DJI Mavic Mini – Ultralight and Portable Drone, Battery Life
DJI Mavic Mini – Ultralight and Portable Drone, Battery Life 30 Minutes, Transmission Distance 4 KM, 3-Axis Gimbal, 12 MP, HD Video 2.7K, Lightweight, Easy to Edit and Share, QuickShots
| Weight: | 249 Grams |
| Dimensions: | 24.5 x 29 x 5.5 centimetres |
| Brand: | DJI |
| Model: | 20180426LCZJEANCZSJSLXM04872SJKDJEZ |
| Part: | CP.MA.00000121.01 |
| Colour: | Multi-Coloured |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Dimensions: | 24.5 x 29 x 5.5 centimetres |
I’ve owned the DJI Mavic Mini for three years now, and I’m still impressed with its portability, image quality, and flight time. It’s the perfect drone for travelers and anyone who wants to capture stunning aerial footage.
I bought this during the Warehouse deal for my son and me to try out and learn to fly a proper camera drone. This Mavic Mini is great as a starter kit with additional batteries and a pair of propeller guards which we found to be particularly useful as a sense of safety.
The only issue I had is that one of the rear motors is always ‘sticky’ when taken out from the storage case. I have to wiggle it a bit to loosen the motor prior to flying. I am unsure if this is due to being an Amazon Warehouse (customer returned) stock. However, it flies ok once the motor is loosened and the pre-flight check is completed. I hope this is not going to get worst and I will have to return it for repair since it has a 1-year warranty.
Would recommend this drone for 1st timer and exploring other methods of video photography.
Having seen the DJI refurbished Drone through Amazon Warehouse I was ready to invest in a proven and much talked about Drone. The camera Gimble and onboard Micro SD were the main attractions.
It’s still fairly rare to get a sub 250g Drone with a Gimble which is essential for decent footage & getting a sub 250g drone allows you legally to do so much more but you will still need to register with the CAA to be legal 9 a year is well worth it, as you could get a 1000 fine.
In terms of flying the Mavic Mini is brilliant but I recommend practising with the DJI online simulator if you have no experience in flying a Drone as the Mini goes fairly fast and is very small.
It’s a joy to fly and has good range and flight time around 25-30 mins with low battery warnings coming in slightly early (you may think) but believe me it is a good thing as the little Mini can fly along way quickly.
Camera and Video quality is very useable the 12MP sensor produces very reasnable pictures for the size of the Drone sensor, obviously it’s not up there with for example a FUJI XT100 it is more comparable with a high end mobile phone or a small (compact) quality Digital camera.
For value for money though Amazon Warehouse you cannot fault it, there is nothing out there as good for this money, but you could spend a little more and get a refurbished Mini 2 which has 4K (RAW Stills) & a longer range, but I don’t think most people would need it, for me it’s photo quality over Video and it’s fine with great results in good light, if you wanted more you would need to spend allot more.
My first impressions on the drone – compacted, it can fit into the palm of my hand and it’s very very light. It has a strong plastic chassis and it’s very tightly fitted. Just like the Mavic Pro, this drone comes all in one, so no prior attachments are necessary.
Along with it comes the controller – other than it’s battery indicator, it has no reading screen, so any status of the aircraft you want to know, such as MPH, distance or height, you’ll have to use and connect your own phone to the remote.
The first thing I had to do before I could even fly this drone is to install a mobile app called “DJI Fly” and for some strange reason, it’s not available in Google Play Store. You’ll have to go directly to the DJI website and download it as an APK file.
After installing DJI Fly, I had to electronically unlock the drone using the app, and this seems to be mandatory every time you want to go fly it. Another important note – there is a dustproof lens cap placed around the drone’s camera. Remove this before you take-off, otherwise you’ll be getting error messages that the gimbal is stuck or it’s motor is overloaded.
For a small drone, it has decent speed and agility. Not as fast the Mavic Pro, but about as fast as an adult human running. For agility, the drone would take about a single second to respond to sharp turns and stops, so I wouldn’t recommend you flying this thing into a wall and wanting to turn at the last second.
The most valuable asset this drone has, in my opinion, is the camera. When I bought this drone, I honestly wasn’t expecting much from the camera. Even with the app, the only control you have is adjusting the EV. However, when I flew it, it delivered a crisp and clear quality that I’ve rarely seen on drones and that is a huge selling point for me. Although you can’t take pictures, you can record and then swipe single frames out in post-production.
The only two disappointments I’ve had with the drone is that 1. every time you want to fly it, you’ll need to break out your phone, attach it to the remote controller, start up the app and unlock the drone for flying – I can only presume this is due to me residing in a zone with limited flying capabilities, but to other people who do, they would understand.
And 2. every time I want to land, I’ll have to bring the drone in to hover at least a feet from the surface for a few seconds. Although its not much if you’re flying outdoors, but if you’re using this indoors, let’s say for a little testing, then it can be a little frustrating.
Fortunately these two minor setbacks don’t bother me much and with all the pros outweighing it, I definitely see myself possessing this drone for a very long time.
To add as a prelude, I had my eye on this little drone since mid 2020, but was very reluctant to buy it back then because I needed a fast drone with good camera quality. So I went for the Mavic Pro instead in late 2020, and although I had much fun with it, I clearly underestimated the power that this 249-gram quadcopter had to offer.
It wasn’t until after several months of possessing the Mavic Pro that I suddenly wanted a drone that was much smaller and hopefully quieter. Amazon was not the first place I turned to for shopping, and I quickly discovered that the price was a bit steep for a drone that one can literally fit into their pocket. The price was actually almost the same as the Mavic Pro when I bought it second-hand from MPB.
With no other choice, I did turn to Amazon in the end but I bought the drone in used condition for savings. Surprisingly when the drone came, it was still under wraps and only the packaging was opened and resealed. Even better, I found a microSD card slotted into the machine, so I was practically good and ready to go.
