It’s no secret that drones are among the most popular and most bought toys for adults and kids. They are fun, easy to use and accessible.
Whether it’s to take photos and videos from an aerial perspective to other use cases such as; rescue missions, construction, agriculture, and the entertainment industry. You can’t go wrong with getting one.
When buying a drone, it can get confusing with all available options. As new tech gets released, the older generation stuff may seem like a viable option for anyone on a tight budget. Check out this comparison between the DJI Mini 2 and the original first-gen Mavic Air to help you decide on a purchasing decision.
Pros of the DJI Mini 2
- Better range and connectivity. The DJI Mini 2 uses a newer transmission system called Occusync 2.0. It’s more reliable and offers a range of 10km. That’s absolutely mind-blowing! In comparison, the Mavic Air 1 uses wifi which is prone to interference and connectivity issues.
- Better indoor performance due to its size.
- Great battery life. 30 mins of flight time compared to 20 mins of the Mavic air.
- Weighs in at under the 250g, meaning it doesn’t require a license or registration to fly. This can be a huge advantage for beginners who are looking for something small and easy to get started with.
- Portable. It’s incredibly easy to transport as it easily fits in the palm of your hand once completely folded.
- Better controller.
- Quieter than the Mavic air.
- 4k/30fps video quality.
Pros of the Mavic Air
- Feature-packed. The Mavic Air has built-in sensors that assist with avoiding obstacles. It also has active tracking to follow people and objects.
- Versatile. Can be controlled with a smartphone
- Gesture controls
- Good wind resistance (29 – 38 kph)
- Intelligent flight modes
- Uses the superior DJI GO 4 app compared to the Mini 2s DJI fly app. Most people like to appreciate the UI design and how much easier it is to read the height, distance, speed, and battery level numbers of the DJI GO 4 app.
- 4K/30fps video quality
Cons of the Mini 2
- Uses the inferior DJI fly app compared to Mavic Air’s DJI Go 4 app.
- No obstacles avoidance
- No active tracking
- Not as versatile as the Mavic Air. A smartphone can’t be used to control the drone.
Cons of Mavic air
- Annoyingly noisy.
- Uses the old unrefined DJI controller.
- Batteries for this model are hard to come by.
- Short flight time of 16 mins compared to 30m of the Mini 2.
- Outdated connectivity technology. The Mavic Air uses Wifi which has poor connectivity and range.
- Weighs 430g therefore it’s not exempt from registration and licensing.
Verdict
Both of these drones are excellent. The DJI Mavic Air has advanced intelligent flight modes such as tap fly, active tracking and obstacle avoidance but it falls short on battery life, portability and connectivity. On the other hand, the DJI Mini 2 doesn’t have some of these features which most people find gimmicky; but offers amazing battery life and impressive connectivity. So which drone is the better drone? The answer is the DJI Mini 2. If you have more money to splurge, consider getting the next generation DJI Mavic Air 2.
Kenyon Ndezi is a recent graduate, writer, creator of kenyonndez.com; and the owner of Neonbuild.com, which is a company focused on building apps for small businesses and individuals. Follow along and get inspired!
