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Steady flight, a strong 720p video stream to your phone via DJI's O2 protocol, and excellent wind resistance contribute to a largely safe flight experience, though we do have one reservation. The Mini 2 SE omits obstacle detection sensors, so you need to take care when flying it low to the ground. The camera has a 24mm angle focal length with support for 2x and 3x digital zoom. The 2x looks close to lossless to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if the drone is simply cropping into its Type 1/2.3 CMOS sensor; the Mini 2 SE's camera sensor has 4K worth of pixels after all. The 3x punch-in mode looks a little soft to my eye but is still usable. Out-of-camera JPGs match the standard profile in look, but don't leave a lot of room to edit Sliding the battery in and out is a little fiddly, thanks to the sprung plastic clip, but better that than having it lose connection mid-air. The new 2,250mAh battery weighs less, just 86.2g, though it’s very frustrating if you were considering upgrading and had a supply of spare Mavic Mini batteries. EU rules about ‘all-up’ weight no doubt benefit, and the newer batteries can accept more charge so this is progress for all but upgraders.
You can also charge the battery in-drone, via the aircraft's USB-C port. It's located at the rear, next to the microSDXC memory card slot. The Mini 2 doesn't include any internal storage of its own, so don't forget to buy a memory card—I recommend a 16GB card at minimum for 1080p, and 32GB or 64GB if you plan on recording video at 4K. Safety FeaturesThe DJI Fly app is a well-balanced combination of simple to use, but powerful enough to offer depth to more experienced fliers. With expanded options to fire up a histogram, overexposure warnings, and gridlines, not to mention switching out the refresh rate across 50hz and 60hz, it’s commendable just how well DJI’s balanced the pro features with a simple UI at the heart. The biggest difference physically between the two is the controller. The Mavic Mini has a much smaller controller with folding arms that hold your phone below; the Mini 2’s controller is at least twice the size, and has an extending arm on the top to hold your smartphone. While there’s something to be said for the smaller size of the original controller, the newer one—the same as the one that comes with the Mavic Air 2—makes it easier to see your phone. DJI Mini 2 review: Performance
The bump in video resolution from 2.7K to 4K is welcome. Sure, technically, there’s no reason we can think of that 4K capture wasn’t built into last year's model, but in well-lit scenes, the extra recorded pixels mean more scope for zooms and crops. The Mini 2’s 83-degree (24mm equivalent) field of view means the drone’s framing isn’t dissimilar to that of a human eye, if slightly wider. Meanwhile, the f/2.8 aperture fixed-focus lens is wide open, but still narrow enough to keep skies from blowing out too easily. The Mini 2 SE isn't far off from other small folding drones in concept. Its arms collapse in for storage to create a 2.3-by-3.2-by-5.4-inch (HWD) frame. To keep costs low, the drone shares much of its tech with earlier models in the series; its airframe and motors are from the Mini 2, and its camera is from the original Mavic Mini. Casual drone flyers won’t need to venture beyond the main interface. There’s a take-off and land button (which is also on the controller), a map shortcut in the bottom left, a shutter release button on the right as well as a mode switcher, gallery shortcut and a toggle between manual photo and video. DJI upgraded the motors in the Mini 2, so in addition to getting an additional minute of flight time (up to 31 minutes), it can also be flown in winds up to 24 mph, a boost from the 17.9 mph limit of the older model.
The original Mavic Mini could only capture up to 2.7K/30p footage at 40 Mbps. The Mini 2 now allows you to record in resolutions up to 4K/30p, 2.7K/30p, and 1080p/60p at 100 Mbps. You can also zoom in on subjects while recording. Both 4K and 2.7K allow up to 2X zooming, and 1080p resolution allows you to hone in on a subject up to 4X, though the quality only remains lossless at 2X zoom. The drone’s battery isn’t the only cell worth talking about. The Mini 2’s 5,200mAh controller battery is huge, lasts for ages and takes a couple of hours to power up. It also charges your phone while connected. The system still produces just .MP4, so it’s really for people who don’t expect to be grading (and the results do look good enough to share). In that spirit, DJI have also added digital zoom, which can be quite handy. It means you can operate further from the kids, and up to 2x (from a possible 4x) in 1080P it isn’t even lossy, though 2x at 4K is as far as it’ll go. If you prefer to get something without cropping in post, or even just to practice a shot before reverting to shooting in 4K at 1x, you might be grateful for this. Tested with a production model DJI Mini 2 SE in a controlled environment. Actual experience may vary depending on the environment, usage, and firmware version.