I’m a beginner on drones, the DJI mavic mini is the cheapest one among DJI drone products. It’s light so easy to carry, you can set up the quality of photos/videos up to 2K. However, the mobile connections are weak (GPS) when it comes around the buildings (unfortunately during my first flight the drone fell down from 42m, but DJI allows me to repair it free of charge), also when it comes to above 40m the signal becomes weak again (disconnected). Fortunately there’s a button on the remote controller allow you to force the drone flying back to the home point (when disconnected). There’s not as much functions than other DJI drones thus you need to control manually, so really need to be careful.
We bought this drone for a John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle trip (and future adventures) and it has served us excellently so far. The combo option has been essentially due to wild camping and a lack of power supply as the 30min flight time can quickly get consumed when doing various quick shot modes.
The setup of the drone was pretty simple and user friendly and the in flight controls are very simple to pick up.
However I’ve knocked a star off the rating due to connectivity issues. I’ve had no issues when using an iPhone but for a couple of days my Android wasn’t getting recognised by the drone and there seemed to be no obvious mechanism to resolve. It started working a few days later of its own accord however.
This Mavic Mini doesn’t have a ‘Follow Me’ mode. However it had a selection of Quick Shots that are pretty intuitive to use, where you select the type of movement you want the drone to do (circle, shoot straight up etc), set the distance and then touch the screen on what you want the drone to be “looking at” then hit the start button and it does its thing after a 3 second count down.
There’s no zoom function on the camera, but the photos are very high resolution and allow some post capture editing. Plus the gimble stabilisation is excellent and in flight videos look very steady.
All in all a great drone for a beginner, it’s under the 250g weight limit that incur additional restrictions – so, in the UK, you need to just register as a pilot and operator if its your first drone (9 and a short test)
Video is smooth and drone just hovers in set place unless you chose to move it.
Setting up is fairly simple and with due warnings from others I made sure I gave the app and drone time to locate itself using GPS.
The App is a must and you probably will have to take your phone out of any case to fit it in the remote controller. This can be a bit of a pain.
Once attached to the remote, it is held fairly securely but I’m looking at getting a cheap smart phone to use with the drone, a small tablet pc might also fit.
Generally you get what you pay for. A good value small drone packed with many features. there are other drones offering all the same features, for less, so to an extent you are paying extra for build quality and the name.
I am delighted with this product which for the money has incredible technology. I’ve still given it 5 stars but the package contained two cables for connecting to an Android phone & the Apple cable was missing. Needless to say I have an Apple phone – fortunately a friend who has the same drone uses an android phone & gave me his Apple cable.
In hindsight I would pay the extra for the fly-more combo if you are looking to buy. The extra batteries & charger are worth 100 alone.
Was disappointed to see how anti-drone many councils, National Trust, Water companies are who try & stop the flying of drones from their land.
The initial setup took a while, but not complex, and once it’s done, it’s literally ‘plug n play’ everytime. I have the app on my phone, plug it in, put the drive on the floor, connect and fly. The app is excellent, you can clearly see what the drone sees and grab images (I’ve not tried video yet). It flies very well, good distances (it’s sometimes fly so far away, you cannot see it), but it does warn you if you got to far, so far, I’ve not lost it. With the GPS, it stays put and the return to home function is really good.
The only mild thing, is it only shoots jpegs, where I would have preferred RAW, but I’ve not had an issue editing the photos, which don’t need editing really, they are usually good to go.
It’s also very small, I bought it with a carry case, and the whole thing can be thrown in a back pack very easily. I would certainly buy again.
On receiving it I did’nt unpack or use. Covid. On unpacking I felt it was either a used one or refurbed. Disappointed. It didn’t look new as there was marks on it which don’t rub off. However, new to drone life I love it. The battery falls out of its chamber often so i tape it shut. I’m sure the gimble holder is faulty as it has only one bracket (need to check) but it moves well to capture video or snaps. Battery life is short and even shorter on “Sport” mode. Sport mode is fun Camera/video quality is good and once transferred you can zoom in edit etc.
Charging times are reasonable.
The “go home” option when “lost signal” appears is a life saver as unlike my big dog the DJI always comes home!
I also bought the Hensych signal extenders which actually work. Signal open- area permitting this thing will go further. Around close high top buildings it can be restrictive as to signal response.
Finally this can be addictive (good thing) and can lead to you buying the bigger ones. For beginners like me it’s was logical to take to a big field a few times to get use to the controls. It’s fun and worth it considering what it can do. Just make sure when you receive it you unpack it immediately and it’s Brand New one. Happy flying Guys!
I bought this as a gift for my husband after much research. Straight out of the box this little gizmo was easy to put together, charge up and take flight. Given that hubby does not have a good reputation with flight simulator games (crashing frequently!) we were not sure how he would fare – but the controls are simple and straightforward and the short training videos are great for those who are new to drone flying. The associated app was easy to download and use. The controller linked to his iPhone 11 (the clamps are a snug fit, very secure) with no problems. After only a few minutes he was zipping away. We were surprised with the speed of the little beastie, and most impressed with the “come home” feature. We have some building work going on and this has enabled us to take some great aerial shots of our project. I bought the basic kit; in hindsight I would buy a case at the same time (we added one later as easier to store than keeping it in the box). Battery life of around 30 minutes has been fine for what we needed, but others may want to have a spare. All in all a great little drone for the price and we would highly recommend it, especially for other novices.
For:
Excellent range’
Excellent battery life’
Good camera.
Tilting camera gimbal.
Very stable imaging.
Good control options and remote controller.
Thumbscrew gimbal tilt.
Return button.
Landing ground sensors.
Good First Person View via phone.
Very good phone app. (DJI Fly)
Under 250g so currently no need to register.
Compact and foldable.
Nice case and fly more option has 3 batteries and spare props.
Against:
The light weight makes it difficult to hold position in more than light breeze.
Plastic though hard is breakable.
No obstacle avoidance.
No ‘follow me’ as yet.
