The EVO Lite+ is one of four recently released drones from Autel, that looks to give DJI's prosumer drones, namely the very popular DJI Air 2S, some serious competition. In many ways, the Lite+ shares a very similar design and comparable specs to the Air 2S, the slightly older Mavic Pro 2, and even a few to the new Mavic 3.

While more expensive than the Air 2S, it is still cheaper than the Mavic 3, and depending on your needs, the EVO Lite+ has a few unique features that might make it the better choice. With DJI being in some hot water surrounding privacy and security concerns, Autel's new drones are coming out at a great time.

Over the past few weeks, the Lite+ has received some very important firmware updates which bring new advanced camera features and controls, allowing it to be a more professional tool for video and photos. There are still several features that are expected to arrive in the future which I'll comment on, however, they have yet to be released.

In this review, I'll share my thoughts using the Autel for the past month in a variety of conditions, testing its photo, video, and quick capture modes, and provide some insight into how it compares to my experience as a long time DJI pilot, starting with the Mavic Pro, and now operating the Mavic Pro 2.

As a quick teaser to what’s ahead, the EVO Lite+ gets the most important things right. Its setup and learning process is quick and simple. If you have any experience flying any of DJI’s Mavic drones, it's nearly identical and you'll be ready to fly in no time. The drone feels very smooth, stable and again its controls feel very familiar. Its 1" sensor provides excellent video and photo quality and it excels in low-light.

Manual settings were only recently introduced near the tail-end of this review and there are still several announced upcoming video features which I'm excited to come with future updates. Its App and intelligent video modes are overall very intuitive, and again similar to DJI's, but still with room to improve and might feel limited if not still in beta. The App lacks certain advanced settings, customizations, and tracking and quick shots are still very hit-or-miss.

EVO Lite+ vs EVO Lite Standard: Which Should You Choose?

The Evo Lite+ also comes in a standard (non +) version. The two models are nearly identical except for their cameras and price.

The EVO Lite standard is $100 cheaper, featuring a smaller 1/1.28-inch camera sensor. It's limited to 4K video, but it can take larger 50MP stills with optional 12.5MP binning for sharper results. It has up to 2x lossless zoom on 4K video, 4x lossless zoom in 1080p, 16x total zoom. Uniquely, it also introduces a fourth axis that lets you shoot vertically. I was excited to try this out on the Lite+ but sadly found it was exclusive to the standard model. In well-lit conditions, the EVO Lite standard should produce better stills and might also be the better choice if you heavily rely on lossless zoom while recording video.

The EVO Lite+ sports a larger 1-inch sensor that "only" takes 20MP stills, but it can shoot up to 6K video at 30fps. Because of its fewer MP, its zoom is more limited at 1.3x lossless zoom at 4K, 3x lossless at 1080p, and slightly less usable 16x digital zoom overall. Overall, if you prioritize video quality and low light performance, the EVO Lite+ is worth the extra $100.

Physical Design

When it first came out, the original DJI Mavic was outstanding due to the performance and features it packed into its compact design. Its introduction of the folding wings was a game-changer, instantly making its previous Phantom line look ridiculous bulky. We went from needing dedicated Pelican cases to transport our drones, to now being able to fit them in a pocket.

Six years later, that design has remained largely the same and is now adopted in competing models like the EVO Lite +. At first glance, we'd forgive you for confusing the Autel for one of DJI's Mavic drones because of how similar they look.

There are a few subtle but very important differences. Color choices aside, the main visual difference that stands out to me, is the more rounded camera and its gimbal cover. This is the first area that I didn’t like so much. I’m not much of a fan of this cover design. It’s a little trickier to pull off compared to with DJI, and if you’re like me, frequently trying to set this drone up with just one hand, it can be a struggle.

On the other hand, the Evo Lite+ feels more premium and durable. It is still made mostly primarily from plastic, but its more smooth finish gives it the edge. The carbon fiber arms also inspire more confidence and come off as more durable.

Size & Weight

The Autel is overall larger and heavier compared to the Air 2S and even slightly larger than the Mavic 3. The Lite+ measures 210×123×95mm when folded and 427×384×95mm unfolded. The Autel has slightly taller feet, giving it additional ground clearance. This is helpful when taking off or landing on less even, rougher terrain, or even in wet areas. I frequently find myself landing in different areas than I originally took off from, and this added clearance makes finding a safe and suitable spot to touch down much easier.

The Air 2S weighs only 595g while the Lite+ is 835g. Most of this comes from its larger 6,174mAh battery vs just 3,500mAh on the Air 2S. This extra weight can also be beneficial with flight stability as it has better wind speed resistance and won't get tossed around as easily.

The Autel is rated for Level 7 wind resistance which is 32-38 mph, while the Air 2S is up to 23 mph and the Mavic 3 up to 27 mph. Flying in these conditions isn't recommended, as you'll get warnings to be extra-cautious and land when it's safe, however, if you've ever flown a drone and encountered short bursts of heavy wind, this is where that improved wind resistance will come in handy.