I have always wanted a drone ever since DJI released its first portable Mavic drone back in 2016. As some of you may know, I love making travel videos, and having a drone to see places from above would have added a new dimension to my travel videos, but something was holding me back from buying one. It's the size and quality ratio.
I am a light traveler, not on purpose, but the places I go often require me to hike around for days, and whatever weight I have with me, I have to carry it all on my back. Hauling another drone was not a decision I took lightly.
Before now, the DJI drones either came with a great camera but were heavy or were super light but had a poor camera. The DJI Mavic Pro was way too bulky for me to carry around in my daypack together with my other travel gear (a tripod, 2 more lenses, etc.) and the DJI Spark's camera left a lot to be desired.
Then came the DJI Mavic Mini, a drone released in 2019 that bridged the gap between lightweight, camera quality, and an affordable price – a drone I was looking for.
I was all over it by the time the drone was released, and I took it with me on a month-long trip to Northern Thailand. I flew around stunning temples in Sukhothai and pagodas atop a mountain in Lampang. Today, I am here to tell you why the DJI Mavic Mini is the best buy you can make as a backpacker/light traveler.
If you are looking to buy your first drone for your next trip, or if you are just looking for a lightweight but capable drone, this is the article for you. Without further ado, here is a review of the DJI Mavic Mini by travelers, for travelers.
- Summary of the DJI Mavic Mini
- DJI Mavic Mini Specifications
- Things You Should Look For in a Travel Drone
- Why DJI Mavic Mini Is Perfect for Travelers
- What I Love Most About the DJI Mavic Mini
- The Drawbacks of the DJI Mavic Mini
- Why Not Other DJI Drones
- Sample Photos from the DJI Mavic Mini
- Sample Videos from the DJI Mavic Mini
- Overall, The Best Travel Drone A Traveler Can Get
- Looking to Buy the DJI Mavic Mini?
- Further Reading for Resources
Summary of the DJI Mavic Mini
If you are short on time, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of the DJI Mavic Mini, and a link to see the drone's recent price.
- Small size and lightweight.
- Shoots video at 2.7K resolution.
- Long flight times.
- Easy to fly.
- Starting at only $399 USD.
- No active tracking.
- No object avoidance.
- Doesn't handle strong wind very well.
- WIFI interference is causing loss of signal.
DJI Mavic Mini Specifications
Let's first start with the basics and review the important specifications of the DJI Mavic Mini that travelers need to know, which we will be discussing in this article.
This is by no means a complete list of specifications, but a specification that I think is relevant to us travelers. To view a full specification, be sure to visit the official DJI Mavic Mini page.
- Weight: 249 g
- Dimensions: Folded: 140×82×57 mm (L×W×H), Unfolded: 160×202×55 mm (L×W×H)
- Max Flight Time: 30 minutes.
- Max Flying Distance: 4000m for Model MR1SS5 and 2000m for Model MR1SD25.
- Max Still Image Resolution: 4000×3000
- Max Video Resolution: 2.7K: 2720×1530 25/30p.
- Stabilization: 3-Axis
Now that we have gotten the basics out of the way, let's begin with the nitty-gritty details of the DJI Mavic Mini and my experience using it while traveling.
Things You Should Look For in a Travel Drone
As previously mentioned, for travelers like us who enjoy hiking and creating high-quality travel content, we need a lightweight drone that can capture beautiful moments at any time.
Weight & Dimensions: The weight and dimensions of the drone, especially when folded, are the most important things we look for in a drone. The weight and dimensions will be limited by the size of your daypack, the backpack you will be carrying around while you go out and explore a location. So, be sure to measure your daypack and see if the drone, including its remote control, spare batteries, and other essential accessories, fits in your daypack.
If you are looking for a day pack to carry your drone, I have this retro-looking Herschel Supply's Little America Backpack (Large 25L) with me on most of my trips. I am able to carry everything from a tripod to the DJI Mavic Mini drone and all its accessories without any problem.
Flight Time: Flight time is very important, especially when you are out and about and do not have the luxury to charge your drone at any given moment. Moreover, the longer the flight time, the safer it is for you to get your drone back in time before the battery runs out. Additionally, it will provide you with a greater range to set up your shots and experiment with your drone while it is in the air.
Camera Quality: Last but not least, the camera should be able to handle varying situations under different lighting. It should also have at least a 3-axis gimbal to produce smooth video footage, as well as capture enough detail that we can use to make the quality of the travel video consistent.
