DJI Spark vs DJI Mavic Pro Comparison

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With the arrival of the DJI Spark in May 2017, DJI introduced a drone even smaller than their Mavic Pro, equipped with plenty of exciting features. As an ultra portable, lightweight drone, the Spark is groundbreaking in more ways than one. DJI has fashioned the Spark with a high quality camera, 16 minutes of flight time, and innovative gesture controls. The Spark is so small, it actually makes the Mavic Pro look big by comparison - a drone widely praised for its compact size. A DJI Spark vs DJI Mavic Pro comparison is important for newcomers to DJI and longtime DJI drone owners, which is why we've put this together. 

Ultimately, the Spark crushes all non-DJI competition across the board. Join us as we explore how the Spark and Mavic Pro are alike and dissimilar in our breakdown, and be sure to also review how these drones compare to the Yuneec Breeze, with our three way comparison.

Size and Weight

It's important to first evaluate how these two drones are alike in size. Both the Spark and the Mavic Pro are designed to travel well and be ready to fly in seconds, rather than minutes. The Spark weighs 0.66 pounds (300g) with the battery, while the Mavic Pro weighs a pound more at 1.62 pounds (734 g). With fixed arms, the Spark cannot fold up, and is therefore slightly wider than the Mavic when folded. At its most compact, the Mavic Pro is slightly smaller than the Spark, with dimensions of 3.2(H)x3.2(W)x7.8(L) inches (Mavic) and 2.1(H)x5.6(W)x5.6(L) inches (Spark) respectively. When fully extended and ready to fly, the Mavic is 3.5 x12x11 inches, approximately double in size. 

Winner: Spark, because of its small size and weight, although it does lose points for having fixed arms.

 

Camera

The Spark camera is nearly as good as the Mavic, with Spark capable of FHD: 1920×1080 at 30 frames per second with 12 MP photographs. The Mavic records 4K video at 30 frames per second and photos with 12.71 MP. Onboard the Spark is a 2-axis gimbal, compared to the 3-axis gimbal of the Mavic. The two drones match up in terms of sensor size, sporting a 1/2.3 CMOS. In terms of aperture, the Mavic is the better choice, boasting f/2.2 while the Spark has f/2.6. This is significant because the wider aperture of the Mavic allows for more light, resulting in better, brighter photography in low light conditions. Also of note is the gesture control on the Spark that allows drone pilots to take a picture without the use of a dedicated controller or their phone. A simple camera gesture with their hands will snap a photo. Last but not least, the Mavic Pro camera can be adjusted prior to shooting, including different color profiles and style settings, while Spark pilots are restricted to the default camera settings. 

Winner: Mavic. With the video resolution advantage, better gimbal, better aperture, and the inclusion of other camera adjustments, Mavic is a sure winner in this category.

 

	Spark	Mavic Pro
Sensor Size	1/2.3"	1/2.3"
Film Rate	12 MP and FHD 1920x1080	12.35 MP and 4K Video
Shutter Type	Electronic	Electronic
Aperture	F/2.6	F/2.2
Max Video Bitrate	24 mbps	60 mpbs
Camera Image

 

 

Flight Time

Being a mini drone, the DJI Spark utilizes a smaller battery than the Mavic Pro, and therefore flies for a shorter amount of time, clocking in at 16 minutes. This duration puts it at the front of the pack for flight time among comparable mini drones. Meanwhile, the Mavic can fly up to 27 minutes. For comparison's sake, the Spark battery is 1480 mAh while the Mavic battery is 3830 mAh. The Mavic is so aerodynamically inclined that it flies longer while flying than it does hovering. One final element worth mentioning is how both drones charge: the Spark uses a handy dock that you place the drone in to begin charging, while the Mavic Intelligent Flight battery must be removed and placed in the charging station alone. (All of the details for each of these drones can be found on their respective Specs pages: Mavic Pro Specs, Spark Specs) 

Winner: Mavic Pro easily outstrips the Spark, besting its flight time with ease. 

 

Flight Modes

The flight modes built into the Spark are where it stands out when evaluating Spark vs Mavic Pro. The Mavic Pro has all of the traditional Intelligent Flight Modes DJI is known for, including Active Track, TapFly, and Terrain Follow. The Spark has all of those too, and is also compatible with the DJI Goggles for FPV flight like the Mavic. But the real eye-catching capabilites of the Spark are the brand new QuickShot flight modes DJI crafted for it. Currently the Mavic does not have these modes, but we suspect a firmware update could be coming down the pipeline that would change that.

 

	Rocket- Ascend with the camera pointing downward, revealing a unique perspective from above.
	Dronie- Fly backward and upward, with the camera locked on your subject, creating an epic shot that captures the big perspective of the world around the subject.
	Circle- Keeps the subject locked in the center of the frame, as the Spark automatically flies a circle around it.
	Helix- Starts close to the subject before flying up, away, and around in larger and larger circles.

 

The PalmControl gestures are unique to the DJI Spark, giving pilots control with their hands after first being identified through facial recognition. This technology is incredible to watch, and illustrates how DJI innovation continues to be a high priority. Upon confirmation through the facial recognition, the Spark can be controlled by moving your palm up, down, left, right, backwards, and forwards. A camera motion with your hands engages the camera, taking a picture of you and your surroundings. Wave one hand to active ActiveTrack, which means the Spark will track you as you move around. Wave two hands and the Spark will come back to you and identify your palm before landing precisely on it. Watch the video below to see these phenomenal gesture controls in action:

 

Winner: Spark. Like the camera modes, the flight modes on the Spark exceed those of the Mavic Pro, giving it the victory. 

