DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced vs Dual vs Zoom

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced vs Dual vs Zoom

Drastically upgraded thermal and visual sensors, new RTK capabilities, and optimised flight performance - the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a huge step up from previous generations. Take a look at how it compares to the Enterprise Dual and Zoom models.

Last updated: Jul 18, 2022

8 minute read

The key differences between the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, Dual, and Zoom are:

  • Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has a higher resolution visual sensor; 48MP vs 12MP;
  • The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has a better thermal resolution; 640 x 512 px vs 160 x 120;
  • Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has better zoom functionality; 32x digital zoom vs 3x digital zoom and 2x optical zoom on the M2E Zoom, and 4x digital zoom on the Dual. It also has a 16x thermal zoom;
  • The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced can be integrated with an RTK module. The M2E Dual and Zoom can't.
  • The three drones share similar battery life, flight time, and transmission distances.

 

Drastically upgraded thermal and visual sensors, new RTK capabilities, and optimised flight performance - the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a huge step up from previous generations.

 

 

This powerful and portable drone signals a new era for the Mavic 2 Enterprise Series, taking all that was good about the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual and Zoom (both pictured below) - and improving it.

 

 

And that's good news for commercial drone pilots, especially those involved in public safety, law enforcement, search and rescue, and industrial inspection.

Want to know the key differences between this trio? Then read on to see what sets them apart and why the new Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is the best in the Series.

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced v M2E Dual v M2E Zoom - Camera

Perhaps the biggest difference between the three drones is their cameras - or rather, the quality of them.

Both the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and M2E Dual have visual and thermal sensors, while the original Mavic 2 Enterprise has one visual sensor with zoom capabilities.

But the devil really is in the detail.

Thermal Sensor

Firstly, the thermal sensor.

When the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual was released in 2018, it provided an integrated thermal solution in a lightweight, portable drone. Sounds perfect!

But there were grumbles, from some quarters, about its smallish thermal resolution of 160 × 120 at 9Hz. Perhaps to be expected, given the size of the Mavic. A further snag was that the thermal sensor was not radiometric and thus could not support the R-JPEG format.

However, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced addresses all of this, thanks to its HD 640 x 512 px thermal resolution at 30Hz. 

That's a 17x increase on the effective pixels - and as this picture shows, it makes a significant difference! Just look how clear the M2EA thermal image is on the right, compared to the Dual on the left. They are worlds apart.

 

 

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced's thermal camera resolution also makes it comparable to the thermal resolution of top-level sensors such as the H20T and the XT2!

 

 

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is also radiometric and can thus capture imagery in R-JPEG. This format has temperature data embedded in each pixel and the R-JEPG images captured by the Advanced can be analysed via DJI's Thermal Analysis Tool.

As an added bonus, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is capable of 16x thermal zoom - a feature not available on the Dual - and can be used to support post-processing.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Zoom does not feature a thermal sensor.

Visual Camera

In terms of visual sensors, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced comes out on top, thanks to its ability to capture 48MP imagery.

That's four times higher than the 12MP image capabilities of the M2E Dual and the original Mavic 2 Enterprise (Zoom).

The Advanced also features a 1/2"-inch visual sensor, compared to the Dual and Zoom's 1/2.3" sensor.

When it comes to zoom, the original Mavic 2 Enterprise has 2x optical and 3x digital zoom capability, while the Dual has a 4x digital zoom.

In comparison, the Advanced has 32x digital zoom and 4x lossless zoom (when using FHD Video Mode).

This enables operators to stay further away, while getting up closer to the action, as this video shows.

 

 

So, in essence, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced takes the best of the camera functions which are split between its predecessors and integrates them into one aircraft.

High-resolution visual imagery. Check! Decent radiometric thermal sensor. Check! Zoom. Check! And all with greater capabilities than before.

And as an added bonus, operators can tap to switch between visual, thermal, or split-view feeds for different project needs; a luxury not afforded on the M2E Dual or Zoom.

 

Flight Performance

The big difference here between the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and its older siblings is the ability to integrate a new RTK module.

Why is this an advantage?

The RTK module enables operators to achieve centimetre-level positioning accuracy and supports NTRIP, making the drone ideal for powerline inspections as it increases reliability in areas of high electromagnetic interference.