Repair base is in the Netherlands so longer return time and paperwork.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my outings with the drone so far but have yet to build up enough trust in it to send it far out over water or anywhere I can’t retrieve it.
It is fast, responsive and stable in flight, though being white and very small it is easy to lose sight of. You have to trust the FPV to see where you are!
I have crashed it once and a propeller arm snapped in two. I took out the care plan so am now awaiting return From the Netherlands.
(I have decorated mine since)
It is a perfect beginner drone. It is easy to learn how to fly and to get better at doing the higher or narrower manoeuvres, it has given me the confidence to start looking at something bigger now. I cannot wait to take it abroad and try it out somewhere cool. I had another drone bought for me a lot cheaper and it does not calibrate well (or even at all sometimes) whereas the mavic mini takes 20 seconds if it does but then you are flying right away. The controls are easy for simple flying but after looking at YouTube videos there are lots of extra controls for manually setting photo and video settings for those more into photography so it has the perfect balance of both simplicity for people who eventually want to move onto something more professional.
Would recommend for someone willing to spend the money on something good quality but without the risk of breaking thousands of pounds worth of drone
I had never tried photography or videography but after getting into photography this year I came across drones and the images they can capture and I had to get one. After researching for maybe a month the dji mini was the standout winner for the following reasons…
Pros:
– Lightweight (249kg) means you don’t need a licence in the UK to operate one (The threshold is 250kg).
– Very easy to use. I have little to no RC experience but right out of the box I could fly this thing around my house with no issues.
– Battery life is outstanding. Compared to other drones the battery life on this thing is great and at the price point more than what you can expect anywhere else.
– Image quality is brilliant. See attached imagine. 2.7k camera (which I believe is equal to 5mp). Produces amazing video and photo quality. I can zoom and zoom on photos and still make people out.
– Amazon payment scheme helps spread the cost and no extra charge! 91/month for 5 months
– Would definitely recommend the fly more package for the value and the extra batteries.
– I could go on and on…
Cons:
– Due to its small size the wind does limit when you can use it a bit more than a larger drone but you will be paying a lot more for something more capable in the wind. Video still super stable at its limits tho!
– It does take a little longer to set up and pack away (about 3/5 minutes) when I’m out and about but I’m sure some planning could speed this up.
Recommendations:
– Always wear sunglasses when flying it so you can easily look in the sky.
– Check our YouTube unboxing videos to see the full content and what it’s for is your new to the product.
– Buy the insurance for 30, gives you the freedom to be a little more daring with it.
5 Stars (would give it more if I could!)
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Video quality is great. Not 4K but more than good enough for most needs.
If you are considering this you may want to hang on for the Mini 2 which DJI are looking at launching in the near future as it has 4K video, RAW stills and OcuSync connection instead of WiFi, but no idea when it will launch or how much more expensive it will be.
That being said this is a brilliant drone and I absolutely love it. Stable, easy to fly and will fit in your pocket.
Whats not to like about this drone. Lightweight enough to come under the CAA need for registration (until new laws come in to play 31 dec 2020) superb camera doing 2.7k and 1080p video which will be more than excellent for most entry level drone enthusiasts.
This drone was so easy to set up, calibrate and fly! Im super impressed with the stability in slightly windy conditions as well for something so light!
It comes with some basic ‘fun’ quickshot modes to introduce you to the potential of follow you shots but leaves these full functions to the bigger boys in the DJI series. I totally get that, this is a small lightweight introduction drone, and gives people enough to get them hooked and they have something to look forward to in their future drones from the DJI range.
Some tips – watch some youtube videos before hand to learn about setting up your drone, first flights, and getting used to the controls and the limitations of the drone as well as the legalities of drone flying in your country. learn where the limitations are and how to avoid them by flying safe.
No regrets getting this. was initially a bit suprised and concerned about the devices lightweight feel but soon got over that once i realised how easy it is to fly this thing without crashing. it doesn’t have obstacle sensors unlike its more expensive cousins but it does have a ground sensor making landing a breeze (it takes control once it detects you are descending to land within 0.5metre roughly).
It warns you when it gets into a bit of wind higher up, mainly so you know to lower if you are relying on the return to home function. footage is fantastic and more than enough at 2.7k 30fps. i have several drones which are more about speed and not quality footage. the 3 axis gimbal is why i bought this versus other cheaper equivalents and was definitely worth it.
it does also have a sport mode which still auto hovers but dont remember no anti object collision so do this in an open area.
i flew this from a pier over sea a few times and had no issues with range or control as long as i kept looking in the drone direction and didnt fly behind too many obstacles.
Amazing bit of kit if you are looking for high quality footage on a budget.
Was excited to receive this as we were having a few days break so wanted something to capture some memories, initially worked for a day managed a handful of videos, then had a sporadic error message saying “RC cable not connected” after multiple attempts I found out had to charge controller so was my own fault really, safe to say now everything is working great now. Charging batteries is a bit of a nightmare as they are so difficult to get out of the charging dock, there is a knack to it, how simple is it just to have an eject button that would make more sense & would stop you breaking fingernails lol.
Other than that I’m pleased with this.
The drone itself is very very good. I’d made the mistake once before of buying a not-cheap drone and realising it was awful in terms of the video. The Mavic Mini is more expensive but it’s still at the ‘cheap’ end of the spectrum – and the quality is fantastic.
Video is clear, true colour and well stabililsed by Mavic’s gimbal. You can set manual exposures for your photography and the only ‘downsides’ are the 12mp resolution on the stills and the lack of a raw file. But what do you expect, really? DJI need to leave some features on their more expensive models.
The Fly More package comes with three batteries and a carrying case, all well worth the money. The battery life is impressive, and the design of the drone itself – though it feels delicate – is perfect.
I was almost too scared to fly it but when you register the app you can buy an insurance policy from DJI. I NEVER buy these kinds of thing but on this occasion I did, and if you crash or drown it you can get up to two replacements in the year for a small fee each time. I hope not to need to, but it’s reassuring.
