DJI Mini 2 - Air Superiority?

Isn’t it strange? Sometimes, you want something really badly, try to twist and turn your finances to somehow be able to afford it, but still can’t make it work? And then, a few months later, you end up getting that object of your fancy anyway, without any effort? It happens very rarely, but it did happen to me earlier this year. My employer, an IT security company, had decided to allow all their employees to choose a number of high-tech gifts of their choosing, within certain limits, naturally. Those limits were more than generous however and have given me more than enough material for the next few articles on this blog.

Anyway, one of the gifts I chose for myself was a new drone, the DJI Mini 2. There’s really nothing wrong with my DJI Spark, but it is getting on a bit, and I’d had my eyes on the Mini 2 ever since it was announced. I could never make the financial side work however, so when I got the opportunity to get it sent to me as a gift, I grabbed it with both hands. It was “only” the regular version rather than the Fly More Combo that I would usually go for when buying a DJI drone but hey, even the baseline model is quite a remarkable package. Anyway, after weeks of waiting thanks to the vagaries of both the ongoing Pandemic and that utter disaster that is Brexit, the drone finally arrived a couple of weeks ago.

First Impressions

In the Box

Drone boxes are like onions. The remote controller is beneath the accessories shown here.

The DJI Mini 2 comes with a relatively sparse selection of accessories. There’s of course the drone and its new remote controller. In addition, you get a USB-C charging cable, two rotor replacements with screws and screw driver, a couple of extra control sticks for the controller, and a couple of cables to connect the drone to your phone. A USB-C to Lightning cable is pre-installed in the controller, and a single battery is pre-installed in the drone. Please note that there is no charger in the box, so you’ll either have to charge it through a USB-C port on your computer or get an extra charger. All in all, it is rather sparse, but given the specs of the Mini 2, that is still more than enough to get you flying.

Specs

This is where the Mini 2 begins to shine. For starters, it’s quite a compact drone. With rotors and arms folded in, it is smaller than my iPhone. Even in flight configuration, with arms and rotors extended, it comes in at a modest 13.8 x 8.1 x 5.8 centimetres. More importantly, it’s light, at 249 grams. This means that the drone is either below registration thresholds completely, or in the case of the EU, falls into the lowest registration bracket, meaning minimal restrictions on where and how you can fly. Still, you should always check with the relevant aviation authority in your country and of course use common sense when flying. Seriously, we don’t need dickheads making this hobby more difficult than it already is! The good news is that as of January 1st 2021, all EU member states have adopted a new joint drone policy meaning that drones like the Mini 2 are now actually usable even in countries like Germany or Austria.

Yep, it really is smaller than an iPhone XR when the arms are folded.

Despite its diminutive dimensions and weight, the Mini 2 packs quite a punch. It sports a camera capable of shooting 4k footage at 30fps in a three-axis stabilised gimbal. In addition to this new camera, the drone also sports OcuSync 2, DJIs proprietary remote control and image transmission system, hence the new remote controller compared to earlier DJI models, such as the Mavic Mini, or my own DJI Spark. Together with the wired connection between phone and drone, this should effectively eliminate image dropouts or control issues. As if that wasn’t enough, the Mini 2 comes with a new battery that allows for up to 31 minutes of flying time, which is more than double what my DJI Spark can do.

Hardware

Even in its flight configuration, the Mini 2 is hardly a giant.

At first glance, the Mini 2 appears like a DJI Mavic that someone chucked into the washing machine with a temperature setting that was just a little too high. While the grey plastic body may be rather underwhelming from a visual standpoint, everything feels rock solid. The arms snap into position when folded out and require a bit of force to fold back in, so there’s no chance of them folding up in flight. Like with all Mavic models, the Mini 2 sports a fully enclosed battery compartment, so there’s no chance of the drone and battery parting ways mid-flight, like I had happen to my Spark. Just below the battery compartment are the USB-C charging port and the microSD card slot. Both are exposed to the elements, something that I’m not a fan of. I’d have preferred an elegant flap solution like on the Spark, though I presume that this is a weight-saving measure to get under the 250-gram mark. In the same vein, the tops of the motor pods are open, exposing the copper coils below to the elements. I know that the Mini 2 is only meant to be flown in good weather, but I still feel uneasy about this if I’m honest. In a similar vein, the motor pods do not have any LEDs, unlike larger Mavic models or indeed my DJI Spark. The Mini 2 has an LED above the camera and one right aft, but still, I’d have preferred a few more strobes to make the drone easier to spot.