 

Please note that the RTK module does need to be purchased separately, but this key accessory really will set the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced apart from its predecessors.

Using the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, operators can create up to 240 waypoints - empowering automated and detailed inspection missions in complex environments. In comparison, the M2E Dual can create up to 99 waypoints.

In other areas of flight performance, all three drones share similar traits, save a few tweaks and enhancements here and there.

For instance, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has slightly faster ascent and descent speeds - making it a slightly more agile drone.

But all three top out at 72 kph (45 mph) for maximum speed; have a maximum flight time of 31 minutes; have self-heating batteries to enable operation in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 40°C, and benefit from OcuSync 2.0 for transmission of up to 10km (FCC) / 6km (CE).

Safety/Data Security

Much like flight performance, all three drones in the Mavic 2 Enterprise Series share modes and functions to keep data secure and flights safe.

These include:

  • DJI AirSense
  • AES-256 encryption
  • Discreet Mode
  • 24GB of onboard data storage
  • Password protection
  • Omnidirectional obstacle sensing

Accessories

To enhance flight performance, the three Mavic 2 Enterprise drones are compatible with the DJI Smart Controller.

In fact, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is only compatible with the Smart Controller, whereas the Dual and Zoom can also be operated via a separate remote controller (without display).

For reference, the DJI Smart Controller features a built-in, ultra-bright 5.5-inch 1080p screen which displays crystal-clear images, even in the most challenging environments.

 

 

The three Mavic 2 Enterprise drones can also be integrated with the loudspeaker, beacon, or bright spotlight modular accessories to increase mission productivity and flexibility.

The protector case, extended port cover, accessory bag, batteries, propellers, chargers, and charging station can all be used for the Mavic 2 Enterprise Series.

Design

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is almost identical to its older siblings.

In true Mavic fashion, it has foldable arms, is lightweight, and is easily transportable.

Typical of this series, it can also be deployed extremely quickly.

Folded, the three Mavic 2 Enterprise drones are 214 x 91 x 84 mm, while unfolded, they are 322 x 242 x 84 mm.

As for weight, there is a slight difference. The Advanced is the heaviest at 909g, followed by the Zoom at 905g, and then the Dual at 899g.

The biggest variation between the three is the look of the cameras.

The Advanced has the thermal sensor above the visual camera...

 

 

...while the Dual has these side by side. The Zoom has just the one camera.

 

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced v M2E Dual v M2E Zoom - Summary

The DJI Mavic 2 Series has always been as popular as it has groundbreaking.

This started with the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom - which set a new standard for aerial drone photography - and was followed by the Mavic 2 Enterprise (Zoom) and subsequently the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual, which transformed this series into dedicated commercial drone platforms.

Now DJI has raised the bar again with the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced.

Quite simply, it knocks the M2E Dual and M2E Zoom out of the park.

The camera specs - with the upgraded thermal and visual sensors, and more powerful zoom capabilities - as well as the additional RTK module, presents operators with a truly powerful portable drone solution, which will cost less than going for a larger model, like an M300 RTK (albeit the M300 is truly groundbreaking in its own right, with an IP45 rating, maximum 55 minute flight time, and ability to carry three payloads).

 

 

Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Advanced, compared to the Dual and Zoom, is the fact that it houses all of these upgrades.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual and the Zoom are decent drones - and have been popular in the public safety and inspection areas - but weren't quite the complete package.

But the Advanced mitigates this by offering the key features of the Dual and Zoom in one upgraded drone, providing high-class thermal, powerful zoom, and high-resolution visual imagery in a complete, all-in-one solution. Now there is no need to compromise.

Before the Advanced, some commercial drone operators would deploy the M2E Zoom or Dual as a first-response drone, to be followed up by a larger aircraft, such as the M200 Series or M300 RTK.

But the all-in-one nature of the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, coupled with its bulked-up specs, could well reduce the need for that.

With this in mind, expect the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced to become a highly sought-after aircraft.

Register your interest in the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced with heliguy™.

 

 

 


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

If you have a question or require urgent assistance, please contact us to ensure your query is dealt with quickly.

Please note, this hidden field is to prevent bot submissions and entering data will result in your comment being discarded without moderation.