Casual drone flyers won’t need to venture beyond the main interface, but there’s plenty to master. The DJI Mini 2 is an ultra-compact drone that’s so small and easy to use that you can slip it out of a jacket pocket and launch it within seconds. That makes it the ideal drone for beginners who want to capture 4K video without some of the high-tech wizardry of the pricier DJI drones that dominate our best drones list. The main controller has an auto take off and landing button, a quick shutter release control on the front right, with a rolling control on the left to allow for gimbal movement, up and down. When you get comfortable with the Mavic Mini 2, it may be taken off from the hand – be very careful, maybe use protective gloves if you try this – and landed in the same way.
With a 6.2 mile range and a maximum altitude of 1.5 miles, you’ll be able to see the world like never before. The Fly More Combo includes a shoulder bag to carry the Mini 2 and extra gear to your shooting location, two additional flight batteries and more. The DJI Fly app features intelligent, built-in photo optimization. The app automatically enhances image quality after downloading a photo, resulting in vivid colors and details that pop.
Revamped in its entirety, simplicity is the name of the game here, and while it looks less like a Transformer given its fewer moving parts, there’s still an undeniable Johnny 5-like charm about it. The DJI Mini 2’s design is virtually identical to that of the Mavic Mini, but what’s seen a revamp is that controller, which is beautifully streamlined and delivers a boosted experience. As well as being a commercial drone pilot, Tim is a paraglider pilot, and interested in all things to do with aviation.
It’s a nice little bonus feature which could work in a pinch, but I wouldn’t rely on it too much. Even though the sensor is unchanged, it is now capable of shooting 4K video at 100 Mbps bitrate dji drones up to 30fps compared to 2.7K at 60 Mbps that was on the original Mavic Mini. But in my past few weeks with the Mini 2, I rarely even bothered with doing a lot of post-processing of my RAWs.
The DJI Mini 2 Two-Way Charging Hub supports QC and USB PD fast-charging protocols, and can charge up to three batteries in sequence. You can also use it for battery storage or as a power bank to charge your mobile device or remote controller via the USB-A port. But as a creator, image quality is really important to me. As someone who spends a lot of his free time traversing the city with a camera, taking photos, I usually end up carrying more gear than I really need. It can become a tough call deciding if it’s worth bringing my drone with me.
Sure, the Mavic Air 2 is incredibly compact and lightweight, too, but DJI doubles down with the Mini 2 – it really feels like your own take-it-anywhere sky camera. The DJI Mini 2 design inherits the palm-sized dimensions and foldable arms of the Mavic Mini for a dji drones size that’s so small it won’t cause a distraction when you’re flying it through the air. If flying isn’t your thing, but you want to take high quality aerial shots, try the Skydio 2 ($949 starter kit), a fully autonomous system with a lot of panache built in.
With manual photo and video shooting, you can override the auto mode to boost low-light performance. The panorama feature is also great, working better than that of the 64MP DJI Pocket 2 when it comes to dynamic range across an expansive scene. If you’ve ever used a DJI product, whether it’s the DJI OM 4, DJI Pocket 2, or any of its drones, the overriding theme is smooth and steady.
In December 2020, the Trump administration added DJI to a commerce blacklist, citing ties to the Chinese government. As of December 21, 2015 all drones, regardless of purchase date, between 0.55 lb (8.82 oz, 250 g, 0.25 kg) and 55 lb take-off weight are required by the FAA to be registered dji drones for outdoor use. DJI Mini 2 carefully optimizes user experience and intelligent features. Thanks to Smart Return to Home, automatic take-off, and precise hovering, operation is more streamlined and safer than ever. The possibilities are endless when the sky is your playground.
Registration is not required in the UK when below 250g. Mini 2 supports up to 6 km of HD video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, giving you the ability to fly farther and see clearer. At less than 249 g, it weighs about as much as an apple and fits in the palm of your hand. Compact and convenient, Mini 2 is your ideal travel companion, transforming how you capture your favorite memories.