DJI Mini 2 vs Mavic Air 2 VIDEO Shootout: Can You Even Tell the Difference?

[@DroneSupremacy]

Which one would you pick and why?

[@ketamrebus659]

Mini 2 look better if dont care about the obstacle avoidance..very easy to use and have a good wind resistance

[@AlanHunt73]

Mavic air 2 for me more power for winds better camera and more features but both brilliant drones

[@valeccylinder8703]

Hard to deside. I have air 1. Want more battery and better signal. Hm. What do you recommend?

[@paulg9042]

A was clearly better than B. There was overall better color gradients (top down beach scene) and far better resolution of the dark trees (forest scene with road).

[@lukas6485]

B looks sooo much better lol I thought it was the Air 2

[@xplmr1]

I own the Air 2 and when I saw drone B's narrower field of view I knew which was which. The fluctuation and over saturation in some of the shots from drone B also gave it away. Nice video comparison.

[@edw9270]

I liked the way you compared them. It was a Great comparison! At first, it was hard to tell. Then I noticed that the Mini 2 showed darker colours more than the MAVIC Air 2. However, it was very hard to pick, as the over all shots were both very nice. Kudos to you for this camera footage comparison.

[@ViniSimoni]

Great video! I think this shows how good the mini 2 camera is. However from what i've been searching when it comes to color grading the mini 2 seems to fall apart while the Air 2 perfoms great. I'm still deciding which one to pick but as a filmmaker the Mavic Air 2 has some advantage.

[@haiderbatool]

Really nice test! I think one way it could be improved maybe is by locking the colour temperature on both, that way the slight variations in saturation could be pinned down to the postprocessing of each drone instead of white balance variations.

[@DroneSupremacy]

Good idea!

[@ectoproductions]

They are REALLY close, but to my "trained" eye as a filmmaker, the dynamic range is what gave it away in the first shots. I saw the bright side of the building in the first clip and that it got even brighter in the second clip, giving it away to me instantly. But I just bought a Mini 2 and I'm really impressed with it so far, only wish it had the D-cinelike color profile to help with dynamic range, but I understand that DJI doesn't want to sway people from buying the Air 2. But if it weren't for the difference in the dynamic range, I would almost prefer the look of the Mini 2. One of the things that kept me from buying the Air 2 was the "oversharpened, cell phone" look that I don't like. The Mini 2 seems to have less of that which I prefer.

[@MiguelClimbs]

I think I still prefer the Mavic Air 2 footage just a bit more than the Mavic Mini 2. Thanks for doing this.

[@bmeclipse]

Blown away. So glad I waited for the Mini 2. Great shots.

[@BayouJosh]

Thanks for doing this test. the little Mavic mini 2 is great. I own it and have been filming with it for the past few weeks. It just seems so over sharpened. I think that air 2 image just looks a little creamier. The over sharpening just drives me nuts. almost looks like noise in the image. Thanks again.

[@thecavsman]

From the first 3 clips I knew drone A was much better. Much more noise on drone b when there are heavy shadows and darkness. But in the last shots the difference was more minor. At the beach almost no difference - in fact I think the auto on the Mini 2 might have adjusted better.

[@RaduBogdan2k]

In the first 3 shots there was a significant difference with the Air 2 being much better. In the last shots the differences were much smaller. Add to that the 4k60, d-cinelike, hdr video and you can see why there’s a price difference between them even before we talk about the drone itself.

[@danielkim8702]

Love it. I have the mini 2 and deciding to get the Air 2 over the mini 3 pro.

[@yomango35]

Yes I got it right .. A Air2 , B Mini 2 ... But the difference is not too big but noticeable. But my question is about the size ....in your backpack ... do you really feel the difference regarding the size or not ??? And my last question , will we see the Mini 2 working with the smart controller in the near future or not at all?? The reason why i am asking is that right now I could get the Air 2 Combo with the smart controller for $1300 and I could use the smart controller with current my Mavic 2 pro as well.

[@africanhistory]

If extreamly close then it means they are the same. 1.we only looked out for it because it was a test. Had you said nothing no one would have thought about it and accepted them as same camera.

[@akinoshoko4258]

True. I saw more saturation in the 2nd clips, but thought it was the MA2....😄

[@ТониАндреев]

I am wondering which of the two will be the better choice and this video was hard to tell, I changed my mind a few times, but the watershots in the last clip gave it away. I feel in most Mini 2 videos small waves/movements in the water are not handled well.

[@pril250]

Very close (watching on a PC screen), I wouldn't be ashamed of the quality on either. Drone B looked sharper on instances with more contrast.

