In 2019, DJI released its first travel-friendly and lightweight drone, the DJI Mavic Mini, which became a big hit among travelers who are looking for a drone that doesn't take up too much space and doesn't weigh a ton.
I got mine right after it was released in November 2019, went on a trip with it around Thailand, and I wrote a complete review of the DJI Mavic Mini, praising its compactness and the ability to shoot videos and pictures that are beyond any other drones of this size.
I did enjoy my time with the DJI Mavic Mini, but there were a few caveats mentioned in the review that I found could make the experience of flying the drone much better, such as having a better and more reliable control transmission, the ability to shoot 4K videos and RAW photos, among other things.
Now, with the second iteration, DJI is at it again with the release of the DJI Mini 2 drone, the successor of the DJI Mavic Mini drone, which addressed many of the problems I had with the first iteration and goes beyond it. The best travel drone by DJI just got even better!
Without further ado, let's take a look at why the DJI Mini 2 is the best travel drone to buy right now, how it blew its predecessor out of the water, and why it is worth an upgrade, even if you already own the DJI Mavic Mini.
- Quick Summary of DJI Mini 2
- DJI Mini 2 Specifications
- What to Look For In A Travel Drone?
- What I Love Most About the DJI Mini 2 Travel Drone
- The Drawbacks of the DJI Mini 2
- Sample Photos From The DJI Mini 2
- Sample Videos From The DJI Mini 2
- The Verdict: The DJI Mini 2 Is the Best Travel Drone to Buy
- Looking To Buy The DJI Mini 2?
- Further Reading for Resources
Quick Summary of DJI Mini 2
If you are short on time, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of using the DJI Mini 2 as a travel drone, and a link to check the recent price of the DJI Mini 2 below:
- Small and lightweight.
- Shoots 4K video & RAW photos.
- 31 minutes of flight time.
- Long-range and reliable.
- No active tracking.
- No object avoidance.
- The DJI Fly app crashes frequently.
DJI Mini 2 Specifications
Let's first start with the basics and review the important specifications of the DJI Mini 2 that travelers need to know before we continue with the complete review.
This is by no means a complete list of specifications, but specifications that I think are relevant to us travelers. To view a full specification, be sure to visit the official DJI Mini 2 page.
- Weight: 249 g
- Dimensions: Folded: 138×81×58 mm (L×W×H), Unfolded: 159×203×56 mm (L×W×H)
- Max Flight Time: 31 minutes.
- Maximum Flying Distance: 6 - 10 km
- Max Still Image Resolution: 4000×3000 RAW
- Max Video Resolution: 4K: 3840×2160 at 24/25/30fps
- 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 Mini 2 and my experience using it while traveling.
What to Look For In A Travel Drone?
Weight & Dimensions: The first thing to look for in a travel drone is, as you guessed it, the weight and size of the drone. One of the things that prevented me from getting a travel drone sooner is its bulky size and weight.
With the drone itself, as well as the remote control and spare batteries, the additional weight of taking a drone with you when you travel can add up really fast. Therefore, you will have to be very careful in picking a drone that you will want to carry around in your backpack all day without tiring your back.
If you are looking for a backpack that will allow you to securely carry a drone as well as other camera gear, I highly recommend you check out the stylish and functional camera backpack I currently use, the Langly Alpha Globetrotter backpack.
Flight Time: Flight time is another important factor to consider, especially for travelers who often find themselves out and about all day and do not have the luxury of constantly charging their drone.
Also, the longer the flight time, the safer it is for you to retrieve your drone before the battery runs out. It will also provide you with greater freedom to set up your shots and experiment with your drone while it is in the air.
Camera Quality: And of course, the most important factor of all is the camera quality and how well the drone takes pictures and videos. Nowadays, drone technologies have been improving by leaps and bounds, thanks to ongoing innovation and the competition from various brands that continue to top one another with new products every year.
So, with so many innovations happening in the industry, you should expect your drone to be able to shoot 4K quality video now. It should also have at least a 3-axis gimbal and be able to shoot RAW images so you can post-process the photos as you see fit.
In my opinion, these are the three most important factors to consider before buying a travel drone, and fortunately, the DJI Mini 2 ticks all these boxes and goes even beyond them. Want to know why the DJI Mini 2 is the best travel drone to get? Let's find out in the next section.
What I Love Most About the DJI Mini 2 Travel Drone
Extremely Light and Compact
The DJI Mini 2 maintains its advantage from the first iteration, the DJI Mavic Mini, with almost identical weight and size of the drone. In fact, the DJI Mini 2 is even lighter than the Mavic Mini, weighing only 242g (0.53lb), 7 grams lighter than the Mavic Mini, which is pretty incredible.