Well worth the money, a good bit of fun and hopefully many great videos to come.
This thing is a tiny beast. For size, power, the incredibly crisp camera and the price this is very much worth the money if you’re into gadgets and maybe photography that you can easily transport around or take on holiday.
Top speed almost 30mph, there’s a video of a dude on youtube that goes over 500m altitude.
Super impressed, it’s a bit scary because you can lose sight of it pretty quickly ( i was in wide open fields), but if you’ve had enough training with it or previous tiny drone experience like me you should be fine with the RC and your phone to know where to go. Everyone ive shown has been super impressed.
I also purchased the care refresh through DJI through my one purchased through Amazon. 30 once and if you break it through your own fault or otherwise then its 30 for a new one.
I’ve never written a review, for this I feel i had to. Very good gadget to own.
Simply amazing. This is my first proper drone and I am so impressed. I got the fly more combo and it allows you to fly for much longer which allows you to get confident in how to fly it pretty quickly.
I am blown away with the quality of the video it can capture and also the drones ability to fly with such control considering it only weighs 249 grams!
Very convenient carry case which means it is always ready to go whether I am going out for a walk, cycle or a drive in the car, it is easy to take along.
After a couple of months and several kilometres of flight, I am in no rush to upgrade as it does everything I need it to do and I am looking forward to many many more flights with this drone.
If like me you were looking for an affordable but good quality photography drone (not a gimmicky toy) then this is definitely for you.
Tip, pay the extra for the fly more combo…you won’t regret it!
Now here’s the catch…WATCH OUT FOR THE WIND! (It is mega light, so what do you expect.)
When I say wind, I mean specifically GUST! Anything about 18mph will give you trouble with controlling your drone. Anything in the mid 20mph’s will prevent your drone from returning to you in once piece, if at all. Luckily I haven’t crashed it but I have been caught in a strong gust which sent my heart racing at 100mph! So for a good flight, please always check the wind/gust speed beforehand in your area! Enjoy!
I love this thing, but its camera performance in low light (not dark, even sunset light) is pretty poor (especially in photos), and the inability to do bracketed exposures is a massive hassle. You can get amazing photos from it, you just have to manually select exposures and do panoramas, taking each photo one at a time.
Its advertised as a 4km range, but i struggle to get over 1300m away, from ontop of a huge hill pointing the remotes antenna perpendicular to the drones position, other than that its amazing, the return to home feature really gives confidence to people who would otherwise not want to fly.
Photo on the left is a tripple exposure, photo on the right is 4 different triple exposures.
It does exactly what it says on the tin. Absolutely amazing drone – but what else would you expect from DJI. It may seem expensive but it is without question the best. Excellent value for money, so simple to use with a brilliant app. You put it in the air and it just sits there and hovers. I did a survey on my chimney and got really very close and didn’t need to worry as it just holds itself in the position for you to take photos or a video of which both were excellent quality and showed that some work was needed to the flashing and pointing. I’m already thinking about buying the zoom model for close up photography – the spec on that looks fantastic. 10 out of 10 for this product and literally anyone will be able to fly this drone without a problem. P.s Get the combo pack – again great value for money and you get the extra batteries, propellers and propeller guards which are great for indoors.
DJI was conceived in 2006 by Mr. Frank Wang with an initial investment of just $2,000. His net worth of January 2020 is reported to be 4.8 billion US dollars.
There are a small number of other manufactures of UAV aircraft like YUNEEC and Autel Robotics that produce high end drones but don’t have the infrastructure and network of DJI. There are also lots of spurious ripoffs of the most popular drones that can be found for around the 100-200 mark. In all honesty, don’t bother because in the months to come mandotary registration will be required for any drone with a camera so it makes sense to purchase from a good company.
The DJI Mavic Mini is an amazing little drone that brings aerial photography to the masses. Weighing in at an incredible 249g it is an ideal travel companion and can produce some amazing footage. Don’t be fooled by its size, it is a very capable machine and can fly at almost 30MPH. It is not a toy!
At the time of writing, May 2020, the drone doesn’t require registration with the CAA. There are changes to the legislation in the months to come that will require mandatory registration and the latest information can be found on the CAA website.
The Mavic Mini is jam packed with technology and is very easy to fly which is its Achilles heel in inexperienced hands.
There are a plethora of videos circulating Youtube etc. showing people launching the device into the heavens within a few minutes of receiving it for the drone to disappear out of sight or crash to the ground. This may be a deliberate act to get more hits of their channel or they may be novices with more money than sense. You may have heard the phrase, “Got the gear but have no idea”.
If this is your very first drone then I would recommend users to spend the first couple of days familiarising themselves with the drone and app. There are some good videos on YouTube that will take you from initial setup to first flight and beyond. When you start flying, fully focus on flying the drone before moving onto the camera functions.
The latest software release gives the Mavic Mini manual camera settings which professional users have been craving for since day one. A set of ND filters will be required to get the best out of the manual settings and typically cost between 15.00-130.00. I purchased a set of ND filters manufactured by Sunnylife that cost just under 16.00 for a set of 4 that come with a sturdy storage box. They are incredibly light and the frame is made from a single piece of moulded plastic. They have no adverse effect on the camera gimbal and work well. There are also ND filters that have a polariser built in but I don’t see the point of polarising filters on a drone.
The app is available for both iOS and Android devices and is free to download and use. The app menu is easy to navigate and the on screen video that is transmitted from the drone to the app is 720p. That said, it is very clear even on a full size iPad. The flight telemetry information is also displayed on screen during the flight with clear warnings of high wind, low battery, etc. Each menu can be expanded by a single press for detailed information.
There is also good video editing software built into the app that is easy to use and publish on YouTube etc.
From what I can glean from the internet, most people who purchase the Mavic mini with a single battery wish that they had purchased the Combo, inc 3 batteries, within just a few days of ownership. They find that the up to 30 minute flight time just isn’t enough and have to wait for the battery to cool down, approximately 15 minutes, before recharging that takes another 90 minutes. The Mavic mini battery is currently on backorder with DJI and sellers who have limited stocks are selling it for upwards of 80.00. The list price from DJI is just 45.00. Most of the other popular Mini accessories, cables etc., have also rocketed in price in recent weeks due to high demand.
