So that you’re trying to purchase a drone, and your finances is lower than $500. You don’t need an inexpensive toy drone — you need a high quality digital camera drone that’s dependable, easy-to-use, secure and nonetheless has share-worthy picture high quality. Relating to drones in that worth vary, actually just one drone maker delivers: DJI. Of the DJI drones below $500 available on the market now, your choices are the DJI Mini SE, DJI Mini 2 and the DJI Mini 2 SE.
Right here’s a breakdown of all three DJI drones below $500, and a comparability that can assist you discover the perfect drone for you:
What DJI drones below $500 are on the market?
DJI has created had a handful of drones below $500. These in manufacturing and out there new from the manufacturing unit now are the DJI Mini SE, DJI Mini 2 and the DJI Mini 2 SE.
You may have the ability to discover others which have since gone out of manufacturing, such because the DJI Mini, however it’ll possible be both used or from a third-party reseller. There’s additionally the now out-of-production, and really short-lived DJI Spark, which debuted at simply $499. DJI can also be affiliated with one other less-than-$100 drone known as the Tello, which is made by a companion firm known as Ryze utilizing DJI components. And certain, you may also have the ability to purchase one among DJI’s fancier, normally $1,000 drones used for below $500, however perceive the dangers of shopping for used drones.
All the DJI drones on this information (the DJI Mini SE, DJI Mini 2 and the DJI Mini 2 SE) weigh lower than 250 grams. Drones below 250 grams are an enormous deal as a result of many forms of federal drone rules don’t apply to drones of that measurement (within the U.S., drones below 250 grams don’t should be registered with the FAA for leisure operations and don’t should be Distant ID compliant). That makes drone-flying extra handy for worldwide vacationers who’re extra possible free to fly out of the country, with out having to get registered or licensed in a spot they could be visiting for only a few days.
In fact, it additionally means these drones are simply small and lightweight, making it way more handy to take out on a hike or anyplace else the place portability is essential.
Right here’s a historical past of a number of the DJI drones below $500, each previous and current:
DJI Mini SE
The primary drone we ever noticed on this class was the Mavic Mini, debuted in 2019 for a surprisingly low $399. On the time, DJI had actually been focusing in any other case on its Mavic drones, which typically price greater than $1,000. The following closest drone to the Mini on the time was the Mavic Air, which nonetheless began at a hefty $919. The Mavic Mini has since gone out of manufacturing, however DJI now producers a really related drone: the DJI Mini SE.
The DJI Mini SE launched in June 2021 and is basically a slightly-modified model of the now out-of-production Mavic Mini. It goes for an even-cheaper $299.
Its digital camera nonetheless has a decently-large 1/2.3-inch CMOS. Picture high quality is nice, although not nice, taking stills as much as 12 MP and video at 2.7K.
Whereas its physique remains to be far stronger than an inexpensive toy drone — as we’ll talk about later within the comparisons — it’s not fairly as highly effective as the opposite DJI drones below $500. Its max horizontal pace is 13 m/s (versus 16 m/s for many rivals) and has a most flight time of simply half-hour (versus 38-51 minutes for some rivals).
At simply $299, it’s the most affordable one of many bunch.
DJI Mini 2
The DJI Mini 2 launched in November 2020 for $449, turning into the primary DJI drone of that measurement and worth level to supply 4K video. It packs in 12-megapixel pictures and a most video decision of 4K/30fps @100 Mbps.
It makes use of OcuSync 2.0, which is a transmission expertise developed by DJI and utilized in lots of its different drones, is integrated into the Mini 2 (it was not used within the unique DJI Mavic Mini). In contrast to the Mavic Mini, it doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi, thus it has a much more dependable connection.
In addition to higher digital camera and a extra dependable connection, the Mini 2 gives one other essential enchancment: it’s extra sturdy in tough situations with the power to face up to winds as much as 24mph (up from simply 18 mph beforehand).
Learn extra: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 2: which drone is best?
Buy the DJI Mini 2 beginning at simply $449 now from:
DJI Mini 2 SE
In February 2023, DJI introduced the DJI Mini 2 SE. At $369, it’s basically a stripped-down model of the aforementioned DJI Mini 2.
The most important downgrade within the SE versus the unique DJI Mini 2 is decrease video high quality. It delivers 2.7K video, which a fairly critical downgrade from 4K video. However for stills, it’s largely the identical — and the drone nonetheless has that very same 1/2.3-inch CMOS with 12MP of efficient pixels.
Think about it the right steadiness between ease of use, reliability, and affordability. Although, you gained’t have the ability to purchase this one simply but. It gained’t go on sale till March 22, 2023.
An honorable point out: the DJI Mini 3
I do wish to give an honorable point out to the DJI Mini 3, which launched on the finish of 2022. It prices $559, which places it above the standards to rank in greatest DJI drones below $500.
