DJI Avata Gets New Goggles, New RC, and a Major Firmware Update
BY Zacc Dukowitz
4 April 2023DJI is making it even easier to get into cinewhoops.
The company just released new goggles and a new RC that are both compatible with the Avata, its cinewhoop-style drone. And the new goggles are a lot less expensive than their predecessor.
[A cinewhoop is a fast, nimble drone made to shoot FPV fly-through tours.]
How much? $150 less—that’s for the new DJI Goggles Integra, which cost $499 on their own. Compare that to the Goggles 2, which cost $649 on their own.
This lower cost also brings the entry-level price point for an Avata combo down. You can now buy the DJI Avata Explorer Combo with both the Goggles Integra and the RC Motion 2 for $1,278, down $110 from the previous price of $1,388.
The Avata alongside the Goggles Integra and the RC Motion 2 | Credit: DJI
We should note, however, that the DJI RC Motion 2 is a little more pricey than its predecessor, selling for a slight price hike of $40 more.
Along with these new releases, DJI also recently pushed out a firmware update for the Avata. Keep reading to learn about all the new updates for the DJI Avata.
[Related read: The Top FPV Drones: A Complete Guide]
DJI’s New Goggles Integra
The Goggles Integra are pretty similar to the Goggles 2.
Just like the Goggles 2, the Integra:
- Comes with the same pair of displays, which are 0.49” / 1080p 100Hz / 700-nit micro OLED
- Have a 7.5 mile (12 km) transmission range via the OcuSync 3 Plus transmission system
- Have a pair of folding antennas that transmit at 2.4GHz / 5GHz at up to 50 megabits per second
Credit: DJI
But the Goggles Integra are simpler than the Goggles 2 in a few key ways—and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Here are the ways the Goggles Integra differ from the Goggles 2:
- Smaller field of view. The Integra has a smaller field of view (44° for the Integra compared to 51° for the Goggles 2)
- Headband battery. The Integra has an integrated headband battery instead of the belt buckle battery that comes with the Goggles 2. The
- No WiFi. The Integra don’t have WiFi or Bluetooth, so you can’t stream video to them when you’re not flying
The change from storing the goggles’ battery in a belt buckle to a headband may be welcome for some pilots, since it makes the battery less cumbersome to carry around. And the loss of WiFi and smaller field of view may not really matter to most people.
All in all, the Goggles Integra are well positioned to be the go-to goggles choice for the Avata.
The DJI RC Motion 2
As we noted above, the new RC Motion 2 controller sells for $239 on its own, which is $40 more than the original RC Motion controller.
The RC Motion 2 has about the same range, battery life, and weight as the original RC Motion. But it opens up new ranges of motion, allowing joystick flying to be much more intuitive and easy to use than its predecessor.
Here’s what’s new with the RC Motion 2:
- A new joystick. The new joystick opens up new ranges of motion, allowing you to move up and down or side to side, opening up a larger range of control than the original RC Motion, which only supported airplane-like flying.
- A new trigger. The new trigger can be both pulled back and pushed forward, allowing you to reverse without having to turn around.
- A new Fn dial. The new dial lets you quickly adjust shutter, ISO, and other camera parameters.
Credit: DJI
Avata Firmware Update
In addition to adding support for the new goggles and RC, the updates also include several new safety features, including an RTH altitude prompt after updating the Home Point and an extension of the low-battery RTH countdown to 15 seconds.
Here are some other key additions that come with the firmware update:
- Added support for Remote ID requirements in the United States.
- Added ability to detect abnormal attitude and brake automatically when the aircraft turns sharply at high speed with an altitude of more than 5 m in Manual mode.
- Added ability to erase all aircraft data by tapping Settings > About > Clear All Data.
- Added visual prompts when remote control or image transmission signals are weak (visual prompt is only available with the Goggles 2 or Goggles Integra).
The firmware update is v01.03.0000. Learn more on the DJI forum.
Want to learn more about the Goggles Integra and the RC Motion 2? Check out this unboxing video from DJI: