Through the Mavic Mini, DJI has proven that drones can come with very compact and lightweight dimensions. Its success was then proven again through the Mini 2. You could say this Mini 2 is an improved version of the Mavic Mini. So, are you curious about the DJI Mini 2’s abilities? Check out the reviews as follows.
DJI Mini Design 2
The Mavic Mini and Mini 2 still share the same concept and design. The idea is a compact drone with a folding model. Its weight is still the same, which is 249 grams. However, the dimensions of the DJI Mini 2 are slightly smaller. The dimensions of the Mavic Mini when folded are 140 x 81 x 57mm.
Meanwhile, the Mini 2 is 131 x 81 x 58mm. With its very compact dimensions, this Mini 2 can be easily carried anywhere. Suitable for those of you who like to travel.
Overall we are very satisfied with the design of this drone. Even though it is very light, the body material feels very solid. A camera strap and protective cover are also included in the purchase package. That way the folds will always be neat and the camera will also be protected when it is in the bag.
However, there are several sectors of the design that we think can be improved. First, it is in the propeller or propeller sector. This Mini 2 propeller cannot be replaced easily. Need a small screwdriver to open the propeller. This is different from the Mavic Air and Mavic Pro, which can be replaced easily without the need for a screwdriver.
Second, the USB-C connectivity port and the microSD slot on the back of the body. The ports and slots are not equipped with protective covers or covers.
Shift up the USB-C connectivity port and the microSD slot can be found a cover to access the battery. Then, under the body you can find two vision positioning sensors and on the front there is a camera mounted on a 3 axis gimbal.
DJI Mini 2 remote
For the miniature drone, the Mini 2 remote, it carries is relatively large. But, fortunately, it is comfortable in your hand. The smartphone holder is in the top position of the remote. This makes the remote even more comfortable to use.
Connectivity cables have also been carefully designed. The cable can hide under the smartphone holder when not in use. At the bottom of the remote body, there is also a slot for attaching the control lever which can be removed easily.
The layout of all the buttons and their functions is also easily accessible. On the front you can find the Return To Home button to call the drone back to the starting point of automatic flight, a lever to switch Cine, Normal and Sport flight modes and the power button. All three are aligned in the middle. At the bottom there is a remote battery indicator LED.
On the top left of the body, there is the Fn button and on the top right there is a button to switch photo / video modes. Then, at the top of the body on the left is the scroll wheel to move the camera gimbal up and down. Shifting to the right there are buttons for taking pictures and recording videos.
Admittedly, this remote design makes controlling the DJI Mini 2 easier. The presence of all the physical buttons proved to be very helpful. So, users can focus on flying the drone and taking pictures without the need to frequently touch the smartphone screen.
DJI Mini 2 performance
To fly the DJI Mini 2 you must download the DJI Fly app to your smartphone. The app is easy to use with a very simple interface. In this application, DJI also provides video editing features.
Then what about the DJI Mini 2’s flying abilities? Very satisfactory. Admittedly this drone can be flown very easily. To fly, an automatic take off feature is available. Automatic landing is also supported through the Smart RTH (Return To Home) feature. Make sure before flying the Mini 2 the starting location of the flight is locked and recorded correctly by GPS so that the RTH feature works properly.
Just like other DJI drones, this RTH feature is very useful for calling the drone back when the drone is out of sight. When the battery is critical RTH is also very helpful. So, beginners don’t need to worry because the drone can safely return to the starting point of automatic flight.
Even though it can be flown easily and safely, you still have to be vigilant because the Mini 2 doesn’t carry a sensor as complete as the Mavic Pro or Mavic Air. Including, sensors to detect or avoid obstacles in front of him.
For flight modes, there are three modes available on the Mini 2, namely Normal, Cine and Sport. In Normal mode this drone can run at a speed of 22 mph. For those who are not used to flying a drone or are flying a drone for the first time, we recommend choosing the Cine mode. In this mode the drone speed is slower, the maximum is only around 13 mph. Useful for cinematic shooting.
Meanwhile, in sport mode the Mini 2 can go up to speeds of up to 36 mph. When we tried this mode we were very impressed that the Mini 2 feels very agile. The maneuvers are also very responsive. Another advantage is the performance of the propeller or propeller is also relatively quiet.
We were also very impressed with his ability to fly in windy conditions. When we flew the Mini 2 the weather conditions were relatively sunny and windy. However, Mini 2 can still fly steadily without any problems. According to DJI, the Mini 2 has successfully passed the wind resistance test at rating 5 or is able to withstand wind speeds of up to 38kph with a maximum flying height of 4000 meters.
