DJI Spark series

DJI Spark series is a palm-sized consumer camera quadcopter developed by DJI of China, announced on 24 May 2017 and withdrawn from sale in 2019. Weighing 300 g, it was DJI's smallest and lowest-priced camera drone at the time of launch and the first DJI aircraft that could be controlled by hand gestures. The series consists of a single aircraft, the Spark, sold alone or as the Spark Fly More Combo with a dedicated remote controller; the specifications on this page refer to the Spark.

Overview

DJI announced the Spark at an event in New York on 24 May 2017, with deliveries beginning in June 2017. The aircraft was positioned below the folding Mavic Pro as an entry-level product for people who had not owned a drone before. It launched at 499 US dollars for the aircraft alone and 699 US dollars for the Fly More Combo, which added the remote controller, spare battery, propeller guards and charging hub. Five body colours were offered.

The Spark's distinguishing feature was PalmControl: the aircraft could take off from the operator's hand after face recognition, follow hand movements, take a photograph on a framing gesture and land back on the palm. A firmware update in August 2017 added gesture-triggered video recording and extended the gesture-control distance. Other automated modes included QuickShot (Rocket, Dronie, Circle and Helix), TapFly and ActiveTrack subject following.

The Spark went out of stock in mid-2019 and was removed from the DJI online store later that year; an expected successor was never announced. In November 2019 DJI released the 249 g Mavic Mini, which took over the entry-level position, and Wikipedia records the Spark as replaced by the Mavic Mini in 2019. The line that followed is covered under DJI Mini series. The Spark is therefore retired, although DJI's support page for the product remains online.

Design and capabilities

The Spark is a fixed-arm quadcopter measuring 143 x 143 x 55 mm with a diagonal motor-to-motor distance of 170 mm and a take-off weight of 300 g. Four brushless electric motors are powered by a 1,480 mAh, 16.87 Wh lithium-polymer battery, giving a maximum flight time of 16 minutes in still air at a constant 20 km/h. Maximum speed is 50 km/h in Sport mode and the service ceiling is 4,000 m above sea level.

The camera uses a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with 12 megapixels and records 1080p video at 30 frames per second; it is stabilised by a two-axis mechanical gimbal, with electronic stabilisation replacing the third axis. A forward-facing 3D sensing system detects obstacles between 0.2 m and 5 m ahead, and a downward vision system with an infrared sensor provides positioning without GPS at low altitude.

Control and video use Wi-Fi on 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Flown from a smartphone alone, DJI states a maximum transmission distance of 100 m and a height of 50 m. With the optional remote controller the maximum transmission distance is 2 km under FCC rules and 500 m under CE rules. The range figure on this page is the FCC maximum with the remote controller, measured unobstructed and free of interference, not a practical operating radius.

Use cases

The Spark was aimed at first-time drone buyers, travellers and social-media users who wanted aerial selfies and short clips without carrying a larger aircraft. Its 300 g weight meant it required registration in jurisdictions with a 250 g threshold, and its 16-minute flight time and 1080p camera limited its use for professional work. It was also used in education and by hobbyists as an introduction to GPS-stabilised flight and automated camera modes.

Variants

• Spark (May 2017) – aircraft, one battery and charger; controlled by smartphone or gestures.
• Spark Fly More Combo (May 2017) – adds the folding remote controller, which raises the FCC transmission distance from 100 m to 2 km, plus a second battery, propeller guards, spare propellers, charging hub and bag.
• Spark colour editions (2017) – Alpine White, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Lava Red and Sunrise Yellow body shells with identical hardware.

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of the DJI Spark?

DJI states a maximum transmission distance of 2 km under FCC rules (500 m under CE) with the remote controller, and 100 m when flown directly from a smartphone over Wi-Fi.

How long can the DJI Spark fly?

The maximum flight time is 16 minutes on the 1,480 mAh battery, measured in still air at a constant 20 km/h.

How much does the DJI Spark weigh?

300 g at take-off, which is above the 250 g threshold below which many countries exempt drones from registration.

Does the DJI Spark shoot 4K video?

No. The 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch camera records video at 1080p and 30 frames per second on a two-axis gimbal.

Is the DJI Spark still available?

No. It went out of stock in 2019, was removed from the DJI store the same year and was succeeded by the Mavic Mini, the first model of the DJI Mini series.

Can the DJI Spark be flown without a remote controller?

Yes. It can be flown by hand gestures or from the DJI GO 4 smartphone app over Wi-Fi, within 100 m horizontally and 50 m vertically.