Get a bird’s eye view with DJI’s zippy Mini 2 drone

Small and nimble, it captures 4K video and 12-megapixel photos

It took only a few decades for drones to go from highly secretive military equipment to being used commercially and scientifically. Realizing the potential for private use, several drone manufacturers jumped at the chance to make drones for everyday people.

DJI is one of the companies that got an early foothold in the industry and is considered by some to be the most popular. While it has several professional photography drones, the DJI Mini 2 is a perfect gadget for someone just starting out.    

Inline Link: A newer version of this product exists, check it out here.

Testing the DJI Mini 2 drone 

The only way to thoroughly test a drone is to take it outside and fly it. For this review, the BestReviews Testing Lab initially took the drone to an open field on a sunny afternoon with moderate wind. To compare different flying conditions and the drone’s handling, they also flew it in the evening with calmer winds and cooler temperatures. 

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim the brand/manufacturer makes about the product. For this article, the tester compared the Mini 2 to their experience flying other DJI drones, such as the Mavic, the Phantom and the Spark.

What is the DJI Mini 2?

The DJI Mini 2 is a remote-controlled drone that weighs under 9 ounces. It has a 12-megapixel three-axis motorized gimbal camera for capturing still photos and can record 4K resolution videos at 30 frames per second. 

Inline Link: See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best DJI drones.

DJI Mini 2 price and where to buy

The Mini 2 is available at Amazon for $449, and the Fly More bundle is $599.  

How to use the DJI Mini 2

The Mini 2 uses your mobile phone as the primary display for navigation. Included in the bundle is a sturdy remote controller, and your mobile phone clips into the top. Viewing the live camera feed on your device, you use the controller’s two joysticks to fly the drone in any direction. 

DJI Mini 2 benefits

The most significant feature of the drone is the high-quality visuals of the photos and videos. There is a dedicated button to take Quick Shot photos, which the testing team found super useful — especially for those who aren’t the most coordinated pilots. Quick Shot lets you focus on an object and take professional-level videos to share directly on social media. 

The drone is also equipped with a Geo Zone feature, which alerts you when approaching an area where flying is restricted or prohibited. The testing lab found this to be a beneficial feature, as knowing where you can and can’t fly drones is crucial. However, the alert noises and notifications are a bit jarring.

Another aspect of the Mini 2 that the team enjoyed is the drone’s compactness and durability. It weighs less than 9 ounces, yet it's rated to withstand up to level 5 wind resistance. That makes it the perfect drone to capture amazing images, no matter the weather.

DJI Mini 2 drawbacks

Having an open field to fly the drone is the best scenario, but that won’t always be the case. There will always be the risk of flying into trees or other obstacles, and with the Mini 2, you have to be especially careful. The drone doesn’t have any obstacle avoidance software, which the team felt could make people less inclined to fly it indoors.

Another drawback (although common in most photography drones) is the limited battery life of 31 minutes. It took the testing lab 28 minutes to fully drain the battery, with the lost 3 minutes attributed to moving around a lot in strong winds. However, there are additional battery packs for the Mini 2 to increase the time. 

The DJI Fly mobile app is the default medium for controlling the drone, but the testing team experienced random disconnections from the drone and sometimes crashed altogether.  

Should you get the DJI Mini 2?

The DJI Mini 2 is for someone interested in high-quality photography or videography and who wants to take their drone on the go. It's an excellent low-risk gadget to get acquainted with flying a drone.

The DJI Fly app isn’t the most intuitive, but it’s sufficient in getting the job done, which also makes it easy for beginners.