TechRadar Verdict
The Mavic Mini is a great beginner drone if you don’t need 4K video. Although the DJI Mini 2 4K-shooting drone has replaced it, the Mavic Mini offers a great combination of portability and image quality, price, convenience, and affordability. The Mavic Mini weighs less than five golf balls and can be folded down into a jacket pocket. Its age is only evident by the lack of object-tracking and 4K video.
$349
(opens in a new tab at Walmart (Opens in a new tab
$399
(opens in a new tab Musician’s Friend (Opens in a new tab
$449
(opens in a new tab Amazon (opens in a new tab
Pros
- +
Smart, collapsible design - +
Video captures are extremely stable - +
Amazing battery life
Cons
- –
No 4K, 60fps 2.7K videos - –
No tracking of objects - –
Not USB-C, but micro USB charging
The DJI Mavic Mini was a very unique drone when it arrived in October 2019. It was sub-250g and packed a decent, 2.5K camera. This was combined with DJI’s useful autonomous flying modes.
The DJI Mini 2 has replaced it, which can record 4K video. The Mavic Mini is still worth looking at. It’s still considerably cheaper than the Mini 2 and it can shoot 2.7K/1080p video.
The DJI Mavic Mini’s 249g weight was a major selling point when it arrived. This allowed it to avoid the requirement to register with many civil aviation authorities. This is no longer true in certain countries like the UK. They have updated their registration requirements to include all drones equipped with a camera.
It is true that the Mavic Mini can be registered in the USA and Canada. The drone itself is still an attractive option for people who are just beginning out but don’t want to spend more on a better-end model such as the DJI Air 2S.
- DJI Mini at Amazon for US$379
The Mavic Mini is exempt from having to register in certain countries. It also has some other advantages over its rivals, such as the Parrot Anafi. The Mini has three-axis mechanical stability (the Anafi only has two), and handy features such as a hot-swappable MicroSD card slot. The Mini has a 30 minute flight time, which is longer than the Anafi.
However, the Mavic Mini has its flaws. The Mavic Mini’s video capture is limited to 2.7K resolution and 30fps. This will make it difficult for videographers who require 4K footage. Or, they can slow down to 2.7K. The DJI-sized object-tracking, avoidance and smarts it offers are not available in this model.
These features are usually found on higher-end models such as the DJI Mavic Air 2 or DJI Air 2S. However, it is worth noting that the DJI Mini 2 does not have them. If you are looking for a compact drone that is portable and can capture high-quality 1080p video at high quality, the Mavic Mini might be worth considering.
DJI Mavic Mini price and release date
There are two options for the DJI Mavic Mini: the base package (drone and battery, controller) and the Fly More Combo which includes a two-way charger hub that can double as a power bank, 360-degree propeller guard and two additional batteries.
The base drone is $399 / PS369 / AU$599 while the Fly More Combo costs $499 / PS459 / AU$799. The Fly More Combo, which offers you approximately 90 minutes of flight, is well worth the extra cost. Safety guards are also a great investment for indoor drone pilots and newbies.
Design
The Mavic Mini, like it’s bigger siblings, is collapsible. It has arms that can be unfurled to transform it into a few spring-loaded maneuvers.
This product is DJI’s best looking. Its color scheme is gray-gray, similar to the Osmo Action or DJI . The front of the drone is decorated with a pair of ‘eyes’ that are nuzzled beneath a flat, beveled and angry-looking top-side. It is still one of our favorite drones.
The 3-axis stabilized camera is located on the front of the Mavic Mini. It’s protected by a camera shield that can be removed when the Mavic Mini is in flight. The back has a microSD card slot and a charging port. The battery flap is located above these. DJI’s design, which is more convenient than the Parrot Anafi’s SD card slot, is much easier for frequent storage-swappers.
The Mavic Mini was purposely built to be lighter than 250g so it can avoid having to register with the US or Australia’s aviation agencies. However, the UK has changed its laws regarding drone registration and extended it to include all drones equipped with a camera. It’s worth checking your local laws.
DJI managed to achieve this lightweight form factor by pairing a drone that is approximately 150g and a battery of around 100g. It doesn’t break every time it is flown is amazing. Lightweight is often associated with low quality. However, the Mavic Mini feels premium.
Although the Mini isn’t crash-proof, there are no obstacle avoidance sensors on its sides (front or back) like on the DJI Mavic Air2. There are sensors at the base that allow for smooth landings. They also have a battery meter and a flashlight so you can monitor your drone while it is in flight and keep it visible at night.
The Mavic Mini’s arms can be quite slim, and we cracked one with a drop of 1.8 meters. This is something that would not have happened if the safety guards had been in place. Fly More is a great option for newbies who plan to fly indoors or are familiar with flying in strong winds.
