Autel EVO Lite Plus vs DJI Avata (Which One Is Better?)

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If you’ve been looking for a new drone to buy and came across these fantastic but totally different options and feel undecided, you’ve come to the right place.

What are the Autel EVO Lite Plus and DJI Avata, and which is better?

The EVO Lite Plus is a semi-professional standard drone by Autel with a 1-inch CMOS that films in 6k and offers a few unique features. The Avata is the second FPV drone released by DJI and also shares a few fantastic perks. Both drones are excellent for their intended uses.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything about the Autel EVO Lite Plus and the DJI Avata, such as which is better for specific operations and why and which could be more suitable for you.

Autel EVO Lite Plus overview #

The Autel EVO Lite Plus takes the middle ground between the EVO Nano Plus and EVO 2 Pro V3 in terms of performance and price.

SpecsAutel EVO Lite PlusWeight835 gSize210×123×95mm, foldedFlight TimeMax 40 minsFlight Distance15 mi or 24 km with the Autel SkyLink transmission systemThe real max transmission range from the RC is 7.4 miCamera Performance1-inch CMOSCan photograph in 20 MP resolutionCan film up to 6k at 30 frames per secondHas a 3-axis mechanical gimbalIntelligent FunctionsDynamic Track 2.1SkyPortraitPDAF + CDAF autofocus systemDefog ModeSensorsThree-way obstacle avoidance sensors (forward, backward and downward)Wind ResistanceLevel 7 Wind ResistanceOtherNo GeoFencing System

✅ Pros #

It has a fantastic 1-inch CMOS capable of low-light photography
This drone can film in 6k at 30 frames per second; it is one of the top video resolutions found in a consumer drone
The flight time is beyond excellent
This drone is capable of flying long-range without issues
It comes with the advanced Dynamic Track 2.1, which has a great subject-tracking follow-me mode
The bundle pack has many accessories, including two extra batteries and ND filters
It has a unique auto-focus system and a few intelligent functions found in no other drones
The bright orange version of the drone can be seen in the sky farther than other versions, increasing the visual line of sight where you can legally fly your drone
Autel drones have no GeoFencing system like DJI or other manufacturers

❌ Cons #

The price may be high for many beginner pilots
This drone competes with other similar-priced drones, such as the DJI Air 3 and DJI Mini 4 Pro

Overview #

This drone is one of a few around its price capable of capturing incredible night photographs and videos due to its large CMOS. Regarding video resolution, it is indeed one of the top consumer drones.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a drone to film in 6k, you don’t have many other options.

With the ability to fly for long ranges, the EVO Lite Plus is preferred by many professional pilots looking to create cinematic content and/or sell stock footage.

The EVO Lite Plus is also a drone capable of vlogging and can photograph or film vertically, perfect for content created to share on social media platforms.

DJI Avata overview #

If you’re looking for a drone capable of capturing unique FPV video content, the DJI Avata is one of the top picks.

It’s also one of the safest drones to fly. We will explain why later.

SpecsDJI AvataWeight410 gSize180×180×80 mmFlight TimeApprox. 18 minsFlight Distance7.2 mi or 11.6 kmCamera Performance1/1.7-inch CMOSIt can film in 4k at 60 frames per second or 2.7k at 120fpsIt can snapshot in 4k, JPEG onlyIntelligent FunctionsEmergency Stop functionReturn-to-home featureHead Tracking capabilitiesSensorsDownward vision sensor (for landing)Wind Resistance10.7 m/sOtherLarge compatibility with different goggles and controllers

✅ Pros #

It’s a beginner-friendly FPV drone, one of the easiest to start flying FPV
The camera performance in FPV (without additional action cameras) is excellent
The flight time for an FPV drone is astonishing
It can fly in Normal, Sport, and Manual Mode, which is a diversified way of flying an FPV drone
You can enjoy an immersive FPV experience with head-tracking, available only in a handful of drones and originally created with the DJI Avata
It’s capable of flying long-range (with care)
It can be safely flown indoors, in a forest, and near people and objects because it’s a Cinewhoop (it has duct guards)
It has strong resistance to impacts
It can freestyle within limits

❌ Cons #

It can be pricy, and no kit comes with the Remote Controller 2, so you must buy it separately to enjoy the best experience flying the Avata
The drone is at risk of tumbling and losing control if you take sharp corners or fly in strong winds

Overview #

Getting into flying FPV drones is a complex process requiring simulator training and usually building and struggling with drone compatibility and many complications.