DJI also sell a care refresh plan for 35.00 and full details can be obtained from DJI.com. It is advisable to purchase the plan before the drone is activated. Activation after 48 hours is possible but a fully documented flight will have to be submitted to DJI before purchase.
WORDS OF WARNING!
* To ensure control of the drone at all times, turn the controller on before the drone. Turn the drone off before the controller after flight
* Place the drone on a flat surface with the camera pointing away from you, not grass, when turning on to avoid gimbal lock. When the drone runs through the initialisation process the gimbal rotates and even the slightest interference, blades of grass etc. can cause an error warning.
* If you launch the drone without GPS lock the drone will immediately drift in a downwind direction
* Many concrete surfaces have rebar mesh that can cause compass/IMI calibration problems due to magnetic interference
* Whenever possible, fly in an upwind direction. This will give a good margin of error to return to the takeoff point
* Purchase an anemometer to measure the wind. Basic devices can be purchased for less than 10.00
* Take care flying from a hillside or in mountains because the wind will be influenced by lee waves and rotor
* If you receive a battery firmware update don’t forget to update any additional batteries prior to flight
* Care must be taken to line the propellers up on the drone before inserting it into the case that comes with the combo. Failure to do so can cause the props to distort and cause flight problems
Membership of the BMFA (British Model Aircraft Association) has a range of benefits including public liability insurance and may be worth considering.
The DJI Mavic Mini Combo was purchased, Sold and supplied by Amazon with fast free shipping. Highly recommended.
I have also purchased a few accessories from Amazon that I’ve listed below:
Controller protective cover by Hensych. ASIN:B0832QY7R2
Propeller covers by Hensych. ASIN: B082SCKXK4
Travel bag by STARTRC. ASIN: B07ZZ6HYR5
Landing mat by Changlesu. ASIN: B07F1LLQR4
This DJI mini does have altitude hold,
Easy to learn and the camera is of very good quality both at 1080p and 2.7K.
The Gofly app is easy to use.
Firmware updates are easy.
No charging issues
Really stable in flight. I don’t risk it in high winds though and I use the UAV app to check wind at altitude.
Downloading pics and movies from the SD card can be time consuming for the impatient amongst us, but I thought it was ok.
Brilliant starter drone and enjoy flying this as much as I can. The only thing is that I wish I had bought the fly more package.
It’s addictive!
Probably learn on this for a year, hone my skills and then try for one of the more premium ones
Been into drones since the first appeared. Always been frustrated by A. The cost of a decent camera drone (for landscapes) and B. the short flight time. NOT ANY MORE WITH THIS BRILLIANT DRONE. Thought I’d gone mad given the cost…It’s more than I’ve ever spent on a camera before… Actually it’s well worth the 5 months of saving every penny, made easier by the Corona virus lockdown, as
I can at last fly with confidence of getting very good results. Always use the prop protectors indoors and you can’t go wrong, outdoors it is perfect without.
Don’t buy it though until you view the several hours of stuff on YouTube though (There’s a lot to learn) and know that from November AS YOU WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE REGISTERED WITH CAA, SO GET REGISTERED NOW.
Buying the Flymore is a no brainer given the extra cost, and you can buy the care package from DJI within 48 hours of activating your drone.
This drone has Geolock on board which prevents accidental flights in restricted areas.
This small model is without doubt the easiest to fly and the most fun, why? because it will do everything that most people will want to do with ease, it’s quiet and not at all intimidating, very easy to set up and has very good battery life although it’s so addictive you will find that you need at least two batteries if not three.
The Fly app is very simple and intuitive to use as is the drone itself you really cannot go wrong, and another plus is that you do not need to register it with any authority and you do not need to pass any online tests because it weighs less the 250 grams (249 exactly)
What are you waiting for? order it now and have some in lockdown and beyond.
Smaller case than expected. But all inside.
Drone is well… eerrr Mini. As it says on the tin.
Mavic Mini is WOW AMAZING.
Had a cheaper drone before and it was GPS like this but no way on earth was as stable or trouble free. Hover on take off is spot on.
Bit of initial phaff as Mini is fold out/ in.
Pair on remote which is good to hold is easy with app. Beware only certain phones and tablets will work with it. Best check the DJI app or website.
Easy to put together, leads to connect phone to controller included.
Self check done by drone. Let’s you know if safe to fly. Flyings a dream. Only had a few flights due to current Covid restrictions now grounded.
App lets you set everything easy peasy.
Time will tell as had few reports of fly off and disconnecting but not so far.
One thing to note as it’s so small it can be affected by winds apparently.
Last note: You will need to register and follow CAA guidance even though it’s 249g a big selling point come July this year things change. I understand any drone with camera will need to be registered.
Safe flying all…. Stay safe.
But, be aware even though it is an entry level drone, it is still a sophisticated piece of kit and does have a small learning curve. But it is well worth it. Also, be aware that you must purchase the product replacement cover (DJI Refresh) within 48 hours of activation. I missed that but you can find drone insurance just as good or better.
I don’t believe there is a better entry level drone in existence for the price. Buy and enjoy!
I frigging love this thing!! Its fun, it works and it’s cheap as chips considering what you get.
The fact it’s under the 250g and a little more than a GoPro with all the batteries etc, it’s worth every penny if your into this kind of thing or casual landscape photography and you do not need to register the thing (at time of review, they’ll probably change it!), tho remember you still need to follow drone laws!
Love that it comes with the guards too, I have a lot of fun just playing with it in my house, traversing the rooms and stairs… should you do this, maybe not, but even as a beginner, I’ve not had a crash yet and it’s great fun, it handles well with little knocks on walls if you go slow and gives you time to fix (slow is key!!)
