DJI Avata: What we know so far about the rumored cinewhoop FPV drone

(Image credit: DealDrones)

Recent rumors have been flying around from Drone DJ (opens in new tab) that drone giant DJI is now apparently working one a new style of FPV drone, having recently launched their latest lightweight drone, the DJI Mini 3 Pro (opens in new tab).

This cinewhoop style drone, usually self-built by their pilots with jerry-rigged GoPros, can often be seen capturing cinematic visuals whilst performing aerial acrobatics, that other drones simply cannot perform either due to their size or speed restrictions. DJI launched its first FPV early last year, in the shape of the fully-featured DJI FPV Combo (opens in new tab).

If you're not down with the lingo, FPV stands for first-person view. Basically when you're flying an FPV drone, you'll see what the drone sees – with video that's transmitted to a headset, screen or mobile device. The benefit of cinewhoop drones is that they're designed for capturing cinematic footage that's stabilized, crisp and high-resolution.

GoPro took to this ever expanding FPV market with the GoPro Black Bones (opens in new tab), basically a pre-built, stripped down version of its Hero 10 Black (opens in new tab) edition just for FPV.

Model name of DJI Avata is WM169, as the reference, DJI FPV is WM170. pic.twitter.com/XAV8MbUgpEMay 15, 2022

However, It looks like DJI are going to take it one step further and possibly produce a smaller FPV drone, pre-built and ready to fly. This would make a lot of sense when you look how popular the drone giant's DJI FPV model took to the skies and flew of the shelves. Just over a year ago a leak appeared (opens in new tab) by OsitaLV showing a DJI drone fuselage, with a cooling scoop to the front, which suggested that this done needed more advanced air cooling than DJI's current offerings. Also, according to OsitaLV, the model name for DJI Avata is WM169 and, for reference, the DJI FPV is WM170

(Image credit: @DealsDrone)

Adding more fuel to the fire is another leak, now from DealsDrone who has released a full render of the possible configuration of the DJI Avata. By its looks it take heavy inspiration from the DJI FPV drone, chunky fans and a large, least for its size camera mounted to the front. Take this all with a pinch of salt as DJI have not made any official comment.

However, to me this seems like a no-brainer for DJI. The can take all the advice and feedback from customers over the DJI FPV and apply that to this new drone at a reduced cost, with a read to fly package and I can see many DJI loyalist and newcomers picking up this drone, if launched due to the companies expertise and market share within the drone aerospace.

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Sebastian Oakley

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specialising in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound and many more for various advertising campaigns, books and pre/post-event highlights.

He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science and is a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected in to BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association.

He is familiar with and shows great interest in medium and large format photography with products by Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa and Sinar and has used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI and everything in between. His work covers the genres of Equestrian, Landscape, Abstract or Nature and combines nearly two decades of experience to offer exclusive limited-edition prints to the international stage from his film & digital photography.

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