But now, with DJI Avata, that’s not the case.

Since the first successful FPV released by DJI, the DJI FPV, the company took a drastic turn to focus on creating FPV drones. That was back in 2021.

A year and a half later, Avata was released.

Avata is still one of the most purchased FPV drones ever.

It has many safety features and a few extras found in no other FPV drones, increasing its ease of use.

If you want to create unique cinematic FPV content, there’s no easier drone to start with than Avata.

» MORE: Is DJI Avata Worth It? (All You Need to Know)

Autel EVO Lite Plus vs. DJI Avata #

Next, let’s put these two awesome drones head to head to see which comes out on top.

Build and design #

Summary: DJI Avata has duct guards to protect it from impacts. The EVO Lite Plus is bright orange, making the drone more visible in the sky.

Looking like a four-leaf clover from above with a battery on top, the DJI Avata shares a design slightly familiar across FPV drones.

As a Cinewhoop, it has permanent duct guards that protect it from impact. The duct guards are rugged but slightly flexible plastic that doesn’t easily crack during impact.

However, with the lower motor positioning and high battery placement on the drone, Avata always had an issue with its stability in some circumstances due to a poor center of gravity.

Conversely, the Autel EVO Lite Plus looks no different than a standard drone.

It’s foldable and shares a similar design to other Autel EVO drones.

Compared to Avata, the EVO Lite Plus is not crash-resistant. However, because of its obstacle avoidance sensors, you should not worry as much about crashing it.

One advantage of the EVO Lite Plus in its design is that it also comes in a bright orange color.

When flying a drone, whether in the United States or elsewhere worldwide, there’s one common drone law to keep your drone within your visual line of sight.

The Autel’s orange color makes this drone more visible than others, giving it the ability to fly farther and still maintain its position in the sky.

Avata’s darker color is a disadvantage regarding VLOS.

Both drones have an excellent aerodynamic design and overall modern look.

» MORE: How to Use DJI Avata Simulator (Explained)

Weight and size #

Summary: DJI Avata is more lightweight and portable than the EVO Lite Plus but also needs more accessories to function.

At only 410 grams at takeoff, the DJI Avata is relatively small for a Cinewhoop FPV drone but far too heavy compared to one-to-three-inch FPV drones that usually are under 250 grams.

The EVO Lite Plus weighs 835 grams at takeoff, making this drone the heavier choice.

There are a few countries where drones above 800 grams fall into more restrictive flight categories, including Europe, so be aware of that when using this drone.

Not only is the Autel EVO Lite Plus heavier, but it’s also bulkier.

If you love traveling with a backpack and want to take your drone, the EVO Lite Plus may not be the best choice unless you have extra space.

However, neither will the DJI Avata because you must take a pair of goggles on top of the drone and remote controller, adding weight to your gear.

» MORE: How Much Does the DJI Avata Weigh?

Camera sensor #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus has the bigger camera sensor of these two drones, but the DJI Avata shares one of the best camera sensors in an FPV drone.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus has a relatively large camera sensor of an inch. This size is beyond average in standard drones, giving it a significant advantage over Avata.

On the other hand, the Avata has a 1/1.7-inch CMOS, smaller than the one found in the EVO Lite Plus but larger than anything else in an FPV drone.

Usually, with FPV drones, pilots attach an action camera such as a GoPro on top of the drone. To do that with Avata may not be the best option. We must rely on the camera sensor to film with it.

Photography #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus can photograph more than decently, and the captured images look fantastic.

With a higher dynamic range and the ability to photograph in low-light conditions or even at night, the Autel EVO Lite Plus may be the perfect choice for photographers.

If we compare it with the DJI Air 3, Mini 3 Pro, or Mini 4 Pro, the EVO Lite Plus still has a larger CMOS for photography, but other drones may have some advanced and newer technology behind it, which can outperform the EVO Lite Plus.

If we put it against Avata, this drone is awesome at photography, even under the worst circumstances.

However, we must remember that the Avata and FPV drones are NOT manufactured for photography.

Video recording #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus has one of the best video resolutions in a consumer drone but can film like a typical drone. However, the DJI Avata flight footage is unique and the reason most get into FPV or buy Avata.

This is probably one of the most awaited sections in this comparison.

With the Autel EVO Lite Plus’ 1-inch camera sensor and the 6k filming resolution, this drone camera can benefit from a wide dynamic range performance for all kinds of video scenarios.

Even in sunlight, Autel’s dynamic range will make the difference between bright and dark spots apparent, offering professional-grade footage.

