The Mavic Air 2 is DJI’s first new drone in 2020, offers the latest and greatest features in an iconic foldable design. It’s a massive upgrade over the previous generation-Mavic Air and even edges out the flagship Mavic 2 in terms of flight performance, control range, video shooting, and more.
The Mavic Mini is an entry-level drone that you don’t need to register to fly. It stands out for its great portability, super lightweight (only 249g), and long battery life.
In this article, we will compare the Mavic Air 2 with the Mavic Mini from head to head to find out the differences and help you to decide which one you should buy.
If you want a quick overview:
Get the Mavic Mini if:
- You have a small budget.
- You just want an entry-level drone.
- You want an FAA register-free drone.
- You don’t expect too much from the camera like 4K capability, just want a portable drone for traveling, hiking, and backpacking
Get the Mavic Air 2 if:
- You have more budget
- You expect a better camera that is capable of 4K videos
- You want a more powerful drone that has longer flight time and distance and better obstacle avoidance
Mavic Air 2 vs Mavic Mini Comparison
| Drone | ||
| Dimensions (Folded) | 180×97×84 mm (L×W×H) | 140×82×57 mm (L×W×H) |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs/570 grams | 0.54 lbs/ 249 grams |
| Max Range | 6.2 miles (10 km) | 2.5 miles (4 km) |
| Battery Life | up to 34 minutes | up to 30 minutes |
| Max Speed (Sport Mode) | 68.4 km/h (42 mph) | 46.8 km/h (29 mph) |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Forward, Backward, Downward | Downward |
| Internal Storage | 8GB onboard | 8GB onboard |
| SD Card | Supports a microSD with a capacity of up to 256 GB | Micro SD™ UHS-I Speed Class 3 or above is required. |
| Sensor | Sony 1/2″ | Sony 1/2.3″ CMOS |
| Camera | 48 MP | 12 MP |
| Video | 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 2.7K: 2688×1512 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120/240 fps 4K Ultra HD HDR: 3840×2160 24/25/30 fps 2.7K HDR: 2688×1512 24/25/30 fps FHD HDR: 1920×1080 24/25/30 fps |
2.7 K: 2720×1530 25/30p FHD: 1920×1080 25/30/50/60p |
| Video Format | MP4 / MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265) | MP4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC） |
| Lens | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Zoom | No | No |
| Max Bitrate | 120 Mbps | 40 Mbps |
| Shutter speed | Electronic Shutter 8-1/8000s | Electronic Shutter 4-1/8000s |
| ISO | Video: 100-6400Photo (12 MP): 100-3200 (Auto) 100-6400 (Manual)Photo (48 MP): 100-1600 (Auto) 100-3200 (Manual) |
Video:
100-3200 (Auto) Photo: 100-1600 (Auto) 100-3200 (Manual) |
| Gimbal | 3 Axis | 3 Axis |
| Transmission System | Ocusync 2.0 | WiFi |
| App | DJI Fly | DJI Fly |
| Price | Start from $799 | Start from $399 |
Design & Weight
Both Mavic Air 2 and Mavic Mini feature a foldable design, Mavic Air 2 is more like a small version of Mavic 2, while Mavic Mini differs in props and attaching batteries.
As the Mavic Mini is much smaller, it performs better when it comes to portability. The Mavic Mini only weighs 249g which makes it the only DJI drone that you don’t need to register before flying. Though Mavic Air 2 comes with a bigger size and heavier weight, it doesn’t trade in too much for portability.
The design of the remote controller is totally different, Mavic Mini’s remote is similar to other Mavic drones, while the Mavic Air 2 features a bigger controller and the way you mount your mobile device is also different. Your phone or tablet will be on the top.
Another big difference is the remote controller. Mavic Air 2 has a totally new design, it’s larger and allows you to mount your phone or devices on the top. Mavic Mini’s remote controller is similar to that of Mavic Air.
Mavic Air 2 Remote Controller
Flight Performance: Battery life, Range, Speed, and Obstacle Avoidance
Mavic Air 2 features a 3500 mAh battery that supports a max flight time of 34 minutes. With Ocusyc 2.0 transmission system, Mavic Air 2 can fly up to 6.2 miles (10 km) away with a top speed of 42 mph (68.4 kph). It also packs obstacle avoidance sensors in the front and back.
The max battery life of Mavic Mini is 30 minutes which is slightly shorter than that of Mavic Air 2. When it comes to the transmission system, Mavic Mini’s WiFi transmission is comparatively not that stable and reliable. The max range is only 2.5 miles (4 km). The max speed is 29 mph (46.8 kph) when flying in Sport Mode.
Apparently, Mavic Mini doesn’t do much to compete in terms of flight performance.
Camera
Mavic Mini features a 1/2.3″ sensor camera that allows you to capture 2.7K video and 12 MP photos. Mavic Air 2 packs a better camera that features a larger 1/2″ sensor. It enables you to capture 4K @60fps videos and 48 MP stills. When shooting videos, the max bitrate of Mavic Air 2 is 100 Mbps which is much higher than that of the Mavic Mini.
Intelligent Flight Modes
Mavic Air 2 has all the latest intelligent flight modes including ActiveTrack 3.0, APAS 3.0, POI 3.0, Spotlight 2.0, FocusTrack, QuickShots, SmartPhoto, and more. ActiveTrack allows you to follow an object automatically, the drone can also detect what the subject might be. Point of Interest enables you to set the drone to fly around a subject automatically. APAS enables the drone to set the fly path automatically when detecting obstacles. Mavic Mini only features QuickShots.
Our Verdict
As mentioned earlier, the Mavic Air 2 is much more powerful than the Mavic Mini in terms of flight time, range, transmission system, speed, and camera. If you take a look at their prices, it’s no surprise.
Mavic Mini is for people who just want a drone to learn how to fly or enjoy the fun of flying, 4K videos are not that attractive to them, they are more price-sensitive.
Mavic Air 2 is a high-end drone that aims to replace the Mavic Air and Mavic Pro. It comes with a much higher price and has the latest and greatest technology and comes with a better camera.
Get the Mavic Mini if:
- You have a small budget.
- You want an entry-level drone.
- You don’t think 4K ability matters to you.
- You want an FAA register-free drone.
- You don’t expect too much from the camera, just want a portable drone for traveling, hiking, and backpacking.
Get the Mavic Air 2 if:
- You have more budget.
- You want a more powerful drone.
- You expect a better camera that is capable of 4K videos.
- You expect longer flight distance.
Which one would you choose? Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
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