DJI Mini 4 Professional vs Air 2S – Droneblog

Final 12 months, DJI modified the sport relating to Mini drones after they launched the DJI Mini 3 Professional.

They took many of the options customers wished that they had in Mini drones, akin to impediment avoidance and ActiveTrack, and match them in a Mini drone whereas maintaining it below 250 grams.

A 12 months later, DJI has confirmed they’ve extra methods up their sleeve by releasing the DJI Mini 4 Professional, a sub-250-gram drone with much more options.

When the Mini 3 Professional was launched, I used to be torn between getting it or the Air 2S. I in contrast them right here and defined why I selected the Air 2S on this article.

However now that we now have the Mini 4 Professional, will I make the identical choice? Between the Mini 4 Professional and Air 2S, which is healthier?

Suppose you’re on the lookout for the best video and photograph high quality and don’t thoughts manually performing some flight modes. The Air 2S is an efficient choice because it solely has four-way impediment avoidance.

For those who worth portability and are on the lookout for a lightweight drone with many options, the Mini 4 Professional is the most effective.

Learn on to learn how these drones evaluate to one another and which I’d select.

DJI Air 2S overview

The DJI Air 2S takes aerial imaging to the following degree. It’s tailor-made for fans and professionals who demand top-tier content material high quality.

Whether or not you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or drone fanatic, this drone raises the bar for picture and video seize.

Its key promoting factors embody:

Skilled-grade imaging with a 1-inch CMOS sensor
Beautiful 5.4K video decision
20 MP stills for distinctive picture high quality
4-way impediment avoidance for security
Superior imaging options and zoom capabilities

» MORE: DJI Air 2S – A Full Actual-World Evaluate

DJI Mini 4 Professional overview

The DJI Mini 4 Professional is a game-changer within the realm of Mini drones, providing distinctive options in a compact bundle.

Designed for newbies, vacationers, vloggers, and content material creators, it stands out as a sub-250-gram drone, guaranteeing a hassle-free flying expertise.

Its notable options embody:

Light-weight
360-degree impediment avoidance
Vertical taking pictures mode
Spectacular digicam choices
Night time Photographs mode for enhanced evening pictures
Prolonged flight time

» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Professional Evaluate (Is It Price to Improve?)

Fast verdict

Earlier than we get into the nitty-gritty a part of our assessment, let’s summarize who these drones are finest for.

For newbies: For those who’re a newbie or prioritize portability, ease of use, and light-weight design, the Mini 4 Professional is an appropriate alternative. Its stability, maneuverability, and user-friendly options make it a wonderful choice for novice pilots.
For aerial pictures and videography professionals: For those who’re an expert or an fanatic searching for the best video and photograph high quality, the Air 2S is the popular alternative. Its bigger sensor, larger decision, and superior imaging capabilities guarantee excellent efficiency in capturing beautiful aerial content material.
For versatility and reasonable wind situations: For those who want a drone that balances efficiency and portability, the Air 2S presents agility, good stability in reasonable winds, and a variety of options, making it a flexible choice for varied functions.

Key differentiating data

As we’ll see, each drones are ideally equal in some elements, although they differ based mostly on their goal market and after they have been launched.

Let’s take a look at what differentiates them:

DJI Mini 4 Professional

This drone is the best choice for customers who prioritize portability and ease of use and are on the lookout for a drone that doesn’t require FAA registration in areas just like the USA resulting from its sub-250-gram weight.
It’s excellent for newbies, hobbyists, vacationers, vloggers, content material creators, and anybody searching for a light-weight companion for varied actions.
The Mini 4 Professional’s 360-degree impediment avoidance supplies a degree of security unmatched within the Mini drone class.

DJI Air 2S

Then again, the Air 2S caters to those that demand professional-grade aerial pictures and videography.
For those who’re an fanatic or an expert searching for the best high quality content material, the Air 2S, with its bigger 1-inch CMOS sensor and distinctive 5.4K video decision, is the superior alternative.
Its efficiency in low-light situations and superior imaging options make it ideally suited for capturing beautiful visuals.