A few drones may outperform the Autel EVO Lite Plus in video recording, such as the EVO 2 Pro or the Mavic 3 series, but you can count on your fingers how many consumer drones are better at filming than this one.

However, if we look at Avata’s footage, we will notice something extraordinary.

I better share a video with you before discussing it further.

An FPV drone will fly differently than a standard drone. It tends to fly forward faster, with lower transmission latency and much higher accuracy.

This allows an FPV drone to create unique videos that a standard drone cannot record.

As we mentioned, with custom FPV drones or DJI FPV drones, pilots tend to place an action camera on top of it because the recorded quality is not good enough for professional use.

But Avata is different.

It has a wide field of view and good dynamic range, can record in D-CineLike mode, and has excellent stabilization.

Although it has only a one-axis camera gimbal, whereas the EVO Lite Plus has a three-axis, the Avata has RockSteady and HorizonSteady built in.

The RockSteady feature is an extreme electronic stabilization system that will stabilize all videos recorded with the drone, making it silky smooth.
The HorizonSteady feature’s role is to keep the horizon line straight, but the footage will look more like a standard drone, removing the precious core characteristic of what makes an FPV drone great for filming. So, I always keep it disabled.

Another thing to mention is that with Avata, if you drop the resolution to 2.7k, you can film at 120 frames per second, which is fantastic for slow-motion filming.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus cannot record past 60 frames per second on any resolution.

Overall, I choose Avata and FPV drones for filming above any standard drone because of the uniqueness of the videos they can create.

» MORE: Best Beginner Drones for Video

Flight time #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus can fly nearly three times longer than the DJI Avata, but Avata can fly longer than most FPV drones.

With its maximum flight time of 40 minutes, the Autel EVO Lite Plus is a great drone to take all the necessary shots with a single battery.

If you choose the bundle pack, you will have three batteries to fly for up to two hours.

Conversely, the DJI Avata’s maximum flight time is 18 minutes in Normal and Sport Mode. In reality, we should expect about 15 minutes of flight time.

If you want to fly in Manual Mode with the Avata, don’t expect more than 12 to 13 minutes.

As an FPV drone usually flies between 3 and 7 minutes and rarely more, this additional flight time from Avata makes the drone a perfect choice to take all the shots you need.

Keep in mind that although the flight time appears to be lower, the Avata can reach over 60 miles per hour, while the EVO Lite Plus’s max flight speed is 40 miles per hour.

Flight Range #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus can fly farther than the DJI Avata because of the more robust transmission range and flight time.

The EVO Lite Plus has a maximum flight distance of 15 miles or 24 kilometers, while the Avata can fly for up to 7.2 miles or 11.6 kilometers.

Although this is the total flight distance, the transmission range is lower, and the EVO Lite Plus can get a signal for up to 7.4 miles.

In reality, restrictions exist, whereas the US takes advantage of stronger transmission signals than the rest.

Within the US, the FCC will limit the EVO Lite Plus flights to 7.4 miles or 12 kilometers, while the Avata is limited to 6.2 miles or 10 kilometers.

Within Europe, the CE will limit the EVO Lite Plus flight distance to 3.7 miles or 6 kilometers, but for some reason, according to DJI, the Avata is restricted to 1.2 miles or 2 kilometers.

The transmission range is a bit better than that in Europe.

Overall, with all the restrictions limiting how far these drones can fly, both can fly long-range without issues, usually beyond VLOS.

» MORE: 21 Best Long-Range Drones (2023-2024)

Wind resistance #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus has a Level 7 wind resistance of 12 m/s, whereas the Avata has a Level 5 wind resistance of 10.7 m/s.

Avata has the general issue where it can tumble when taking sharp corners or flying in strong winds.

This makes the Avata unsuitable to fly in most wind conditions, even if the wind speed is below what DJI recommends for this drone.

Other FPV drones can fly even in extremely windy conditions, way beyond any standard drones can fly.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus has good wind resistance because it’s heavier and bulkier, making it more robust in resisting wind.

Anti-collision sensors #

Summary: Avata has no anti-collision sensors, whereas the Autel EVO Lite Plus has three.

For a beginner flying a drone for the first time, anti-collision sensors are essential to avoid crashing.

For the price, we could expect a bit more from the Autel EVO Lite Plus, as similar drones, such as the DJI Air 3 or Mini 4 Pro, have omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. But yes, the EVO Lite Plus has only three sensors.

You will ask yourself why the Avata has no obstacle avoidance sensors. That’s because it’s an FPV drone.

