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For photographers and videographers who need a highly portable drone that can be easily carried alongside other photographic equipment to shoot Raw stills, 4K/60p video and slow motion FHD video, the Mavic Air 2 sets a new benchmark for what we can expect from DJI drones now and in the future. The other major missing feature in the Mavic Mini is front and rear collision-avoidance sensors. At the risk of sounding like an old man shooing kids off the lawn: Just a few years ago, we all flew DJI Phantoms with no collision-avoidance sensors. Big, honking, not-terribly-nimble Phantoms. The Mavic Air 2 can record video up to 4K at 60 frames per second, twice that of the Air, which maxed out at 4K/30 fps. It can also record 4X and 8X slow-motion video, as well as 1080p video at 240 fps. The Air 2 can also capture HDR video, but the max resolution for this mode is 4K/30fps.
As for the transmission tech, the Mini 2 doesn't rely on Wi-Fi communication. With OcuSync 2.0, dual-frequency transmission automatically alternates between channels to prevent signal interference between the remote and drone. DJI claims connectivity up to 10km (6.21 miles). While that's impressive, it is important to keep the drone within your visual line of sight at all times. It also has an impressive 30-minute battery life, which beats the 10-15 minutes offered by most drones of this size, and captures very smooth aerial video thanks to that three-axis gimbal. Video features are also more expansive. The Air 2 records at up to 4K quality with 24, 25, 30, or 60fps options available. It also has an HDR video mode, at up to 30fps, and there's a flat video profile available for pros who want to color grade footage themselves.The core sensor/lens specs match last year’s model like-for-like, which means existing Mavic Mini owners will likely begrudge forking out extra for this upgrade. I'm very disappointed in the MA2 (love the MM2, but different class of drone). While I fly it a fair amount, it's mostly to get to features that aren't available on the MA1 (hyperlapse being something I use a lot on the MA2). The MA2 would be perfect if it was the same as it is -- basically a smaller Mavic Pro 1 with a better camera -- but with all the features of the MA1, plus (i.e. product advancement). 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.
The Mavic Air 2 uses the DJI Fly app, introduced with last year's Mavic Mini. If you're upgrading from the original Air, you'll find its interface similar enough to the older DJI Go app. It's available for Android and iOS platforms; I tested the drone with an iPhone 8 Plus running DJI Fly. 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 I will note that the drone has a tendency to increase altitude on its own—not by much, but enough where you'll want to take extra care when flying beneath low-hanging branches; there are no upward-facing obstacle sensors. It might be of interest that, in both drones, descent speeds are that bit slower than ascent because hovering in general creates a natural instability and when the props are at a reduced speed it takes slightly longer to compensate for it. By contrast ascent is slightly self-correcting so can be faster.That said, it's not the best camera you can get in a small drone for imaging; I still give preference to the larger, 1-inch sensor camera in the Mavic 2 Pro. It's "only" 20MP, but that's not what matters most. There are some basic camera controls on the remote too. You'll find the control wheel on the left shoulder; it tilts the camera up and down. The Photo/Record button is at the right shoulder—use it to snap an image or start a video from the remote. If you prefer to control recording via the app, you can do that too.
DJI's Fly app has been refreshed since we first used it, and now comes complete with guides and example videos, so that you can see what kind of footage you'll be capturing in its various modes. Despite its age, the DJI Mavic Mini is still one of the best beginner-friendly drones you can buy. The Mini 2, which succeeded it in April 2020, did bring 4K video powers, Ocusync transmission for greater range, and the ability to shoot raw photos –but if none of those are important to you, then the Mavic Mini remains a very solid buy. On the left side of the controller is a micro USB port for charging and connecting it to your phone. The drone also ships with Lightning, micro USB, and USB-C cables, so whatever smartphone you have, provided its software is compatible with the DJI Mavic Mini's Fly app, you're catered for.Where the app excels for power users is the expanded menu, accessible by hitting the three dots in the top right. This is where max altitude and distance can be set, as well as your Mini 2’s home point. The Mini 2 and Air 2 have very similar looking controllers, and both use DJI’s OcuSync 2.0 radio system which boosts the reliability of the signal meaning it should be fine within legal operating ranges – and then some. In use both are the same too – charge the remote, then when you reach your flying location pull up the phone grip and clip your phone in. The Air 2 does offer an higher live view at 1080p but on a typical phone screen the difference between 720p and 1080p video preview isn’t as much use as you might expect, and what really matters is the video you’re recording is to a Micro SD card onboard which should be uninterrupted either way. Finally, Scene Recognition is a mode that can recognize five scene types – sunsets, blue skies, grass, snow, and trees, and optimizes settings in in-camera JPEG processing to each. Again, this can be achieved manually in Raw processing software such as Adobe Lightroom. The great thing here though is that regardless of how experienced you are at photography, everyone is catered for.
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