Talk about leaving the competition behind! DJI’s latest drone is its fastest flying consumer drone to date, easily capable of beating the Tesla Model S on paper when it comes to acceleration. The DJI FPV has a max acceleration of 0 to 62mph in two seconds. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s a drone that accelerates faster than a car! That alone might be enough for you to buy one, but there’s still plenty more for content creators to salivate over because this new drone opens up exploration opportunities for seasoned pilots who want to expand their aerial videography.
FPV drones in general are fast and furious, often reaching incredible speeds and acceleration levels to keep up with moving subjects. The DJI FPV blends finesse and performance into one package that includes the FPV Goggles V2, remote controller 2, the drone itself, and the never-before-seen Motion Controller. This isn’t particularly targeted for beginners, since flying an FPV drone is a very different experience from past DJI consumer drones, like the Mini 2 and Mavic Air 2
The DJI FPV can reach a top speed of 87 mph, nearly double the speed of DJI’s other drones. This, combined with its acceleration, allows for some aerial acrobats that FPV drone pilots are known to achieve. Safety is still top priority here, which is evident in the obstacle detection sensors that alert pilots of any potential threats while in flight. There’s also a dedicated Emergency Brake function that, when activated, will slow the drone down enough to bring it to a full hovering position.
A responsive video transmission is vital, which is why it’s packaged to work out of the box exclusively with DJI’s FPV Goggles 2 for optimal digital transmission. The new OcuSync 3.0 technology delivers a reliable, low-latency video transmission at 810p/120 frames per second (fps) in live view. All of this combines to deliver an immersive experience for pilots who need tight responsiveness to control this beast of a drone while capturing images and video.
Speaking of that, it’s armed with a 12-megapixel camera capable of 4K 60-fps video recording at a max bitrate of 120Mbps. The 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor may still be challenging in lowlight situations, but its high bitrate capture and D-Cinelike color profile can help to bring out details in post. The camera sits on just a single-axis gimbal. This is a departure for those accustomed to DJI’s other drones, but seasoned FPV pilots will find themselves at home with this particular fixture.
The design of the DJI FPV is a stark departure from everything else in the company’s lineup. It doesn’t look like anything in the Mavic, Phantom, or Inspire lines. The drone’s arms don’t collapse like some of the Mavics’, but remain fixed in place. It’s also heavier than most other racing or FPV drones at 795 grams, but the benefit here is that it’s an all-in-one solution that’s ready to use out of the box — versus the DIY nature of other racing drones.
DJI’s lineup continues to diversify, and with this most recent entry, it opens a new door for pilots who are looking for something that can capture visually different content. The DJI FPV is available now and starts at $1,299 for the standard DJI FPV Combo, which includes the drone, remote controller, FPV goggles, and one battery. For $299, you can upgrade to the DJI FPV Fly More Kit, which includes everything in the standard combo plus two additional batteries and a charging hub. The Motion Controller will be sold separately for $199.