Brand New Autel Evo II Outpaces the Mavic 2 Pro in Key Areas
BY Alan Perlman
8 January 2020Autel Robotics just announced the details of their newest drone, the Autel Evo II, while exhibiting at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020.
Source: Autel
The Autel Evo II is currently in production with pricing to be announced. But, we’ve already gotten a good look at the new drone and its superior features. The camera drone has evolved significantly when compared to the original Evo launched back in 2018. Many are also drawing comparisons between the Evo II and DJI’s Mavic 2 Pro. Could the Evo II possibly overtake the Mavic 2 Pro as the leading consumer/prosumer drone?
In this article, we’ll make side-by-side comparisons of the original Evo, Evo II, and DJI’s Mavic 2 Pro.
Comparison: Autel Evo vs. Autel Evo II
Let’s see how the Evo II stacks up against the original Evo launched two years ago.
Autel Evo V. Autel Evo II
| Camera | Flight Time | Weight | Max Speed | Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo | 4K, 12 MP | 30 min | 1.90 lbs | 44.7 mph | 4.3 miles |
| Evo II | 8K, 48 MP | 40 min | 2.48 lbs | 45 mph | 5.5 miles |
The Evo II has improved on multiple fronts including a more capable camera, longer flight time, and longer range. Autel Robotics designed the Evo II so that you can now fly further, faster.
The improved range is ideal for commercial drone pilots conducting linear inspections, such as powerline inspections, over long distances. Additionally, Evo II will be available with multiple payload options. The Evo II Dual will feature a thermal camera with an 8k Flir Boson sensor, making it a true workhorse for first responders, contractors, and business owners.
Operators can accomplish even more with 8GB of internal storage as well as the ability to accept SD cards up to 256GB. The original Evo and the DJI Mavic 2 Pro are only compatible with 128GB SD cards. Let’s look closer at the Evo II next to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro in the next section.
Comparison: Autel Evo II vs. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Autel Evo II and the DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
Autel Evo II v DJI Mavic 2 Pro
| Camera | Flight Time | Weight | Max Speed | Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo II | 8K, 48 MP | 40 min | 2.48 lbs | 45 mph | 5.5 miles |
| Mavic 2 Pro | 4K, 20 MP | 30 min | 2.00 lbs | 45 mph | 5.0 miles |
Whether or not the Evo II will overtake the Mavic 2 Pro as the leading consumer/prosumer drone will depend largely on pricepoint. The Evo II outpaces the Mavic 2 Pro in some key areas, but those improvements may not be enough to sway devout DJI customers to switch unless the price is right.
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro costs $1,729. Autel’s past drones have been launched at similar price points in the past, and we’re betting the Evo II will be very competitively priced. For further comparison, the original Evo currently sells for $1,050.
Taking a page out of DJI’s book, the Autel Evo II lineup also looks a lot like the latest Mavic series, which included the Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, and Mavic 2 Enterprise/Enterprise Dual. Each variant offered a slightly different payload suited to different uses.
Source: Autel
Autel Evo II will be available in three different iterations:
- Evo II – ½ CMOS, 8K, 48 MP
- Evo II Pro – 1” CMOS, 4K, 20 MP with Adjustable Aperture f/2.8 – f/11
- Evo II Dual – ½ CMOS + Flir LWR 8K thermal camera
Like the Mavic 2 Zoom, the Evo II Pro also offers 4x lossless in-camera zoom. The adjustable aperture allows the operator to control the depth of field in a scene and control the amount of light entering the camera, for dynamic photography.
Autel also upgraded the Evo II’s obstacle avoidance to be more competitive with DJI. We’re talking 12 computer vision sensors, 2 sonar sensors, and 2 LED landing lights, working together to create an aircraft you feel safe flying.
Autel Evo II Price and Availability
Pricing and official launch dates are still to be announced. We’ll provide an update once we get more information from the manufacturer. Those who do make the switch from DJI may be able to take advantage of Autel’s new trade-in program, which will give you credit towards a new Evo II when you trade in your old DJI, Parrot, Yuneec, or Autel drone.
Check out the video below to get a closer look at the Evo II and the footage it’s capable of capturing. And make sure to chime in on our community forum with your thoughts on the Evo II.