By carrying out the DJI OcuSync 2.0 Mini 2 technology, it can also fly up to 10 Km. Another advantage of OcuSync 2.0 is that this technology is more resistant to signal interference. Even so, we still recommend that you always fly the drone as far as the eye’s visibility.
DJI Mini 2 camera
The DJI Mini 2 carries a camera module with a 1 / 2.3-inch CMOS sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels. This camera is equipped with an F2.8 diaphragm lens with 83 degrees of view coverage or the equivalent of a 24mm lens on a camera with a full frame sensor. This lens is quite wide so it is ideal for shooting landscapes.
For taking pictures, the DJI Mini 2 camera now supports JPEG and RAW formats. Meanwhile, the video mode gets an increase with the ability to record 4K / 30p video with an output of 100 Mbps. The Mavic Mini can only go up to a resolution of 2.7K 30p 40 Mbps.
From our tests in sufficient lighting conditions the camera is very reliable for taking pictures and recording videos. The image captures are very sharp and the resulting color tonal is also accurate. It is ideal for content creation needs. Do not miss the camera also supports the zoom feature. So, you can take pictures at a closer distance without the need to fly the drone closer to the subject.
The photo results are as follows:
In the DJI Mini 2 we also find the QuickShot feature with a variety of auto-capture modes. There are 5 options available namely Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle and Boomerang.
Dronie will give the effect of shooting the drone away from the subject. The Helix drone performs a spiral upward motion from the subject, the Rocket drone will fly vertically upwards away from the subject, the Circle drone will move around the subject and the Boomerang drone will circle the subject in an oval shape then return to the starting point. These five modes can help you to produce cinematic shots more easily. One who is absent from the DJI Mini 2 is not yet supported by the Active Track feature. So, this drone cannot move with the subject’s movement
For video results with various quickshot modes as follows:
The video above is directly edited via the DJI Fly application and exported to Full HD resolution. This application offers quite complete editing features.
The available tools include cut, add music, color filters to add stickers. If you don’t want to be bothered, there are also various templates that can be used. Interestingly, moving photos and videos from a memory card to a smartphone can also be done very quickly through its Quicktransfer feature.
DJI Mini 2 battery
Another advantage of the DJI Mini 2 is its battery life. This tiny drone can fly up to 31 minutes. Relatively long for a consumer class drone. In the Fly More Combo package, like the one we used, there are even 2 spare batteries available. In total with a battery you can fly about 93 minutes. Very more than enough for photos and videos or hone skills flying this drone.
Conclusion
The DJI Mini 2 is the best drone that can be chosen for beginners. In addition to its very compact dimensions, the Mini 2 is also supported by a long-lasting battery, carries a very capable camera for photos / videos and is very easy to fly. The features it carries are more than adequate for various needs. Ideal for speeding, learning to fly or taking cinematic pictures for content creation. With a selling price of around USD $482, the DJI Mini 2 is highly recommended for anyone who is new to learning how to fly drones and users interested in aerial photos / videos.
DJI Mini 2 Suitable for:
Beginner: Can be used by anyone who just wants to learn to fly drones. With its features and remote controls, the Mini 2 is one of the easiest DJI drones to fly.
Traveler: In certain countries such as the United States, according to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations all drones weighing more than 250 grams and less than 25 Kg are required to be registered for permission to fly. With a weight of less than 250 grams, it means that the Mini 2 can fly without having to be registered through the FAA. It is suitable for users who use drones to capture vacation moments.
Aerial photo / video lovers and content creators: With its powerful camera the Mini 2 is perfect for supporting content creation. The ability to shoot in the drone RAW format and record video up to 4K / 30p 100Mbps resolution makes it also suitable for beginner-class or professional aerial photo / video enthusiasts.
The advantages of DJI Mini 2:
+ Very light weight
+ Compact dimensions with a folding concept
+ Easy to fly
+ Can record 4K videos
+ Equipped with Zoom features
+ Excellent photo and video results
+ QuickShot feature is very helpful for cinematic shooting
+ Very long battery life
+ Wind resistant
+ The distance can be up to 10 km
Disadvantages of the DJI Mini 2
– Need a screwdriver to replace the propeller
– The connectivity port and microSD slot are not equipped with a cover
– Not yet supporting the ActiveTrack feature
– Not equipped with sensors to avoid obstacles