Since the DJI Mini 2 weighs less than 249g (0.54lb), you do not have to register your drone with the FAA (if you are in the US) or any other aviation association body in your country, which is a huge advantage over drones like the DJI Air 2S and DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
The DJI Mini 2, when folded, is even smaller than an iPhone XS MAX, which is mind-blowing. With such a small size, you can easily store your drone in a small camera insert in your backpack, together with its spare batteries and the remote control, without taking up too much space.
One of the things that is a little different when you compare the DJI Mini 2 to its predecessor size-wise is the increase in the remote control size. The DJI Mini 2 actually has a larger remote control due to its new transmission technology, so you will require a little bit more space for the DJI Mini 2 when packing.
That said, the transmission and reliability improvement that come with the bigger remote control definitely outweigh the extra space you have to get used to, which is what we will discuss next.
Great Range and Reliable Control
The DJI Mini 2 finally comes equipped with DJI OcuSync 2.0 technology, a new transmission technology that allows for better video transmission feed, a transmission range of 6 - 10 km, and improved reliability when flying.
The DJI Mini 2 no longer uses Wi-Fi, like the DJI Mavic Mini, to communicate between the drone and its remote control. I always found this method to be quite unreliable at times, especially when there is a lot of Wi-Fi interference from other Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
With OcuSync 2.0 technology, I finally feel safe to push the limits and fly my drone reliably without fearing that I will lose control of the drone due to unforeseen signal interferences.
I took my DJI Mini 2 on a field test, and I was able to fly over 500 meters (0.31 mi) high and more than 2 km (1.24 mi) away without losing video feed or control of the drone. I was never able to do that with my old DJI Mavic Mini.
Despite the increase in remote control size, the improved range and better reliability that come with using OcuSync 2.0 technology make the experience of flying the DJI Mini 2 drone much more delightful than flying the DJI Mavic Mini, which I think is well worth the sacrifice.
Shoots RAW images and 4K videos
The DJI Mini 2 also shoots 4K and RAW images now, making it a much more capable camera drone in every way when compared to its predecessor, the DJI Mavic Mini, which only shoots 2.7K video and only JPEG pictures.
You can capture aerial footage in greater detail and sharpness with the ability to shoot 4K. Additionally, you can shoot RAW images, which will help you salvage details through post-processing from aerial images shot in non-ideal lighting conditions, such as shooting against the sun, etc.
Trust me, you won't find a better camera from a drone of this size. If you already have the Mavic Mini and are looking for a drone of the same size that can shoot better photos and videos, upgrading to the DJI Mini 2 is a no-brainer.
Long Flight Time
Another advantage of the DJI Mini 2 that was carried over from its predecessor is the long flight time, which is around 31 minutes - one minute longer than the Mavic Mini drone.
With such a long flight time, you will be able to fly around longer, giving you plenty of time to scout around the area, find the best angles, frame up a shot, and experiment with features like Quick Shots, Panorama, and Wide-Angle shot, all on one battery.
And if you buy the Fly More Combo version of the drone, which I highly recommend, you will also get 2 extra batteries that will allow you to fly for around 1.5 hours using 3 batteries. This is more than enough for a day of exploration before you have to recharge your drone.
The Drawbacks of the DJI Mini 2
No Active Tracking
Not all of the new features on the DJI Mini 2 solve the problems I had with the DJI Mavic Mini. The DJI Mini 2 still doesn't come with Active Tracking technology, which allows the drone to follow a subject without having to be controlled.
Since I am a solo traveler, I could really use this feature to take a video of myself interacting with the element, hands-free. Unfortunately, DJI decided not to add the Active Track feature on this iteration, and I believe it may have to do with the next gripe I have with the DJI Mini 2.
No Obstacle Avoidance
The DJI Mini 2 still does not come with obstacle avoidance technology like its more expensive models such as the DJI Air 2S and DJI Mavic 2 Pro, and this may be the reason why we still do not have the Active Tracking feature.
The lack of Obstacle Avoidance feature can also be attributed to one of the advantages of the DJI Mini 2: its weight of less than 249 g, which makes the drone appealing to travelers like myself.
In order to keep the drone below the weight limit, they had to remove some features, and I believe the Obstacle Avoidance technology is one of those features that didn't make the cut. That, or they do not want this drone to cannibalize its more expensive models.
Either way, the DJI Mini 2, in my opinion, would have been the best travel drone of all time if it were able to squeeze in the Obstacle Avoidance and Active Tracking features without exceeding the 249 g weight limit.
The DJI Fly App Randomly Crashing
As I spent more than a week exploring the South of Thailand with my DJI Mini 2, I often encountered instances where the DJI Fly App would just crash randomly when I was controlling my drone mid-flight. It was quite heart-wracking, but the app would just restart itself, and I was able to control my drone again.
