DJI is back this year with an updated version, the Mini 2. It uses the same 249g airframe, but offers some real upgrades that make it a more appealing drone for newbies.

For one, its motors are more powerful and a bit more efficient. The Mini 2 is rated to fly in stronger winds, up to 39 kph from 28 kph, and its battery promises 31 minutes of flight time. It still doesn’t have any sort of obstacle detection, but the stronger motors make it a bit safer to fly on breezy days.

The connection between remote control and drone is also enhanced. The original Mini’s Wi-Fi connection could sputter, even when keeping the drone within visual range.

The Mini 2 uses DJI OcuSync 2.0 for communication, and uses a remote like the one from the pricier Mavic Air 2. The maximum range for the pair is a stunning 10 km, triple that of the first version of the drone. A stronger, more reliable wireless connection is a welcome upgrade.

The Mini 2 uses the same camera hardware, but there are improvements there too. For one, the video resolution is bumped to 4K with a 30-fps frame rate and a digital zoom option. You can enjoy a lossless quality zoom at lower resolutions — the Mini 2 also supports 2.7K and 1080p (2K) recording offered by the original Mavic Mini.

The 12MP still resolution continues, but DJI adds Raw image support. You can still happily snap aerial shots in JPG format, but using Raw offers more room to tone and edit images to taste.

There are some enhancements to make photos and videos easier to edit on your phone, too. The Mini 2 supports faster file transfers to your handset via its remote, and can be set to automatically offload footage upon landing.

The DJI Mini 2 is priced at US$449, a bit of an increase when compared with the US$399 Mavic Mini. DJI is also selling a Fly More combo for US$599 — it includes two additional batteries (for a total of three), a multi-battery charger and a carrying case.

(SD-Agencies)