Outside wise, I live in Scotland, so wind especially this time of year has stopped me going out a lot, but still been out enough and having a blast, getting more confident letting it go further away and higher, I occasionally get signal drops but never for more than a moment or has got me concerned, it will apparently return to home if you do loose all signal tho I myself have not tested this, kinda want to tho haha.
It’s so responsive and fun to fly around and as you build confidence controlling it you can fair pick up some speed, as well as get some incredible looking shots that you’d never get with normal camera’s.
Speaking of camera, it does up to 2.7k 30fps or 1080p 60fps, picture is 12MB JPG only, so not the best but as a casual photographer this wasn’t my main concern on purchasing, but the video/pictures do look great and happy with it.
As for battery length, finding I’m getting around 25 mins per battery, so your looking at around 1 hour 20 flight time for any trip without charging which is great. Speaking of batteries, the charger in the combo is superb, it charges the one closest to full capacity first which is genius, as well as having a USB out so can act as a battery pack for charging your phone or something if you need it.
So a couple of bad points you should know, it has only below collision detection, so it’s up to you to not crash it, it also has NO follow me functionality, so don’t go purchasing it expecting this, it will do small tracking while doing some of the programmed manoeuvres but it’s nothing to write home about.
It also only handles wind up to 20mph, which to be fair is quite breezy, but keep that in mind for your location, it’s quite blawy in Scotland a lot so has hindered me wanting to go out, but I’ve still gotten out a few times in past couple of weeks.
Since purchase I’ve probably had around 15 hours flying time and it’s been a joy, for the price and lack of registering (again, at time of review!!) I can’t fault this thing, would suggest watching the many reviews on YouTube if your unsure.
For me, I wanted a cheaper introduction to drone flying and this was it and I’m absolutely thrilled with the purchase, no regrets.
Pros:
– Small and light, no need to register it as it’s under 250g.
– Long battery life, I’ve been getting on average 25 mins actual use from the stated 30 mins run time.
– Great picture and video quality.
– Easy to fly, return to home works great.
– Very good value for what you get, especially if you purchase the Fly More Combo.
Cons:
– WiFi connection isn’t always the best, sometimes there will be lag on the video feed and lost connection which is scary at first but the return to home feature works very well so if connection is lost it’ll automatically fly back to you and reconnect as the WiFi signal gets stronger.
– No obstacle avoidance sensors.
– No raw image option.
Overall this is great drone for both beginners and advanced users. You can bring it anywhere thanks to it’s compact size, can just slip it into your coat pocket unlike bigger drones.
Well, the Pro was only used a couple times while the Mini was so portable and easy to use that it more than delivered what I needed as a tourist. Sadly I didn’t get out into nature as much as I wanted but for small flights (within all the legal limits) it proved excellent. Initially I thought the limited camera controls, especially no white balance controls, would hinder me but I found the footage and stills spot on.
Another thing it was very good at was horizon level. Far better than the original Pro especially when doing a slow 360 degree pan.
I hope they add some more features such as automated panoramas, but as it is it delivers everything I would expect as a casual tourist drone.
This is my third drone, I’ve been upgrading and was very weary about paying out not an insignificant sum for what many would describe as a “toy”. Let me state from the start, this is NOT a toy. It’s much more than that. I paid for the combo kit as reading what others had said before me, was worth the money. I fully agree, if for nothing more just the extra batteries and battery pack.
I’ve had it three days now and I’m blown away by the quality and how well it all works. Why?
Let me start at the beginning. I’m definitely a hobbyist. I was looking for a drone that took good pictures and video. Something with a good battery life and also with a good range. Something that’s going to keep my interest and also something light and portable. I’ll break these down in more detail in a moment. Having spent a bit of time researching on the internet, one product seemed to keep coming up.
Pictures/Video.
This has an excellent camera. It’s not going to shoot the next Spielberg classic but it’s way above more than what 99.9% of what the people of the world need. I’m a stick it on auto kind of guy and straight away it achieved everything and more I’ll ever need. Many have criticised the lack of “white balance” etc etc. I still don’t know what that means. There are plenty of manual setting on photo mode if that’s your thing but more limited in video mode. I leave everything on auto as it’s smarter than me. Others have criticised the fact it only takes 2.7k movies and not 4K. Let’s be clear, if you want to shoot excellent good quality video, more than what most gadgets and social media can deal with then 2.7K is more than enough. The camera is gimballed and remains smooth no matter how much I seem to rag the drone around the sky. If you want the 4K you’re going to have to spend a lot more money. My top tip on all this is simple, get a good quality storage card. I saved money by using an old card. I now know it’s a false economy. Get the card recommended by DJI and you’ll get some excellent results.
Battery life.
The combo kit comes with three batteries and a smart charger. Well worth the money and incidentally you can also use it as a stand alone phone charger. It advertises up to thirty minutes for a charged battery. I never believe the advertising as these always seem to be carried out in a laboratory. I was pleasantly surprised. Using the video and jetting around the sky I seem to be getting on average in excess of about 25 minutes or thereabouts. Very respectable for a drone of this size.
Range.
Simply very good. I hook it up to my phone and it gives a very smooth display. To start with it’s a bit of a faff. I live quite close to the sea next to a park so getting to a nice open area is quite easy. That said, I’m also close to a couple of military training areas so it would be easy for me to get into trouble with the law. Also there’s an airport a few miles up the road. What is excellent is the DJI software that runs this operation. When you’ve set it all up, the software will warn you about all this and as long as you follow the rules it should stop you getting potentially a very hefty fine. I hope. It will also warn you of other things such as strong winds and if all things fail and the display goes blank because you’ve flown it too far and you haven’t got a clue where it is there’s always the ” return to home” button. I’ve used it once as I was sweating about how I’m going to have to explain to the missus how I’d just flown my new drone into the middle of the woods. After a few tense minutes it came back and landed on the exact spot it took off from.
