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Home / Hot Stuff / Cameras / Autel’s Evo Nano is a dinky drone with the DJI Mini 2 in its sights

Autel’s Evo Nano is a dinky drone with the DJI Mini 2 in its sights

Nano what you want

When it comes to pocket-friendly flying machines, DJI has long reigned supreme. From the Mavic Mini to the Mini 2, its dinky drones remain the birds to beat. But there’s a new quadcopter kid in town – and Autel’s after the crown.

Displayed at CES in Las Vegas, Autel’s Evo Nano series has the tech to go toe-to-toe with the DJI Mini 2. Pre-programmed video modes promise to capture cinematic shots at the touch of a button, while a three-axis gimbal means footage should be steady in a headwind. And with a weight of 249g, the Nano drones are clear for liftoff without the need for registration.

Like DJI’s miniature machines, both the Evo Nano and the Evo Nano+ can fold down for compact travel. But unlike the DJI Mini 2, they also feature three-way obstacle avoidance sensors – so first-time flyers should be less likely to come a cropper in a coppice.

As for shooting specs, the standard Evo Nano (£719 / $649) comes equipped with a 1/2in CMOS sensor that’s good for 48MP stills and crisp 4K/30p video. That should be more than enough for most fledgling filmmakers, but if you’re serious about aerial videography, the Nano+ (£859 / $799) steps things up another notch.

A larger 1/2.8in sensor serves up 50MP stills, with bigger pixels and a wide f/1.9 aperture promising excellent results even in low light – an area where most drones usually stumble. The Nano+ also packs a combined phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus system, ensuring shots should always be sharp.

Both models benefit from subject-tracking smarts, which can lock on to pets, pals and passing traffic, while HDR is on hand to bring out the best in any scene. A flight time of 28 minutes compares well with the competition too, while a range of 6.2 miles goes well beyond line-of-sight limitations.

Only a full review will reveal how the Evo Nano fares in flight, but the spec sheets suggest that DJI has a rival for sky-high supremacy.

Most wanted: Stuff’s CES Awards 2022

Profile image of Chris Rowlands Chris Rowlands Freelance contributor

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Formerly News Editor at this fine institution, Chris now writes about tech from his tropical office. Sidetracked by sustainable stuff, he’s also keen on coffee kit, classic cars and any gear that gets better with age.

Areas of expertise

Cameras, gear and travel tech