In my opinion, these are the three most important things you have to look for in a travel drone, and before the release of the DJI Mavic Mini, all the other drones were failing at one or more of these requirements.
Now that the DJI Mavic Mini is released, matching all the requirements listed above to varying degrees, let's see if the drone is actually as good on paper as it is in practice.
Why DJI Mavic Mini Is Perfect for Travelers
One of the Lightest Smallest Drones You Can Buy
Let's talk about the weight and dimensions. The DJI Mavic Mini is one of the lightest drones sold by DJI, and it weighs 249g. This weight is an important factor because in the US and many other countries, drones weighing less than 250g do not have to be registered with the FAA or the country's aviation association.
This opens up a whole lot of opportunities for us to fly our drones without having to go through bureaucracy like with other larger drones. With a lighter weight, you will also have more capacity to carry other accessories while you travel without weighing you down too much, like other drones.
For dimensions, the DJI Mavic Mini, when folded, measures 140×82×57mm, which is smaller than the iPhone XS MAX! The Mavic Mini will give you a whole lot of space in your daypack, allowing for more room for other important gear.
Things that people often forget about the dimensions and weight of the drone are that it is not just the drone that you will have to carry when you are out and about. You will have to carry the remote control, the propellers, the cables, the spare batteries, the charger, and the protective case, which add up quickly.
With the DJI Mavic Mini and the case that comes with its Fly More Combo Pack (which I recommend you buy), the dimensions are 265x195x85mm, which take up less than 1/3 of my Herschel Supply's daypack (25L) capacity, leaving room for me to carry other camera gear.
Excellent Camera Quality for Its Size
The DJI Mavic Mini is equipped with a 35mm f/2.8 lens on a 3-axis gimbal, which produces some of the sharpest images and smoothest videos from a drone this size.
The drone can shoot up to 4000x3000 resolution for JPEG photos and record up to 2.7K resolution for videos, which provides us with extra pixels that produce sharper video footage when downsampled to 1080p. This is what I do for all my travel videos.
When it was first released, people complained that they were unable to control many of the basic camera features, such as white balance and exposure. This caused the footage to be overexposed in certain conditions. However, with the recent firmware update (v01.00.050), you now have more control over your drone's camera.
Color me impressed, but for a drone this size, I did not expect it to be able to shoot 2.7K footage, let alone be packed with more features than the once smallest drone DJI had, the DJI Spark.
Packed With Useful and Easy-to-Understand Features to Help You Fly Your First Drone
The DJI Mavic Mini is the first drone I have ever owned, and it is also the first time I have ever flown a drone. I had no problem getting my head around its new DJI Fly app or the control and navigation of flying this drone.
The DJI Fly app comes with an easy-to-understand onboard experience equipped with videos that show you exactly how to launch, fly, and land your drone safely without anyone's help.
The Mavic Mini also comes with the Quickshots feature, which allows you to automatically shoot complex cinematic shots and perform epic drone maneuvers with a simple touch of a button. This feature has helped me diversify my travel videos.
As a first-time pilot, you will have no trouble flying your drone around for the first time at all. I was able to start flying my drone in less than 10 minutes of figuring out the app and all of its features.
The Longest Flight Time on a Drone This Size
For someone who has yet to fly a drone themselves, the flight time may not seem like an important factor. But once you have your drone in the air and start flying, you will never wish to land your drone. It is just so much fun!
Also, especially when it comes to travel photography and filmmaking, you will find yourself spending 5-10 minutes just setting up shots and experiments while the drone is in the air. With the Mavic Mini's 30 minutes of flight time, you have plenty of time to experiment, fly around to scout for a better angle, and get all the footage you need before landing and changing the battery.
What I Love Most About the DJI Mavic Mini
After spending approximately a month of non-stop flying, here are some of the things I love about my DJI Mavic Mini:
The 30-minute flight time allows me to capture so much footage without having to land and change the battery too often. And with the Fly More Combo Pack, which comes with 2 extra batteries totaling a whopping 1.5 hours of flight time, it is more than enough for me to fly my drones all day long without having to stop and wait for the battery to charge before I can fly again.
The Return to Home Button allows the drone to fly home with a touch of a button. It is also used to fly the drone back in case of signal loss, which saved my rear end a few times while flying. 😅
How it works is that first, you will have to set a maximum height before takeoff, which should be higher than the highest obstacles around you (trees, buildings, etc.). Once you hit the "return to home" button, the drone will fly up to the maximum height to avoid all obstacles and fly back to your location and land safe and sound.
