DJI 的Mavic 系列(Mavic series)无人机为紧凑型相机无人机设定了标准，但随着时间的推移，带有Mavic 名称(Mavic name)的无人机数量大幅增长。Pro 或 Zoom 型号(Pro or Zoom models)中的Mavic 2代表了该系列的顶级产品。因此，如果您想简单地购买市场上最好的紧凑型DJI 无人机(DJI drone)，您的选择很简单。
然而，当谈到Mavic Mini与Mavic Air 2的选择时，风险很大。这些无人机中的每一个都有其重要的优点和缺点。我们将两台机器都拿出到阳光明媚的户外，并拍摄了一些越野摩托车手做他们的事情。在让这些出色的传单完成他们的步伐之后，我们对每架无人机的用户类型有了一个很好的了解。
大交易：价格
我们不要拐弯抹角。Mavic Mini与Mavic Air 2之间存在巨大的价格差异(price difference)。你可以用一个Mavic Air 2的价格购买两个Mavic Mini(Mavic Minis)。因此，决定的很大一部分是额外的功能是否可以证明额外的成本是合理的。
无论哪种情况，我们都强烈建议您购买每架无人机的“Fly More Combo”版本。这些组合中包含的配件是必不可少的，以后单独购买它们比立即选择组合要贵得多。
评估竞争
Mavic Air 2绝不是大型无人机，但与Mavic Mini相比，它是庞大的。看看这个尺寸比较(size comparison)取自我们的Mavic Air 2拆箱视频。
如果你有Air 2的漂亮手提包(carry bag)，拿它几乎不是一件苦差事，但Mini足够小，你可以把它扔进现有(inside )的包里。因此，Mini是您可以随时随身携带的无人机，而Air 2是您需要特别打包的无人机。
有一种说法是最好的相机就是随身携带的相机，因此Mini在这里具有很大的优势。
Mavic Mini：优点和缺点
虽然您可能认为Air 2（如果钱不是问题）总能击败Mini，但您错了。Mini本身就有很多用途。它的第一个也是“最大”的优势是重量。DJI将“249g”如此突出地粘贴到他们的无人机侧面是有原因的。在大多数有无人机法规的国家/地区，重量为 250 克或以下的无人机即使不是全部也可以免除(exempt )大多数许可要求。选择这个重量是为了将数百万小型玩具级无人机排除在繁重的许可需求之外。
然而，大疆(DJI)对此嗤之以鼻，并设法将高端无人机技术(drone technology)挤进了这个重量限制。时间(Time)会证明法律是否有广泛的变化，但现在迷你(Mini)飞行员不必担心文书工作或昂贵的认证。不过，您仍然需要依法驾驶无人机。
Mavic Mini的另一个主要优势是能够在旅途中从USB源为其充电。虽然其他较大的DJI无人机有USB端口，但它们无法通过它为电池充电。有了Mavic，你可以使用车载充电器或移动电源(car charger or power bank)，只要它输出 24W 或更少。
相比之下，Mavic Mini与(Mavic Mini)Air 2相比有几个弱点。一方面，它没有任何飞行避让(flight avoidance)传感器，除了向下感应着陆传感器。所以你没有任何安全网(safety net)来防止你飞入事物。
从相机无人机的角度来看(camera drone perspective)，Mini最大的缺点是它的 2.7K 相机。然而，这是一个视角问题，如果您正在考虑制作 1080p 内容，2.7K 提供了足够的余地。如果您绝对必须拥有一台 4K 相机，那么它从一开始就不是入门的。
最后一个值得一提的主要缺点(disadvantage worth mentioning)是使用WiFi作为其传输系统(transmission system)。与 DJI 内部的Ocusync 技术(Ocusync technology)不同，WiFi容易受到干扰和信号丢失。对于只有一次拍摄某物(film something)的机会（例如动作镜头(action shot)）的情况，这使它成为一个糟糕的选择。
Mavic Air 2：优点和缺点
Mavic Air 2是一款让很多人兴奋的无人机。它比领先的Mavic 2型号便宜得多，但在功能方面确实相差不远。事实上，Air 2在某些方面更胜一筹，例如它能够以每秒 60 帧的速度拍摄 4K视频。(film 4K)因此，这款相机是Mini的一大进步，与Mavic 2 并排的镜头(footage side-by-side)相比，差异只有真正的专业人士才能看到。
Air 2的另一个主要优点是它的飞行装备有多好。它的 68 公里/小时的最高速度比Mini的 46.8 公里/小时要快得多。它可以抵抗更猛烈的风速，除了与Mini（以及所有其他现代DJI 无人机(DJI drone)）共享的底部着陆传感器功能外，它还具有前后(landing sensor feature)避障传感器。(obstacle avoidance)它还使用Ocusync，它具有几乎完美的连接性。
主要缺点包括您需要一个特殊的电池充电器(battery charger)，而且它的便携性不够，不能放在包里或随身携带。
相机和飞行性能
我们将Mavic Mini 和 Air(Mavic Mini and Air) 2 带到了一个偏远的矿场(mine dump)，那里的越野摩托车手喜欢花时间在穿过公寓时吐出一缕缕灰尘和泥土。(dust and dirt)天气炎热且微风，我们尽最大努力拍摄这些人在沙滩上做他们的事情。
两架无人机的电影质量都非常好。(film quality)但是，您无法使用 Mini 的预设颜色(Mini)配置文件(preset color profile)，这意味着您的颜色分级选项是有限的。另一方面，Air 2 提供平坦的色彩配置(Air 2)文件(color profile)，因此您可以真正根据自己的需要定制素材。
