Do you remember the Sony Airpeak? Revealed back in 2021, the company’s first drone promised a revolutionary accessory to pair with its Alpha lineup of cameras. It was supposed to be a lifesaver for professional photographers and creators. Now, Sony is discontinuing the Airpeak, effectively shuttering its drone project.

From its humble beginnings as a fad, drones have evolved into valuable tools for creators. The segment is now thriving with multiple options, both affordable and premium. With a US$ 9,000 price tag, the Sony Airpeak firmly placed itself in the premium category.

For that price, Sony’s first drone boasted speeds of up to 90km/h. Plus, with a camera attached, it can fly for up to 12 minutes. Unfortunately, the drone’s features are not enough to justify a heavy purchase. All across the board, the drone earned mixed to negative reviews.

In an announcement today, Sony has said that it will stop selling the Airpeak starting March 31, 2025. For those who still have their drones, the company will continue selling batteries and propellers for one more year, ending on March 31, 2026. Finally, Sony will continue repairs and maintenance until 2030.

With a lot of more affordable options out in the market (such as from industry leader DJI), it’s an uphill climb for Sony to get back into the segment, if it chooses to create another drone.

SEE ALSO: Sony’s Airpeak drone is meant for creators

The DJI Avata 2 is now available in the Philippines. It is priced at PhP 47,900 for the single battery variant and PhP 55,900 for the three battery configuration. Customers may purchase at DJI Experience Stores, as well as online via DJI’s official Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop stores.

Your ticket to breathtaking aerial adventures

Designed for content creators and even production professionals, the DJI Avata 2 provides an adrenaline-pumping FPV drone experience with improvements in imaging, safety, and battery life.

The Avata 2 has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that covers a 155-degree field of view and can film up to 4K @ 60fps. Its imaging produces results that have brilliant clarity and vibrant colors. The drone also has dual RockSteady and HorizonSteady stabilization technologies for smooth footage.

For quick sharing, the Avata 2 also supports Wi-Fi for media transfer and livestreaming. The DJI Fly app also lets users take advantage of more features and help them with device management.

Battery life has also been upgraded for a total flight time of 23 minutes. When needing a recharge, PD fast charging can fuel the battery back up to 80% in just 18 minutes.

Immersive flight

The Avata 2 is equipped with the new DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3, allowing users to experience the “flight” real-time in an immersive way. The Goggles 3 features micro-OLED HD displays and low-latency transmission, allowing users to observe surroundings without removing the wearable.

Creativity, control, safety

The Avata 2 also includes an Easy ACRO mode, which is ideal for beginners. This mode lets users perform maneuvers with ease for them to capture stunning footage. Moreover, the drone has an improved propeller guard and new sensors for advanced positioning.

Users may also utilize the Return to Home function. And with Turtle Mode, the Avata 2 can also flip back itself automatically into its original position should it turn upside down at times.

The ever-competitive drone market will soon have another brand to welcome. Sony just announced its entry into the consumer drone market with the Airpeak brand, which will likely go toe-to-toe (propeller to propeller?) with established brands like DJI.

Specific details about the brand, however, remain scarce at the moment. Sony’s official website only teases a short cryptic video.

The website also mentions that Airpeak will be the culmination of “imaging and sensing technological expertise and AI Robotics” — something which Sony has with its consumer camera and robotic products.

A separate press release also confirms Sony’s plan to target video creators with the Airpeak brand. Further, the brand will bring 3R technology (Reality, Real-time and Remote) to the drone market.

The first wave of products under the Airpeak is slated to launch in the spring of 2021. In the meantime, Sony will continue to obtain feedback from users who participated in co-creating drones under the brand.

It is worth noting that this isn’t Sony’s first foray into the drone market. Last year, the company entered a partnership with ZMP to form the Aerosense company. However, that company caters specifically to the business sector. So, the Airpeak brand will actually be the company’s first for the consumer drone sector.