaining altitude. The drone uses an O3+ transmission system to send video to the pilot's goggles and includes an ADS-B receiver to alert the pilot of nearby aircraft. It has 20 GB of internal storage, allowing footage capture without a MicroSD card, and a 'Turtle mode' that flips the drone upright after an upside-down landing. Power comes from a 2420 mAh battery providing 18 minutes of flight time.
The Avata has three flight modes: Normal, Sport, and Manual. Normal and Sport modes use GNSS and downward-facing sensors for stabilization, with Normal mode also using GNSS for location holding and a maximum speed of 8 m/s. Sport mode uses GNSS only for stabilization, allowing a top speed of 14 m/s. Manual mode disables both GNSS and downward-facing sensors for maximum maneuverability, reaching 27 m/s.
An improved model, the Avata 2, was announced in April 2024, featuring a flatter, wider polycarbonate frame weighing 377 g, a 12MP camera with a larger 1/1.3" sensor, downward and rear-facing collision avoidance sensors, 46 GB of internal storage, an O4 video transmission system, and a 2150 mAh battery with 23 minutes of flight time. In November 2025, promotional images of a new model, the Avata 360, were leaked, described as a potential competitor to the Antigravity A1 and the first DJI drone with a 360-degree camera.
Reader's Guide
The DJI Avata represents DJI's entry into the FPV cinewhoop market, offering a compact design with built-in propeller guards and a focus on maneuverability over traditional camera drone features like a three-axis gimbal and collision avoidance. Its three flight modes—Normal, Sport, and Manual—cater to different skill levels, with Manual mode providing full acrobatic control. The Avata's 48-megapixel camera and O3+ transmission system enable high-quality first-person video capture and real-time piloting. The inclusion of an ADS-B receiver and Turtle mode adds practical safety and recovery features. The Avata 2, announced in April 2024, refined the design with a lighter frame, improved camera sensor, and additional collision avoidance sensors, while increasing flight time despite a smaller battery. The leaked Avata 360, expected to compete with the Antigravity A1, signals DJI's move into 360-degree camera drones. The Avata has seen military use: the People's Liberation Army used it during a training exercise in 2024, and the Israel Defense Forces employed it during the Gaza war for mapping Hamas tunnel networks and tracking Palestinian detainees used as human shields.
Did You Know?
- The Avata weighs 410 g and has built-in propeller guards.
- The Avata 2, announced in April 2024, has a 12MP camera with a 1/1.3" sensor.
- The Israel Defense Forces used the Avata during the Gaza war to map Hamas tunnel networks.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DJI Avata?
The DJI Avata is a compact FPV cinewhoop quadcopter that DJI unveiled in August 2022, representing the company's first foray into the integrated prop-guard drone category. Weighing 410 grams, it is noticeably smaller than the earlier DJI FPV while targeting pilots who want a more forgiving first-person flying experience.
How does the DJI Avata differ from the DJI FPV?
The Avata shrinks the airframe, adds built-in propeller guards, and drops both the three-axis gimbal and the full collision-avoidance suite found on the DJI FPV. In their place it relies on downward-facing cameras plus infrared sensors to maintain basic altitude awareness.
What camera and video specs does the DJI Avata carry?
The drone captures 4K video at 60 fps through a 48-megapixel sensor built on a 1/1.7-inch CMOS platform. It can store up to 20 GB of footage internally and draws power from a 2420 mAh battery.
How does the DJI Avata send its live feed to the pilot's goggles?
The O3+ transmission system streams the onboard camera signal directly into compatible FPV goggles with low latency, giving the pilot a real-time first-person view. Because there is no gimbal to stabilise the image, the picture is locked to the airframe's orientation, which is standard for cinewhoop-style flight.
Why is the DJI Avata considered a milestone in DJI's lineup?
It was the first DJI product to bundle an FPV cinewhoop design with integrated prop guards into a single consumer-ready package, making first-person drone flying more accessible to newcomers. It also introduced an ADS-B receiver for airspace awareness, a safety feature absent from the earlier DJI FPV.
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