DJI Mavic Mini Review
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In the pursuit of an affordable DJI drone that excels in capturing stunning aerial shots while ensuring ease of flight without breaking the bank, my top recommendation is the Mavic Mini. While the Mavic Mini may not showcase the extensive feature set of its higher-end DJI counterparts, its budget-friendly price tag positions it as a standout choice. Now, let's embark on a comprehensive review of the Mavic Mini to delve into its capabilities in detail.
- The compact yet powerful Mavic Mini...
- Weighing less than 0.55lbs by 250 grams,...
- Mavic Mini supports 12MP aerial photos...
- Mavic Mini’s weight allows it to stay...
- DJI Fly App requires iOS v10.0, Android...
Why You Should Buy a Mavic Mini?
The Mavic Mini is designed for people who find interest in buying a DJI drone but cannot afford one. After all, the DJI Spark alone costs just under $600 while the DJI Mavic 2 Pro costs as much as $2000. If you don’t have that much money, you have two choices, the $100 DJI Tello or the $399 DJI Mavic Mini.
Of course, if you were to ask me which between the Mini and the Tello should you buy, I would say the former. Why? It’s because it still performs like a DJI Mavic Air except with a handful of missing features. Nevertheless, it is quite good at taking aerial photos at 2.7K FHD with its 12MP camera. This is also the first in the series to utilize the DJI Fly app: a more streamlined version of the DJI Go with adequate features and modes to accommodate for low-skilled drone pilots.
Best of all, it only weighs 249 g - which means you don’t need to register the drone in order to fly it.Yet, keep in mind that you still need to follow standard procedures from the FAA.
Design
The Mavic Mini is a hybrid look of the Mavic Air and the Mavic Pro. It’s a very small drone like the Mavic Air yet looks very similar to its predecessor, the Mavic Pro. It is also one of the fastest drones from DJI thanks to its small scale and lightweight build. The Mavic Mini comes equipped with a 3-axis gimbal to make sure your footage is not shaky.
Battery
The battery life isn’t anything special, but the package includes two extra DJI batteries for a longer flying. The battery charger itself is a showstopper, as recharging only takes half a minute to finish before you can get your drone back in the air again!
As of flight time, it can survive up to 15 minutes, but hey you pay what you get. And for a drone that costs less than $500, this is as good as it gets.
Controller
DJI includes a decent drone controller but you can always just use the smartphone app on its own. Instead of the traditional DJI Go app, it uses the much simpler Fly app - a more casual experience for newbies and those that simply fly for fun. It’s quite a decent app, but you’re better off using its controller instead - which just makes the experience much better.
Camera
This is where the limitations of the Mavic Mini comes in. Unlike its predecessor, the Mini does not include guidance sensors or additional flight modes, except for Return to Home, Hover and Auto. As for the 12MP camera quality, don’t feel underestimated with its 2.7K resolution though. It may not be like the Mavic Air, but it surely does make great shots as long as the camera focus is steady.
I know the drone prides itself with its 3-axis gimbal but even that won’t stop this drone from having stability issues, but that’s just a minor flaw, especially if you are not the professional photographer type. And hey, you get what you pay for, right? Still, this drone is not bad at all - still much better than most drones within its price range.
Aerial Performance
This is as basic as it gets when it comes to flying, and that is a good thing. If you want to jump straight into the DJI bandwagon but feel intimidated from flying a drone, don’t worry. This is by far one of the easiest drones you will ever fly. And if the camera controls confuse you, you can always go with the headless mode - a flying alternative where the drone acts more like an RC helicopter rather than a camera-fed UAV; which makes their motto, “flight for fun” even more exemplified.
For advanced users, the Mini includes a GPS drone tracker in case you want it to go through waypoints on the map, but I wouldn’t rely on it much if I were you since the drone does not have anti-obstacle sensors and auto follow. But still, the drone is generally fun to play with.
Price
This is one of the two cheapest DJI drones right now and it is a bargain buy. If you can’t afford a thousand-dollar drone or if you aren’t planning to go bigger.
Conclusion
It’s simple; the Mavic Mini is built for casual pilots who either want to fly for fun or see what it is like to take shots in mid-air. It is also a great entry-level drone if you ever want to start the hobby or become a fan of the brand.
- The compact yet powerful Mavic Mini...
- Weighing less than 0.55lbs by 250 grams,...
- Mavic Mini supports 12MP aerial photos...
- Mavic Mini’s weight allows it to stay...
- DJI Fly App requires iOS v10.0, Android...
Yes, the Mini is made for beginner flyers, or those who prefer flying for casual fun or occasional photography.
In many ways, it is much better. The Mavic Mini lets you record in full 2.7K resolution.
Approximately 15 minutes flight time + the fast change battery pack option.
Yes, the drone also includes headless mode especially if you want to fly for fun and not to fly for camera shots.
You do not need to as DJI intentionally made the drone under 249g so you can bring it with you without worrying about FAA registration.