 

Transmission Distance

The two drones definitely differ in their respective remote controller transmission distances. With a mobile device, their distances are identical: 109 yards in distance and 54 yards in height. Using the dedicated remote controller and Wifi the Spark can travel 1.2 miles. On the other hand, the Mavic Pro transmits up to 4.3 miles thanks to OccuSync technology, and can even fly beyond this distance with our Maxx Mod Remote Controller. The difference with a controller between the two drones is substantial -- the 1.2 mile range is reminiscent of the lackluster performance of the Phantom 3 Standard. Many everyday field tests indicate a drop, with the Spark reaching between 1/4 and 1/2 of a mile in urban areas with mild interference.

Winner: Mavic Pro. By virtue of its stronger, robust OccuSync technology, the Mavic can fly much greater distances. 

 

Sensors

Both the DJI Spark and DJI Mavic Pro come equipped with obstacle sensing, but the Mavic Pro's system is more robust. When travelling up to 6.7 mph, the Spark will detect objects in front of it between 1-16 feet. The Mavic Pro can travel up to 22 mph while detecting objects between 2-49 feet in front of it. Indoor sensors on both drones are also comparably different, with the Mavic Pro managing up to 43 feet, and the Spark reaching up to 26 feet. Click here to read more about the Spark and discover how another reviewer feels about DJI's latest drone. 

Winner: Mavic Pro. This is another category in which the Mavic Pro is simply better, using components that allow for bolstered distances in obstacle avoidance. 

 

Price

This is a very important factor for customers old and new. The Spark is considerably cheaper than the Mavic Pro, costing just $499 without the controller that comes in the Fly More Combo. Conversely, the Mavic Pro standard package costs $999.The Fly More Combo for the Spark includes extra propellers, propeller guards, an extra battery, power cable, charger, charging hub, micro USB cable, priced at $699. Similarly, the Mavic Pro Fly More Combo includes an extra battery, batter charging hub, car charger, battery to power bank adaptor, and shoulder bag, for $1299. (Discover everything included by checking out the unboxing of both the DJI Mavic Pro kit and DJI Spark kit. 

Winner: Draw. This is a toss-up, because the Mavic offers more flight time, greater distance, and better videos, but it costs considerably more. The Spark is much more geared towards casual drone fans, while the Mavic provides a more professional option for serious drone enthusiasts.

 

Overall

Undoubtedly, these two drones offer different options at different price points. When choosing a winner between the DJI Spark or DJI Mavic Pro, it largely depends on what you are looking for in an aircraft. More serious flyers who value long flight times, better quality video, and more capabilities will favor the Mavic. For a quick and easy-to-use drone ideal for shorter flights and beginner pilots, the Spark is the better choice. (If you still have questions, be sure to check out both the DJI Spark FAQ and DJI Mavic Pro FAQ pages)

Winner: Draw. This is a toss-up, because the Mavic offers more flight time, greater distance, and better videos, but it costs considerably more. The Spark is much more geared towards casual drone fans, while the Mavic provides a more professional option for serious drone enthusiasts.

 

 

Kits and Accessories

 

 

Whether you are new to the DJI drone family or a longtime owner, the DJI Mavic Pro is a top notch drone for many reasons. Here at Drone World, we've taken this incredible aircraft and made it even better with our Mavic Pro MaXX Mod Upgrade Kit, positvely bursting with useful augmentations. These additions begin with our 3 Hot-Swap Antennas, perfect for boosting the Mavic's range, flying FPV style, or getting the best HD signal on your tablet. The MaXX Mod Kit also boasts the Award-Winning Backpack complete with a rapid deploy compartment, and the perfect amount of space for housing your Mavic with all its accessories. It's a backpack no drone pilot should leave home without, perfect for getting your drone in the air in seconds rather than minutes! Discover all of the wonderful elements we've compiled in our coveted MaXX Mod Kit.

 

 

 

Stay tuned as we are currently developing exclusive accessories for the DJI Spark! You can find all of the DJI standard accessories, including the Fly More Combo, here at Drone World. Rest assured our tech gurus are hard at work developing the latest and greatest accessories for the DJI Spark, and we will begin selling them as soon as we've completed all of our testing and research.

 

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Our Full DJI Spark Review

DJI Spark Gesture Controls

DJI Spark FAQ

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	SPARK	MAVIC PRO
Video	1080P at 30 fps	4K Ultra HD
Camera Sensor	Sensor: 1/2.3”	Sensor: 1/2.3”
Video Camera	Max Video Bitrate : 24Mbps	Max Video Bitrate : 60Mbps
Gimbal	Optical flow, 2-axis camera (Pitch, Roll, No Yaw) CHANGING ICON (2 AXIS) Pitch -85° (no upward tilt)	Rubberband Suspend 3-Axis (Pitch, Roll, Yaw) Pitch -90° (no upward tilt)
Weight
Top Speed	31mph	40mph
Top Speed while in active track	13mph	22mph
Stated Signal Range	1.2 Mi (1.6 km)	4.3 Mi (7 km)
Battery Size	1480 mAh	3830 mAh
Flight Time	16 Min	27 Min
Obstacle Avoidance & Sensors	1 - 16ft. Up to 6.7mph	2 - 50ft. Up to 22mph
Indoor Flight Sensor	Up to 26ft.	Up to 43ft.
Drone Control	DJI GO + Remote	DJI GO + Remote
Shop Now	SHOP NOW	SHOP NOW