DJI has two completely different strains of drones which can be usually thought of shopper drones — one thing a passion photographer (or maybe an expert photographer on a price range who doesn’t need all of the bells and whistles of a Mavic). They’re the DJI Air and DJI Mini strains. And now that we’ve marked the launch of the DJI Air 3 in July 2023, each strains can declare to be on their third generations of drones. So in a mashup between each third generations of drones, the DJI Air 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional, which drone is healthier?

The DJI Air 3 has far more options and extra highly effective know-how total. It’s additionally method greater and far more costly — two main detractors. Nobody desires a better value level, however many folks actively search smaller drones (particularly these within the sub-249 gram class, which the Mini 3 Professional falls into).

On this information to the DJI Air 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional, I’ll weigh the professionals and cons of each that will help you choose the best digital camera drone for you:

Evaluating costs (winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional)

At $759 for the DJI Mini 3 Professional versus $1,099 for the Air 3 (assuming you choose the mannequin with the essential controller), it’s clear which one wins out on value. You’ll save greater than 30% (that’s $340) by choosing the Mini 3 Professional over the newer Air 3.

Associated learn: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional: which drone is healthier?

DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional key specs

However in fact, the (principally) higher specs on the Air 3 could make it simple to justify the $340 larger value. So with that, right here’s a comparability of the DJI Air 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional and a breakdown of what every provides so you may determine one of the best drone on your price range:

So what do all these specs really imply? Right here’s a deeper dive into the DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional drones:

Evaluating cameras (winner: DJI Air 3)

If we’re evaluating cameras, realizing that we’re not evaluating two cameras, however moderately, three. That’s as a result of the  DJI Air 3 comes with two built-in cameras (making it the primary of the Air line to supply such a factor). The 2 cameras on the DJI Air 3 are:

• A 1/1.3-inch CMOS wide-angle digital camera
  • 24mm format equal
  • F1.7 aperture
• A 1/1.3-inch CMOS 3x medium tele digital camera (can obtain 3x optical zoom)
  • 70mm format equal
  • F2.8 aperture

The vast angle cameras on the 2 drones are surprisingly related. Whereas the Air 3 is top-of-the-line so far as digital camera drones come, the DJI Mini 3 Professional shocked drone followers when it delivered its personal 1/1.3-inch CMOS digital camera sensor with twin native ISO and a pair of.4μm pixels for top element. That sort of tech was one thing beforehand solely out there on high-end cinematography drones.

Each drones even have some nice-to-have digital camera modes, together with a vertical taking pictures mode designed to make it simpler to shoot movies and pictures particularly for mediums like TikTok or Instagram reels.

However the place the Air takes the cake is that secondary tele digital camera. Now, videographers can rapidly swap between zoom and vast angle in the identical flight with out having to take down the drone to vary lenses, as you’d must in the event you have been flying a high-end digital camera drone like DJI’s Encourage 3.

Whereas the Mini 3 Professional does tout a zoom characteristic, it has one main limitation: video solely. The Mini 3 Professional guarantees to help digital video zoom as much as 2x in 4K, as much as 3x in 2.7K, and as much as 4x in Full HD. Weirdly, it didn’t have photograph zoom.

If you happen to’re counting on zoom (significantly for pictures), you’ll want the Air 3.

Associated learn: DJI Air 3 evaluation: probably the most highly effective new addition to Air Collection but

Evaluating plane power (winner: DJI Air 3)

You possibly can’t ignore the myriad ways in which the Air 3 is a much more highly effective plane than the DJI Mini 3 Professional They embrace:

Higher battery life: The DJI Air 3 provides as much as 46 minutes of flight time. In the meantime, the bottom model of the Mini 3 Professional provides simply 34 minutes of flight time, that means you get a virtually 50% improve in battery life whenever you go for DJI’s newer, extra highly effective DJI Air 3 drone.

That mentioned, the DJI Mini 3 Professional makes a valiant effort to win within the battery life class, and that’s all because of a separate battery known as the “Clever Flight Battery Plus.” It is a battery offered individually by DJI through the DJI Mini 3 Professional Fly Extra Plus Package, which prices $249 and contains two such batteries in addition to another goodies like additional propellers and a shoulder bag. That additional $249 price to get the longer battery life narrows the $340 value hole between the Air 3 and Mini 3 Professional, so maintain that in thoughts in the event you’re evaluating the 2 primarily based on price.

One other downfall of the Clever Flight Battery Plus is that it’s decently heavy (and heavier than the usual Mini 3 Professional battery). When your Mini 3 Professional is working with the Clever Flight Battery Plus, it’ll find yourself weighing greater than 249 grams, which is in any other case one of many key explanation why individuals select the Mini 3 Professional drone over the DJI Air 3 (I’ll dive deeper into why drones weighing lower than 249 grams are such a giant deal down under).

