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This drone is as light as an iPhone and flies as fast as a car

The Mavic Air, the size of an iPhone, is on sale now, ready for shipping to Hong Kong next week

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Michael Perry, Director of Strategic Partnerships of DJI, introduces the Mavic Air during a launching ceremony in New York on January 23, 2018. Photo: Xinhua

DJI, the world’s biggest maker of civilian drones, has started selling a mid-price variant of its Mavic series of lightweight recreational flying machines, ready for shipment next week.

The Mavic Air, weighing in at 430 grams, is about the size of an Apple iPhone. It can fly for 21 minutes at a speed of up to 68 kilometres per hour (42 miles per hour) on a single charge. The retail price starts at HK$6,299 (US$806) for the entry-level package in black, white or red, with two extra pairs of propellers and guards. A premium package, comprising two extra battery sets and some charging accessories, is priced at HK$7,799.

The Mavic Air is not the smallest in the family: that honour goes to Spark, which weighs in at 300 grams. The biggest member of the trio is the two-year-old Mavic Pro, which was DJI’s first foldable

drone capable of fitting in a suitcase when it was launched in 2016.

DJI’s Mavic family of lightweight recreational drones: (bottom to top) Mavic Pro, Mavic Air, and Spark. Photo: SCMP/ Josh Ye
DJI’s Mavic family of lightweight recreational drones: (bottom to top) Mavic Pro, Mavic Air, and Spark. Photo: SCMP/ Josh Ye
The latest model comes with seven cameras, including one capable of shooting in 4K resolution, similar to the Pro version. The additional cameras added an air obstacle avoidance feature to its gesture-controlled flier.
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