It was not the best to hit the market, but it was probably the most important release of the year. The Mavic Mini managed to deliver a great flight experience from a phantom 4 machine that weighs so little that it was exempt from some restrictive drone laws. The DJI Mini 2 continues that approach but packs even more value for your dollar.
The DJI Mini 2 is our pick for the best drone under $500. What appears to be an iterative update over the DJI Mavic Mini resulted in a powerful upgrade, now with 4K video, more flight time, faster speeds, and far greater connectivity range. DJI Mini 2 takes power and portability to the next level, offering advanced features in a compact form factor. Intelligent shooting functions and excellent image quality put aerial masterpieces within reach. Safer, smarter flight enables you to up your game while fully enjoying the creative process. What you are looking for is the highest quality videos possible and this new DJI model gives you that.
Mini 2 is the ideal choice for beginners and content creators looking to level up. Thanks to intuitive and advanced features packed in a portable frame, DJI Mini 2 provides complete freedom wherever and however you want to create. Whether you’re shooting at a deserted beach or capturing the details of a fun family reunion, Mini 2 can handle it all. Take the DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo anywhere with its compact, foldable, and lightweight(8.8oz) drone. Put both it and all your accessories inside the shoulder bag for ultimate flexibility. While the Mini 2 can reach a speed of up to 16 m/s , the Mini SE has a max flight speed of 13 m/s in the same mode.
What you won’t find on this drone are obstacle avoidance sensors, so you do need to be very careful about how you fly it. But despite not having any sensors, I actually felt more adventurous with the Mini — it is so small you can easily squeeze it through tighter spaces. I found myself trying things that I normally wouldn’t try with a heavier and more expensive drone. The downside of not having any sensors is that it also means you won’t find a lot of the automated, preprogrammed flight modes. The autonomous Active track mode isn’t here, nor can you create hyperlapses.
It also shoots 12-megapixel photos just like the Mini SE does, although it can shoot them in both JPG as well as DNG RAW formats. This gives you the ability not only to capture professional-looking photographs, but also to easily transfer, store, and edit your data in several different formats. The camera is another place where the Mini 2 and the Mini SE differ pretty significantly. It can also shoot 12-megapixel photos in jpeg format.
Smaller drones tend to have a very high-pitched noise, but you don’t get that with the Mini 2 until you fly it in speedy sport mode. It is an entry level model but with advanced features that are easy to access. You can also check out our round-up dji mini 2 fly more combo of drone photography tips, which will help you get the most out of your new toy. Detachable Control Sticks – The remote controller offers detachable control sticks that can be stored inside the remote controller for added portability.