Well, if you’ve got this far and still have the will to live let me just say in conclusion, well worth the money, an excellent product. Read up on local laws regarding the use of drones. Remember this is only 249g so in the UK and most of the world you won’t need a license but it’s always worth checking before you travel. The DJI app is excellent and also has some excellent video editing software which I’m just getting my head around. There are some good tutorials on YouTube about this product. Expect to lose half a day at least going through them.
Fly safe x
Pros:
1. Very lightweight (<250 grams) so does not need to be registered and the operator does not need to take a test (US and UK) for personal use.
2. Easy to set up and use.
3. Reasonable battery life.
4. Photo quality is good and more than adequate for casual and light commercial use.
5. iPhone App easy to use.
6. Maneuverable and easy to fly.
7. Relatively quiet.
Cons:
1. Not good in light to moderate winds. This drone is very light and will be blown away by even what we might consider light winds.
2. No collision avoidance. This drone, unlike the Mavic Pro etc., will fly into a wall or anything in its way.
3. Replacing the propellors is tricky requiring a screwdriver and new screws (DJI provide both in this kit). More sophisticated drones use a locking mechanism to remove and secure the propellors.
4. No built in panorama facility for photographs.
5. Like all DJI controllers that use a cellphone for the screen, the clamping mechanism is awkward and a pain to use. You need to remove the case for the phone and with the iPhone you cannot swipe up to open the phone and the clamp masks the Face ID camera in the phone. Poor design that has been around for a while and needs a change.
6. The controller puts the phone under your hands so it is difficult to see, it should be above the controls not below them.
7. The joysticks have screw in handles that are easily lost (so easy to lose that DJI give you a spare set!!).
8. No follow me or lock on modes. These are software issues and probably not hardware, so the omission is down to engineering a reason to buy the more expensive drones.
Summary:
Built down to a price and weight and it tends to show. Do not expect this to perform like a more sophisticated drone like the Mavic Pro series. If you can accept the shortcomings, then enjoy. Recommended (with caveats).
Only two things have made me knock a star off: 1- The app required for the drone needs 64bit android so double check dji’s website to make sure your phone will work (this wasn’t noted on the amazon page when I bought it so I ended up buying a new phone);
2- The app isn’t always reliable when noting if weather conditions (mainly wind) are unfavourable, so I would definately always trust gut instincts to bring it down or not fly even if the app has no warnings.
You will not be disappointed, period.
That said, I will say, wind, especially at height is a real consideration and shouldn’t be ignored. It is however to be expected from a drone that weighs 249gms (including battery and memory card). For the drone to come in sub 250grms, everything has been scaled down; it cannot be compared to some of it’s bigger brothers and as such, it cannot perform in windy conditions like the Mavic Pro or Pro 2 drones.
If you are looking for a technical review as to what the drone can or cannot do, jump onto YouTube and immerse yourself in the hundreds of videos on the subject. I’ll not look to waste your time here trying to do one.
One last thing before I go, don’t get caught up in the fact it ONLY records at 2.7k and not 4k. Honestly, 2.7k is more than enough for most applications.
If you are thinking of buying this, the one thing you need that isn’t included is a micro sd card so you can store all your pictures/videos. I purchased a 128gb Sandisk, nice and cheap in the Black Friday sales from Amazon.
In addition, if you are thinking of using a tablet rather than a smart phone to control the drone you will also need to purchase a tablet holder. There are many of these on the market all with their own pros and cons. I opted for the Mavmount 3.0 which is only available from the US.
This drone is entry level in the DJI Mavic range, but don’t be fooled, it’s far from entry level when compared to other ‘mini’ drones on the market.
Weighing in at only 249g, you can fly without registering with your countries aviation authority. This doesn’t mean you can fly anywhere and everywhere, you must still fly in accordance with the drone code. The DJI software has geofencing built in to the mapping so you are prevented from flying in places you shouldn’t, such as airports.
Flying for me was very straight forward, even if you’ve never flown before, its very self explanatory, the controller prompts you on how to fly. The drone uses GPS to enable it to hover in the same location, it also uses the same technology to fly its self back ‘home’, home being either where it took off from or from where the remote control is located.
Batteries last approximately half an hour, depending on if you are in sports mode or not. There are 3 different flying modes, depending on what you want to use the drone for, sports mode being the fastest of the 3. The drone comes packed with many features, none of which I have been able to try out yet as its been constantly raining in the UK since i have had the drone. Features such as being able to follow/track a moving object.
The camera can take video in either 1080p or 2.7k and up to 60fps. There are much better cameras on the market, but in my opinion, nothing as good as this in this size of drone. I also own a Phantom 4 Pro Plus, which is next level when comparing the drones, but you cannot really compare the Mavic Mini to bigger drones.
The Mavic Mini can fit in your pocket and go everywhere with you. Holiday photos will never be the same again.
I cannot fault this drone so far, its far from being the best drone on the market or having the best camera quality, but its not about being the best. Its about being practical, portable, lightweight, great for a vlogger such as a youtuber, great for someone new to drones who wants to dip their feet in without spending a fortune, great for someone who likes a gadget. So, for its price and what it does, it is the best. I would highly recommend buying one of these.
When I saw that DJI introduced the Mavic Mini I decided to commit due to their pedigree in the market, the reasonable price tag and the features that came with the product, many of which are included in their higher spec models. Having done a lot of research and comparisons with other drones I took a chance and pre-ordered it before it was released here in the UK.
I brought the Mavic Mini combo and can highly recommend it. What a great deal! Spare batteries, propeller guards, spare propellers, carrying case!
I’m continually amazed at the technology and detail that’s built into such a small drone. For example, built in intelligent flight modes in the DJI Fly app which enable you to produce high quality professional looking videos at the touch of a button. Also, the built in tutorials make it easy to get up and running in no time. So far my experience has been that everything works seamlessly together.
I can highly recommend the Mavic Mini. It’s a joy to fly and has opened up a new world of aerial photography and cinematography. If you’re new to drone flying and want to have some serious fun with a quality product, look no further than DJI and no further still than the Mavic Mini.
