DJI revolutionized the drone market with the Mavic Mini, a powerful, small, and affordable drone. It was a drone that came with a few severe trade-offs, but it’s in a league of its own for the appropriate user. DJI has just introduced a new version of their little drone. This time, the Mavic branding isn’t visible. The DJI Mini 2 is the name of this next miniature miracle.
The name, on the other hand, is the only place where DJI has bowed down. In every other way, the Mini 2 outperforms its predecessor. The big question is whether or not these enhancements are worth paying for an upgrade.
We’ll look at why the Mini 2 is a drone worth considering, as well as how DJI has improved their feisty little machine in comparison to their pioneering featherweight champion.
Why Buy a Mini in the First Place?
This post is primarily for current Mavic Mini owners who are debating whether they should upgrade to the new model. However, whether you’re trying to determine whether to get the Mavic Mini at a discount or the Mini 2 at full retail price, here’s what you need to know.
Mavic’s Mini drone has one main claim to fame. Both of them are within the 250g weight limit for drone license in various countries. This restriction was put in place to avoid the requirement for toy drones to be registered. DJI appeared to view this as a personal challenge, proudly placing a sticker on the Mini’s sides that read “249g.” Just in case a nosy law enforcement officer inquired about your permit.
Meet the DJI Mini 2 from DJI
Legislators have been more aware of the latest in lightweight drone technology since then. That is to say, regardless of how light a drone is, whether it has a camera or not is now the criterion. You’ll need a Mini license in nations that have adopted this new definition, like as the United Kingdom. You may need a land pilot’s license regardless of drone weight if you operate your drone for commercial purposes.
With this legal edge soon fading, the Mini’s appeal is primarily due to its size, ease of use, and incredible video quality for the price. Even if its original selling point has been obliterated, it’s still a fantastic product line.
A More Powerful Camera
The move to 4K video is the Mini 2’s first major upgrade. The Mavi Mini recorded in 2.7K, which produced superb 1080p footage and allowed for some lossless reframing. However, in a 4K production, that footage appeared a touch soft.
The Mini 2 solves this problem by providing sharp 4K video. Despite the fact that it is at the same 30 frames per second as the original drone. You also get a 4X digital zoom and the ability to shoot in RAW format. That’s a significant advancement in still photography. With RAW photographs, you can edit and enhance the image without losing any quality.
Wind Resistance has been improved.
In windless conditions, the Mini 2 has much stronger motors without sacrificing flight time, which is roughly 31 minutes. It has a top speed of 16 meters per second, compared to 13 meters per second for the Mavic Mini.
In DJI’s wind resistance scale, it’s also bumped up one category. As a result, as the weather warms up, the Mini 2 will perform better. Rather than float away like a very expensive balloon,
When it comes to flying in turbulent circumstances, the Mavic Mini is no slouch, but the upgrade’s higher level of performance will better safeguard the drone. It also means you’ll be able to arrive to your filming location faster and keep up with fast-moving items like action sports athletes or off-roading cars.
When it comes to drone videography, having more performance on hand is always a good thing. It should not, however, come at the expense of everything else.
Wireless Transmission Technology of the Future
The Mini 2’s wireless connectivity is likely the most significant upgrade over its predecessor. The Mavic Mini transmits data between the radio controller and the craft using standard WiFi. This is particularly susceptible to interference and has a short range. In urban places where there are many other WiFi devices or where structures with a high metal content interfere with the signal, we’ve encountered issues with our own Mavic Mini.
While signal interference will not put your drone in danger, it may cause you to miss important moments if the drone loses communication at an inopportune time.
For many types of video, this is irrelevant. After all, that magnificent waterfall isn’t going anywhere. The WiFi transmission technology, on the other hand, can ruin your fun if you’re capturing something that only happens once, such as your buddies’ skateboarding disaster.
OcuSync is a patented technology included with the Mini 2. (Version 2.0). The maximum transmission range is more than doubled, and OcuSync 2.0 is substantially more resistant to interference. As a result, your video feed remains crisp and lag-free, and the drone accepts your directions with ease.
OcuSync was previously only available on the Mavic Pro and (most recently) Mavic Air 2 drones. In addition to other high-end DJI aircraft. Its inclusion in the entry-level Mini 2 is a significant improvement.
Mini 2 vs. Mavic Mini
With both of these drones, you have a few purchasing alternatives. DJI is selling the drones separately or as part of a Fly More Combo. Your budget should be your guide, but if you can afford it, we strongly advise you to get the Fly More Combo.
Purchasing the items in the combo separately is always more expensive, even when they are all helpful. The Mavic Mini costs $399 ($499 with the combo), while the Mini 2 costs $449 ($599 with the combo).
Is it Worth It to Upgrade to the Mini 2?
There are two possible answers to this question, and it all relies on how you intend to use the drone. There’s no reason to acquire this latest version if you’re using the Mini as a personal drone to have fun with and shoot footage to share on social media and for personal projects. The original Mini’s footage and performance are still incredible. Few individuals have 4K display devices, and OcuSync isn’t necessary if your shots aren’t mission-critical.
However, we are aware that the Mavic Mini is used professionally by a number of people. It’s either because it’s the only drone they can take across borders without a licence or because even the Air 2 is too huge to carry around all the time. You’d be shocked how much video from the Mavic Mini winds up in professional projects. Because it can access areas where other, larger drones can’t.
The Mini 2 is almost a must-have for those users. Professional content creators are increasingly using 4K video. OcuSync ensures that you get shots where a second take isn’t possible. The Mini 2’s improved wind resistance and speeds bring it dangerously near to the performance of much more expensive professional drones, while still maintaining its portability. Despite not being sold as such, the Mini 2 will be an integral feature of many professional video toolkits.