Improved impediment sensing: So far as the drone’s capacity to detect obstacles (after which plan an alternate route round them), the DJI Air 3 is the clear winner. It begins with the Air 3’s APAS 5.0 tech versus APAS 4.0 on the Air 3. However the actual sport changer comes right down to the variety of sensors at play.

The DJI Air 3 is the primary drone within the Air Collection to incorporate omnidirectional impediment sensing, one thing the Mini line doesn’t have. Whereas the Mini 3 Professional has a ahead, backward and downward imaginative and prescient system, the Air 3 provides consciousness in all instructions. Consider it like this: the Mini 3 Professional has a number of blindspots, so it’s not secure to imagine it’s crash-proof. Whereas DJI received’t outright name the DJI Air 3 crash-proof (hey, it’s inevitable someway, by some means to somebody), that is just about as shut as you will get.

Higher video transmission: The DJI Air 3 provide O4 video transmission, which is an enchancment upon the Mini 3 Professional’s O3 video transmission. With the Air 3, you’re a most transmission distance of 20 km (assuming low interference, reminiscent of flying at most seashores), whereas the DJI Mini 3 Professional has a max transmission distance of simply 12 km.

Evaluating drone dimension (winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional)

Whereas the Air 3 is definitely a extra highly effective drone, it’s additionally lots greater — and that’s not essentially a great factor. All of DJI’s shopper drones have drastically dropped in dimension from the clunky days of the DJI Phantom line. However whereas the DJI Mavic Professional was a sport changer again when it launched in 2017 due to its foldable arms that condensed it to the scale of a water bottle, it’d even be thought of a “giant drone” by at the moment’s requirements.

And the Air 2S is definitely a tad bigger than the Mavic Professional, which is 198 mm lengthy when folded. In the meantime, the Air 3 is an even-longer 207 mm lengthy. But, the Mini 3 Professional is simply 148 mm at its longest level.

The Air 3 can be heavier, coming in at 720 grams whereas the DJI Mini 3 Professional is lower than half that at underneath 249 grams.

Small dimension is unquestionably nice for folk who wish to journey with their drone however decrease baggage house, or for people who find themselves simply all the time on-the-go and wish to really feel empowered to tuck their drone into, say, a backpack with out it taking an excessive amount of actual property amidst their different stuff.

However then there’s a extra critical cause why it’s vital for the DJI Mini 3 Professional to weigh lower than 250 grams, and that’s the federal government. Many nations classify drones primarily based on their weight, and construct in additional rules or restrictions primarily based on that. It’s fairly frequent for nations (together with the U.S.) to make drones that weigh underneath 249 grams exempt from many types of regulation, together with registration necessities.

Smaller, lighter drones just like the DJI Mini 3 Professional assist to alleviate the paperwork burden from the pilot, and they’re additionally theoretically safer within the occasion of a crash (much less drive upon influence).

Who’s the DJI Mini 3 Professional greatest for?

Now that I’ve dug into the variations between the DJI Air 3 vs Mini 3 Professional, it’s time to know which drone is greatest for which particular person. There isn’t any “one greatest” drone. There’s merely one of the best drone on your scenario.

So with that, the DJI Mini 3 Professional is greatest for a number of varieties of individuals, together with:

• Entry-level drone pilots
• Individuals who take their drones with them on outside adventures
• Frequent vacationers
• A extremely price range acutely aware pilot who nonetheless desires a fantastic digital camera

The Mini 3 Professional is nice for brand spanking new drone pilots. With its compact dimension, it’s a dream for vacationers, bloggers, outside journey lovers and athletes who need a drone that they will throw of their bag, however received’t get in the best way of no matter else they’re doing, whether or not it’s jet-setting world wide or occurring and off-the-grid tenting tour.

And with the value distinction, that $340 financial savings is perhaps a saving grace for probably the most price-sensitive drone pilots.

Associated learn: DJI Mini 3 Professional drone evaluation and information

Purchase the DJI Mini 3 Professional drone now from:

Who’s the DJI Air 3 greatest for?

If the Mini 3 Professional is for the pilot who prioritizes their sport, expedition or vacationers over the drone itself, contemplate the DJI Air 3 to be the other. The DJI Air 3 is for the one who emphasizes flying the drone above all else, thus they don’t thoughts the bigger dimension and bigger price ticket. As a result of in return, they get a way more strong flying expertise due to options like longer flight time, improved transmission and omnidirectional impediment sensing.

An expert photographer searching for a less expensive various to the Mavic 3 would discover this drone to be preferrred.

Consider it this fashion: in the event you contemplate your self an athlete, explorer or traveler first and a drone photographer second, get the Mini 3 Professional.

If you happen to contemplate your self a drone pilot first after which the sports activities, excursions and adventures come second to that, then get the DJI Air 3.

By the best way, if you wish to see an entire rundown of every thing you get whenever you purchase the brand new Air 3 drone, try my recent DJI Air 3 unboxing video!

Between the DJI Mini 3 Professional versus Air 3 drones, which one would you moderately have? Share your remark under!

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