DJI Mini 3 Professional vs Mini 2: is it well worth the improve?

It’s no secret: the DJI Mini 3 Professional is my favourite drone as of late. Nevertheless it’s additionally fairly a bit dearer than its predecessor, the DJI Mini 2. Are its upgraded specs that significantly better to justify the fee? In case you’re deciding between the DJI Mini 3 Professional vs Mini 2, right here’s what it’s good to know:

A fast breakdown of the DJI Mini 3 Professional vs Mini 2 vs DJI Mini SE:

There are three drones within the Mini line proper now, which began with the Mavic Mini. DJI dropped the phrase Mavic from the second mannequin in its line. The third mannequin bought a Professional to go together with its identify — prone to point out how far more superior the DJI Mini 3 Professional is vs. the Mavic Mini and Mini 2.

So with these specs in thoughts, which drone do you have to get? In case you don’t have any drones proper now, right here’s my evaluation of those three, and my steering of which one to get:

Who the DJI Mini SE is greatest for

The DJI Mavic Mini (since barely modified and improved because the DJI Mini SE) got here out in 2020. Whereas DJI has ceased manufacturing on this oldest mannequin drone, the marginally newer DJI Mini SE continues to be out there.

In case you can handle to seek out one on the market, do you have to purchase it? Perhaps.

Associated learn: DJI Mavic Mini Assessment: DJI proves ‘smaller and cheaper’ doesn’t imply ‘worse’

At lower than $300 lately, it’s a candy deal that may be exhausting to go up — particularly in the event you’re new to the pastime and aren’t certain how dedicated you wish to get to it financially. Taking drone images of your youngsters enjoying within the yard or on cool roadtrips sounds good in idea, however is it one thing you’ll realistically do? Perhaps your child’s soccer discipline really has a non-public ban on drones. Maybe you simply don’t like packing extra stuff in your journey than needed. You don’t wish to spend near $1,000 on a high-end drone solely to seek out you don’t fly it as a lot as you hoped you may.

In fact, the lower cost tag means fewer options. This can be a stripped-down model of most different DJI drones you should purchase at present. You get a 2.7K digicam vs. 4K on the opposite Mini drones, which is okay in the event you’re solely posting to Instagram or TikTok, however most likely received’t work when you have ambitions of successful pictures contests. There’s no impediment avoidance, which is probably going not needed for flights in open fields or broad seashores, however wouldn’t work if you wish to movie your self biking by means of dense forests (use the Skydio 2+ or different follow-me drones for that).

It’s nonetheless a stable drone with good options, like CineSmooth mode and a few pre-programmed flight maneuvers, known as Quickshots. Simply perceive that you just’re lacking out on some tremendous neat options that the second and third editions provide.

The DJI Mini is nice in the event you’re trying to save as a lot cash as doable, whereas nonetheless getting a higher-quality DJI drone than a low-cost toy drone. If you would like a digicam drone however are on an ultra-tight finances, the DJI Mini is your decide.

Associated learn: Mavic Mini getting began information: what it’s good to do and arrange earlier than flying your drone

Who the DJI Mini 2 is greatest for

The Mini 2 launched in November 2020 with one main enchancment upon the unique DJI Mavic Mini specifically: superior video high quality. With the Mini 2, you’re packing in 12-megapixel photographs and a most video decision of 4K/30fps @100 Mbps. That’s actually not so good as what the Mini 3 Professional can provide, nevertheless it’s an enormous improve from the unique Mini.

Plus, these aren’t the one upgraded options. Fairly than merely counting on Wi-Fi transmission, there’s now OcuSync 2.0, which gives a extra steady and dependable connection between the distant controller and the drone — particularly over lengthy distances — and presents a most transmission vary of 10 km (that’s a 150% improve in transmission vary vs. the unique Mavic Mini). It’s nonetheless inferior to the even-better O3, however makes for a extra dependable flying expertise than no OcuSync in any respect.

