DJI MINI 2

From £419, dji.com

Not that we’re saying you should dodge the requirements of the law, but the folding DJI Mini 2 – the almost physically identical sequel to DJI’s revered Mavic Mini drone – carries one particular key advantage above all others: since it’s just under 250g in weight, you don’t need to take a CAA test before you send it airborne. As long as you’re abiding by the drone safety code, which basically boils down to not sending it up in populated areas or near airports and keeping it below a certain height ceiling, then you’re good to go. And don’t be fooled into thinking small means delicate – level 5 wind resistance means the Mini 2 can hold its own in wind speeds of up to 24mph, which is pretty staggering given its size and weight.

And what a drone the DJI Mini 2 is, either as an intro to airborne filming or just a fancy little thing to fly around. Given its diminutive stature, the amount that’s packed inside would be remarkable were this not coming from DJI; the camera, in particular, is very much on the stronger end of the spectrum. It can manage 4K at 30fps, and it’s mounted on a super-stable three-axis motorised gimbal, which should both mean that your footage ends up super-sharp, and any first-person view (FPV) flying doesn’t leave you feeling too nauseous.

You should be able to pull off pro-looking shots even if you’re a complete novice, since DJI has included a series of predefined filming paths it calls QuickShots. And there’s smart return to home, auto takeoff, and hover-inplace functionality to make sure not everything relies on your skill with the thumbsticks. About the only thing missing is active object tracking – so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a firmware update in the future.

“The Mini 2’s micro size belies its tech, speed and endurance”

Josh Russell, Editor

Small drones often suffer in bad weather, but the DJI Mini 2 is robust enough to stay stable even in pretty rough conditions. It’s can hit 36mph and withstand winds of up to 24mph. The 31-minute flight time means you can have plenty of fun.

FIX UP It’s not all about shooting videos. You can also use the Mini 2 to stitch together some pretty complex panoramas and wrap-around shots, then download everything to your phone without plugging in. DJI will even helpfully enhance that footage as you bring it in, to make sure everything looks the best it can. LOOK SHARP The Mini 2 looks like the Mavic Mini, but there are some pretty critical differences. It switches out the Wi- Fi broadcast system of the previous generation for one based on DJI’s dual-band OcuSync 2.0 protocol, which means a massive range increase – you can pick up a live transmission up to 10km away if the conditions are right.