DJI Mavic Mini Review Of Features, Specs Along With FAQs

This DJI Mavic Mini FlyCam review looks at the outstanding features, specifications and frequently asked questions on this latest mini quadcopter.

To fit so much technology into the Mavic Mini drone is a tremendous feat of engineering, elegant design and new innovation.

In our Mavic Mini review, we give you a nice overview of this new mini drone and it’s outstanding features, its specifications along with videos.

Throughout the post, we answer your frequently asked questions, such as the Mavic Mini FlyCam range, distance, max height, altitude, frequency, sensors, transmission, gimbal, cameras, DJI Goggle compatibility and much more.

The new Mavic Mini edition is different in many ways over the previous Mavic 2 and Mavic Air.

DJI Mavic Mini Design Purpose

This mini drone was designed specifically to have a takeoff weight of less than 250 grams.  The Mavic Mini FlyCam weighs exactly 249 grams (8.78 ounces), which in many countries may exempt it from flight regulations.

For example, in the United States and Canada, you can fly the Mavic Mini as a hobbyist without the need to register this drone with the government.

In Japan, the Mavic Mini weight is 199 grams (7.019 ounces). In Japan, Unmanned Aircraft / drone regulation start with any airplane, rotorcraft, glider or airship over 200 grams.

In other countries, a drone this size may even be classified as a toy.

Now, it is very important to know what the exact drone regulations for your country are. While you may not need a licence to fly the drone, you need to be familiar with your own countries UAS flight laws, including the areas where you are not allowed to fly.

DJI Mavic Mini versus Mavic Air or Mavic 2

Obviously, with a drone this small and light, you aren’t going to get all the features of the Mavic 2 or Mavic Air quadcopters.

The Mavic Mini is aimed at a particular market. It is fast and quiet. It has an excellent camera and fantastic intelligent flight modes for making flying and filming very easy.

The Mavic Mini also has a great price.

In this Mavic Mini review, we cover all the features, specifications including Mavic Mini video reviews at the end.

DJI Mavic Mini Review

Now, lets dig deep into the Mavic Mini features, specifications and the frequently asked questions on the Mavic Mini.

The Mavic Mini were introduced on the October 30th, 2019.  As per normal, DJI teased the watching public for months about this latest drone.  Here is the release video, which give you a nice overview of it’s features.

What is the Mavic Mini Weight?

The Mavic Mini takeoff weight is 249 grams (8.78 ounces). This drone is exceptionally small in size and  folds up neatly. For it’s size, this drone is packed with a lot of amazing new technology.

What Size Is The Mavic Mini?

Folded – 5.51 x 3.22 x 2.24 inches (140 × 82 × 57 mm) (Length / Width / Height).
Unfolded – 6.3 x 7.95 x 2.16 inches (160 × 202 × 55 mm) (Length / Width / Height).
Unfolded (with propellers) – 9.64 x 11.42 x 2.16 (245 × 290 × 55 mm) (Length / Width / Height).

Mavic Mini Price? Are There Mavic Mini Bundle Offers Available?  

Even though this is the latest mini quadcopter on the market, the price is still very good. This is because there is tremendous competition in the drone market. You can find the latest Mavic Mini prices, along with the best Mavic Mini Combo bundle available right now on the below links.

There are now Mavic Mini drone bundles available, which have extra accessories (batteries, MicroSD cards, carry case and more).  If you purchase the standalone Mavic Mini, then more than likely you will need the extra accessories at some point in the future.  So it is good to get everything at the beginning.  You can view the best combo bundles on the below link.

Mavic Mini Latest Price

Mavic Mini Combo deal direct from DJI

This new miniature quadcopter is so very light. Even though it is very light, it flies exceptionally smooth even in windy conditions.  This is because of the intelligent gyroscope and flight systems, which the latest quadcopters have.

What Is The Mavic Mini Flight Time?

Mavic Mini FlyCam has a maximum flight time of 30 minutes, with no wind and at a consistent 8.7 mph (14 km/h) in calm conditions.

What Is the Mavic Mini Hovering Time?

Hovering time for the Mavic Mini is 29 minutes in windless conditions. The Mavic Mini uses both Vision Sensors + GPS signal for precision hovering.

How Fast Can The Mavic Mini Fly?

Mavic Mini Max Speed 

29 mph (46.8 km/h) flying in Sports mode at close to sea level with no wind. The speed breaks down as follows for the different flight modes;

42.65 feet per second (13 meters) in S-Mode (Sports)
26.24 feet per second (8 meters) in P-Mode
13.12 feet per second (4 meters) in C-Mode

Mavic Mini Max Ascent Speed

13.12 feet per second (4 meters) in S-Mode (Sports)
6.56 feet per second (2 meters) in P-Mode
4.92 feet per second (1.5 meters) in C-Mode

Mavic Mini Descent Speed

9.84 feet per second (3 meters in S-mode (Sports)
5.9 feet per second (1.8 meters) in P-mode.
3.28 feet per second (1 meter) in C-Mode.

