If you’re more interested in flying than air-selfies, the Mini 4K is better suited to you than the fresh Neo.
The DJI Mini 4K is the most affordable and powerful drone for beginners. It’s a slight upgrade to DJI’s entry-level Mini 2 SE, boosting the video quality from 2.7K to 4K and adding a 2x digital zoom to capture closer shots. In other respects, the Mini 4K is the same as DJI’s cheapest Mini series drone, offering a 3-axis gimbal, resistance to up to level 5 winds, up to 31 minutes of flight time and plenty of simplified flight manoeuvres via the DJI Fly app. If you’re new to the world of drones, the Mini 4K is a great and affordable choice.
The Mini 4K was released unobtrusively, without a lot of hype, which reflects its nature – it’s essentially the same drone as the Mini 2 SE, but with a higher 4K resolution and 2x digital zoom. Video quality is also boosted thanks to a higher, 100Mbps data rate, but otherwise it remains almost identical to the Mini 2 SE. DJI has successfully fixed the Mini 2 SE’s only weakness – 2.7K video – and offered a good value model to the market.
Although DJI later launched the even cheaper DJI Neo drone, which is also capable of recording 4K video, it is a completely different direction. If you want a classic drone experience with a 3-axis gimbal and stronger flight performance, including Level 5 wind resistance, the Mini 4K remains the best choice. However, if you’re looking for a simpler user experience and smart AI tracking features, the Neo is a fun alternative.
The Mini 4K offers decent battery life, allowing up to 31 minutes of flight time on a single charge. If you opt for the more expensive Fly More Combo bundle, you’ll get a couple of extra batteries and a charging station.
DJI offers a well-designed experience for beginners, with tutorials in the DJI Fly app that make Mini 4K control intuitive. The drone also features a number of Quickshots flight movements, including dynamic movements such as Helix, Circle and Boomerang, to quickly improve the quality of your aerial videos.
If money is no object, the DJI Mini 4 Pro remains the most capable drone in the under 250 gram range, offering smart tracking and flight safety features. But if you just want to get into droning without spending a lot of money, the Mini 4K is a great choice and currently the best drone for under €300.
DJI Mini 4K technical specifications:
- Camera: 12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
- Video resolution: up to 4K
- Frame rates: 4K up to 30 fps / 2.7K up to 60 fps / FHD up to 60 fps
- Video transmission range: 10 km (FCC), 6 km (CE/SRRC/MIC)
- Flight modes Sport, Normal, QuickShots (Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle and Boomerang).
- Battery: 2250 mAh, flight time up to 31 minutes
- Charging type: USB-C / Battery charging station
- Weight: 246 g
- Dimensions: 138 x 81 x 58 mm (folded) / 248 x 289 x 56 mm (unfolded)
The Mini 4K falls into the category of drones under 250 grams, which means it is legally friendlier in most regions, as no registration is required in Estonia for private use.
The Mini 4K comes with a single-axis camera system that allows you to take 12MP photos in JPEG and raw (DNG) formats and record up to 4K video. The camera is supported with a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for smooth video shots.
Flight performance and user experience
The Fly app and remote have several features, including Return to Home and different photo and video modes, such as panorama and interval shots. The drone is designed for beginners and offers a lot of discovery fun. The only major limitation is the lack of an obstacle avoidance system. The Mini 4K has two downward-facing sensors to help with landing and obstacle detection, but lacks the precise obstacle avoidance technology found on higher models.
The DJI Mini 4K is very durable and perfect for beginner drone enthusiasts. It offers a wealth of functionality for both fun and content creation, while remaining beginner-friendly and affordable. There’s no doubt that the DJI Mini 4K is the perfect gift and will fit neatly into Santa’s bag.
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DJI Mini 4K269.00 €