The anti-collision sensors would add to the cost of the drone with no real-use application for FPV.

Although the DJI FPV drone has frontal anti-collision sensors, these proved to work only in Normal Mode. As that drone is made for fast-speed flights, it was demonstrated the sensors have no real-world application.

As an FPV drone pilot, I can say that we never want anti-collision sensors In FPV drones. They are useless and will never work when flying at higher speeds.

And even if somehow they work, flying fast and close to the ground or through gaps, the sensors will mess up the flight accuracy and can crash the drone.

So, it is no biggie for Avata to lack anti-collision sensors.

Smart features #

Summary: Both drones have their fair share of unique intelligent features, from DJI Avata’s emergency stop to EVO Lite Plus’ SkyPotrait feature.

The emergency stop in Avata is a unique characteristic found only in DJI FPV and is, in fact, a system; when you press a button, the drone will instantly brake and stop in place, switch to Normal Mode, and hover.

This feature can save the Avata when flying in Manual Mode and at higher speeds and is helpful if you feel you have lost control of your drone.

Avata also has head-tracking, enabling an immersive VR experience using the goggles.

Note: To use the head-tracking on Avata, you must fly the drone with the motion controller, which is compatible only with the DJI Goggles 2 and DJI Integra.

Lately, due to the success of head tracking, this feature has also been enabled on the DJI Mini 3 Pro, Mavic 3 Pro, and a few other DJI drones with those specific goggles.

DJI took a step further and incorporated its advanced return-to-home feature in Avata.

This is helpful, especially when landing the drone because landing in Manual Mode is challenging.

If you have flown the Avata afar, you can long-press the emergency button, and the drone will return to you.

Furthermore, the feature will activate when Avata goes out of range or has a low battery.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus has the intelligent SkyPortrait mode.

SkyPortrait is an autonomous function where the drone will position itself and take a picture of people or a group, ensuring everyone is in the frame. It can also apply blurring filters to make the image taken more cinematically.

PDAF + CDAF is a unique dual autofocus system found on most Autel drones, but DJI lacks this feature.

This makes the autofocus when photographing people and subjects more precise and faster than ever.

The defog mode will adjust the image automatically to be as clear and vivid as possible.

Although this can also be obtained in post-processing software like Lightroom, it’s a good addition from Autel.

Dynamic Track 2.1 is Autel’s bread and butter for tracking a subject and follow-me mode.

With the dual autofocus system, the Dynamic Track 2.1 works excellently to follow a subject.

» MORE: DJI Intelligent Flight Modes (Including Quickshots & Mastershots)

Price #

Summary: Both drones are similar in price, but expect to pay slightly more for the DJI Avata complete kit.

The Autel EVO Lite Plus is available alone, with the RC, or in a bundle. If purchasing an Autel drone, we always recommend going for the bundle because it is the best bang for your back.

The DJI Avata can be found as a standalone drone or as part of the Fly More Combo. Also, you can purchase it as a pack with the DJI FPV Goggles V2, DJI Goggles 2, or DJI Integra.

Moreover, there are packs with the original Motion Controller or DJI RC Motion 2.

The Avata Explorer combo is one of the cheapest packs containing the drone, the new RC Motion 2, and the Goggles Integra.

We don’t recommend purchasing the Avata with the DJI FPV Goggles V2 (the bulky ones) if you want to take advantage of the fantastic Head Tracking feature unless you plan to acquire more custom FPV drones, including analog.

In contrast, the FPV Goggles V2 are compatible with installing an analog receiver, making these goggles compatible with most FPV drones.

Ease of use #

Summary: The DJI Avata is the perfect drone for an FPV beginner and one of the safest to fly. Although it’s simple to fly in Normal Mode, it’s challenging to master in Manual Mode.

I would not recommend the Autel EVO Lite Plus for beginners because this drone is not only slightly expensive for your first experience but is heavy and bulky.

Although Autel is okay with beginner features in their drones, it’s not to the same extent as DJI.

What we love about the Avata is that it’s one of the most accessible FPV drones to fly, with so many safety features behind it.

However, if you fly in Manual Mode, that’s another story.

The flight controls in Manual Mode or acro differ from how a standard drone will fly.

From the beginning, no drone pilots can fly in Manual or acro mode without basic training in an FPV simulator. You simply cannot do it; it’s an entirely new skill set you will have to learn.

It’s like learning to play a guitar. You don’t just pick up the guitar for the first time and play a song; that’s not happening.