Mavic Mini Flight Distance

If the Mavic Mini is flown at the optimum speed 8.7 mph (14 km/h) in calm conditions, this gives 30 minutes of flight time. So, the Mavic Mini flight range will be approximately 4.2 miles (6.76 km) without wind.

NOTE: It is never a good idea to push your drone to the limit of it’s flight range, video transmission range or to the max of it’s battery.  This can cause the drone to crash or get lost. The anxiety of flying and willing your drone to fly back to you is not great for the nerves.

Mavic Mini FlyCam GPS And GLONASS System

Using both GPS and GLONASS, the Mavic Mini connects to a lot of satellites. The dual satellite system is used by the Mavic Mini to assist with precision flying, very precise hovering, return to home and much more.

To fly your quadcopter safely it is important to have a strong GPS signal, which is why dual satellite systems are the best.

GPS on many larger drones is also essential for the geographical tagging of aerial photographs for photogrammetry using 3D mapping software.

Mavic Mini Maximum Altitude

DJI have programmed the Mavic Mini max height to 1.86 mile (3 km) above sea level.

Can The Mavic Mini Fly In High Winds?

Is The Mavic Mini Waterproof?

Unfortunately no, this Mavic Mini isn’t waterproof. There are waterproof drones on the market but the DJI Mavic Mini is not waterproof.

How To Fly The Mavic Mini?

There are 3 ways to fly the Mavic Mini;

• Dedicated remote controller.
• Smartphone connected to Remote Controller Using DJI Fly app.
• Using Fly App Quickshot intelligent flight modes, which include Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket.

Does The DJI Goggles Work With Mavic Mini?

Unfortunately the DJI Goggles cannot work with the Mavic Mini.  DJI state the following on their forum;

“As of the moment, the DJI Mavic Mini is not yet compatible with the DJI Goggles since this product is an entry-level that is used with our brand-new application, DJI Fly.”

Is The DJI Mavic Mini FlyCam Easy To Fly?

Yes. DJI have designed the Mavic Mini for both beginners and professional pilots. It is so very easy to fly with no real experience required.  However, it is advisable to use the flight simulator and use the beginner mode, which can be accessed through the DJI Fly app.

It is also recommended to read the user manual and become very familiar with the quadcopter, remote controller and DJI Fly app before you start to fly.

NOTE: For you first few flights, it is also a good idea to fly in an open clear space. This will allow you to learn to fly at ease.

This next video is a nice introduction and shows you around the cool mini quadcopter including getting it ready for your first flight.

Is It Easy To Update The Mavic Mini Firmware?

Yes.  Like all the best drones, there are firmware updates released to add new features to your Mavic Mini or even to fix small bugs or issues.  DJI have released 4 firmware updates at the time of writing.

The update process is very simple and you can read about how easy it is to update the Mavic Mini firmware here. In that article, you can also read about the new features and issues fixed by the Mavic Mini firmware update.

For example, the firmware version v01.100.0500 released on 2020.04.23 added manual exposure for videos, manual white balance adjustment, better stability, improved download speed for photos and videos

What Can The Mavic Mini Be Used For?

The miniature quadcopter a highly advanced mini quadcopter. It’s easy to carry around.  It has exceptional flight and camera stabilization. The video and photo shots are really superb for such a small drone.

This makes the Mavic Mini open to various uses including creating spectacular videos of your adventures.  The camera is so good, that it can be used for professional videos such as marketing hotels, resorts and homes.

You can read further on how drones are now being used in our top article entitled the best uses for drones.

Mavic Mini FlyCam Max Video Transmission Distance

The video transmission distance is 2.48 mile (4 km) on the Mavic Mini. This maximum distance is calculated in unobstructed and in line of sight using the Remote Controller with the DJI Fly app connected. The video transmission uses enhanced WiFi.

Resolution Of The Mavic Mini Video Transmission

Remote Controller Video Transmission;

• 720p @ 30 frames per second.

Video Transmission Latency On The Mavic Mini

The latency of video from the Mavic Mini to your mobile device is between 170 to 240 milliseconds.  This very much depends on the performance of the mobile device and signal interference.

There is no obstacle avoidance in the Mavic Mini as it doesn’t have the sensing technology built in to detect and avoid obstacles.  It was too difficult to fit this into such a small quadcopter.

There is a vision system in the Mavic Mini, which along with the GPS is used for precise flying and hovering. To fly safely there is Mavic Mini propeller guards available to buy as an option. These will protect the propellers and improve flight safety.

