Mavic Mini Vs Mavic Air 2: Which One to Buy?.
The DJI Mavic series of drones have set the standard for what compact camera drones can be, but over time, the number of drones bearing the Mavic name has grown significantly. The Mavic 2 in Pro or Zoom models represents the top of the range. So if you just want to buy the best compact DJI drone on the market, your choice is simple.
Read :Â A comparison between Mavic Mini vs Mini 2
However, there is quite a lot at stake when it comes to choosing the Mavic Mini versus the Mavic Air 2. Each of these drones has important pros and cons. We took both cars out onto a sunny street and filmed several off-road motorcyclists going about their business. After examining these fantastic pilots, we got a good idea of ​​what type of user each drone is for.
The Big Deal: Price
Let’s not beat around the bush. There is a huge price difference between the Mavic Mini and the Mavic Air 2. You can buy two Mavic Minis for the price of one Mavic Air 2. So much of the decision is whether the extra cost is worth the extra features.
DJI Mavic Air 2 Unboxing (Fly More Combo)
Watch this YouTube video
Our DJI Mavic Air 2 Review
In any case, we strongly recommend that you purchase the Fly More Combo versions for each drone. The accessories included in these combos are very important, and buying them separately later is much more expensive than choosing the combo right away.
Sizing Up The Competition
The Mavic Air 2 isn’t a big drone, but it’s gigantic compared to the Mavic Mini. Take a look at this size comparison from our Mavic Air 2 unboxing video.
If you grab the sleek Air 2 tote, it’s easy to carry around, but the Mini is small enough to inside your existing bag. Hence, the Mini is a drone that you can always carry with you, and the Air 2 is a drone that you need to specially pack for the occasion.
They say that the best camera is the one with you, and therefore the Mini has a serious advantage here.
The Mavic Mini: Pros And Cons
While you might think that the Air 2, if money didn’t matter, would always win the Mini, you are wrong. The Mini has something special. The first and “biggest” benefit is weight. There is a reason why DJI has so prominently pasted the “249g” number on the side of their drone. In most countries with drone regulations, drones weighing 250 grams or less are exempt from most, if not all, licensing requirements. This weight was chosen to eliminate millions of small toy-grade drones from onerous licensing requirements.
However, DJI ignored this question and managed to squeeze advanced drone technology into this weight limit. Time will tell if there will be widespread changes to the law, but for now, Mini pilots don’t have to worry about paperwork or costly certification. However, you must still operate your drone in accordance with the law.
Another major benefit of the Mavic Mini is the ability to charge it on the go from USB sources. Although other larger DJI drones have USB ports, they cannot charge their batteries with them. With the Mavic, you can use a car charger or power bank if it outputs 24W or less.
In comparison, the Mavic Mini has a few disadvantages compared to the Air 2. First, it doesn’t have any flight avoidance sensors other than down-down touchdown sensors. Thus, you do not have any insurance against collision with things.
From a drone perspective, the Mini’s biggest flaw is its 2.7K camera. However, this is a matter of perspective: if you want to create 1080p content, 2.7K offers a lot of possibilities. If you absolutely need a 4K camera, it’s not expected from the start.
The last major drawback worth mentioning is the use of Wi-Fi as the transmission system. Unlike DJI’s proprietary Ocusync technology, Wi-Fi is prone to interference and signal loss. This makes it a poor choice for situations where you only have one chance to film something, like an action movie.
The Mavic Air 2: The Pros & Cons
The Mavic Air 2 is a drone that has thrilled a lot of people. It’s a much less expensive machine than the best-in-class Mavic 2 models, but it really isn’t that far in terms of features. In fact, the Air 2 is better in some respects, such as its ability to shoot 4K video at 60fps. The camera is thus a major step up from the Mini, and compared to the Mavic 2’s side-by-side shots, the difference is obvious only to true professionals.
Another big plus of the Air 2 is how well equipped it is for flying. Its top speed of 68 km / h is much higher than the Mini’s 46.8 km / h. It can withstand much stronger wind speeds and it has both front and rear obstacle avoidance sensors in addition to a lower touchdown sensor function which it shares with Mini (and all other modern DJI drones). It also uses Ocusync, which provides a near-flawless connection.
The main disadvantages include the fact that you need a special charger that is not portable enough to throw in your bag or always carry it with you.
Camera & Flight Performance
We took our Mavic Mini and Air 2 to a remote mine dump, a place where off-road riders love to spend their time throwing clouds of dust and dirt as they race through their apartments. It’s hot and moderately windy, and we tried to photograph these guys going about their business on the sand.
The film quality from both drones was excellent. However, you’re stuck with the Mini’s preset color profile, which means your color grading options are limited. The Air 2, on the other hand, offers a flat color profile so you can really tailor your footage to your needs.
The Mini also struggled to keep up with our objects, but the Air 2 scaled like it owned the sky. If you want to shoot fast-moving subjects, the Mini is not the best tool. One place where the Mini really excelled is in flight endurance. Although the reported flight times for both drones are around 30 minutes, the Mini’s batteries were charged in the car as we flew. So we have more complete charges! Unfortunately, we also had a signal loss on the Mini, while the Air 2 was flawless.
Here’s a selection of clips from the Mavic Mini, shot at a maximum resolution of 2.74KB and then upscaled to 4K.
Mavic Mini 2.7K Demo Clips (4K Upscale) @ 30fps (Auto White Balance + Exposure)
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Finally, we have snippets from Air 2 from the same event. These are original 4K clips.
Mavic Air 2 4K Demo Clips @ 60fps (Manual Exposure, Auto White Balance)
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Final Verdict: Which Drone Is For You?
So, after spending quite a lot of time with both machines, here’s what we can say about these two excellent drones.
Mavic Air 2:
This is the drone most people buy. But it requires licensing in many countries. It’s good, though. Sufficient for professional use.
Mavic Mini:
No special licensing required (yet). Truly portable and USB rechargeable. Makes stunning footage is not really a professional level (but you can make it work). Suffering from signal problems due to Wi-Fi.
So, if you want the best all-round drone on the market today that can do just about any job and capture great shots, the Air 2 is unbeatable for the price.
If you want a drone for capturing beautiful scenes or (relatively) low-speed action movies that you can take with you, charge anywhere, and don’t require any paperwork or government approval, then the Mavic Mini is the best deal to date.
Mavic Mini Vs Mavic Air 2: Which One to Buy?
Mavic Mini Vs Mavic Air 2: Which One to Buy?