We dug DJIs Mavic Mini when the drone arrived last year. As Matt noted in his review, “It contains everything critical to a high quality drone. It has a good camera, range, and controller. It holds up well in the wind and is fast enough to have fun. “Today DJI is improving two of these things with the arrival of the Mini 2.
The new version that is available in stores today is more refinement than redefinition. This is one of the cases where this is perfectly fine as the first release was solid based on the knowledge of several generations of DJI and Mavic drones. The size and weight are essentially the same here. The Mini 2 weighs 249 grams – that’s about 0.55 pounds. It can be folded up and stowed in a bag.
Credit: Gregory Manalo
The camera is probably the biggest upgrade here. The system can now record 4K video at 30 FPS. The still images now have 12 megapixels and there is a 4-fold digital zoom (which, according to DJI, is up to 2-fold and still loss-free). I suspect that the zoom will be a continuous improvement point for these systems in the future.
The other big change is the introduction of the OcuSync wireless technology developed by DJI – specifically OccuSync 2.0. The technology is also available on the latest Mavic Air. By DJI:
OcuSync 2.0 is DJI’s world-famous transmission technology, which is responsible for ensuring a stable, long and reliable connection between the remote control and the drone. The dual frequency technology automatically switches between the channels to avoid interference.
Credit: Gregory Manalo
The upgrade means, among other things, a transmission rate of 19 km – around 150% of the range of the predecessor. Although DJI has to remind you here that you really should keep the tiny drone in sight while it is operating. The battery should deliver a solid 31 minutes (a slight improvement over the original’s stated 30-minute flight time).
The pre-programmed image capture from DJI is always a highlight. There are five Quick Shot modes (Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang), three panoramas (Sphere, 180 and Wide-Angle) and two image modes (Triple Shot and Timed Shots).
Credit: Gregory Manalo
There’s a notable price hike here. The system now starts at $ 449 (down from $ 399), including the drone, remote control, and a single battery. For $ 599, you get two extra batteries, a charging node, and a carrying case – a solid addition.