When it comes to consumer-grade drones, it’s hard to find something not made by DJI. The Chinese company has cornered the market with easy-to-fly quadcopters that are capable of capturing cinematic footage. Before today, you needed to spend close to $1,000 to get something halfway decent. That changes with the release of the Mavic Mini.
I have owned and flown DJI drones for over a year now and have spent the last week testing the Mavic Mini. Over that time, it has become abundantly clear that this quad was designed for beginners and those looking for a drone to be used more like a toy and less like a professional camera.
Compared to top-end drones, the Mavic Mini has some apparent weaknesses. The difference between these different classes is the fact that DJI’s latest offering is $500 to $1,000 cheaper than other options.
The Mavic Mini is just about the perfect package in its given price range. Basically, don’t expect miracles from the drone, and you’ll be happy. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Mavic Mini Feels like a Toy, but Not Cheap
The Mavic Mini gets its name from its tiny size. This drone comes in at just 249g (more on that in a bit) and can fit in the palm of your hand when folded up. The small package allows owners to take the flying camera just about anywhere.
In the United States, any flying vehicles heavier than or equal to 250g needs to be registered with the FAA. This means providing the government agency with your information, the aircraft’s serial and identification numbers, and paying a small registration fee. Because DJI shaved off that single gram, you don’t have to worry about any of that hassle.
Being so lightweight does have some limitations. For one, it makes the Mavic Mini feel plasticky. The build doesn’t feel like a cheap plastic toy from a vending machine, but the combination of the material plus a lack of heft leaves the drone feeling almost fragile.
The other downside of having such a lightweight craft compared to some of DJI’s more premium drones is that even a slightly stiff breeze tends to buck the Mavic Mini around. Having to fight turbulence will cause the pocketable quad to bounce around when capturing videos and decrease battery life.
Winds also cause problems when you’re trying to fly the Mavic Mini. During one of my first flights, the drone had such a strong headwind that it was moving sideways faster than it was forward. That isn’t usually a big deal, except when you reach the end of your battery life, and the craft is attempting to return home.
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