It’s been a while since I’ve written about “travel tech” and frankly, that’s because I haven’t been using anything new for quite a while. Well, since my last installment of Travel Tech I did buy an Anker power bank, but more on that to come.
Today, I wanted to briefly discuss DJI’s new Mavic Mini and why it’s important. Also, I want to float the idea of why I might actually purchase this drone…
My DJI Mavic Pro
Now, if you’ve followed along in the past you probably already know that I already own a drone. That’s right, about 3 years ago now I purchased the DJI Mavic Pro. Let me explain…
I was watching a lot of Casey Neistat videos on YouTube and saw how much fun he was having with his drone. So I saved up a few extra dollars and bought one. At first, it was fantastic. I took a few great photos with it around Chicago and even took it on a trip or two.
It was so fun flying it around Chicago and I was having a blast.
Then… as a surprise to no one, I crashed it. It was a really dumb situation in which I was flying on low battery with no phone attached. The drone tried to go home and instead climbed into a tree and shortly thereafter came crashing down to earth. I got lucky from that crash as the only thing that broke was the gimbal plate. So I bought one online and replaced it myself. Easy repair, thanks YouTube!
I Stopped Flying My Drone
The reason I bought the drone originally was to explore the various places I visited. This included Portland, Los Angeles, Malibu, Phoenix, New York, St. Louis… you get the idea. This sounded like a great plan until I actually got there. When I’d charge the batteries and plug in my phone I’d almost always have a massive software update. So, I’d go back inside, update my phone, and go back out. When I finally got everything setup I’d notice a big, fat, red, circle surrounding my location.
See, the FAA often has flight restrictions for drones. These restricted areas could be due to a nearby airport, heliport, etc. or the community could decide to ban drones altogether.
So, after a few months of trying to fly my drone and getting nowhere, I gave up. One day I packed the DJI Mavic Pro in a box and put it away. Well, that’s not entirely true, once I tried to fly it in my apartment and, well, crashed it.
Considering The DJI Spark
Around the same time I bought my DJI Mavic Pro is when DJI introduced the Spark. The Spark is a cute little drone that fits in your hand. The spark is great because it’s extremely easy to fly and even more compact. The only downside to the Spark is that it does not fold like the Mavic and has slightly worse optical sensors. Basically, the Spark is for those who want a few nice arial photos for their Instagram account.
When the Spark came out I really did consider buying one. The Spark seemed like the perfect entry point into drone ownership. However, right as I went to make my purchase DJI lowered the price of the Mavic Pro which made the decision much easier. For a slightly higher price I’d get a far superior (older) drone with a better camera, better stability, and more fun to fly. It was a no brainer, so I ended up buying the Mavic Pro.
Introducing DJI Mavic Mini
Well now DJI has an even more accessible entry level drone; the DJI Mavic Mini. The Mavic Mini weights in a just under 250 grams which means you are not required (for now) to register the drone with the FAA. DJI’s Mavic Mini carries a 12mp camera capable of shooting 2.7k or 1080p video. Most impressively, the Mavic Mini is rated for up to 30 minutes of flight time!
I’m not a drone expert so I can’t tell you exactly what this drone does better than any other drone of its class, but I find these Ready Set Drone videos especially helpful if you are considering buying a drone.
You can of course also find more information about the Mavic Mini on DJI’s website.
Will I Buy The DJI Mavic Mini
Now, I know what you’re thinking… you already have a drone collecting dust in your closet! Well, yes, but I’m still thinking about selling the Mavic Pro and buying the Mavic Mini. See, the reason why is simple. There have been a few times where I haven’t been comfortable flying the Mavic Pro in an area due to some published FAA restriction. I don’t feel comfortable flying in the area even though I don’t plan to exceed 100 or 2000 feet and will keep the drone within eyesight at all times.
That’s where the DJI Mavic Mini comes into play. Because the Mavic Mini is under 249 grams there are less restrictions of who can fly it and where. Of course, you still are required to follow the FAA’s guidelines, but at least with the Mavic Mini I won’t feel as nervous since the drone isn’t registered.
Disclaimer: I’m not an expert, do not rely on this information.
The other reason I’m considering the Mavic Mini is simply because of its price. The Mavic Mini is just $500 for the Fly More Combo which gets you the drone, extra batteries, and extra propellers. The extra batteries give you up to 1.5 hours of flight time when traveling which is more than enough to get a few great photos or videos along the way.
Final Thoughts
I know, it’s dumb, but I like drones. I had fun flying my Mavic Pro, but simply felt too nervous to fly it whenever I’d see yellow or red circles on the map. With the Mavic Mini I feel like I’ll have more fun flying the drone again and will actually be able to enjoy myself. Who knows if I’ll ultimately get this new drone, but one thing I will say, it will definitely be on my Christmas list.
Featured Image Courtesy of DJI
