You underestimate the demand for a $399 DJI 4K drone with a 3 mile range which is FAA registration free, and fits in your pocket. Skydio 2 is an action drone, not a DJI replacement. S2 what the Karma should have been for GoPro. It also sells for THREE times the price of the Mini. It's a niche market drone for action drone selfies. Some may buy both, but neither will replace the other, and there are far more drone buyers with $399 than $1300. Lastly, the $100 fully refundable deposits for Skydio 2 units are not sales. They are merely indications of potential interest. If the early units do not deliver, all the other deposits could be requesting refunds, and Skydio could tank overnight, just like the Karma!
The biggest benefit of registration free Mavic Minis is their proliferation will likely eliminate the interrogation of everyone flying a drone by any LEO, demanding to see their "papers"/FAA pilot registration and drone with the ID number clearly visible! "Sorry, Officer. This drone is exempt!" Once the LEO has been burned a few times by an exempt Mavic Mini, all enthusiasm for drone enforcement will wane, and the public complaints to LEO's about drones flying will largely be ignored, and we can go back to flying responsibly in public without being harassed every time! Most will also not know the difference between a Mavic Mini and a Mavic 2. Hoping the Mini sells well! I'll buy one to first fly as a decoy, to see if anyone complains, and then after the investigating LEO's have left, just swap out aircraft!
A nice thought, but haven't most of the people dealing with police end up being screwed with because they're flying in places LEO claim you can't take off or land at?
We can dream and hope, can't we?
I did say flying responsibly. It does not exempt you from any flying regulations, but it does exempt you from FAA authorized LEO "checking to make sure your papers are in order!" It's not a panacea. If anyone is annoyed by your flight, including any LEO, you will likely still be interrogated. Flying discreetly is still highly recommended. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Currently, the only DJI related drone that is registration free is the Tello, which has a very limited range. Mavic Mini range of 3.1 miles will change all that. The sub 250g weight is supposed to make the risk so small as to not require registration. The FAA could always also decide to lower the exempt weight limit. We shall see.
No one is comparing them, but until the MM was announced, the Tello was the only DJI related sub 250g drone with DJI technology, which still remained exempt from pilot registration. Mavic Mini changes all that, and adds 4K and a 3 mile range for a few hundred dollars more than a 1080p Tello optimized with a Wifi extender!
I mentioned the Tello immediately above your post, so I replied. They are both sub 250g exempt from pilot registration, but one runs circles around the other!
Source: DJI Mavic Mini leaked - All the Rumors & Details! | Quadcopter Guide