When I received the Mavic Mini on release I was initially very excited to fly this drone, I had already downloaded the ‘DJI Fly’ app prior to receiving it, had registered a DJI account and ready to go; this was short lived due to the app consistently crashing whenever the drone tried to connect with the controller/smartphone (I had the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact). Upon researching, I was not the only customer to have this issue – there were tonnes of people having the same issue on other Android smartphones which met the app requirements such as certain LG, Samsung and Motorola models.
Note: The Mavic Mini CANNOT be flown just by the remote control, it requires a compatible device using the DJI Fly app.
To my knowledge, iOS users have had the best results and DJI have confirmed support with the following Apple iPhone models that have iOS 10.0 or above: 11 Pro Max, 11 Pro, 11, XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6s Plus, 6s, 6 Plus, 6.
On 15/11/2019, a new update had been dropped that should have fixed these crashing issues with LG, Moto Z, Xperia & Galaxy S series. I can confirm for my ‘Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact’, the crashing has now been fixed.
Before Android users buy, I would advise the following:
1) Check your device has Android 6.0 or above.
2) Check to see if you can actually download the ‘DJI Fly’ app and navigate around.
Going by DJI’s requirements on their own website, it SHOULD be enough just to have the appropriate Android OS version but unfortunately that’s not the case, so please be wary of on-going issues.
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Introduction
The Mavic Mini is an extremely lightweight drone weighing in at 249g and is so compact, it’s has the same surface area that of your typical smartphone, albeit a bit thicker of course. DJI really have honed in on the hobbyist market by producing a more affordable drone, that doesn’t need to be registered unless used commercially; just bare in mind drone flying rules still apply to EVERYONE, this is to ensure the user and everyone around them is safe.
For such as compact and lightweight drone, it features some outstanding features:
* 12MP 2.7k camera.
* 3-axis gimbal for smooth video.
* GPS for more stable flight and location and return.
* 2km advertised transmission (Though some users have experience much further without obstacles).
* 30 minute flight-time.
There are also two purchase options to choose from:
1) Mavic Mini (Single Edition): Drone | Remote Controller | Remote Controller Cables (Micro-USB, USB-C & Lighting) | 1x Battery | Micro-USB | Gimbal Protector | Spare Kit.
2) Mavic Mini (Fly-More Combo): As above, but you get three batteries instead of two | a three-way battery charger which can double as a power bank | Crash-Guards | Extra Spares | Carry Case.
With an RRP of only 90 extra, the Fly-More combo is certainly a wise choice should you be able to afford that extra.
Recommended Accessories
If you don’t have a memory card already, you will need to get yourself a MicroSD (64GB+ Recommended for video). A UHS-I Class Speed 3 or above is required.
Set-up, App & Ease of Flying
When you start the DJI Fly app, it will actually prompt some tutorials which I would recommend watching as it gives you a great understanding of how to get started.
When you click “Connect Aircraft” it will guide you how to set-up the controller; the process is very simple and quick to do. The thumb sticks are neatly hidden under the handles which pop out and screw onto the directional pads and you simply get one of the appropriate remote cables that are included (my case it’s the USB-C), this connects on the left side and the other into your phone then slot your phone between the grips (my phone fitted snugly even with it’s case attached).
When powering the remote and drone on, you have to press the power button once, then hold it down afterwards until it turn on – as you’re holding the button down the LED lights should add up until all are lit. When powering off, the exact same process however the lights individually turn off instead.
When everything is connected, you should be able to see the point of view through the Mavic’s camera. It’s as simple as placing the Mavic on a flat surface, pressing the take-off button and further holding it down. If you are flying indoors, I would HIGHLY recommend having the guards put on (not included in standalone pack) – you will then need to go into the advanced settings tab and activate the payload option which will then take in consideration of the extra weight, otherwise it won’t fly as planned. Also note the GPS function when flying indoors, though I found it to be very stable in-flight.
If you’re new to flying these, do take it easy – observe the current weather, your surrounding and ensure you check the ‘Recommended Zones’ to make sure you are not flying near a military base or airport. Checking the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) can provide you with further information of where restricted zones are and the radius it covers – it doesn’t matter if it’s a small drone, the rules still apply.
I’m shocked at how amazing this little drone flies, it’s incredible – especially outside when the GPS works as it also using that for stability as well as guidance. The moment is fluid and the gimbal works a treat to give you super smooth results. The remote has quick access to taking photos, recording video and adjusting the Y-Axis of the camera.
There are several modes on the app to make the drone fly faster or smoother and there are some quick actions for certain styled shots that would otherwise require much practice to perform, they really have thought the features out thoroughly.
When landing, you can either get it in position and force land which it will do so carefully. Alternatively there is the ‘Home Point’ which will adjust the drones altitude (15m by default but this can be changed) then it will use GPS to go back to the starting point and start it’s landing process (you can change the home point manually if need be). If you are using the home point feature and are lower than the default 15m, don’t panic when it shoots up in the air, that is a part of the process.
Image & Video Quality
Due to the very reasonable price point of the Mavic Mini compared to their other higher valued models of course there are more limitations: The camera is 2.7k not 4k, you don’t get the full manual exposure control and the photos are in JPEG not RAW but that’s really not an issue because to be honest, the quality is actually very good. Sure it’s not to a professional standard but is perfectly acceptable for personal use and projects.
Due to the 3-axis gimbal, taking photos are more likely to be sharp due to lack of motion and the videos come out incredibly smooth.
Final Thoughts
To get straight to the point, the Mavic Mini is utterly amazing; it’s just a matter of whether you have a compatible device or not – or whether your “compatible” device actually works. If the latter of course you will be extremely disappointed and it’s down to whether you want to risk waiting for an update to fix any on-going issues, if they decide to; but if you have a fully compatible device then get ready for excitement and the ability to capture footage/photos you couldn’t take normally.
Due to some on-going issues I have to drop a star that otherwise would deserve all 5.