Mini也很难跟上我们的主题，但Air 2(Air 2)像它拥有天空一样放大。如果你想拍摄快速移动的物体，Mini真的不是这项工作的工具。Mini擅长的一个地方是飞行耐力(flight endurance)。虽然两架无人机的飞行时间(flight time)都在 30 分钟左右，但Mini的电池在我们飞行时正在车内充电。所以我们有更多的全额费用！可悲的是，我们在Mini上也有信号丢失，而Air 2却坚如磐石。
这是Mavic Mini(Mavic Mini)的精选片段，以 2.74K 的最大值拍摄，然后放大到 4K。
最后，这里我们有来自同一事件的Air 2的剪辑。(Air 2)这些是原生 4K 剪辑。
最终判决：哪款无人机(Which Drone)适合你？
所以在两台机器上花了相当多的时间之后，这就是我们不得不说的关于这两款优秀无人机的内容。
Mavic Air 2：
- 是大多数人都买的无人机。
- 但它需要在许多国家获得许可。
- 尽管如此，它对于专业用途来说已经足够了。
Mavic Mini：
- 不需要特殊许可（目前）。
- 真正便携，可以从USB充电。
- 拍摄不是很专业的精彩镜头（但你可以让它发挥作用）。
- 由于WiFi存在信号问题。
因此，如果您想要当今市场(market today)上最好的全能无人机，几乎可以完成任何工作并拍摄出色的镜头，那么Air 2在价格上是无与伦比的。
如果你想要一架无人机来拍摄美丽的场景或（相对）低速动作(speed action)，你可以随身携带，在任何地方充电，不需要任何文书工作或政府批准(paperwork or government approval)，那么Mavic Mini是当今(deal today)最好的选择。
Mavic Mini Vs Mavic Air 2: Which One to Buy?
DJI’s Mavic series of drones haνe set the standard for what compact саmera drones can be, but over time the number of drones сarrying the Mаvic name has grown subѕtantially. The Mavіc 2 in either thе Pro or Zoom modеls, represents the tоp of the rangе. So if you want to simply buy the best compact DJІ drone оn the market, your choice is simple.
When it comes to the Mavic Mini vs the Mavic Air 2 choice, however, there’s quite a lot at stake. Each of these drones has its own important pros and cons. We took out both machines to the sunny outdoors and filmed a few off-road motorcyclists doing their thing. After putting these fantastic flyers through their paces, we’ve got a good idea of which type of user each drone is for.
The Big Deal: Price
Let’s not beat around the bush. There’s a huge price difference between the Mavic Mini vs Mavic Air 2. You can buy two Mavic Minis for the price of a single Mavic Air 2. So a big part of the decision is whether the extra cost is justified by the extra features.
In either case, we strongly recommend that you purchase the “Fly More Combo” versions of each drone. The accessories included with these combos are essential and buying them separately later is much more expensive than opting for the combo immediately.
Sizing Up The Competition
The Mavic Air 2 is by no means a large drone, but compared to the Mavic Mini it’s gargantuan. Have a look at this size comparison taken from our Mavic Air 2 unboxing video.
If you get the Air 2’s nifty carry bag, it’s hardly a chore to get it around, but the Mini is small enough that you can throw it inside your existing bag. Consequently, the Mini is a drone that you can always have with you, while the Air 2 is a drone you need to specially pack for the occasion.
There’s a saying that the best camera is the one you have with you, and so the Mini has a serious advantage here.
