DJI Avata

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, and it lacks the three-axis gimbal and collision avoidance system typical of DJI's camera drones, though it has downward-facing cameras and infrared sensors for maintaining altitude. The drone has a 48-megapixel camera with a 1/1.7" CMOS sensor capable of shooting 4K video at 60 frames per second, and uses an O3+ transmission system to transmit video to the pilot's goggles. It also has an ADS-B receiver to alert the pilot of nearby aircraft, 20 gigabytes of internal storage, and a 'Turtle mode' that flips the drone upright after an upside-down landing. Power is provided by a 2420 mAh battery, giving a flight time of 18 minutes.

The Avata has three flight modes: Normal, Sport, and Manual. Normal and Sport modes use GNSS and downward-facing sensors for stabilization; Normal mode also uses GNSS for location holding with a maximum speed of 8 m/s, while Sport mode uses GNSS only for stabilization, allowing a maximum speed of 14 m/s. Manual mode disables both GNSS and downward-facing sensors for maximum maneuverability and a top speed of 27 m/s.

An improved model, the Avata 2, was announced in April 2024, featuring a flatter and 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 a flight time of 23 minutes. In November 2025, promotional images of a new model, the Avata 360, were leaked; it will be 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 and agile platform for first-person-view flying. Its design prioritizes maneuverability and crash resilience over the camera stabilization and obstacle avoidance found in DJI's traditional camera drones. The inclusion of an ADS-B receiver and Turtle mode reflects practical considerations for FPV pilots. The Avata's three flight modes accommodate different skill levels, from stabilized flying in Normal and Sport modes to full manual control for experienced pilots. The subsequent Avata 2 refined the design with a lighter frame, improved camera sensor, and added collision avoidance sensors, while the leaked Avata 360 suggests DJI is exploring 360-degree camera capabilities. The Avata has also seen military use: the People's Liberation Army used it during a training exercise in 2024, and the Israel Defense Forces used it during the Gaza war to map Hamas tunnel networks and track Palestinian detainees.

Did You Know?

• The Avata was DJI's first FPV cinewhoop drone, announced in August 2022.
• The Avata 2, announced in April 2024, weighs 377 g and has a flight time of 23 minutes.
• The Israel Defense Forces used the Avata during the Gaza war to map Hamas tunnel networks.