The Cinematic and Sport Modes allow the drone to fly at different speeds, which helped a lot when it came to diversifying my footage, from the slowly panning cinematic shots to flying fast and low above the ground. The sport mode is also great for getting your drone back in time before the battery runs out, and all can be switched seamlessly in the app while your drone is in the air.
Sample footage of the Helix Quickshot feature of the DJI Mavic Mini. You can get a shot like this with just a press of a button with the DJI Mavic Mini.
The Quickshots is one of my favorite features on this drone, especially the Helix Shot, which automatically flies my drone in a spiral with a focus point at the center. The result comes out like that of a professional, even though I am far from being an experienced pilot.
The Drawbacks of the DJI Mavic Mini
Now, even though I love my DJI Mavic Mini, there are some missing features that would have made my life as a solo traveler much easier.
No Active Track: The first important missing feature is DJI Active Track, which allows the drone to follow a subject without you having to control it. This feature would have been perfect for me, a solo traveler, so that I could take footage of myself hiking and doing other activities without having to control the drone.
No Obstacle Avoidance: There is a reason why DJI didn't add Active Track to the Mavic Mini, and it boils down to another missing feature I wish the Mavic Mini had. The Obstacle Avoidance technology uses sensors around the drone to detect when it is about to hit something. The DJI Mavic Mini lacks these sensors, probably to reduce cost and keep the weight below 249g, so they were unable to add Active Track.
The Wi-Fi interference hinders and sometimes disrupts my flying experiences so much that I am unable to fly the drone very far without the signal dropping.
Due to the fact that the DJI Mavic Mini uses WIFI signal to control the drone instead of other technologies like OcuSync 2.0 on the DJI Mavic Air 2, the range of this drone deteriorates due to WIFI interference when flying in a congested area, such as a city.
So, be mindful when you are flying in an area where there might be a lot of Wi-Fi interference. The app should warn you about this when you are taking off, so keep an eye out on the alert and do not risk it. Also, be sure to set the maximum highest point so that when the drone loses signal, it can still come back to you.
Can't Handle Strong Wind: Due to its lightweight, the DJI Mavic Mini cannot handle strong wind very well, which is often the case when I am hiking in the mountains. When the drone is subjected to strong winds, it might have trouble stabilizing, which can be seen in the slightly shaky footage. In the worst case, it might not even fly forward, which is a significant problem, especially when your drone is already far away. I often avoid flying when the wind picks up and only do so when the wind is calmer.
Why Not Other DJI Drones
Now that I've praised the DJI Mavic Mini to the moon and back, you are probably wondering about the other drones, more specifically, the new DJI Mavic Air 2.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is better in almost every way except for two important factors: the size and the price. Although you are getting a better camera and more features, you are trading these for the two most important requirements we have been discussing in this article.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is significantly larger than the DJI Mavic Mini, with its size closer to that of the DJI Mavic Pro rather than the Mavic Mini. It's not just the drone's body, but also the remote control of the DJI Mavic Air 2 that has almost doubled in size. With these two factors, the payload you have to carry around in your backpack for the DJI Mavic Air 2 increases substantially, which is not ideal for a backpacker.
Not to mention, the DJI Mavic Air 2 costs 400 USD more for the drone and 500 USD more for the Fly More Combo Pack than the DJI Mavic Mini. So, you are not just increasing your payload but also your investment, which is a significant amount, especially for a starter pilot like myself.
It all boils down to what you want from a drone. As a solo traveler, I found the Mavic Mini to be much more reasonable to carry around while hiking and exploring remote places without breaking the bank.
Sample Photos from the DJI Mavic Mini
A photo is worth a thousand words, so here are some of my favorite drone shots I took with my DJI Mavic Mini around Thailand.
An aerial shot of the sky pagodas in Lampang, Thailand shot with the DJI Mavic Mini.
A sample aerial shot from the DJI Mavic Mini of a temple in Lampang, Thailand.
A sample aerial shot by the DJI Mavic Mini of a temple in Si Satchanalai near Sukhothai, Thailand.
Sample Videos from the DJI Mavic Mini
If you are a travel filmmaker who is looking to see how well the DJI Mavic Mini handles videos, here are some of my favorite videos shot with the drone in Thailand.
Me biking around Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park while trying to control the drone because the Mavic Mini does not have the Active Tracking feature like other larger DJI drones.
Sample footage from the DJI Mavic Mini of the sky pagodas in Lampang, Thailand.
