DJI Mavic Air 2 vs JJRC X12 Aurora Camera Drone Comparison

Spec Comparison of the DJI Mavic Air 2 and the JJRC X12 Aurora

This camera drone comparison is between two very different camera drones, the $250 JJRC X12, also known as the Eachine EX4 and the DJI Mavic Air 2 which costs four times as much, at $999 for the fly more combo.

The JJRC was released last year in summer 2019, whilst the DJI Mavic Air 2 was released new this year.

Physical Comparison

These are both folding arm camera drones, which helps with portability and travelling. In their smallest form, with their arms folded in, the JJRC X12 Aurora is 20cm diagonally, same as the DJI Mavic Air 2, there is very little in the size difference when looking from above.

The main difference is height, from bottom to top when folded in. The DJI Mavic Air 2 is 84mm thick/high and the JJRC X12 is 55mm, nearly 3cm smaller.

This adds up in their total volume, with the JJRC X12 coming in at just under 1L in full size at 924cm³ in volume. The DJI Mavic Air 2 comes in at just under 1.5L in size at 1466cm³.

The weight difference is also similar, with the DJI Mavic Air 2 being the heavier of the 2 drones at 570grams. The JJRC X12 is the lighter of the two camera drones at 437 grams in total weight.

Performance Comparison

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is more than three times faster than the JJRC X12. With the DJI Mavic Air 2 topping out at around 68kmh top speed. The JJRC X12 has a more humble 21kmh top speed.

The MA2 is also faster in the ascent and descent speeds, capable of 4m/s in ascent and descent. With the JJRC X12 Aurora capable of just 2m/s ascent speed and 1m/s descent speed.

For the price and size, the JJRC X12 Aurora has an incredible video transmission distance of 9km, which is only 1km shorter than the DJI Mavic Air 2.

It doesn't have too bad of a fligh time either, at 25 minutes and the DJI Mavic Air 2 achieving 9 minute longer flight time of 34 minutes in total.

Photo and Video Comparison

The DJI Mavic Air 2 has a wider fov at 84° compared to the smaller 80° degree field of view of the JJRC X12 camera drone.

The video bitrate is double that on the DJI Mavic Air 2 at 120mbps, compared to 60mbps for the JJRC X12.

Although they are both 4k camera drones, the MA2 has a higher bitrate than most other camera drones and that means bigger file sizes when they both record 4K footage.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 has a slightly larger image sensor size of 1/2" inch which is 8mm diagonally in size. Compared to the 1/3.2" sized image sensor used on the JJRC X12 which is just under 6mm in length diagonally, so a 2mm difference between the two image sensors in size.

This means the Mavic Air 2 is capable of 48mp photos in JPEG format, compared to that of 12mp for the JJRC X12 in JPEG format.

The Mavic Air 2 is capable of RAW photos in DNG format and flat profile video recording, in the form of d-cinelike.

You get a number of video resolutions and framerates on the Mavic Air 2 that you don't on the JJRC X12 as well.

It has 1080p 240fps, 2.7k at 60fps and 4k at 60fps, which the JJRC does not.

You also get HDR videography feature on the DJI Mavic Air 2 as well.

Each camera drone comes with a 3-axis gimbal to smooth out their footage.

Summary

Obviously the DJI Mavic Air 2 is the superior camera drone, but that means paying more than three times the price. The JJRC X12 is a fantastic beginner entry level camera drone to get you in to the hobby and industry if you want to take it more seriously and see if this is for you without spending a lot of money.