This makes Avata easy to use in Normal Mode and difficult for a beginner to fly in Manual Mode.

» MORE: Best Beginner Drones for FPV

Remote controllers and goggles #

Summary: The Autel EVO Lite Plus is compatible with only one remote controller and no goggles. DJI Avata has a long list of compatible devices.

The standard remote controller from Autel for this drone is okay; it is not something premium or fancy, nor does it have any incorporated screens.

You will have to attach your phone to it, install their software to connect and fly your drone, and see the live view on the phone.

The advantage is that you can connect a tablet, such as an iPad or a professional-grade high-lumen tablet, for a bigger screen.

And the Autel has something DJI doesn’t have: A very high live view mode resolution and framerate.

While most DJI drones have a live view resolution of 720p at 30 fps, the Autel EVO Lite Plus will transmit the live image in 2.7k at 30 fps, which is many times higher than most DJI drones.

This comes with the unique advantage of spotting details on a larger screen with the EVO Lite Plus.

But now, let’s focus a bit on Avata, shall we?

Avata is compatible with three goggles and three controllers.

The goggles are mandatory to fly the Avata. This is how you perceive the live image, not via a phone screen.

You will enjoy an immersive experience when flying the drone. This never happens when flying a standard drone.

The DJI FPV Goggles V2 is compatible with Avata and originally came out with the DJI FPV drone.

It doesn’t have head-tracking, but as we mentioned, it may support analog modules installed for broader compatibility with custom analog FPV drones.

The DJI Goggles 2 are the originals released with the Avata. The screen resolution is higher, but the screen is smaller than the DJI FPV Goggles V2. The refresh rate is also lower.

The new DJI Integra is a cheaper version of the DJI Goggles 2 with an incorporated battery. The field of view is lower and has a few other characteristics removed from the Goggles 2 to make these goggles more affordable.

Note: We recommend acquiring the DJI Avata with either DJI Goggles 2 for head-tracking or DJI FPV Goggles V2 for broader compatibility if you plan to get more into FPV.

We have two motion controllers:

The DJI Motion Controller and the DJI RC Motion 2.

In real-world applications, I cannot see a reason for the new motion upgrade, as it doesn’t bring many new features to the table other than independent joysticks for height control and left or right horizontal flight control.

The bread and butter to fully take advantage of the Avata is the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2, a standard controller compatible with both Avata and DJI FPV drones. However, it’s not directly compatible with any other drones.

Unfortunately, as we already explained, you must acquire this separately to fly the Avata in Manual Mode as an FPV drone.

» MORE: Best Drone Controllers

Commercial use #

Summary: Both drones may have their practical commercial use, but the DJI Avata is a clear winner.

Wherever you’re looking for a drone to capture real-estate photographs, inspect a roof, or take care of mapping, the Autel EVO Lite Plus is a winner.

It has a good camera and photo resolution, can capture high-quality photographs, and will have a wide use case.

But the Autel EVO Lite Plus is no different at these jobs than most DJI drones.

If you want to take a step further and niche down your commercial use with a specific drone, do it with the Avata because it’s a fantastic FPV Cinewhoop.

From real-estate indoors filming to FPV footage advertising videos, the Avata is in a unique place to cover commercial content that cannot be created or replicated by any other standard drone.

Activities #

Both drones have their applications if we’re looking at the extreme side of using a drone, whether focusing on sports, hiking, or backpack travel.

Avata can capture incredible FPV footage, including in these scenarios:

Exploring the trails and nearby forests
Recording ruins
Diving a waterfall
Filming others when skiing

If you want to vlog, record yourself while hiking, or place a drone on follow-me mode while mountain biking, the Avata is useless.

In this case, the Autel EVO Lite Plus excels due to its follow-me mode and tracking features through Dynamic Track 2.1.

What’s better: Autel EVO Lite Plus or DJI Avata? #

I would choose the Autel EVO Lite Plus if:

I’m looking for a standard drone to photograph and record videos, even in low light or at night.
I want a drone with follow-me features.
I’m looking to fly for an extended time and even long-range.
I need commercialized semi-professional-level photographs or videos.

I would choose the DJI Avata if:

I’m looking for a unique type of video footage.
I want to fly a drone indoors, close to people, in forests, or in busy areas without the risk of harming others, destroying property, or the drone itself because of the duct guards and good crash resistance.
I love the adrenaline rush of an immersive experience when flying drones and freestyling.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Pro vs. Mini 3 Pro (Here’s My Choice)