[@roroger2402]

Great test Mike as always.. Thanks a lot.

[@jredits8167]

Really good video! Would love a mini 1 2.7k and mini 2 4k comparisson😶

[@aussiestubabe]

Agreed.

[@jacobmees8040]

That was closer than I anticipated, a lot of the color differences and such could easily be rectified in post processing. If you only had one, you'd really need a keen eye and be intimate with the drones to tell.

[@TriniWeekes]

wow they are really close man. especially the day shots. this is awesome, thanks for sharing bro

[@jmich5123]

I have the mini 2 and am amazed how good it is but I could tell the difference in your comparison by the lens flaring and more dynamic range in the Air 2. That said if you have irritable neighbors and want to fly under the radar (no pun) the mini 2 is a great choice. Also for Hikers and Bikers again a great choice. Imho if you don’t color grade and adjust things like gamma the mini 2 is the better choice. As for the gimbal, if you tilt down 10 degrees most of the noticeable gimbal problems go away.

[@valeccylinder8703]

Hi, I can have air 2 for the price of a new mini 2. Shall I take it?

[@DroneSupremacy]

Best to just get the Mini 3 Pro if you can.

[@valeccylinder8703]

@@DroneSupremacy No, cant. I just can get air 2 used for the same price as a new mini 2. What is the better choice for socila media use ?

[@DroneSupremacy]

@@valeccylinder8703 probably the air2, but mini2 is very close too.

[@DeepankarDetrox]

Love your videos Mike! Keep going 💯💯💯

[@TechTravelWithAditya]

I have the Mini 1. I hope DJI adds the ability to take raw photos to the Mini.

[@DroneSupremacy]

I'm very sceptical about this.. but let's hope so :)

[@cpurage]

Thank you ! I knew it the Air 2 have a slightly bigger field of view and more greenish colors ... but Mini 2 is an awesome performer and the out of the camera colors are even better for the eye ... DJI did a drone which you can simply edit without color grading and you can easily directly post in FB or else ... and with MA2 cells modded battery (board from Mini 1) you can go up to 42 minutes flight time with such modded battery ! Yes from 2S1P setup cells from MA2 battery and you can even close the battery door ! Those cells are only 115g and I already tested them !

[@jeremyboyce1537]

This was very nice of you , doing this was a great help to many , I certainly made a decision on these two , I have both , hahaaaa . Thanks and take care .

[@MiuraDronesKanagawa]

They are really close. Owning the Air2 and original Mini, It was easy enough to tell which was the Air2, however... The quality is close with like settings. The ability to changes settings, modes and FPS is one of the main enhancements that sets drones apart. Most likely if you compared the original Mini, to the Mini2 with same settings based on limitations of the original Mini... The results would be difficult to see as well. NIce comparison though.

[@7777russ]

Nice comparison video.

[@AlanHunt73]

Great comparison both really close. I changed my mind a few times throughout this video. Both excellent cameras 👍📸

[@ailous626]

same here. i figured it out by the end with the cyan. I'd like to see what the air 2 could do with base settings adjusted..

[@brokensword2621]

in good light condition there is not much differences. even air 2s with 1 inch sensor when you compare it to air 2 camera in good light condition there is hard to tell the differences. most of this camera differences on those drones are having a more features and also when you are in low light condition.

[@connerrodriquez8092]

Hope that help people try to decide which one they should buy.

[@justinsurla6043]

Nice test no bias

[@maximumdrone5334]

Very cool test Mike by the way! Enjoy the rest of Autumn because here in Montreal, we are already covered in snow! 15cm today!

[@DroneSupremacy]

You guys are always too far ahead with the winter stuff haha, stay safe 🙌🏼

[@maximumdrone5334]

@@DroneSupremacy hahaha thanks man! You too!

[@derrickvanantwerpen5232]

Making the test “equal” and fair isn’t what a real test should be with these two drones,I would like to see if it is worth paying extra for 4k 60fps and HDR

[@crispyrc192]

I could def see the difference in some shots. Bigger sensor in the Air gives more clarity. Colors are less saturated which is good for working in post. Mini definitely has that "mini" look. But great quality for both.

[@africanhistory]

Sure had it not been pointed out it was a test. Saturation has nothing to do with quality. Sharpness has nothing to do with quality. An iPhone is sharper than a cinema camera. Clarity and sharpness not same but if u confuse thing then they become the same.

[@crispyrc192]

@@africanhistory That made literally no sense at all, try again

[@skymitch89]

I figured that Drone B was the Mini 2 by the 3rd clip based simply on how dark the trees were compared the bright sky. Then in a couple of beach clips the stone/concrete blocks weren't as sharp with Drone B.

