DJI Mini 2 Drone | Information & Tips

The DJI Mini 2 camera drone has been on the market since the end of 2020. The model was eagerly awaited by many drone pilots and meets countless expectations with various technical highlights and an entry-level price under 500 euros. We have compiled all the relevant information on the drone for you and give you practical tips on what you should consider when buying and using the drone.

DJI Mini 2 drone basics

Over the years, the international manufacturer DJI has made a name for itself worldwide in the production of high-performance drones. The DJI Mini product series with its compact formats was one of the manufacturer's highlights early on. With the DJI Mini 2, the successor generation of the DJI Mavic Mini drone has been on the market for a few months.

Offered is the drone with 4x digital zoom and 4K camera and a basic version as well as the "Fly more Combo" variant. The basic variant comes with a battery and a set of spare propellers, while the Combo model comes with three batteries and three spare propellers.

The entry-level price for the basic model is 459 Euros and assures buyers of first-class value for money. For the better equipped Combo variant, 599 Euros is also an attractive price. Here, it depends on personal demands and the desire for more batteries and spare parts which model meets the expectations.

Technical features and functions

Weighing less than 250 grams, the mini drone is an absolute lightweight. Visually very similar to the predecessor model, the latest generation convinces above all with its powerful camera technology. The integrated 4K camera with 30 fps and a range of 10 kilometers as well as 4x digital zoom ensures aerial shots that meet even the highest professional standards.

The SD card can be inserted directly at the back of the drone to securely store the high-quality video recordings and transfer them to other devices. A quick transfer function is available for this purpose, which can be used simply by pressing the button on the bottom. On the front, there is an LED bar that allows the drone to glow in color. These and other settings can be made conveniently via DJI's FlyApp.

The individual propellers of the DJI Mini 2 are attached by means of a screw, which can be considered an advantage or a disadvantage. The secure and tight connection to the drone is accompanied by the need to carry the manufacturer's compact screwdriver. Also, the effort of replacing a propeller is slightly greater than other models due to the loosening and screwing.

Control and handling

The remote control of the DJI Mini 2 was taken from the popular comparison model Mavic Air 2, which is considered the predecessor model. Here, DJI has paid attention to the compatibility of the control for both systems. This is an advantage for users who travel with both models and use them for different aerial shots. In the future, it will not be necessary to carry two remote controls to use the Mavic and the Mini 2 for private or commercial photography.

Safe control of the lightweight DJI Mini 2 is possible up to wind force 5. The remote control is absolutely functionally designed and distinguishes itself from other models by its clever and intuitive design. The control sticks can be screwed on in a few simple steps and without any tools, and small compartments are integrated into the remote control for their transport. This allows the drone to be put into operation more quickly, and the slightly larger format of the remote control also contributes to better handling.

An important argument for many drone pilots is the integration of OcuSync 2.0 for data transmission. The transmission protocol specially developed by DJI assures users of extremely stable data transmission of the live image, which is, however, limited to 720p at 30 fps. This is an ideal feature for beginners who want to transfer their images directly to a smartphone or other technical device and do not want to perform any professional post-processing.

For photo shooting, the image quality is 4000 x 3000 p (in 4:3 format) and 4009 x 2250 p (in 16:9 format.) The 4x zoom ensures video image quality in Full HD, and 2x zoom is supported for 4K shooting.

Maximum flight altitude of the DJI Mini 2

According to official information from DJI, the maximum flight altitude of the drone is 500 meters. In addition, a maximum take-off altitude of 4,000 meters must be taken into account. These technical maximum values can be further restricted by regional or national regulations, which should be checked before aerial photography from too high altitudes. In Austria, the maximum permitted flight altitude is 30m or 120m.

DJI Mini 2 and EU Drone Regulation

According to the European Union's Drone Regulation, the DJI Mini 2 is an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), as the drone has an integrated camera. For a UAS, registration by the buyer and user is mandatory. As part of the registration process, an operator number is issued, which must be attached to the drone.

Is a drone license required?

Even though registration is required according to the EU Drone Regulation, no drone license needs to be presented for piloting the DJI Mini 2 according to the current legal status. This is due to the drone's relatively low weight of under 250 grams. Low regulations are generally expected for models of this type with a classification in drone class C0 or C1.

It should be noted that the DJI Mini 2 is a comparatively new model and transitional regulations apply, as the drone came onto the market before 2023. It is therefore worthwhile to explicitly inform yourself about the current EU regulation again when buying. However, according to our experience, a change in the legal situation is to be expected.

DJI Mini 2 and insurance

Registration is necessary, a license is not - but what about insurance? Once again, the drone's character as a UAS plays into this due to the integrated camera, which is why you need to at least take out liability insurance for the DJI Mini 2. With this equipment, the drone is no longer classified as a toy. In this situation, it would be covered by the private liability insurance.

More and more insurance companies in Germany now offer tariffs to provide comprehensive liability protection for UAS for just a few euros per year. Before signing a contract, please check whether the details of the tariff correspond to the DJI Mini 2 drone and whether the insurance tariff is legally compliant.

Is it worth buying the combo version?

Die Entscheidung zwischen Basis- und Combo-Version der DJI Mini 2 ist Geschmackssache. Wesentlicher Unterschied zwischen beiden Varianten ist das beiliegende Equipment in Form zusätzlicher Akkus und Propeller. Wer die Drohne häufig nutzt und regelmäßig aufregende Luftaufnahmen erstellt, wird mit einem einzelnen Akku schnell an seine Grenzen stoßen. Hier ist es praktisch, auf ein oder zwei Wechselakkus zurückgreifen zu können und die DJI Mini 2 länger in Betrieb zu nehmen.

Unter günstigen Außenbedingungen darf mit einer Akkuladung mit einem Drohneneinsatz gerechnet werden, der bis an eine halbe Stunde heranreicht. Dies sollte als Maßstab für angehende Drohnenpiloten genommen werden, ob die Grundvariante mit einem Akku ausreicht oder lieber gleich in die Combo-Variante investiert werden soll. Mit wachsenden Ambitionen und etwas Erfahrung beim Einsatz von Drohnen und UAS ist der Erwerb der Combo-Version deshalb zu empfehlen.

Our conclusion about the DJI Mini 2 drone

The DJI Mini 2 is the long-awaited successor, which in our opinion completely fulfills all expectations. Thanks to the OcuSync 2.0 protocol and the very stable data transmission, the compact model sets standards in data transmission for videos and photos from the air. At under 250 grams, the drone is an absolute lightweight that can most likely be operated permanently without a driver's license.

Control and handling convince without restrictions, just like the technical values of the integrated 4K camera. The necessary screwing of the propellers can be seen as a small disadvantage of the model, but it is a matter of getting used to it and ultimately ensures maximum stability of the propellers. Drone pilots cannot avoid registration and insurance, but these should not deter them from buying. The basic version is recommended for beginners, while the combo version should be considered for frequent use.