DJI Avata launch live: all the leaks, rumors and analysis of DJI’s incoming FPV drone

Time for one more FPV video before we dig into the DJI Avata leaks and rumors. The incredible biking one-shot above was spotted by our Phones Editor Alex-Walker Todd and really shows the kind of dynamic videos that are possible with FPV drones, in the hands of the right pilot (in this case, FPV Gonsi (opens in new tab)).

It isn’t yet clear what kind of top speeds the DJI Avata will be able to hit, but it’s highly unlikely to be capable of shooting Rad Race-style videos. Still, I’m looking forward to at least trying to recreate something similar with the family dog at the local bark park.

More recently, we also saw this falcon-like tour of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory hit the big time on YouTube. DJI actually had a hand in making this video, which was created using a combination of the DJI/Caddx Vista Digital FPV System, DJI FPV Goggles V2 and a so-called ‘naked’ GoPro, which has been de-cased and stripped down to its most basic features.

This is a pretty complex, expensive system and the video above demanded some expert piloting skills from DJI’s Ferdinand Wolf. But it’s the kind of cinematic effect that DJI is surely looking to bring to the masses with the DJI Avata – and taking high-end filmmaking techniques into the mainstream is what DJI’s been doing for the past few years, with its drones and cameras like the DJI Pocket 2.

To get an idea of the kind of videos the rumored DJI Avata will likely be designed to shoot, let’s have a look at some of viral FPV ‘fly-through’ videos that have hit the social media jackpot in recent years. The one that often sticks in my mind is ‘Right Up Our Alley’ by Jaybyrd films (above), which went viral last year and now has almost 2.3 million views on YouTube.

Aside from the choreography, what’s particularly impressive about this video is the sound design. The popularity of one-shot videos like this also comes down to their uniqueness – it isn’t really possible to shoot them in any way other than with an FPV drone. And aside from the supreme piloting skills needed to shoot them, drones like the DJI Avata are promising to make this effect far more accessible than even a few years ago.

The ReelSteady software co-developed by Robert McIntosh, and used to stabilize the video below, is now used by most FPV and cinewhoop drone pilots. It was so good that GoPro bought ReelSteady in March 2020, further ensuring that GoPro action cams would become the default choice for FPV drones. GoPro even launched the GoPro Hero 10 Black Bones in the USA this year, which we used to shoot the video above.

How exactly will the DJI Avata attempt to break GoPro’s stranglehold on FPV drones? The rumors suggest the drone will have both RockSteady stabilization (which we saw on the original DJI FPV) and HorizonSteady, which was debuted on the DJI Action 2 action cam and promises to automatically keep the horizon in your videos flat. This is important because the Avata is only expected to have a single-axis gimbal. We’re looking forward to seeing how well this combo compares to ReelSteady and GoPro action cams.

FPV drones have grown out their hobbyist origins back in the early 2010s. But the popularity of the so-called ‘cinewhoop’ sub-genre is a little more recent. These small, nimble drones are, as their name suggests, built for the more cinematic possibilities of FPV drones. Their physical hallmark is some guarded propellors, which allow them to fly safely indoors and in tight spaces. 

But equally significant is their flying style – smooth, slow and controlled – which you’ll have seen in a number of viral ‘fly-through’ videos in recent years. One of the most notable of these is the one above, which arrived back in 2017. It was shot by Robert Mcintosh using a custom-built drone, a deconstructed GoPro and some stabilization software that he co-created called ReelSteady. This had big implications for ‘cinewhoop’ drones that has ultimately led to today’s DJI Avata launch. 

So, why exactly is DJI making another FPV (first-person view) drone? After all, its original DJI FPV (above), which arrived in March last year, hasn’t exactly set the world on fire and remains in the shadow of standard drones like the DJI Mini 3 Pro. The answer is a combination of that drone’s limitations and a spike in the popularity of ‘cinewhoop’ drones, which are sub-genre of FPV.

FPV drones differ from standard flying cameras by giving their headset-wearing pilots an on-board view from the drone. The downsides this brings (cost, complexity, latency challenges, looking ridiculous) are balanced out by the benefits: a much more precise control of the drone’s flight and an immersive flying experience. This makes FPV drones great for two things in particular – racing and shooting cinematic videos. And it’s the latter that ‘cinewhoop’ drones, like the incoming Avata, are particularly good at.

Hello and welcome to our DJI Avata liveblog. I’m Mark and I’ll be piloting you through the launch, as we fly over the glorious peaks of the latest leaks and rumors about DJI’s incoming FPV drone. And there’s certainly a lot of those to go through. DJI has again shown its sieve-like ability to hold onto key info ahead of a big launch, but there are still some crucial details missing, along with answers to some of the broader questions.

Because FPV drones are still something of a niche, we’ll start by exploring some of those bigger issues. Why are FPV drones suddenly a big deal? Who exactly has DJI made the Avata drone for? And what is a ‘cinewhoop’ drone? Then we’ll tuck into some of the leaks and rumors to build a picture of what we can expect to see at 9am ET / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST. Oh, and if you haven’t yet figured out your plan for tuning into the launch, check out our how to watch guide (or bookmark DJI’s YouTube video below).