Sample footage from the DJI Mavic Mini flying around Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand.
For higher definition footage, you can watch my Timeless Thailand video on Vimeo and pixel peep as much as you'd like.
Overall, The Best Travel Drone A Traveler Can Get
All in all, with the perfect balance between price, size, and capability as illustrated in this article, I wholeheartedly believe that the DJI Mavic Mini is the best drone a traveler can get.
The DJI Mavic Mini meets all the requirements I looked for in a drone to travel with. Its small size and lightweight made me want to carry the drone around more when I am out exploring, which is something I can't say for other larger drones.
The new perspective the drone gives me allows me to see the world in a way I would not have seen without it, and it helped me create a travel video that is more engaging and interesting to watch.
The DJI Mavic Mini is, by far, the best drone for travelers who are looking to buy a lightweight drone with a high-quality camera without sacrificing size. I cannot think of any other drone that offers a better bang for your buck than the DJI Mavic Mini, and I highly recommend getting one, especially if you are looking to get your first-ever drone.
Looking to Buy the DJI Mavic Mini?
There are 2 options available for the DJI Mavic Mini: one is the regular Mavic Mini option that comes with the drone, a remote control, one battery, cables, and one set of spare propellers for $399 USD, and the Fly More Combo pack that comes with more for $499 USD, which is a much better option.
The Fly More Combo has everything the regular pack has, plus 2 extra spare batteries, making it a total of 3 batteries. It also includes a 3-battery-pack charger, which can be used as a power bank, 3 sets of spare propellers, more spare screws, and much more.
The spare batteries from the Fly More Combo pack itself is already worth more than the $100 USD extra you paid for the pack. With three batteries, your flight time increases from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, which is something you will definitely appreciate when it's time for you to fly, trust me.
Plus, the 3-battery pack charger can also act as a power bank, which you can use to charge your remote control, as well as other electronic devices, when the need arises.
All in all, I highly recommend you get the Fly More Combo instead of the regular DJI Mavic Mini pack. You can check the latest price of the DJI Mavic Mini with the link below.
Check Price for DJI Mavic Mini
Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:
Further Reading for Resources
Looking for more articles to help you with your travel, whether it be camera gear or clothing? Here are a collection of articles you might like:
- Ever wondered what a full-time travel blogger like myself carries in my camera bag? Check out: What's In My Camera Bag in 2025?
- For the best hybrid travel camera to buy, the Sony a7R V with its 61-megapixel sensor and video capabilities is hard to beat. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7R V Camera
- If you are looking for a secondary camera to vlog or help you with time-consuming processes like timelapse, you might want to check this out: A Traveler's Review: DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
- Looking for the very best travel full-frame camera to buy for your next trip? How about the Sony a7C, the smallest full-frame camera with an EVF in the world! Check out my review: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7C Camera
- For APS-C camera owners out there, check out: What's In My Camera Bag? - A Gear Guide to Sony APS-C Cameras
- Looking to buy a new travel camera but not sure where to start? Check out our camera guide on 10 Best Travel Cameras to Buy.
- Bought a new camera and not sure what camera accessories to buy? Check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
- Looking for a good-looking and functional camera strap to buy? You are going to love the Langly Tactical, Premium Leather, and Paracord camera straps. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: Langly Camera Straps.
- Want to start a YouTube channel and looking to buy new cameras for travel vlogging? Check out: 8 Best Cameras For Travel Vlogging to Buy.
- Finding a great camera bag you can travel with is not as easy as it sounds. If you are looking for one, here are the 10 Best Camera Bags for Travel, Backpacking, and Hiking You Should Buy.
- Now, if you are looking for a camera sling/shoulder bag instead of a full-fledged camera backpack to travel with, here are the 11 Best Camera Sling/Shoulder Bags For Travel.
- Looking for the most versatile camera sling bag? Check out: A Traveler's Review: WANDRD Roam (Rogue) Sling.
- For a smaller setup, the Nomatic McKinnon Sling is a great camera bag to check out. Here is A Traveler's Review: Nomatic McKinnon Camera Sling 8L.
- If you are looking for gifts to buy for your photographer loved ones, check out: 12 Cool Gifts To Buy For Travel Photographers.
- Traveling light with camera gear is all about balancing between what you need and what you want. Here are the 8 Best Tips For Traveling Light With Camera Gear.
- After years of research, I finally found the most beautiful camera backpack of all! Check this out: A Traveler's Review: Langly Alpha Globetrotter Camera Backpack.
