DJI Mini 2 vs Mavic Air 2: which drone is the best for you?

DJI Mini 2 vs Mavic Air 2
(Image credit: DJI)

In this DJI Mini 2 vs Mavic Air 2 comparison guide we help you pick the best choice from the two most popular DJI drones. Which is best suited – and priced – for your particular needs? And once we’ve examined the choice, we won’t forget to point you in the direction of the best deals currently available.

The DJI Mini 2 and DJI Mavic Air 2 are the cheapest points of entry into the DJI range, so they’re the drones most people look at first. They also represent a crucial choice that needs to be made by any potential drone user (or any stepping up from toys): Should I register? The rapid sweep of weight-based drone registration rules across the world has pushed to restrict the weight of off-the-shelf drones. The Mini 2 and Air 2 sit either side of what in many countries is the crucial 250g line.

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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
Take-Off Weight249g570g
Size159 x 203 x 56mm183 x 253 x 77mm
Folded size138 x 81 x 58mm180 x 97 x 84mm
Diagonal span213mm302mm
SensorsDownward (ground-detection)Forward + Backward + Downward (ground detection & distance)
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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
Horizontal speed16 m/s19 m/s
Ascent speed5 m/s4 m/s
Descent speed3.5 m/s3 m/s
Maximum wind resistance10.5 m/s10.5 m/s
Ceiling4000m5000m
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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
Axis3 (pitch, roll, yaw)3 (pitch, roll, yaw)
Tilt-110˚ to 35˚ (-90 to +20˚ controllable)-135˚ to 45˚ (-90 to +24˚ controllable)
Pan-20 to 20˚ -100 to 100˚
Tilt Speed100˚/s100˚/s
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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
FCC (USA) Range Limit10km / 6.2 miles10km / 6.2 miles
CE (UK/EU) Range Limit 6km / 3.7 miles 6km / 3.7 miles
Phone Grip space 180 x 86 x 10mm180 x 86 x 10mm
Live View Quality8 Mbps / 720p12 Mbps / 1080p
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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
Resolution4000 x 3000 px8000 x 6000 px
Sensor Size1 / 2.3 inch1/2 innch
ISO range100-3200 100-6400
Effective focal length (EFL)24mm (83˚ FOV)24mm (83˚ FOV)
FormatsJPEG or DNG (Raw)JPEG or DNG (Raw)
ModesSingle Shot, Interval, AEB, Panoramas (Sphere, 180˚, Wide).Single, Interval, AEB, Panoramas (Sphere, 180˚, Wide, Vertical)
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Header Cell - Column 0 DJI Mini 2DJI Mavic Air 2
Resolution4K @ 30 fps / 2.7K @ 30fps / 1080P @ 60fps4K @ 60fps / 4K HDR 30fps 1080P @ 240fps
Bitrate100Mbps120Mbps
Max Zoom4x digital4x digital

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook

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