If you manage to lose a battery in flight with this drone, something has gone seriously wrong. Note the unprotected USB-C port and microSD card slot underneath the battery compartment.

Speaking of downsides, it’s worth mentioning that the Mini 2 has no obstacle avoidance system! While I understand that the required sensors would have pushed the drone over the 250 gram mark that is so crucial in many countries, it is still a bit of a bummer. Don’t get me wrong, I always keep an eye on my drone when flying anyway, as should you, by the way, however, I always appreciate the proximity warnings on my Spark as an extra safety level. So you could say it is a downgrade from the Spark in that regard, and a pretty considerable one, but honestly, I haven’t really noticed the lack of this function in my flights so far.

DJI Mini 2 controllwer with Lightning cable ready to take in a smartphone.

Controller and phone, in this case an iPhone XR, ready to go. The cable connection really does make a difference and also charges the phone when the controller is powered on.

The control sticks are stowed down here when not in use. A spare pair is included in the box, just in case!

I have no such complaints about the remote controller though. First of all, that thing is absolutely massive. Seriously, it’s almost twice as large as the drone. Unlike on the Spark or Mavic Mini 1, the phone holder is on top of the remote controller. I suspect that the top of the smartphone brace also holds the antennas. The remote controller connects to the phone via a dedicated cable and a USB-C port in the lower part of the smart phone brace. A USB-C to Lightning cable for iOS devices comes pre-installed, while additional USB-C to micro-USB and USB-C to USB-C cables are included in the box. Finally, the bottom of the controller holds the actual control sticks when not in use. To fly, you simply screw them into the mounting points on the controller.

Software

One of the advantages of the new DJI Fly App? Landscape right from the start, at least on iOS!

The flight screen and control interface is clean and most importantly responsive. Ignore the low battery warning, this was after returning from the last flight of the day.

The Mini 2 is designed to work with the DJI Fly app, a simplified app that may at first seem a bit limited if you’re used to the DJI Go 4 App that’s used to control the Spark or other drones. Like the drone, this app is designed for a mobile only experience, handling firmware updates, setup, training and image/video management as well as the actual flying part. Personally, I actually like the Fly App, it feels a lot cleaner and sleeker than the somewhat overloaded Go 4 app. 

Flying the DJI Mini 2

A DJI Mini 2 in its natural environment.

If you’ve ever flown a DJI drone before, the DJI Mini 2 will instantly feel familiar, while new drone pilots should be able to learn the ropes pretty quickly. The left stick on the controller controls altitude and orientation, while the right stick controls forward, backward and lateral movement. Getting the controller and the drone ready for flight is done in a matter of minutes. My recommendation is to extend the phone holder and get out the control cable first in order to insert the phone into the holder. After that, screw the control sticks into the controller. They’re held in recesses at the bottom of the controller when not in use, a clever way to minimise the risk of the controller getting stuck or entangled in a bag or backpack. For the drone, it’s just a matter of removing the gimbal protector and unfolding the arms. After that, all you need to do is turn on the controller and the aircraft, wait for them to connect, and you’re good to go.

So far, I have four flights under my belt in the DJI Mini 2, and I have to say I’m impressed. The first thing you’ll notice, particularly if you’re coming from an older or larger drone, is just how quiet the Mini 2 is in idle. They do get noticeably louder once you take off but are still not really intrusive, which is of course a big plus. One thing you should be aware of when you take the Mini 2 up for the first time is just how powerful the drone is. Granted, it’s a light drone, but the Mini 2 leaps off the ground like someone who just remembered that they left the stove on at home! On the plus side, this makes repositioning the aircraft between shots really easy, and also allows you to quickly get out of any potential danger zones. At the same time, the controls are incredibly precise, making it easy for the pilot to position their drone “just right” for the next photo or video. This is all the more true when you switch the drone to Cinema mode, which slows the Mini 2 down, allowing for smooth panning or dolly shots. The same can't be said for the other flight mode, Sports mode, which once again does what it says on the tin, and is more suited for drone racing trainees or people who want to imitate late WW2 kamikaze pilots. Seriously, either I'm getting too old or the Mini 2 is just way too aggressive in that setting!

