The original Mavic Pro drone from DJI is a few years old now, but it still performs well. Even so, DJI weren’t content to leave things there and took things to the next level with the release of the Mavic 2 Zoom, which features 2x optical zoom and a 20-megapixel camera. How much of an improvement is the Mavic 2 Zoom though? Will the old Mavic Pro be enough for you? Let’s compare the drones and find out.

The Mavic 2 Zoom is a bit heavier than the smaller Mavic Pro. It weighs in at 905 grams, compared to the 743 grams of the Pro. That’s because it has some extra gear and power to it, which is compensated for with a slightly better battery.

You can expect the Mavic Pro to last an average of 27 minutes in the air. The bigger battery of the Mavic 2 Zoom means that it gets to last a little bit longer; pulling in an average flight time of 31 minutes. Another little note on the flight time is that the propellers on the Mavic 2 Zoom have been redesigned to be quitter than their predecessors.

Operating range is a big factor when choosing a drone. The Mavic 2 drone can be flown for up to 8km (5 miles) which is a bit better than the old Mavic Pro. The Pro has an operating range of 7km (4.3 miles). This is due to the new OcuSync 2.0 transmission tech in the new drone, which allows for full HD live streaming with a 120ms latency.

Being able to detect and avoid obstacles is another important feature. The Mavic Pro has forward and downward vision sensors, allowing pilots to avoid things in front of and below the drone. The Mavic 2 Zoom takes things to a new level with omnidirectional sensors. Pilots can detect obstacles coming from all directions, which makes for a safer and more fun flight.

The camera will no doubt be another big selling point. It’s one of the biggest differences between the old and new drones.

One of the key selling points of the new Mavic 2 Zoom is that it features a 2x optical zoom. This gives you plenty of options for framing subjects. It gives you the chance to take great shots of animals without having to get so close that you spook them too.

This isn’t to say that the camera on the old Mavic Pro is bad though. It still features a great 12-megapixel camera and has the specs to beat other commercial drones on the market. Consider what you plan on photographing and how close you need to get to the subject.

DJI are taking advantage of all the new tech built into their new drone. One of the best new features of the Mavic 2 Zoom is the Dolly Zoom feature. This is when the drone locks on to a subject and flies backwards while zooming in on it. This creates an effect where the subject remains where it is but the background warps closer. It’s an impressive filming technique made famous by directors such as Hitchcock.

The Mavic Pro is a bit more basic in this department, but it still has some good quality camera modes. It’s able to use ActiveTrack and Cinematic filming. ActiveTrack allows the drone to focus on a particular subject and track them, but without the zooming effects of Dolly Zoom.

A newer model means a bigger price tag. Always. The Mavic 2 Zoom currently retails for $1,249 on Amazon. The Mavic Pro is available in a few different packages, but the basic Starter Bundle retails for $795.

The Mavic 2 Zoom is definitely the superior model. It has a better flight time, a better battery, and lots of cool new features. With that said, the Mavic Pro still has everything an enthusiast could need – and a reduced price tag. It’s worth investing in the Zoom if you want the latest tech and need the best features, but most people should be more than happy with a Mavic Pro.