- If you are looking for a great camera accessory to help improve your travel photography skills, check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
- Are you looking for the best travel camera for your next trip? Why not consider the Sony a6500? Here's why the Sony a6500 is the best travel camera.
- If you want to carry just one lens when you travel, here is why the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 is the best travel lens to get for your Sony a6600 or a6500.
- This is the one lens I never knew I needed, but now that I have it, I can't travel without it! A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens.
- An ultra-wide lens is perfect for travel, and there is no better lens than the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens. Here is why: Traveler's Review: Sony 10-18mm F4 lens.
- Wondering which Sony Mirrorless camera is right for you? The Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy in 2025.
- Just bought a new Sony mirrorless camera? Check out: 15 Tips & Tricks For Your New Sony a7C, a7III, and More.
- Wondering which lenses to buy for your Sony cameras? Check out The Best Travel Lenses For Sony a7III, a7C, a7RIV, and More.
- Looking for a compact and lightweight travel telephoto lens for wildlife and landscapes? You are going to love this lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
- If you are looking for a review of the first Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens and want to see if it is worth buying now, check out: A Traveler's Review of the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens.
- The king of travel lenses has arrived. The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is, hands down, the best travel all-purpose zoom lens I have ever owned. Here's why: A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
- Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS lens is, hands down, the best telephoto lens to get for your Sony cameras, but with an extremely high price tag. Here is a complete traveler's review of the lens: A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens.
- Looking for a lightweight and affordable landscape/architecture travel lens that is also extremely capable? Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens.
- Looking for the best travel portrait lens to buy for your next trip? You can't beat the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens.
- Full-frame or APS-C Cameras? Here's my take on which camera format to pick for travel: 5 Reasons Why I'm Sticking With a Sony APS-C Camera
- Picking a camera body is one thing, but picking the lenses is a whole different game. Here is the ultimate guide to the best travel lenses for the Sony a6500.
- Looking for the best street and travel photography lens? Here is why the Sigma 56mm F1.4 is the Best Travel Photography Lens for Sony APS-C.
- GoPro is good and all, but did you know that there are many other GoPro alternatives that are better and cheaper? Here are the 8 Best GoPro Alternatives You Should Buy in 2025.
- The best travel drone just got even better. Here is A Traveler's Review of The DJI Mini 2 and why it is the best travel drone to buy.
- Already have a Mavic Mini or looking to buy one? Here are 25 Tips and Tricks for New DJI Mavic Mini Owners.
- For more travel drone options, be sure to check out the 8 Best Drones For Travel To Buy In 2025.
- Looking for the best travel wireless earbuds or headphones? Here are the 7 Best Travel Wireless Earbuds & Headphones to Buy.
- You can't travel without a backpack, and if you are looking for one, check out my guide on the best Herschel Supply backpacks for travelers.
- If you like hiking and going on adventures for weeks on end, you are going to need a bigger backpack. Here is Why the Osprey Atmos AG is the Best Hiking Backpack to Buy.
- If you are into making travel videos, here is my ultimate advanced filmmaking gear guide.
- Planning to go on your first-ever hiking trip? Here is How to Pack for Hiking and Camping.
- Technical hiking gear doesn't have to be ugly. Here is a guide to hiking gear that actually looks good on you.
- If you are a light-weight traveler and are looking for powerful gear to go with your setup, check out the extremely light-weight photography gear guide.
- Looking for gift ideas for your traveler friends or family members? Here are 16 Best Gifts to Buy for Travelers/Backpackers.
- Or if you are into gadgets, here is a quick guide on 7 tech gadgets you should buy this year.
- Are you a Fujifilm camera user and currently looking for lenses to buy for your next travel? Check out The Best Travel Lenses For Your Fuji Cameras.
- If you are a blogger as well and are looking for free travel images to spice up your content, check out the 9 Best Websites to Find Free Travel Images.
- Want to know the secrets on how to travel the world cheaply? Check out: 16 Best Tips on How to Travel the World Cheaply.
- Looking for an Airbnb alternative for a better and more authentic stay in a place you are visiting? Here are the 8 Best Airbnb Alternatives to Use.
- Looking to plan your first backpacking trip around the world? Check out: How To Plan A Backpacking Trip.
- For more resources like this, visit my Resources page.
- Want to learn how I was able to take so many good pictures of myself while I travel solo? Check out: How To Take Great Pictures of Yourself.
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