DJI’s Mavic Mini is So Small You Don’t Have to Register It With the FAA

DJI’s latest drone has arrived. As we revealed earlier this week, it’s called the Mavic Mini.

As the name suggests, the Mavic Mini is tiny. It weighs just 249 grams and has very deliberately been designed to squeeze under the registration weight threshold put in place by aviation bodies around the world, including the FAA.

Despite it’s small size, the Mavic Mini has a competitive camera, a huge operating range, a very impressive flight time and many of the one-touch flight modes that have made DJI’s previous drone so accessible.

The notion of accessibility is key. This feels like a drone for beginners and anyone who cares more about portability and spontaneity than spending hours perfecting footage in post-production.

The Everyday Flying Camera?

Mavic Mini is another folding drone following on from the Mavic Pro, the Mavic Air and the Mavic 2. DJI say the latest model is an attempt “to pack professional-quality drone features into the lightest possible frame.”

As a result of some drastic weight loss, the Mavic Mini carriers a relatively small amount of kinetic energy and will be exempt from many regulations that apply to other, heavier drones.

Despite its size, the Mavic Mini has a high-grade camera, a massive 30 minutes of flight time and, at first glance, plenty of interesting touches to help it stand out from DJI’s other small drones.

For starters, instead of flying with the DJI Go application, Mavic Mini pilots get their own app: DJI Fly. There are also some new accessories, including the new DIY Creative Kit and a 360° Propeller Guard.

“To design a drone as lightweight, compact yet capable as Mavic Mini was one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever tackled at DJI,” said Roger Luo, President, DJI.

“Distilling top-of-the-line features into a palm-of-your-hand drone is the culmination of years of work, and we are ecstatic to bring a new class of drone to the DJI lineup. Mavic Mini’s long flight time, ultra-lightweight and high-quality camera makes it DJI’s everyday drone – and most importantly, it’s easy to fly, no matter your experience level with drones.”

Safety First

The Mavic Mini is the smallest and lightest drone DJI has ever made. Building a drone under 250 grams means DJI has had to forgo the obstacle detection capabilities found in many of the Chinese manufacturer’s other aircraft.

But the new drone still comes with geofencing tech to ensure pilots avoid restricted areas; AeroScope remote identification to help protect sensitive locations; built-in altitude limits; and an automatic return to home point if the drone loses connection or is short on battery life.

GPS receivers and downward visual sensors detect the ground below Mavic Mini, enabling precise hovering, stable flying and accurate landing both indoors and out.

Small but Powerful

Just like the Mavic Air and the Spark before it, the Mavic Mini can be flown using the dedicated remote controller. But unlike those models, it has a huge 30 minutes of flight time. The range is impressive too: it offers 4km of HD Video Transmission.

The camera quality sits somewhere between the two. The Mavic Mini shoots 2.7K video at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 60 frames per second, or 12-megapixel photographs using the 1/2.3-inch sensor. A three-axis motorized gimbal supports and stabilizes the camera.

The Mavic Mini’s Autonomous Flight Modes

The new DJI Fly app is DJI’s attempt to simplify the flying experience for newcomers. It includes dedicated tutorials to teach the basics of flight, on top of pre-set editing templates.

There are three main flight mode options: Position (P) mode for basic operation, Sport (S) mode, and CineSmooth (C) mode, which lengthens braking time for smoother shots and more cinematic footage.

• There are also a range of preprogrammed flight maneuvers: DJI’s QuickShots. These will be familiar to current DJI pilots:
• Rocket – Mavic Mini flies straight up into the air with the camera pointing downward following your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
• Circle – Mavic Mini will circle around your subject at a constant altitude and distance.
• Dronie – Mavic Mini flies backward and upward, with the camera tracking your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
• Helix – Mavic Mini flies upward and away, spiraling around your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.

Mavic Mini: Extras, Price & Availability

DJI is offering some new accessories for Mavic Mini pilots to simplify travelling with your drone, among other things:

• 360° Propeller Guard: Provides a 360° guard for added safety.
• Charging Base: Charge and display Mavic Mini with this unique, illuminated station.
• Propeller Holder: Travel easier with Mavic Mini with the propeller holder that locks the props into place.
• DIY Creative Kit: Personalize your Mavic Mini with custom stickers or draw your own design.
• Snap Adapter: Attach a toy building brick or a mini LED display to Mavic Mini to write custom messages.
• Mini Travel Bag: Bring Mavic Mini everywhere with the custom bag that fits Mavic Mini and the controller perfectly.
• Two Way Charging Hub: Charge up to three Mavic Mini batteries or use the charging hub as a power bank.

The Mavic Mini is available to order today at the DJI online store, flagship stores and authorized retailers and partners.

As is often the case with DJI releases, you can choose from two options. The standard version includes Mavic Mini, remote controller, one battery, extra propellers and all necessary tools and wires for $399 USD/ €399/£369

The Mavic Mini Fly More Combo includes all of the components from the standard version with the addition of the 360° Propeller Cage, Two-Way charging Hub, three batteries in total, three sets of extra propellers and a carrying case for the price of $499 USD/ €499/£459.

Mavic Mini will begin shipping on November 11.