I bought one, a
Mavic 2 zoom. After several days and multiple calls to support. I returned it. IT NEVER EVEN LEFT THE GROUND!. Do
Mavic 2's work? Obviously, and they get great footage people use them all the time. But after my experience I will tell you why I don't think people should buy them (but of course, free country, buy what you want, but also freedom of speech so I will tell you my opinion). I am going to assume that people with apple phones/devices have better results because if they had mine, DJI would be out of business, I cannot prove this but I think it is true. I bought my M2zoom and I downloaded the app and try to sign up, error, no connected network. Didn't work, called support, they said try using the web site. I had other problems with app but eventually got to the point I could turn on the drone and controller. Connecting, error mag interf check app. Called support again. I had at that point reinstalled the app 4 times afer first suggestion from support. I searched the web
DJI Mavic Pro "Mag Interference-Check App" problem still no solution. After being on the phone, the support guy says. You have to use another device. I told him. My Samsung Note 8 is supported according to your website. He said we cannot move forward without another device. My phone controls my other photographic equipment fine, some are free apps.
To preface this. I did my research. I thought I was getting a good drone. Many good comments and reviews. After I could not get the unit up and running, I started searching and I found all the problems and bad stuff. I am not an idiot. I know there are people who don't know what they are doing, and there are going to be some defective units. There will always be problems, BUT, are they reasonable and fairly infrequent? If there are too many or it is so complicated the average person cannot resolve issues, then it is not a good product.
So my problem with the
Mavic 2. First it requires a phone. I thought this was good because it would lower the cost of the unit. But it is really bad. If you don't have a phone, you have a brick. DJI has to upgrade apps for both Apple and Android, I am betting Apple gets the higher priority. If the company is slow to upgrade, you have problems/brick/crashed unit. I had to take my phone out of the safety of its case possible damage to a thousand dollar phone. I had to risk damaging the usbC port every time I wanted to fly, the port connector on the side of the holder is of poor design putting undue stress on your phones port. Now back to the phone software. Android updates can break apps. If you have this drone 5 years from now will DJI still update the app? if not you have a brick. A new phone and version can come out and may be incompatible. You are adding another set of variables to an already complex set of firmware updates and app updates.
So after having problems I start looking on the web for solutions. I see tons of problems. You cannot fly your drone without firmware updates. If you go to location where there is no cell service, and you need an update you are out of luck. Basically, you own a brick, and if you have the right phone, the right phone os version, DJI has update the app like it is suppose to, you have the latest firmware for the controller, drone and battery, you are in the right location to fly, the moon is in the 7th house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, you have a working drone instead of a brick. You drop your phone trying to connect it to the controller and break it, you have a brick again, your phone gets wet, your phone battery dies, your usb port gets damaged, you get a magnetic interference check app error, the dog eats your phone. You have a brick.
DJI should have made a drone that works by itself, no phone, no bricking the unit if a new firmware update comes out. The phone should only add a nicer display, or perhaps some addition feature. But adding the phone and a host rather a huge number of other variable which are potential problems is a bad idea in my opinion. That is why I returned the unit.
Who is the audience for this unit? If it is professionals, then they might put up with all the issues and complex interdependencies. But it seems to me they are aiming this drone at the average guy, perhaps someone who has more money than they should and the extra income to buy a new toy. Well I can tell you right now, if the app is not perfect, the registration process works easily, the startup and update is process less than 15 mins DJI is going to have a lot of returns this Christmas. The drone should fly right out of the box with little fuss. If not this is not a product for the masses and DJI should include the information I posted above to discourage joe average from buying this drone or there are going to be a million factory refurbished
Mavic 2's out there.. like mine. If I would have read a post like this one explaining the problems and complex interdependences and the possibilities I would have never bought one. I know this for a fact. I bought a Ford F350 diesel back in 2004. That year the messed up the firmware updates over and over again, because the firmware on the turbo, fuel injection, transmission, and monitoring systems were dependent on each other. Ford bought that truck back from me and thousand of new ford truck owner (read it on the web) and now I will never own another one again. Just like DJI.[/QUOTE
I can appreciate your position. Working around all of the frustrations of your first drone is an unexpected challenge...been there.