[@ΔημήτρηςΣάκε]

I thought MA2 was B because in my eyes i think drone B has a softer image and drone A has a sharper image. Don't get me wrong sharpness is good but when you want to shoot smth cinematic you want that blurriness in the video . To sum up both of these videos look amazing bit if i had to choose between those two i would probably go for mavic mini 2

[@ChristiaanRoest79]

I have both drones and i can see the difference in quality of the footage. Footage of the air 2 is slightly sharper, clearer and in low(er) light less noisy. The air 2 is overall definitely a (much) better drone. Gimbal is more stable and it has obstacle avoidance. The photos are more detailed, especially when taking panoramas and in 48 mp mode. Of course we can expect more from the air 2. The price is 400$ higher.

[@user-Chikotillo]

But there is a huge advantage Mini 2 has over Air 2, the size, Mini 2 is more accessible, the fact that you don’t have to Register it, is big deal, especially if you travel to country’s with drone restrictions, this played Main part in my choice, of course if you’re professional, you should just own both...

[@PeekCar]

I thought at first, camera A is Mini 2, and camera B is Mavic Air 2, just don't believed it, and I also felt lucky to own a Mini 2.

[@Retset]

I guessed correctly. A (Air 2) was slightly more cinematic looking. I own a Mini 2 and think it's fantastic value for money but want some ND filters to smooth everything a bit.

[@LouisLuzuka]

This is so interesting, I guess I would buy the mini 2 if I didn’t care about grading and the air 2 if I wanted to grade

[@DroneSupremacy]

I guess you can say that, yes.

[@ssb73q]

Hi, I have both drones and guessed right. You did a good comparison with your video, thank you.

[@ssb73q]

@ExploringWorld A Hi Exploring, it may depend on the laws for drones in the countries you intend on visiting. If limited by law to less than 250g the choice is obvious. Having said that, the Mini 2 rivals the performance of the Air 2. High winds will do better with the Air 2. Since the Air 2/Min 2 controller can run both the Air 2 and Mini 2 you only need to have one controller with you. Good luck with your videos. Regards, Richard

[@svetoslavasenov5609]

I even saw my home in the video. And my favourite beach :)

[@connerrodriquez8092]

They are super close just have the feeling on A but the technology had massive different Mavic air 2 more advanced and obstacle avoid system and active track and HDR and many more but when you shot in low light Mavic air 2 is going to take the advantage because both drone on date time is not fair to Mavic air 2 just like Mavic 2 pro vs air 2 but when came to low light Mavic 2 pro absolutely take the advantage, thank you the video I love it that give to know how close the footage in date light time thank you again for the video.

[@lawrencechiu9702]

both are fantastic drones.... in terms of camera quality, mavic air 2 has 4k 60 fps, mini only has 30 fps.... however the new firmware came out for mini 2 and it allows 2.7k to 60fps which is pretty good for most people. If you into heavy video editing, air 2 is a better option.

[@michaelholly88]

Day time footage is so close. Wonder if night time or lower lighting would give different results.

[@thecavsman]

I think the first 3 clips, especially the third one (trees) showed a big daytime difference because of the shadows. They were more like low light the earlier you go in this test. But the last few, wow, barely a difference...I agree.

[@michaelholly88]

@@thecavsman looking at this and really weighing on the price difference..air 2 is still a much better drone and under $1k..mini 2 doesn’t shoot 4K/60 or have hyper lapse, the 48mp shots on air 2 seems really great too. I don’t think I made the wrong buying decision..only wonder if I should have saved some more for the pro 2, but I hate that remote style, and the smart remote is out of the question cost wise.

[@thecavsman]

@@michaelholly88 I'm in the same boat as you. Bought the MA2 earlier in the year - but came to the conclusion that it has so many more features. Even the AEB is 5 photos instead of 3 (I use AEB all the time). The super slow motion. Smart Photo Mode! That might be worth the extra few hundred alone. The real question for me will be to trade in/buy for the Mavic 3 or not. I love low light photos and the MA2 is limited there compared to a drone with a larger sensor. I think it'll come down to if it's as quiet as the MA2 or not. I don't like being noticed.

[@corrd3ll]

B looked like the Mavic air should be. Really impressed

[@Htownrule]

Personally I prefer the DJI Mavic Air 2, I think it’s the best when just comparing cameras. I wanted to upgrade from the the original Mavic Air (O.G.), so I purchased it. My nephew just got the DJI Mini 2 after he learned to fly brushless, he finds it more than capable of achieving his needs starting out at a price halve of what I paid for my Mavic Air 2.

