4km Away - Low Battery. Sport mode or Normal RTH? Which is more battery efficient?

[BrAinZ]

Despite better judgement and all standard advice, I foolishly flew my Mavic starting at only about 85% charge.

Was about 4km away (along a straight beach, nobody else around), when I got the message saying the Mavic needed to RTH due to battery level.

Question is, what is the most 'battery efficient' way to return?
Temptation was to put it in Sport Mode to return asap, but does that use the battery more per distance than normal mode?

Also, is it more efficient to fly home manually or just let it do its RTH thing?

I did get the drone back, with about 16% battery left on landing, but it did make me think!

 

[Doogs]

They say sports mode on about 60 percent throttle

 

[alex_markov]

If we assume drone report battery percentage correctly, sport mode should be more efficient (anyhow most of the power is going to keep dron in the air ) - i had a flight 7.3 km going away in sport mode max throttle i have reached fare point on 87% going back i P mode came back on 57% so in sport mode distance take 13% back 30% of course there was a wind but 90 degrees to the course
I have some other similar observations but could not quote as there was no pure sport vs P flight paths
Hope it helps
P.S.
I'll recommend switching to Sport even when descending as in P mode Mavic is very slow on descent wasting battery

 

[Cyberpower678]

Sport mode max throttle.

 

[beach_Dr]

There was a guy on the forum who did a school project working out efficiency in sport mode vs P mode - found any speed above 20mph equally efficient. (Including sports mode)

link here:
Mavic Battery and Speed efficiency chart