Obstacle detection and avoidance is super technology and you can read further on the latest obstacle detection and collision avoidance drones here.

DJI Mavic Mini Return To Home Safety Feature

The Return to Home (RTH) function will bring the Mavic Mini back to the last recorded home point. The are 3 types of Return to Home;

Smart RTH: This is initiated by the Pilot either by tapping ‘H’ in the DJI Fly app or by pressing the RTH button on the Remote Controller.

Low Battery RTH: The return to home is triggered when the battery is depleted to a point that may affect the safe return of the Mavic Mini.

Failsafe RTH: If the Home point was successfully recorded, the Failsafe RTH will be automatically activated if the remote control signal is lost for 11 seconds.

Other RTH Scenarios: If the video link signal is lost during flight while the remote controller is still able to control the movements of the Mavic Mini, there will be a prompt to initiate RTH. The RTH can also be cancelled.

Note: When you receive your Mavic Mini, it is a great idea to read the User Manual, especially the sections on the intelligent flight battery,  return to home features and safety instructions.  Read these sections a few times.

DJI Mavic Mini Flight Modes

The Mavic Mini has 3 flight modes as follows;

P-Mode (Positioning) – This works best when the GPS signal is strong. It utilizes both the GPS and vision systems to locate itself, stabilize and navigate very precisely.

S-Mode (Sport) – In Sport mode, the Mavic Mini can fly at it’s maximum speed. Also, in S-mode, the Mavic Mini drone and remote controller are optimized for agility and speed.  The stick movements on the remote controller will be far more responsive than in P-mode.

C-Mode (Cinesmooth) – Use this mode for exceptional smooth flying which is great when filming.

DJI Mavic Mini Intelligent Flight Modes Review

Mavic Mini Quick Shots

With the Mavic Mini, you have a choice of 4 different Quick Shots. These quick shots allow you to concentrate on capturing aerial film or photos with the quadcopter flying autonomously.  The Mavic Mini quick shots are as follows;

• Rocket: Ascend with the camera pointing downward.
• Dronie: Fly backward and upward, with the camera locked on your subject.
• Circle: The Mavic Mini circles around the subject.
• Helix: Fly upward, spiraling around your subject.

Does The Mavic Mini Have Follow Me ActiveTrack Modes?

Unfortunately, the DJI Mavic Mini has no Follow Me ActiveTrack modes.  To add this technology would increase the size and weight of the quadcopter.  Now, there are many other drones on the market with follow me modes. You can read about them in our article on top follow me mode drones.

Now, if you have already purchased the mini, you can configure the Mavic Mini follow you using the Dronie Quickshot.  It takes a little practice but it can be done. Watch this below video on using the Dronie Quickshot to follow you.

Mavic Mini Camera Review

The Mavic Mini camera uses the latest 3 axis gimbal and camera technology to guarantee smooth, super stable footage. The filming output is absolutely stunning for such a tiny and light weight drone.

The Mavic Mini supports 12 megapixel aerial photos and 2.7k Quad HD videos.

Quad HD (QHD) is the resolution is around since 2015. It gets its name from being four times sharper than 720p HD.

Manual Exposure For Videos

In the Mavic Mini firmware v01.100.0500 released on 2020.04.23, DJI added manual exposure for videos and manual white balance adjustment to the camera giving you full control over the Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO for video.

Here is a short videos, which discusses the Mavic Mini camera and shows some gorgeous output from this quadcopter.

We’ve put together 6 of the best short Mavic Mini footage videos from around the globe including Bali, Hawaii, Amsterdam, Thailand, Austria and Italy.  This footage is simply outstanding.

You can view these best Mavic Mini footage videos here.

DJI Mavic Mini Camera Specifications

Mavic Mini Camera Specifications

• Sensor: 1/2.3″ CMOS
• Pixels: 12 million
• Lens FOV: 83°
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Electronic Shutter Speed:  – 1/8000s
• Still Image Size: 4:3 (4000 × 3000)
• Still Image Size: 16:9 (4000 x 2250)
• Max Video Bit Rate: 40 Mbps
• Photo Format: JPEG
• Video Format: MP4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC)

Mavic Mini ISO Range

• Video: 100 – 3200
• Photo: 100 – 1600 (auto)
• Photo: 100 – 3200 (manual)

Mavic Mini Still Photography Modes

Single shot
Interval – JPEG: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60s

Mavic Mini Video Resolution

2.7k: 2720 × 1530 at /25/30p
FHD: 1920 × 1080 at 25/30/50/60p

Mavic Mini FlyCam Remote Controller

The Mavic Mini remote controller is ergonomic and foldable with detachable sticks, making it convenient to carry and pack away. The new design works better with mainstream smartphones, which gives you a better operational experience.

