DJI unveils Mavic Mini, a light and small foldable drone

GaryPageau , ,
DJI Mavic Mini

DJI debuted DJI Mavic Mini, an ultra-light folding drone designed for everyday use. Weighing 249 grams, Mavic Mini is portable, easy to fly, designed for safety and perfect for everyone who wants to experience the fun of flying, the company says.

Mavic Mini is the smallest and lightest DJI drone ever made, at less than 250 grams.  Mavic Mini incorporates DJI’s renowned safety technology, including geofencing to help drone pilots avoid restricted areas; AeroScope remote identification to help protect sensitive locations; built-in altitude limits; and automatic return to the launch point if the drone loses connection to the controller or reaches critically low battery level.

Mavic Mini offers pilots the ability to capture high-quality footage including 2.7K video at 30fps, 1080p at 60 frames per second, or 12-megapixel photographs using the 1/2.3-inch sensor. A three-axis motorized gimbal supports and stabilizes the camera, ensuring the footage is smooth and cinematic.

Mavic Mini is simple to operate and fly using the dedicated remote controller, the company says. The ultra-light design and high-grade motors provide Mavic Mini with up to 30 minutes of flight time, giving users with more time to explore and capture content. Accessories include a DIY Creative Kit and a 360° Propeller Guard for added safety.

“To design a drone as lightweight, compact yet capable as Mavic Mini was one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever tackled at DJI,” said Roger Luo, President, DJI. “Distilling top-of-the-line features into a palm-of-your-hand drone is the culmination of years of work, and we are ecstatic to bring a new class of drone to the DJI lineup. Mavic Mini’s long flight time, ultra-light weight and high-quality camera makes it DJI’s everyday drone – and most importantly, it’s easy to fly, no matter your experience level with drones.”

The new DJI Fly app is designed to simplify the flying and content capturing experience. New pilots can choose to fly in Position (P) mode for basic operation, more experienced pilots can unlock more capabilities in Sport (S) mode, and content creators can choose CineSmooth (C) mode to lengthen braking time for smoother shots and more cinematic footage.

Pilots can also choose from several pre-programmed flight maneuvers known as QuickShots:

Rocket – Mavic Mini flies straight up into the air with the camera pointing downward following your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
Circle – Mavic Mini will circle around your subject at a constant altitude and distance.
Dronie – Mavic Mini flies backward and upward, with the camera tracking your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
Helix – Mavic Mini flies upward and away, spiraling around your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.

Customers can choose from accessories including:

  • 360° Propeller Guard: Provides a 360° guard for added safety.
  • Charging Base: Charge and display Mavic Mini with this unique, illuminated station.
  • Propeller Holder: Travel easier with Mavic Mini with the propeller holder that locks the props into place.
  • DIY Creative Kit: Personalize your Mavic Mini with custom stickers or draw your own design.
  • Snap Adapter: Attach a toy building brick or a mini LED display to Mavic Mini to write custom messages.
  • Mini Travel Bag: Bring Mavic Mini everywhere with the custom bag that fits Mavic Mini and the controller perfectly.
  • Two Way Charging Hub: Charge up to three Mavic Mini batteries or use the charging hub as a power bank.

Mavic Mini will come in two purchase options, the standard version which includes Mavic Mini, remote controller, one battery, extra propellers and all necessary tools and wires for $399 USD or the Mavic Mini Fly More Combo which includes all of the components from the standard version with the addition of the 360° Propeller Cage, Two-Way charging Hub, three batteries in total, three sets of extra propellers and a carrying case for the price of $499 USD. Mavic Mini will begin shipping on November 11.