DJI is the undisputed leader in the consumer drone market, with products running the gamut from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Few people will jump right into drones with a $2,000 unit, so the entry-level is important. DJI is hoping to attract more drone pilots with the new DJI Mavic Mini. It’s less expensive than the company’s other drones, and it’s small enough that you don’t need a federal license to fly it.
The Mavic Mini isn’t DJI’s first foray into the world of entry-level drones. The company previously launched the Spark, an aircraft that started at about $500. The Mavic Mini
costs a bit less at $400 — plus it’s more capable and easier to take with you. Unlike the Spark, the Mavic Mini folds up for transport, and it weighs just 249g. The low mass makes flight time impressive, too. DJI says the Mavic Mini can remain airborne for about 30 minutes. That’s on-par with the more expensive Mavic quadcopters and much more than the Spark. That drone topped out around 15 minutes of flight time.
The weight is important for another reason. The Mavic Mini is exactly 1 gram under the limit for federal registration. That means you can unbox and start flying the Mavic Mini without getting a license from the FAA. That license only costs $5, but it’s still nice to be able to skip that step for first-time pilots.
DJI has seen fit to include a controller with the Mavic Mini, another notable upgrade over the Spark. You will still have to use your smartphone to view the video feed, but the controller has a mount built-in. The controller will make it easier to keep the drone stable, which is good because the Mavic Mini doesn’t come with rotor guards (those cost extra). It also has a range of up to 2.5 miles.
As an entry-level drone, the Mavic Mini doesn’t have all the advanced camera features of the company’s more expensive products. The drone can record 2.7K video, but there’s no 4K option. The frame rate is also locked at 30fps — there’s no cinematic 24 fps option like you’d get on Phantom or Mavic Air.
The DJI Mavic Mini is available for pre-order today, and it should ship on November 11th. The base model costs $399, and $100 more gets you some spare batteries, replacement rotors, rotor guards, and a case.
Now read:
- US Government Warns of Drones That Send Data to China
- DJI’s New Mavic Air Combines the Best of the Spark, Mavic Pro
- DJI Will Brick ‘Spark’ Drones That Don’t Update to New Firmware
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