I didn't encounter this issue using the same DJI Fly App with my old DJI Mavic Mini, so I am not sure if this is an app issue or if my phone is too old to use the DJI Fly app and the Mini 2 reliably.
Either way, I am sure this is a software problem, not a hardware problem, and it should be easily fixed with a software update. I just thought you should know if you are planning to buy the DJI Mini 2 drone and you have a 4-year-old phone (Google Pixel 2) like I do.
Sample Photos From The DJI Mini 2
A photo is worth a thousand words, so here are some of my favorite aerial shots I took with my new DJI Mini 2 around Thailand.
A sample aerial shot with the DJI Mini 2 of the Pavillion of Enlightened at the Ancient City in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
A sample aerial shot with the DJI Mini 2 of the Fish Temple at the Ancient City in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
A sample aerial shot with the DJI Mini 2 of a lotus pond in the Sam Roi Yod National Park in Thailand. Shot about 1km above ground at sunset.
A sample aerial shot with the DJI Mini 2 of a quarry landscape in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
A sample aerial shot with the DJI Mini 2 in a high contrast situation with the shadow details pulled up and retained via post-processing. It was at Khao Ngu Park in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
Sample Videos From The DJI Mini 2
A sample video of DJI Mini 2 flying above Sam Roi Yod National Park in Thailand.
A sample video of DJI Mini 2 flying above a temple mountain in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
A sample video of Quick Shots with the DJI Mini 2 flying above a temple mountain in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.
The Verdict: The DJI Mini 2 Is the Best Travel Drone to Buy
After spending more than a month constantly testing the new DJI Mini 2 straight in the field as a travel drone, I can definitely say that this drone is the best travel drone you can buy right now if you are looking for a capable drone that is not a hassle to carry around with you.
The drone can shoot 4K video with excellent detail, shoot RAW photos, and has OcuSync 2.0 technology, which is one of the most reliable long-range transmission controls among all other drones. The DJI Mini 2 is a beast of a drone and definitely worth an upgrade, especially if you are coming from the DJI Mavic Mini like I did.
I have never felt safer piloting a drone than I do with the DJI Mini 2, and even though the DJI Fly app occasionally crashes, I never panic because I know the remote control will maintain the connection, even when I am as far as 2 km away and 500 m above ground.
If you are a traveler looking to buy your first drone, or looking to upgrade from the DJ Mavic Mini, and do not want to carry a big and heavy drone like the DJI Air 2S or the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, the DJI Mini 2 is the best travel drone you can buy right now.
Looking To Buy The DJI Mini 2?
Looking to buy the DJI Mini 2 drone? As I always mention when it comes to buying DJI drones, I highly recommend you get the Fly More Combo, which comes with 2 extra spare batteries, an external charger, multiple propeller replacements, and a high-quality shoulder bag to carry all of this gear with you while you travel.
The DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo costs around 599 USD, while the Single DJ Mini 2 costs around 449 USD. The Single DJ Mini 2 only comes with one battery, a drone, a remote control, and one spare propeller.
To get your money's worth, I highly recommend you get the Fly More Combo. One battery is definitely not enough for travel, from my experience. Having 3 batteries on hand was extremely convenient for travel and allowed me to go all day without having to charge the drone.
If you are planning to travel extensively with the DJI Mini 2, as I do, you won't regret paying extra for the Fly More Combo. For the latest price, be sure to check it out with the button below:
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, may it be camera gear or clothing? Here is 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 Inside My Camera Bag? - A Gear Guide to the 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.
- 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
- 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 landscape? 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 it comes 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.
- 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.
- Looking for a great drone to travel with? Why the DJI Mavic Mini is the Best Drone for Travelers.
- 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 10 tech gadgets you should buy this year.
- 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.
- Want to know the secrets on how to travel the world cheaply? Check out: 16 Best Tips on How to Travel the World Cheaply.
- 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.
- 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.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
With the launch of dji mini 3 pro and object avoidance i feel mini 2 is lagging behind and due to budgetry concerns i dont want to go with mini 3. What should i do? I really want to go with mini 3 as object avoidance is there but fly more combo is much more worthwhile than mini 3 alone. As I'm getting a deal on it. What to do?
I agree. The reason why I have yet to upgrade to the Mini 3, the price tag. Unfortunately, if you want object avoidance, that is the only way to go. There is also the new DJI Mini 3 basic edition which is more affordable but still lack the object avoidance and I don't think it is worth the upgrade from the Mini 2.
Despite having object avoidance, the Mini 3 Pro only have them in front, not on the sides so it will still crash if you fly sideways.
For me, I just have to fly carefully and try not to crash it, haha.