Also: The 2022 M2 Apple iPad Pro is my (drone) copilot I make no secret of the fact that out of all my drones, the Mini 3 Pro is my favorite (yes, even beating the Mavic 3). I like the portability and freedom that the compact sub-249g drone offers. The Mini 3 takes many of the good bits of the Mini 3 Pro, adds more battery life, and drops the starting price by $200.
DJI Mini 3 specs
Take-off Weight: 248gMax Horizontal Speed: 16 m/sMax Flight Time: 38 mins with Intelligent Flight Battery/51 mins with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (sold separately)Max Wind Speed Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Level 5)Image Sensor: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 12-megapixelsLens: 82.1° field of view, 24 mm equivalent, f/1.7Photo Format: JPEG/DNG (RAW)Max Video Resolution: 4K (3840×2160)@24/25/30 fpsSensors: Downward-facing
So what you get when you buy a Mini 3 is a flying, stabilized 4K/12-megapixel camera with a theoretical range of 10km (way beyond what you should ever take it), and a rated flight time of 38 minutes with the included battery and 51 minutes with the optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus packs. Also: The best drone accessories DJI’s quoted flight times are, in my experience, very optimistic, and I’d say you’re going to get real-world flight times closer to 28/40 minutes. Those are still very good flight times. The standard kit comes with the DJI RC-N1 controller with no screen (you use your smartphone), but there’s an option to upgrade to the DJI RC controller that has a built-in display that adds $140 to the price. There’s also a “Fly More Combo” option that adds two additional 38-min Intelligent Flight Batteries, a two-way charging hub, a shoulder bag, spare propellers, and a few other bits. So, where does the Mini 3 differ from the Mini 3 Pro? Well, in exchange for a few minutes more flight time, you lose two main things: 4K recording at 60 frames per second and the forward/read-facing sensors. Also: The best drones: Which flying camera is right for you? Yes, just like the Mini 2, the Mini 3 doesn’t have obstacle avoidance sensors and only has a downward-facing sensor for landing. While I never trust sensors, they’re nice to have, especially when flying close to the tree line or around buildings. Are those sensors worth the extra $200? That’s something for you to decide. Or do you want to save even more money and pick up the Mini 2, starting at $449?