Introducing the merchandise

Earlier than we evaluate them, let’s introduce these merchandise and their essential options.

DJI Air 2S

Launched in 2021, the Air 2S got here as a substitute for the Mavic Air 2. It’s a drone I’ve owned for 9 months and one I’ve come to like.

Beneath are the principle options that influenced my choice to decide on it over the Mini 3 Professional.

Bigger sensor – It includes a 1-inch CMOS sensor, which ensures excessive picture high quality.

5.4K most video decision – The Air 2S additionally shoots as much as 5.4K, which can be nice for bigger productions the place the highest-quality footage is important.

There’s additionally an choice to shoot in 4K, 2.7K, or 1080p, relying on what you must use the footage for.

20 MP stills – The bigger sensor permits the Air 2S to take 20 MP stills, which is an efficient sufficient decision for a variety of duties.

4-way impediment avoidance – It comes with four-direction sensors, permitting it to detect obstacles on the entrance, upwards, downwards, and again.

Respectable flight time – The AIr 2S includes a 31-minute flight time, about 25 to half-hour of precise flying. I’ve used it for filming and mapping duties, and this flight time was adequate, although you must get a number of batteries.
Clever Flight Modes – Like with most DJI drones, you get Clever Flight Modes like Hyperlapse, ActiveTrack, Panoramas, MasterShots, QuickShots, and compatibility with apps like DroneDeploy or Litchi, permitting you to entry much more options that aren’t within the DJI Fy app.
Enhanced HDR – It helps HDR and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) video, permitting for improved dynamic vary and low-light efficiency.
Superior imaging – It options superior imaging capabilities like 8x digital zoom and Dlog-M 10-bit shade profile.
- Nonetheless, the zooming functionality solely works in Regular Mode, not in D-Log or HLG, and solely at as much as 4K video decision.
- Zooming can also be solely obtainable when taking pictures movies and never in pictures, and it’s additionally restricted relying on the decision.
- You could have entry to the complete 8X decision when taking pictures at 1080p at 24 or 30 fps, as much as 6X when taking pictures 1080p at 48 or 60 fps, and it’s not obtainable when taking pictures 1080p at 120 fps.
- When taking pictures in 2.7k, zooming is out there as much as 6X at 24 or 30 fps and as much as 4.2X when taking pictures at 48 or 60 fps.
- When taking pictures in 4K, zooming is just obtainable as much as 4.3X when taking pictures at 24 or 30 fps, and zooming just isn’t obtainable when taking pictures at 48 or 60 fps.

DJI Air 2S Fly Extra Combo

Drone with 3-Axis Gimbal Digital camera, 5.4K Video, 1-Inch CMOS Sensor, 4 Instructions of Impediment Sensing, 31-Min Flight Time, Max 7.5-Mile Video Transmission, MasterShots, Grey

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10/20/2023 11:41 am GMT

DJI Mini 4 Professional

The Mini 4 Professional is the most recent launch from DJI and an improve to the Mini drones. Beneath are the principle options that make it stand out.

Sub-250-gram drone – As talked about, this drone falls within the class of drones weighing lower than 250 grams. You possibly can fly this drone with out a license and registration in areas just like the USA.

360-degree impediment avoidance – That is the primary time we get 360-degree impediment avoidance in a Mini drone, which exhibits how far DJI has come of their tech.

They began with the DJI Mini, then the Mini SE, and Mini 2, which labored nice however didn’t have impediment avoidance.

Later, they launched the Mini 3 Professional, which avoids obstacles however solely detects them in three instructions.

Vertical taking pictures mode – The Mini 4 Professional includes a vertical taking pictures mode much like the Mini 3 Professional, permitting you to shoot in portrait mode. This works nice for individuals who put up on social media typically.

Gimbal tilt – This drone can also be designed with a lot room for gimbal motion, permitting it to tilt 60 levels upward and 90 levels downward. Now, you will get artistic along with your pictures.