This is where Ocusync 2.0 comes in. This is the latest iteration of DJIs proprietary image & video transmission standard. Operating on its own dedicated channels separate from Wi-Fi signals, this allows for a much more stable connection between the remote controller and the drone. And let me tell you, compared to DJI’s Wi-Fi controlled drones, it’s a difference like night and day. At the time I’m writing this, I’ve had four flights with the Mini 2 in my usual area, the local regional park. This is a popular recreational area and as such, it is usually thronged with people, almost all of whom have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on their phones 24/7, creating a very busy radio environment. Flying with my “old” DJI Spark in this environment was always a bit of a gamble as even at 20-30 meters out, radio interference could cause the video feed from the drone to stutter, or even completely cut out. Flying at longer ranges was all but impossible. There are no such issues with the Mini 2, even though I’ve set personal distance records on every flight I’ve taken so far, within the bounds of the law of course. The video feed was stable throughout, in HD no less, as was the remote control connection in general. Speaking of video and images, I've linked a few sample images as well as a quick sample video on YouTube below for you to check out!

Even shots in difficult lighting conditions come out surprisingly well.

Looking over some of the dry channels of the former gunpowder mills in Ballincollig Regional Park.

The head race and sluice gates at the western end of the Regional Park.

One of the guardhouses of the old gunpowder mills. The high "quality" of Irish driving and parking manners is also on full display here...

With such a light drone, you might be forgiven to think that it is a pushover for the wind. However, the Mini 2 holds up well in that regard as well, being able to resist winds up to 38 km/h, according to DJI. I got the chance to test this just this past Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day, when what looked to be an ideal day for flying turned out to be a bit more turbulent than expected. Despite this, the Mini 2 was rock solid, handling both the sustained winds and the gusts with ease. Flying in such conditions will have an effect on battery drain though.

Despite strong winds, the Mini 2 was still able to produce flawless panorama shots.

Which brings me nicely to my next point, battery life. As mentioned earlier, DJI advertises a flight time of up to 31 minutes on a single battery. I haven’t tested this yet, as I prefer to have around three to five minutes of flying time left in my battery when I return to land, simply as a safety reserve. Even with this reserve though, I’ve easily been able to get two flights of eleven to twelve minutes each out of the single battery that I have, and I could have probably gotten a few minutes extra. However, much of my flying takes place over water, and that’s most definitely NOT a place where you want to run out of battery! Having said that, this is still a massive improvement over my DJI Spark, where I can get one flight out of a single battery.

The traditional post-flight coffee. Importing images is thankfully very easy.

Getting images or footage out of the drone after a flight can be done in two ways, one of which is pretty conventional. Simply turn the drone on and plug it into a laptop, or in my case a Surface. It should then be recognized as just another camera or storage device, and you should be able to import it with ease. Just make sure that both your laptop and your drone are up to date, as that can play hell with the devices recognizing each other. I had a lot of “fun” with that particular issue after my first two flights. The other way, aimed at more smartphone-centric users, is a method called QuickTransfer. This is, at the time of writing, exclusive to the DJI Mini 2 and allows you to wirelessly get the images from your drone to your phone without first having to connect the phone to the remote controller and then turning on the drone and waiting for the two to connect. You simply turn on the drone,  press the QuickTransfer button, which doubles as the aft LED strobe light, open the DJI Fly App and you’re good to go. 

Conclusion

At the time of writing this, I have four flights with the Mini 2 under my belt, with the Irish weather and the limited amount of drone flying areas in my vicinity being the main limiting factors. Despite this however, even this limited amount of flight time has shown that the DJI Mini 2 is a remarkable drone. It is light, fast, responsive, has a pretty good camera, and the connection between the remote controller and the aircraft is effectively bomb proof. Seriously, OcuSync alone would be ample reason to upgrade from something like the Spark or other purely Wi-Fi connected drones. True, the lack of a forward facing obstacle avoidance system is a bit of a mark against it, but given the overall performance, it more than makes up for it, especially with the battery life. If you’re in the market for a new drone and don’t need the bells and whistles of the likes of a DJI Mavic Pro or Phantom, I’d say the Mini 2 is pretty much unbeatable at the moment.