The maximum length for a smartphone to fit into the remote controller is as follows;

6.3 inches long (160 mm)

DJI Mavic Mini Specifications – Other 

DJI Mavic Mini Gimbal Specifications

• Mechanical Range:  Tilt: -110–35° / Roll: 35° – 35 / °Pan: -20–20°
• Controllable Range: Tilt: -90° to 0° (default setting) -90° to +20° (extended)
• Stabilization: 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
• Max Control Speed (tilt): 120° /s
• Angular Vibration Range: – ±0.01°

DJI Mavic Mini Flight Battery Specifications

• Capacity – 2400 mAh
• Voltage – 7.2V
• Max Charging Voltage – 8.4V
• Battery Type – Li-ion 2S
• Energy – 17.28 Wh
• Net Weight – 3.52 ounces (100 grams)
• Max Charging Power – 24W

Mavic Mini Remote Controller Specifications

• Operating Frequency (Model MR1SS5): 5.725 – 5.850 GHz
• Operation Frequency: (Model MR1SD25): 2.400 – 2.4835 GHz, 5.725 – 5.850 GHz
• Operating Temperature Range: 0℃ – 40℃ (32° to 104°F)
• Battery: 2600 mAh
• Operating Current/Voltage (Android): 1200 mA 3.6V
• Operating Current/Voltage (ios): 700 mA 3.6 V
• Supported Mobile Device Size: Max length: 160 mm; max thickness: 6.5 – 8.5 mm
• Supported USD Port Types: Lightning, Micro USB (Type-B), USB-C

Mavic Mini FlyCam  – Other FAQs

How To Turn On The Mavic Mini Drone?

The Mavic Mini flight batteries are set to Sleep mode before shipping. This is for safety reasons. To bring the battery out of sleep mode, you need to connect the Mavic Mini quadcopter with the battery charger to activate the battery and begin using.

What Software Does The Mavic Mini Use To Fly?

The Mavic Mini can only be used with the new DJI Fly app, which has been designed to provide users with intuitive controls that make flight easier than ever. You can find the DJI Fly app in the app store, or on the DJI website.

Does the Mavic Mini Quadcopter Have Internal Storage?

No. A microSD card is required in order to store images and video footage.

What SD Cards Fit In the Mavic Mini Quadcopter?

The following are the recommended microSD cards;

• 16 GB: SanDisk Extreme, Lexar 633x
• 32 GB: Samsung Pro Endurance, Samsung Evo Plus, SanDisk Industrial, SanDisk Extreme V30 A1, SanDisk Extreme Pro V30 A1, Lexar 633x, Lexar 667x
• 64 GB: Samsung Pro Endurance, Samsung Evo Plus, SanDisk Extreme V30 A1, Lexar 633x, Lexar 667x, Lexar 1000x, Toshiba EXCERIA M303 V30 A1, Netac Pro V30 A1
• 128 GB: Samsung Pro Plus, Samsung Evo Plus, SanDisk Extreme V30 A1, SanDisk Extreme Plus V30 A1, Lexar 633x, Lexar 667x, Lexar 1000x, Toshiba EXCERIA M303 V30 A1, Netac Pro V30 A1
• 256 GB: SanDisk Extreme V30 A1

Does the Mavic Mini FlyCam Support WiFi Control?

Yes. The Mavic Mini uses enhanced Wi-Fi to connect the quadcopter with the the Remote Controller, which has your Smartphone attached. The Smartphone uses the new DJI Fly app.

What Is The Supported File Systems?

FAT 32 (≤ 32 GB).
exFAT (> 32 GB).

What Comes In The Mavic Mini Box When Purchased?

When you purchase the DJI Mavic Mini Combo, you will receive all the following in the box;

• 1 x Mavic Mini quadcopter
• 1 x Remote Controller
• 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery
• Two Way Charging Hub
• DJI 18W USB Charger
• 3 x Pairs of Spare Propellers
• 2 x Micro USB Cable
• 1 x Gimbal Protector
• RC Cable (Lightning connector)
• Remote Control Cable (Standard Micro USB connector)
• RC Cable (USB Type-C connector)
• Set Of 360° Propeller Guard
• 1 x Spare Control Sticks (Pair)
• Screwdriver
• 18 x Spare Screws
• Manuals
• Carrying Bag

Great Mavic Mini FlyCam Accessories

To go with the above it is good to have the following Mavic Mini accessories;

• Extra Mavic Mini batteries – It is very good to have some extra batteries so you can spend more time flying and having fun.
• Mavic Mini Charging Hub – allows you to charge up to 3 batteries in sequence.
• Carry Case – Purchase a top quality carry case to keep your quadcopter safe while travelling or storing.

DJI Mavic Mini Drone And Camera Video Reviews

I will leave you with a 3 Mavic Mini review videos which show you just how great this little drone is.

These reviews include some terrific footage.