48 MP and 12 MP high quality – It options 48 and 12 MP pictures choices. Nonetheless, the 48 MP high quality is powered by Quad-Bayer. Mainly, the 12 MP is enhanced to 48 MP, which differs from having a real 48 MP picture.

D-Log and HLG – It options D-Log and HLG, which have been unavailable within the Mini 3 Professional, providing you with extra room for post-processing.

Respectable sensor dimension – DJI didn’t change the sensor dimension because the Mini 4 Professional options the identical f/1.7, 24-mm 1/1.3 CMOS sensor that provides a most decision of 4K at 60 fps and 4K 100 fps for slow-motion footage. The one distinction is that the Mini 4 Professional now helps HDR HLG and D-Log M.

Enhanced ISO efficiency – The Night time Photographs Mode optimizes the drone’s ISO settings to make sure higher publicity in dimly lit environments. This implies you may seize extra element and readability in your evening pictures.

Noise discount – One of many challenges of low-light pictures is noise. The Mini 4 Professional’s Night time Photographs Mode applies noise discount to provide cleaner, extra professional-looking photographs, free from the everyday graininess of low-light pictures.

Superior Clever Flight Modes – DJI not solely added Clever Flight Modes but in addition the most recent variations.

A very good instance is ActiveTrack, which lets you observe the topic in additional instructions.

DJI additionally launched a brand new function, ActiveTrack 360, which lets you draw the route the place the drone will observe you and alter the peak and distance from you as you please.

This makes it extra seamless to create cinematic pictures.

Prolonged flight time – This drone has a 34-minute flight time and an choice to get a bigger battery with 45 minutes of flight time, although the latter makes the drone heavier than 250 grams. Nonetheless, this battery is out there in choose areas.

» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Professional – Preliminary Setup (Unboxing to First Flight with Video)

DJI Mini 4 Professional vs. Air 2S – The comparability

Subsequent, let’s assessment how these drones carry out in varied elements.

Design

Winner: Tie

The Air 2 S and Mini 4 Professional function DJI’s folding design, which you will see of their most up-to-date drones.

One distinction in how they unfold is that with the Mini 4 Professional, you begin by unfolding the rear arms, whereas with the Air 2S, you begin with the forearms.

DJI additionally made a number of adjustments to the gimbal cowl and secured the props for storage. In contrast to the Air 2S, the place the quilt solely goes over the digicam, the Mini 4 Professional’s cowl is bigger and covers even the entrance sensors.

For higher safety when storing your drone, DJI has added a strap that holds the arms and the propellers in place.

Have you ever ever tried to pack your drone, and the propellers bought caught within the bag or snapped? This easy however efficient gadget helps stop that.

» MORE: When Ought to You Improve Your Drone? (Learn This First)

Weight

Winner: DJI Mini 4 Professional

Relating to weight, the Mini 4 Professional wins as a result of it meets most individuals’s wants.

As talked about earlier, it weighs lower than 250 grams, catering to those that want a drone and don’t wish to get their drone registered.

It additionally appeals to vacationers, vloggers, content material creators, athletes, and different customers preferring having a small and gentle drone that they’ll carry anyplace as they take part of their actions.

Nonetheless, the Air 2S just isn’t that heavy.

Weighing 595 grams, bringing it to your out of doors actions is feasible. Nonetheless, the burden will increase while you add the batteries and different equipment.

In order for you the bigger sensor and 5.4K taking pictures functionality and wouldn’t thoughts the burden, then the Air 2S is a superb alternative.

In case your actions don’t contain carrying the drone, you may select between the 2 based mostly on different options.

In addition to portability, weight does produce other implications. A heavier drone just like the Air 2S withstands winds higher however can also be simply broken if it crashes.

Then again, a lighter drone just like the Mini 4 Professional won’t function effectively in robust winds, however in case of a crash, the lesser weight minimizes the affect.