The Mavic Mini: Pros And Cons
While you might think the Air 2, if money were no object, would always beat the Mini, you’d be wrong. The Mini has quite a lot going for it in its own right. The first and “biggest” advantage it has is weight. There’s a reason DJI have so prominently pasted “249g” to the side of their drone. In most countries with drone regulations, drones that weight 250g or less are exempt from most if not all licensing requirements. This weight was chosen to exclude the millions of small toy-class drones from onerous licencing needs.
However, DJI has thumbed their nose at this and managed to squeeze high-end drone technology into that weight limit. Time will tell if there’s widespread changes in the law, but for now Mini pilots don’t have to worry about paperwork or costly certification. You still need to fly your drone in accordance with the law though.
Another major advantage of the Mavic Mini is the ability to charge it on the go from USB sources. Though other larger DJI drones have USB ports, they can’t charge their batteries from it. With the Mavic you can use a car charger or power bank, as long as it’s outputting 24W or less.
Comparatively, the Mavic Mini has several weaknesses compared to the Air 2. For one thing, it doesn’t have any flight avoidance sensors, apart from downward sensing landing sensors. So you don’t have any sort of safety net to prevent you from flying into things.
From a camera drone perspective, the biggest con of the Mini is its 2.7K camera. That is however a matter of perspective, if you’re looking at making 1080p content, 2.7K gives plenty of leeway. If you absolutely must have a 4K camera, it’s a non-starter from the outset.
The last major disadvantage worth mentioning is the use of WiFi as its transmission system. Unlike DJI’s in-house Ocusync technology, WiFi is prone to interference and signal loss. This makes it a poor choice for situations where you only have one chance to film something, such as an action shot.
The Mavic Air 2: The Pros & Cons
The Mavic Air 2 is a drone that got plenty of people excited. It’s a much less expensive machine than the class-leading Mavic 2 models, but really isn’t that far off in terms of features. In fact, in some ways the Air 2 is better, such as its ability to film 4K video at 60 frames per second. The camera is therefore a serious step up from the Mini and, when compared to Mavic 2 footage side-by-side, the differences are only evident to the real pros.
The other major pro of the Air 2 is just how well equipped it is to fly. Its 68 kph top speed is much faster than the Mini’s 46.8 kph. It can resist wind speeds that are far more ferocious and it has both front and rear obstacle avoidance sensors in addition to the bottom landing sensor feature it shared with the Mini (and every other modern DJI drone). It also uses Ocusync, which has virtually flawless connectivity.
The main cons include the fact you need a special battery charger and it’s not quite portable enough to throw in your bag or always keep with you.
Camera & Flight Performance
We took our Mavic Mini and Air 2 out to a remote mine dump, a place where off-road motorcyclists like to spend their time throwing up plumes of dust and dirt as they race across the flats. It’s hot and mildly windy and we did our best to film these guys doing their thing on the sands.
The film quality from both drones was excellent. However, you’re stuck with a preset color profile with the Mini, which means your color-grading options are limited. The Air 2 on the other hand offers a flat color profile, so you can really tailor the footage to your needs.
The Mini also struggled to keep up with our subjects, but the Air 2 zoomed around like it owned the skies. If you want to film fast-moving objects the Mini really isn’t the tool for the job. One place the Mini did excel was in flight endurance. Though both drones have a stated flight time of around 30 minutes, the Mini’s batteries were charging in the car while we flew. So we have more full charges for it! Sadly, we also had signal loss on the Mini, while the Air 2 was rock-solid.
Here’s a selection of clips from the Mavic Mini, shot at its 2.74K maximum and then upscaled to 4K.
Finally, here we have clips from the Air 2 of the same event. These are native 4K clips.
Final Verdict: Which Drone Is For You?
So after spending quite a lot of time with both machines, here’s what we have to say about these two excellent drones.
The Mavic Air 2:
- Is the drone to buy for most people.
- But it requires licencing in many countries.
- Still, it’s good enough for professional use.
The Mavic Mini:
- Doesn’t require special licencing (yet).
- Is truly portable and can charge from USB.
- Takes amazing footage that’s not quite pro-level (but you can make it work).
- Suffers from signal problems thanks to WiFi.
So, if you want the best all-around drone on the market today that can do just about any job and take excellent footage, the Air 2 is unbeatable at the price.
If you want a drone for filming beautiful scenes or (relatively) low speed action that you can always have with you, charge anywhere and don’t need any paperwork or government approval then the Mavic Mini is the best deal today.
