DJI Unveils the Mavic Mini: A Palm-Sized Drone that Shoots 2.7K Video
After months of leaks and rumors, DJI has officially unveiled the Mavic Mini: an exceptionally light, palm-sized, foldable drone that’s “portable, easy to fly, designed for safety and perfect for everyone who wants to experience the fun of flying.”
At a total weight of just 249g (0.55lb), the DJI Mavic Mini is small enough that it falls below the FAA’s registration requirement, and will likely be exempt from certain drone regulations in many other countries as well. But even at this ultra-portable size, DJI has still managed to pack in some compelling features from its larger DJI drone siblings.
Here’s a quick introduction to the drone, which is obviously being marketed as the “everyman” drone that will open the skies up to a whole new spate of hobbyists:
Diving into the specs, the DJI Mavic Mini features a 12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor that can shoot 2.7K video at 30fps or 1080p video at up to 60fps. The camera is mounted onto a 3-axis motorized gimbal, and the removable Lithium Ion battery promises 30 minutes of flight time on a single charge.
DJI has also designed the Mavic Mini to be as easy-to-fly as possible. Built-in WiFi and GPS allows you to control the drone from up to 2.5-miles away, DJI’s safety technology makes sure you don’t fly where you shouldn’t or run out of battery while flying, and downward-facing sensors keep an eye on the ground to enable “precise hovering, stable flying and accurate landing.”
“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,” says DJI President Roger Luo. “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.”
Finally, DJI has also updated its DJI Fly app, adding some new features like tutorials for new pilots, specially-designed flying modes, and new QuickShot flying modes that will keep Mavic Mini users entertained.
“New pilots can choose to fly in Position (P) mode for basic operation, more experienced pilots can unlock more capabilities in Sport (S) mode, and content creators can choose CineSmooth (C) mode to lengthen braking time for smoother shots and more cinematic footage,” explains DJI.
As for those “QuickShot” modes, you now have access to:
- 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.
The DJI Mavic Mini is available for pre-order starting today alongside a bunch of new accessories like a propeller guard, a charging base, a “DIY Creative Kit” (as seen above), and more.
The Mavic Mini’s standard kit with a remote controller, one battery, extra propellers and “all necessary tools and wires” will cost you $400. If you want to go beyond bare bones, you can get the DJI Mavic Mini “Fly More Combo”—which includes all of the above plus the 360° Propeller Cage, Two-Way charging Hub, three batteries, three sets of extra propellers, and a carrying case—for just $100 more.
To learn more about the DJI Mavic Mini, head over to the DJI website or pre-order yours today.