» MORE: Finest 4K Drones Below 250 Grams

Worth and availability

Winner: DJI Mini 4 Professional

The Mini 4 Professional comes on the identical worth because the Mini 3 Professional: $759 for the drone, the DJI RC-N2 controller, and one battery.

The Mini 4 Professional with the DJI RC 2 controller and built-in display screen prices $959.

DJI has two Fly Extra Combos for the Mini 4 Professional; one consists of three 34-minute batteries and prices $1,099, and one consists of three 45-minute batteries and prices $1,159.

Then again, the Air 2S’s fundamental bundle consists of one battery, which prices $999, whereas the Fly Extra Combo consists of three batteries, a shoulder bag, ND filters, and a charging hub, which prices $1,299.

As you may see, you get extra by going for the Mini 4 Professional, however the $300 or so distinction is one to miss when you really feel just like the Air 2S has the options you’ll want.

Each drones can be found from DJI’s web site and different eCommerce platforms.

» MORE: Finest Digital camera Drones Below $2,000

Picture and video recording

Winner: DJI Air 2S

Each these drones have loads to supply relating to photograph and video recording.

Beneath are their similarities and variations.

Similarities

Superior imaging modes – Each drones assist superior imaging modes and settings, together with shade profiles like D-Log and HLG, offering larger post-processing and shade grading flexibility.

HDR capabilities – Each cameras assist Excessive Dynamic Vary (HDR) imaging, bettering the dynamic vary and permitting for higher efficiency in difficult lighting situations, akin to vivid skies and darkish shadows.

Impediment avoidance programs – Whereas the precise expertise might differ, each drones are geared up with impediment avoidance programs to reinforce security throughout flights.

Clever Flight Modes – Each drones supply a wide range of Clever Flight Modes, akin to ActiveTrack, QuickShots, and Hyperlapse, making capturing dynamic and cinematic pictures simpler.

Zoom capabilities – Each drones have Zoom capabilities. The Air 2S supplies as much as 8x digital zoom, whereas the Mini 4 Professional additionally has zooming choices, relying on the decision and body charge.

Variations

Sensor dimension – Essentially the most important distinction is the sensor dimension. The Air 2S includes a bigger 1-inch CMOS sensor, contributing to larger picture high quality and higher low-light efficiency than the Mini 4 Professional’s smaller sensor.

Night time Mode – Whereas the Mini 4 Professional has a smaller sensor, the devoted Night time Mode improves its efficiency for evening pictures or low-light situations.

The jury continues to be out on whether or not it performs the identical and even higher as a drone with a bigger sensor with out the Night time Mode function, however it’s an important function on a Mini drone.

Most video decision – The Air 2S can report video as much as 5.4K, providing extra detailed and higher-resolution footage than the Mini 4 Professional, which has a most decision of 4K.

Nonetheless photograph decision – The Mini 4 Professional presents 48 MP and 12 MP choices for nonetheless pictures, whereas the Air 2S supplies 20 MP stills. The Mini 4 Professional’s 48 MP choice makes use of Quad-Bayer expertise to reinforce the picture, offering extra flexibility.

Vertical taking pictures mode – The Mini 4 Professional includes a vertical taking pictures mode, permitting customers to seize content material in portrait orientation. That is particularly helpful for social media fans and content material creators.

Flight time – The Mini 4 Professional presents a barely longer flight time, as much as 34 minutes, in comparison with the Air 2S’s 31 minutes. Moreover, the Mini 4 Professional has an choice for a bigger battery with as much as 45 minutes of flight time, although it could have an effect on its sub-250 gram classification in some areas.

360-degree impediment avoidance – The Mini 4 Professional boasts 360-degree impediment avoidance, offering security in all instructions, whereas the Air 2S presents four-way impediment avoidance.

Zoom limitations – The zoom capabilities differ between the 2 drones. The Air 2S supplies zooming choices as much as 8x digital zoom. In distinction, the Mini 4 Professional presents zooming as much as 4X.

Verdict

The primary variations between the 2 cameras are the sensor dimension, most video decision, and nonetheless photograph decision.

