DJI MAVIC MINI Drone Review: Read This Before You Buy!

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DJI Mavic Mini Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy to fly
• Long battery life
• Relatively inexpensive

Cons

• More susceptible to wind gusts
• Lower resolution camera when compared to Mavic Air

Quick conclusion:​

While more expensive drones from DJI have a higher resolution camera and more attributes, the Mavic Mini delivers adequate endurance as well as ease-of-use, aside from a reasonable price. 

Target audience

If you are expecting the following things from a drone, then the DJI Mavic Mini should be for you:

• Lightweight and portable
• Simplified flight experience
• Extended flight time
• Shoot, edit, as well as share your work instantly on your social media
• Functional, expressive, and stylish accessories
• Fantastic performance at a price range which makes it amazingly affordable for any user of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

All in all, this model will be an incredible addition to your assortment of flying robots, providing new inventive possibilities and freedom no matter when you shoot. Users with bigger UAVs, social media influencers, and picture takers will delight in all the potential outcomes of shooting with an automaton that weighs under 250 g. Consider discovering the mini-drones’ future today and make something extraordinary with the DJI Mavic Mini.

Features

As we flew the DJI Mavic Air drone a year ago, we wondered about how DJI figured out how to make an automaton so small yet extra agile and effortless to fly. The device gave such great video as well – all at a reasonable price.

The Mavic Mini from the brand is even smaller, but is similarly as simple to fly, in addition to that it can remain in the air even longer when compared to its predecessor. On the one hand, this model cannot shoot 4K video. On the other hand, the footage the device captures is just as great, and ought to be all that could possibly be needed for most casual fliers.

We can say confidently that it is currently one of our top options for the best UAV.

1. The design

The brand revolutionized the construction of UAVs with the collapsing arms of the original DJI Mavic Pro, thus making it a lot simpler to transport.

In this light, the DJI Mavic Mini does not generally break any ground — it is basically a less sizable version of the other Mavic flying machines. With that being said, the brand had the option to shave sufficient weight off the Mavic Mini to reduce it to 8.8 ounces (or 249 grams) — one gram short of the weight that would expect you to register the UAV with the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration). It is even more lightweight as compared to the Spark made by DJI, the following smallest flying robot in the lineup of this market leader.

The company noted that including the propeller guard brings the weight of the Mini over 250 grams, yet whatever. This product unit is really portable; however – more so than other models from DJI: The machine effectively fits in your hand’s palm; you can stuff it in a rucksack and still have space for a lot of other things.

This does not imply that you can fly the robot anyplace you pick. You, despite everything, need to stick to the regulations and laws as other UAV operators do; you just do not need to register the drone with the FAA.

2. The flight performance of DJI Mavic Mini: So seamless, yet keep an eye for wind

In view of its more lightweight feature, the model is more inclined to being blown around in comparison with its more substantial, bigger siblings. The flight software was generally excellent about making the device stay set up, but we received more warnings about strong wind in the DJI application than we do with its other UAVs.

However, the Mini was similarly simple to fly and surprisingly stable. In the wake of lifting off, it will hover in place, awaiting our input on the model’s controller. For your information, all that it will take to get your UAV to fly toward any path you desire is light tugs on the joysticks.

You must be more cautious directing the DJI Mavic Mini than other models from this brand. The machine comes with sensors for avoiding collisions, yet they are just downward and forward-confronting. Meanwhile, the DJI Mavic 2 features sensors on every side and the Mavic Air includes downward, backward, and forward-confronting sensors.

With a maximum speed of about 29 miles for every 60 minutes, the Mini is quite slow when compared to the Mavic Air, which can arrive at rates of 43 miles for each hour. This automaton additionally has a lower ceiling (1.9 miles versus 3.1 miles); however, it is dubious you will take either model that high.

3. The camera: Good enough

In the Mavic Min’s front is a three-axis, gimbal-mounted camera, which creates some genuinely stable pictures and video. The sensor at 1/2.3 inches is capable of taking 12-megapixel photographs and video at the resolution of as high as 2.7K at 30 fps (frames per second).

That is lower when compared to other Mavic UAVs of DJI (the Air, for instance, does a good job of taking 1080p video at 120 fps as well as 4K video at 30 fps, while the Air 2, its successor, is capable of taking 4K video at 120 fps). In general, there are inevitable trade-offs to get made at this cost.

But be that as it may, the recordings and photographs’ overall quality you can take with the DJI Mavic Mini is fantastic at the cost. For example, the red leaves of a tree, in one video, indeed flew against the green grass. In another video, when we flew the Mavic Mini over New Jersey’s treeline, we could, without much of a stretch, make out the beautiful skyline in New York in the background.

4. Battery life

Perhaps one of the best attributes of this model is the expected battery life of half an hour. That is the similar flight time to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, which has the price of over twice as much, and ten minutes longer as compared to the Air.

This was generally borne out in our testing; however, in case you are flying your drone in stronger winds, you will see that battery life drops since the UAV works more earnestly to remain in position.

DJI Mavic Mini Modes

Let’s have a quick look at the three main flight modes of this excellent model.