Finally, there are three different options for creating a panorama. "Sphere", which resembles a tiny planet, captures twenty-six images. "180º" captures seven images for a landscape perspective while wide captures a 3x3 tile consisting of nine images. Unlike the Mavic Air 2, there isn't an option to create a vertical panorama. Raw images are a bit flatter, color-wise, and retain more data. They're what you'll want to use if you want to fine-tune the look of your images, but it does mean you'll need to take some time to edit them before sharing. As happy as I am to see Raw added for serious photographers, it would be nice to include more tools those who want to add some artistic flair to their aerials when capturing ready-to-share JPGs. For those not familiar with the Mavic Mini and looking at a Mini 2 for the first time, you'll be impressed with the 3-axis gimbal DJI managed to place on such a tiny machine that easily fits in the palm of your hand. The footage captured is typically smooth and stable. DJI also claims this particular drone can withstand wind speeds up to 24mph, thanks in part to upgraded motors. For those looking at a miniature drone for the first time, you'll be impressed with the 3-axis gimbal Finally, the app opens up manual photo shooting with an optional shutter speed of up to four seconds for photos and 1/60 seconds for video, and a max ISO of 3200 across both modes. DJI Mini 2 review: features and performance Maximum flight range specification is a proxy for radio link strength and resilience, not aircraft battery capability. It only refers to the maximum, one-way flight distance. Data was measured in an open environment without interference. Please pay attention to the return prompt on the DJI Fly app during actual flight. Refer to the following applicable standard in different countries and regions:Given the aircraft without battery weights about 150g (5.29oz) it feels very sturdy –the sprung folding of the arms definitely isn’t going to come loose. The improved global positioning (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo), altitude sensor and the three downward-facing distance and optical sensors mean the drone has nearly-flawless perception of its positioning and can hover as well as much more expensive alternatives. The app is also where you can tap into the front LED’s RGB spectrum, giving the DJI Mini 2 a gaming laptop vibe. Handy when flying with multiple drones, it makes identifying yours a doddle, and you can switch out the RGB mode across breathing, rainbow, and solid too. FCC: United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and other regions;
Although it isn't immediately obvious to the eye the Motors have been given an increase in power compared to the predecessor. the software is also able to identify a crosswind and help maintain a hover in wind up to 24mph (force five). All of this, together with the new controller, makes you feel close to big-drone confident flying the Mini 2. There are two other significant upgrades to the latest Mini beyond the camera: upgraded motors and the addition of DJI's OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. Apart from its larger size compared to the controller that came with the Mavic Mini, the Mini 2’s controller communicates with the drone using DJI’s Occusync 2.0 transmission technology, rather than Wi-Fi. This more than doubles the maximum effective range of the Mini 2 from 2.4 miles to 6.1 miles. Given that you should always keep your drone in sight, this range is more theoretical than anything. DJI Mini 2: Photo and video qualityThe Mavic Mini 2 is an excellent drone for hobbyists and beginners alike. One particular line that resonates is that this is 'a drone that grows with you.' The original Mini had its limitations with JPEG-only imagery, 2.7K video footage, and a Wi-Fi signal. DJI took the logical next steps to ensure that anyone purchasing the Mini 2 could accomplish a lot more with their investment. Not much has changed when it comes to the overall design of the Mini 2. Its body is compact, its propellers need to be screwed in, the legs are foldable, the battery and MicroSD slots are located in the rear, and the vision positioning sensors are placed on the bottom of the aircraft. If not for the '4K' lettering imprinted on the camera and a 'Mini 2' logo on the top left-hand arm of the vehicle, it would be difficult to tell them apart. Registering the Mini 2 with the FAA, or other regulatory agencies with a similar 250g cut-off isn't required
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