The Air 2S excels in picture high quality and determination, making it extra appropriate for skilled pictures and videography.

In the meantime, the Mini 4 Professional presents distinctive options akin to vertical taking pictures, evening taking pictures, prolonged flight time, and 360-degree impediment avoidance, making it an interesting alternative for many who prioritize these capabilities and worth its light-weight design.

» MORE: DJI Air 3 Evaluate

Vary

Winner: DJI Mini 4 Professional

One factor about DJI is that they’re all the time making an attempt to enhance their drones in varied elements. And one in all these elements is the vary.

The Air 2S comes with the OcuSync 3.0, a substantial enchancment on the time of its launch, providing a variety of as much as 7.5 miles.

Having flown the DJI Air 2S for a very long time now, I can attest that the connection is comparatively secure, although if there may be an excessive amount of interference, the dwell feed breaks up a bit, and generally you lose the connection utterly.

However this has solely occurred to me a number of occasions, and in areas with much less interference, I might ship the drone as much as 4 kilometers away.

The Mini 4 Professional comes with the most recent OcuSync 4.0, which we first noticed within the Air 3.

This new system guarantees a variety of as much as 12 miles and comes with extra improved antennas and higher anti-interference applied sciences in contrast with older drones just like the Air 2S in order that it will carry out higher in lengthy and short-range flights.

In addition to, although you may attempt to fly the drone for 12 miles, it in all probability wouldn’t make it as a result of battery life.

This person tried to check the drone’s most vary and will fly it as much as 4 miles earlier than the connection began breaking apart, and he additionally bought a notification to RTH resulting from low battery ranges.

Keep in mind that he was utilizing the 45-minute battery.

» MORE: Lengthy Vary Drones: Final Information

Controllers

Winner: Tie

Each drones use related controllers, however the variations differ. The Air 2S comes with the DJI RC-N1, a controller appropriate with the earlier Air, Mavic, and Mini drones.

DJI later made it appropriate with the DJI RC, which first got here with the Mini 3 Professional that includes a built-in display screen, eliminating the necessity to use a smartphone.

Each controllers are comfy in your palms, to say the least. The RC-N1 is a budget-friendly choice and a good selection for individuals who don’t thoughts streaming the drone’s dwell feed utilizing their smartphones.

However if you wish to get your drone within the air as quick as potential and don’t need any background apps working as you employ your drone, the DJI RC is an efficient choice.

The Mini 4 Professional now comes with the RC-N2, an upgraded model of the RC-N1, and the DJI RC 2, an upgraded model of the DJI RC.

The newer controllers really feel the identical in your palms because the older ones, however as talked about earlier, they’ve extra antennas and are constructed to work with the DJI O4 system.

There are additionally some delicate and not-so-subtle design variations, particularly between the DJI RC and DJI RC 2.

In addition to the additional antennas, DJI appears to have changed metallic gimbal dials with plastic ones.

Additionally they added an additional vent on the again, widened the space between the screws, eradicated the additional USB-C charging port, and eliminated the protecting cowl over the SD card and USB-C ports.

For those who had a lanyard for the DJI RC, you would need to modify its attachment or get a brand new one to make use of with the DJI RC 2. The DJI RC 2 can also be 30 grams heavier, however that distinction doesn’t change how you are feeling about each controllers.

Nonetheless, the display screen dimension, brightness, show high quality, and FPS are equivalent, besides that the DJI RC comes with a chilly temperature show in comparison with the nice and cozy temperature show within the DJI RC.

One distinction you’ll really feel, particularly when you have used the unique DJI RC, is the quicker load pace. Some customers complained that the DJI RC generally took too lengthy to start out or skilled a lag when switching between cameras.

However the DJI RC 2 is quicker, and there’s no lag, because of the upgraded CPU and GPU. Sadly, these newer controllers won’t work on any older drones until DJI decides to vary that in a future replace.