Associated learn: DJI Mini 2 maintains 249-gram weight, whereas enhancing on video

One notable cause why I don’t love the Mini 2: no impediment avoidance (after all, the Mavic Mini doesn’t have this both). That is such a stable security characteristic. Even in the event you don’t want it to your guide flight and take into account your self a professional pilot, otherwise you’re primarily flying in open fields, there are nonetheless conditions the place impediment avoidance is such a recreation changer: particularly, return to dwelling. Perhaps your battery encounters points and the drone must return dwelling sooner than anticipated. If that will get initiated, you wish to guarantee a transparent path (to not point out the shortest-possible path!) to your drone to return.

Buy the DJI Mini 2 beginning at simply $449 now from:

The Mini 2 is certainly a greater digicam than the Mavic Mini. When you’ve got a finances underneath $500 and need the best-possible digicam, the Mini 2 is what you need.

However in the event you can afford extra, then learn on because the Mini 3 Professional — although about $300 extra — has way more to supply.

Who the DJI Mini 3 Professional is greatest for

If you would like the best-possible drone within the smallest-possible bundle, then the DJI Mini 3 Professional is greatest for you. Apart from the shape, the Mini 3 Professional hardly resembles its older Mini siblings.

Whereas the Mavic Mini and Mini 2 are extra like entry-level drones, the DJI Mini 3 Professional really most carefully resembles the DJI Air 2S. It’s the one Mini drone that features impediment avoidance, which you’ll discover within the Air 2 and Air 2S drones. It’s improved video high quality extra carefully aligns with the Air 2 and Air 2S.

Read extra: DJI Mini 3 Professional vs Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S: which is healthier?

In fact, it’s dearer than the opposite Minis — priced extra equally to the Air 2 and Air 2S drones.

When you’ve got the means to pay for a dearer drone although, you completely ought to. That is my favourite drone thus far. I’m a frequent traveler, and I wish to pack my drone with me, however with larger drones it’s typically not doable. To have ultra-high video high quality and impediment avoidance packed right into a sub-249 gram drone is unimaginable. I worth small measurement, however I additionally worth improved security options and a 4K digicam. The Mini 3 Professional drone is the one one which does all of it.

In case you worth these issues as I do, there’s no higher drone you should purchase. It’s effectively well worth the $759 value.

Learn my full evaluation of the Mini 3 Professional right here.

Is the DJI Mini 3 Professional value upgrading your DJI Mavic Mini or Mini 2?

Perhaps. The digicam high quality is method higher, the transmission is extra dependable and the impediment avoidance is a godsend. In case you’re a present Mini or Mini 2 proprietor you then already get the good thing about the Mini 3 Professional’s small measurement. You’ll need to worth these different specs and put your personal price ticket on it. Personally, the Mini 3 Professional gives an enormous improve from the Mavic Mini that I’d make the leap if I’m dedicated to the drone life.

So far as upgrading from the Mini 2 to the three Professional, you’ve bought a bit harder of a call. In case you can promote your previous Mini 2, or you will have disposable earnings, I’d do it. However don’t panic in the event you can’t afford the improve, as DJI consistently iterates on its drones that there’ll possible be a good higher one on the horizon quickly.

That mentioned, in the event you are upgrading from the Mini 2 to the Mini 3 Professional, you received’t need to pay the total $759 value. You should purchase it for simply $669 (assuming you don’t promote the Mini 2). That’s as a result of DJI will promote it for $669 with out the controller (it makes use of the identical controller you have already got with the Mini 2). You will get a ew drone, whereas giving the older controller a second life.

The underside line

In case you worth the identical specs I do in a drone — small measurement, high quality digicam, sturdy security options together with impediment avoidance, and ease of use — then there’s no higher drone on the market than the DJI Mini 3 Professional.

Buy the DJI Mini 3 Professional beginning at simply $669 (no controller) or $759 with controller now from:

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