Still, I think you gave up too soon.
I agree that you shouldn't have to this, and you shouldn't have to that, but if you want to fly a drone, you have to. Given that you researched drones before you purchased, you would have had to come across the same challenges all drone pilots face. You may have turned a blind eye to them.
If I'm not mistaken, you got the app loaded, connected the RC to the AC, and all the firmware updated. Frustrating right? Possibly because you may not have anything else that is set up that way.
Magnetic interference can be an issue inside your house, by a cell tower, inside your car, and on concrete. Anywhere there is iron. To my knowledge, magnetic interference is not indicative of a defective unit, or phone compatibility. The solution is to step away X number of feet from the source of interference.
Firmware updates are a fact of drone use. Nobody likes them, and they are always inconvenient, but usually we benefit from them.
When DJI releases a new product, there are a slew of updates, and then after X amount of time, the updates are rare.
Some of us with the original MP would like an update to add or improve features. We feel like DJI has forgotten about us. Actually, I'm glad they stopped. It is annoying.
Many of us buy dedicated monitors at significantly less cost/risk than a $1000 phone. For example, many of us use an ipad
mini 4. My
mini 4 cost $200, and works very well. It's not the brightest unit, but usually I fly early in the morning or at dusk, so that's not a problem. If it is, I find a shade tree. I had not ever used Apple products before, but I like this set up.
When I first started flying drones, I had an Android device, and it was a disaster. I had no idea the phone/tablet mattered. But, of course it does.I nearly gave the whole drone thing up. I'm glad I didn't. I hung in there. Got frustrated as all get out, kept researching various challenges, found solutions, new problems, new solutions, and so it goes. I still don't know which color profile I like best.
I was clueless about photography basics as well, now I have a fancy camera (sort of), and a computer that can handle 4K video (sort of). Yes. I bought it hook, line, and sinker, which is really not like me at all.
Flying a drone has a steep learning curve, but for many of us, it's worth it. After all, who doesn't need more video of roof tops, and tree tops?
I understand that this is all supposed to be for relaxation, but in the beginning it is everything but relaxing. However, compared to the early years of drones, it is significantly more plug and play. Still, it is technology, so...
I suspect you are far more skilled at using your cell phone, now then you were when you first used one. What's the difference?
If you are open to suggestions, I recommend you get back in the game, but slowly.
It would be wise to give it a rest for X amount of time.
Given that you have a $1000 phone, and the
MP2 is your first drone, I suspect you have some disposable savings. Plus, you got your money back, so you have been made whole, and are back at square one. And, your phone is safe and sound...thank goodness.
If you take this the wrong way, then that's on you.
I recommend that you get yourself a refurbished DJI Spark, and a ipad
mini 4, or an old iphone 6, and learn to fly with less taxing equipment.
I have a Spark, and I love it. It is nowhere near as capable as a MP, but it is FUN to fly without being distracted by the multitude of options the MPs have, or the fear of crashing my hard earned cash. The little bastard can take it. Also, for whatever reason, the general public loves the Spark, but they fear all other drones.
Then, once you are comfortable and have out grown the Spark, you may be over your disdain for DJI, and are willing to upgrade.
I think many people purchased the
MP2 as their first drone, and may be in over their heads. Six months to a year from now, I intend to buy one of their abandoned MP2s with three or less battery charges. They are ready to sell just to get that episode of their life behind them. This is the same cycle that happened with the MP1. I know because I bought two at great prices, each with less than three battery charges.
BTW...if you came to this forum expecting understanding, you came to the wrong place. We can be brutal here, but we can be helpful as well. You may have benefited from asking for advice before returning your
MP2
If you do get back into the game and you come to this forum be prepared to take it, and dish it out...it's fun, chiefly because it's raining, cold, and we can't fly, today.
good luck either way