[@elhambakouchi5688]

I’m sorry but if u r doing a comparison why to do same settings for both drones.??!!? It’s like racing between BMW M3 and the BMW 318 and tel them both to drive at the same speed because we r trying to make it equal as much as possible,,,!!! Of course they will come out the same pics or videos !! Mini2 and mavic air2 are made by the same company what do u think when u set everything the same on both of course u get at least a extremely close result!! To do the comparison is that u do your BEST with one another and then u compare them.* not to make them as close as possible then asking which is better, doesn’t make sense to me,!!

[@StarlancerAstro]

Mini 2 always seems just a bit over sharpened, that how I could tell, but they are close.

[@ObsidianMirage]

honestly preferred drone B for some shots!

[@keithdouglas8707]

I could tell straight away that drone A was the air 2 the dynamic range is alot better

[@africanhistory]

Another fake comment. U don't even know what dynamic range is. You also don't know what the word "a lot" is

[@keithdouglas8707]

@@africanhistory Oh really so what do you call the amount of details in the shadows and the bright areas (highlights)? dynamic range. Move along little boy maybe when you finish school you might be able to engage in educated conversations.

[@Ramirez0024]

Colors and details similar but mini2 have Less Field and worst situation with strong sun,its not so much when i use filter nd

[@everything9335]

I want to buy DJI MINI Which is best??

[@DroneSupremacy]

It's up to you :)

[@maximumdrone5334]

Drone A. The colors look more pleasing and a bit more saturated. But I guess this will be the Mini 2 and not the Air 2 that I own and love hehe

[@DroneSupremacy]

You'd be surprised.. :)

[@maximumdrone5334]

Oh phew! :)

[@lukas6485]

Bruh the Mini 2 is so much better

[@LouisLuzuka]

The mini 2 is the ultimate convenience but which one brings you more joy?

[@DroneSupremacy]

Both, i've got love for all things that fly haha

[@LouisLuzuka]

@@DroneSupremacy love that energy bro, I’m gonna buy both now, but start with the mini because Canadian drone laws 🥰

[@johnolson7186]

I could not tell the difference, but I am old.

[@jasheets1959]

Cool

[@papje]

Colours on the mini2 seems better to me

[@PeekCar]

Me too

[@kopes28]

Just going based off this video, the price difference is not justified. Looks like im buying the DJI mini 2

[@jean-chridrone6026]

Mini 2 is number 2 😊

[@LouisLuzuka]

I got it right but it was extremely close!

[@fireislandmavic5939]

100! mavic mini 2 FTW

[@farhannazir8527]

I thought drone b was dji mavic air 2 cause the quality was so good

[@petrub27]

They r not equal. Who shoots normal w air 2? D cine all the way

[@DroneSupremacy]

True, but for the comparison it wouldn't be fair to use it.

[@ZeroPointProductions]

@@DroneSupremacy for the blind test I agree although it would be great to see the difference between the 2 graded with air 2 in dcinelike to see how much more dynamic range the air 2 truely has over the mini 2. For a lot of us this is a massive deciding factor of why we would choose one over the other

[@terryshrives8322]

No doubt, drone A is the Mavic Air 2

[@Swantewit]

A - Mavic Air 2 B - Mavic Mini 2 (it has to much contrast in my opinion).

[@emilabrahamsson3065]

Seen the difference easy

[@NiepoprawnyNick]

Yes , it’s obvious after 3 clips . Damn, jitter on the edge of screen and fov . Everyone who flown mini know it .

[@iphotovideoru]

Mini 2 wins only in price, compactness and convenience in autonomous hikes. Its picture is noticeably worse than that of Air 2. Lens distortion, vignetting, soapy edges - sharpness only in the central part. Overcontrast and unnecessary magenta. ( I bought myself a Mini 2 just to carry it on autonomous kayaking trips and be able to charge batteries from a power bank without problems.)

[@camlong89]

I liked the Mini 2 shots better.

[@davidcanole3758]

Ya when you pay for it

[@DroneSupremacy]

I've paid for both and i would still confuse them in some scenarios!

[@jbolf6]

I literally could not see a difference in the video

[@connerrodriquez8092]

A

[@Gadgetdad007]

Outo or Auto ? 🤣

[@DionsTravels]

the mini 2 rocks the air 2

[@josh_bfc_2769]

Drone b mavic air 2

[@DroneSupremacy]

Watch the video all the way through to see if you're right :)

[@josh_bfc_2769]

I did

[@josh_bfc_2769]

I'm surprised by that Mini 2 it is . Would you compare at night with both?