Nonetheless, it may get below $500 — type of. DJI will promote you the Mini 3 for simply $469 when you choose out of the controller. You’ll need a controller by some means, so this selection actually solely works you probably have a controller, possible from proudly owning a earlier mannequin of a DJI drone. You may additionally simply come by a controller in a situation the place the drone itself broke (or flew right into a tree) however the controller remains to be good.
With a 1/1.3-inch CMOS and 12 MP of efficient pixels, this has the highest-quality digital camera of the bunch. There’s additionally a downward imaginative and prescient system and the DJI O2 transmission system. That’s not so good as the Mini 3’s huge sibling, the Mini 3 Professional (that one gives a ahead, backward and downward imaginative and prescient system alongside DJI O3 transmission), however it’s fairly spectacular for the worth level.
Learn extra: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional: which drone is best?
Buy the DJI Mini 3 beginning at simply $469 (no controller) or $559 with controller now from:
Evaluating all of the DJI drones below $500
Now that you simply’ve gotten an outline of all three (effectively, possibly 4 relying in your accounting) DJI drones below $500, let’s put them facet by facet to higher perceive their variations:
| DJI Mini SE | DJI Mini 2 SE | DJI Mini 2 | DJI Mini 3 | |
| Beginning worth (worth consists of lowest-price controller) | $299 | $369 (goes on sale March 22, 2023) | $449 | $559 (or $469 when you don’t want a controller) |
| Takeoff Weight | < 249 g | < 249 g | < 249 g | < 249 g |
| Dimensions | Folded (with out propellers): 138×81×58 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with out propellers): 159×203×56 mm (L×W×H) |
Folded (with out propellers): 138×81×58 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with out propellers): 159×203×56 mm (L×W×H) |
Folded (with out propellers): 138×81×58 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with out propellers): 159×203×56 mm (L×W×H) |
Folded (with out propellers): 148×90×62 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with propellers): 251×362×72 mm (L×W×H) |
| Max Flight Time | half-hour | 31 minutes | 31 minutes | 38 minutes (with Clever Flight Battery) 51 minutes (with Clever Flight Battery Plus *) |
| Max Horizontal Velocity (at sea degree, no wind) | 13 m/s | 16 m/s | 16 m/s | 16 m/s |
| Max Ascent Velocity | 4 m/s | 5 m/s | 5 m/s | 5 m/s |
| Max Descent Velocity | 3 m/s | 3.5 m/s | 3.5 m/s | 3.5 m/s |
| Max Takeoff Altitude | 3000m | 4000m | 4000m | 4000m (or simply 3000m with Clever Flight Battery Plus) |
| Max Wind Velocity Resistance | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) |
| Picture Sensor | 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS |
| Efficient Pixels | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Video | 2.7K HD | 2.7K HD | 4K HD | 4K HDR |
| Video Transmission System | Enhanced Wi-Fi | DJI O2 | OcuSync 2.0 | DJI O2 |
Clearly the DJI Mini 3 is the perfect of the bunch when you don’t think about the associated fee. However for people who prioritize saving cash, then it may not essentially be the perfect.
In case you’re a videographer, it’s best to not less than go for the Mini 2 over the Mini 2 SE. The Mini 2 SE’s 2.7K video is a fairly critical downgrade from 4K video on the Mini 2. In case you can afford to go simply above the $500 threshold, go for the DJI Mini 3. There, you’ll discover the bigger sensor to supply even-higher picture high quality. (In case you’re superb going over-budget, you may even take into account the DJI Mini 3 Professional versus the Mini 3, because it gives even higher picture high quality, together with 48 MP versus 12, and 150 Mbps Max video bitrate versus simply 100).
Then once more, when you solely care about aerial images and don’t take movies, then you definately may as effectively save the $80 and simply get the DJI Mini 2 SE versus the DJI Mini 2.
In case you’re looking for the greatest DJI drone below $400, go for the DJI Mini 2 SE over the DJI Mini SE. Whereas each have related cameras, the Mini 2 SE is way extra highly effective than the Mini SE when it comes to the physique itself. It could actually face up to stronger winds, it flies quicker, it’s able to taking off in greater altitudes, and its transmission system is way extra dependable than merely Wi-Fi because of using DJI O2. Principally, it’s far much less possible your drone will crash or fly away. For most folk, that reliability is value paying the additional $70 for.
In case you’re merely on the lookout for the most affordable attainable drone, then the DJI Mini SE can be just right for you. The DJI Mini SE is nice when you match into one of many following molds:
- You’re model new to drones and don’t wish to decide to one thing you’re not completely sure about.
- You’re flying in quite simple environments like open fields over comparatively brief distances (effectively inside your line of sight).
- You are taking images, not movies. Or when you do take movies, picture high quality is just not a precedence (e.g. you’re filming for small telephone screens, quite than giant TV screens).
Which DJI drone below $500 do you advocate? Are there different elements people ought to take into account when selecting an entry-level DJI drone? Share your ideas and experiences within the feedback beneath!