Clever Flight Modes

Winner: DJI Mini 4 Professional

Whereas each include a complete checklist of Clever Flight Modes, the principle variations stem from the truth that the Air 2S is 2 years older.

Because of this, it comes with earlier variations of Clever Flight Modes.

As an example, DJI just lately launched ActiveTrack 5.0 and ActiveTrack 360 with the Mini 4 Professional.

This lets you observe the drone in additional instructions than the Air 2S, which solely means that you can observe the topic in three instructions.

Highlight, Level of Curiosity, and so forth., are additionally upgraded to the most recent variations. Coupled with the 360-degree impediment avoidance, you could have extra choices to be artistic in comparison with the Air 2S.

» MORE: DJI Waypoints (Defined for Freshmen)

Flight options and efficiency

Let’s take a look at how these drones evaluate based mostly on their flight options and efficiency.

Stability and wind resistance

DJI Mini 4 Professional – As a consequence of its light-weight design, the Mini 4 Professional might battle in robust winds. Whereas it’s extremely transportable, it’s much less secure in adversarial climate situations.

DJI Air 2S – The Air 2S, being barely heavier, tends to be extra secure in windy situations. It could actually deal with reasonable winds higher however continues to be prone to robust gusts.

Agility and maneuverability

DJI Mini 4 Professional – The Mini 4 Professional is nimble and presents glorious maneuverability. It could actually carry out fast turns and agile actions, making it appropriate for capturing dynamic pictures.

DJI Air 2S – The Air 2S additionally supplies agility and maneuverability, permitting for artistic aerial actions. Whereas it’s not as light-weight because the Mini 4 Professional, it stays agile and responsive.

» MORE: Drone Security Options (All You Have to Know)

Ease of use

DJI Mini 4 Professional – The Mini 4 Professional is beginner-friendly and appropriate for all expertise ranges. Its light-weight and secure flight traits make it straightforward to regulate and a good selection for newcomers to drone piloting.

DJI Air 2S – The Air 2S can also be user-friendly, with options like impediment avoidance and clever flight modes that help with secure and easy flying. Whereas it presents extra superior options, it stays accessible to newbies and skilled pilots.

Impediment avoidance

DJI Mini 4 Professional – The Mini 4 Professional takes a major lead on this class with 360-degree impediment avoidance. It’s the first Mini drone to supply full-spectrum impediment detection, guaranteeing security from all instructions.

DJI Air 2S – Whereas the Air 2S has a succesful four-way impediment avoidance system (entrance, upwards, downwards, and again), it falls wanting the Mini 4 Professional’s complete 360-degree impediment avoidance.

» MORE: Finest Drones with Impediment Avoidance

Flight time

DJI Mini 4 Professional – The Mini 4 Professional presents an extended flight time, as much as 34 minutes, on a single battery. There’s additionally an choice for a bigger battery that extends flight time to 45 minutes (obtainable in choose areas).

DJI Air 2S – The Air 2S supplies a good 31-minute flight time, translating to round 25 to half-hour in precise flying situations. Whereas respectable, it lags behind the Mini 4 Professional on this facet.

Flight vary

DJI Mini 4 Professional – Outfitted with OcuSync 4.0, the Mini 4 Professional boasts a formidable vary of as much as 12 miles. Nonetheless, real-world flights are unlikely to succeed in this most vary resulting from battery limitations.

DJI Air 2S – The Air 2S options the OcuSync 3.0 system, offering a commendable vary of as much as 7.5 miles. Whereas nonetheless spectacular, the Mini 4 Professional has a extra prolonged vary functionality.

Finest SD playing cards for these drones

After getting chosen one in all these drones, under are the SD playing cards it is best to use with them.

There are numerous manufacturers of SD playing cards on the market, however these ought to information you in what you need to be on the lookout for.

» MORE: Understanding SD Playing cards for Drones (Defined For Freshmen)

Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 2S

» MORE: What SD Card Do I Want for DJI Air 2S?

Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Mini 4 Professional

» MORE: SD Playing cards for DJI Drones (What You Have to Know)