Spark 2 or Mavic Air 2 - which will be the new drone from DJI?

The last drone news from DJI came in August 2018 in the form of the Mavica 2 Pro and Mavica 2 Zoom - which is almost a year ago now! There's no denying that the manufacturer has given us all a taste with alleged leaks regarding the Phantom 5. When it became apparent that DJI was betting on cameras this time - Osmo Pocket i Osmo Action, it has become practically certain that this time it will finally be the turn of the drones.

DJI Spark 2 or Mavic Air 2 ?

Since the topic of the continuation of the Phantom series has quieted down, the Mavic Pro recently lived to see its second version (and even two), all indications are that a more compact model will soon see the light of day - the second version of the series Spark or Mavic Air. But what can we actually expect?

To answer this question, let's analyze the advantages and disadvantages of one of them. Due to the fact that the older model is the Spark, and its price among DJI drones is unbeatable (especially in terms of the capabilities it provides), we will base our speculations on the upcoming novelty precisely on its continuation - DJI Spark 2.

DJI Spark 2 - the perfect drone?

Released into the world in May 2017, Spark revolutionized the drone market by revealing drone photography to a wider audience. Then the curtain of mystery surrounding drones fell - the affordable price and smart flight features made the average user understand and appreciate the possibilities offered by drones. Spark has shown people that their application has a far broader spectrum than just industrial use.
However, technology is advancing so fast that 2 years is basically a gap when it comes to electronics.
For this reason, the Spark 2 is expected to erase the insufficiency associated with some of the Spark's parameters, which caused a dilemma- better to spend less on the Spark or add the other amount and buy a Mavic Air.
DJI has left plenty of room for specification improvements in the Spark 2, which we can expect to see. Below are a few of them.

DJI Spark 2 - specifications

4K camera and 3-axis gimbal

Spark records in Full HD 1080p resolution at 30 frames/second, which is far from the standards of today's technology. It seems highly likely, therefore, that the DJI Spark 2, with its ability to record at least in 4K at 30 fps, will be the first of its kind./s and FHD 60 fps./s.

Extended flight time in Spark 2

Flying a drone and filming from the air has become a pastime and 16 min. flight (under ideal conditions), which in reality yield approx. 13 min. pure fun, it's definitely not enough. We ourselves have yet to meet a customer who did not come back for an additional battery if he did not choose the set Spark Fly More Combo.
The battery in Spark 2 is expected to extend its flight time to 25 minutes.

Voice commands in the DJI GO 4 app

DJI Spark captivates its followers with easy gesture control. We suppose that DJI, acting in the spirit of this simplicity ethos, will allow users to control the Spark 2 with simple voice commands. After all, who wouldn't want a drone in a critical situation to land or immediately start the RTH procedure as soon as we hear the command.

360-degree obstacle avoidance system

Spark's obstacle avoidance system only works from the front. The Spark 2's obstacle detection and avoidance located on the side and rear of the drone is a vision that is definitely reassuring at the thought - after all, the obstacle detection and avoidance sensors will eliminate situations in which the drone sidesteps a collision with a tree to get closer to us.

More compact DJI Spark 2

Weighing just 300 grams, the Spark was the perfect option to take on a hike or even a walk in the park. However, once we felt first-hand what the folding arms of the Mavic series mean, it was clear that lower weight does not necessarily mean easier transportation. Nevertheless, in addition to the folding arms, the Spark 2 is supposed to be lighter, thanks to the tabs in the arms. The manufacturer is unlikely to reduce the weight of the drone by making it smaller, which would affect its stability.

More speed, more flight range

The Spark's range is far from the standards we're used to from the Mavic series, so we're hoping that the range will reach the ceiling of at least the Mavic Air, i.e. 2 km in CE (European) mode and 4 km in FCC mode.
Following this optimistic scenario, it is possible that the speed of Spark 2 will also increase-from a maximum of 50 to about. 70 km/h.
As for the type of transmission, we don't expect DJI to suddenly decide to pack OcuSyns 2.0 technology into a lower-end drone, but we hope the Spark 2 will feature enhanced WiFi, similar to that of the first version of the Mavic Air.

DJI Spark 2 - when and for how much?

In fact, the Spark 2 could appear at any time, but while DJI likes to surprise, it recently allowed us to feel at least a little more confident and posted a clock on its official website counting down the exact time until the next release - this was the case in May for the Osmo Action.
As for the price, recalling that when Spark came out in 2017, its market value was £2599 (for the drone alone, without the controller!) and £3499 for the combo set. Based on this, we assume that the Spark 2 will settle within the price range of the Mavic Air at the time of its release i.e. £3399 for the basic kit and £4299 for the combo kit.
Now it remains for us to wait for news from the Middle Kingdom :).