What a difference a day makes!
Just yesterday we shared important specs on the lack of compatibility between the iPad Mini 3, iPad Air and iPhone 5S and the DJI Spark drone.
As predicted, DJI has updated the list of supported devices and it now includes the ones listed above!
This will be a big relief to iOS users with these devices who had either pre-ordered the Spark drone or were holding off ordering until the device was supported.
The original article, with links, below is now out of date.
Most experienced DJI pilots will acknowledge that Apple products tend work better with DJI Drones and the DJI GO App than Android devices. There’s probably a few reasons why, but we’ll leave that to the forums.
If you own a Mavic and are eagerly awaiting your Spark, you should know that not all of the same Apple devices are supported with Spark. This will likely change very quickly as the Spark flies into consumers hands and DJI completes it’s compatibility testing, but for now there are 4 Apple devices that are off limits.
iPhone 5S – not supported with Spark
The iPhone 5S is the oldest device on the list (below) of supported Mavic peripherals. Which may explain why the Spark tech crew haven’t bothered to add it to testing. The iPhone 5S uses an Apple A6 or A7 chip depending on model and carrier, and it may be that with some automated flight features unique to the Spark that these chips aren’t up to the task.
iPad Air and iPad Air 2 (wifi and wifi+cellular) – not supported with Spark
The iPad Air, which was originally released in 2013, has the same A7 chip as the iPhone 5S. So we’re starting to see a trend here.
iPad Mini 3 – not supported with Spark
Can you guess which processor the iPad Mini 3 uses?
You guessed it: the Apple A7 processor. So the trend is confirmed and our knowledge base is now a little bit deeper knowing that A7 chip devices aren’t likely going to work with the Spark drone.
This might also shed some light on why gesture control and some of the automated flight paths in the Spark won’t be made available to Mavic users any time soon.
In order to build out the flight path and gesture features to Mavic pilots, DJI would basically have to throw the A7 chip users under the bus.
We’re not privy to how many A7 pilots there are, but we’re certain that the developers inside DJI know. At some point Apple’s iOS will continue to upgrade beyond the ability of the A7 devices to remain relevant. Maybe then DJI will open up some features for the Mavic.
Related: RUMOR: DJI to Disable “Follow Me” for iPhone 7 & 7+ With Intel chip set?
The Mavic specs actually indicate that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are the optimal devices for the DJI GO app. No such recommendation is available (yet) for the Spark.
So what iOS devices are supported for piloting the Spark drone? Here’s the current list as provided by DJI’s site:
iPhone SE
iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
iPhone 6s & 6s Plus
iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
iPad Mini 2 (wifi and wifi+cell)
iPad Mini 4 (wifi and wifi+cell)
Hopefully this news won’t impact your Spark purchase. Or maybe you’ll use it as an excuse to upgrade your iPhone or iPad !