1. Position

It is the default mode of flight for your Mini and allows access to fundamental UAV capacities, including sensors of obstacles and GPS. This mode enables the drone to hover in place, which makes it perfect for taking stable shots. At the same time, the hindrance sensors remain active to guarantee you have a protected, fun flight experience.

2. Sport

Sport mode is intended for flying your drone with the highest speed and maneuverability. Subsequently, you will not have the option to get to any of QuickShots from Mavic Mini while working in the Sport mode.

You may want to utilize this mode for heading out rapidly to points of interest for shooting photographs and video. Ensure you make use of only this Sport in an open, safe area to experience precisely how quickly you can fly!

3. CineSmooth

It is the perfect flight mode to shoot cinematic, stunning footage. The rotational movement of the DJI Mavic Mini is eased back, and the control sensitivity is expanded, which will guarantee you shoot the most stable and seamless footage.

One thing to note, this model does not have Follow Me modes. To include this innovation would raise the weight and size of the drone. These days, there are numerous different UAVs out there with Follow Me modes. Other than the DJI models mentioned above, some of the best choices are:

• DJI Mavic Pro 4K Quadcopter – by DJI
• DJI Phantom 4 PRO Professional Drone, Hobby RC Quadcopter & Multirotor – by DJI
• DJI Spark with Remote Control Combo – by DJI
• DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone – by DJI
• Holy Stone HS120D GPS Drone – by Holy Stone
• Holy Stone HS700D FPV Drone – by Holy Stone
• Holy Stone 2K GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 – by Holy Stone
• Contixo F22 Plus 4K GPS Drone – by Contixo
• 3DR Solo Quadcopter – by 3DR

What is in the box?

The DJI Mavic Mini is accessible in two configurations: The lower-priced Bundle provides the drone, additional propellers, one battery, a remote control, and every single important tool. The Fly More combo at a higher price incorporates the UAV, the propeller cage, three sets of additional propellers, a two-way charging hub, three batteries, controller, and a carrying case which is a lunch box’s size.

Below is what in the full box of the combo:

• Carrying Bag
• Manuals
• 18 x Spare Screws
• Screwdriver
• Set Of 360° Propeller Guard
• RC Cable (USB Type-C connector)
• RC Cable (Standard Micro USB connector)
• RC Cable (Lightning connector)
• 2 x Micro USB Cable
• 1 x Gimbal Protector
• 3 x Pairs of Spare Propellers
• 1 x Spare Control Sticks (Pair)
• 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery
• DJI 18W USB Charger
• 1 x Remote Controller
• 1 x Mavic Mini quadcopter

Fantastic accessories

To go with the above, it is great to have some DJI Mavic Mini accessories.

You will have the option to customize the model with an assortment of shell stickers and brilliant markers with the DIY Creative Kit.

That is not all, why do you not protect the device’s propellers on the way to your destination using the Mavic Mini Propeller Holder.

Also, grow your creative options by counting on the Snap Adapter as well as attach small accessories, for example, LED displays or constructing blocks on the model’s top.

You may also want to guarantee your DJI Mavic Mini is in every case completely charged and prepared for flight by using the Charging Base, which serves as a stylish display as well.

Lastly, consider the DJI Care Refresh. It provides two quick replacements at a little extra expense in one year. You will be able to take the place of your product for reasons such as collision and water damage.

Alternative models

Now that you know what makes the DJI Mavic Mini fantastic, say, its lightweight feature, portability, ease of operation, and decent flight performance as well, let’s discover some of its best alternatives.

1. HUBSAN Zino Pro 4k Drone – by HUBSAN: Most affordable alternative in case you need 4K video

• Package: RTF
• Features: Intelligent flight modes as well as GPS+GLONASS satellite positioning
• Range: 1 KM
• Flight time: as long as 23 minutes
• FPV: LEAS
• Camera: 4K with a three-axis gimbal
• Skills: Intermediate
• Type: Cruising drone

Read the full review of HUBSAN Zino here.

2. DJI Spark – by DJI: Older drone, yet still a solid DJI Mavic Mini alternative

• Package: RTF & BNF
• Features: Active track, QuickShot, and GPS, RTH, APP control
• Range: 2 Km
• Flight time: as long as 16 minutes
• FPV: WiFi
• Camera: 1080P
• Motors: Brushless
• Skills: Beginner
• Type: Selfie

3. DJI Mavic Air 2 – by DJI: Vast improvements over its predecessors

• Package: RTF
• Features: Scene Recognition, Hyperlight, CMOS sensor
• Range: 11.49 miles
• Flight time: An impressive 34 minutes
• Camera: 4K
• Type: An intermediate UAV which is simple to fly yet still can capture compelling video and photos

The bottom line

The DJI Mavic Mini is another fantastic addition to the UAV lineup of DJI and is an improvement of what a casual UAV pilot needs. While the model comes with fewer attributes and a camera with a lower resolution than more expensive flying robots from DJI, its absence will not be missed by those who desire to fly around a UAV from time to time. What will matter is the device’s reasonable price, 30-minute endurance, and ease of use.

Consider getting yourself such a great drone!