At under $400 and under $250 grams the Mavic Mini broke some serious ground. It was the first micro UAV with a 3-axis gimbal that could record crisp and clear HD video. Now we have the DJI Mini 2 (AKA Mavic Mini 2) which offers a few key upgrades. Is it worth the extra money?
Watch the video above as we break down the differences between the two drones. You will also get a chance to compare video footage from the Mini 2 and the original Mavic Mini.
Mini 2 vs Mavic Mini
These two drones look very similar and on the surface, they are very much the same. Both of them are under 250 grams and that is incredibly important when it comes to regulations. However, there are a couple of very important differences. The two most important differences are the cameras and the image transmission system. We will break down both of these differences down so you can decide which is better for you.
DJI Mini 2 4K camera
Both of these drones have a 12 MP camera with a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor an aperture that is f/2.8, ISO of 100-3200, and an electronic shutter of 4-1/8000. Both cameras sit on a 3-axis gimbal that smooths out the video footage. The big difference is that the Mini 2 is capable of shooting 4K video at 30 fps whereas the original tops out at 2.7K at 30 fps. While 1080p is good enough for most pilots, the extra resolution will allow you more freedom for editing in post-processing. The Mini 2 also gets an impressive bump in max bit rate, moving from 40 mbps to 100 mbps.
While Mini 2 or the Mini may not be the recommended drone for professional aerial photography, they certainly could be used in a pinch. Another big bonus of the Mini 2 is the ability to shoot photos in RAW. That will go a long way in taking professional-quality photos. Like the DJI Mavic Air 2, the Mini 2 is capable of 4x digital zoom. Digital zoom is another great feature of the Mini 2 that the original just doesn’t have. The Mini 2 can even transfer pictures and videos quickly with a new transfer mode.
DJI Mini 2 Range
One of the biggest complaints about the original Mavic Mini was the lack of range of the Wifi transmission system provided. It was supposed to provide you 4000 meters of range but often fell short, especially in urban areas that had WiFi congestion. The Mini 2 is far superior with the Occusync 2.0 system and a range of up to 10,000 meters. While we don’t expect you to get a full 10,000 meters you can be assured that you’ll get a much better experience with the Mini 2. The Mini 2 uses the same remote controller as the Mavic Air 2. That is a big reason why it can utilize DJI’s Occusync 2.0 transmission system like the larger Mavic drones. The new controller, however, is much larger than that on the original Mavic Mini.
Other Differences
The Mini 2 uses slightly different motors and that allows it to be more stable in wind. This tiny little drone will be able to handle wind as well as its larger brother the DJI Mavic Air 2 with level 5 wind resistance. The Mini 2 batteries are smaller and lighter but still allow for a longer flight time. The DJI Mini 2 has a flight time of 31 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes of the original Mini. The Mini 2 is actually a tiny bit smaller than the original. The propellers have some different color features but are largely the same.
Both drones have the Dronie, Rocket, Circle, and Helix flight Quickshots. The Mini 2 adds the Boomerang Quickshot as well as Panorama, Sphere and 180-degree and wide photos. The newer Mini 2 is $50 more expensive as well. The Mini 2 standalone package is $449 and the Mini 2 Fly More Combo is $599. You get a lot more functionality for the additional price. So you’ll have to consider that when shopping.
Overall, we think the DJI Mini 2 is well worth the extra $50. We wish that the world’s smallest camera drone still had the world’s smallest remote, but that’s a sacrifice we are willing to make.
| Order the DJI Mini 2 | Order an original Mavic Mini |
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